Florida or NC? (Cary, Chapel Hill: chapel, cheap house, high school)
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Unless you are a very rich family and don't need to work, you should be looking first at the job market and income level.
What is the benefit if you can live in a very beautiful place, but you cannot find a good paying job or job at all. You need to compare the income level to the cost of living ratio.
Personally, I think it all balance out. Main is a beautifull state. You pay more of housing, because you earn more there. If a place has a low housing cost, I guarantee you it is that way because the income level is low.
I think you should do more research on both areas, and visit (if you can)... more importantly, like pp said, look into jobs!
If you can financially be OK in either place and just had to pick one, I would go to Daytona to be close to my mom (especially with two kids). But that's just me. We've been here for several months and have no family around (they're in FL) and it has been very hard!
Decisions are always hard to make..many on this board can offer advice , but you are ultimately the one that has to live with that decision. I can share with you that I moved to Florida 16 years ago . My children were small and I wanted to be near my parents . It was at that time the best decision I could make. My children had their grandparents growing up and we had such great help from them with the kids . Life there as someone else said was wonderful years ago, you could buy cheap, insurance was reasonable, the weather was nice and jobs were plentiful.Much has changed..investors starting purchasing condos, and single family homes, large amounts of money came into the area and literally priced out the teachers, firefighters and others who worked in the community. People became strapped in their homes, could not buy a bigger house and the the insurance rates sky rocketed. My insurance bill last year for my house was $4,000 and increased this year to $7300 ( with no claims). The schools were not even comparable to NC schools. We should have moved from FL sooner when our kids were younger.
However, you are young and have time to move later on if you choose. If being near family is most important and you have their suppport , you might want to move closer to them for now..change is good , we fear it sometimes, but it all works out in the end. By the way , I lived in West Palm Beach ( south Florida). Good luck to you.
Reading about all the taxes in NC kinda makes it sound like the Gov't gets you 1 way or another. I was hoping to move to NC for the lower cost of living, but it seems it is all relavent now.
thanks to all you answered. I have lots to think about. I guess I am in a good position since I don't need to sell anything.
I already have a trip to Fl scheduled for next month. I also have lived there before.
I will get a feel for jobs and apartments down there, and take it from there. I also may consider a road trip to NC while I am in Fl.
Unless you are a very rich family and don't need to work, you should be looking first at the job market and income level.
What is the benefit if you can live in a very beautiful place, but you cannot find a good paying job or job at all. You need to compare the income level to the cost of living ratio.
Personally, I think it all balance out. Main is a beautifull state. You pay more of housing, because you earn more there. If a place has a low housing cost, I guarantee you it is that way because the income level is low.
Not necessarily true....
Maine is a very beautiful state. Have you ever lived there? I have for 6 years, and income is NOT higher in Maine in relation to housing.
In fact, Maine has a tremendous problem with young educated folks leaving the state in droves because there are NOT enough well paying jobs.
I make much more in NC in my field than I did in Maine AND the housing options are less expensive.
Reading about all the taxes in NC kinda makes it sound like the Gov't gets you 1 way or another. I was hoping to move to NC for the lower cost of living, but it seems it is all relavent now.
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