My dream of moving from the South to CNY or WNY

[NorthStarDelight]

Originally Posted by Krisps

Northstar, I'm in the Jamestown area and love it here pretty much for the exact reasons you listed. Sprawl isn't even in the dictionary out here. The general country side in Chautauqua county is very beautiful, full of rolling hills and small farms. Summers are very mild, thanks in large part to Lake Erie, and winters deliver quite a pow (last winter, some areas received 200-300" of snow), thanks in large part again to Lake Erie. Winters can get to you though, they are long, but they sure as heck make you appreciate Spring when it comes. Outside of real estate taxes, it is very affordable here if you're fortunate enough to have a decent job. Jamestown in particular has some oddly very low priced real estate.

We could use more people like you up here.

Glad to hear that.

I'll definitely be giving your area a look-over when I visit NY next June. Love the idea of snowy winters and mild summers. I know the winters are long, but I do have family in Florida which I can visit in the wintertime should it get to be a bit much. Hope that's not considered cheating...ha ha.

A question for anyone that lives in New York state: If I buy a home for below tax assessed value (fixer-upper), is it possible to get it reassessed at the lower, purchased value? Or am I going to be stuck paying the inflated rate no matter what?

I do have concerns about the state government as well - do any of you think that the residents will soon be pushed across the "pain threshold" in which people finally have the gumption to demand (and actually achieve) real change in state government? New York has so much potential, if only the government would stand by and let people do their own thing, instead of bleeding them dry with onerous taxes, fees and regulations. Or perhaps I'm being a bit unrealistic in thinking that Albany will ever loosen their grip on the Upstate...??

[jrice]

Originally Posted by NorthStarDelight

A question for anyone that lives in New York state: If I buy a home for below tax assessed value (fixer-upper), is it possible to get it reassessed at the lower, purchased value? Or am I going to be stuck paying the inflated rate no matter what?

I do have concerns about the state government as well - do any of you think that the residents will soon be pushed across the "pain threshold" in which people finally have the gumption to demand (and actually achieve) real change in state government? New York has so much potential, if only the government would stand by and let people do their own thing, instead of bleeding them dry with onerous taxes, fees and regulations. Or perhaps I'm being a bit unrealistic in thinking that Albany will ever loosen their grip on the Upstate...??

As for your first question I really have no idea

Second question, I think those days might be coming. I also believe this area has so much potential its scary but the leadership that has been elected has very little if any foresight, and not to sound crass but I believe they lack the balls to get anything of substance done. Having said that, we the tax paying citizens of this fine state, are getting fed up with the status quo. I for one will vote in every election that I can choosing the candiates that I feel will make a real difference. We need someone not afraid to make the tough choices and one equally tough enough to weather the ensuing backlash that will accompany those choices.

[Minathebrat]

Hi.
Yes. New York is a market value state. If you have a house tax-assessed for more than you paid, then take your bill of sale to the assessor's office and that's what he'll reassess your taxes for, unless all the other houses around it have the same higher assessed value or if it's a land only assessment, meaning the house has no value because of it's age and condition. There's alot of land-only assessments in Jamestown, just about any house built before 1950 seems to be, which is most of them.

As for the politics, time will tell, but I feel like there's a shift. I'm optimistic.

Originally Posted by NorthStarDelight

Glad to hear that.

A question for anyone that lives in New York state: If I buy a home for below tax assessed value (fixer-upper), is it possible to get it reassessed at the lower, purchased value? Or am I going to be stuck paying the inflated rate no matter what?

I do have concerns about the state government as well - do any of you think that the residents will soon be pushed across the "pain threshold" in which people finally have the gumption to demand (and actually achieve) real change in state government? New York has so much potential, if only the government would stand by and let people do their own thing, instead of bleeding them dry with onerous taxes, fees and regulations. Or perhaps I'm being a bit unrealistic in thinking that Albany will ever loosen their grip on the Upstate...??

[Tioga]

...If you're going to have to depend on that woodworking talent to pay the bills...consider where the people live who can afford what you're offering. Hhhmmm....let's see....I guess you might want to consider an outlying area near Ithaca. The colleges there provide some steady well-paying incomes to folks who want the kind of services you'll offer. And remember. unlike...say out west(not many routes from point A to point B)...or the south(overcrowded major traffic routes).....in upstate NY..you can always find 2-3-more ways to get from A to B to C. In other words, lack of traffic and many back roads gives you the opportunity to live further away from an urban area. I dont know if he still posts here, but CBaillo(California transplant) might offer some good advice on outlying areas to Ithaca.

[NorthStarDelight]

Originally Posted by Tioga

...If you're going to have to depend on that woodworking talent to pay the bills...consider where the people live who can afford what you're offering. Hhhmmm....let's see....I guess you might want to consider an outlying area near Ithaca. The colleges there provide some steady well-paying incomes to folks who want the kind of services you'll offer. And remember. unlike...say out west(not many routes from point A to point B)...or the south(overcrowded major traffic routes).....in upstate NY..you can always find 2-3-more ways to get from A to B to C. In other words, lack of traffic and many back roads gives you the opportunity to live further away from an urban area. I dont know if he still posts here, but CBaillo(California transplant) might offer some good advice on outlying areas to Ithaca.

Yes, I've considered this option too, even back in 2004 when I was checking out that general area the first time around. I've decided, however, that I'd be happier actually living in Ithaca as opposed to living in one of the outlying villages - I'd like to have neighbors around I can get to know, not have to drive 20 min just to get milk and bread, etc. The only real barrier to this is the relatively high cost of real estate, but at least it's comparable to what I own now, so it should still lie within the range of "doability" for me.

As it stands right now, the move to New York is 100% certain - I just have to hone in on one location (sucks, having to pick just one, doesn't it? ) and make the actual move. I've got it narrowed down to pretty much three areas, which are: Syracuse and its suburbs, Jamestown (actual city of) and Ithaca (actual city of). Since I've done Ithaca twice already, I will be leaving that off on my next visit, so I will focus on getting to know both Jamestown and Syracuse and its suburbs. Hopefully this will enable me to make a final pick as to where I want to settle. Some of this will depend on my woodworking business, if I want to seek work with someone else, etc, etc...plenty of time to sort that out, however.

[border]

If you are looking at custom cabinet making, you might look at locating near a place like Skaneateles. Expensive homes that want that kind of woodwork. Places like Jordan or Elbridge are close (12 miles or so) and cheaper to live in, but the work would not be that far away.

Glad you are moving here! Many people dismiss NYS as an option, and frankly, outside of the high property taxes here I think it's just a great place to live. Much better than so many other places people seem to think are nice areas.

[archtopguitar]

Northstar, I think you are 100 % on NY state but would be better off in the Southern Tier ... Jamestown area (more rural, down to earth, more like what you want ?) I think you will need a backup income to the wood working business. Lots of wood workers in NY State selling some work to supplement there incomes.

As for N Y State changing there Tax and Spend Policy's- its never going to happen It just keeps getting worse. there latest give away ($200 for school supplies) proves that.

Best of luck to you. At anyrate it will be much better than Atlanta

[bellafinzi]

Originally Posted by NorthStarDelight

As it stands right now, the move to New York is 100% certain - I just have to hone in on one location (sucks, having to pick just one, doesn't it? ) and make the actual move. I've got it narrowed down to pretty much three areas, which are: Syracuse and its suburbs, Jamestown (actual city of) and Ithaca (actual city of). Since I've done Ithaca twice already, I will be leaving that off on my next visit, so I will focus on getting to know both Jamestown and Syracuse and its suburbs. Hopefully this will enable me to make a final pick as to where I want to settle. Some of this will depend on my woodworking business, if I want to seek work with someone else, etc, etc...plenty of time to sort that out, however.

Keep us updated!

And if you happen to make a visit, I'd love to hear your first impressions too!

[NorthStarDelight]

Originally Posted by bellafinzi

Keep us updated!

And if you happen to make a visit, I'd love to hear your first impressions too!

I'll certainly be doing that as time goes on...just have to finish a few things around here first...hehe.

As of now, I plan to make the trip up north next June to check out both WNY and CNY...still a ways off, I know.