Possible move to Virginia (Norfolk, Richmond: house, employment, buy)

[Clevelander01]

My wife and I want to get out of Cleveland, OH for two main reasons: economy and climate. I am a union carpenter and my wife is a registered nurse. We have two children ages 4 and 6. We have lived in and around Cleveland all our lives and know their has to be something better out there.

The construction industry here grinds to a near halt from Dec. to March and my wife's company is threatening lay offs. We can afford a house for around 175,000.

We are looking to locate anywhere out of Ohio and we have some family in Hampton, VA and, according to the Norfolk city website, the city is in the midst of an overhaul. Any information regarding the construction and health care industries in Virginia, generally, and Northfolk, specifically, would be greatly appreciated.

[williamsburgfan]

no union carpenters here. building industry semi-strong - slowing down some. 175 won't buy much, unfortunately. if you have family in hampton talk to them - they know you better than us.

depedning on where you work gloucester may be an option, or in the other direction smithfield - lees costly, more country. commute possible.

i do not like the southside as much as the peninsula - personal chocie. the area is huge and diverse - nasrrow down needs, etc.

[theburro]

According to some of the threads in this forum, construction in Richmond is strong and the employers in Richmond (from my experience) tend to be more pro-union. Norfolk is definitely on the rebound, as I found out on a recent visit after being away for about 10 years. Employment in Norfolk-Va Beach is driven by defense industries. The shipyards employ a lot of union carpenters but I don't know their hiring situation currently. Medical College of Virginia (Norfolk) is a large regional center. Also a Naval Hospital in Portsmouth. It is not out of the question to live between, e.g., Wiliamsburg/James City Co. so you can have the opportunity to work in Richmond, on the Peninsula, or Norfolk.

[Clevelander01]

Thank you both for your input. I have been searching for union carpenter work in Cleveland since December and there is none to be found. Like I said, Cleveland construction shuts down during the winter. I am very pro-union and would like to move where the union is strong, the economy is strong and work is available 12 months out of the year instead of 8.

The weather is a factor also for our prospective move. It has been raining here for 5 days straight and will turn to snow by the middle of the week.

[tarp]

Virginia is a right-to-work state so you won't find very much strong union presence here.

The weather here is not a huge improvement over what you are used to in Cleveland. We can have torrential downpours and blizzards as well. We can also have below freezing temperature for weeks on end. It's just milder here and the winters are shorter than in Cleveland.

I don't know about the carpentry industry but I know that an experienced RN can make $60,000 or $70,000 easily here in Northern Virginia (near D.C.).

[theburro]

Originally Posted by Clevelander01

The weather is a factor also for our prospective move. It has been raining here for 5 days straight and will turn to snow by the middle of the week.

We just finished a run of incredible weather. Today it was in the 60s and I spent the day trout fishing. All week it's been at least in the 50s, albeit w light rain now and then.

Hampton is on the up-swing with some new commercial districts along the waterfront area. I know people who like the restaurants and clubs down there. Like everywhere else (with the possible exception of Cleveland), housing has gotten a lot more expensive lately. With your skills, maybe you could get a place and fix it up. There are lots of tradesmen who will barter, e.g., heating/AC for carpentry; things like that. Also, lots of highway/bridge construction in the Tidewater area; another source of carpentry employment.