Impressions of a northerner for possible relocation (Columbia, Charleston: real estate, co-op)

[UnemployedFinanceGuy]

I just returned back home to NY from an exporatory trip to the south eastern states for possible relocation there. I must say that Columbia, SC has really impressed me and everything I have heard about it are spot on.

What I was expecting to see was a conservative city with bible thumping preachers and a general "don't move down here among us good old boys" attitude. Instead what I 'discovered' was a pleasant mid sized city of highly educated progressive people who are very welcoming and supportive of people moving to their great city. Not to mention the drop dead gorgeous women with wonderfully pleasant (un-New York like) personalities who knocked my socks off everywhere I went.

As if this was not enough, there was another huge pleasant surprise waiting for me and that is the real estate. I was constantly rubbing my eyes in disbelief at what a mere $ 80,000 could buy you in Columbia. The entertainment scene also would not seem out of place in New York - except that it seems to wind down a lot earlier. My only complaint? The steam room like humidity and the 1000 degree heat (I had to shower at least twice a day to feel marginally clean).

God, I feel like Columbus having just 'discovered' America. All you guys living in Columbia are so, so lucky and I hope to be joining you in the near future.

[Columbiadata]

I'm so glad you feel that way. These hills roll just right around here. Come on down.

[waccamatt]

Come on down; you will be surprised at how liberal Columbia is compare to most Southern cities its size. I moved here from New Jersey many years ago and I'm sure you will enjoy the city. Unfortunately, I don't know how good the job market is for you at the moment. I work in banking and many banks and credit unions are not hiring extensively at the moment. I'm sure that hiatus will be short-lived, however.

[jlboney]

A lot of people are surprised to find that the common misconceptions about this area of the country just aren't true. You really have to at least visit a place to know anything about it. Glad to hear that you like our area and I hope you choose to join us in the near future.

[UnemployedFinanceGuy]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

Unfortunately, I don't know how good the job market is for you at the moment. I work in banking and many banks and credit unions are not hiring extensively at the moment. I'm sure that hiatus will be short-lived, however.

I sure hope that hiatus is short lived as well...I have pretty much given up looking for a job in Finance - it is an absolute tight freeze. Even the hedge funds are not hiring - go figure. But I just sold my co-op in NY and will have enough to live on rather well for the next year or more. I am looking now for a good quality of life at a rather low cost - the perfect compromise if you will.

I believe that Columbia offers such a perfect compromise - a fairly liberal city with a huge education, cultural and entertainment scene at an astonishingly low (well, compared to the northeast anyway) cost. Enormous park space, historic architecture and an unbeatable bar, restaurant and cafe scene only add to the legendary charm of Columbia.

I just need to figure out how to deal with the blanket like humidity - I suppose eventually I will just get used to it. Locals I met on the last trip (mostly University students) advised me to drink a lot of beer to deal with the heat and humidity. Oh well, whatever works...

[ranger17]

we recently moved down from the Madison WI area, and have really liked what we have seen and where we have been so far. The area itself has had many things to offer us; and a couple hr drive takes you to the ocean ( another plus being from the midwest ). Yes it's hot now, but for us--sure beats deep snow and frigid temps ( well, we could drink plenty of beer for that as well! ).

good luck!

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by UnemployedFinanceGuy

I sure hope that hiatus is short lived as well...I have pretty much given up looking for a job in Finance - it is an absolute tight freeze. Even the hedge funds are not hiring - go figure. But I just sold my co-op in NY and will have enough to live on rather well for the next year or more. I am looking now for a good quality of life at a rather low cost - the perfect compromise if you will.

I believe that Columbia offers such a perfect compromise - a fairly liberal city with a huge education, cultural and entertainment scene at an astonishingly low (well, compared to the northeast anyway) cost. Enormous park space, historic architecture and an unbeatable bar, restaurant and cafe scene only add to the legendary charm of Columbia.

I just need to figure out how to deal with the blanket like humidity - I suppose eventually I will just get used to it. Locals I met on the last trip (mostly University students) advised me to drink a lot of beer to deal with the heat and humidity. Oh well, whatever works...

I really don't think it's any more humid than New York, it's just hotter for a longer period of time. In a couple of weeks it will start getting a little cooler at night.

[Rybar]

Glad to hear you were impressed by Columbia. Come on down here, we'd love to have you! As far as the humidity, yes, it is very hot and humid from June-September. But, I justify the humidity by saying that almost all places have negative climate aspects, and the weather is usually perfect from October-May. In Columbia, it's 65 degrees and sunny in December, while the Northeast is blanketed in snow and freeze. You can go jogging in the park here in February while your NY friends are shoveling snow!

Here are things you WON"T have to worry about in Columbia. Extreme cold (Northeast), tornadoes (midwest), wildfires (California), Earthquakes (California), Hurricanes (well, at least not as much as the coast of SC and the Gulf Coast areas), constant rain (Northwest), smog, air quality, etc.

So, the only real negative aspect of the climate here is the summer humdity, but, almost all places have negative weather at one time of the year or another. And, you also don't have to live in cosntant fear of a major natural diaster destroying your home in any given year. (tornado, hurricane or earthquke). The biggest concern would be a hurricane, but we are far enough from the ocean to not be completely devestated like Charleston or Myrtle Beach would be.

[michakaveli]

Coming from a CT transplant, if you have a good attitude, you'll be just fine in SC.

Speaking of humidity, there have been a few humid days, but in the NE part of town, nothing like what I remember in central CT in the summer. Just to note, I've noticed that different parts of Columbia have noticeably different levels of humidity, (probably due to minor changes in elevation, etc...)

Good Luck!

[HowardRoarke]

We relocated to Columbia from Upstate, NY, two years ago, spent a year there, then moved again, this time to Greenville. Both cities have a lot to offer.

Columbia is nice, overall. People there are great, just like pretty much the rest of SC. The metro has lots to offer for just about any lifestyle (urban, suburban, ex-urban, rural), and is close to outdoor recreation sites and other cities.

One big positive for Columbia is the university, and there are other good colleges around town, too. One factor which makes the metro kinda stable are the # of government and regional corporate HQ jobs, there. Ft. Jackson helps, too. Some of our friends are contractors for state gov't. and Blue Cross.

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