Moving to NC from Michigan (Raleigh: home, area, place)

[Zener321]

Originally Posted by empurpledsoul

I left Michigan for NC back in 1996, and it was the best move ever. I wondered why I waited til I was 36 to get the heck outta Dodge (MI)! I absolutely loved the difference in the "culture". It was slower, friendlier and warmer climate wise. Now I am back in the north, duty called (family) and moving BACK to NC asap. When I had to move north again the only way I could do it was to promise that it was temporary and I would endure it til I could return to what is known as heaven on earth to those who live there!

My favorite pasttime was to phone my relatives and friends in Michigan in February to tell them about all the warm breezes and flowers blooming!

Now that the economy has tanked (again! remember..."last one out of Michigan turn out the lights" on bumperstickers in the early 80's?) it seems NC is the target for relocating. This is the thing about Michiganders. They pick ONE place to flock to. It was Texas way back then, NC today.

Hey Em,
Your reply is all too familiar with many other people I've spoken with in NC. I personally know two people around the Raleigh area and one up in Hillsville, VA and they all say the same thing. They'll never come back to Michigan and after having been there myself, I can't wait to get out of Dodge either. NC isn't for everyone and in my opinion, that's a very good thing.
Jim

[cassy1]

Welcome to NC Jim, ex MI couple here and loving NC! We were lucky and sold the house before we moved, otherwise we probably would have been one of the ones who went under.

I have no doubt that you will enjoy NC and the life style down here, we are further northeast than you but heck it is all great. By the way, my inlaws have a summer place by West Branch, some very pretty country but I can't even amagine how you made it until now with the economy up there.

Anyway just wanted to tell you hello and enjoy after you get here.

Sandy

[Zener321]

Originally Posted by jaynarie

ABF U-Pack is the cheapest I have found. I am also a Michigander trying to relocate... As soon as I get a job, I am GONE!! (As I am an unemployed teacher, I should know for certain in a week or two. Hopefully!).
Anyway, ABF has two options, cubes or a trailer. It is cheaper to get the trailer. You pay for ONLY the space you USE. I have a 1 bdrm apt, and I am quoted in the $800 range. Plus, they drive it for you! They pay all the gas and stuff. You pack it, they pick it up and deliver it, and you unpack it. It is cheaper than even UHaul, and with UHaul, you have to pay for gas (and drive it through the mountains )

Jay,
Thank you for the advice and reply. I am taking notes from you and all the nice folks from this board about moving. We have checked a number of options and what it all comes down to for us is how much time we'll have to move. U-Pack is great but if I only have a week to do all of that, it could be a problem. One thing is for certain; U-Haul is the most expensive, most tiring and stressful way to do it. Unfortunately, we have a lifetimes worth of accumulation and tons of stuff. A lot of it will be sold, given away and donated which is the process we are currently in. We've gotten quotes of $8000 for a complete they pack, they haul, they unpack deal. If I get a job in the South soon, ( applications pending ) I'll probably just close my eyes and write the check.
My wife is also a teacher. She found a great, high pay, full benefits job in just a couple of weeks. The community college there where she'll be had a rather rigorous interview process that kept us wondering for awhile if she actually had the job or not. A day after her face to face interview when we were back to Michigan, she got the phone call saying she's in.
Their are so many schools in NC, I wouldn't think you'd have any problem finding a job. You'll find something good, I'm sure.
Jim

[Zener321]

Originally Posted by cassy1

Welcome to NC Jim, ex MI couple here and loving NC! We were lucky and sold the house before we moved, otherwise we probably would have been one of the ones who went under.

I have no doubt that you will enjoy NC and the life style down here, we are further northeast than you but heck it is all great. By the way, my inlaws have a summer place by West Branch, some very pretty country but I can't even amagine how you made it until now with the economy up there.

Anyway just wanted to tell you hello and enjoy after you get here.

Sandy

Hey Sandy,
You WERE lucky for sure. We have been lucky to hang on here as long as we did but, it's time to say goodbye. We love our little oasis here in West Branch being right next to the Huron Forest. Even the Black Bear know we're leaving and I'll really miss all the animal life. The Chipmunks, that I've trained to be unafraid of my wife and I, ran right up to our Realtor here like they were going to bite his toes off. You don't suppose I could take them with me do ya?

I still like it here Sandy and I'm having a difficult time thinking that we are literally being run out by our own Government. I must admit, one trip to NC made me start forgetting all of that and even though we must start over, doing that down there is a very positive and exciting thing. There is a lot about NC to love and I'm anxious to get the show on the road. Besides, my wife already has her sweet tea glass surgically implanted in her hand so we MUST move now I just sold my snow blower and my plow truck goes with the house. Don't ask me why but, that just doesn't hurt my feelings one bit.

Thanks for the encouragement,
Jim

[Zener321]

Originally Posted by Zippy7fo

What do you expect her to do with a Auto industry thats inefficient and ignorant and a state that for the most part had very few creative types and the ones they do have leave after graduation or stressed diverse economy porfolio of industries....She has no choice...

Zippy,
I can think of a lot of choices our Governor has made that are historically proven to be economically disasterous. The auto companies and many manufacturers in Michigan along with the giant retailers and many not so giant companies have seized a golden business opportunity made available to them by the Chinese-American Free Trade Agreement and NAFTA to produce their products very cheaply in China. Companies still trying to survive here simply can't compete with Chinese pricing due to the cheap labor there. Michigan is one of only a few States that has a mandatory law requiring all manufacturers here to be unionized. Union labor costs are killing manufacturing here and our Governor is heavily supported by the unions. Therefore, she does nothing to bring this State into a business friendly environment and business leaves. These companies aren't all going to China. Many are relocating in other more business friendly States like North Carolina.
Our Governor continues raising every tax, permit fee, licensing fee, while mandating new ones almost by the month. At the same time she is cutting spending to our Counties and Cities for essential services causing the local Governments to continuously ask for more millage increases from us tax payers so they don't go broke. So where is all that money going that she collects in taxes? Take a look at her very long list of special interest friends and you'll find your answer. This State was 80 million dollars in debt when she first took office and she called that a sin. Now the State is 800 million in debt and what do you call that? I'd call it treason.
Raising taxes has ALWAYS equated to a slower economy. This Governor needs to get her tax and spend foolishness under control or Michigan has no chance at all of making a comeback. Since it's become very clear that she will veto any legislation that makes sense, all this State can do is impeach her, wait for the next Governor who might get it right, or watch it's residents, skilled workers, and businesses leave. I'm 56 years old and I don't have time to wait for this Government to get it's act together so I'm doing what everyone else is doing. Leaving!

You are certainly entitled to your opinion as am I but, if you choose to stay you might want to stock up on batteries for when the lights go out. You might want to do that very soon.
Thanks for your input and friendly debate,
Jim

[Zener321]

Originally Posted by mrjdaniels

Jim, i will see you when I get there - Oak Park, MI to Fort Mill, SC

GOOD LUCK - I say PODS also

Mr J,
Thanks a ton man. Wow! Oak Park. We were once neighbors when I lived in Berkley. Hey wait a second; Your not theeeeeeeeeee J Daniels are you?
Isn't Fort Mill where the moonshiners still operate? This is starting to come together. Ever hang out at Sir Charles Pub on Woodward? My head still hurts.

O.K. on PODS. Thanks for that info and it is duely noted.
Jim

[Zener321]

Liz,
I couldn't agree more. We have no desire to change NC, especially to change it into Michigan. After all; Why change a good thing. We just want to fit in and be a part of the community there.
Jim

[bjmoody]

Hi there! I moved from NH two years ago and haven't met a rude person yet! I love the area that I am in which is in the Triad area (Winston-Salem, High Point_ Greensboro area) THe schools are incredible and the opportunities are abundant. I don't know that much about moving companies but I used Hertz years ago and it was reasonable. Not to try to sell myself, but I am in the mortgage business and would be happy to pre-qualify you. Housing is more afforedable here and you would be amazed what 170K would buy you here! I know first hand what is going on in Michigan. The mortgage company that I used to work for in Grand Rapids just closed their doors and they were 36 yrs in business- Heartwell Mortgage. Good luck to you and I hope that everything works out for you guys!!

Originally Posted by Zener321

I've read quite a number of complaints about NC coming from people who have already moved there from NY and other States. Everything from the weather, the schools, the politics, etc. If you'd like to see a State with some very serious problems, come to Michigan. There are no jobs, people are losing their homes, businesses and everything they've worked for. State taxes and fee's are off the charts and getting higher by the week.
My wife and I ARE moving but, we'll live in South Carolina where taxes are reasonable and work in NC where jobs are abundent.
We've seen our property value in Michigan go from $225,000 to $170,000 during our current Governors reign as Socialist and we still haven't sold our house. Many people are simply walking away from homes here that are worth less on the open market then they owe on the mortgage. All kinds of businesses are going bankrupt or leaving the State in the biggest mass exodus this place has ever seen. This IS NOT an auto company related problem here. It's a tax and spend Governor problem but, you won't see that on your nightly news.
My wife has already secured a good job in Monroe and we haven't even set foot in NC yet. We're taking our first trip there next week when I'll be looking for work too.
Does anyone out there have suggestions on where to find a reasonably priced moving company? We're getting quotes of $8000.00 and we don't get to keep the truck.
Jim

[Zener321]

Originally Posted by bjmoody

Hi there! I moved from NH two years ago and haven't met a rude person yet! I love the area that I am in which is in the Triad area (Winston-Salem, High Point_ Greensboro area) THe schools are incredible and the opportunities are abundant. I don't know that much about moving companies but I used Hertz years ago and it was reasonable. Not to try to sell myself, but I am in the mortgage business and would be happy to pre-qualify you. Housing is more afforedable here and you would be amazed what 170K would buy you here! I know first hand what is going on in Michigan. The mortgage company that I used to work for in Grand Rapids just closed their doors and they were 36 yrs in business- Heartwell Mortgage. Good luck to you and I hope that everything works out for you guys!!

Hi BJ,
We flew into Greensboro and stayed at a hotel in High Point when we were there so we are a little bit familiar with the area.
You are so right about there not being rude people there. We had some total strangers spend time to give us a lot of good advice. Everyone we spoke with was just as kind as could be.
I appreciate the pre-qual offer but, we've already gotten that done and have been working with a Realtor. We won't be ready to buy for a year since we want to be absolutely sure what area we'll like the most. So far, we liked Waxhaw the most because of available acreage and nice housing styles.
I have a house to sell here and a new job to find there so I'm sure my pre-qual stats will change and although none of it is bad now, it's likely to get much better.
I don't know how any mortgage company heavily invested in Michigan is surviving. The already very long list of foreclosures is growing by the day in this State and in an effort to find something positive to say, it sure is a buyers market around here. If anyone is looking for the deal of a lifetime to buy a home, Michigan is the place. I still own a very nice 5 acre parcel of vacant land in the Richmond area here that I've had for sale around three years. I keep lowering my price and haven't had a single offer. It's at the point now where I'll just have to keep paying the taxes on it and hold onto it until the market improves some day. At least it's paid for.
Thank you much BJ,
Jim

[DYANMARIE]

Hi Jim, I just found this site, pretty good info on it. We live in Houghton Lake, just down on 75 from you. Our daughter and her family just moved to NC and were thinking of doing the same. Work for my husband here is hard to find, in the winter we starve. I'm concerned about the snakes and weather. I love to garden and this is in the back of my mind...plus I heard it's so hot there, its hard to be outside. Then my dogs and cats, I can just see them running up a rattiler or something.