Pennsylvania: The Promised Land for the Poor? (New York, Lancaster: loft, high crime)

[Andysocks]

Maybe I'm agoraphobic, but I really don't see the need to own a 3,000 sq ft home, especially if the consequence of it is sucking 4 hours out of your life every day for the commute. That's 20 hours a week, 80 a month, 4,160 a year, and 104,000 if you do it for 25 years of your life. Life's too short.

An average nuclear family living in anything over 1,200 I call "more space to pace."

[john_starks]

PA lol

i moved to Philly because i had to (wife's family in S. Jersey and i still wanted a city feel. I know nothing about PA.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by Andysocks

An average nuclear family living in anything over 1,200 I call "more space to pace."

Also more space to HEAT in the winter ...

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by Andysocks

Maybe I'm agoraphobic, but I really don't see the need to own a 3,000 sq ft home, especially if the consequence of it is sucking 4 hours out of your life every day for the commute. That's 20 hours a week, 80 a month, 4,160 a year, and 104,000 if you do it for 25 years of your life. Life's too short.

An average nuclear family living in anything over 1,200 I call "more space to pace."

The reality is that many people are forced into extensive commutes in order to purchase a home. They don't necessarily want a 3,000 sq. ft. home at any costs. It's a situation where one has x dollars to spend on housing, can't buy a postage stamp home/yard in NYC but can buy 3,000 sq ft. elsewhere.

[bmwguydc]

Originally Posted by Andysocks

Maybe I'm agoraphobic, but I really don't see the need to own a 3,000 sq ft home, especially if the consequence of it is sucking 4 hours out of your life every day for the commute. That's 20 hours a week, 80 a month, 4,160 a year, and 104,000 if you do it for 25 years of your life. Life's too short.

An average nuclear family living in anything over 1,200 I call "more space to pace."

Yes, but people also like the newer homes, better neighborhoods, etc. that some exurban environments offer. And, 3000sf (above grade) is not all that big for a house today. There are some nice communities within the MSA, but a long commute to the city, and people make the trade-off for the quality of life. And, not all commuting time is wasted, since one can read, relax, sleep, study, etc. via one's transportation option. Driving it would be a waste of time, I agree, but taking the train or bus and using the time for something else productive is not too bad a deal.

LOL...my family would have killed each other if we lived in approximately 1200 square feet for anything longer than a short vacation. Then again, growing up, there were rooms that were off limits except for special circumstances and/or when we had guests. So, I can see moving out to the countryside to get a larger house in one's price range with the benefits of cleaner communities, better tax rates, and decent schools.

[Andysocks]

^^ eh I guess my family (4.5 people--my brother splits time between my house and my father's) shares 900 sq ft so everywhere's pretty much a common area except at night so that's what I'm used to.

Oh and I'm aware that not everyone's looking for a mansion when they move out there. Obviously a poor family from the Bronx buying a townhouse in Reading or whatever is a different story. I know a lot of people in Queens whose parents moved to Philly, or they plan on moving to Philly, or have some other kind of connection to Philly. PA is getting a lot attention because of our ridiculous expenses.

[Blackbeauty212]

Alot of NY'er are living or moving to Philly......

I know in my workplace we have 10 people of a 150 person hedge fund that commute from the Philly area every day by NJ Transit/Septa or Greyhound commuter....Its as fast as a 90 commute or as long as 2:30hr depending on the Mode and traffic, mostly 2hr commute (People live in NY have that commute everyday from LI, Qns, BK to Midtown or downtown)

Im actually considering it, for what you pay to live in the outer boroughs you could live in Center City Philly (Philadelphia's Manhattan) for roughly the same amount and roommate free.

The cost of living in this city is becoming rediculous, Im tired of paying 1800$ to live in a closet. I could get a 2br loft/condo in Philly for that amount.

[SobroGuy]

Blackbeauty..if you are paying $1,800 to live in a closet, that is because you are unaware of apts and rents in the outerboroughs. You can get a large, new or renovated 2 bedroom apt in Mott Haven for $1,300 OR LESS. That would mean 20 minute commute to 14th street. Do your homework.

[bmwguydc]

Originally Posted by Andysocks

PA is getting a lot attention because of our ridiculous expenses.

That's true. And, I believe that Pike County is the fastest growing in the New York MSA.

[vitalove]

Not everyone is buying in the PA area. Many are simply renting.

Many can't afford any of the rents here in NYC anymore, not even $1300 in Mott Haven. Some hard working people can only afford to pay $700-$800 a month and are forced to move to PA because of this.