Stay or go?? (Beachwood, Clayton: transplants, for sale, renting)

[StaceyNJ]

Anyone contemplating relocating from Jersey to another State? Our family is thinking about relocating to NC next year...the property taxes are getting higher and higher....the auto ins is high and there seems to be no end in site...and unfortunately as the cost of living goes up it doesnt seem the salaries are going up to compensate for the COL. Like to hear your thoughts...

[grifter]

I moved to Raleigh a year ago, and am now ready to "come back home"! Sometimes you can't appreciate what you have until its gone. For me, the benefits of living in NJ (more job opportunities, my friends, hobbies, etc) outweigh the cost. I was just in NJ for a vacation, and cried when I had to get back in the car to drive back to Raleigh! I will be returning to NJ in early August, though I wish it were tomorrow!

Raleigh is nice - it reminds me of central NJ (without the charm and personality though). Most of the people who live here are from the northeast. Its not for everyone though. If you search through both the NC and NJ forums, you will find all points of views - those who came and love it, those who came and left, and those who came and tolerate it.

If your sole reason for moving is the high cost of living in NJ, make sure you do a lot of research before making the move. The salaries I was offered here were as much as 40%-50% less than I made in NJ - the cost of living here is better, but not that much better!

Whether or not to relocate is a very personal and difficult decision. I wish you the best.

[mikenbacismama]

Think LONG and HARD before you do it. The wages in the south are MUCH lower than those up north, and the cost of living (here in Florida, anyway) is actually not less when compared to earnings.

[Summer16]

Hi Stacey, I see your posts in the NC forums. We're moving to NC, but this has been a decision 10 years in the making, with over two years of intense research!

I think as has been mentioned, you have to move for the right reasons. And you really need to be fully aware of what you are getting into.

For me, I held out leaving NJ for so long because my family and friends are all here. But for my family (I have very young children) there are many factors making a move to NC the best decision for us. We had been looking at the same area in NC for years before this bandwagon happened.

My husband has a job waiting for him whenever we are ready to go, with just a transfer. My husband also went to school down there, so is familiar with a lot of the area, and we have friends there. This is why we picked NC from the get-go.

But I think it's something that everyone in your family unit has to be onboard with. You really have to get familiar with the area you are going to, and get a good feel for the new place you are making your home.

Best of luck in your decision.

[Radiojoe315]

I am from the school of Yankees who headed on down to the triangle from Jersey. We left last June. I am 17 years old, and my parents and I moved down to Carolina from Jersey. (I think I am a mature 17 year old so keep that in mind). I am from Beachwood, Ocean County.

My parents were sick of the high price tag on jersey, Put the house up for Sale in March. Sold it in May, and Left for Clayton (a Raleigh suburb) in June. We TRIED To remain positive throughout the ordeal, but had a VERY VERY difficult time doing so. As a result, I am already back in NJ.

Heres what went into the decision and simply should be taken as advice. As I am NOT in anyway shape or form badmouthing The Triangle, Clayton, or Johnston County. And not saying you shouldn't head down there. Because everyone is different. We all have our own situations and preferences.

The BIGGEST piece of advice, I can offer is DO YOUR HOMEWORK. IF You know where your buying and REALLY study it, YOU WILL BE HAPPY. HOWEVER, the internet can only tell you so much.

Johnston County has a LOT to offer, the ENTIRE triangle does, and even Clayton. It's A VERY Desirable place and I can see why. However, as a yankee we regret not attempting to purchase a home in more developed area. I was in one of the least developed areas of Clayton. A good 10 minutes from Route 70 or 42. (If you're familiar with the area you'll find out that those are the biggest roads around Clayton) The distance from "civilization" made a BIG Difference in my opinion. While, it may not sound like a lot, when your used to having everything at your fingertips thats A BIG Adjustment. MANY people like that, that however was not for us.

I feel as if we purchased in a more developed area the adjustment would have been A LOT easier. Now, I know that even the area of Clayton I was from will probably wind up developed in the not so distant future, but for now it isn't developed. We all agreed that if we paid a few extra dollars it would have been worth it to move into Cary, or Apex or an area which developed such as those have.

The schools REALLY REALLY are great in Johnston County. I HIGHLY recommend them. I was a Junior in HS. Thus, I had a VERY Rough time getting used to Clayton. I grew up and spent my entire life at the Jersey Shore. Big adjustment to go to that from the country. Its also very tough being the new kid as a Junior in HS. That goes for ANYWHERE You move. I know i had younger cousins who made the move also. They were middle school aged and absolutely loved it. Have fit right in, right away. Theres a LOT to offer in those schools. So take advantage of it. This however, goes for ANYWHERE in the country..You move I imagine with school-aged kids. Thus, I personally really didn't like the school in North Carolina.

Another personal story, was we were unaware that our wooded lot would be cut down for the septic tank. I understand that is bound to happen however much to our surprise in June we found a run down trailer in the backyard as our great scenery. Amazing what a few trees can do, but still, very tough to get to used to. Of course, they were very nice people, and we had no problems, its just not the prettiest of pictures to view in your brand new home.

I am not saying don't move. However, if you do your homework it will make you A LOT happier in the end. It looks GREAT on paper, but its a matter of finding the PERFECT place. Theres A LOT to do in Johnston/Wake County. Its just a matter of living near it. Also, be careful.

While many people are friendly, some of them I encountered as well as my parents and family, in Clayton especially, the areas we live in, didnt like the fact that so many Yankees were moving in. I totally can understand why they feel that way, however, in other areas they may have been more welcoming. Keep in mind what you want in an area, and you shall find it. The triangle has something for everyone if you look. Sadly, we didn't look hard enough and weren't pleased with where we wound up.

If you move.. and leave all of your family is behind in Jersey. Try to figure out how you will adjust to that. (If you are close of course) While flights on Southwest are VERY cheap, you aren't around the corner. And have to remember that. There will be things you will miss from Jersey. But the more you compare things the worse you make it for yourself. I mean.. don't say.. Wow I wish I had my bakery in Jersey or something. (Weird example I know) But when you find yourself comparing things constantly... it isn't a good result. If you go down with an open mind.. you will be more accepting to things. (I of course based this post on the raleigh area because it was what I knew).

Employment for my parents was VERY hard to find as well. So keep that in mind. And they did a comparision.. and besides insurance purposes and such it isn't THAT much cheaper. Mortgages and that obviously will be cheaper depending on what you have here. But the cost of daily-living isn't THAT much cheaper at all. (Although it was cheaper to food shop at the nice super Wal-mart).

I am sure we didn't try it long enough. But both of my parents are thrilled to be back. Happily employed, and haven't complained about the cost once since we've been back. Sure the cost is nice.. but if that is the ONLY reason.. I'd think long and hard and examine your own personal circumstances. EVERYONE is different.

[restlessnsarasota]

Originally Posted by StaceyNJ

Anyone contemplating relocating from Jersey to another State? Our family is thinking about relocating to NC next year...the property taxes are getting higher and higher....the auto ins is high and there seems to be no end in site...and unfortunately as the cost of living goes up it doesnt seem the salaries are going up to compensate for the COL. Like to hear your thoughts...

Hi Stacey

I lived in NJ all my life. I decided to get out because I was also tired of the taxes and weather and needed a change. Don't do it. I moved to Sarasota Florida in 2005. I have three kids. The insurance here on your car and home is more then NJ. The property taxes change with the sales of homes in your area. The laws are different then NJ. Its very very slow in the south. If your use to a active life then don't go south. Its a different life all together. I can't wait to go home.

[Raven and Bear]

Restless in Sarasota, read my post in the NY forum that I posted for someone contemplating moving from Saratoga Springs, NY, to FL. I told them, "Don't do it!" and ranted about why (everything from the low pay scale, race relations, giant disgusting bugs and militant senior citizens, to the quality of the grass and the relentless heat!). I grew up in NJ, moved to the Hudson Valley of NY and then FL. I wasted ten years of my life there, suffering from the heat and the Stepford Wife mentality of people who actually like it there (mostly transplants from Ohio or people who never lived anywhere else but FL and have no basis of comparison). I eventually escaped FL, but I look back on it as the worst years of my life. Just the thought of finding giant dead cockroaches at the back of a closet you thought was bug-free still gives me nightmeres. I have relatives who fled Sarasota for NC and like it, but compared to SRQ, I guess it would seem good. But it doesn't compare to all the cultural opportunities that someone from the northeast would miss in moving to the south. Yes, NC can be pretty, and not as hot as FL. Yes, there are also many transplants from the northeast (and Ohio) there. But remember, in NC, you are still in the south. Someone would have to have lived in the south to know what that means, but I suspect anyone from NJ who has moved to Sarasota knows what I mean!

[Roselvr]

Originally Posted by Radiojoe315

While many people are friendly, some of them I encountered as well as my parents and family, in Clayton especially, the areas we live in, didnt like the fact that so many Yankees were moving in. I totally can understand why they feel that way, however, in other areas they may have been more welcoming. Keep in mind what you want in an area, and you shall find it. The triangle has something for everyone if you look. Sadly, we didn't look hard enough and weren't pleased with where we wound up..

I know a few people that went down and are also either back or miserable down there for this very reason, people are not friendly to us...

Not sure if it has to do with area - one lived in Badin and a few surrounding areas... found it very hard to get a job due to being a yank..

Another, an RN found it difficult to find a job.. she'd come back to NJ for 6 months at a time renting a room & working, sending her money back to pay the bills.

[Obrero]

Interesting posts. We are considering leaving NJ, mostly because of the oppressive corporate tax structure and property insurance rates. We have been to many states looking around. NC (Chapel Hill) was top of our list before we went there but after visiting (eek) and doing the math it's off the list entirely. I would advise you to do your COL analysis carefully before making a move.

[BrianH1970]

grifter's post is spot on (as well as points made by a few others here). We moved down to the Charlotte area and can't wait to come back up to NJ before year's end. Every time I've gone back up it's been heartbreaking to leave. I went through my "vacation period" here and totally fell in love with it. After a President's Day weekend back up in New Jersey, I couldn't stand to leave it. There's family, friends, too much of "who I am" up there to leave it for good. If you hold that to you the way I do, ain't nothing gonna prepare you for when you're already settled in and that particular reality hits. All of a sudden the cost of living back in New Jersey ain't so bad after all.

For a lot of us, NC didn't turn out to be the Utopia that it was made out to be. And what's funny is that the same thing people are claiming to be running away from is the same thing they're creating once they get here. The housing costs and property taxes are already starting to increase. The jobs down here are already extremely difficult to find, so much of the empty spaces that people are craving has already been zoned, the cookie cutter mansions are already showing here. In 10-15 years it won't be much different than what you left behind.

I understand how this board works. It's all based on redundancy. People come here and while the answers are all laid out for you with a bit of searching, people want that one on one attention when it comes to a particular issue. So this has all been said before concerning people moving to the south but I sure don't mind reiterating a lot of it on here. There's a lot to like down here. Do I like where I'm living? Sure, it's hard not to. Would I want to spend the rest of my life here? Oh hell no. You can't get me out of here fast enough.

Don't get me wrong though. I'm glad I did it. At least I won't have to look back and go, "Well what if...". Plus this brand new appreciation for what we left behind.