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Comment by TrackerFF | Hacker News Reader

I moved out to the rural countryside, paid $120k for my house. Work remote, and meet my collogues 5-6 times a year in person.

It's not for everyone, but I'm happy. Not being a slave to the bank (mortgage) feels incredible.

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One of my close friends did this. Moved a few hours out of town to the countryside. Bought a nice house (still with a mortgage, but at a fraction of the price of houses in the city). His company went 100% remote during covid, so he had full job flexibility.

Then a few months ago they mandated return to work, with no exceptions. He tried to negotiate, but just got an ultimatum – move back or get fired. He has had his resume out for months but in the current job market fully remote jobs have all but dried up.

So, the situation you mention is all pleasant until it isn't. Our lives are still tied to our corporate overlords, and very few have the luxury to pack up and get away from the grind.

> Our lives are still tied to our corporate overlords, and very few have the luxury to pack up and get away from the grind.

then find ways to change that. it's painfully clear your incentives -- and those of society on the whole, honestly -- don't align with theirs.

push for some changes, or watch as each generation gets poorer and poorer.

I'm actually happy that what you've done is more viable than ever for the people interested in that. Theoretically, it enables a bit more demand spread, and people who would otherwise go suburban if they don't care to be around many other people can now just go rural.

My family has a pretty rustic piece of land quite a ways out of the city, and it's nice to go out there for a bit of quiet time when I get the chance; tranquil. I'd love it if there were more viable ways to get out there though, and better connection possibilities, the latter of which I'm optimistic for in the near future.

I seriously doubt there's a $120k countryside house within 500 miles of me.

Challenge accepted. Share your general area / zip code.

I'm looking for 100 acres with a new construction house that can't hear the road for about 400k, any takers? This was possible 10 years ago.lol we all missed out

ooooo oooo do me.

Northern VA: 22030

I've got 3 kids, so no bungalows, and nothing that's in the ghetto, cuz SE DC almost certainly has cheap real estate -- and the highest murder rates in the US.

Pittsburgh, PA has plenty of houses under 100k. Here’s one that’s less than 250 miles away from you. Although this particular one is not a countryside house [1].

[1] https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1401-Cresson-St-Pittsburg...

I think it's really all that other stuff that spikes your cost up no matter what. However, I am the same way.

I feel like there's also a middle-ground of medium/smaller cities that may still have a nice downtown, amenities, etc, and be affordable, without being a national culture hub

They should be affordable, but the inflation and housing shock is affecting pretty much the entire market. Even the run up to 2020 was making housing more unaffordable as prices were rising faster than salaries for nearly a decade.

Congratulations. That seems like a peaceful life right there. Enjoy it.

Do you mind if I ask what state/region ?

But why do you censor yourself?

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