Relocating for a house

DH are completely priced out of where we live. We love the neighborhood we rent in, but to buy... it would be years before we could even think about affording someplace in a much less desirable neighborhood. If we moved to another city, we could surely afford a house, but certainly to the detriment of my career.

Is the prospect of affordable housing enough to lure you away from where you think you want to live, as well as your friends, family and job?

Please explain, if you don't mind.

Re: Relocating for a house

We only moved up to Orange County but it's far away from everyone and everything I've ever known.
My husband now has a 2 hour commute to the city door to door between the train and driving but we would've never been able to afford an acre closer to the city.

Re: Relocating for a house

We moved from LI to Florida partly because our families moved down, but also because there was no way we would have been able to own a house like we do had we stayed in NY. BUT... if it wasn't for our families being down here, I'm not 100% sure we would have made the move. Having NO ONE around would be really hard!

Re: Relocating for a house

I have never had to deal with this decision but my brother & sil did. They picked up 3 years ago & moved to Maine. They knew they could never afford a house here & be able to afford to have children. Both had good jobs too! Now they are living in Maine, doing the same jobs but own a brand new house & have a my nephew running around. The quality of life is so much different! Instead of working their heads off to make ends meet, they working their "normal" hours & still have time for "family."

When they first moved, all their families were here in NY. It was difficult & an adjustment but we all visited frequently & they came back to see us. If you ask them, even though they are alone, it was the best decision bc they have more then if they lived here & a better quality overrall! Now my parents are in the process of moving there this summer, so that makes it more comforting for them!

Re: Relocating for a house

Personally, I couldn't do it. My DS loves to play with his cousins who live five minutes away and his only grandparent is my mom who lives about eight minutes away. He spends a lot of time with her and I'm glad he's getting to know her.

I would rather move to another town locally that is less expensive and still be near the friends, family and area that I like. My brother actually moved twice (to SC and Boston) and didn't think anything about it. They don't mind moving. Everyone is different.

Re: Relocating for a house

no way. family and friends mean more to me than a big house. i would have rented forever to be close to them.

Re: Relocating for a house

If FH said there was an amazing Job Opportunity somewhere else, i would go.

But right now, he is making so much $$ here that i doubt that would ever happen, but im not opposed to it.

I would not move to another state just for affordable housing though. There would have to be some other type of opportunity

Message edited 7/6/2009 11:54:19 AM.

Re: Relocating for a house

No. If we are talking about different towns within the same area, then yes, I would consider it. (thats what we did, actually) But if we are talking about a completely different location - like you said- giving up job, family, friends, then no. Its not worth it to me to give up the life I know for a bigger house.

Re: Relocating for a house

we are- but not just for a house for a new way of life- more relaxed, warmer weather

I want a nice big house in gated community with all the fun stuff- and I would never to able to have that on LI- and still eat

all of our family moved OOS already and we are the only ones left

we will miss our friends- but they can come visist- we will have more then enough bedrooms to spare

Re: Relocating for a house

We plan to relocate within 3-5 years so we can buy a nice house.

However, it's not just the house - it's the quality of life in general. Less congestion, less attitude, lower COL enabling us to spend more time in this fabulous house we plan to buy with our family, etc etc etc.

While the house is a big part of it, I would not move someplace just for the sake of buying a house - it has to be the total package.

Re: Relocating for a house

My DH and I were discussing this last night. We were talking about moving to Philly since the market there has not taken off like here. It's close enough to see our families a few times a month and it's a great city.

But truthfully, I would prefer to stay in NYC or Nassau county. But we are leaving our options open.

Re: Relocating for a house

For a house? No way - the material aspect of something like that doesn't appeal to me in any way.

For us to move OOS it would have to be one heck of an opportunity b/c my DH has absolutely no desire to leave LI. (Even with our 2 sister's who live in GA trying to entice us.)

Re: Relocating for a house

We moved for a job, not the house. I wouldn't move for a house ever, jmpo. I would do it again for the job, $$$ and then of course the house comes after all that

Re: Relocating for a house

That was one reason why we moved to FL. There is more affordable housing here and we have tons of family here too. There were many reasons for us to move... if it were ONLY for a house we probably wouldn't.

Re: Relocating for a house

I would be for a house. The house would represent a new life for us. One where we work to live and not live to work. It doesn't have to be a bigger house because we are looking now and the houses are small, its overall a better quality of life and it seems you can find that when the housing is much more affordable. Yes I would miss my family, but if it means starting life on the right foot, they would be happy for us.

Message edited 6/12/2007 2:47:29 PM.

Re: Relocating for a house

We saved until we could afford the areas we wanted and we found the perfect house for ourselves.

Re: Relocating for a house

We saved in order to be able to buy a house in the area we wanted. It was a priority to us.

Re: Relocating for a house

DH and I moved to Charlotte NC 2.5 years ago. Could we get a bigger house? Yes. Could we buy a house at all? Yes. But that was not the key reason I decided to leave, although it helped.

We moved because our quality of life would be (and has been) better.

In NY I was commuting 3.5 hours a day, my job was at breakneck pace, I never saw my husband, and I was living in a basement studio apartment.

My quality of life has been significantly enhanced, and I am much happier. So while I did move so I could buy a house etc, it wasnt the only reason, nor was it the most important reason.

Re: Relocating for a house

we moved further east on LI, my Mom & Grandma & a few aunts & cousins already lived out here. It's further away from our old friends & further away from my job & DH had to redevelop his business, but we LOVE it here.
We also didn't play into the "resale value" thing that people get wrapped up in. We are in an average school district(which our children don't attend) but we bought our very comfy, not tiny house for less than half of what most of our friends paid. So while we'll never be able to sell our house for what a house in a prime district sells for, we didn't overpay in the first place so it all evens out.
There are nice, easily affordable places to live on LI, they are just harder to find.
Someday we'd ike to have a hobby farm so we will leave LI, but it will be for a lifestyle change, not a house. And we are taking my Mom, Grandma & at least one close friend with us.
I don't think having a great house is worth it if you don't have friends & family to share it with.

Re: Relocating for a house

Kelly, I think you said what I was trying to say... we left for a lifestyle change. We knew everything was different and would benifit us in the long run which it has tremendously. couldn't be happier

Re: Relocating for a house

We moved to Putnam County because it was marginally cheaper than LI and we wanted to live someplace quieter and more rural. And we love it here, but since our daughter was born we find that we really, really miss our family and friends on LI, so we will be moving back (we hope)

I think, because we didn't go super-far, that it's actually been harder than if we'd gone someplace further. We haven't been forced to make friends up here- instead, we make the trek to LI pretty often. We haven't tried to make friends here- and there's no one I'd trust to baby-sit either.

Re: Relocating for a house

We thought about it and then realized we wouldn't want to be away from family. Even suffolk was too far for us . My mother is invaluable to us. She babysits ALL the time. I couldn't imagine not having that. We chose to live in Nassau in a great SD in a little bit smaller house than we wanted(but still with everything we wanted).

Would we relocate for a house, NO but If our family was all in one place OOS than yes, we would move in a heartbeat.

Message edited 6/13/2007 9:38:16 AM.

Re: Relocating for a house

Re: Relocating for a house