[Scorpio1978]

Ok, here's the scoop....my fiance & I have moved alot in the last few years and are ready to unpack everything for good! We met in Louisiana (where I'm from, but he's a born & bred Yankee He was only there visiting his sister) and moved to Florida (I went to high school there, but it has changed for the worse in the last 10 years), we then moved to Brooklyn NY and loved it, but knew it was a temp. situation (we would have stayed, but can't afford to buy a house/apt. there) so we decided to pick a neutral location for both of us, that was geographically in the middle, with affordable housing and good weather, thinking it would be the best of both worlds. So we bought a house in Charlotte, NC... Wrong! We hate it here! The people CANNOT drive so it makes traffic hideous. (This coming from someone that just left Brooklyn!) Everyone is friendly, but they are also from NY or NJ so I don't think it really has anything to do with NC. The weather is nice, I'll give it that, but we need more than just nice weather. The main problem we have here is the HUGE number of illegal immigrants. It's not that we're racist, but rather that my fiance is in the flooring business and it makes it hard to get work if they are plenty of crews that will do it for half the money he gets paid. So, where should be go?

Here's the main info:

We're in our 20's and like to have things to do & see, but don't need a "bar or club scene" b/c we are really only occasional/social drinkers

We don't have any, or plan to have any children, so school's aren't really a factor

We aren't TOO picky about the weather. I don't want to have to shovel my car out of 12 ft of snow every morning, but some snow is fine and he can't take the humidity in the South, at least not the "Deep South"

We own a house now and would like to buy another, but we don't mind renting and saving for awhile b/c right now we could only afford about $100,000-$150,000 , which might get you a crack shack up North, maybe, if you're lucky

He's in the flooring business (ceramic tile is his specialty, but he does wood & carpet occasionally, they don't pay as well though) He'll get his lisence & insurance wherever we go that's not a major factor, but we need somewhere he will stay busy, get decent pay (anywhere from $4 to $8 a sq. foot in normal), and not have alot of "illegal" competition

Those are the main things.... Cool things to do and see, weather that isn't too extreme either way, good for a skilled trade/ tile guy, and affordable enough that we can rent for $1000 or less. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[sunshinecities]

Hi, wish I could help you more -hmmmm- I live near the Hartford CT area but it's expensive here to live - and there is quite a bit of snow here (last year there wasn't but that was unusual). ...perhaps just keep posting the same question in every state and somehow you'll come up with something. My husband and I almost moved to Charlotte! (I'm from NJ originally) Good luck - you'll find something!

[skytrekker]

Prices for housing in greater Hartford are slightly above the national median (219K vs 255k)

Snow averages around 42" a year- but that is increasingly becoming inconsistent due to Climate change. In the short range summers will be hotter, winters milder.

Traffic in central CT is not bad- its average in commute times.
Rents will start around $900 a month for a 1 bedroom in a higher quality community of apartments.

As for recreation, the state offers much in the way of art museums of global renown, Theater, Opera, among the best.
Lots of great state parks of excellent quality. Great restaurants, shopping, wineries, historic sites.
Very high quality of life in general.

[kettlepot]

Originally Posted by Scorpio1978

... that my fiance is in the flooring business and it makes it hard to get work if they are plenty of crews that will do it for half the money he gets paid. So, where should be go?

He's in the flooring business (ceramic tile is his specialty, but he does wood & carpet occasionally, they don't pay as well though) He'll get his lisence & insurance wherever we go that's not a major factor, but we need somewhere he will stay busy, get decent pay (anywhere from $4 to $8 a sq. foot in normal), and not have alot of "illegal" competition

Welcome to the economic world of the building trades where wages have been stagnant for years. Illegals aren't doing the work Americans won't do, they are doing the work Americans won't do for that low of a wage.

Given that illegal aliens tend to gravitate where there is a pre-existing community where they know someone with connections, I'd start looking for cities or states that have a lower than average proportion of the population that is foreign born. Add in your weather issues, you've really got a limited area to choose from. This is very unfortunate. You have my sympathy.

[S2000]

I would think the valley area (Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Derby, Ansonia, Seymour) might be affordable for you. Alot of construction folks in that area that in turn work in the Fairfield County area. I should know my dad has been a tile guy for years. Except I think he would put a down payment on a gold trimmed caddy if he could get $8 a foot, but in the gold coast of CT anything is possible.

Good luck.

[Scorpio1978]

Thanks everyone! We have some research to do. S2000 ~ Yeah, $8 is not for an average job, more like a specialty tile/pattern or wall/backsplash type work. I wish it was that high all the time!

[jeremeyk482]

Originally Posted by S2000

I would think the valley area (Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Derby, Ansonia, Seymour) might be affordable for you. Alot of construction folks in that area that in turn work in the Fairfield County area. I should know my dad has been a tile guy for years. Except I think he would put a down payment on a gold trimmed caddy if he could get $8 a foot, but in the gold coast of CT anything is possible.

Good luck.

I would remove Seymour, Ansonia and Beacon Falls from the "affordable" list. They no longer are. You can't find a decent home for under $250,000 there. Maybe in Naugatuck, Derby and Waterbury, but those aren't exactly desirable places IMO. Maybe check out eastern CT?

[JayCT]

For $100 to $150K, you could get a small decent condo in Middletown and that is right in the center of the state. You will have great access to most major cities including Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury. You could even get down to Fairfield County in about an hour. That will be improtant to finding a job for both of you. Middletown is a nice small city with a great downtown, great restaurants, theaters and shopping. As for rentals, there are a lot of nice apartments in the $900 to $1000 per month range. I highly recommend it. Check it out. Jay