Oklahoma intelligence

[rondog]

I'd be happy to help you but I've never been to Tulsa or anywhere around there. I will tell you that home prices here are increasing at a rapid rate...though they're not yet as stupid as they are in Denver. There are still some bargains out there but they're getting harder and harder to find and you have to move on them quickly.

We closed on our place on Feb 1...modest house, about 1300 sq ft, 5 years old, shelter, 900 sq ft shop, a few other outbuildings and nearly 20 acres in south-central OK. We paid $200k for it. We didn't want to go as far east as Tulsa but looked at a ton of houses on Zillow in that area. There were some very tempting places for sure, but that was 6 to 8 months ago.

Lot of guys on the Oklahoma Shooters forum live in that area. It's a lot like the forum here...plenty of guys more than willing to help you out.

https://www.okshooters.com/

I couldn't be happier with my decision to move here.

I'd love to move back, but I've got this "wife thing" that says Hell No.

[Bailey Guns]

I'd love to move back, but I've got this "wife thing" that says Hell No.

I ran into that a lot when I told people this is where I was moving to. "Why the hell would you move to Oklahoma from Idaho?" Well, because I can afford to live in OK and have a decent retirement. I can't do that in Idaho, as much as I would've liked to. Even now money goes a lot further than most places...especially the Rocky Mountain States.

If it's not how ugly OK is (which isn't true, BTW...at least in my opinion), it's TORNADOES! But guess which state often has as many, or more, tornadoes than OK? That's right...Colorado. In 2021 (Jan-Sep) there were 25 tornadoes in OK. During the same time period there were 48 in Colorado...almost twice as many. On average OK comes in slightly higher than CO, but not by much.

OK is great state for veterans and especially disabled veterans. Tax rates are low, too...especially property taxes. Plus retirees get lots of tax breaks and exemptions. We applied for an agricultural sales tax exemption for our new place...anything we can relate to an ag operation is exempt from sales taxes. Everyone talks about Texas and no income tax. Well, that's great if you're working. But if you're retired it doesn't matter. Taxes overall, especially property taxes, are much higher in Texas.

I'm not saying it's for everyone...but I wouldn't discount OK as a place to live just based on what other people, most of whom have never lived or even been there, say.

I've mentioned this before but the big downside I see to the state is the lack of public lands like there is in Colorado. On the other hand, land is cheap here so it's pretty easy to buy your own. And there are many, many state parks that are HIGHLY under-utilized.

ETA: This place isn't near Tulsa, it's just west of OKC. Just went on the market and was posted on the OK Shooters forum. Notice the rifle shooting lane/berm already in place...and the stacks of ammo cans in the shop!

https://m.prspcts.co/tHL4ZyRvo6KQcyMT7

[KevDen2005]

I ran into that a lot when I told people this is where I was moving to. "Why the hell would you move to Oklahoma from Idaho?" Well, because I can afford to live in OK and have a decent retirement. I can't do that in Idaho, as much as I would've liked to. Even now money goes a lot further than most places...especially the Rocky Mountain States.

If it's not how ugly OK is (which isn't true, BTW...at least in my opinion), it's TORNADOES! But guess which state often has as many, or more, tornadoes than OK? That's right...Colorado. In 2021 (Jan-Sep) there were 25 tornadoes in OK. During the same time period there were 48 in Colorado...almost twice as many. On average OK comes in slightly higher than CO, but not by much.

OK is great state for veterans and especially disabled veterans. Tax rates are low, too...especially property taxes. Plus retirees get lots of tax breaks and exemptions. We applied for an agricultural sales tax exemption for our new place...anything we can relate to an ag operation is exempt from sales taxes. Everyone talks about Texas and no income tax. Well, that's great if you're working. But if you're retired it doesn't matter. Taxes overall, especially property taxes, are much higher in Texas.

I'm not saying it's for everyone...but I wouldn't discount OK as a place to live just based on what other people, most of whom have never lived or even been there, say.

I've mentioned this before but the big downside I see to the state is the lack of public lands like there is in Colorado. On the other hand, land is cheap here so it's pretty easy to buy your own. And there are many, many state parks that are HIGHLY under-utilized.

People always mention Tornado Alley when I tell them I moved to MO. I bring up the same stats and remind Coloradans that CO gets a lot of tornados.

I miss the Rockies but I don't miss traffic, or the liberal BS. Honestly, any liberal BS here is minimal, but you get so tired of hearing it from CO that I cringe when I hear it. We looked at OK a lot and considered the Tulsa area but I though it was way too dirty and congested and tons of toll roads. I actually liked OKC a lot more.

I do suggest a lot that MO should change its name from the Show-Me State to the Half-Assed State since everything they do here is the lowest denominator...but the plus side is if you were a mediocre worker in CO, you can thrive in a state like this.

[Scanker19]

Being half Okie myself, I want to return to the motherland at some Point in my life. I really like the Edmond area a lot. Oklahoma is beautiful, I grew up in the eastern half, and I miss that. Plus I’m craving me an onion burger.

[00tec]

While Weld County gets more tornadoes than any other county in the nation, they aren't exactly the same breed of tornadoes.
In Weld, there are "OMG, my camper blew over, but at least the windows are still there".
In OK, it's more like "my double wide is in Massachusetts now"


Not that it would stop me from moving from this shithole

[KevDen2005]

While Weld County gets more tornadoes than any other county in the nation, they aren't exactly the same breed of tornadoes.
In Weld, there are "OMG, my camper blew over, but at least the windows are still there".
In OK, it's more like "my double wide is in Massachusetts now"


Not that it would stop me from moving from this shithole

Don't be raggin' on the doublewide, bud!

[00tec]

I wouldn't if I lived somewhere east of tornado alley and got one for free via airmail, as long as it didn't land on my truck

[Bailey Guns]

Plus I’m craving me an onion burger.

Oh, man... I could seriously be a contender for "My 600 Pound Life" with all the good food down here. It's a constant struggle to eat healthy when I can buy a VERY tasty chicken fried steak dinner in town (and I can make an easy two meals out of it) for $4.69.

[Bailey Guns]

While Weld County gets more tornadoes than any other county in the nation, they aren't exactly the same breed of tornadoes.
In Weld, there are "OMG, my camper blew over, but at least the windows are still there".
In OK, it's more like "my double wide is in Massachusetts now"


Not that it would stop me from moving from this shithole

Over 80% of tornadoes nationwide are rated as EF0 or EF1. Only about 1% are rated as EF4 or EF5.

[ray1970]

Fun fact. Double wides are less likely to blow away than single wides.