Can we discuss moving out of NY?

I'm adding this to the ever-growing and long list of things I always said i would never consider/do ..... But I'm getting very tired of many things about LI and trying to seek solutions.


I would love to hear from people who moved away, even upstate (as I know certain areas are quite reasonable and I'm considering one in particular.)


You don't have to answer all my questions, but these are just a rough outline.

1) what made you decide to move?
2) what was the job market like for you/partner?
3) what do you find cheaper in your new area?
4) what did you find more expensive?
5) any noticeable difference in the people/traffic/work culture?
6) if you head back to Ny/LI... What's your view of it now?
7) what do you have in your new area that you couldn't have back here?
8) any regrets?


For myself.. I would like a cheaper cost of living and less stress. I would like to be able to save more, live a nice little life. I have family here and that is something that would hold me back.

Message edited 7/8/2015 10:55:02 AM.

Can we discuss moving out

Moving out of your home?

Re: Can we discuss moving out

Or the state? Im OOS I can help

Im going to fm you

Message edited 7/8/2015 11:13:31 AM.

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

We moved to the DC area for DH's work. We live in the VA suburbs.

The mortgage on our 6000 sf brand new house in a cul de sac community with excellent schools costs less than what our monthly rent for a 900 sf 2 bedroom apartment in the Upper East Side.

DC doesn't seem to have a workaholic mentality like NYC. Almost all families we know have both parents home at a decent hour and eat dinner together everyday.

Our friends in NYC seem to stress about schools a lot more than we do whether it is public or private.

NYC has much better food. I miss my friends and family but we visit NY a few times per year and they visit us or go on vacation with us.

I have sacrificed my finance career to live down here. DH's career is soaring though.

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

DH and I moved OOS after college and STUPIDLY moved back to LI..............biggest regret of my life. We're stuck in our house now because we're still upside down thanks to the stupid housing market crash BUT we've discussed moving away again at some point. We FOR SURE won't retire here, as it is I can't stand the traffic and crowds now...........imagine in a few years.

Anyway, to answer your questions when we were living OOS:

1) We moved because we wanted a change of pace, we wanted to try something different, and we were both sick of LI even back when we were younger.

2) The job market for me sucked where we were (FL) but for DH's profession, he was doing amazing..........and would no matter where we moved in the country. He would pretty much get his NY salary (or close to it) wherever we move.

3) The housing was really where you saved so much money. When we were down there we could've EASILY had a HUGE house built for well under $200K. You couldn't do that on LI, that's for sure!

4) Nothing. We saved money everywhere. Having no state and local taxes were nice too BUT the trade-off (had we stayed) was that the schools weren't great. Where we were if you made a good income you put your kids in private school, that's what we would've done if we still lived there. So private school would've been an added expense for us that we wouldn't have on the island BUT it might have been a break even considering what we pay in taxes here.

5) Absolutely. There was no such thing as crazy rush hour traffic. It was so easy to get around for the most part and people, in general, were much friendlier and more laid back. Where we happened to be in FL it tended to be a little more transient then some other areas but overall, it was a nicer, friendlier place then here on the island.

6) When we lived in FL I naturally missed NY and always enjoyed our visits home. But now in hindsight, we would've been better off staying in FL (or even moving to another state) and just visited. If we did that we'd hate LI a lot less then we do now and life would just be so much easier for so many reasons if we hadn't come back.

7) Lower cost of living pretty much in almost all aspects.

8) I don't regret having moved out of NY, I regret that I ever came back!!

Message edited 7/8/2015 12:11:28 PM.

Can we discuss moving out of NY?

I live upstate in the capital district. The cost of living is definitely a lot less, but so are some of the salaries. Right now, there is a huge STEM boom in this area (nanotechnology, Malta chip plant, and engineering). My only wish would be for high speed train service between Albany and NYC.

I also like that there isn't too much of a keeping up with the Joneses attitude.

There is traffic here, but not like LI traffic.

Message edited 7/8/2015 12:14:19 PM.

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

.

Message edited 8/21/2019 6:12:56 PM.

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

We moved OOS, to a suburb of Jacksonville, FL, a little over a year ago.

1) what made you decide to move?

We started contemplating a move in 2013 because we every time we came back from vacation, we lamented how unattractive Long Island seemed. It was stressful and dreary in March, and suddenly it seemed we were just not as happy anymore. At that point we had a 3 year old and were expecting that summer.

2) what was the job market like for you/partner?

What really spurred the moving conversation was that my husband's Wall St employer had started expanding to the Jacksonville area. We would not have moved without secure employment for DH. DH was offered a fantastic job opportunity in Jax that was a definite step up from his NY role and working for someone in NY that DH really respected. I worked 10 hours in NY so my employment was a non-factor. However, I'm going to start working again for 10 hours per week making the same money I was in NY.


3) what do you find cheaper in your new area?

Housing isn't cheaper per say it's just that you get a lot more for your money. Our FL house cost about the same as our LI house but is much bigger (3400 sq ft) and brand new and built to our liking. Taxes are about $6000. School district is #1 in FL.

4) what did you find more expensive?

Several things, especially supermarket food. Most other things are comparable. Haircuts, even children's haircuts cost what they did back on LI. We spend the same on utilities. Gas is cheaper though. Clothing is the same. Restaurant food is sometimes slightly less.


5) any noticeable difference in the people/traffic/work culture?

DH went from commuting over 1 hour each way to Manhattan to driving in to work and it takes him 17 minutes! People are SO much nicer here. Less stress. Family time seems much more important. No traffic to complain about. There are true neighborhoods where we live where community events are held. Halloween was amazing, 4th of July our neighborhood of 500 homes chipped in and had a huge potluck, bounce houses, and a fireworks show.

6) if you head back to Ny/LI... What's your view of it now?

We wonder why we didn't leave earlier. DH and I both were born and raised in the NY/LI area so it was all we knew. But after moving we see just how different life can be and we are really really happy. Are children are super happy too! Moving is not without it's challenges, as we left all of our family and friends and knew no one here, but still, we are so happy.

7) what do you have in your new area that you couldn't have back here?

Really great quality of life. DH spends so much more time with us now that he doesn't spend close to 3 hours of his day commuting. The kids and I see him in the mornings before he leaves and he's home by 5:30 most days. If he works late he's still home by 6:30.

8) any regrets? None.

We live near the beach so we don't miss that. If anything, we go more bc we can be at the beach in January. We have seasons and it does get cold in February so we don't suffer through heat all year. We spend a lot more time outside. There are not many good restaurants though and everything seems farther away. Stores are all a 15 minute drive away but at least there's no traffic so driving is annoying.

Message edited 7/8/2015 12:41:12 PM.

Can we discuss moving out of NY?

Let me preface this by saying we moved to Tucson, AZ at 24 for grad school before giving NY a shot again once my DH finished his PhD and I finished my MBA in 2011. We moved back to Tucson last July.

1) what made you decide to move? So, so many things. Constantly stressed, constantly struggling to pay bills, constantly pressed for time, feeling like we were constantly just trying to get from point a - point b. Tired of long commutes

2) what was the job market like for you/partner?
When we moved back to NY in 2011, my company just transferred me to our NY office, so when we moved back to Tucson last year, I just transferred back. My DH found a job that paid him 50% more in Tucson and even paid full moving expenses to get us back here.

3) what do you find cheaper in your new area?
Basically everything, although I do find that home values are slightly more. For instance, my parents just bought a house out here and they paid more for their house here than they sold their house on LI for. I think they also got a shoddy deal and sold for way too low, but that's another story. Prop taxes are so minimal here though that I think that has something to do with the slightly "inflated" home values. That being said, I paid less for my 3000 sf house here than I would've paid for my 1200 sf house I was renting in NY from 2011-2014.

4) what did you find more expensive? Other that the slight home value issue I mentioned above, nothing. Tucson is cheap! Oh, I do pay more for a hair cut here though, but I go to a fancy salon because I can afford that here!

5) any noticeable difference in the people/traffic/work culture?
Happy, laid back people. Traffic is non existent the hours that I work, roads are new and well paved. Work culture, depending on where you work, is laid back. Even my company, which has a slight NY culture because it's headquartered there, I still get to wear jeans to work everyday here in Tucson.

6) if you head back to Ny/LI... What's your view of it now? I love visiting in the summer (although with my folks leaving for Tucson in Aug, this will be coming to an end).

7) what do you have in your new area that you couldn't have back here? Real Mexican Food! But more importantly, time. Time to spend with my kid, time to workout 5 days a week, time to cook all of our meals. Some disposable income. And friends. We had a lot of friends here we were sad to leave in 2011. Now it's like we never left.

8) any regrets? None, only that we left Tucson to try NY for a few years in the first place. I could've done without three years of bleeding cash and much too much depression.

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

Posted by Hofstra26

DH and I moved OOS after college and STUPIDLY moved back to LI..............biggest regret of my life. We're stuck in our house now because we're still upside down thanks to the stupid housing market crash BUT we've discussed moving away again at some point. We FOR SURE won't retire here, as it is I can't stand the traffic and crowds now...........imagine in a few years.

Anyway, to answer your questions when we were living OOS:

1) We moved because we wanted a change of pace, we wanted to try something different, and we were both sick of LI even back when we were younger.

2) The job market for me sucked where we were (FL) but for DH's profession, he was doing amazing..........and would no matter where we moved in the country. He would pretty much get his NY salary (or close to it) wherever we move.

3) The housing was really where you saved so much money. When we were down there we could've EASILY had a HUGE house built for well under $200K. You couldn't do that on LI, that's for sure!

4) Nothing. We saved money everywhere. Having no state and local taxes were nice too BUT the trade-off (had we stayed) was that the schools weren't great. Where we were if you made a good income you put your kids in private school, that's what we would've done if we still lived there. So private school would've been an added expense for us that we wouldn't have on the island BUT it might have been a break even considering what we pay in taxes here.

5) Absolutely. There was no such thing as crazy rush hour traffic. It was so easy to get around for the most part and people, in general, were much friendlier and more laid back. Where we happened to be in FL it tended to be a little more transient then some other areas but overall, it was a nicer, friendlier place then here on the island.

6) When we lived in FL I naturally missed NY and always enjoyed our visits home. But now in hindsight, we would've been better off staying in FL (or even moving to another state) and just visited. If we did that we'd hate LI a lot less then we do now and life would just be so much easier for so many reasons if we hadn't come back.

7) Lower cost of living pretty much in almost all aspects.

8) I don't regret having moved out of NY, I regret that I ever came back!!

Can we discuss moving out of NY?

Moved to Virginia in 2010

1) what made you decide to move?
Dh's job growth potential is better outside NY, plus my job was too stressful and demanding and we were paying a fortune for a 1 bed 1.5 bath apt in Manhattan
2) what was the job market like for you/partner?
Took me about 3 months to find a job. The first two I was mostly sitting out by our pool and casually looking. Once summer ended I got serious and found what I was looking for quickly. I work in Finance
3) what do you find cheaper in your new area?
Housing (can get a lot more for your money), gas, daycare expenses
4) what did you find more expensive?
Manicures, Hair salon, some food/groceries
5) any noticeable difference in the people/traffic/work culture?
Work is MUCH more laid back. In NY there were nights I wouldn't leave the office until 2 or 3 am. Here if I leave at 4:45pm its late. Still some rush hour traffic here but nothing close to NY/LI. People are friendlier I think because work/life balances are better and there is less stress
6) if you head back to Ny/LI... What's your view of it now?
We go back a handful of times a year. All our family and friends are still in NY. Love going back but as soon as we arrive I am reminded of why we left. Can't take the crowds, congestion, traffic and all around intense way of life but miss living so close to the beach. Still love the pizza, bagels, jewish deli, and breakfast sandwiches so we always get really excited to plan our food decisions when we go back.
7) what do you have in your new area that you couldn't have back here?
Better quality of life, more time with DS, bigger house
8) any regrets?
Not a regret, but I will say it's hard being away from friends and family. It will be 5 years for us this year and I still miss seeing everyone daily/weekly. I worry that our 1 year old wont feel a close bond with family like both DH and I had growing up.

Message edited 7/8/2015 1:45:09 PM.

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

Posted by DiamondGirl

Posted by Hofstra26

DH and I moved OOS after college and STUPIDLY moved back to LI..............biggest regret of my life. We're stuck in our house now because we're still upside down thanks to the stupid housing market crash BUT we've discussed moving away again at some point. We FOR SURE won't retire here, as it is I can't stand the traffic and crowds now...........imagine in a few years.

Anyway, to answer your questions when we were living OOS:

1) We moved because we wanted a change of pace, we wanted to try something different, and we were both sick of LI even back when we were younger.

2) The job market for me sucked where we were (FL) but for DH's profession, he was doing amazing..........and would no matter where we moved in the country. He would pretty much get his NY salary (or close to it) wherever we move.

3) The housing was really where you saved so much money. When we were down there we could've EASILY had a HUGE house built for well under $200K. You couldn't do that on LI, that's for sure!

4) Nothing. We saved money everywhere. Having no state and local taxes were nice too BUT the trade-off (had we stayed) was that the schools weren't great. Where we were if you made a good income you put your kids in private school, that's what we would've done if we still lived there. So private school would've been an added expense for us that we wouldn't have on the island BUT it might have been a break even considering what we pay in taxes here.

5) Absolutely. There was no such thing as crazy rush hour traffic. It was so easy to get around for the most part and people, in general, were much friendlier and more laid back. Where we happened to be in FL it tended to be a little more transient then some other areas but overall, it was a nicer, friendlier place then here on the island.

6) When we lived in FL I naturally missed NY and always enjoyed our visits home. But now in hindsight, we would've been better off staying in FL (or even moving to another state) and just visited. If we did that we'd hate LI a lot less then we do now and life would just be so much easier for so many reasons if we hadn't come back.

7) Lower cost of living pretty much in almost all aspects.

8) I don't regret having moved out of NY, I regret that I ever came back!!

Where in Florida? We have a place in Ft Lauderdale and there is def a rush hour similar to ny in that part

Can we discuss moving out of NY?

For those in finance, may I ask what you do? Do you have a business degree? Trying to decide if one is necessary. TIA

Message edited 7/8/2015 1:58:37 PM.

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

This is my dream as well.

I don't think we would be able to sell our house right now (impacted by Sandy), however, I've heard a lot of people will pay good money for a rental on LI.

Especially because some people can't come up with a downpayment but also don't want to be trapped here forever.

My goal is for DH to finish all our renos and then look into renting.

Main reason we bought on LI was his parents and now they both retired, sold their house, and are planning to buy a condo out east which might as well be another state IMO with the drive.

His younger sister is getting married this fall and is also contemplating moving OOS to areas we've also discussed (NC, TN).

I work for a hospital system on LI and I know they took over a hospital in FL but not sure I would want to go there.

I've heard salaries in my field (which are low in NY), are even less there plus it's a more conservative area so not sure they are really looking to help out people in need which is what I do for a living.

I'm originally from Upstate and it's a different mentality up there too, but I worry about being able to find a job there also. Most people I know there either still commute or work in retail or waitress to just pay their bills. No thanks!!

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

Posted by Lucky09

I moved upstate, well actually to Western NY, 9 years ago. If you FM me I will tell you my specific region. Here are my thoughts:

1) what made you decide to move?
DH was not that thrilled with his job at the time and was able to transfer for the same money. I liked my job but didn't love it, and I worked a lot. I was able to transfer for a 10% pay cut within my company to their office here.

2) what was the job market like for you/partner?
Unfortunately I HATED my new regional office. I left within 6 months and found a new job fairly quickly. I do feel that in my field (finance / accounting) that my salary would be much higher in NYC and even Long Island. DH is in law enforcement and at the time the job market was good, now it has become more competitive to "get in" as other industries have been hit by the recession.

3) what do you find cheaper in your new area?
HOUSING. Surprisingly taxes are not much cheaper than Long Island, at all. We pay more in taxes than some of our friends on LI who have much more expensive homes. But we are in one of the better districts in our area, so I guess with everything comes a price.

4) what did you find more expensive?
Gas is a smidge more expensive, Food is a little more expensive here too. Taxes can be, depending on your area. Mani-pedis! That's really it.

5) any noticeable difference in the people/traffic/work culture?
My DH's commute went from FOUR hours PER DAY on Long Island to TWENTY MINUTES per day! Enough said! Work culture is pretty similar. I thought it would be more laid back, but no, it's really not. The people are friendlier for the most part but I have found they are more likely to be nice to your face and then talk trash about you when you turn around. At least on LI they are nasty right to your face.

6) if you head back to Ny/LI... What's your view of it now?
I miss it and always will. The food, the beaches, the people. It will always be my home and if I hit the lotto tomorrow I would move back as long as I did not have to commute to work every day, lol. DH would never ever move back. Even though his whole family is there. He is very sad that our kids won't be close to their cousins from his side, but we do a lot of visits each year.

7) what do you have in your new area that you couldn't have back here?
A brand new 4 bedroom house with 3/4 an acre of property, short commutes to work, no traffic shuffling our kids to their four activities every week.

8) any regrets?
It was definitely an adjustment at first, but no, I don't have any regrets anymore!

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

There's actually been a lot of publicity lately that the reason mani/pedis are so cheap here is because it's basically slave labor, and a lot of the nail people are stuck because they are not here legally.

Google it! Lots of stuff should come up.

Can we discuss moving out of NY?

We are moving to Austin in 4 weeks! I'm looking forward to answering these questions!! :D

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

we are planning to move to south FL this time next year.

we can't WAIT!!!!
of course we arent there yet so i can say for sure how its going to be but between the better quality of life, the cheaper housing, warmer weather and job opportunites in our field being more lucrative there, it is looking like it will be a good decision.

at least we hope!

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

1. What made me decide to move?
I never liked ny, but never really had a reason to move until I met my boyfriend who lived in NJ.
2. Job market for my dh was the same, he owes his own business and lived in NJ. For me it was great. I tried to find a job in NY for 2 YEARS in NJ I found one in 2 MONTHS.
3. Cheaper, is everything, I live in west Milford NJ, everything I cheaper here then in li/ny
4. More expensive, nothing yet.
5. Notice me difference, people here are nicer. More laid back. Friendlier.
6. Head back to Li, um never!!
7. What do I have now, I have a lake right outside. I can go kayaking out my back door. We have a yard. A huge house. Great neighbors.
8. NO regrets!

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

Message edited 7/8/2015 8:57:47 PM.

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

I moved to North Charleston, SC about 11 months ago.


1) what made you decide to move?
NY was too expensive for DH and I. It was hard working full time and still only making enough for rent and bills and barely having anything left over for food.


2) what was the job market like for you/partner?

It depends on the field you are in. But currently I'm a SAHM, because of our daughter's autism at home services. But he found a job relatively quickly


3) what do you find cheaper in your new area?

GAS! Right not gas is $2.38 a gallon by me. Also the cost of living is soo much cheaper.

Car insurance!

In NY for a basement apartment one room, and bare minimum kitchen, I paid 1100. Here I pay 689 p/m. (that includes the rental fee of washer dryer.) for a 2 bedroom, full kitchen, full bath, living room, dining area..and all appliances come with it.


4) what did you find more expensive?
I haven't found anything just yet.


5) any noticeable difference in the people/traffic/work culture?

Traffic sucks on school days between 7am-9am and 4pm-6pm. If you have to go down Dorchester Rd, forget it.

The people I live by are awesome! I have only had one neighbor I didn't like and that's because they blasted their music constantly.

Even after the tragedy at the church downtown, the whole community came together, rather than ripping each other a part.


6) if you head back to Ny/LI... What's your view of it now?
Way too expensive, even just to visit. But they're the place to go for Italian pastries, Pizza and bagels.

7) what do you have in your new area that you couldn't have back here?

State funded ASD services for my daughter, that doesn't hit her insurance for billing. The services are awesome too.

I find that I don't have to work a job while DH works fulltime, and we still have enough money to pay bills and actually have a little fun.

A park and pool close by that I don't have to pay an arm and a leg for and I don't have to hesitate bringing my daughter to.

80 degree winters.


8) any regrets?
I love NY. But I do not regret leaving it.

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

1) what made you decide to move? Moved to S. FL 9 years ago. Wanted a change, better weather, new/fresh area. Wanted away from the brown, drab, dismal area. Found it senseless to buy a home for $350k+ that we'd need to gut
2) what was the job market like for you/partner? Fine, I applied for jobs prior to moving. Started working a week after we arrived, been here 9 years. DH sold his business in NY and opened here. It's been great.
3) what do you find cheaper in your new area? Taxes, home prices. Get way more for your money for a beautiful new home or resale.
4) what did you find more expensive? Car insurance is comparable to NY. Def not cheap.
5) any noticeable difference in the people/traffic/work culture? Everyone is very friendly, not standoffish. Minimal traffic, if any at all. Lots of NY's here too. We've found great restaurants, pizza and all the rest.
6) if you head back to Ny/LI... What's your view of it now? We rarely visit. And when we do, we cannot wait to get on the plane and come "home".
7) what do you have in your new area that you couldn't have back here? Awesome weather. It's truly heaven from nov-april. year round pool. Also, our home is so affordable, and nice. We'd never have this in NY.
8) any regrets? not one.

Re: Can we discuss moving out of NY?

Posted by JennCo

we are planning to move to south FL this time next year.

we can't WAIT!!!!
of course we arent there yet so i can say for sure how its going to be but between the better quality of life, the cheaper housing, warmer weather and job opportunites in our field being more lucrative there, it is looking like it will be a good decision.

at least we hope!

Can we discuss moving out of NY?

Thanks so much for the responses and FMs. It's awesome how almost no one regrets it.

I have a lot to think about.