How to deal (New York, Syracuse, Albany: transplants, cheap home, neighborhoods)

[*~Kim~*]

How do you deal with the "why the hell would you want to live there?!" comments?

We would rather move somewhere close to where we are now (MA), but definitely NOT in the city we live in now, or somewhere closer to CT (have family there). But it's just not an option. The most we can spend on a home is about 120K, and it is IMPOSSIBLE to find that around here. And if by chance we could find something at even 150K, the schools and neighborhoods are awful. So, in order to find good schools and super cheap homes, we decided to look in CNY. I've tried explaining this to people, but they just don't get it.

I tell them, it's either CNY or the south (to which my SIL chimed in right away, "I'd take the south for SURE"). But from what I've heard, the schools are better in the northeast (I know I am generalizing, sorry). And CNY is closer to family than say, TX. Plus we do NOT want an HOA, and the south seems to be ALL HOAs
So CNY seems like the best option. I really dislike snow, but in the words of my daughter's Pre-K teacher "You get what you get, and you don't get upset."

[proulxfamily]

I don't really respond to rude questions like that, instead "answering" with a blank stare.

*If* I do answer, it goes something like:

Why? To have a low cost of living, a high quality of life, excellent schools, extremely affordable housing, being at the apex of the state's two major highways, having a place to snowboard/sled/ice skate in the winter, a place to lay out in the beach in the summer, smelling apple blossoms and lilacs in the spring, watching soccer and football games under quilts with family and friends and visiting extensive wineries in the fall, feeling cozy and tucked away in a landscape of lush foliage and hills... yet being 4-6 hours away from just about every major city in the northeast. You're right- why.on.Earth would I want to live here? </snark>

The question *I'd* like to ask them is- Why would I want to live anywhere else?

[acknight]

Some things people just have trouble wrapping their heads around.

If you were trying to be closer to MA and CT, perhaps something in the Albany area might not be a bad mix - similar in size to Syracuse, a bit further from the snow belt too.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by acknight

Some things people just have trouble wrapping their heads around.

If you were trying to be closer to MA and CT, perhaps something in the Albany area might not be a bad mix - similar in size to Syracuse, a bit further from the snow belt too.

True, but the housing market is a bit more expensive. You might be able to find something in the OP's range though.

Also, Albany's average snowfall is about the same as Denver's(64 inches vs. 60 inches). Maybe something like Glens Falls might work too.

Utica-Rome might be another option as well.

With that said, I think Syracuse seems to be a good fit if you want a good school district and house for 120k. You could probably find that in almost any school district in the immediate area. If the size requirements are a bit flexible, you can find something of a similar size as well. Here are some possible examples:

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...ID=&ML=S225393

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...ID=&ML=S229272

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...ID=&ML=S227939

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...ID=&ML=S225631

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...ID=&ML=S233302

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...ID=&ML=S222637

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...ID=&ML=S232063

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...ID=&ML=S232137

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...ID=&ML=S205150

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...ID=&ML=S230224

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...ID=&ML=S231407

http://www.syr.interealty.com/ShowPr...ID=&ML=S215506

[RollsRoyce]

I find the natives, particularly those that are from blue collar and lower income inner city and first ring suburbs to be more apt to say the line, "Why would you want to move here." Though, in fairness, CNY's latent inferiority complex and rampant negativity is prevalent across socio-economical lines. I have met some affluent people that also have this attitude. Those most likely to feel this way are natives who have never lived anywhere else, transplants who come from an area that is the polar opposite (ie. tropical climate or a major 24/7 city) and people that are just plain miserable.

Unfortunately, it will take at least one generation and a rapid improvement in the regional economy to include large scale urban redevelopment, the creation of thousands of high paying jobs and the full transition to a knowledge-based economy to improve such a long entrenched mentality.

It will be very difficult to find a home within your desired price points in the Capital Region area. Although many do exist, they tend to be located in the region's core cities, depressed industrial communities like Rensselaer, Watervliet, and Cohoes or in declining suburban areas that border the cities like Rotterdam. If you are willing to commute, the town of Florida just west of Amsterdam (Montgomery County) seems to be growing due to a major distribution center and related employment. Some of the more rural communities near Amsterdam and in places in eastern Rensselaer County like Hoosick Falls (east of Troy near the Vermont border) and along Route 22 may be an option as they are more affordable.

[Cleveland Park]

There's no place I'd rather live than Syracuse, and I'm an enthusiastic shill for the city, but it probably isn't a great fit for someone who doesn't like snow.

[RollsRoyce]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Park

There's no place I'd rather live than Syracuse, and I'm an enthusiastic shill for the city, but it probably isn't a great fit for someone who doesn't like snow.

I try to be optimistic, however the drumbeat of sensational and depressing news from the "Sub-Standard" and the bush league quality of local television news outlets, makes me uneasy about the region's future at times. I get the impression that some of the area's most bullish supporters in their 20s no longer live in the community due to a lack of job opportunities (be it actual or perceived) I fall under the latter category. Having a prosperous, vibrant, and growing city of Syracuse may be wishful thinking, however it is certainly a dream of mine. It's good to see there are other people on this board who share similiar interests.

[ckhthankgod]

I posted in the Albany forum, but I mentioned that Glens Falls or other communities in Saratoga County might work too.

I will say that with the naysayers and those that are miserable, I've also found that those that move away realize that the Syracuse area is more affordable than the area in the South they move to or they continually miss things about the area that they can't find in their new area.

Personally, I think the city of Syracuse might need someone that's not from the area to lead it or a young person with a vision that is a bit outside of the box. If I lived in the city, I would seriously consider it.

With this said, there are still quite a few neighborhoods within the city of Syracuse that are very much liveable and if the home situation stresses education, you can learn in the schools. There are also a couple of charter options within the city as well like the Syracuse Academy of Science and Southside Charter, that have had some good results. I know with SAS, that there have been quite a few students that have scholarships to colleges. So, there are some options.

[WangR]

Rolls Royce, What is it that drives you to make such coments about the CNY Residents? I am a Native Born,Finger Lakes,Central New York,resident and most of which you describe about our people is ignoranance about the finger Lakes Contribrut
ions to the country nationwide.Whom can ever say with any knowledge,that people in my beloved Home for the last sixty six years,travel no where?
We have more history and kindnesses than most areas surrounding us.Before ,the
degrading those people whom you are not acquainted with,and have not been within
the realm of its processes of thought,then,dont belay the communities within its borders. Thanks

[proulxfamily]

Originally Posted by WangR

Rolls Royce, What is it that drives you to make such coments about the CNY Residents? I am a Native Born,Finger Lakes,Central New York,resident and most of which you describe about our people is ignoranance about the finger Lakes Contribrut
ions to the country nationwide.Whom can ever say with any knowledge,that people in my beloved Home for the last sixty six years,travel no where?
We have more history and kindnesses than most areas surrounding us.Before ,the
degrading those people whom you are not acquainted with,and have not been within
the realm of its processes of thought,then,dont belay the communities within its borders. Thanks

Do you just get a wild hair and start discussing things tangently (to an extreme) in real life too?

RollsRoyce is referring to those who speak badly of the area *when they have no experience, from elsewhere, to make such derogatory comparisons*, not those who love it.

He was not offending you. You're imagining some sort of slight against you, personally, and central NY'ers, as a whole, that just.isn't.there.