If you are from the Northeast ... (Atlanta, Washington: for sale, apartment, lease)

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by FromGA

What are you hearing from your folks in the Northeast about declines in the housing prices? What year-level is it at right now (ie. it is at 2005? prices...?), and how much further to go?

Any (anecdotal) evidence that Norhteasterners cashing-out and moving to Atlanta/sun belt has slowed down?

New construction in NJ is all but dead, including alot of the high-rises in JC, Hoboken, etc. Resale prices have held steady in some areas, and dropped 10% or so in others- what's changing rapidly is the time on market- what would sell in a day two years ago now lingers on the market for months. Some folks are still "cashing out", but it's taking longer to do so, and it's only the people who have been in their houses for some time- those who bought during the peak aren't able to make any $$.

[ERE81]

Im from Southern New Hampshire
WHat I miss:

THE BEACH
THE BEACH
OLD ORCHARD BEACH/HAMPTON BEACH BOARDWALK FRIES
GOOD ITALIAN FOOD
GOOD PIZZA
MY FAMILY


What I don't miss

COST OF LIVING (BOUGHT TWICE AS MUCH HOUSE FOR HALF THE PRICE DOWN HERE)
HAVING TO PAY FOR OIL ($500 a month)
SNOWING UNTIL APRIL
THE COLD

I would move back in a heart beat if the oppurtunity came.
But I have it really good down here so it would have to be a hell of an oppurtunity.

[FromGA]

So what was the cost of a "professional family home" (not fancy, good school-type areas) in your former Northeast hometown? One of the posters mentioned 400K, is 400-500K valid for your hometown? Assuming I can make a downpayment, what kind of money do we have to make, to make it over there?!

So how do you get your Northeast fix, living here? I guess you get to visit on some regular basis. And complain in Atlanta about the lack of bagels and pizza!!!

I myself have enjoyed every visit to the Northeast -- Niagara Falls, Bronx zoo, National mall, Atlantic city, New York city, and once to Boston as well (hope I made some of you nostalgic!) At some point have to decide whether to continue to enjoy these as a tourist, or make the move to over there!

[darkone]

Primary positives about Atlanta:

-Compared to the Boston area,

-Cost of living
-No real winters down here - 45 degrees is NOT cold, it doesn't even require a jacket
-Better highways and merge-ramps.
-Much easier to drive and park intown
-More access to shopping in the suburbs
-More nonstops from ATL, being a Delta and Airtran hub.

Primary positives about your Northeast hometown:

-Within two to three hours max. one can be at the beach on Cape Cod, in the White or Green Mountains of NH or VT, on the Maine Coast or down in Newport, RI. Boston is right on the water - something Atlanta sorely lacks.

-Access to other major cities, notably NYC.

-Better pizza, Italian, Chinese food.

-Much higher caliber museums, universities, hospitals and historical sites.

-Authentic and real feeling - no phoniness or B.S.

What would it take to keep you in Atlanta, or make you want to move back to your Northeast hometown:

-My current position keeps me here. After a couple of years I will probably need to move. Atlanta is an O.K. place to live - nothing spectacular though. I won't be holding back tears on my last Delta flight out of here. Of all the things I like about Atlanta, the airport tops the list for me and I would miss it.

[jetgraphics]

For those who suffer "sticker shock" at housing prices, consider that Rural Housing Development offers subsidized loans and mortgages for fringe areas.
(Some as close as 30 miles outside Atlanta)

You could buy / build a house, and your monthly mortgage payment would be $290.

(Add taxes and insurance)

Eligibility Map for Housing Program
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ga/drhincome407.pdf
Eligibility income cap for subsidized mortgage (low income)
- $24,900 (1 person)
- $28,500 (2 person)

You could work at a Wally Mart and still afford a nice home. Can't say the same in the NE.

[PepperPot75]

I myself have enjoyed every visit to the Northeast -- Niagara Falls, Bronx zoo, National mall, Atlantic city, New York city, and once to Boston as well (hope I made some of you nostalgic!) At some point have to decide whether to continue to enjoy these as a tourist, or make the move to over there!

Just out of curiosity...why are you considering a move to the NE? And which part of the NE are you interested in?

[JoeP]

It is interesting to see the words "nanny government"

I'm curious to know how subsidizing business at taxpayer expense is not a nanny government?

Corporate welfare eclipses goverment aid to people.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by JoeP

It is interesting to see the words "nanny government"

I'm curious to know how subsidizing business at taxpayer expense is not a nanny government?

Corporate welfare eclipses goverment aid to people.

I'm guessing that's addressed to me, since I mentioned it. No where did you see any mention of taxes, subsidies, or welfare recipients in my post. I might agree with you that subsidies to farmers, corporations, or individuals can all be unwarranted in certain circumstances.

Nanny government is referring to big government that feels it knows best and has to tell you what to do and what's best for you, since you're too dumb to know for yourself. Such government can't be bothered to listen to you, because the government always knows better and has to save you from yourself from cradle to grave....hence the term "nanny".

It's more of a social philosophy than a specific fiscal policy. In Massachusetts, it was highlighted by a tendency for the people to vote on a referendum, pass it, and for the state legislature (controlled by 90% Dems) to promptly overturn it in the next session.

[FromGA]

Originally Posted by PepperPot75

Just out of curiosity...why are you considering a move to the NE? And which part of the NE are you interested in?

We are Asian Indian, have relatives in the Northeast, friends in Atlanta, have lived in Georgia for plenty of years, kids now in elementary school. Want to decide hometown that would be appropriate for us in the longer run.

Where in Northeast? -- somewhere between DC and Boston. (At one time I thought DC/NoVa was it.) Any advice on how to decide would be appreiciated!

[darkone]

Originally Posted by FromGA

We are Asian Indian, have relatives in the Northeast, friends in Atlanta, have lived in Georgia for plenty of years, kids now in elementary school. Want to decide hometown that would be appropriate for us in the longer run.

Where in Northeast? -- somewhere between DC and Boston. (At one time I thought DC/NoVa was it.) Any advice on how to decide would be appreiciated!

Well, if you want to move to the northeast from Atlanta, consider the often overlooked Philadelphia/Southern NJ area for the following reasons:

-Your money will go further than in Boston, metro NYC or the DC area.
-You will have access to other cities in the corridor.
-Winters will be colder than Atlanta's certainly, however you won't get nearly as much snow as Boston for instance.
-You say you are Indian? Well nearby in central NJ, there are lot of Indians and their restaurants and stores, so you can avail of those.