Considering a move..advice wanted (Buffalo, Rochester: homeowners insurance, mortgage, headhunter)

[dogcrazy]

Hey i've been on these boards for awhile and am currently living in Suffolk county NY(Long Island).I absolutely hate this place with a passion and would love to move within three years.I've only been "upstate"ONCE!I went up for a weekend to Mayfield(Fulton County) and i can honestly say i've never believed there was any "country" places in NY until going upstate.I do not know much about Rochester and have heard mixed things.The only things that really kept me from researching anywhere upstate is that i've always heard there has never been much of an economy up there and that taxes are just as high as LI.I wanted to get some opinions from people who live there to help me in my search.Im in search of some acreage.I want a little farmhouse with neighbors down the road,not right on top of me like i have here.I also want to be able to purchase a home for under $200K.I know there are a ton of homes in that price range but i worry about finding employment.I have been involved with animals all my life and would love to stay in the field.I don't mind rural but i also would like to be close to a hospital god forbid anything ever happen.

Is there any hope of finding a job after this recession is over and done with?
Are people friendlier up there then they are down here?(People are SO rude!)
Can i have "country living"?


I hope to get some advice.Thanks so much for taking the time to read this!

[skbs]

I think you can have your country life in Macedon, Palmyra, Walworth, Farmington.... There are Hospitals in serveral directions from there. A small one sits in Newark and the much larger ones in Rochester- Strong and Rochester General... You will be able to find land and home for the price you are looking for.... People are friendly here... and those towns are small and close knit...

[captain dusty]

I think you should take a trip up its cheap by train
The thing about Rochester area that i notice that would benefit you is that you can find a very rural setting yet be twenty minutes from the city. Take a look on google earth and you'll see.

[I'minformed2]

I agree....Rochester would be your best bet. We have the second largest economy in the state. Much more of a professional population here than most of the rest of Upstate and that has benefited our economy over the years (Kodak's troubles get all of the bad publicity, but here are many other sectors of the economy here outside of manufacturing that are doing quite well). As others have said you can be in the "country" and still be within a 20-30 minute drive of Rochester and all of the amenities of the city....even staying within Monroe County (where the city of Rochester and most of its major suburbs are located) you could look at Honeoye Falls, Rush, Wheatland, Ogden, Hamlin. Under $200k with some land will be no problem! Yes. property taxes are still very high up here but the lower housing costs (especially when compared to LI) will MORE than make up for that. Also, if you are looking to be out on the country your taxes can be much lower. I've seen houses in Parma (about 20 minutes west of the city with a exurban/rural feel) have property taxes of under 3k.

[cheese9988]

I have taken the train from from Rochester to Penn Station in NYC. It takes a while to get around, but its cheap and the most comfortable in my opinion. Both the Rochester and Buffalo stations are downtown, so you can hop off the train and walk to a hotel. If I remember right the Syracuse station was at the edge of the city and you will probably have to get a cab, someone will probably have to vouch for this.

Upstate is cheap just about where ever you go. Housing and cost of living is extremely cheap. You will find alot of manufacturing jobs. Try a headhunter to see if they can get you an interview. My wife found her job that way.

[dogcrazy]

Thanks for the suggestions!Im definately going to look into all of this.

[notasmoker]

Originally Posted by dogcrazy

Thanks for the suggestions!Im definately going to look into all of this.

Good luck; you will like it here!

[Lancet71]

Originally Posted by dogcrazy

Hey i've been on these boards for awhile and am currently living in Suffolk county NY(Long Island).I absolutely hate this place with a passion and would love to move within three years.I've only been "upstate"ONCE!I went up for a weekend to Mayfield(Fulton County) and i can honestly say i've never believed there was any "country" places in NY until going upstate.I do not know much about Rochester and have heard mixed things.The only things that really kept me from researching anywhere upstate is that i've always heard there has never been much of an economy up there and that taxes are just as high as LI.I wanted to get some opinions from people who live there to help me in my search.Im in search of some acreage.I want a little farmhouse with neighbors down the road,not right on top of me like i have here.I also want to be able to purchase a home for under $200K.I know there are a ton of homes in that price range but i worry about finding employment.I have been involved with animals all my life and would love to stay in the field.I don't mind rural but i also would like to be close to a hospital god forbid anything ever happen.

Is there any hope of finding a job after this recession is over and done with?
Are people friendlier up there then they are down here?(People are SO rude!)
Can i have "country living"?


I hope to get some advice.Thanks so much for taking the time to read this!

I moved from North Coram (by the Pine Shopping Center) in October and previously lived in Port Jefferson Station and Selden and I have to say it's the best move I ever made. I live in Brockport(west of Rochester) but most of the suburbs outside of the city are very nice. The price you're looking for,for a house is EASILY attainable.I bought a 4 bedroom, 3 bath 3200 sq ft house,built in 96' for $185k in a very nice neighborhood. I am not in the sticks,shopping is nearby,food is VERY GOOD and not a dropoff from long island at all.The only food I can't find is a good hot dog.Pizza and chinese are comparable.The schools(for kids) are much better and the people in general are much more sincere instead of the fake smile and thank you.Job wise it depends.There are lots of jobs for the medical and technology careers but civil service jobs are tough.
The homeowners taxes are alittle less but not much.The price of electric and heat is alot cheaper and my car insurance is about 1/3 the price.Mind you i'm only 20 minutes outside of Rochester.Homeowners insurance is also about 1/3 the price.Gasoline is about the same.Food shopping is much cheaper as well.There are nice shopping center like Wegmans where you can get the same stuff you'd buy in King Kullen,Waldbaums,Pathmark, Stop N Shop,etc...and pay about 1/2.If I total up all my bills including mortgage I probably am saving $2000/month at the minimum but more like $2500.I'm not sure what type of house you're looking for but if you check realtor.com and do a search from Rochester and include within 20 minutes you'll probably get a ton of houses from east and west suburbs within your price range.Also realize that Syracuse,Plattsburgh,etc...are nothing like these areas.Feel free to send a direct message if you have any specifics that you want answered and good luck. -Lance-

[bellafinzi]

Originally Posted by Lancet71

I moved from North Coram (by the Pine Shopping Center) in October and previously lived in Port Jefferson Station and Selden and I have to say it's the best move I ever made. I live in Brockport(west of Rochester) but most of the suburbs outside of the city are very nice. The price you're looking for,for a house is EASILY attainable.I bought a 4 bedroom, 3 bath 3200 sq ft house,built in 96' for $185k in a very nice neighborhood. I am not in the sticks,shopping is nearby,food is VERY GOOD and not a dropoff from long island at all.The only food I can't find is a good hot dog.Pizza and chinese are comparable.The schools(for kids) are much better and the people in general are much more sincere instead of the fake smile and thank you.Job wise it depends.There are lots of jobs for the medical and technology careers but civil service jobs are tough.
The homeowners taxes are alittle less but not much.The price of electric and heat is alot cheaper and my car insurance is about 1/3 the price.Mind you i'm only 20 minutes outside of Rochester.Homeowners insurance is also about 1/3 the price.Gasoline is about the same.Food shopping is much cheaper as well.There are nice shopping center like Wegmans where you can get the same stuff you'd buy in King Kullen,Waldbaums,Pathmark, Stop N Shop,etc...and pay about 1/2.If I total up all my bills including mortgage I probably am saving $2000/month at the minimum but more like $2500.I'm not sure what type of house you're looking for but if you check realtor.com and do a search from Rochester and include within 20 minutes you'll probably get a ton of houses from east and west suburbs within your price range.Also realize that Syracuse,Plattsburgh,etc...are nothing like these areas.Feel free to send a direct message if you have any specifics that you want answered and good luck. -Lance-

Syracuse is nothing like what?

[Lancet71]

Originally Posted by bellafinzi

Syracuse is nothing like what?

Long Island or the suburbs of Rochester.