Relocating to Wyoming (Gillette, Sheridan, Cody: real estate market, apartments, to rent)

[savvy0116]

I am looking for work in the construction of residential homes for my husband...does anyone know of anybody that pays well??? We wanted to relocate by the end of January. We found a place to rent in Cody, but no jobs or not any that pay enough to make a living. We found jobs in Gillette, but no where to rent. Any ideas?

[DessertRat]

Originally Posted by savvy0116

I am looking for work in the construction of residential homes for my husband...does anyone know of anybody that pays well??? We wanted to relocate by the end of January. We found a place to rent in Cody, but no jobs or not any that pay enough to make a living. We found jobs in Gillette, but no where to rent. Any ideas?

Live in Cody and buy a rocket car for your commute? just joking.

My wife and I are also trying to relocate to the Cody area, and we're also concerned about work there. But our current plan is leaning towards living in two places--the New York City metro area (our current location) and the Cody area. We can easily get relatively high-paying jobs in NYC. The challenge now is just going to be figuring out the best way to work, say, 4 months at a time here, and then have, say 2-4 months off at a time to hang out in Wyoming (and then we can work lower-paying jobs if we have to while we're in Wyoming and not have to worry about it so much).

[savvy0116]

haha...I'm beginning to think that the rocket car might not be such a bad idea We're living in Georgia, but have a 10 month baby girl and want her to be closer to family in Wyoming and Montana.

[RockyMtnr]

The current housing situation in Wyoming can be solved in two ways - both involve a hefty outlay
1) Buy a house.
2) Buy a 5th-wheel that is outfitted for Rocky Mountain winters - and is big enough for you and the family to live in comfortably.
All else will come from pure luck and hard research - both or either.

Wyoming is a "right-to-work" state which means that few unions operate there and the ones that do just don't have the "stroke" that they would have in other states so, you're looking at piece-meal rates in the construction industry. Most folks I have known work in two and three man teams contracting their services .... kind of "the good ol' boy" network.
While it is expensive to come all the way to Wyoming from either location (NYC or GA), remember that it is just as far back and unless you are very lucky, you won't have the income there that you may enjoy now so, you'll be making the trip on less cash.
That being said, very early in the year is often the time to pick up on hot jobs due to folks succumbing to the harsh winter they hadn't quite expected - it can get you a leg-up over the competition if you get here (WY) in Feb or early March. By the same token, that "leg-up" might be frozen.

[frozengrandma61]

You do not want to move to WY in the winter. I for one wish I had never moved to WY at all. Even if you found a job you probably could not get to it because of severe snow storms with even more severe winds, road closures, white out conditions and the list goes on. My husband and I have a place in WY where I tough out the winters because we have animals but he goes to a warmer state in a travel trailer to work because we found out quick getting to work in winter in WY is more than a challenge unless you can walk to your job. You can get snowed in for weeks or even months at a time. The cold is severe. Never ever live in a rural ranch area in WY no matter how cost efficient it seems. Rural roads and many secondary highways are not maintained in the winter. Jobs are generally so far from where you live you have to stay in a motel or travel trailer if you can find an opening during the work week and home on the weekends because the daily commutes can bankrupt you physically and financially. Rents are outrageously high and buying a home is even more ridiculous considering the many hardships in the state because of drought (8 yrs), killer winters and the distance between things. WY has a big youth suicide rate because rodeo and sports is about all kids got here. Winter can last from Sept. into May or June and it can even snow in July and August. Wy is for people who can retire with plenty of money and live in a retirement complex as shoveling the snow in winter could kill Hercules.

[RockyMtnr]

Originally Posted by frozengrandma61

You do not want to move to WY in the winter. I for one wish I had never moved to WY at all. Even if you found a job you probably could not get to it because of severe snow storms with even more severe winds, road closures, white out conditions and the list goes on. My husband and I have a place in WY where I tough out the winters because we have animals but he goes to a warmer state in a travel trailer to work because we found out quick getting to work in winter in WY is more than a challenge unless you can walk to your job. You can get snowed in for weeks or even months at a time. The cold is severe. Never ever live in a rural ranch area in WY no matter how cost efficient it seems. Rural roads and many secondary highways are not maintained in the winter. Jobs are generally so far from where you live you have to stay in a motel or travel trailer if you can find an opening during the work week and home on the weekends because the daily commutes can bankrupt you physically and financially. Rents are outrageously high and buying a home is even more ridiculous considering the many hardships in the state because of drought (8 yrs), killer winters and the distance between things. WY has a big youth suicide rate because rodeo and sports is about all kids got here. Winter can last from Sept. into May or June and it can even snow in July and August. Wy is for people who can retire with plenty of money and live in a retirement complex as shoveling the snow in winter could kill Hercules.

FrozenGranny, you didn't say where you moved from. It has a little bit to do with things. I moved from the east to California and then moved to Utah for several years where I banged around here and there throughout the "intermountain west" before actually moving to Wyoming ... so, I knew what to expect ... and I must confess - I did not move to Wyoming because I wanted to ... I moved there for family reasons. I'd already spent a winter in Wyoming at 45 below in an economically crippled town - which means "most of the state". Regardless of the income, Wyoming is high-priced and only a lunatic would really like it there ..... ahem - my lunacy is legendary ... . The same holds true in Utah and Idaho where for some inane reason, they think they have something to offer that is comparable to California or some such place where high prices are in line with the quality of life ... and the only thing Wyoming has to offer is - no state income tax. Montana, on the other hand - used to have no property tax ... I can't speak on Montana any more - used to own a little house there but that was decades ago.
Your post is important for out-of-staters to read before relocating to Wyoming. It is also important to note that many folks like it for the same reasons you dislike it - and await those "special conditions" that separate Wyoming from places like ... oh ... I dunno .... Mazatlan??
I would end by mentioning that Colorado is not much better - but at least it has Denver ... which doesn't impress me much but would be a life-saver to somebody in your shoes! By the way, New Mexico has cold nights and plenty of snow too - and fewer places to shop unless you live in Albuquerque or Farmington (let me just clear my throat here ... yuck, yuck, yuck! ... ahem ... there, I feel better now)

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by frozengrandma61

You do not want to move to WY in the winter. I for one wish I had never moved to WY at all. "snip"

You sound a little bitter. We don't have any of the problems you mentioned here in Sheridan.

In the last year, the interstate to Billings was shut down as long for rain in the summer as it was for snow in the winter. We went last winter with 3 or 4 inchs of snow at a time and it would melt off. In March, we did have the one blizzard that shut everything down for a day. But that was it.

Apartments here, although small, can be had for around $500. It's just that right now, due to the boom, they're all full.

What part of the state are you in?

[DessertRat]

Originally Posted by RockyMtnr

The current housing situation in Wyoming can be solved in two ways - both involve a hefty outlay

I've actually found/figured out a couple options that seem like a steal to me . . . but I'm used to the metro New York City real estate market, which is only slightly less expensive that San Francisco's. ;-)

Wyoming is a "right-to-work" state which means that few unions operate there

Being a Libertarian, I like that, but realize it can involve lower incomes for some jobs.

While it is expensive to come all the way to Wyoming from either location (NYC or GA), remember that it is just as far back and unless you are very lucky, you won't have the income there that you may enjoy now so, you'll be making the trip on less cash.

It's called "budgeting"

[DessertRat]

Originally Posted by frozengrandma61

You do not want to move to WY in the winter. I for one wish I had never moved to WY at all . . .

It's definitely not for everyone. I actually like winter (and hate extended heat--yet I was raised in South Florida--yikes!). I've been all over the West, including Wyoming, and including places like northern British Columbia, The Yukon and Alaska in the winter. I love the four-five hour "days" in the Yukon in January. We even broke down in the middle of Wyoming in February one year and slept in a van for the night. I thought it was fun. I've been to Wyoming many times in all different seasons and love it.

I'm also definitely going to own something like a Sno-Cat there so I can enjoy Yellowstone in the winter.

So where do you live frozengrandma? Maybe you'd want to sell me your place cheap.

[RockyMtnr]

Originally Posted by DessertRat

(partial quote) It's called "budgeting"

I know you say that with a knowing grin, Rat - but here's the deal ... in Wyoming, there is often nothing to budget. Same holds true in Utah. I'll stop with those two states because I haven't known that many "poor folk" in the other intermountain states. It will depend greatly on your fortunes ... and your fortune as to where you fall into the pile at.
Folks who already own their own property, have a wood-stove and know where to get their fire-wood and their hay will have a fairly easy time of it ... having only to hit the grocery store (inflated prices) and fill the fuel-oil tank once in the winter to supplement the coldest nights.
Folks who are from ranching families and have had their ranches handed down to them will have plenty of meat - a valuable commodity - and plenty of trade-value to gather their firewood, fuel-oil, gas, etc.
There are many folks who are from neither group. Don't have a wood-stove because they rent ... not necessarily an apartment either because in Wyoming, there just aren't that many apartments. Houses, trailers, old cabins, etc and they run on fuel-oil and some years are better than others regarding competitive pricing. Grocery stores are high-priced ... which is something you may not notice with your NYC area prices. Gasoline is generally higher in Wyoming than most places in the country except for the west coast.
All I'm really saying here ... besides of "Good Luck" ... is, when you come, make sure you have enough already tucked away to make it back to NYC when and if the time comes. Being "stuck" anyplace on this side of the Mississippi is not always as attractive as the post-cards show.