Looking to leaving NY (Union, Monroe: transplants, low crime, house prices)

[zonababe]

I moved from the mid-hudson valley to Arizona. It was the best move I ever made. It's warm all year round. It only snows in the high country. Get away from the entire east coast.

[tina44]

I live in Wilmington NC. Last snowfall was 1989. Came here from Long Island in 1990. Great place to live. A few hurricanes but nothing devastating. Its Dec 10th and 70 degrees.Check it out.

[ocnymonty]

Originally Posted by soccermum4two

We are currently living in Monroe, NY. My husband and I moved up here about 4 1/2 years ago from the city. We thought it would be a better place to raise our family. Well it isn't any better and the cost of living here is enough to make you want to run for the hills. .-

I find it interesting that people move to Orange County because they think there is a more affordable cost of living. The truth is that OC is just slightly behind Rockland, Westchester, Nassau, and Bergen counties and when you add in the cost and time to commute to work you really start to lose.

I definately recommend down South. My best friend is was an attorney on Long Island who sold his 1200 sq ft cottage in Centerreach and bought a 3200 sq ft Colonial of equal value, with lakefront property in Mooresville, NC with annual taxes of $2200, and one of the best rated schools in the state.

[HouseMasterTriangleNC]

Dittos on the Raleigh NC area! Cost of living's more than Central Virginia (a beautiful area with mild seasons), but less than northeast Virginia (DC suburbs), and probably less than what you experience in NY (comparing what we pay VS what our family in Moravia NY pays).

All of NC is great, and centrally located the Triangle area grants you easy access to most of the state (couple/few hrs to mountains, couple/few hrs to ocean, couple/few hrs to Charlotte). We do especially love the Triangle area including Wake, Durham, Orange, and Chatham counties: There's a little of everything here from downtown living to suburban living, to county living; and yet all readily/easily accessible to each other.

The Triangle area is a great place to raise a family. Great communities, great neighborhoods, great school choices (public, magnet, charter, private, academic, specialized, religious, homeschool networks, etc, etc), great sports (leagues & clubs, and college & professional), great theater, great museums, great people, even some great public lakes (i.e not built around).....just great!

Do plan a trip. Stay at a hotel in the RTP (Research Triangle Park) area and you'll be centrally located. Drive 30 minutes in any direction and you'll see the diversity that this area has to offer.

Enough said.

Best wishes!

[HomerBrink]

I find it interesting (unbelievable actually) that people would relocate somewhere without a job lined up in these economic times. North Carolina's unemployment rate is around 7.1% now and estimated to go higher.

[ckhthankgod]

Google "Find Your Spot". It will give you a quiz to show you places that conincide with your answers.

[Muggy]

OP, take Florida off your list. Trust me.

[joe530]

What ever you do, please research and VISIT the area you want to go to. To many people move here from NY or points up North only to find out they really don't like it. In the summer it is very hot while the winters will be mild at best. Other groups of people find it hard to be away from family/friends and they just cannot adjust to not having this closeness and they move "back home" with regrets of ever having moved here. Whatever you do, please research and think long and hard about it.
P.S. Do not move anywhere without a job lined up.

[TANaples]

Originally Posted by Muggy

OP, take Florida off your list. Trust me.

Don't move to Florida, especially Naples. Trust me. You DON'T want to live in Naples.

[Pam& Bill]

Knoxville, Tn. East Tn. is as beautiful as the Hudson Valley and much more affordable. No matter where you go, do make sure you have jobs lined up and visit before you move too.
Two of my best friends moved to NC years ago. Both kept telling me I was crazy to stay in NY paying the prices charged for things there. Well I never listened to them and 3 years ago I moved to Knoxville. Knoxville is my home now. The state of Tn. is much more then I ever gave it credit for. This past summer we moved over near Asheville, NC. I hated NC. I couldn't wait to get back to Tn.
Whatever you do, good luck and all the best to you,
Pam