Those who relocated out of state

Did anyone do it without having a job first or find a job and then relocate for that job ( ie...a new job)?

Im curious to hear firsthand how the process went?

It seems so daunting...what to do first?

We DONT own a house...so thats a plus I guess.

I just cannot see how we can continue to finacially survive and strive in NY.

Also looking for area info....where did you relocate to and do you liek it...pro's ...con's...

TIA!!!

Re: Those who relocated out of state

no jobs.

I was pregnant, so I had cobra.

The only contact I had with anyone from Charlotte was on this site.

I had never been to Charlotte, my first time was in the moving truck.

We found our first apt through an agency. It was a month to month lease so we could look at different areas.

DH is a restaruant manager...no one would give him the time of day without a contact.

I am chatting it up at the mall one night with a girl. I mention DH needs a restaurant job. She says her BFF is a restaraunt headhunter. Give her my number. 9:15 AM the next day, phone rings, 6 interviews lined up for that week.

He gets job right away.

We had no debt and a nice chunk in bank so we just threw ourselves into the move.

Both our parents were OOS move people. So, we knew it was possible, and we were in much better shape then they were at time of move.

I feel like all I need is one fam member to move here, then it would feel sooooo different for me.

We are surviving here. I know that's why here is where I am meant to be right now.

We just bought for 140K in Waxhaw. Its a townhouse. Booming area...I think you mentioned it another time. Great area as long as you don't have to commute too far. I do have a lot of lonely days.

Re: Those who relocated out of state

Thanks Janice...I was hoping you'd reply. Yes Waxhaw was somewhere a few family members were considering and we know two people who live there now ( now 3...lol).

What other areas in the Charlotte area did you live and what did you like about them, not like??

Re: Those who relocated out of state

We were going to make the move with no jobs. DH was going to head here first, look for a job and then I would come down. We lucked out that when he gave his notice, his boss said he could work from NC. DH moved a few months before me since I had things I needed to finalize in NY. I came down and got a job in one and a half months. Again, this was 3 years ago so it was a much different economy. There is the Research Triangle Park here and there were lots of companies hiring in a bunch of fields.

I have friends who quit their jobs this past September and still can't find work. It is this damn economy.

I am in Raleigh and we LOVE it here! There is so much to do all the time and we are thriving. We could never own the home we have here if we stayed in NY and we will be able to provide for our son the way we want to.

FM me if you have any questions.

Re: Those who relocated out of state

we lived in Southpark. Very ritzy area...but 3-4 blocks away were projects. There is one really good school in the neighborhood, the others weren't up to standards at all.

Then we went up to Huntersville. We LOVED it up there. Very quiet, a lot of NYers. tons of families. Schools were good. My car insurance went down when we moved up there, very safe.

Then we moved to South Charlotte, Ballantyne. I absolutely positively love it here. I have zero complaints, other then the fact that i can't afford to buy here(yet... ) Its wonderful here. Great parks, people are always out running biking strolling. Last summer we lived at the YMCA toddler splash pool. At night we would bike to outside concerts...I can't imagine a better place for a little boy to live. Restaruants bars movies shopping. all in walking distance. Schools are new. Not sure if that is good or bad.

My car insurance went back up when we moved here. I very rarely meet a native down here. Everyone is from somewhere else.

So, we could have bought an older condo here...I was sort of all for it. Leo wasn't. So we agreed on Waxhaw.

He loves it. This weekend he took his strolls up and down main street meeting people. super safe here. Car insurance going back down. We are zoned for incredible schools...some of Waxhaw isn't though.

1/2 of my new community is NYC and LI. These people love it out there. There are still kinks since its tons of new development. There is a water treatment plant that is being over used, so people's taxes are going up to cap it and fix the problem. Its still a 2 lane road out of the city, but leo works unusual hours, so he won't get that much traffic.

but for 140K, its a brand new townhouse, taxes are 1200 a year. my community has a park and a pool with a 3 story water slide. we can walk to store, restaruants...schools are fantastic. ITs a smaller 3 bedroom, one car garage. There is no where in the US that is offering me this deal right now.

We got the USDA loan. No pmi, no money down. Its costing me 2K to close and I can look forward to the 8K credit for buying in 2009.

I do the drive back up to NY with Josh. My parents hate it, but the second I feel like I can't do the drive I am going to feel trapped. It really is only 10 hours away.

Re: Those who relocated out of state

We moved from LI to FL in '07 and we both didn't have jobs when we moved down. It was a risk, but we knew we could live comfortably for a while without jobs, plus we rented an apartment that offered the first two months rent-free. It worked out great b/c we both got jobs after about two months down here.

We didn't just move somewhere we didn't know anyone or the area. We moved to an area in FL that we had TONS of family and a few friends already. Plus, we'd been down twice a year (or more) every year for a while to visit so we knew we'd be happy here and were already familiar with the area.

We love living in FL... the weather is amazing (esp in the winter) and we never would have been able to afford a home in NY like we have now.

Any other specific questions, let me know.

Re: Those who relocated out of state

I also, like Suzanne live in Raleigh. Cary actuially-8 miles from Raleigh. We just moved here in November. So far I like it a lot. Tons of NY'ers as well as people from everywhere. The natives are pretty much used to it by now so no one treats you like an outcast. It is extremely family friendly-like Mayberry.

Housing is pretty inexpensive. We are renting a house right now. 4BD and 3Ba on 1`/2 acre for 1550(I actually think this is a littel high-we probably could have found something cheaper) The schools are good here-though some are on a year round schedule so you would have to look into that first. We will probably buy in the next year or two possibly out a little further so we can have some land.

Oh ETA: I transferred with my job and my DH had his own business at the time-however he was involved inb the credit markets and just got a new job about 3 weeks ago

Message edited 3/9/2009 11:28:21 AM.

Re: Those who relocated out of state

I moved to southern California with no job lined up. I was looking for a teaching job, and I'd tried to apply for open positions while I still lived on the east coast, but obviously the schools weren't going to fly me out for an interview. Some districts only accepted applications in person, I couldn't take the required test for a CA teaching license locally, and I felt that no one was taking my applications seriously because I didn't even live in the area.

So I moved across the country, got my state teaching credentials in order, and then resubmitted all my applications with my new local address. And I STILL didn't get a job, so I had to resort to plan B - subbing. I did that for a year, had no health insurance, and dipped into my savings every month to pay the rent. It was hard. I was seriously considering moving somewhere else (either to the inner city where I was pretty much guaranteed employment, or trying to go to grad school, etc.) when I finally got a job offer, and I took it right away.

Based on my experience, if you do move without a job lined up, my only advice would be to have a plan B. You need to do something to pay the bills if you don't get that offer right away, so even if it's waiting tables, have an idea of something you will do for cash until you find the job you want.

Re: Those who relocated out of state

We are planning on moving to NC, we own a house though and with the market being what it is we're not sure if we'll get what we want for it. As for jobs, my dh is in insurance so I don't think he'll have a problem with the relocation end of it. We also have family there so it won't be like we know no one.

The cost of living here is absurd. You can get so much more for your money elsewhere. Good luck!

Re: Those who relocated out of state

Before moving to the west coast I applied for positions from NY and to be honest I don't think they even look at those OOS. So, I moved with no job and it took about 2 months for me to land one and that was through a temp agency. I was lucky that the firm asked me to stay on and offered me a FT perm position. I would be leary in today's job marked. Unless you have some $$$ to live off of for 6 months or so.

Re: Those who relocated out of state

Did anyone do it without having a job first or find a job and then relocate for that job ( ie...a new job)?

DH was laid off and I hated my job so we just left. I'm a teacher, so I had a summer check coming to me and we lived off that plus savings and etc. It took about 5 months for DH to find a job.



Im curious to hear firsthand how the process went?

We went out in December and looked at apt complexes and it was easy to reserve for the date we wanted to get there. We came back, gave notice to our landlady and moved in with my parents. DH went out first in March to start looking for jobs and I stayed to finish school.




It seems so daunting...what to do first?

take a trip down and decide if you like the lifestyle, look into housing, look for jobs.




Also looking for area info....where did you relocate to and do you liek it...pro's ...con's...

San Diego - we loved it and would still be there today if I didn't get preggo and homesick for my kids to be raised around family, like I was. We will retire there though.

Re: Those who relocated out of state

Re: Those who relocated out of state

DH & I have been trying to relocate to the Charlotte area for the last year and a half. We don't own a house here. I wanted to move the the area since 98 when my first friend moved there and I went to visit and saw how cheap the apartments where and I also don't like LI. DH & I have 4 friends living in the area. I thought we would have relocated by Spring of 08, but unfortunately it didn't happen and I got so depressed last year. We thought DH's company would open up an additional location in that area, but that didn't happen and there were no openings in the current locations. I'm a legal secretary and I sent out about 30 resumes (mostly to places that werent' advertising) and received two responses and 1 request to come down for an interview, but the co. had no benefits). Even though we have about 8-9 months of living expenses saved, we are too scared to go down there w/out jobs and unforunately both of us have had cc debt that will be paid off in the next year. Sure we can live with our friends for awhile and just pay them a small rent, but we want to be on our own. Also, at this time, unemployment in that area is high, so with the economy the way it is, our moving process is delayed, but we will get there eventually. I am happy to hear about the success stories of people moving OOS without jobs and getting them so fast.

Message edited 3/10/2009 8:28:22 AM.

Re: Those who relocated out of state

We are pretty much relocated from LI to South Florida. Neither of us has a job, but right now we are both receiving income. We have benefits (I am on disability right now which helps and I couldn't take NY weather).

DH is looking for a job first. We are taking a big risk, but it is worth it since we already own our home here. Yesterday DH had a company call very interested in him

With me, it is harder because I need to take the Florida Bar Exam before I can work in my field. But we will manage, I am sure.

Re: Those who relocated out of state

We moved out of state twice -- once for entirely new jobs, once for job-related transfers.

In both cases, we rented for a year to get a feel for the area before buying a home.

Honestly, I wouldn't move out of state without first lining up a job -- especially not right now. It CAN be done, of course, but like a PP said, have a plan B in mind just in case.

Re: Those who relocated out of state

DH kept his NY job and is now working from home but we made sure to move to an area where there is a demand in his field just in case. I'm an RN so I found it relatively easy to find a new job.

ETA: We spanned the whole US when looking for a place to relocate. Our criteria was low housing costs, close proximity to a major city, family friendly and job availablity. We found the Dallas/Fort Worth area to be our best fit. It also helped that we had a few friends and family living here as well.

Message edited 3/10/2009 9:27:17 AM.

Re: Those who relocated out of state

Friends of ours made the move, to Charlotte
He is an engineer, she is an editor
He secured the job, then they bought a house and they are moving in the next week or so.

They have newborn twins and a 3 year old, much like you will, and decided that the cost of living here would not give them the quality of life they want for their family

By the way, congratulations on your other news. You and Danny must be thrilled.

Good luck with the move

Re: Those who relocated out of state

We came out and went to a job fair for DH, and *I* ended up getting a job there and Dh didn't!

We felt okay with moving with just 1 of us having a job.

DH found work once we got here (subbing instead of a f/t teaching job which just wans't available).

We moved to San Diego. We love it! If our families lived here, we'd never look back.

The lifestyle is very different here. Unfortunately it's not really "cheaper" - but it's just different. There are more townhouses and condos here... and since the weather is so beautiful, it seems more "okay" to not have a backyard since it's pretty much always nice enough to go to the park or beach or whatever...

Re: Those who relocated out of state