Need to Escape From NY state - What Do I Need to Know? (Scranton: house, buy)

[DavidWebb]

Originally Posted by theatergypsy

Hey, David. I only mentioned my employment as an indication that there are jobs to be had. I didn't say they were plentiful. If you read my post carefully, you'll see that I suggested, more than once, that the OP secure employment before making a commitment to move here. Or anywhere, for that matter.

You really need to stop being so defensive about what's said on these boards...I didn't say anything negative about your post...was only highlighting that what may not affect one may affect another...if you always feel your being attacked then maybe you shouldn't be on this or any forum boards for that matter if everything someone quotes about your posts, even in a positive manner, bothers you...

[PWGUNNY]

Originally Posted by Guybrush3pwood

If I were to make the move to pa, I would never step foot in NYC or NJ. Ever.

Guy you sound like a frustrated gun owner. If that's your case, I feel your pain. NY is punishing the law abiding gun owner.

[theatergypsy]

Originally Posted by DavidWebb

You really need to stop being so defensive about what's said on these boards...I didn't say anything negative about your post...was only highlighting that what may not affect one may affect another...if you always feel your being attacked then maybe you shouldn't be on this or any forum boards for that matter if everything someone quotes about your posts, even in a positive manner, bothers you...

I suppose you're right. If clarifying what I said is perceived to be "defensive" then I really should take up knitting. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Wells5]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Westinghouse, which may have IT opportunities for you, has a huge HQ installation just north of the county line in Butler County, which is noted for its much lower taxes. That may be a possibility for you.

There is no more Westinghouse. It was broken up and destroyed by a financial manipulator named Michael H. Jordan in the 1980s. What is now called "Westinghouse Nuclear LLC" is owned by Toshiba of Japan. Ditto for Gulf Oil which was broken up by T. Boone Pickens. They had their major researh center at Harmarville, a stub of which is now under the control of the University of Pittsburgh.

[DavidWebb]

Originally Posted by theatergypsy

I suppose you're right. If clarifying what I said is perceived to be "defensive" then I really should take up knitting. Thanks for the suggestion.

What you call "clarifying" was considered taking a defensive approach as others who sent me private direct messages agreeing with what I said...what you mean and what you say (or type in this case) can be interpreted in many different ways depending on how you phrase your words...perception is everything!! But whatever...ce la vie...we're here to help each other and not nitpick...

[Guybrush3pwood]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

May I suggest Pittsburgh to you? The cost-of-living in Western PA is much, much cheaper overall than the cost-of-living in Eastern PA. Why, may you ask? Just like the majority of Upstate NY, Western PA has been experiencing either a population freefall or a stagnant population, at best, for generations after the decline of America's Industrial Age. The Eastern 1/3 of PA (generally speaking on/along I-81 and points east) has been growing respectably as upper-middle-class people who are priced out of NYC, NJ, DC, MD, and NoVA move to NEPA, the Lehigh Valley, SEPA, York County, Lancaster County, etc. in search of housing that is relatively cheaper for them while being "expensive" by local standards, pushing up the cost-of-living for everyone. Just compare the cost-of-living in the townships surrounding Bethlehem in 1990 vs. today. It's like night and day.

Pittsburgh has a growing "tech" base. Google employs a few hundred here and has MAJOR expansion plans in the East End of the city proper, which is also home to smaller installations of Apple, Intel, Disney, and IBM, along with many smaller IT firms fueled largely by the dominating presence of Carnegie Mellon University. If taxation is a deal-breaker for you, then you won't find much of a tax break in Allegheny County vs. Onondaga County. The city proper of Pittsburgh levies a wage tax of over 3% on city residents. Property taxes might be slightly lower in Pittsburgh than in Syracuse, but I don't believe the difference is really that large. Westinghouse, which may have IT opportunities for you, has a huge HQ installation just north of the county line in Butler County, which is noted for its much lower taxes. That may be a possibility for you.

Be advised that if you're politically conservative that the city proper of Pittsburgh is almost militantly liberal and is surrounded by moderate suburban areas.

It's on the short list. We actually visited last summer and liked Cranberry Township. Only downside is that it's a bit of a hike to visit family.

Originally Posted by theatergypsy

That was easy!

Guy, I would not advise you to change your mind based on what I say. I would advise you to do your homework. Start by looking for a job. If you move here without a job, you'd be trading one bad situation for another. Find a job. After you find a job, or at least find out what your prospects are for work here, you can begin to scout out what areas would be best for you to live in.

I'm retired, but I never had a problem finding a job during my "employable" years. I have five sons, all living in NEPA, all employed. They all have wives who are also employed.

I wouldn't suggest Scranton itself if taxation is what's driving you out of NY. Taxes there are rough and the picture isn't pretty. But there are many towns up and down both valleys that are quite nice. But first, find a job.

Yeah, I wouldn't actually live in Scranton, just work there.

Originally Posted by Abundantly_Above

You mentioned you're in Syracuse. Where is your family? How close do you want to be to them?

I live in Syracuse, but my side of the family lives in Hancock, NY, right on the border. The wife's family lives outside of Syracuse. Halstead would be the perfect place, but I'm thinking that's probably not likely.

Originally Posted by PWGUNNY

Guy you sound like a frustrated gun owner. If that's your case, I feel your pain. NY is punishing the law abiding gun owner.

Wow, am I that obvious? hahah

Must...get...out...

[okaydorothy]

We moved from Long Island to Pittsburgh about 18 months ago and love it. It is a lot cheaper, schools are wonderful and there are jobs. I landed a job 2 weeks after looking. My dh is looking now, luckily we had enough finances that he could stay at home for a while.

I would never move back to Long Island.

[mathjak107]

pa is all about the area you choose. i have heard nice things about pittsburg from lots of folks including dorothy.

NEPA isn't pittsburg though. nepa is basically a "depressed economic area"

its main industry is tourism which means low paying low end jobs are the dominent employment.

nepa has another whammy and that is it is disireable to transplants ,many who are selling homes in more expensive areas as well as worked in areas where they end up coming to nepa with money.

that means overall it isn't as cheap to live as the local econmy would suggest.

i have been in the electrical supply business for 40 years. i am a factory automation specialist.

since nepa has little in the way of hi-tech business and their electrical supply business is slinging wire and pipe the pay is very low.

pay is a fraction of what i get if i was lucky to even find a job. the cost of living though was much higher than that pay drop so it doesn't equal out.

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by Guybrush3pwood

For various reasons, I need to get out of NY state. I'd like to stay near my family though, so I'm thinking of moving to the Scranton/Lackawanna County sections of the state. Of course, this all will hinge on my ability to get a job in the IT sector. Anyone know how the outlook on that is currently? What's real estate like? What can I expect? Property taxes? Any info would help a lot. The sooner I get out of NY and into PA, the better.

Please note that the OP is coming here from the Syracuse area. He is not moving from NYC, he's not used to NYC wages.

I've lived in upstate NY and think that the Northern tier of PA is very similar to that. I've bolded his actual questions. Instead of trying to dissuade him from moving here, how about if we answer his questions?

[GrammyRegas]

Guy, We also live just west of Syracuse. Looking the get the he!! out of here. For the same reasons as you. I worked briefly in Dunmore and then Scranton in 2012. Lived in Taylor for 3 months. You could not pay me to live there again. My family is from the Wilkes Barre area. Same thing. NO WAY.

We are near retirement age so we don't have the same employment requirements as you but are looking down near Lancaster PA and near Lynchburg VA. Coming from New York State, the political persuasion of the area really is somewhat important to us. We aren't militantly conservative, but man we're losing rights on a daily basis up here and nobody thinks anything of it!

Good luck in your search.