anyone thinking of leaving NY?

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Posted by cherish83

In a few years we'll probably be moving upstate to orange county. I would love to move to Virginia or Vegas, but I cant picture leaving my family or friends.. At least moving upstate is still close enough where we can drive down for weekends. Plus I already have family up there, so it makes it easier. Houses are soo much more affordable up there!

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i think upstate is a good idea too - if you are a city worker can you live upstate? or no? like police and firefighters? or do they have to stay within the boros? b/c cant you travel into manhattan from some places upstate in like 1 hr by train? that isnt bad, it takes DH that long - even longer sometimes and we live like 15 miles from nyc

Yes I understand what people say about making less...but you have to look at the big picture. I know some couples who both work, say as teachers, and its still a struggle. Its because the salaries here arent near what they should be when you compare cost of living!

Also the taxes alone would be a huge savings for us! Our taxes are $9,000 a year...ouch! If they were even half of that, it would be a big savings!

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Posted by Future Mulligan

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Posted by MCA1180

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Posted by SB7308

As much as I hate to think it, we will most likely be leaving NY. Most of my fam is here so it will be hard.
Teaching on LI is just impossible. We have to go where there are jobs.

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Exactly my point! My parents picked up and moved to NY many years ago during the hard times and recession of the 1970's because they were going to where the jobs were (at that time I guess apparently that was NY)... they had no choice, it was either move really far away where you don't know anyone and leave your family behind, or let their kids starve!.... But now 30 years later DH and I might have to do the same thing, just the opposite though, leave NY... for the same reason my parents came in the first place.. going where the jobs are.... We've been looking for jobs but there is literally nothing for us here anymore! We're running out of options as sad as that is.... I tried explaining this to my mom who is totally heartbroken at the thought of us leaving but she doesn't understand lol She thinks because back then NY had employment opportunities, that it still does, and we should just keep looking.... She's so out of touch sometimes lol... I don't know if anywhere is safe anymore though :(

And seriously, back then they were able to save up quickly and buy their own home with only one income... an almost impossible feat today!


Sorry for the vent! Glad I'm not the only one who feels this way though...

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its hard......like with florida - we are able to go down there b/c DH can transfer - without that we couldn't just pick up and move. We are able to do it b/c he can go down there with his job and he keeps his NYC salary - so that is what makes the big difference for us.....if you make 100K here but then get a job down south you might only make say 60K (say its a 40% decrease in salary) so even though your house is half the price so is your salary and at that point you are almost breaking even because like someone else said - things like utilities and food are still expensive....BUT if you make 100K down there and your mortgage loan is only 150K that is where you can get ahead.....because now your mortgage payment is very minimal compared to your salary leaving you plenty of room for the rest of your expenses.....

i just hope i can get a good job there - any extra money helps and if i have to work for $10 an hour than so be it - b/c its still extra money that we'll have BUT i really hope i can find something good that is close to what i make now and a 9-5 office job - that is highly unlikely though....

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if your DH would make the same NY salary that's awesome!

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Posted by Future Mulligan

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Posted by cherish83

In a few years we'll probably be moving upstate to orange county. I would love to move to Virginia or Vegas, but I cant picture leaving my family or friends.. At least moving upstate is still close enough where we can drive down for weekends. Plus I already have family up there, so it makes it easier. Houses are soo much more affordable up there!

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i think upstate is a good idea too - if you are a city worker can you live upstate? or no? like police and firefighters? or do they have to stay within the boros? b/c cant you travel into manhattan from some places upstate in like 1 hr by train? that isnt bad, it takes DH that long - even longer sometimes and we live like 15 miles from nyc

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You don't have to live within the boroughs to be a city employee. For example, there are plenty of teachers who live on LI and teach in the city public school system. From where we are looking, Newburgh, New windsor, it is only an hour train ride into the city, so that is nothing.

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Posted by Jenn04

Yes I understand what people say about making less...but you have to look at the big picture. I know some couples who both work, say as teachers, and its still a struggle. Its because the salaries here arent near what they should be when you compare cost of living!

Also the taxes alone would be a huge savings for us! Our taxes are $9,000 a year...ouch! If they were even half of that, it would be a big savings!

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I know that DH's take home salary will increase b/c in Florida there is either no state or no city tax - i can't remember.....but i know that DH figured it out and it makes a difference - its like getting a raise actually....


ets: its no state tax

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Posted by cherish83

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Posted by Future Mulligan

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Posted by cherish83

In a few years we'll probably be moving upstate to orange county. I would love to move to Virginia or Vegas, but I cant picture leaving my family or friends.. At least moving upstate is still close enough where we can drive down for weekends. Plus I already have family up there, so it makes it easier. Houses are soo much more affordable up there!

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i think upstate is a good idea too - if you are a city worker can you live upstate? or no? like police and firefighters? or do they have to stay within the boros? b/c cant you travel into manhattan from some places upstate in like 1 hr by train? that isnt bad, it takes DH that long - even longer sometimes and we live like 15 miles from nyc

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You don't have to live within the boroughs to be a city employee. For example, there are plenty of teachers who live on LI and teach in the city public school system. From where we are looking, Newburgh, New windsor, it is only an hour train ride into the city, so that is nothing.

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oh okay, b/c i know you can be a cop and physically live in NJ but if you lie and use someone else's address that is in NYC its okay but i guess thats pretty shady....at least i think that is what this person does hahaha

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Posted by Jenn04

Yes I understand what people say about making less...but you have to look at the big picture. I know some couples who both work, say as teachers, and its still a struggle. Its because the salaries here arent near what they should be when you compare cost of living!

Also the taxes alone would be a huge savings for us! Our taxes are $9,000 a year...ouch! If they were even half of that, it would be a big savings!

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exactly... everything here goes up except wages.... the cost of living is just ridiculous!!! it's pricing all the young people out of their own city.... also, I know of many people (myself included) who work for agencies or companies that have partner offices across the country, they do the exact same job just diff location, and they get the same salary!!! and because they're NOT in the hub of NY, they do ALOT less work!!! so they have less work, less than half the accounts, less stress, less paperwork cluttering their desk and office, slower pace, don't have to rush rush rush like they're having a coronary, less hustle and bustle, they can take their time driving in to work, they don't have to cram onto a smelly crowded subway, being pushed and shoved... but they get the same salary as the NY office, and they have a lower cost of living so each of their dollars goes further...... wait, remind me why i'm here again lol

so yes, if you transfer to another office within the same company, and you go somewhere where the cost of living is less but are making the same salary, it would be like getting a raise.

sorry, my venting is on a roll this morning lol

We are never moving out of state. We both love NY. We both were born and raised in Queens. DH never went to college, but I went away and transfered all over. My grad school was even out of state (but I lived in the town of my parents beach house so it was familiar). I could not wait to get back home. Am I tired of the hustle and bustle and all the traffic? Sure, but it's ALWAYS been like this. I know a lot of people say they want a decent place to raise kids. One of my professors this semester made a very valid point, have you not seen where a lot of school shootings take place? It hasn't been NYC.

We do plan to retire somewhere warm. DH keeps saying Vegas, but that's not going to happen I'm looking more at the Caribbean.

If someone told me I had to leave NY because it wouldn't exist anymore, I'd move to Sydney, Australia. It is a beautiful city and reminds me so much of NY.

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Posted by MCA1180

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Posted by Jenn04

Yes I understand what people say about making less...but you have to look at the big picture. I know some couples who both work, say as teachers, and its still a struggle. Its because the salaries here arent near what they should be when you compare cost of living!

Also the taxes alone would be a huge savings for us! Our taxes are $9,000 a year...ouch! If they were even half of that, it would be a big savings!

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exactly... everything here goes up except wages.... the cost of living is just ridiculous!!! it's pricing all the young people out of their own city.... also, I know of many people (myself included) who work for agencies or companies that have partner offices across the country, they do the exact same job just diff location, and they get the same salary!!! and because they're NOT in the hub of NY, they do ALOT less work!!! so they have less work, less than half the accounts, less stress, less paperwork cluttering their desk and office, slower pace, don't have to rush rush rush like they're having a coronary, less hustle and bustle, they can take their time driving in to work, they don't have to cram onto a smelly crowded subway, being pushed and shoved... but they get the same salary as the NY office, and they have a lower cost of living so each of their dollars goes further...... wait, remind me why i'm here again lol

sorry, my venting is on a roll this morning lol

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That may be true for some companies, but not for all. If you had the kind of opportunity, you should take it if you really want out of NY. DH would not have that option since he has a civil job.

DH and I are gonna stick around for a couple years and see what happens with his band. Then if it doesnt work out we will have to move cus we cant rent forever and the only way we can buy something is if we move. So then we are thinking of Nashville, Miami, Chicago. We have to go somewhere where DH can still produce music. I refuse to buy a starter home for over $400,000 and have less than 2.5 bathrooms. LOL thats just not right in my mind. I found this house in nashville and it was $350,000. 5 bed and 3 bath. I love it but cant do it yet! LOL maybe it'll be for sale in like 5 years....

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Posted by GinaZ

DH and I are gonna stick around for a couple years and see what happens with his band. Then if it doesnt work out we will have to move cus we cant rent forever and the only way we can buy something is if we move. So then we are thinking of Nashville, Miami, Chicago. We have to go somewhere where DH can still produce music. I refuse to buy a starter home for over $400,000 and have less than 2.5 bathrooms. LOL thats just not right in my mind. I found this house in nashville and it was $350,000. 5 bed and 3 bath. I love it but cant do it yet! LOL maybe it'll be for sale in like 5 years....

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i agree, ive seen some okay places in staten island for less than 400K but nothing that i would want to live in - not that its bad but i just have certain standards of what i want in a house - and i cant imagine spending even 300K on a house that only has 2.5 bathrooms!

that is why i like florida - the houses we are looking at are what i would call a starter house - this one that we really like - its not huge - we aren't even going to go that route - we just want to get the best we can, in a nice area for as little as possible - the house we are mainly going to go down to see was built in 04, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms - the master bath is pretty big, has a jacuzzi tub and stall shower, the toilet has its own little room inside the bathroom , it has a great room - which is like a family room/kicthen combo, a dining room, a nice brick pavered patio, inground pool, screenhouse, lake view from the backyard, 2 car garage, its really nothing too outrageous, its not huge, its a little under 2,000sq feet living area, so its not collosal, but i think its nice and its reasonable - and its in a nice area, its a community type so all the landscaping is always done nice, and its only $300 a YEAR for the homeowners assoc and that fee is to maintain all the property/landscaping/the lake....you really cant get anything like that here for a comparable price....

dont worry, there will be plenty of nashville houses for you when you are ready!

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Posted by twinkle164

A warning before moving. MSNBC . com just published unemployment rates by state. Check it out. NC and SC have higher unemployment rates than NY.

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Ahh good point! These are all good/valid points for staying/leaving. I do no believe there is a right or wrong answer. I do love alot of things about NY but am tired of the rat race and the prices. I will admit that is a great city - one of the best.

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Posted by Jenn04

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Posted by twinkle164

A warning before moving. MSNBC . com just published unemployment rates by state. Check it out. NC and SC have higher unemployment rates than NY.

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Ahh good point! These are all good/valid points for staying/leaving. I do no believe there is a right or wrong answer. I do love alot of things about NY but am tired of the rat race and the prices. I will admit that is a great city - one of the best.

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see the thing i will miss about NY is the actual city of Manhattan - i dont think i will miss staten island - the people here are so yuck its so competitive and very show offy - its just the attitude of people - everyone thinks they are somebody - well not everyone, but its like some people think they are straight from the sopranos i dont know how else to explain it....and a lot of people our age are pretty obnoxious

we will miss NYC, going to shows, restaurants, just being able to go to times square, or see the tree during christmas, central park, places like that....but there will be new places to go and we cna always come back and visit - so i try not to get too sad about missing those things.....i think i might enjoy NYC more as a 'tourist' than when you live here and take it for granted

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Posted by Future Mulligan

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Posted by GinaZ

DH and I are gonna stick around for a couple years and see what happens with his band. Then if it doesnt work out we will have to move cus we cant rent forever and the only way we can buy something is if we move. So then we are thinking of Nashville, Miami, Chicago. We have to go somewhere where DH can still produce music. I refuse to buy a starter home for over $400,000 and have less than 2.5 bathrooms. LOL thats just not right in my mind. I found this house in nashville and it was $350,000. 5 bed and 3 bath. I love it but cant do it yet! LOL maybe it'll be for sale in like 5 years....

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i agree, ive seen some okay places in staten island for less than 400K but nothing that i would want to live in - not that its bad but i just have certain standards of what i want in a house - and i cant imagine spending even 300K on a house that only has 2.5 bathrooms!

that is why i like florida - the houses we are looking at are what i would call a starter house - this one that we really like - its not huge - we aren't even going to go that route - we just want to get the best we can, in a nice area for as little as possible - the house we are mainly going to go down to see was built in 04, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms - the master bath is pretty big, has a jacuzzi tub and stall shower, the toilet has its own little room inside the bathroom , it has a great room - which is like a family room/kicthen combo, a dining room, a nice brick pavered patio, inground pool, screenhouse, lake view from the backyard, 2 car garage, its really nothing too outrageous, its not huge, its a little under 2,000sq feet living area, so its not collosal, but i think its nice and its reasonable - and its in a nice area, its a community type so all the landscaping is always done nice, and its only $300 a YEAR for the homeowners assoc and that fee is to maintain all the property/landscaping/the lake....you really cant get anything like that here for a comparable price....

dont worry, there will be plenty of nashville houses for you when you are ready!

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LOL. Seriously I look at homes there on realtor.com all the time. I have a LOT of down town at work. LOL. And you can get like a 3000 sq ft or larger home in the best school district with .5 acre of land or a lot more with top of the line everything for like 500-600k. And this is in one of the 'wealthy' areas. You can get that much cheaper in the other nice suburbs that arn't as wealthy.

If / when we leave NY I will miss:
Manhattan
The Vineyards
Living directly on the beach
Wide variety of restaurants that are really good
Roosevelt Field and The Source
Being away from my sis and her family (although I bet they move in 5 years)
being away from DHs entire family

I won't miss:
high cost of living
low quality of home options
the traffic
the way people drive here
rudeness of many of the people
crowds
$10+ drinks

I do miss LI a little (more for family and friends reasons), but live in FL, the most beautiful community. If anyone is considering FL, check it out... it is a master planned brand new community. The homes here are simply amazing, and with how the market it right now, you could steal something... Brand new 5 BR homes, 3k sq ft that were once $500k, are now selling for $250k.. its insane. its a very family oriented community, with a really cute downtown, where there are festivals, music, etc every weekend. the weather here is great too, and the beach is close.... we could not be happier...

yes, it was hard leaving the family and friends, but honestly, we go home all the time.. its a 2:10 min flight from west palm.

www.traditionfl.com

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Posted by Future Mulligan

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Posted by Jenn04

Yes I understand what people say about making less...but you have to look at the big picture. I know some couples who both work, say as teachers, and its still a struggle. Its because the salaries here arent near what they should be when you compare cost of living!

Also the taxes alone would be a huge savings for us! Our taxes are $9,000 a year...ouch! If they were even half of that, it would be a big savings!

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I know that DH's take home salary will increase b/c in Florida there is either no state or no city tax - i can't remember.....but i know that DH figured it out and it makes a difference - its like getting a raise actually....


ets: its no state tax

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yea, when i moved to fL I took about a $12k paycut. However, I make maybe only $20 less a paycheck, due to no state tax. It really makes a huge difference.