Moving back to Long Island from NC (Nassau, Florida: foreclosure, home equity)

[Peter B]

I wouldn't move south of the Mason Dixon line if I was given a job and a free house

[jensen beach gal]

Originally Posted by Missing LI

We had left Manorville, but would have to stay in his parents house in Farmingville so I can hold on to my Clayton, NC home just in case we made a mistake in going back. I agree with everything you you said, the overcrowdedness of soccer games, malls, BJ's, Target, every other named store and the roads. Truthfully my husband and I both now want to stay but there really are no jobs opportunities here in NC for him. After he had quit the RPD, he was out of work for 5 long months. Now he is an inspector for the DMV but we would have to relocate to the Greenville area. Schools are not so good there. Don't know about private ones. My husband is torn as we speak. We hated it here for so long but now my Mom and her new husband moved here to Riverwood and now one of my three brothers are moving down and now we may leave. What to do?!

You are absolutely right about the schools in Greenville! I'm just outside of Greenville but still in Pitt County-I am very disappointed with the middle school my son is attending-and have checked the other schools in this county. Many of my friends that have moved here from out of state put their kids in private schools! The Oakwood School is supposed to be very good. Unfortunately as a single mom I can't afford to do that. We came up here from Fl, and I am seriously considering going back. We only came here to be closer to family and because it is much more affordable. I think I would rather scrape by in Florida and know my son is in a good school-his education is not something I want to sacrifice. I am amazed at the at the poor quality of these schools-it was an absolute shock! Too many stories too tell you! Good Luck with your move-hopefully we'll be moving soon also.

[I'minformed2]

Originally Posted by smalltownusa

I have a brother that would eat his hat before he'd admit he's sorry he left NY.....he's an Sept 2006 immigrant of the Triangle and already he's telling me 1) the groceries are higher than upstate NY 2) the gas is as high if not higher and 3) he gave up a beautiful colonial with property which he sold for 220,000 and the same size house/lot would sell for 700,000 in Raleigh...the slow realization he'll never own a home again was a shock as the hype is how much cheaper it is to live in NC...His boss tells him (contruction) not to talk in certain stores because they are not fond of Yankees and the traffic he hears and sees from his apt is non-stop 24/7...not exactly utopia for me.....oh he likes the weather although he has not lived through a summer yet...we'll see what he says in August

You don't even realise! I'll admit (and it would be ridiculous not to) that coming from Long Island/Downstate NY...NC is cheap (for now anwyays)....but NOT Upstate NY. Not only is everything you said true...but the school systems here are a mess. They provie a good education yes, but they are so unorganized and overcrowded that its insane. They do the districts counties rather than towns/cities...what a mistake. I'll make no complaints about paying higher taxes in Rochester when my kids are going to school in the town they live in, close to home, without the threat of being reassigned every year!

[jensen beach gal]

Originally Posted by Pj008

The bottom line is NY is out of control with house prices , taxes, etc. If you are not bringing home at least 100k a year you are not going to own a home on long island. The average person does not make 100k a year they are lucky to make half of that and what about the single people, single mothers etc. You can't even rent an apartment on long island making less than 40k a year. In NC you have single parents affording to own a home you have college kids waiting on tables a few nights a week affording to live on their own that is not possible in NY.

Speaking as a single mom you are right about the affordability of NC-I came up here from florida and I am currently renting-and am sure that I could by a house. BUT-the schools are awful!! I have got to get my son out of this school district-I am originally from NY and would go back in a heartbeat if I could afford it! Schools in the Northeast are much better. The Florida schools are better (where we were).It's soooo disappointing If it wasn't for the schools, I would consider staying. The atttitude towards education here among the kids in my son's middle school-is pitiful. My son's grades have gone down! He was an A/B student in Fla now it's C's and D's and communication between the the teachers and admin is like pulling teeth. You really have to fight to be heard here-so many kids must slip between the cracks Se we definetly have to go!

Does anyone have any suggestions for a single Mom-that wants to get her child into a good school-but in an affordable area????? I'm sure I am one of many people that want that answer

[jensen beach gal]

Originally Posted by smalltownusa

I have a brother that would eat his hat before he'd admit he's sorry he left NY.....he's an Sept 2006 immigrant of the Triangle and already he's telling me 1) the groceries are higher than upstate NY 2) the gas is as high if not higher and 3) he gave up a beautiful colonial with property which he sold for 220,000 and the same size house/lot would sell for 700,000 in Raleigh...the slow realization he'll never own a home again was a shock as the hype is how much cheaper it is to live in NC...His boss tells him (contruction) not to talk in certain stores because they are not fond of Yankees and the traffic he hears and sees from his apt is non-stop 24/7...not exactly utopia for me.....oh he likes the weather although he has not lived through a summer yet...we'll see what he says in August

I feel for your brother. I also regret moving here although I came from florida (originally NY). The groceries are higher here, they take a chunk out of my check for state tax-more taxes here than what we have in fl. As far as summer-its HOT. Obviously Florida is hot too-but at least we had the ocean breezes! I am 1 1/2 hrs from the beach-no breeze-just sticky hot. Oh and the schools are awful-sounds like your brother is on his own, luckily that won't be an issue for him. But my son and I are ready to go-and I have no problem admitting I made a mistake I hope things get better for him.

[Yorkiegirl16]

Originally Posted by jensen beach gal

I feel for your brother. I also regret moving here although I came from florida (originally NY). The groceries are higher here, they take a chunk out of my check for state tax-more taxes here than what we have in fl. As far as summer-its HOT. Obviously Florida is hot too-but at least we had the ocean breezes! I am 1 1/2 hrs from the beach-no breeze-just sticky hot. Oh and the schools are awful-sounds like your brother is on his own, luckily that won't be an issue for him. But my son and I are ready to go-and I have no problem admitting I made a mistake I hope things get better for him.

I can't believe how much the state of NC takes out of my paycheck..more than twice what NJ took out. Gasoline out here is about $2.89/gal. Very humbling and eye opening experience. Not to mention last night's local news report about the "explosive growth" in NC (particularly the Charlotte area).

PS: I'm NOT looking forward to August.

[jello212]

To anybody considering the move to NC or anywhere, I can simply say do your homework. While the finances will certainly play a role in the decision, they should not be THE decision. Visit the area, check out the stores, talk to the people, and decide if it is right for you. Relocation is a big decision and you need to go where you're going to be happy.

[Pj008]

Originally Posted by mhogan10010

I suppose that is true to an extent. Ultimately you have to be happy with yourself. However I can sympathize with the poster. I am originally from Michigan. I lived in the Tenn for 5 and NC for 12 years. Even after all that time I was still a Yankee. Especially in Eastern NC, they blame Yankees for everything from bed bugs to global warming. I actually heard a guy say after the big tobacco settlement that he believed them "Yankees wanted to kill all Southerners". I was once told by a guy that he hated Duke because their coach was a northerner and a Yankee.
I just got tired of hearing that kind of stupidity all the time.

I have to agree with you the ignorance is starting to get to me too.

[Pj008]

Originally Posted by jensen beach gal

Speaking as a single mom you are right about the affordability of NC-I came up here from florida and I am currently renting-and am sure that I could by a house. BUT-the schools are awful!! I have got to get my son out of this school district-I am originally from NY and would go back in a heartbeat if I could afford it! Schools in the Northeast are much better. The Florida schools are better (where we were).It's soooo disappointing If it wasn't for the schools, I would consider staying. The atttitude towards education here among the kids in my son's middle school-is pitiful. My son's grades have gone down! He was an A/B student in Fla now it's C's and D's and communication between the the teachers and admin is like pulling teeth. You really have to fight to be heard here-so many kids must slip between the cracks Se we definetly have to go!

Does anyone have any suggestions for a single Mom-that wants to get her child into a good school-but in an affordable area????? I'm sure I am one of many people that want that answer

The school my son is in is pretty good He hates it of course he wants to go back to NY. In guilford county Southeast middle and Southern are pretty good schools in affordable areas allthough in Southeast middle area it is hard to find rentals. Greatschools.com will help with info and parent reviews on schools. What part of NY are you from?

[jj_nycguy]

Wow, a $20k difference from NYC to LI. I'm a Project Manager in NYC and the exact same job on LI pays $100k less that I make. Even with my salary, it is a constant battle to make ends meet and the 3hrs + commute can wear you out. I've been commuting for over 15 years and there is no way to survive on a LI salary unless you leave paycheck to paycheck & charge everything else. LI is not a place for anyone who wants to have any quality of life. LI is designed for making as much as possible and leaving when a good opportunity arises. If you stay long enough; the 15hrs + days, stress of losing your job on a daily basis and threat of losing everything you worked hard for in less than six months (if unemployed); eventually you'll wind up in the hospital with heart problems, like everyone else my age. We're all on heart meds and most of my friends have already had their second heart attack and it's a matter of time before the third. Those of us that are healthy have left LI and went south where the stress levels are almost non-existent (compared to NY).

Well... sorry for venting but when I see people who wish they lived in the NY metro area, I know that they don't have any idea what it really means to live and raise a family here. Unless you make $200k or more, it's a constant battle to make ends meet... forgot about living in Queens or Brooklyn, which is even more expensive. $1.5M for a small 3bd ranch is not feasible for anyone trying to start a family. Even out east, in the country, the homes are enormous, expensive with taxes exceeding $15k/yr. UGH!

My scenario is not living an exotic life. My very simple 4bd home is $800k with $15k/yr in taxes (yearly increases of $2k). It is not large and it sits on a 60x100 lot. The $4000/mo mortgage, $500/mo on car insurance, $200/mo electric & $300/mo oil deliveries make it very difficult to survive. The people you see driving Escalades and Navigators are usually two income families, with a combined salary of $350-500k. Yes, there are plenty of wealthy on LI. Don't let the cars fool you, these wealthy people who have cleaning services who clean the inside of their homes, servers for running their parties, lawn crews to make their property look great and a pool service for their inground luxury pool with attached hot tub. This is not the average LI lifestyle.