There's a very good reason why property values are so high in places like CA and NY and so low in places like Kentucky and Tennessee.
Just sayin'
You need to get out more. I needed to flee Cali before it became trendy. Left Silicon Valley to continue working as an independent consultant. Asked my clients if they cared where I was located. They said it wouldn't make a difference.
So -- we looked for fantastic housing opportunities, great public schools, and good governance. Did a tour of the "SEC school" areas, because I went to an SEC school and remember being impressed with the "neighborhoods" and countryside.
Settled on the south of Nashville area. Got a newer home 3 times the size of our "$1Mill" tract home in Cali that was a half mile from the San Andreas fault, without earthquake insurance. Because the state of Cali had totally fucked up the earthquake insurance market by taking it over. Enrollment went from 70% of homeowners to less than 30% in just 3 or 4 years.
Three times the home, Three times the land. 1/2 of the price...
It's BEAUTIFUL, it's well governed, my daughter went to schools that consistently make the top 100 list in the nation. Many of my immediate neighbors are professionals that commute by AIR to jobs all over the country. Along with the massive home offices that they can have here.
I can go dine in 6 languages. Have a Trader Joes. The music scene here is the best in the nation. I live on Chinese food and didn't have to give that up. Get a few "snow days" every winter. And plenty of seasonal change. SO nice -- my lefty, NY Times reading, Democrat worshipping in-laws, saw this place and ABANDONED Milwaukee WI and joined us here in the SAME YEAR..