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I'm still doing a lot of research and have some "guinea pigs" in NC, maybe in a couple years I'll move but seeing what happened to Fl. and how the area deteriorated so quickly, I waiting to see what happens to NC.
Personally, I think you're making a very wise decision.
One big reason? A healthy economy because its people are not being choked by labor unions like other states in this country. My sister is a nurse in NY state and I cannot believe the levels of bull she has to go thru with all the different unions and organizations she is required to join (and pay a hefty fee that they call "dues") for the privilage of working in her chosen profession.
Milder winters, but still a change of seasons. Generally lower cost of living, especially still true away from the high growth areas. GREAT state universities for your children to attend if they graduate from a NC high school. Mountains and beach easily accessable for vacations. Pretty clean state politics.
I could go on and on
Yeah, but the unions (especially cops and teachers on Long Island) are the very reason why they can retire at age 50 and move to NC!!
I would like some of you North Carolinians to please tell me the reason(s) so many people are moving to your state. Has the unprecedented population growth affected the quality of life? Is it becoming another Florida?
Many people from states with over inflated real estate prices are jumping ship and moving to North Carolina. It's what's called the "equity dance". It's just a matter of simple math.
Let's say you bought a house in Sothern California 6 or 7 years ago for 200K. You now would probably still owe around 175K on it, but you would be able to sell it for about half a million. That gives you $325,000 in cold hard cash that you can use to buy a house CASH in North Carolina that's 2-3 times the size on a piece of property that's probably ten times the size. Plus you'll be moving to an area with a lower crime rate and live with some of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet.
I did this about a year and a half ago. Paid off all debt, bought a house cash. I now live debt and MORTGAGE FREE and I'm loving it. I don't have a mortgage hanging over my head and I have more freedom to work a job I enjoy. I live a much less stressfull life now. The time I used to spend working overtime is now spent fishing.
Note: I've found that published "crime rate" statitics can be a litte misleading when comparing a place like Los Angeles to Greensboro. Out here people report "crimes" that you would be laughed at for reporting in Southern California. Example... If someone steals a six pack of beer out of the fridge in your garage you can call the police and make a police report. Try doing THAT in L.A. or N.Y.
This state is booming very quickly, and it's only truly beginning to be discovered, I can tell you that much. So many people still have no idea of what a great place it is to live and all the reasons for moving here, but slowly the word is getting around and is become more common knowledge. I think there are many reasons though for the growth. The economy is one of the best in the country, particularly in places such as Raleigh-Durham and to a lesser extent Charlotte. Places like Raleigh-Durham have a ton of appeal to uppity younger people because of the strong technology and medical industry in this area. Raleigh is the #2 city in the country for the number of people with PHD's per capita (behind Seattle). And this is due to the wonderful universities in the area and the highly educated and ready workforce that is available because of that. So, as businesses see this oppertunity and more affordable cost of relocating, they come in and offer more jobs and it only brings more and more people in.
There's also the other reasons mentioned such as the weather. You truly experience all the seasons here and none of them are unbearable. We're a lot colder than a place like Florida, and not quite as warm in the summer as there. Sure, it's humid here in the summer but there isn't any place on the East Coast that isn't muggy and humid in the summer time, but it's a price you pay for living in such a green and lush enviroment. Humidity is moisture in the air and in addition to that moisture we get over 55 inches of rain per yer, a lot more than most any area you'll find on the west coast or midwest. So, the downside of all that moisture and humidity is it feels a bit nasty, but we generally all have A/C, and plus the upside is it means we have beautiful trees and green literally anywhere you look outdoord from the Western Mountains to the Eastern Coastal Plain. And as I touched on before our winters are called mild in general because we don't get a lot of snow, normally only one or two good snows here in the central part of the state, but that by no way means that it's not cold here, are winters can be quite frigid and you'll have several months where (especially december-february) you don't dare to go out at night without a warm coat and hoodie on with consistent below freezing tempatures on a nightly basis.
The mountains and the beaches are a big draw and this state is generally considered one of the most enviromentally diverse of any state on the east coast. It has the highest point in Eastern North America, Mt. Mitchell (at 6,684 ft) and some of the best beaches and one of the largest accesible coastlines (not rocky or with cliffs) in the USA. Also, in the northeastern part of the state you find an interesting area that reminds me of Louisiana because of the many swamp lands and cypress trees growing in that area. I was literally shocked the first time I visited there because it's totally unlike the rest of the state, but just adds to the diversity you see within this state. So, from the Appalachian mountains to the NC coast you'll find forest after forest of trees, if you ever fly in you'll see what I'm talking about, all you can see from the air are trees anywhere you look. I've been all over the country and the only area that comes even close to being this green would have to be the pacific northwest, and even they aren't any greener, especially when you consider that the eastern half of oregon and washington are in a rain shadow of the cascades and therefore pretty arid desert lands.
All in all it's a nice place to live and it will only continue to grow
I guess in some ways I'm spoiled but growing up on long island I had the beaches 10 mins away and the entertainment capital of the world 30 min. train ride. My love is music and although there are some great acts that come through NC- nothing compares to NYC - but hey nothing does when discussing entertainment.
Schools don't compare to the NE. I know NC has some decent schools but there is so much emphasis/importance on education in the north. That’s not to say there aren't good schools and bright people in NC; it's just different.
BUT to get both good entertainment and great schools you pay for in taxes BIG TIME.
I don’t know anything about medical services and I'm sure with places like Duke and UNC there are some good services but I have lived in Fl. the last couple years and have family in Va. and Georgia and we all still see our doctors in NY. Some things I have seen and heard down here are eye opening.
I'm still doing a lot of research and have some "guinea pigs" in NC, maybe in a couple years I'll move but seeing what happened to Fl. and how the area deteriorated so quickly, I waiting to see what happens to NC.
How do you get to a NY Dr. when you get sick?? ( or he makes one hell of a house call!!)
As some others pointed out, our reason for moving from Fl to NC is plain and simple...economical. We are a young struggling family. We aren't trying to get more SF for our dollar, or cash in on investment property. We just want a nice affordable place to raise our family away from the hustle and bustle of condos and townhomes we see now. The beautiful mountains and being able to see the seasons change is just an added bonus.
Now if I were a spoiled Ny'er like Luke (hey, he said it ) and money was no issue that might alter my decision on where I move to. Right now though, I've gotta have priorities that focus on being able to get by, not entertainment or fancy doctors in the city. Besides, I've had about enough of that in Fl. It isn't all it's cracked up to be and people in my opinion go to doctors a lot more than they really need to. Insurance and pharmaceutical companies need to make their money you know, lol.
How do you get to a NY Dr. when you get sick?? ( or he makes one hell of a house call!!)
We researched the health care down here before we came. Look into it. You will be pleasantly surprised.
I have a friend who moved to a gorgeous rural town... with no hospital, just a clinic! In case of emergency they get medievaced. That is scary to me.
Also, FYI, NY does not have a lock on the great docotors, there are also awesome specialists in other cities. The sad truth is that if you had a rare condition & even if you lived in NY you would be wise to fly to Dallas, Boston, etc., all over the place to be get other opinions, any NY doctor will tell you as much.
Of course, you could see a nurse practitioner when you get sick........... ;-)
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It just makes good math sense
