Decent place to live on disability $150k

[Anonymous]

Have a sibling who lives on disability, currently owns condo worth $190k, only receives SSI so no other assets or income. Unable to work.

We have no other family, so open to live anyplace with nicer neighborhoods, safety, decent housing stock.

Can’t live near us because it so expensive here. Would prefer no snow, lived in Raleigh for a while and loved that. But clearly too expensive.

Any other locations to consider? Moving is very hard. Condo is fine, but condo fees need to be limited since must fit in SSI income.

City in Ohio? Missouri?

[Anonymous]

Is this a single individual with approximately $3,000 a week gross income ? Or a family ?

Arkansas has more attractive options than Missouri in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Greenville, South Carolina might be of interest.

Google: The 25 Best most Affordable Places To Live 2023-2024

US News ranking.

[Anonymous]

SSI is not $150,000 per year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SSI is not $150,000 per year.

Maybe the person received a settlement that is paid in annual installments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a single individual with approximately $3,000 a week gross income ? Or a family ?

Arkansas has more attractive options than Missouri in my opinion.

More like $750/month income.

Parents have them condo which means they have $190k housing equity they can move to another property elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Greenville, South Carolina might be of interest.

Google: The 25 Best most Affordable Places To Live 2023-2024

US News ranking.

These lists are usually not helpful. They list relatively large cities. We need a small city which tend to be more affordable, so like $40k.

They live in a place of 50k in the metro; Greenville metro is about 1M.

[Anonymous]

So there are small towns in the south and the Midwest where you can get a home for $150k or less. (I’m assuming the 150 is the budget, not the yearly income). They are likely to be smaller, older SFH that might need some updating. But, no concern about increasing HOA fees and condo dues. Or you could get a condo for $150k and not have to worry about mowing your own lawn or replacing your roof, but it’s going to be in a northern city because the smaller southern cities haven’t built any condos.

[Anonymous]

Is the disability something where they can drive? If so I would maybe look in Northern Florida either Tallahassee (but would be a condo) or some of the small surrounding towns. Warm weather and pretty cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the disability something where they can drive? If so I would maybe look in Northern Florida either Tallahassee (but would be a condo) or some of the small surrounding towns. Warm weather and pretty cheap.

I was looking at smaller tier college towns, like Russellville AK — Tallahassee is a big bigger will check it out.

Any ideas how to identify a “nice” part of town?

[Anonymous]

Most important thing may be to look into Medicaid in various states. If the relative needs or will need home care or other long-term supports and services, some states will get you in quickly and others have wait lists and relative will have to go into a nursing home.

I would also suggest relative moves somewhere you can get to easily if there's an emergency, if you're the only relative.

Also, need to be very careful about buying and selling property. If relative buys before he sells, he'll have a house that he's not living in and one that he does--that will put him over the SSI resource limit and SSI (and Medicaid, depending on the state) could be suspended. But if he sells before he buys, he'll be sitting on a pool of money that could also be countable income or asset. Talk to a special needs trust lawyer to do this properly--Special Needs Alliance has a member directory on their website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this a single individual with approximately $3,000 a week gross income ? Or a family ?

Arkansas has more attractive options than Missouri in my opinion.

More like $750/month income.

Parents have them condo which means they have $190k housing equity they can move to another property elsewhere.

and they need to spend it all or spend most and buy a car. Housing and a car are exempt, but there is a 2k asset limit for SSI

[Anonymous]

Mobile Alabama -inexpensive and you do get some city life and beach access. Greenville sc is very nice but it’s becoming pricey.

[Anonymous]

Lynchburg, Virginia is the traditional "cheap retirement location with nice weather" place. Plus trains to the DC area.

[Anonymous]

Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs, you could definitely get a condo for that amount and it's very walkable/transitable. here are a few places within walking distance of regional rail that are also in walkable towns

Here's a 1bd in Lansdowne for 125k https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lansdowne/80-W-Baltimore-Ave-19050/unit-C116/home/38868684

Another 1bd in Lansdowne for 98k
https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lansdowne/80-W-Baltimore-Ave-19050/unit-B103/home/38868558

2bd 2ba in Secane for 150k
https://www.redfin.com/PA/Secane/818-South-Ave-19018/unit-L7/home/39160098