[ctgator]

Originally Posted by DebbieF

I relocated from Conn to NC many years ago and it was the best move I ever made. I was nervous at first but you get so much more for your money down here and taxes are lower also. The school systems are awesome as is the shopping, hospitals, colleges, beaches, mountains. It is a wonderful place to raise a family. You wouldn't believe how many northerners I run into everyday not to mention those from Conn. If you ever want to come here send me a note.

We have lived in CT for the last 8 years - prior to that - Florida for 30 years (NEVER AGAIN IN THIS LIFETIME!!!!!!!!!!!) and prior to that - CT for 10 years. We moved back because New England is "home" but "home" has bare trees for 6 months out of the year and is pitch black at 4:30 in the afternoon in December. We're prisoners to the heat at least 6 months of the year. We are considering a move to NC. We would pick a populated area (vs. the mountains - beautiful but not for us to live). My husband would retire but I would work. I've been researching the Cary area. Schools are not issue for us. Any direction would be GREATLY appreciated. We are planning a trip in November to explore part of the State.

[Dragondog]

Cary NC is not cheap

barely less then most of Connecticut except Fairfield County.

[CityGirl52]

Hi CTGATOR,

I did some research on NC myself. The site that was incredible was trip advisor dot com and THIS site right here city data dot com. Both had a wealth of knowledge on it about NC's towns and cities. I learned that if I were to move there I'd live in ANY other county but Mecklenburg county. It's where Charlotte is, I'd only work there, but that's it. The taxes are different in all the different counties down there. There's city taxes, county taxes, property taxes, you name it. I found out through these two sites that you can live in one county and your neighbor across the street could be in another county and he or she would have to pay a city tax and you wouldn't because your county didn't have it set up that way. You want to research these counties out down there good. I sent you a PM message so look for it okay and let me know when you got it! I drove friends of mine down to SC in December and since then I've been researching the Carolina's out like you wouldn't believe. The real estate site that I thought was extremely good was allen hypen tate dot com, it was incredibly good to use. I ended up really liking Hickory, NC in Catawba county for real estate in my ball park. I found out that the school systems in NC were supposedly better there than in SC. One of the reasons why there's so many many young couples flocking to NC from the northeast on top of the wanting a roof over their heads, can you blame them? I certainly don't, if I were in their shoes I'd be already there myself! The friends that I drove down to SC in December? They love it there so far. The funniest thing was when her husband pulled in the driveway rolled down the window and yelled at the top of his lungs, okay the yanks are here, we're finally here, you can all go back in the house now. Well I thought it was hysterical, his wife certainly didn't! It was pay back for him when he met the next door neighbor and she told him that every one in their cul-de-sac was from the NORTHEAST and MIDWEST that there was ONE couple on the other side of them that was originally from SC born and raised and they were way too busy with their 2 kids to even care WHAT he had to say! Enjoy your visit to NC, I really liked it there a lot, we stopped in Hickory on the way to SC and we loved it there. I'd move there, but the thing that I am hesitant on is that humidity; I just want to see how my friends are going to get through their first year there and then I'll wait for one more year when they honestly make up their minds and then I'll decide. Right now I want to check out Colorado, there's NO humidity out there, that sounds like a plan to me! GOOD LUCK and ENJOY YOUR TRIP CHECKING NC OUT!

[Curious in CT]

Hey Citygirl,
Where in Colorado are you looking? I'm moving out there this December. My husband is transferring as a police officer. It's really breathtaking out there. So many outdoor activities to do all year long. I love CT but if you think about it, how many months do we really have to enjoy the outdoors without it being either too cold or too hot????? 4 months....maybe???? The humidity locks you into your air conditioned home unless you're a beach bum or own a pool and in the winter you really only get to enjoy sledding or skiing the day it snows because by the time the next day rolls around all the snow covered lawns and ski slopes are frozen up. Anyways, good luck in CO if you end up there.

[shakerp]

I'm with you on hating CT. The taxes, utilities, gloomy cold, you can have it. I have looked int the Carolinas North as well as South. Not quite sure where to look. I love the water so I need to be near the ocean or a good size lake without alligators. Cant stand the thought of another looooooong winter. Brrrrrrr.

[viper1142]

My wife and I have been in Florida since 1999. We live in north florida.
Alot of Florida is now overcrowded and is getting more expensive in
turns of cost of living.In florida you have a assessment cap of 3 percent
on your first home so the property taxes are low. The hitch is when you want
to move to another home., you lose the cap and now pay property taxes on
the full market value of the house.The humidity is terrible, bugs galore and florida rats run on your rooftops at night.Almost everyone has a landscaper
because it is too hot to do the work yourself.We are retired and live in
Palm Coast a small city of 60,000 people.

No one knows what will happen with the house insurance rates.
The rates increase every year. In addition to this water is very expensive.
Lawns are brown because of the low rainfall from january through May.

Conn. sounds pretty good to me outside of fairfield county.Anybody else
with thoughts on this matter?


Joe

[Dragondog]

Well Joe

lots of people who live in Connecticut think the grass is greener on the otherside. Human nature I guess. Then they sell, pack and go off to this new found place thinking its going to be so wonderful- and find out that things back in CT where not so bad- seen so many times.

Florida is just too expensive now in most areas. Plus getting home insurance costs thousands of dollars. Plus the heat and humidity, congestion, costs, crime, poor local services, not too bright local populace and lastly the spector of hurricanes- well many are leaving. I have met 3 families/couples who returned to Connecticut after many years.

People from many parts of the country think all of Connecticut is like Fairfield county. Fairfield county is basically the same as Long Island, and Northern New Jersey price wise. The rest of Connecticut is a relative bargin.

In eastern Connecticut (Tolland county, Windham county) You can buy a new home of 1750 square feet on a real decent wooded lot for 260-290K.

A more upscale colonial on one half-1 acre 2000 square feet, fireplace, wood floors, basement, family room double garage 325K. Try finding anything of this price in most of Florida! I see older dumps on both the east and west coast of Forida 'starting' at 300K.

A decent townhouse 1000 square feet and up, in a nice suburb of Hartford 165-185K

You are not the first person who has inquired about coming back to Connecticut- or coming for the first time here. The state outside of Fairfield county is simply not pricey. The greater Hartford area is priced at near 'fair value' for housing- meaning the average income can buy a condo or home.

And the weather- yes we still have a winter here- but winters in the last 15-20 have become milder- via climate change, and will get even warmer in the not too distant future. Its not the New England winter(s) of the past.

In Florida- the cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca, Sarasota, Tampa, Bradenton, Naples, Punta Gorda, Jacksonville etc are all priced between 25-70% above fair value! The median price for a single family home in Miami is near 400K , in the Hartford CT area it is 255K. Take into consideration the soaring costs of homeowners insurance- and you see why the state is now having problems. Its once cheap economy has become more expensive then Connecticut!

As far as North Carolina- I have neighbors who moved here from Florida, who lived in NC before- they do NOT like yankees! The state has a conservative streak that many from the NE may not like. Housing costs are less, except for Cary (median home 210K) but schools are below average, and local services lack because taxes are so low.

[New_Yorker]

Oh well. Enjoy the south.

Originally Posted by salatheel

I can't stand Connecticut. It is now the highest taxed state in the country. The weather is miserable. The highways are some of the worst in the country. I mean it takes forever for them to fix anything on the highways. The people are always in a rush. Housing costs are sky high.Utilities are real high. I just got back from the Carolinas and the gas in Charleston was 50 cents less a gallon. The people down south are so much friendlier and courteous.I will take 85 and sunny anyday over 45 and rainy! I would rather live anywhere down south or out west than Connecticut,Mass,Ny,and Nj!!!!!

[flgargoyle]

I lived in CT for 27 years, and have spent 26 years in FL. Next stop is SC. With family in CT, we visit fairly often, and have decided it is just too cold (your blood really does 'thin out'.) Greenville is the only area we can find where rural acreage is affordable near a city w/ jobs. We are buying 5-10 acres this fall (under 100K) and will move and build a house in a few years. This will be semi-retirement for us, so we don't care about schools, shopping, and fast food joints, etc. FL is just too hot for too much of the year, and it has become very crowded and expensive in recent years. I want to move back to the farm for my final years. If I won the lottery, I'd have a house in New England, and another one in the south somewhere, but this is my best compromise.

[joshua2415sj3]

We've happily moved from Clinton, Ct to Faison, NC in July 2006. Folks in the community here have totally embraced us- it's awesome. People go out of their way to welcome us, speak with us and help us. I know there are friendly people everywhere, but I tell you, the friendly people in Faison don't hide in their closets! We love it here! God sent us here for whatever reason, and we're happy!

Good luck all those considering CT- it's a beautiful state.