NJ/NY to FL...what's the deal? (Hoboken, Sussex: rent, health insurance)

[j1n]

In reading through many of these threads and posts regarding love (or hate) of the NJ/NY area...I've noticed that a lot of folks have bailed on NJ and headed to Florida as their "fresh start". 10 years ago, I did it too. I was 27 with a new family beginning, and admittedly about as naive as they get.
But now, with all of the good relo research info available, if I was put in the same position, I would not choose the FL route again. Because, well...to me, it just doesn't work. The numbers don't crunch up right. The return is not what it should be.
So I read these threads and I see all these folks who ran to FL and have become so disenchanted that the best solution they can see is to return to the places that they originally felt a strong urge to escape! And they are returning with this attitude of "hey, even living in my car in NJ is more appealing than misery in FL"! And I'm also seeing more of that sentiment from folks who have relo'd to NC too.
So what, about FL or NC (or wherever), made you think it was the answer to rising Northeastern cost of living, overcrowding, etc? And the reasons why you left to begin with...are they no longer valid? Did NJ suddenly become inexpensive and uncrowded, with patient drivers who actually opted to pay for the turn signal option on their suvs??
Please don't take this as me being judgemental, because I did it myself! I thought FL was the bees knees, and I kinda ended up feeling like a horse's ass! But here I am...10 years later, and the warm fuzzies I got from coming home to NJ have faded, and the old reality of "here I am...priced out...can't afford a home here...etc" have come rushing back.

[BobKovacs]

I think alot of folks jump ship without doing all of the proper research. They see the lower prices in another area (usually for homes, since that's a big portion of their monthly costs, and is readily accessable info via realtor.com et al), and decide that's the place for them. They then get where they were going, and realize that there's no market for their Wall Street background in Florida, or that they can get a job in their industry, but it's at 40% of their previous salary. Bad move.

When we decided to relocate, we looked at a number of places, and evaluated them based not only on housing costs, but also taxes (property, state income, sales, auto registration, etc), salary differential, schools, and overall location/weather/quality of life. While our choice of the northern suburbs of Atlanta was made easier by an offer of employment from a long-time friend, we didn't make the jump without being sure that we could make it work even if that deal fell through. If my salary was going to be 50% of what it was in NJ, GA wouldn't work for us. It would actually be around 85%, which would work just fine given the lower cost of housing, taxes, etc.

Anyone who's coming in here saying "we're heading back to NJ from FL because there are no good-paying jobs down there" obviously didn't do their research up front.

Bob

[DodgeViper01]

Main reason is cost of living. That is it, plain a simple. NJ has just gotten way to expensive over the years and sadly, it does not seem like there is an end in sight. In Florida; depending on where you live, you can get a 2000 or 3000 square foot house for under $300,000. Lots of people are attracted to that.

[bdpop]

I had many interiviews lined up prior to moving to Orlando, Florida. The salaries for the jobs with which I was interviewing were comparable to what I was making in NJ. I figured at least one of them would hire me. Boy, was I wrong. I usually had no problem getting a job in NJ, but FL is a different story. The biggest problem is; the longer I stay here in Orlando, not working in my field (HR & Technical Recruiting) the older my experience becomes.

[jersey152]

I did the same thing after college also....Couldn't wait to escape jersey, and moved to south florida with a friend. Ended up finding a good job, getting married, have a child now....and miss NJ more than ever! Anyone else in this situation? I mean, what can compare to the smells and sights of the jersey shore (i mean the boardwarlk, italian sausage sandwiches, and zeppoles), the great changes in each season, and the NY Yankees!

[Blondie621]

Originally Posted by DodgeViper01

Main reason is cost of living. That is it, plain a simple. NJ has just gotten way to expensive over the years and sadly, it does not seem like there is an end in sight. In Florida; depending on where you live, you can get a 2000 or 3000 square foot house for under $300,000. Lots of people are attracted to that.

If I had a Dodge/Viper it would not matter where lived...I would never be home......I would be cruisin all over with that car!

[jzct68]

Originally Posted by jersey152

I did the same thing after college also....Couldn't wait to escape jersey, and moved to south florida with a friend. Ended up finding a good job, getting married, have a child now....and miss NJ more than ever! Anyone else in this situation? I mean, what can compare to the smells and sights of the jersey shore (i mean the boardwarlk, italian sausage sandwiches, and zeppoles), the great changes in each season, and the NY Yankees!

Yep, I'm in the same boat (HR Field). Had a job lined up in NYC but they only wanted to pay mid 80s. Didn't want to commute across nj every day and to afford a place in Hoboken larger than a closet you need to make min 100K. If you're willing to pay for your own relo and make that clear in your cover letter, you may have a shot. There aren't too many HR jobs that pay relo unless VP position. Good luck! Can't wait to get out of FL.

[EB2]

I'm the opposite (going to NJ from FL) - but I know what you mean. I work with people day to day, and I see a HUGE amount of those people being from MA/CT, and especially, NY/NJ. When I ask them if they like it here (and inform them that I am also from the north, so they can be honest) - more often than not I get a "No." response, or the negatives outweigh the positives.

In fact - one of my regular customers is from NJ, and she wants to take her family back up as soon as she can (within the next year) to live. She says she misses it horribly....and that FL doesn't compare (which, she's correct, IMO).

I can see where Bob is coming from, though. I suppose the south (may that be NC, FL, etc.) is viewed as a utopia. People assume they can move down here without doing their research, buy a "cheap" home, spend "less", and still maintain a decent salary. When the reality is, FL (and I'm assuming the other states people [I'm not limiting this to JUST Jerseyans] come from) isn't as cheap as people assume, we DO have high taxes (especially considering wages, even if our taxes aren't quite like NJ's), and the job market is generally, much MUCH tougher (as a lot of you have read from other people flocking to FL from NJ, and not finding a job easily....or at all). Along with the difficulty of finding a job, if one is found, would be the fact that the pay generally takes a fairly large plunge.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't assume that it's all sunshine and lollipops. Do your research; like Bob said.

[ottomobeale]

Everyone has to try Florida. They think they are going to paradise.

Was living in OH which is very depressed. Gave up on OH and sent resumes around. Ended up in FL even making more money. 20 months later the company went the other direction and had 2 rounds of layoffs of which I was one. Fortunately I had made TONS of allies this time. One guy knew a recruiter... How would you like a job in NJ? Yea RIGHT! yet here I am in NJ.
I am in Sussex Co and commute into Bergen. Long drive but the home is in a nice town and borders on woods. While the house itself we rent isnt all that great the lot is drop dead gorgeous. Probably 3/4 acre. Shady. Green.

Having been laid off 4 times since 2000 I have a very strong sense of home is whereever the heck they will pay you and provide health insurance. There is no such thing as home. Employees are disposable. I do hope to be here a while.

[jzct68]

Originally Posted by ottomobeale

Everyone has to try Florida. They think they are going to paradise.

Was living in OH which is very depressed. Gave up on OH and sent resumes around. Ended up in FL even making more money. 20 months later the company went the other direction and had 2 rounds of layoffs of which I was one. Fortunately I had made TONS of allies this time. One guy knew a recruiter... How would you like a job in NJ? Yea RIGHT! yet here I am in NJ.
I am in Sussex Co and commute into Bergen. Long drive but the home is in a nice town and borders on woods. While the house itself we rent isnt all that great the lot is drop dead gorgeous. Probably 3/4 acre. Shady. Green.

Having been laid off 4 times since 2000 I have a very strong sense of home is whereever the heck they will pay you and provide health insurance. There is no such thing as home. Employees are disposable. I do hope to be here a while.

Ditto Otto...I'm in FL now, but was born and raised in Sussex County (Fredon) and it was a great place to grow up. Beautiful area then and still is now, was just up there a few weeks ago. Wish it were a shorter commute to NYC! But then again maybe not!

Yep, most states are employment at will states, can terminate at any time for any reason, or not reason at all. Seriously.