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I'm living on Long Island now, and it's gotten so expensive we'll go bankrupt if we don't get away. A $3,000 monthly mortgage plus living expenses for 1,500 sf of living space seems pretty insane when I compare to what I see when I look at North Carolina.
What do you think? Is a family of four with a 14 year-old and 11 year-old boy going to find a better life in Charlotte?
I'm living on Long Island now, and it's gotten so expensive we'll go bankrupt if we don't get away. A $3,000 monthly mortgage plus living expenses for 1,500 sf of living space seems pretty insane when I compare to what I see when I look at North Carolina.
What do you think? Is a family of four with a 14 year-old and 11 year-old boy going to find a better life in Charlotte?
Plenty of people in that exact situation have Personally, I cannot imagine living anywhere that I would have to pay even half that amount for a 1500 square foot home - but then I like to have my money available for trips to the Bahamas every summer Come on down and take a look, NC is a great place to raise your kids.
I lived in Long Island for 6 years. It is the best place I have ever lived in. I lived in Columbia SC, and currently I live in Raleigh NC. I moved out becasue of the same reason your moving out right now- living becoming unaffordable. I don't want to disappoint you, but no place like NY and Long Island. If I can afford it, I would move back in a heart beat.
As stated a million times on here, its all relative, Higher cost of living in NY higher rate of income in NY,Lower cost of living in NC lower income in NC. This is true in general and things here are getting more expensive as population in metros increase. Bottom line a place wont make you happy ,you have to make you happy no matter where you move. Good luck
I agree with the others - there's no telling if you'll be HAPPIER in NC, but you may feel a little more RELIEVED (especially with how much house you can get for the money).
My family moved to SC in July 2006 and while we're making better salaries than we *expected*, and our mortgage dropped by almost half for a bigger and newer house, we are still living paycheck to paycheck (although we don't live in fear of losing our house like we did in NoNJ).
The good news for us is that we'll be able to breath more in August 2008 when one kid finally gets out of full-time daycare and one of our cars gets paid off. And in August 2009 we'll feel like we're rich when the 2nd car is paid off and the 2nd kid leaves full-time daycare as well. *lol*
But don't move down here expecting it to be like Long Island - it won't be. They are two completely different animals. But NC/SC are both great places if you come here with the right mindset!!
I agree with what Girl said. It's hard to predict whether or not you'll be happier. So much more affects our happiness than just finances. Though it definitely plays a big part. Hard to be happy when you're in fear of losing everything.
Life is what you make of it. Be willing to step out and take some chances. If it doesn't work out for you here, you can move on and say that at least you did something about your situation. At least you weren't too chicken to take a chance and see what else is out there.
If you can, take a trip here (a few days to a week) to whatever area(s) you're interested in. See firsthand what it's like here. Go to real places (neighborhoods in your price range - do your online research, shopping centers, grocery stores, etc.), take your time driving around the city(ies) of your choice. Talk to people who live here. Ask questions. Get a real feel for the place.
I agree with "Girl" about her views. Don't move here if in your mind you are thinking NC is anyway similar to NY. It does have it's positive attributes as well as negative. I certainly would not move in the "Heart" of Charlotte, be careful of the crime etc... you may want to move to a quieter place like the Triad area of NC (Winston-Salem, High Point & Greensboro) it provides city life with some rural areas. Housing does not cost as much here, and the area is growing. Also, I disagree with the comments made regarding pay, I relocated here with my job and after relocating here they shut down, I found myself at a loss, but got back on my feet and landed a much better higher paying job! The jobs are out there.. unfortunately they require hardwork to find them.
I can only agree with what everyone says here. In research of NC as well as other places, it is relative. You make get more house for your money but may still live ck to ck...I do not know what kind of mortgage you have or the term on it, but maybe you can refinance if you have 20 yrs left, refin to 30 will lower the payments...that is one alternative ... you see to look as costs, and income comparison...a lot of the money things on line are helpful but they cannot tell you how you live, while $100k a yr may be good for one family, $100k for another is not, your lifesytle etc factors in .... There are many people, everywhere, in a simialr situation. While we may feel it here on LI more (I live here too), if you live in the midwest and only have $500 mtge but your income is low, the same thing is felt ... I do not think there are any easy answers but best of luck to you..
One last thing, are you getting a huge amt back at the end of the yr for taxes, if so, added a deduction to get a little more in your ck, and get a little less later on, this may help.. again all the best
I agree with "Girl" about her views. Don't move here if in your mind you are thinking NC is anyway similar to NY. It does have it's positive attributes as well as negative. I certainly would not move in the "Heart" of Charlotte, be careful of the crime etc... you may want to move to a quieter place like the Triad area of NC (Winston-Salem, High Point & Greensboro) it provides city life with some rural areas. Housing does not cost as much here, and the area is growing. Also, I disagree with the comments made regarding pay, I relocated here with my job and after relocating here they shut down, I found myself at a loss, but got back on my feet and landed a much better higher paying job! The jobs are out there.. unfortunately they require hardwork to find them.
Good Luck!
The median income in NC is lower then NY so as a state average pay is lower. Of coarse there are individual exceptions but they go both ways lower and higher but average for state is lower which is why the cost of living is lower or was lower now is getting higher. If moving is based simply on how cheap a place is to live the fact is alot of places real close to LI are cheaper then Raleigh and Charlotte, example upstate NY,Ohio, PA all have cheaper areas then you can buy a house here, reality Raleigh is not that cheap a place anymore. You should check all your options and maybe you will find your perfect place closer to family then you thought.
Mike, do you go into the city a lot? Do you go to the beach a lot? Do you like eating out at new hip restaurants 5 times a week? If so you may not be too happy here. Make a list about what you love about Long Island, then visit down here, go home, & reflect.
I know there is a NC myth out there about Yankees seeing NC & abandoning their lives for the promised land, but, at least in my situation, I know of just as many people who visited here & then decided to stay put as I do those who decided to make the move.
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Personally, I cannot imagine living anywhere that I would have to pay even half that amount for a 1500 square foot home - but then I like to have my money available for trips to the Bahamas every summer 
Come on down and take a look, NC is a great place to raise your kids.
