Considering a move down south.

[Dex]

Hey everyone, I live in Connecticut and the cost of living here is outrageous. I'd like to explore the possibility of moving to a state that is more affordable. Am I dreaming here or is this a realistic possibility. It just seems like a daunting task to literally pick up, leave and start over. Has anyone experienced this before and have any tips/advice? Anything would be appreciated. Thanks.

[cookinwithgas]

I moved here from Woburn MA after 5 years there out of the Navy, grew up in Western MA on the CT line. Been in CLT for 22 years and have no interest in going back up, that weather sucked. I didn't want to move but my ex is from Charleston and hated it up north so we packed up a giant uHaul truck and the CRX...

I got a job transfer to CLT and knew a couple of people here which helped, but with the internet finding rentals and researching areas is a lot easier than it was in 92 or so. After a year my transfer position was eliminated and I was on the job search but everything worked out. I was able to buy a house after a year hre, which seemed like a far off dream up north.

There is a culture shock but if you stick to a major city it won't be that bad.

[Dex]

3 minutes ago, cookinwithgas said:

I moved here from Woburn MA after 5 years there out of the Navy, grew up in Western MA on the CT line. Been in CLT for 22 years and have no interest in going back up, that weather sucked. I didn't want to move but my ex is from Charleston and hated it up north so we packed up a giant uHaul truck and the CRX...

I got a job transfer to CLT and knew a couple of people here which helped, but with the internet finding rentals and researching areas is a lot easier than it was in 92 or so. After a year my transfer position was eliminated and I was on the job search but everything worked out. I was able to buy a house after a year hre, which seemed like a far off dream up north.

There is a culture shock but if you stick to a major city it won't be that bad.

Thanks cookin! A job transfer isn't possible for me so I'll have to do some searching but it's impossible to buy a house up here and with the average rent for a one bed room poo being close to $1000 a month renting isn't an option either. I'm sure I'd miss the certain things about CT but the cost of living won't be one of those. What are some cities I should look at?

[cookinwithgas]

That all depends on what you want! For us Charlotte was where the transfer position was but it ended up being a terrific place to go, although the traffic has gotten out of control, a victim of our own success. I think Charleston is beautiful, but it's a party town, a tourist town, and a college and money town now. Atlanta - I'd have to kill you if you went there, it's like Philly with a southern accent to me.

Asheville NC is awesome and artsy but getting a bit pricey. Raleigh/Durham is progressive and has lots of colleges. Savannah has some interesting history and is near a lot of beaches/islands.

My daughter moved to the Tampa area and likes it a lot, I go there for work occasionally and have fun there.

Those are mostly the places I have experience with....

[Dex]

21 minutes ago, cookinwithgas said:

That all depends on what you want! For us Charlotte was where the transfer position was but it ended up being a terrific place to go, although the traffic has gotten out of control, a victim of our own success. I think Charleston is beautiful, but it's a party town, a tourist town, and a college and money town now. Atlanta - I'd have to kill you if you went there, it's like Philly with a southern accent to me.

Asheville NC is awesome and artsy but getting a bit pricey. Raleigh/Durham is progressive and has lots of colleges. Savannah has some interesting history and is near a lot of beaches/islands.

My daughter moved to the Tampa area and likes it a lot, I go there for work occasionally and have fun there.

Those are mostly the places I have experience with....

Thanks this has been a big help!

[ladypanther]

Dex...what kind of work do you do?

[Dex]

4 minutes ago, ladypanther said:

Dex...what kind of work do you do?

I own small video production company doing weddings, promos and commercials but it's not big enough to be full time. I also work a 9-5 as an engineering technician for a lighting company. I do their graphic design work and data entry.

[ladypanther]

OK, so you should be able to find work.

If you like the mountains...Asheville is nice but is getting expensive...surrounding areas have better property buys.  Greenville, SC is a growing area and a little less winter.  Nice city and I hear a lot of jobs in the area.  Of course there is  Charlotte...I would not want to fight that traffic but being close gets access to a lot of stuff.  I say if you are going to move down here, get close enough to travel to Panther games. I would also consider Hickory, NC and Winston Salem.  Do some research on the towns and the job markets.  You will love the early spring and late fall weather.  Lots of golf courses too.

[Dex]

3 minutes ago, ladypanther said:

OK, so you should be able to find work.

If you like the mountains...Asheville is nice but is getting expensive...surrounding areas have better property buys.  Greenville, SC is a growing area and a little less winter.  Nice city and I hear a lot of jobs in the area.  Of course there is  Charlotte...I would not want to fight that traffic but being close gets access to a lot of stuff.  I say if you are going to move down here, get close enough to travel to Panther games. I would also consider Hickory, NC and Winston Salem.  Do some research on the towns and the job markets.  You will love the early spring and late fall weather.  Lots of golf courses too.

Thanks LP! But how do I go about applying for jobs? Do they do phone interviews? That's what I'm most worried about is actually going about applying to get these jobs. It's not like I'm some hot shot executive that a company would go after.

[ladypanther]

Not sure about that...some may do phone interviews...may have to come down when it gets to nitty gritty...I just do not know.  But 1st you have to start the process. 

Many people have moved to the south for cost of living and weather so you are likely on the right track.  Just stay out of Atlanta and Charlotte and you should be fine.

[Inimicus]

Ive got a house just outside of Greensboro Im trying to sell.

2600 sq ft on an acre with a fenced .5 acre back yard

[PhillyB]

3 hours ago, Inimicus said:

Ive got a house just outside of Greensboro Im trying to sell.

2600 sq ft on an acre with a fenced .5 acre back yard

PM me.

[pstall]

Come on down. Buy my place and i will move to Folly beach. My man cave will be the ocean and i can surf days on end.

We all win.

[Zaximus]

We already have enough of yous guys down here ruining the traffic in CLT, lol.

Though Charlotte isn't that cheap for housing, the rent is skyrocketing and increasing higher than the national average so it's pretty hard to find a decent place to rent that isn't expensive or hood.   You could find a place in surrounding counties but those are pricey too and then you'd have to fight traffic to get back into Charlotte where most of the work is.  I'd make CLT the last choice on your list if I was you (for NC at least).