[Ugh!!]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Yeah but what do you get for that $1,700 and what are your HOA fees? Does that include you county taxes? Also how much per year do you pay in taxes on food bought in a grocery store. I know this has been covered before but there are hidden cost to living in NC that people don't mention when talking about it. Jay

Wake County NC sales tax rate is 6.75%

I live just outside the city limits of my town, so the only property tax I pay is the county (1,700/yr), within the city limits I would pay about 2,600/yr. My HOA fee is $11/month

gas is $1.55/gal at the closest gas station to my home, I've seen it for $1.45/gal elsewhere

I pay $75/quarter for trash & recyclables pick up

I have a 1 yr old SUV that I just paid my first property tax bill for $200

Never have to worry about ridiculous oil bills for heating my home

I know that if I move to CT, my property taxes will triple (or probably more) to live in a home or neighborhood similar to mine. The property tax on my vehicle will double. And, heating/oils bills? I hate to even think about it. Plus, just to buy a home similar to the one I currently own here in NC, I'll have to spend close to $600K. Not worth it in my opinion, but I have to go where the job takes me.... hopefully, nowhere soon.

[Rich Lee]

If you don't think you're going to be in Connecticut for more than 2 or 3 years, I would strongly suggest that you rent.

[wanderintonc]

Originally Posted by gigilano

I moved to Raleigh NC, 6 months ago, from WPB Florida. I am orignally from the northeast of New Jersey. I lived in Florida for 28 years, because that is where my now xhusband's job was. alway Hated Florida. I work in a hospital, came up to NC a couple of times on interviews, Went to Asheville, Hickory and then to Raleigh for interviews. After a year and a half of looking, I was offer a job in Raleigh, with more pay. I took it. The only things I can say about Raleigh NC that is good, is the apartments are cheap. That is it!! Everything else is EXPENSIVE! I have a 2/2 with a wood burning fireplace and washer and dryer. I pay $854 a month . I live alone, work the night shift at the hospital 3-4 12 hour shifts a week. sleep during the day. wash about 3-4 loads a week, I don't use my heat much at all. At times I turn it on just to get the chill out of the air, then turn it off. I shut everything off when I go to work.I don't watch much TV, My power bill this month was $120, I could not believe it. This was my bill in Florida, with the A/C on ALL the time, year round. and I like it cold, I called the power co. and was told I was way under the average use. That they increase the rate. From now until June. blaming it on the bad economy. Right! and I make more take home less! I worked overtime once, a 12 shift and saw only $45 more in my check. The people are nice, although, they make fun of my New York accent. I am always being ask, "What part of New York, you from?" I reply, "I'm not! I'm from NJ, and I tell them, that I have lived in Florida for 28 years. This is a everyday thing here with these people. Some people are rude here, I have been told, its because of my accent, they don't like Yankees! I don't find it crowded here and would not consider it a city. Its a little backwards here. I hate my job, this by far is the worst hospital I have ever worked in. I have been in the medical field for 25 years. I can tell you, its not Duke or WakeMed or UNC> Although, it is associtated with UNC. I am trying to look for another job in one of these hospital, to see if I will change my mind about Raleigh. But no luck yet. My daughter lives in Ct. And to tell you the truth, I have always missed the City life in New York. Living in NJ and going into the city. I was thinking of moving up to Ct around New Haven, Middletown, Rocky Hill area. A job is not my concern. I can get a job anywhere, since I am in the healthcare industry. I like to live in an area of Ct that is affordable and yet not too far from the city. I am single, 51,but don't look it, really, people are alway shock when I tell them how old I am. They think I am around 42, I have alot of energy. I like mountain biking, hiking, wlaking and everything in between.

Well, a 2bed2bath apt in Middletown will cost way more than $854-it will be well over $1000 like JayCT said-and your $120 electric bill will be quite a bit more too-if you even have central air, which many places here don't. And don't forget heating in the winter. The elec rates have gone up here too.

That said, Middletown is a relatively nice area-it is indeed a city, not a 'small town' type place-and it's about 2 hours from NYC, which makes it doable on a day off. You should probably visit here first, before making a final decision. Have you given yourself enough time to get used to where you live now? 6 months isn't much.

[LiveUrban]

There are so many nice towns in Connecticut!

You'll be near NYC which has a huge LGBT community as well..

[BigHouse9]

Taxes in Wake County for sales tax are 6.75% state and 2% county for an 8.75% total. State Income tax would run me about $1500-$2000 more than CT annually. My HOA fee was $35 per month, I was lucky to move to a new development that didn't have an HOA which is one of the few. Monthly water is around $50-$70 versus $50 per quarter MDC when I was in CT. Car taxes are cheaper in NC and so are RE taxes but then again, less real estate = fewer taxes. Good luck finding over .33 acres in the Cary/Raleigh area.

To each their own, but so many people I have spoken with or that have posted on this board look at RE taxes and RE taxes only and think they will save so much more money in Raleigh. When all is added up plus the lower salaries in the Raleigh area, then you may actually find yourself behind in terms of your spending as compared to CT. Just go in with your eyes open.

All that being said, CT is not for some people and Raleigh is not for others. You make your personal choice.

[wavehunter007]

Originally Posted by Ugh!!

I currently live 15 miles south of Raleigh. I may be moving back to CT (left it 10 years ago). I will not be moving because I miss CT, but, because my employer wants me to transfer there. I highly disagree with your comments above. Over one year ago, I purchased a 2200 sq ft (brand new) 3br/2ba home on .61 acres, with granite counters, stainless appliances, hwd floors, screened porch, etc (all the bells & whistles) for $275,000. I have all electric heat, appliances, cooling.... and with these "hot" summers, my highest electric bill has been $112, my lowest was $50. Never have to deal with oil or gas bills. I work in downtown Raleigh, and my commute is usually 20-30 minutes. It's very quiet and family oriented where I live. I think most people are genuinely friendly. Some people do refer to us as "yankees", but it doesn't offend me. I am trying to get out of this transfer, because I like it here so much. I've been transferred several times and have lived in 4 different states in the past 10 years. I always thought I wanted to get back to CT until now. Yes, there are a lot of people here from NY and NJ, as well as other northern states, but it doesn't bother me. My only complaint is that I have to drive 2 hours to get to the beach, and 2 hours in the other direction to get to the mountains.

I just though I would mention, we also crunched the numbers several years ago… and Big House 9 and some of the other posters have a point. Places like NC seem cheaper on paper, but when you add in all the costs …plus the 15% reduction in salary, you really don’t come out much ahead in NC. Also, entertainment seems quite limited in central NC.

I pay $3300 in property taxes on a 1800 sq. foot (3ba/2ba) house built in 1978 on 1.1 ac , in an eastern CT beach town (I can walk to beach-15 min). I have all hwd floors, a huge Key West style tropical porch with a bar, and a greenhouse surrounded by a bamboo grove. My taxes pay for rubbish pickup. I spend about $750 in heat all winter (Nov 1 to April 1). My power bill is about $180 per month. My auto taxes are $400 year (a 2005 and 1999). I'am sure you come out a few hundred dollars ahead in NC in living expenses.

However, once you add in the higher saliries in the Tri-State area, the location (close to NYC, Boston…etc), and the fact that while Raleigh itself is a nice small city…it is in absolutuly the middle of nowhere. When we went to Raleigh to check it out - it was a bit boring after a few days. Outside of the modest sized Raleigh metro area...it's just pine woods for 50 miles.

In southern CT…things are so much closer, beaches, shopping malls, casinos, aquariums. Also there is much more of a wide range of food, seafood, and shopping in Ct. Also, in Ct, a 2 hour ride will put you in NYC, Boston, Newport, Atlantic City, Cape Cod, a ferry to the Islands. In Raleigh, the beaches of the Outer Banks are 200 miles away (2.5 hours ). Other than that, how much is there to see and do. For lovers of life near the coast… Raleigh might as well be Phoenix.

I DO love all the pines in central NC though!

[BigHouse9]

Originally Posted by wavehunter007

I DO love all the pines in central NC though!

Be careful what you wish for wave! I have those pines in my backyard in NC and between the needles and cones, I won't miss those ever. My kids are forever stepping on pine cones which is not a pleasant experience.

Plus cleaning pine needles out of gutters is not a fun chore.