Key Facts
- ✓ Joe Opaleski and his fiancée purchased a four-bedroom home in southern Wisconsin for a mortgage of less than $1,500 per month.
- ✓ The couple previously rented a 400-square-foot ADU in Florida for $1,100 per month that suffered from flooding.
- ✓ They spent six months in Portland, Oregon, in 2020 before leaving due to wildfire smoke.
- ✓ The move was motivated by rising home prices and insurance costs in Pinellas County, Florida.
Quick Summary
After graduating from college in Florida, Joe Opaleski and his fiancée began a multi-state search for a permanent home. They initially tested Portland, Oregon, enjoying the outdoor lifestyle but struggling with wildfire smoke and missing their previous community. They returned to St. Petersburg, Florida, where they faced a competitive real estate market and rising insurance costs, alongside housing instability caused by severe weather.
With a remote job and savings secured, they moved to southern Wisconsin. There, they purchased a four-bedroom home for a monthly mortgage payment of less than $1,500, finding a quiet community and outdoor recreation that suited their lifestyle.
Leaving Florida for the West Coast
Following graduation, the couple felt the world was "wide open" and began "shopping around" the country for a new place to call home. Their journey began with a road trip across the Western United States. They camped in the Badlands, swam in the Yellowstone River, and slept in a canyon in Idaho.
In 2020, they arrived in Portland, Oregon. The location offered a lifestyle that included hiking in the morning and craft beer at night. However, after six months, they decided to leave due to poor air quality from local wildfires and a desire to return to the familiarity of St. Petersburg.
"After graduation, the world felt wide open."
— Joe Opaleski
Struggles in the Florida Housing Market
Upon returning to Pinellas County, the couple found the housing market had changed significantly. Home prices had risen far beyond their budget, and the rental market remained competitive. They eventually rented a 400-square-foot Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) for approximately $1,100 a month.
The rental unit presented significant challenges. Heavy rain routinely flooded the unit, and after a severe hurricane, the carpet was soaked and removed. These events, combined with rising house and insurance prices, made buying a home in the area feel unrealistic. They had been spooked by Hurricane Irma in 2017, and the recent flooding reinforced concerns about future storms.
Finding Affordability in Wisconsin
The fiancée suggested moving to southern Wisconsin, near her family. Real estate was cheaper, and they could stay with her parents while house-hunting. They moved to a county with a population of about 100,000 and a town of fewer than 10,000 people, a stark contrast to the nearly 1 million residents in their previous Florida county.
The couple quickly fell in love with the local outdoors, hiking Kettle Moraine State Forest, surfing on Lake Michigan, and exploring local lakes. The community felt rich, with new businesses opening, including a coffee shop and a speakeasy. The "lake life" vibe provided the same laid-back atmosphere they enjoyed in Florida.
The Final Purchase
Within a year of moving, the couple purchased a four-bedroom house. They secured a mortgage costing less than $1,500 a month. This monthly cost was comparable to what they had paid for the small ADU in Florida, despite having four times the space.
While they acknowledge that Midwestern winters are colder and they occasionally miss Florida, they are happy with the life they have built. Opaleski noted that if people in Portland or Florida knew about the quality of life in small-town Wisconsin, they would move there immediately.
"I always say if the hipsters in Portland or the beach bums in Florida knew about small-town Wisconsin, they'd move here in a heartbeat (or at least visit in the summers)."
— Joe Opaleski
