Looking to move out of Florida....need some advise (Hickory: house, theatre)

[jessepatty]

Originally Posted by castufari

I'd seriously consider find a job before moving here. Things are tight, construction is down, tourism is down (off season now), retail is slow. There was a job fair at the mall a few weeks ago and 2k people showed up, someone I know who is out of work ended up taking a PT job with McDonalds just to pay rent. Real estate is down (not sure the amount, one realtor told me that "now is the time to buy" and another told me that she'd call me once she left her new non realtor job). The state has frozen positions, I think Asheville/Buncombe have too. No idea about heavy equipment, I can imagine that the city has a ton of applications for all of the HE guys who are already out of a job.

Yeah, I have been researching N.C. pretty heavily and as of right now I am leaning towards Tennessee.

I've compiled a list of several small cities in eastern Tenn to check out.

I am probably going to take a few days off work here and there over the next couple months to drive up and check out these cities I've wrote down.

I don't have to remain an Equipment operator, I just kinda fell into this job anyway. I have experience in several areas. I am also an ASE Certified Auto tech with both GM and Chrysler certifications. I have several trades to fall back on if need be.

It's my wife I'm worried about... She knows one thing....Real Estate! Both the selling side and financing side.....
She has never worked in any other field.....

[happeemommee]

I've spent a lot of time in Boone, and knew they got a ton more snow than we do here around Asheville.Sometimes it's just hard to really tell just by statistics. I love Boone and would have moved there in a second if circumstances wouldn't have changed!

[notchback88]

A place where you should consider for a move is Crossville, Tennessee. The cost of living there is far lower than Florida ( I live in Lake Mary, North part of Central FL). One great area there is Lake Tansi, a 5,000 acre lake & Golf Community. The area schools are great, Crossville offers everything you could need, and if you have a hankering for a "BIG" city, Knoxville is 55 minutes away up I-40.
At Lake Tansi, a typical 1800 sq ft house would be about $160-180,000, and the real estate taxes would be about $750 per year. The builders are selling brand new 1400 sq ft homes for $139,900. The ecomony there is much better than Florida, and the real estate industry is much healthier. There are many active local Realtors, and at Fairfield Glade, a 12,000 acre development 10 minutes north of Crossville, they are very actively selling timeshare weeks, home sites, and new homes to all the baby boomers and others wanting to get away from high costs in other states. So I believe there are opportunities to hook up with a local real estate company, especially being from Florida, where a lot of the buyers are coming from. Apartment and house rentals are also far less than in Florida. The zip code for Lake Tansi/Crossville is 38572 to check out local real estate prices.

[CRock]

Hey Notchback88, thanks for the update. So many people come her looking for info and the loyal CDF folks provide some great info, the the OP, just disappears never to be heard from again. So it is good to hear you found a place to suit your needs. Good Luck!

[jessepatty]

I appreciate all the replies.... I am checking out several areas in the Ky, Tn area... Hoping to have something figured out by March.

I'll post more info as I get it....Places I check out ect.

thanks

[MurphyMountains]

I can feel for all you folks in Florida, My husband and I were able to escape from So. Florida just before the bottom fell out of the market. We live in Murphy, NC and we wouldn't leave it for anything. But I must say, if you need to work you will not find any work in these smaller country towns. Real Estate is/was the Big thing until last year but now that Floridians can't sell their homes down there. They are letting their vacation homes go into foreclosures up here. My thoughts for the ones still determine to leave Florida is to look for larger cities where you can still find a job but live on the outskirts for that country environment. I also suggest moving to Tenn. for better income tax purposes, though sale taxes are high. Chattanooga is spreading by leaps and bounds with new roads and construction. What's great is it's surrounded by smaller country town for the quiet lifestyle. And you'll still be within driving distances to work and many activites like Whitewater rafting, hiking, the mountains, shopping, movies for the kids. And with all the forclosures, I'll be able to find a decent home with acreage. My last suggestion, try looking into Western Tennessee. We have friends that live in a small town in Tennesse, but only live 20 minutes from the large City of Florence, Ala. There's no mountains but there's hills and trees. You'll have the best of both world, country living with a large city for activities. And land is cheap! So look at the larger cities in the states you are interested in, then investigate the areas around those cities. Just keep one thing in mind...the kids. If you're not close to activities....they will drive you crazy because small town have nothing for their children to do. Good luck...

[EasyLivin]

It is bad everywhere. There are no jobs here in Clay County, nothing!! The only thing that is keeping us afloat is my online business. I can do that anywhere, for that I am grateful. But I have been looking for months here for work and whenever something comes up, there are hundreds of applications submitted.

BUT, we have food. We have enough land that we have a huge garden, put up our vegetables, make our own jam and jelly with our own berries, so we are better off than others.

Our property taxes are $300, almost 10 acres with 2 mobile homes. We pay very little taxes on them annually in addition to the $300/property tax. That is cheap!!!

[kbcorn]

NC unemployment rate currently a little over 8% with more closings disclosed every day... but I think that's true everywhere.
Lots of small towns that offer 1 hr or less commutes to bigger cities (job opportunities).
We moved to Elkin NC seven years ago and wouldn't dream of leaving. Small town in the foothills w/ excellent school system and parks department. Winston Salem and Greensboro within one hour commute. Mountain trips only take an hour drive.

[TreehouseNC]

ANYWHERE you go is in the crapper, but I don't blame you Jessepatty for wanting to get out of FL and the "flash" the kids have to deal with. I did it, and left So FL to go to Sebastian, FL for seven years and got my kids out of that crap. Not to mention the high cost of homeowners and taxes. We can thank our past administration for all the sorrow we have in this country, but you have to sacrifice and make a fresh start. At least if you can get your house sold at that price you could get something very nice here and have a better "quality" of living. That's what it's all about. We paid off all the bills, sold everything we "really" don't need and made a clean break. We have lived up here from Sebastian now for three years and have a garden, enjoy the peace and quiet and get back to nature. It's MUCH different than FL and you have to be ready for that and wiling to make some changes. Mountain life is a respect for this region! I am actually moving a little further south to be closer to my kids , but I love it here. Good luck....

[hymnsinger]

Originally Posted by CarolinaLand

I moved to the Western Part of North Carolina a few years ago and I have never wanted for a job!!! Jobs are here if you look and are willing to re-train your self and wife.

I am interested in hearing about the job market in your area. Can you tell us what's available in that area? Did you look in the paper, or ESC (Employment Security Commission), or just word of mouth? As far as re-training, what occupations are available?

I run a non-profit and I am working to find new or re-employment opportunities for my clients.

Thanks!
Tracey