Moving back to Long Island from NC (Islip, Levittown: daycare, homes)

[amsm196]

Ah if the NC natives aren't happy with all the New Yorkers relocating then to bad. The NC natives have to wake up and realize this is America. Move where you want to and be happy. Ignore the pesty natives.

Originally Posted by GCGuy

Melting pot? It seems like it's relocated NY/NJ people that couldn't afford the NE and the native NC folk that likely hate the Yankee invasion.

As a client from NC says...Cary, NC...Containment Area for Relocated Yankees.

[nyforlife]

Originally Posted by rperreta

Let me tell you something - We moved from Queens to Hicksville LI and we have been living here now for about 14 years and my wife and I to this day still feel like an outcast. Why? Well, lets start with the stuck up mothers in the schools that think there sh*t don't stink because there driving a Benz or BMW... Everyone is so superficial, they pretend to be friendly and the minute you turn around the gossip starts... I had my fair share of the bull and I can't wait to the day I say goodbye to LI!

I hear you....im a brooklyn girl who moved out to long island 12 years ago,these people are out of control they think they are better, lets not forget the mothers who instead of telling you the town they live in when you ask they tell you the school district there in. for instance "oh were do you live" oh....im in "3 Village".....................WHATEVER............. ...............LOSER

[Mizmoon2006]

Why are you letting what other people think bother you so much? Who cares what they think?

[Sunrise Hwy]

Hi, I know a lot of people in my church that moved to the Carolinas', Florida, and Georgia.

Most of them left not because is impossible to live in Long Island, but because they were in a lot of debt.

I make close to $50K a year, bought a brand new house last November, I'm married and have two children, and I still drive a '99 Cavalier I bought brand new back then.

It is possible to live in Long Island. I moved here from Texas 6 years ago and I love it.

A word of advice: Be content with what U have and do not fall into the snare of Credit. Credit is not money, is Debt.

Many people complain and blame the state or the economy... but if U look close, U'll find out that the reason U can't make it is because U owe more than U can pay.

HOPE U ALL WELL

[momix5]

People move from LI also because of the superficial standard of living. I drive an Expedition because I have 5 children, when I bought one of the mothers on my son's soccer team said oh you have another car? I used to drive that one until I got an Escalade. This is the mentality on LI I am better than you, I myself cannot wait to say goodbye also, and it is expensive to live here, my taxes have doubled in 5 years, the increase last year was 1,000.00 for the year. Yes, most LI people do live beyond what they make, but there are plenty of LI that are working 3 jobs and using a credit card for food.

[PhilG]

I agree with you Sunrise. I moved upstate for college in '97, met my wife, and ended up settling here. I wish I could move back. I earn just a little more than you, and my wife does not work outside the home anymore now that we've had our first child several months ago. We save, live in a two-family home in Albany that we own and that has increased in value tremendously, and we've purchased several investment properties. We've been able to do this because we did not spend our money on cars, vacations (well, one cruise), $2k televisions, or very little else for that matter. We purchased beautiful furniture for our home that we plan to keep for many, many years, and we are going to Europe next summer (splurge). Those are the only expensive purchases we've made or will make in the near future. Basically, what one earns matters - to an extent. Money management is equally or arguably much more important.

I would love to move back to the south shore, albeit only for the fact that I'll be back on the south shore. I know I'll be paying through the nose for taxes and for the initial property purchase, but that's the premium we must resign ourselves to for the luxury of living in a beautiful area close to the ocean, NYC, my family, several large airports, food, culture and, again, the ocean (it's worth repeating!). In a few years, we would like to liquidate our investment properties and purchase for cash, or at least make a very large downpayment on, a nice family home somewhere in Babylon, West Islip, or possibly a little bit further east.

The one problem we'll face, though, is that I will still have a relatively low income that must support a 1k or more per month tax/insurance budget or escrow as well as all the other expenses of a small family without the second income. We also want to send our daughter (children??) to a private Christian school. That being said, though we have, can and would live below our means, we will still likely not be able to afford living on LI on a teacher's salary.

Sunrise, how did you manage to buy your house on a 50k/year salary? Did you save 100s of thousands over the past few years? Did you buy a small condo? Can you tell me how so I can do the same?

[Peter B]

Cheaper to live but the reality is you're in North Carolina, hours from beach or mountains without decent bagels, pizza , chinese food, etc. I'll take the seabreeze on the South Shore of LI , thank you

Originally Posted by lynnsprufera

We moved to Raleigh in July 06 and the difference in bills are as follows:

My utilities are 1/3rd less in the summer and 1/2 less in the winter months. Gas heat in Raleigh vs. Oil in St. James.
Water bills are larger here. This is one reason why people often enjoy smaller properties. Probably double but this bill was one of my smaller bills.
Property txs run around .60 cts per 100 assessed value. Example 500,000. would run $3,000. and in Cary and the city limits of Raleigh it is 1.05 per 100so the same 500,000 house would be 5,250.
Salary depends on what you relocate to do. The Research Triangle Park hosts many large pharmaceutical firms, Cisco, SAS, IBM. So the high tech people get paid very well. My sister-in-law is a paralegal and she would earn 5,000. more than she does on the Island along with those benefits that she doesn't have now. Blue collar work is a different story, it seems a bit lower. Teachers are non union 40,000 to start. Police make around the same to start. Food is about the same. Some say it's higher but I don't see this. The schools are different. More diverse socioeconomically but offer sound educations. Some of the High Schools in the area enjoy much higher average SAT scores than good school districts on LI and they offer students a block schedule allowing them opportunites to advance past their grade levels. Schools are a bit crowded, some more than others but they are trying to keep pace with rapid growth. My 6th grade son is in a trailer but the whole school is being remodeled and rebuilt. It doesn't bother him or me and when he switches classes he is in the new building. He is allowed to take elective courses in Astronomy and other interesting subjects. The big thing is the food. People from NY( which is almost everyone ) complain about missing certain favorites but usually seem to find some new places that make them happy. No butchers- but there is a Fresh Market that has nice meats. Cars are taxed with a vehicle property tax - it is based on the car's value. My husband's 06 Ford Pick up truck was 234.00 for the year. It really is cheaper to live, no doubt.

[nynraleigh]

Originally Posted by Sunrise Hwy

Hi, I know a lot of people in my church that moved to the Carolinas', Florida, and Georgia.

Most of them left not because is impossible to live in Long Island, but because they were in a lot of debt.

I make close to $50K a year, bought a brand new house last November, I'm married and have two children, and I still drive a '99 Cavalier I bought brand new back then.

It is possible to live in Long Island. I moved here from Texas 6 years ago and I love it.

A word of advice: Be content with what U have and do not fall into the snare of Credit. Credit is not money, is Debt.

Many people complain and blame the state or the economy... but if U look close, U'll find out that the reason U can't make it is because U owe more than U can pay.

HOPE U ALL WELL

I am not sure where you bought a brand new house on Long Island with a wife and 2 children. I am single, no debt, and could not afford a home on Long Island...paying a 3,000 a month mortgage payment would not have been a wise decision for me. I could not find a home less than $350k that was in decent shape and taxes less than 6k a year...I even considered the Shirley/Mastic area, but after growing up in West Islip and living in Wading River, I could not deal with the change. I am curious to find out how you are managing with a family, I couldn't do it as a single person. I was making a decent salary on Long Island, close to yours. I am now in NC, making the same salary, still no debt, and I am purchasing a brand new home (being built) for $152,000, same house on Long Island would be $400,000 and it would be 20+ years old...and my taxes here will be about 1,000 a year...I am able to do that in NC...not Long Island...and plan better for retirement as well. I am definitely missing something in your post...please enlighten us...

[momix5]

How can you not be in debt on LI with taxes being raised in my area 950.00 dollars ayear, my oil delivery for a 3 bed house was 500.00 for 2 months worth of oil, my car ins. is through the roof, no tkts, no accidents. and forget about LIPA.

[HockeyMom72]

Originally Posted by momix5

How can you not be in debt on LI with taxes being raised in my area 950.00 dollars ayear, my oil delivery for a 3 bed house was 500.00 for 2 months worth of oil, my car ins. is through the roof, no tkts, no accidents. and forget about LIPA.

Be grateful you have oil and not natural gas heat. My gas bill for ONE MONTH was $400. KEYSPAN takes on all these surcharges, plus if you don't pay it on time (within 2 WEEKS), they add INTEREST to you next month's bill. KEYPSAN is worse than LIPA. LIPA doesn't charge late interest at least.