Anyone considering leaving NYC for a more rural area or small town? Where and Why? (Springs: rent, big house)

[NewYorkBorn]

Originally Posted by tech2enable

What is South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia's unemployment at now? There are some facts from this but I'll discuss those another time, right on the money though!

South Carolina's unemployment is in the double digits......not sure about NC or GA. But of course those numbers fluctuate. Last week we were in a debate about the situation here........I believe someone mentioned the unemployment numbers currently being around 12%. Which means that SC is right behind Detroit at around 14% unemployment.......not good! Unemployment being high because of a recession is one thing.......no state/city is immune from the effects of the recession. However living in a place that is heavily dependent on a few industries is a whole other matter.

We have a BMW and Michelin manufacturing here along with GE, Lockheed Martin and some other manufacturing based companys.......many of the jobs come from them..........however during a recession the first thing people cut back on is purchasing luxury cars.

Therefore our main industry dependence here is manufacturing...........so when things go bad for the manufacturing industry, then things go bad for the residents here in SC. Spoke about this over in the Greenville, SC forum and people on that side of CD choose to bury their heads in the sand whenever the topic of low paying jobs and limited job opportunities are mentioned in connection with SC.

I was born and raised in NYC for 35 years.......so used to living someplace that offers many different industries to choose from. The other thing is that although we do have bus service to take us around the city.........we have no such thing as a train service even though we sit in the middle of two cities that both have train service. We are 1 hour 50 minutes from Charlotte, NC and a little over 2 hours from Atlanta, GA heading either direction on I-85.

The quality of life is good here but heavy dependence on cars and have to drive everywhere......coming from NYC I am used to walking.

[NewYorkBorn]

Originally Posted by goldengrain

Ok. I agree. If you live in NY it really helps if you have a good paying job and/or a really nice pension. If you have these things New York opens may fun possibilities, and so does California.

If you don't have the bucks, you compromise and go to where the cost of living is less (and the salaries). Those places do not offer as much.

My friend moved down south with the company. I stayed up north. He, over time, was making less than I. I can afford to retire in NYC but he cannot.

I guess, if one could plan their lives, it would be wisest for a young person to live frugally near NY or some big city where the salaries are higher, get a job in the city, save as much as possible, and between savings and 401k's by the time they retire they will have an income stream which will give them more options of where they can live.

There are many nice places to live around the country. Seattle, Pittsburgh, State College, Denver, etc. I think one is much better off with more options than fewer and I think a major city, like NY, offers more. But you'd have to have made good decisions throughout life, occupation choice, frugality, etc. and have a bit of luck in order to be able to include NY as an option and live nicely here.

You have made some good points here. However NYC is becoming a place where only rich people will be able to live comfortably. In my opinion it all comes down to what peoples priority's are in life.

If the priority is making money in a place that offers plenty of things to do and you can get to them by riding trains, buses and taxis then I would say NYC is the place for a person as long as:

1) They are happy living in what is normally a small space, space is at a premium in NYC. People will end up paying a ridiculous amount of money there for a small apartment.

2) They can deal with living in a city that is overcrowded.

3) They can deal with the fact that NYC is becoming a place where only the rich will live well there. A lot of the middle class has been pushed out and continue to be pushed out.

4) They can deal with the fact that most will probably never be able to own a home there and if they do they will never get any bang for their bucks.

On the flip side of this if a better quality of life, beautiful homes at an affordable price and space is what someone is looking for. Then other parts of the country like the southern states may be for this person.

As long as:

1) They can accept the fact that job opportunities are limited in a lot of other states.

2) They can accept that most other states do not pay the type of salaries that NYC pays.

3) They can accept that they will be dependent on a car to get them to most places.

Was born and lived in NYC for 35 years and just could not imagine killing myself working over time to pay for a ridiculously $$ inflated house (brownstone) in downtown Brooklyn where I grew up. Also could not see myself paying a TON of money for a small shoe box sized apartment for the rest of my life just to continue living in NYC. What can be purchased here in SC for just $500,000 is unbelievable.........I mean the houses in that price range look like mansions.

[tech2enable]

Originally Posted by NewYorkBorn

You have made some good points here. However NYC is becoming a place where only rich people will be able to live comfortably. In my opinion it all comes down to what peoples priority's are in life.

If the priority is making money in a place that offers plenty of things to do and you can get to them by riding trains, buses and taxis then I would say NYC is the place for a person as long as:

1) They are happy living in what is normally a small space, space is at a premium in NYC. People will end up paying a ridiculous amount of money there for a small apartment.

2) They can deal with living in a city that is overcrowded.

3) They can deal with the fact that NYC is becoming a place where only the rich will live well there. A lot of the middle class has been pushed out and continue to be pushed out.

4) They can deal with the fact that most will probably never be able to own a home there and if they do they will never get any bang for their bucks.

On the flip side of this if a better quality of life, beautiful homes at an affordable price and space is what someone is looking for. Then other parts of the country like the southern states may be for this person.

As long as:

1) They can accept the fact that job opportunities are limited in a lot of other states.

2) They can accept that most other states do not pay the type of salaries that NYC pays.

3) They can accept that they will be dependent on a car to get them to most places.

Was born and lived in NYC for 35 years and just could not imagine killing myself working over time to pay for a ridiculously $$ inflated house (brownstone) in downtown Brooklyn where I grew up. Also could not see myself paying a TON of money for a small shoe box sized apartment for the rest of my life just to continue living in NYC. What can be purchased here in SC for just $500,000 is unbelievable.........I mean the houses in that price range look like mansions.

Not exactly true, new york is geared more for longer term residents than new comers, and there is more to a home than square footage, however as far as a "ton of money" for a shoebox, that's exaggerated. Also, keep in mind that not every place in the city is overcrowded although there have been many issues in a lot of places .

[Trailrunner79]

This city isn't overcrowded? Have you taken a train lately?! Living in Manhattan is ultra $$$ and a waste of money, IMO. I'd much rather own a large plot of land with woods, streams, a pond or two, etc. Even the boroughs are severely over crowded and are being polluted with illegals and ghetto thugs of all races.

Originally Posted by tech2enable

Not exactly true, new york is geared more for longer term residents than new comers, and there is more to a home than square footage, however as far as a "ton of money" for a shoebox, that's exaggerated. Also, keep in mind that not every place in the city is overcrowded although there have been many issues in a lot of places .

[SeventhFloor]

nyc is not for everybody....

i went to columbia sc once and was highly disappointed that i couldnt not get a bite to eat at 5 pm on a friday....everything was closed. not my cup of tea.

[Trailrunner79]

Very true, everyone likes different things. NYC has many amazing qualities, no doubt. Especially walking down the block and having 25+ food choices from around the world available at 3am on a Friday night.

I agree that things do become limited in a sense in other parts of the country, but there's pros and cons everywhere!

The question is, are NYC's perks REALLY worth the hassle?

Originally Posted by SeventhFloor

nyc is not for everybody....

i went to columbia sc once and was highly disappointed that i couldnt not get a bite to eat at 5 pm on a friday....everything was closed. not my cup of tea.

[tpk-nyc]

Originally Posted by Trailrunner79

Very true, everyone likes different things. NYC has many amazing qualities, no doubt. Especially walking down the block and having 25+ food choices from around the world available at 3am on a Friday night.

I agree that things do become limited in a sense in other parts of the country, but there's pros and cons everywhere!

The question is, are NYC's perks REALLY worth the hassle?

The question is: Is it really worth the hassle for you?

For some people it is and for some people it isn't. It's a personal decision. If you want to own property that contains "a pond or two," then clearly New York City is not an ideal location. You have answered your own question. It's not about an expensive apartment vs. an affordable apartment; you don't want to live in an apartment at all.

... or do you?

I think you have other issues at play here, or it wouldn't be such a vexing question.

[Trailrunner79]

And what kind of "other issues at play here" would you be suggesting, if I may ask? Thanks...

Originally Posted by tpk-nyc

The question is: Is it really worth the hassle for you?

For some people it is and for some people it isn't. It's a personal decision. If you want to own property that contains "a pond or two," then clearly New York City is not an ideal location. You have answered your own question. It's not about an expensive apartment vs. an affordable apartment; you don't want to live in an apartment at all.

... or do you?

I think you have other issues at play here, or it wouldn't be such a vexing question.

[Fred314X]

Originally Posted by Trailrunner79

And what kind of "other issues at play here" would you be suggesting, if I may ask? Thanks...

There must be some other underlying issue. Why else would anyone start a thread like this in a New York City forum?

[Trailrunner79]

The issue is that I'm looking for a change, somewhere more adventurous, athletic and outdoorsy where mountains are in m back yard! I want to train/run on trails and mountains right outside of my place, not have to drive for hours and hours to get there! I hate running on pavement. I want fresh air...more space...less expenses...nicer people around who aren't so materialistic and money orientated.

Originally Posted by Fred314X

There must be some other underlying issue. Why else would anyone start a thread like this in a New York City forum?