Living in Bishop?

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Bad Climber

climber

Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 26, 2014 - 08:22pm PT

Locals, others with experience, spray your wisdom:

This is theoretical at this point--but possible. In three years I'm (gulp) eligible for an early retirement from what, by then, will be about 30 years reading gawdawful essays by undergrads--with the occasional shining star, to be sure. On a whim, I started looking at real estate in Bishop and realized that while most houses are way out of our price range, as a firmly middle-aged couple (I'll be 55 my wife 64), we could purchase and move into one of those "mobile" homes in the Highlands development on the north side of town. With the money we could pull out of our current shack, we could remodel the hell out of one of those and have a substantial chunk left over to help fund retirement (in addition to other stashes we have).

So of course the mountains are awesome. I've been hiking/climbing/cycling on the East Side since I was 16 when my best buddy at the time and I drove his vintage Mustang up to the Matterhorn Peak range and did my first technical peak--one of the Three Teeth. No, I'm well acquainted with how wonderful the access and country is. My question concerns things like community, medical support, more of the day-to-day, season-to-season aspects of living there. Any beta on the affordable area we're looking at would be appreciated, too.

To be honest, I think the move might be more than my wife is willing to go for, but she's expresses some interest. I think I'd move tomorrow if I could, but some input from those who know would be great.

Thanks!

BAd

Fish Finder

Social climber

Mar 26, 2014 - 09:50pm PT

You have to love the mountains and give up culture

unless you travel a lot

I look at Bishop , Round Valley ,Crowley, Mammoth and June as all being the same neighborhood

otherwise I would not be able to earn a living, have horses and be sane here

I do travel as much as I can to the Ocean and anywhere for that matter , the high desert creeps up on me sometimes and I need to get-a-way

Besides all that it is just as I would imagine Heaven to be except with more dust and you cant beat a good winter on the Eastside

Bad Climber

climber

Topic Author's Reply - Mar 26, 2014 - 10:26pm PT

Thanks for the quick responses, folks! As for our current situation...I think moving to Bishop would be getting MORE urban than we have now--the outskirts of Tehachapi. There seems to be more of a scene in Bishop, which would be fine with us! We pretty much gave up substantial culture almost 20 years ago.

Cragman: Nice to hear about Highlands. We are seriously looking into it.

More comments welcome.

BAd

FRUMY

Trad climber

Bishop,CA

Mar 27, 2014 - 08:49pm PT

You could do a lot worse.

Capt.

climber

some eastside hovel

Mar 27, 2014 - 09:23pm PT

Coming from Tehachapi you'll be just fine here...Hell,ya might get a little cultural overload.

John M

climber

Mar 27, 2014 - 10:01pm PT

This is just curiosity. I know almost nothing about Bishop. I know that coming up with a down payment could be difficult, but with two incomes it certainly seems like this would be affordable

http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Bishop-CA/pmf,pf_pt/19228736_zpid/23717_rid/priced_sort/38.119432,-117.467194,36.888408,-119.153595_rect/8_zm/2_p/

You say you have a property to sell, so if you could come up with 20 down, your payments would be less then the monthly rent on a mobile home park. Plus you would end up owning something and one day you would have no rent to pay.

Just interested in the thinking behind moving into a mobile home park. I'm looking at the same thing, but that rent payment that never goes away concerns me.

rottingjohnny

Sport climber

mammoth lakes ca

Mar 27, 2014 - 10:03pm PT

Bishop would be a great move and The Chief lives outside of Bishop so no worries there...rj

John M

climber

Mar 27, 2014 - 10:11pm PT

I can come up with about 10 grand. ha ha..

would that buy me the mailbox?

John M

climber

Mar 27, 2014 - 10:22pm PT

sweet..

1600 square feet. 3 bedroom 2 bath mailbox on a view lot for 10 grand.

Thanks cragman.. I knew that you were a miracle worker. hahaha

HighDesertDJ

Trad climber

Mar 27, 2014 - 10:25pm PT

Good god. If the outskirts of Tehachapi is your baseline Bishop will seem like an amenity filled urban dreamworld surrounded by an adventure utopia.

John M

climber

Mar 27, 2014 - 10:36pm PT

LOL sounds about right.

but for that price I want linoleum instead of dirt floors.

John M

climber

Mar 27, 2014 - 10:50pm PT

well, okay, but by God I want an indoor toilet that flushes. Non of that outhouse business for me. No sir.

speaking of linoleum. I cleaned the carpets in this very nice house in thousand oaks and it had linoleum in the kitchen that looked like wood. According to the owner it was 2 inches thick and was solid color all the way through. She said you couldn't tell where the nicks were. It was nice because it was kind of springy. The owner cooked a lot and was on her feet a lot and she said she loved it. Have you ever seen anything like that?

rottingjohnny

Sport climber

mammoth lakes ca

Mar 28, 2014 - 12:59am PT

The Chief...that stench is coming from the June Lake loop and is almost unbearable...rj

Bad Climber

climber

Topic Author's Reply - Mar 28, 2014 - 08:49am PT

GAwd, I love the East Side.

Chief, is you up there in Paradise? Or is up there in the Mesa area? There are a couple of lots available in Paradise, but the distance from basic supplies and such in town seems maybe a bit much? Thoughts?

Oh, and what about that area a bit south of town up against the hill? Don't know what it's called, but it's maybe 5 miles south, give or take.

Great pics.

BAd

Brock

Trad climber

RENO, NV

Mar 28, 2014 - 09:39am PT

Bishop is a beautiful little piece of Heaven.
Here is my take. I'd rather travel to Bishop than live there. Too hot in the Summer unless you head up into the Mountains. It is a 4 hour drive to get to any large city (reno up North and Palm Desert down South). You are isolated in Winter and can't get over the 120. Don't get me wrong, many of these issues can be the positive outlook too. Still I picture a very small home with a small creek running through the yard.

Good Luck on you decisions.

Roots

Mountain climber

Tustin, CA

Mar 28, 2014 - 10:56am PT

Thinking about doing the same...well not retiring but moving. Probably won't happen but one can dream..

crusher

climber

Santa Monica, CA

Mar 28, 2014 - 03:13pm PT

Good info, I've been meaning to ask these questions as well. It seems like there is pretty low inventory right now in Bishop (for sale) and the prices have come up.

I've wondered if there are parts of town to avoid if one is going to buy there?

Elcapinyoazz

Social climber

Joshua Tree

Mar 28, 2014 - 03:47pm PT

Bishop is cursed by an artificial land shortage. You will pay way more than what a place is worth. I'd say about a 50% premium from what I've seen and several years of watching the market with an interest in buying my own place there.

I'm no more than 10 years from retirement. Probably more like 6. This would hands down be my choice of area, but for the property valuation issues. And I'll be too young at retirement to slide into one of the geezer communities (most are 55 and up, I'll be under 50).

My intent has been to have a smaller desert getaway, and a primary place with mountain/river access. Got the desert place already. Starting to rethink the Colorado Plateau/4 corners, where I lived for some years in my 20s.

Good luck to you, and let me know when you find a Bishop clone with bargain housing.