How many of you are looking to move out of Michigan? (Detroit: property taxes, housing)

[princessemichigan]

Originally Posted by redwingsfan19

What part of Canton are you living in, we lived just north of Palmer West of Morton Taylor, in the Franklin Palmer sub. So sorry to her about your situation, we were in the same shoes. We just loved Canton, great place to live and raise children but me loosing my job and not being able to find another one really made life hard for us. We pretty much gave our house away back in April, it was only on the market for 2 weeks and it sold, then my wife and I worked 10-14 hour days to get my mother in laws house ready for us to move into, it took us a full month to flip that house in Westland, I will never forget this experience for as long as I live.
And then the move, we are so grateful for the memebers of our church that came over to help us move from Canton to Westland, we moved a 4 bedroom house, 2 car garage, 10x12 shed into a 3 bedroom, 1 car garage and a 5x5 leaky shed. You have to move and do it before things get worse, once the 13,000 plus FORD lose thir jobs, things will get much worse. Let me know if you need some info on the company that I work for here in Wichita, KS. I didn't even know where Wichita was
Good luck and please drop me a line.

LOL! We are North of Palmer off Haggerty. We love Canton too. It's funny that so many homes around here are sitting empty, most are foreclosures. I know it's gonna get scary when Chrysler and Ford do all those layoffs. We have 4 children and would like to move somewhere near family if possible. We are looking into Georgia, Florida, Nevada, Virginia, and NC, at the moment. Actually my DH did receive a job offer in IL, he has until Monday to make a final decision. I don't think he will take it, the pay is great but nothing special to move for, I really don't like IL. Also, the area we would like to stay in, with his salary, I would have to get a job also or things would be tight. Also we would love to escape the snow.

[redwingsfan19]

Originally Posted by princessemichigan

LOL! We are North of Palmer off Haggerty. We love Canton too. It's funny that so many homes around here are sitting empty, most are foreclosures. I know it's gonna get scary when Chrysler and Ford do all those layoffs. We have 4 children and would like to move somewhere near family if possible. We are looking into Georgia, Florida, Nevada, Virginia, and NC, at the moment. Actually my DH did receive a job offer in IL, he has until Monday to make a final decision. I don't think he will take it, the pay is great but nothing special to move for, I really don't like IL. Also, the area we would like to stay in, with his salary, I would have to get a job also or things would be tight. Also we would love to escape the snow.

We lived there almost 13 years and just loved it, even with the winters and the bad roads. Moving to IL. you wll not escape the snow
So many memories, so many good times but change is good, it is very hard in the beginning but just like anything else you'll get used to it. Do you know the Horvath's by any chance?

[Southernkomfort27]

Originally Posted by magellan

Well jeez, that's the answer. Let's build more casinos in Michigan. You won't win this argument with me. Vegas is a dung-heap of a town (and yes, I have ventured off of the strip and seen the rest of the metro area).

Wow, talk about naysayers. If it's not in Michigan it's no good...is that what we're saying?

[MIhome]

Originally Posted by Southernkomfort27

Wow, talk about naysayers. If it's not in Michigan it's no good...is that what we're saying?

No this just comes from people who visit areas other than michigan for a few days,then they are experts in that area.Typical,michigan mentallity,and unfortunately,this is why michigan is in the shape it is in,again no visionaries,for anything,not even their own future's,and their children's,sad but true.

[trinkit]

Originally Posted by MichiganTrap

If Jennifer Granholm had any dignity she would admit she is incapable of doing the job she is being paid an unwarranted high wage to do and resign. She should be ashamed of herself for what she has done to this state and to the people here. She has taken our money, driven away jobs - not to mention our families and friends, driven down the value of our homes because no one in their right mind would want to come here. And what has she given us? Bigger government, illegals and foreigners here on h1b visas (to replace all of our family and friends who were lucky enough to escape...gotta revitalize the tax base), crappy schools, a great big state police station, the lasting stigma of just the word Michigan or Detroit...did she give us those stupid blue things over 94?

AMEN! I wish I was still in the state so that I could sign a recall petition.

[trinkit]

Originally Posted by scottmi

1) YES, you will miss your family and if you move VERY far away, you may not be able to see them except maybe once a year...perhaps longer. HOWEVER, since you are at least married, you won't be venturing out into a new state ALONE, which is quite daunting.

2) YES, looking for work outside of the state is VERY expensive & time consuming. This is the only way I can think of doing a long-distance move where a few-hour long car-ride won't get you there (and really, the only states nearby are Ohio, Indiana and Illinois...states I'd REALLY avoid): You should send out your info ALL OVER the country using Monster, Career Builder, Craigslist, etc.....don't be state selective, shove them EVERY PLACE imagineable.

Let potential employers know that you are willing to be interviewed but only if they foot the bill completely for the interview and if they cover part or all of your moving expenses. YES, this will radically reduce your chances but even if only 1% of the companies you aim for take you up on this, you can almost bet your job is guaranteed (afterall, why would a company buy plane tickets, pay for hotels, etc. if they weren't super interested???). You might be living in Idaho instead of California or Florida but you know what? A good job is better than NO job or a job that is going nowhere fast.

3) YES, moving out of state is VERY expensive. If you have a house now in Michigan, it'll be even more expensive when you're paying a mortgage until it sells and rent/mortgage in a new place as well. I'd suggest having a few thousand dollars at least at your disposal when a move might happen.

I used Monster.com and the company that I'm now working for did a telephone interview -- the negotiations went on for 4 months before I finally made the move. I received MANY inquiries from all over the country, but I wanted to stay on the east coast or the southeast states. What I have found is that most employers are willing to do a telephone interview but, once hired, you will be on a 90-day probationary period (understandable), so in THAT time you need to focus on your job 150% in order to prove that you were a good hire. (I was almost passed over for this job because my boss expected me down here in September, but I couldn't get here until October -- but he has since told me that I was the best choice he could have made and the wait was well worth it.)

I asked EVERY question I could think of (still got a few surprises -- guess you can't think of EVERYTHING). Hubby is still in Michigan, but will be coming down to South Carolina as soon as our home sells. Yes, I miss him terribly (he is my main source of moral support) but we spend HOURS on the phone at night. I've met some great friends here (also from Michigan) who have taken me under their wing and allowed me to rent their camper, temporarily, so that I could save on motel bills. Although my expenses are reimbursed, I need to pay them FIRST, and then wait 2 weeks before being reimbursed. I figured that I needed $3000 cash before coming here -- which required me putting off Michigan bills for a month, but I caught them all up with my first good paycheck.

I'm on per diem right now because my permanent residence is in Michigan, so THAT money covers the expenses of living here (just found a house to rent for $575) along with food, utilities, internet, cable, etc. Once the house in Michigan sells, and we buy down here, the costs will be less, but I'll also lose the per diem. It all balances out.

I have a very dysfunctional family, so the only people I'll miss are my youngest daughter and my oldest granddaughter. However, we'll be able to visit them occasionally and they'll have a place in the south to visit.

[trinkit]

Originally Posted by magellan

In fact, I've heard that in many areas in the South, new transplants are having a hard time finding jobs because companies like to hire locally before they hire newcomers (unless of course it's a position that is very hard to find locally).

The best advice I've seen on this forum, or any forum for that matter, is secure the job FIRST before making the move. Also ask about OTHER job prospects in the area, just in case that one doesn't work out.

[trinkit]

Originally Posted by magellan

Come on MIHome. There is nothing to do in Vegas other than gambling. There is no "tourism" industry other than gambling.

You are wrong, Magellan. My husband and I used to go to Vegas almost every year and RARELY gambled. We used it as a "base": my mother lived in LA and it was cheaper to fly into Vegas, rent a car and drive to LA than it was to fly into either LAX or Ontario airport. Along the way we were able to visit Red Rock Canyon, Death Valley, Palm Springs and many other places. We enjoyed the shows in Vegas, but as far as gambling, we'd each take 2 rolls of quarters and that was our gambling budget. Once that was gone we were done.

So there are many things to do in Vegas, if you look for them. The Grand Canyon is only a few hours drive from Vegas, and Lake Mead (Hoover Dam) is just outside of Vegas -- and a must-see for any engineering types (I'm an engineer).

[trinkit]

Originally Posted by princessemichigan

We are trying to get out of Michigan fast! I like it here, we live in a very nice area, Canton to be exact. I could have seen our family staying here for the rest of our lives, although we all hate winter. My husband lost his job in June due to the company downsizing, he was with the company 16 years, and he can't seem to find another one. He's getting called for an interview here and there, but companies are intervewing a lot of people just for one job, so that makes things a little more difficult. There are a lot of people unemployed here at the moment. So we have started looking for employment in other states. We just can't continue to live this way. We've exhausted our savings, we didn't think it would take this long to find employment. We need to get out fast!

I don't know what kind of work your husband does, but South Carolina is having an engineering EXPLOSION -- they can't get enough engineers, designers and CADD operators.

While I was in Michigan, the only job I could find was one paying less than half of what I was making 7 years ago -- and that company's feeling was "just be happy you have a job". After much thought, teeth gnashing and consideration I took a job in South Carolina making nearly TWICE what I was making 7 years ago. Cost of living here is also cheaper. Example: gas right now is $2.61 a gallon and from what I understand it's over $3 in Michigan.

[trinkit]

Originally Posted by mary54mi

The south S. Carolina probabley. Cheap houses and lower pay but better cost of living too. THE BEACH THE BEACH THE BEACH

Look in the Aiken/Augusta area, or possibly Greenville. There is an engineering explosion going on. As a FoMoCo employee your hubby should be able to find a viable position.