Mississippi is a state known for having a classic southern style. Mississippi real estate is some of the cheapest in the land.
Mississippi
Named after the Mississippi River, Mississippi is a state holding on to its history. Much of the state is farmland and even the towns and cities seem to have eschewed modern development for a more familiar past. In an odd bit of trivia, the state is the biggest producer of upholstered furniture in the country.
It goes without saying that Mississippi is a state with a turbulent history, particularly during the civil rights movement. The state was the quintessential southern state and plantations and antebellum mansions can still be found throughout the state. Racial relations have come a long way, which has left the state with the glorious culture of the old south without as many of the racial issues.
Jackson
Jackson is the state capital of Mississippi and a hidden gem in the south. The city has somehow managed to mesh old southern hospitality with a rapidly growing high tech industry. While that sounds like an odd mix, it works. In fact, Jackson has been voted one of the most livable cities in America by numerous publications.
Jackson is a town with a lot to offer from both a cultural and practical perspective. There are 11 colleges in town, a symphony, opera and multiple museums covering the history of the south and the civil rights movement.
Tupelo
Tupelo is known best for being the birthplace of Elvis Presley. With a celebrity like that, Tupelo has made a major effort to capitalize on the fame. Tourists flock to the city to see the first home, school and so on of the infamous one. Notwithstanding Elvis, Tupelo is a pleasant city with golf courses and such. There isn't much to recommend it nor is there much to criticize.
Mississippi Real Estate
Mississippi real estate is universally very inexpensive. A home in Tupelo will set you back roughly $160,000 while you'll pay $220,000 in Jackson. In 2005, Mississippi real estate appreciated at a disappointing 5.5 percent, one of the lowest rates in the nation.
Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - a FSBO homes for sale by owner site. Visit our "Sell My Home" page to list your FSBO Home or visit our home buying page to see fsbo homes for sale.


Living in Spain
Since 1994, I have lived in the south east of Spain, known as the Costa Blanca, the coastal region alongside the Mediterranean sea and the inland area known as the Vega Baja situated in the south of the Alicante province.
The Spanish people are extremely friendly, although like most countries, the bureaucracy can be a pain in rump. The health care system compares very favourably with Great Britain and is miles ahead of America. For those people living here in the Valencia Community and registered on the padron at their local town hall, health care is free. Private health care also costs far less. Residence is a right for European Union citizens and for others a reasonable income, such as a pension or a lump sum, (the amount depending on the location) is sufficient, along with a clean police record.
House purchase is a simple process, although it is necessary to use the services of an abogado (lawyer) to ensure that the property is fully legal and without any debts or embargoes attached to it.
The weather is the main reason that people re-locate or buy a holiday home in Spain. In this area of the Costa Blanca we average 320 completely sunny days per year, with an average Annual temperature 20º centigrade. I have just come in from the garden at 5.30 pm. on the first day in November, where I was basking in the late afternoon sunshine, with a temperature of 21º centigrade. The Costa Blanca has become very cosmopolitan during the last few years, with people coming from all over Europe to enjoy the stress free laid back lifestyle of southern Spain.
On our web sites: www.real-estate-shop-costablanca.com and www.alandres-properties-spain.com
You will find a wealth of information including: descriptions of towns and areas of interest, with maps and photographs. Advice & information pages, a re-sale property price list with photographs and a variety of new developments including golf complexes.
For those people considering moving to another country who are of working age, especially with young families, Spain is NOT the place to go. The children's education would definitely suffer. Apart from the obvious difficulties in keeping up their studies while learning another language, the Spanish children are beginning to resent so many British children taking up the time of the school staff and bullying has become common. The only alternative is to send the children to a good private school.
With regard to working in Spain, you would need to be fluent in Spanish and possibly German to obtain a good position in an office based or professional post. The social security system is very different to Britain. A contract of one month is usually offered and after three of these the employer must offer an Annual contract, which obliges them to pay the social security of the employee if they dismiss them. This does not exactly encourage employers to take on staff for permanent employment.
In addition it is very difficult to gain employment with any Spanish company (at least that is our experience in the south east of the country) Ex. Pats seem destined to work in bars, clean swimming pools, building work, or sell houses (we worked out recently that for every new dwelling, there is a person trying to sell it). I have never seen a British driver in a Spanish taxi and there are no mini cab licences available in Spain. Spain is great place to retire to or to own a holiday home, but for working it would be best to go to Australia or Canada. For those with capital and access to people with a good understanding of the Spanish bureaucracy and of business opportunities, Spain is a good option; the tourists industry, for example guest houses and the maintenance of properties are areas to consider.
Alan Gunter: Alandres Properties Spain


Montana Real Estate – Big Sky Country
Montana is known as Big Sky Country for the wide-open spaces you can find there. Fortunately, Montana real estate is inexpensive enough to make it a good relocation spot.
Montana
Montana has some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States. With towering mountain ranges, wide-open prairies and absolutely stunning national parks, the state truly fits the "big sky" moniker. With the Rocky Mountains and Glacier National Park, the state is world wide attraction for outdoor enthusiasts looking to hike, mountain climb, camp, fish, ski and just get away from it all. If you're tired of living in neighborhood where the homes are two feet from each other, Montana offers a respite.
Billings
A railroad town, Billings is considered a big city in Montana. Sitting below 400 foot sandstone cliffs, the big town is tucked into a prairie area and provides a good base camp for the rest of the state. The atmosphere in the town is definitely one with a country and western theme. The downtown area has seen redevelopment efforts, but the town still retains a hard working railroad influence. A good place to raise a family, but you can do better in Montana.
Bozeman
Bozeman is a slice of heaven located roughly 90 miles from Yellowstone National Park. Set in the end of a lush valley, the town has a picket fence feel and is surrounded by stunning mountain ranges peaked with snow throughout the year. If you like to get out and explore nature, the town is centrally located to some of the best hiking and fishing in the country. Although things aren't out of control yet, Bozeman has become a bit of a hot spot for celebrities. It is nothing like Aspen, Colorado, but buyer beware.
Montana Real Estate
Montana real estates prices are surprisingly reasonable given the spectacular scenery in the state. Obviously, cold winters turn away some people, but the scenery is a feast for the eyes even in winter. Anyway, a single family home in Billings will cost $145,000 on average while the same home in Bozeman will run in the $280,000 range.
The appreciation rate for Montana real estate was a robust 12.5 percent for 2005. Put another way, the secret appears to be getting out.
Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - a FSBO homes for sale by owner site. Visit our "Sell My Home" page to list your FSBO Home or visit our home buying page to see fsbo homes for sale.