Anyone from Upstate NY living in Austin?

[bellafinzi]

Originally Posted by Tzarina

I just stumbled upon this cite as I am surfing things about Syracuse. I live in Dallas and have for the past 5 years. I am from Syr with most of my family still living there. My mother is getting older and is extremely rooted in the area and constantly begs me to come home. I am considering it since I will be getting laid off from my current job. I have lived in the South for over 10 years.

I will tell you - I will absolutely hate to move back to cold country and what I have heard is the 2nd cloudiest city in the US. But sometimes family needs to take precedence. I will not hesitate to return later on down the road and I would make the move to Austin. People are nice and friendly - not depressed and miserable. Yes, it is hot but you can still go outside and enjoy things - not be snowed in for 8 months of the year! Overall, I truly believe a better quality of life. If only I could convince a 70 year old lady to make the move!

Syracuse far from the "2nd cloudiest city in the US"

Weather Facts and Figures hottest coldest sunny cloudy windy

Cloudiest Cities in the US

Syracuse doesn't need another negative nelly. Please stay in Texas!

[TX-Griff]

Originally Posted by Tzarina

If only I could convince a 70 year old lady to make the move!

Hmmmmmm...

I wonder if one would be charged w/ kidnapping if the kidnapee were one's own mother?

It might be worth consulting an attorney on this one...

TX Griff

[cdelena]

Originally Posted by TX-Griff

OTOH, I cut my property taxes by 2/3s and got a MUCH nicer home than what I had (or could even afford) in CT.

TX Griff

Interesting comment... were you in one of the higher tax cities? I see that 8 or 9 cities have mill rates over 2.5% but most of CT has rates under 2%.

Did your tax as a percentage of appraised value drop, or are your taxes lower because the appraised value is lower... or both?

[TX-Griff]

Originally Posted by cdelena

Interesting comment... were you in one of the higher tax cities? I see that 8 or 9 cities have mill rates over 2.5% but most of CT has rates under 2%.

Did your tax as a percentage of appraised value drop, or are your taxes lower because the appraised value is lower... or both?

I came from inner-city New Haven... lived in a 2-BR/1-bath apartment of a 2-family home I bought for $217,000 in 1996.

If I remember correctly, the mill rate had just smacked up against the 40.x mark when I sold m'house... so I was paying ~$8,680 in real estate property taxes in 1999.

At today's mill rate of 42.21, I'd be paying $9,157 in real estate property taxes in New Haven for that apartment... PLUS private school tuition PLUS 6.25% state income tax.

By moving to Leander, I got a 3-BR/2.5-bath single family residence for $122,000 in a safe, quiet and attractive neighborhood PLUS a public school system I'm in love with PLUS no state income tax. Oh, and no having to fill a 500 gallon oil tank two or three times a heating season or deal w/ tenants.

A comparable single family home in a suburban New Haven community --where you wouldn't be afraid to send your child through the public school system-- start at ~$400k and go up quickly. My current home could probably be purchased for ~$500,000-$600,000 in CT.

TX Griff

[cdelena]

Originally Posted by TX-Griff

I came from inner-city New Haven... lived in a 2-BR/1-bath apartment of a 2-family home I bought for $217,000 in 1996.

If I remember correctly, the mill rate had just smacked up against the 40.x mark when I sold m'house... so I was paying ~$8,680 in real estate property taxes in 1999.

At today's mill rate of 42.21, I'd be paying $9,157 in real estate property taxes in New Haven for that apartment... PLUS private school tuition PLUS 6.25% state income tax.

By moving to Leander, I got a 3-BR/2.5-bath single family residence for $122,000 in a safe, quiet and attractive neighborhood PLUS a public school system I'm in love with PLUS no state income tax. Oh, and no having to fill a 500 gallon oil tank two or three times a heating season or deal w/ tenants.

A comparable single family home in a suburban New Haven community --where you wouldn't be afraid to send your child through the public school system-- start at ~$400k and go up quickly. My current home could probably be purchased for ~$500,000-$600,000 in CT.

TX Griff

Big difference between the two areas so I can see why you are happy with the move.

Maybe I am being ignorant but I don't think I can compare the level of property taxes on appraised value without knowing when the selling price of the home ($9,157 in real estate property taxes in New Haven against what value?).

[AustintoNYC]

I moved from Austin to NYC earlier this year and I have this to say.

You're right. Moving to Austin is a no brainer. If you have to think about it this much, then you shouldn't go.

It's 100 degrees from mid June to early October. It's growing too fast. Downtown is being ruined with new high rises. Too many outsiders are moving there.

And don't forget....the reason housing is so cheap is because pay is so low. From experience I can tell you the average salary for a college graduate is 30k.

The poster above mentions Leander. Just so you know....Leander is trailer park town with bad water problems. That's why it's so cheap. Not to mention it's about an hour from Austin in normal traffic. But she's right - it is in a very good school district (my mother used to teach there).

Yup. I gotta say.....don't do it.

With all that said - I gotta tell ya - it's the best place ever! I miss it so much I could just die. I really don't see what's so great about NYC. The quality of life in Austin is 100 times better.

[Catherinelady]

Your right, my grandmother was from Syracuse, NY and I was up there most summers when I was young. It is definitely a place where clouds go to die. I agree with you there!

[Mike78613]

Living in Texas, one thing I like are the flights into Mexico like Cancun or Cozumel. So much cheaper to fly from here to there!!
I feel for the one's up north that pay triple in airfare to visit paradise!!

These are only one of the cool benefits of living here in Texas.

And don't forget....the reason housing is so cheap is because pay is so low. From experience I can tell you the average salary for a college graduate is 30k.

If you come here to think you going to make bank like NY, California then don't come here to Austin. Even though a lot of people I know make 65K and more, do live pretty nice lifestyle. I don't make that kind of money, but in view I live pretty happy here.
Oh, yes it's true that people here that are UT grads working at Academy making ends meat like $30K a year, but they stay, why do they stay?!?!? Money is not the reason to live in Austin most of the time but there is plenty of cash to be made as it growing here........