Buffalo area; getting jobs from out of state.... (New York, Rochester: property taxes, apartment)

[WNYerinSOCAL]

I am originally from West Seneca and my husband is from Orchard Park. We moved out to southern California 10 years ago right after we married. We now have 4 small children, ages 7,5,4, and 1. We desperately want to move back to be closer to our families and to give the kids a better education. Not to mention to get out of the insane heat; it was 100 again today.

My husband is a school principal with CA and NY state certifications;but he is having a terrible time getting a job back there. He gets one or two interviews a year but seems they are more interested in him as a curiosity and not a true candidate. So we are considering putting our house in socal up and moving me and the kids back, hoping with a local address he might have better luck. Anyone else have a hard time getting a job back in NY from out of state or is it exclusive to the education field? I feel like they say they want the population to stop leaving the area but they are so close minded to hiring from out of state, I mean we are native western New Yorkers not true Californians.

Are we crazy to give up a good job in CA for no guarantees in WNY, the cold and low pay? Any one move back to the Buffalo area and love it! We are thinking Orchard Park, East Aurora, maybe Hamburg or Elma any new info on what's going on in those towns. I just want to do what is best for my kids and socal is no place for a good northeasterner to raise their kids or else they are a billionaire!

[MoMark]

Originally Posted by WNYerinSOCAL

I am originally from West Seneca and my husband is from Orchard Park. We moved out to southern California 10 years ago right after we married. We now have 4 small children, ages 7,5,4, and 1. We desperately want to move back to be closer to our families and to give the kids a better education. Not to mention to get out of the insane heat; it was 100 again today.

My husband is a school principal with CA and NY state certifications;but he is having a terrible time getting a job back there. He gets one or two interviews a year but seems they are more interested in him as a curiosity and not a true candidate. So we are considering putting our house in socal up and moving me and the kids back, hoping with a local address he might have better luck. Anyone else have a hard time getting a job back in NY from out of state or is it exclusive to the education field? I feel like they say they want the population to stop leaving the area but they are so close minded to hiring from out of state, I mean we are native western New Yorkers not true Californians.

Are we crazy to give up a good job in CA for no guarantees in WNY, the cold and low pay? Any one move back to the Buffalo area and love it! We are thinking Orchard Park, East Aurora, maybe Hamburg or Elma any new info on what's going on in those towns. I just want to do what is best for my kids and socal is no place for a good northeasterner to raise their kids or else they are a billionaire!

Well, I've never been to Buffalo, but I used to work for HSBC Bank in Las Vegas and I have friends who moved with Bank transfers to Buffalo after HSBC bought out Household Finance as the Buffalo location is the HSBC US center. They sold out in Las Vegas and bought gorgeous homes in Buffalo, and from what I was told, the city has very good and very bad areas. The very good areas have EXTRAORDINARILY high property taxes, but excellent schools as well. But I also understand that Buffalo is becoming a bit like Detroit, hollowed out as people flee the crime and taxes. I think if you would be happier there, then you should do what makes you and your husband happy. Maybe a job with HSBC there??? Your kids will love the seasons and snow just like any kids get crazed with snowfall. Christmases will be memorable and if family is there, all the better. Your kids are the least of your concerns I'd say. They'll adapt happily to the big adventure. It whether you and your husband are willing to uproot and move across the nation, move your household, pay the $7-10,000 moving costs (don't use Bekins!!! They SUCK SUCK SUCK!!!!!! -speaking from experience... ). I just think that if the property tax situation doesn't put you off, then it might be well worth it for overall happiness for you and your family

[WNYerinSOCAL]

Yeah the property tax is bad but you do get great schools from it in the areas we are looking. But the difference in housing is incredible. To buy a new home in socal we are looking at around 625K and that is with almost 2% tax rate and in the way out areas; like Yucaipa or the High Desert. In Orchard Park we are looking at a nice 4 bdrm 2800 sq ft w/ full basement on 1/2 acre for 298K.

I wish the area was more open to actually trying to get people back and not so close minded about hiring etc.

[RWilliams]

One of my very good friends is a teacher with 7 years experience here in WNY and she can't even get an interview let alone a new position. It seems that the schools that are hiring do most of it internally and only advertise because they are required to. I love WNY but if you are in education I don't think its a good place to look for work. Good luck!

[I'minformed2]

I am moving back to Rochester this summer from NC. Wetern NY is going through a pretty big change now..... manufacturing is still on it's way out but biotech and medical sceince/research jobs are starting to boom in both Buffalo and Rochester. I'm not as familiar with Buffalo, but I would suggest looking in a town that is growing at a healhty rate. In Rochester, that's Webster, which is the fastest growing town in WNY; they need more teachers so they are definitely willing to work with you. Try a relatviely fast growing Buffalo area town such as Lancaster. By the way I know exactly what you mean about being a true WNYer and wanting to come home. There is a sense of community and home there that just can't be replaced anywhere else.

[JWilliams]

I'm looking for work in IT in rochester right now and have had pretty good responses on my resumes, even though I'm quite far out of state. It surely depends on the field of expertise. My resume also reads very, very well. I know that looking for a job remotely is ALWAYS harder, but I've been pleasantly surprised at the number of employers willing to seriously consider me. Granted, no offers yet, but I expect one soon.

The economy in Rochester is better than that in Buffalo, at least in a general sense.

I don't know your financial situation, but it would be very risky dropping a job and moving an entire family and possessions up north without something lined up. It may work for you, though.

Good luck. I really hope things work for you and I definitely understand wanting to get out of a high-cost traffic-is-my-life place.

[WNYerinSOCAL]

I think it is too risky too. But we would buy a house move the kids and myself and my husband would stay in Cali with his job until one came up in NY. My fear is being there years latter without him still. But I really feel the kids are lossing out living here in so cal. It is sooo hard I go back and forth.

My best friend and her husband live the Rochester area and I know she loves it. She is originally from Buffalo too.

I did find a job posting in Webster but they want someone ASAP and I have found that generally means they don't want to mess with out of staters. I just wish education back there was a bit more open as other industries seem to be.

[JWilliams]

Originally Posted by WNYerinSOCAL

I think it is too risky too. But we would buy a house move the kids and myself and my husband would stay in Cali with his job until one came up in NY. My fear is being there years latter without him still. But I really feel the kids are lossing out living here in so cal. It is sooo hard I go back and forth.

My best friend and her husband live the Rochester area and I know she loves it. She is originally from Buffalo too.

I did find a job posting in Webster but they want someone ASAP and I have found that generally means they don't want to mess with out of staters. I just wish education back there was a bit more open as other industries seem to be.

How would you in Buffalo assist your husband finding work if he is in CA?

In any case, you could keep your house in Cal and get a cheap apartment in Buffalo while you figure things out a bit. I am sure you've considered all of this, of course.

[WNYerinSOCAL]

Just having a local address and he would be in town on his vacations etc. I know our plan has a ton of holes in it. I wish I had a better one, or a location we liked as much that did seem more favorable for hiring out of staters. But in educational administration I have found it is quite difficult even in growing areas as a lot of administrators are hired from within. But it does seem as if district level personel is hired from out of state more often. Thanks for the input, it is good to hear from an outside source.

[Socalpal]

I am looking to move to the Buffalo area as well..... I am originally from southern california, and my employer had me working on and off in Buffalo, for the past three months. Now that the project has finished I kind of miss Buffalo. I am looking to move out there as well.... Housing prices are much more reasonable and the quality of life is much better. With regards to housing, what would one consider to be a nice area of Buffalo?