NH is in our "Top 5" Should it be? (Concord: real estate, rent)

[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!

[casey]

NH has had a dip in new housing and real estate slow downs, but people are always remodeling. The weather is cold and snowy most years, hot days in summer with it cooling off nights, humidity usually not too bad. There is plenty to do if you don't mind doing a little driving. Southern NH is more congested than the Concord area, the further north less traffic.
You can find something small but decent (certainly better than a shack) more towards the smaller towns. Plenty of mobile homes and condos on the market too. Good luck.

[Dwatted Wabbit]

My own top three are NH, VT, and ME, and we hope to relocate to one of them within the year.
Housing seems most reasonable overall in Maine. Also look at "current use" law, which gives you a reduced tax rate if you own over 10 acres and the property meets certain requirements. VT and ME have similar laws which can result in huge tax savings.