Escaping NY (Long Island).... Relocating Charlotte/Raleigh...which one? (Durham: apartment, foreclosed)

[freedomjunkie]

OK, I know a lot of you have been saying the job market is worse down there...BUT here's the deal...

I'm a graphic artist w/ tons of experience. My husband is an airbrush artist, paints mostly motorcycles and makes vinyl signs. I make 50K here, which is poverty level (cost of living etc.). Hubby's been laid off since December, My apartment is illegal, town is forcing me to get rid of it. I can't make the mortgage 2,200 a month plus all the bills, car insurance for 2 old cars is 1400 a year. I called the bank several times to re-negotiate and they say no. The home prices have dropped and no one is buying anyway, the house is barely worth what the mort is on it now even though I originally put down 60K (20%) and paid extra for a 6.875 interest rate. I did the smart thing and now don't qualify to get bailed out by any stimulus, bank programs. sigh. Plus the job market is nill here. I've been checkin monster.com/ craigslist etc. there are 7 jobs there (NC) to every 1 offered here.

So, the new plan is...

to squat on the house and not pay them until they evict me, ***k my credit score of 800+, and save my paychecks meanwhile. I could have possibly 10K in 5 months.

Then move to NC, my dream. As I am originally am from FLA but its too hot there. Rent a few years, get a job, then fix credit and buy my dream home on a few acres in the country.

Now, I have a doggie (sweet pitbull mix 50 lbs.) and no kids, 36 years old, married, am very capable of fixing a home up. We want to move to an area we can afford. I can probably find a job at 30K+ from what I've seen. Hubby is worried about crime areas, so I'm taking my vacation in a week and going down to scout out: Durham, Raleigh, Zebulon, Charlotte & Gastonia.

I can probably afford 700 a month max on my savings.

Asking you guys... what do ya think?

[chicagocubs]

at the risk of sounding like a broken record...please read the zillion of other posts...

THERE ARE NO JOBS HERE. DO NOT COME HERE WITHOUT A JOB. WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATIOS IN THE COUNTRY. YOU CANNOT RENT WITHOUT A JOB.

Recommend that you hang out there as long as possible. Again....

Wells Fargo just bought Wachovia. They are slashing jobs. Bank of America is laying off weekly. There are LITERALLY thousands of professional, highly qualified people all vying for the same, minimum wage jobs because there is nothing else out there!!

Sorry to sound mean, but, this seems to be a recurring theme.....

[freedomjunkie]

Argentina maybe LOL.

No seriously, I've checked the job situation.... you have more jobs down there for people with college. In my field especially. Web design & print design.

People won't hire you unless you already live down there.

I know you think that its bad there, but it IS better than here from what information I've gathered for the past 3 months.

[lowercountry]

I would disagree to some point that there are "no jobs" but much like everywhere else in the country right now it is hit and miss. It also depends on what you are willing to do for work; things outside of your area of expertise. My wife moved to Charlotte from Long Island a few years back and loves it here. Additionally, we run into some one from Long Island almost every week; pretty soon Charlotte will be annexed by Suffolk County, simply to make up for the lost tax revenue. :-)

[chicagocubs]

http://www.city-data.com/forum/north...thout-job.html

[BrianH1970]

Seeing as we're starting to see more threads with people finding employment around here, I say why not give it a whirl?

[freedomjunkie]

lol lowercountry yes i know, I used to have a RE brokerage and half the people selling were on there way down to NC. It went bust by the way

PS Chicagocubs.... I get it, I hear ya. Are you mad that people are moving there or something? I fully intend to go and get a job before I pack my sh*t in a uhaul and come down. BUT I need to go. I've always hated NY! HATE it! I'm a country girl and want to move back down south, so unless you have something constructive to say other than get a job first, leave me be.

[BrianH1970]

Originally Posted by freedomjunkie

lol lowercountry yes i know, I used to have a RE brokerage and half the people selling were on there way down to NC. It went bust by the way

PS Chicagocubs.... I get it, I hear ya. Are you mad that people are moving there or something? I fully intend to go and get a job before I pack my sh*t in a uhaul and come down. BUT I need to go. I've always hated NY! HATE it! I'm a country girl and want to move back down south, so unless you have something constructive to say other than get a job first, leave me be.

When we moved back here in October my wife found something in a couple of days. We're seeing a few threads here with people getting work. People are finding work here. So long as you have a plan B, you do what you feel is right for yourself and makes you happy.

[diamondplayer]

Originally Posted by freedomjunkie

lol lowercountry yes i know, I used to have a RE brokerage and half the people selling were on there way down to NC. It went bust by the way

PS Chicagocubs.... I get it, I hear ya. Are you mad that people are moving there or something? I fully intend to go and get a job before I pack my sh*t in a uhaul and come down. BUT I need to go. I've always hated NY! HATE it! I'm a country girl and want to move back down south, so unless you have something constructive to say other than get a job first, leave me be.

Chicagocubs is just emphasizing the need to have a secure job in place before making the move. There have been MANY people who have posted on here that did not have a job in hand and regretted their decision to relocate. Heed the warnings. BTW, If you do make the move go with Penske over U-Haul.

[freedomjunkie]

I must apologize to Ani... didn't mean to come off mean, its just that I will be foreclosed on soon...4-5 months. Rent here is about 1200 for a one bedroom in a bad area and my commute is an hour each way. I wouldn't be able to survive, I don't make enough. I'm coming down in a week to scout areas and then again every friday in may to interview for jobs.

I have to give it a whirl. No way I'm moving to Montana even though they have jobs... ever see Fargo? If I don't make it down there, its OHIO where mom's got a roof for me to live under for a while.

Big question.... What is the government going to do with all the unemployed homeless people & families?? Are they going to do anything at all? So bad up here they are closing animal shelters and just putting animals down... sad very sad.