Anyone else fleeing their state?

[Dixie Highway]

Well, we have decided to pull the trigger. Getting our ducks in line and putting the house on the market, heading to "LA" lower Alabama. We are going to be about 20 minutes from our beloved Gulf of Mexico. Some of you know I have recently sold my 210 FSH, this was part of the process. I really didn't want to, but the market is right and it will be one less thing to move, getting the loan off my credit will help with financing a new home (rates are crazy low right now, we were quoted 2.5% for a 30 year). This will be a long process as we are looking to build a new house there, but the wheels have started turning. Once we are settled in there I'll be looking for another boat. Can't say for sure it will be a Yamaha as I have big ambitions about learning to fish in blue water, more than likely though it'll have tuning forks somewhere on it lol. Bottom line though, we just don't see much of a future here in the People's Republic of IL. Taxes keep going up, crime is increasing, frankly the feeling I get is that the state doesn't want me here. Maybe I'm too middle class, they want rich donors and wards. Anyways, I'll be off to the land of sub $1000/yr property taxes by the end of 2020, wish me luck!

 

[BlkGS]

We are moving, though not really running. I liked NC, but got a job in FL. Sx230 will be coming... Just later. Storage is paid thru the year so why fuss with it now, got enough cars and house to move now.

 

[dgfreeze]

Good luck! I hope someday to be able to do that also! I'm in Ohio, so my "fleeing" would be due to the weather. I'd love to go far enough to have a boating season year round, but not sure I want to deal with saltwater. Either way, I'm jealous! Enjoy!

 

[I_squared_r]

I live just outside NYC and my job relies heavily on new construction here (I design the electrical systems in buildings). I'm not sure how the rest of the nation sees NYC, but in my experience it's in BIG trouble. A lot of layoffs in my industry and i'm fortunate to have work. A lot of our work was apartment buildings and hotels. I can't imagine developers wanting to invest in these buildings going forward. Tourism is dead and people are fleeing their apartment buildings. I hear reports from friends in NYC that they're able to negotiate 30% discounts into their lease renewal. NOT A GOOD SIGN. NYC was already a tough place to live and I was already looking to move, but it seems the circumstances in the past few years are further pushing me. South Florida is likely in my future.

 

[Dixie Highway]

I'll be honest, we feared the economic climate here in IL as well. We purchased our home 3 1/2 years ago and put some work into it. We currently have gained about 40% in value since then, and we are afraid if we wait much longer we will see that slowly erode. Worst case we break even in 3 years, we just couldn't stand by and let that happen so cashing out now in this hot market is the answer.

 

[mrcleanr6]

well im in nj which is the #1 state in the country that people are leaving. i am definately not staying here. will move eventually but need to stay here while business is really good. if it stays at current levels then ill give it 5 years until my daughter is out of high school then ill retire early and get the heck outa here. taxes are insane. you cant possibly retire here

 

[I_squared_r]

I'll be honest, we feared the economic climate here in IL as well. We purchased our home 3 1/2 years ago and put some work into it. We currently have gained about 40% in value since then, and we are afraid if we wait much longer we will see that slowly erode. Worst case we break even in 3 years, we just couldn't stand by and let that happen so cashing out now in this hot market is the answer.

How is the market where you're going? The housing market was crazy in Long Island precovid and now it's insane in post-covid. Wealthy people are fleeing NYC and buying homes sight unseen in Long Island. There is bidding wars on houses and it's near impossible for middle class to get a starter home.

 

[portlandbucfan]

I recently left Portland and moved to Spokane. I personally believe the city is falling apart( turn on news, stuff has been happening for years although not at this scale). The COL/traffic/taxes/weather/politic environment made it an easy decision.

 

[Dixie Highway]

How is the market where you're going? The housing market was crazy in Long Island precovid and now it's insane in post-covid. Wealthy people are fleeing NYC and buying homes sight unseen in Long Island. There is bidding wars on houses and it's near impossible for middle class to get a starter home.

Looks to be pretty standard down there. We find it comparable to here in N. IL price wise, with the obvious caveat of much lower property tax.

 

[2kwik4u]

I ran to a new state about 5 years ago. Same "city" though. Louisville, KY is right on the Ohio river between KY and IN. I grew up on the KY side, and there is this HUGE feeling of "Indiana Sucks" on the KY side, and the same for the Indiana side. There are a relative few families that "cross the bridge".

We fled the POS Jefferson County Public School system. I went through that and WOULD NOT force my boys through it. 90+min each way on a bus to end up on the other side of the county to make racial quota's for federal funding. The student assignment policy is essentially a lottery and you could get a good school, or you could get a bad school. Might be in your neighborhood, might be on the other side of the county. You have no idea until they select it for you. No way to know if you'll get one of the amazingly great schools, or one of the bottom of the barrel schools. Only way to "guarantee" a good education was to go to private school, which are all catholic and cost more than my Purdue Engineering degree did.

SO, we moved from KY to IN. Sold a 1,200sq ft condo for $125k, and bought a 2,400 sq ft home for $180k. Schools here are rated higher nationally than the private schools in Louisville. Wife works in downtown Louisville and her commute dropped by over 35min, despite being 2 miles further on this side of the river. School taxes are higher (which is fine), but property taxes are lower. Got more house for the money. Traffic is much lighter.

Toughest part has been dealing with the "stigma" from our friends and family. Many of them will drive 60+ min to the "nice" towns one county over to see friends, but won't drive the 38-40min to come see us because "OMG, you're so far away over there in Indiana". It's completely asinine, and only a few of our friends have figured it out. The rest just bitch and moan when they drive over......but they still do it, which I guess is a win. Otherwise, everything has been better about the move. We've made great friends over here, we enjoy the community we're in where the boys go to school with the same kids they play soccer with, which are the same kids they play with in the neighborhood.

All in......we don't really miss that side of the river much.

NOW......when the youngest graduates high school, we're moving SOUTH in a big hurry. Not sure if we're headed to AZ or FL, but I want somewhere I can be near the water year round. We've also debated moving to another country for retirement. Find a place on a beach with a small hut, an ocean view, and a short walk to the tiki bar and we'd probably never leave. Might end up in the keys at some level for this type of situation, but remaining on american soil.

@Dixie Highway Good luck with the move. Hope it all goes smoothly for you, and you're back with some new tuning forks to show off in short order!

 

[Dixie Highway]

Thanks man, we are certainly looking forward to it. Down there they consider it a 9 month boating season, but for what we are used to here I could push it to 10 probably. No winterizing though, as you never know could get a nice day anytime. Was born and raised here, but I've always hated winter and after 40 I've done my last February here lol.

 

[I_squared_r]

NOW......when the youngest graduates high school, we're moving SOUTH in a big hurry. Not sure if we're headed to AZ or FL, but I want somewhere I can be near the water year round. We've also debated moving to another country for retirement. Find a place on a beach with a small hut, an ocean view, and a short walk to the tiki bar and we'd probably never leave. Might end up in the keys at some level for this type of situation, but remaining on american soil.

I was just talking about this with my coworker and it's an interesting thought.. If we come out of COVID with remote work becoming very popular, then it's possible that I could move to another country that is cheaper. What country were you thinking? I came up with panama city, colombian coast, and south Spain as potential areas. Kind of based those choices on me being a spanish speaking white guy lol I never actually visited those areas though.

 

[Julian]

We left IL to come to NC 10 years ago. Raleigh continues to be a destination for many. Not sure if we'll move again....if we do, it will be FL.

 

[2kwik4u]

I was just talking about this with my coworker and it's an interesting thought.. If we come out of COVID with remote work becoming very popular, then it's possible that I could move to another country that is cheaper. What country were you thinking? I came up with panama city, colombian coast, and south Spain as potential areas. Kind of based those choices on me being a spanish speaking white guy lol I never actually visited those areas though.

Have a buddy in the Philippines that teaches math and English as a second language to college students. Makes the equivalent of a six figure salary and lives on the beach with his GF. Says it's an easy gig that pays well and is relatively low stress.

I've considered Australia a few times, and I've also considered Guatemala. Although I have done less than zero research on either of those. It's more of a fleeting thought, than an actual pursuit at this point.

 

[mrcleanr6]

You can do a google search for the best or retirement friendly countries. Will usually tell you the pros and cons of each place and what you need to know. I have thought about this myself. If it actually happens or not is another story. I will be moving for sure. another country.....possibly but most likely not. Its all a dream right now. I have many more years to go.

 

[props2you]

@Dixie Highway Hate to see you go, but love to watch you leave the state!!! We're not far behind, but going in the other direction. Too bad we didn't get hooked up at Lake Geneva!

Good luck with your plan and your journey!

 

[Sean R]

Not to be Mr Negative about moving away for a retirement destination, but my parents did when I was in my twenties. Both my parents were divorced and remarried and both moved to Florida about an hour apart. Was great at first free place to stay in sunny FL. But when there health started to turn it put a lot of pressure on my siblings and myself. Having step parents put a different dynamic also. It turned into arguments with my siblings and still does, regarding the help they need and when a hurricane is brewing you got to get them out. Don't get me going on Hurricane Irma.

 

[chattanooga]

Well, welcome to the South y'all. Not many rioters down in the South -- too many armed folks + most states have Stand Your Ground/Castle Doctrine so looters beware!

 

[AZMark]

I ran to a new state about 5 years ago. Same "city" though. Louisville, KY is right on the Ohio river between KY and IN. I grew up on the KY side, and there is this HUGE feeling of "Indiana Sucks" on the KY side, and the same for the Indiana side. There are a relative few families that "cross the bridge".

We fled the POS Jefferson County Public School system. I went through that and WOULD NOT force my boys through it. 90+min each way on a bus to end up on the other side of the county to make racial quota's for federal funding. The student assignment policy is essentially a lottery and you could get a good school, or you could get a bad school. Might be in your neighborhood, might be on the other side of the county. You have no idea until they select it for you. No way to know if you'll get one of the amazingly great schools, or one of the bottom of the barrel schools. Only way to "guarantee" a good education was to go to private school, which are all catholic and cost more than my Purdue Engineering degree did.

SO, we moved from KY to IN. Sold a 1,200sq ft condo for $125k, and bought a 2,400 sq ft home for $180k. Schools here are rated higher nationally than the private schools in Louisville. Wife works in downtown Louisville and her commute dropped by over 35min, despite being 2 miles further on this side of the river. School taxes are higher (which is fine), but property taxes are lower. Got more house for the money. Traffic is much lighter.

Toughest part has been dealing with the "stigma" from our friends and family. Many of them will drive 60+ min to the "nice" towns one county over to see friends, but won't drive the 38-40min to come see us because "OMG, you're so far away over there in Indiana". It's completely asinine, and only a few of our friends have figured it out. The rest just bitch and moan when they drive over......but they still do it, which I guess is a win. Otherwise, everything has been better about the move. We've made great friends over here, we enjoy the community we're in where the boys go to school with the same kids they play soccer with, which are the same kids they play with in the neighborhood.

All in......we don't really miss that side of the river much.

NOW......when the youngest graduates high school, we're moving SOUTH in a big hurry. Not sure if we're headed to AZ or FL, but I want somewhere I can be near the water year round. We've also debated moving to another country for retirement. Find a place on a beach with a small hut, an ocean view, and a short walk to the tiki bar and we'd probably never leave. Might end up in the keys at some level for this type of situation, but remaining on american soil.

@Dixie Highway Good luck with the move. Hope it all goes smoothly for you, and you're back with some new tuning forks to show off in short order!

Heat wave is finally breaking. Come on down! You can join half of California and Texas that already have this year!

 

[Cyclonegrey]

Ugh. I’m another NJ hold out. I’d leave tomorrow if not for my wife’s family. I’d head straight for Texas. Huge tech hub in Austin and it’s only gonna explode with Tesla, apple etc building facilities.
Gotta go where the $$ is.