Movin South... Silly yankee questions...

[mbohuntr]

My family are **** Yankees, moved down here from upstate NY when I was an infant. So I grew up in the south, with Yankee parents, though many southerners believe where I grew up (RTP area of NC) isn't really the south.

When I visit my relatives in upstate NY (Finger Lakes area) I remember how much rural New York is culturally like the South. Just take away the confederate flags, replace the ATVs with snowmobiles, change the accents, replace the hunting clubs with VFW halls, and you're good to go. So I doubt an upstate New Yorker would have ANY trouble adapting to the south.

I work for one of those Yankee-based companies that has an outpost in NC and I remember many years ago a bunch of New Yorkers transferred down. One of them became my office mate and I remember when she got her first property tax bill she asked me "are property taxes billed quarterly down here?". No, it's annual. It's just that the bill you got is so much less than what you were used to paying in NY. You'll get used to it (also gives me some perspective on my tax bills

Exactly what I was hoping to hear....

 

[SSdoxie]

I came to TN from MN 18 years ago and will not move back, mainly because I have gone back during winter and now realize there is another life without bitter cold.
If I was to pick one thing that was more difficult to adjust to was speech, not manner of southerner speaking but my ability to be understood. If asked to repeat yourself, don't speak louder just slow down a little. Things move a little slower down here including our speech pattern. The average Yankee talks a lot faster combined with that Northern accent can make it hard for some to understand.
Slower is not a bad thing, just a little more relaxed.

 

[Bigfoot62]

mbohuntr,

Something else you might want to consider, is what are the taxes in the states that you're looking at, and what is the rate.
For instance, Louisiana has very low property taxes, with a "homestead exemption" of $125k. (IIRC) But we do have state income tax. Texas, on the other hand, has no income tax, but the property taxes are outrageous.
I live on the western edge of Louisiana, and I know several couples that lived in TX while they were working, but moved to LA when they retired. Sort of the best of both worlds. No income tax when they had a big paycheck, and now no property tax on the retirement home.

 

[newbury]

I came to TN from MN 18 years ago and will not move back, mainly because I have gone back during winter and now realize there is another life without bitter cold.
If I was to pick one thing that was more difficult to adjust to was speech, not manner of southerner speaking but my ability to be understood. If asked to repeat yourself, don't speak louder just slow down a little. Things move a little slower down here including our speech pattern. The average Yankee talks a lot faster combined with that Northern accent can make it hard for some to understand.
Slower is not a bad thing, just a little more relaxed.

Yup, like I wrote:

<snip>
Having come from Burlington, Vermont I recognize some major differences in the people down here in Mississippi. First of all as a general rule most Southerners are SLOW talking compared to us from the North. It's not a reflection of their intelligence or speed of thought, they just often speak slower.
Just because someone is speaking slow don't assume they are slow mentally. Northerners can be fast and stupid.
<snip>

mbohuntr,

Something else you might want to consider, is what are the taxes in the states that you're looking at, and what is the rate.
For instance, Louisiana has very low property taxes, with a "homestead exemption" of $125k. (IIRC) But we do have state income tax. Texas, on the other hand, has no income tax, but the property taxes are outrageous.
I live on the western edge of Louisiana, and I know several couples that lived in TX while they were working, but moved to LA when they retired. Sort of the best of both worlds. No income tax when they had a big paycheck, and now no property tax on the retirement home.

Also consider how retirement pay will be taxed. My Federal retirement won't be taxed in Mississippi.

My shop didn't cool down much below 90 degrees for most of this last summer. Glad I have an apartment down there w/ a/c to duck into. In Vermont I could always throw another log on the fire if it got too cold. I can bundle up with down coats etc. but can only take so much off.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Yup, like I wrote:







Also consider how retirement pay will be taxed. My Federal retirement won't be taxed in Mississippi.

My shop didn't cool down much below 90 degrees for most of this last summer. Glad I have an apartment down there w/ a/c to duck into. In Vermont I could always throw another log on the fire if it got too cold. I can bundle up with down coats etc. but can only take so much off.

Instead of throwing a log on the fire, just send another few bucks to your electric company for A/C. The price of down coats will pay at least 1 electric bill. And you won't have a heart attack shoveling snow.

 

[mbohuntr]

We are already amazed by the tax differences away from N.Y.. The wife has family in Arkansas, so that will be our preference, but not necessarily our destination. So far, I haven't read anything we can't deal with among the three states. I wouldn't mind throwing a log on the fire, but 5 months of winter is a little much. We usually have snow on the ground in Nov., and doesn't leave till mid April... 220 inches per year is normal.

 

[IslandTractor]

We are already amazed by the tax differences away from N.Y.. The wife has family in Arkansas, so that will be our preference, but not necessarily our destination. So far, I haven't read anything we can't deal with among the three states. I wouldn't mind throwing a log on the fire, but 5 months of winter is a little much. We usually have snow on the ground in Nov., and doesn't leave till mid April... 220 inches per year is normal.

Those tax differences show up in quality of education. Check out where NY and AR stand in national rankings.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Having driven a number of winters in New York state, I looked up Volney and I can understand why you would want to move south, LOL! I moved to south central KY in 2008 to get away from the north eastern PA winters.

Overall, I like where I am though last winter was a bit more than I would have cared for but still nothing compared to what you see. For better and for worse, I will pass on a few thoughts.

People are super friendly and wave to strangers or stop to chat or say hello, etc. I have not had a single incident of "Yankee this" or Yankee that".

Even with my hearing aids, there are alot of people who speak so softly I cannot understand them.

Some states tax either pensions or SS, KY does not but keep that pesky federal tax in mind.

Same as the area in PA where I came from, any time I am out and about on my property, I hear the occasional gun shot.

I burn paper and mail waste. Keeps my load for my trash pickup down and I do not need to worry about someone going through my mail. (I drive by one of the trash haulers and they do go through the bags for metal and whatever). Next county over, burning may bring the law by.

The county I live in is dry but you would not know it by the number of DUI's in the once a week paper. Not sure if it's the ten bucks an hour on average or what but there are plenty of drug busts listed along with the DUI's too.

Perhaps the numerous breakin's are to support those habits? I have not experianced it myself but it has happened not to far from me. Perhaps my six hundred foot long driveway fenced on both sides is a visual deterent? I also leave different lights on and park my vehicles differently when I leave along with some other precautions.

Counter to that, if someone breaks in, you do what you need to do if you are home. Likely you would be judged based on one shot one k....

If at all possible, spend some time visiting before you commit. Follow the local news and weather on the internet. Though tornadoes do happen where we are, most of the bad weather goes around us.

Consider your needs such as medical, culinery likes (no decent bagels where I am, forget loks), entertainment, etc, etc.

Narrow roads and bad drivers. Some of the habits I observe are people crossing over the center line (if there is one) on curves even though they may not be driving all that fast. Like they are going to fall off of the road? People going to fast and/or following to close while pulling trailers (often with no lights). Same as everywhere, parking in the passing lane. The next county over is a college town among other attractions and perhaps it is because they pull in alot of outsiders but you know when you are there because you will notice people pulling out from side roads in front of you at less than safe distances.

Do not assume. My county has basically no zoning, very little requirements to do (build) things correctly, minimal inspections if any. Some mean well, some don't know, some don't care. On the other hand, I can build an ag building with no permit, no nothing. Same with general repairs such as replacing a roof, just do it.

The internet can be your real estate friend. Search on the county level. Some realtors like to show their franchise listings, others on the MLS, not so much. Also, some realtors do not want to have others show their listings. Settlement day and possession day may not be one and the same. But then, you may not have to put "X" amount in excrow either. Typically around me, you settle but cannot access the property for a week, maybe two, maybe more. It is up to the buyer/seller.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I know this has probably been said already, but it bears repeating...and I'll start with an example. A few years back, the wife and I visited St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. It was a one day excursion from a cruise ship. It is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places I have ever seen. We visited Megan's Bay, spent the day there swimming, and took an island tour. I loved it; even talked about what it would be like to live there.

A couple years later, we rented a condo and a car and stayed there a week. It was a whole new and different world. The roads were very narrow, hilly, poorly marked, dangerous curves, dips, etc. We had to back into the driveway because the condo was on a steep hill at a curve in the road. Milk was like $4.50 per gallon, property was sky high, I'm told electric bills run $1000 per month or more; water is scarce so you have to catch rain water and process it (The water treatment system in our condo cost $35,000). Crime is common in the port city (don't remember the name, but were told we best stay out of it, especially at night). We ate at the only good restaurant on the island, and with tips, it was over $100 for the two of us.
We took a ferry to St. Johns Island; had a flat, found out there was only one filling station on the island...and besides, they drive on the left side there. I only partially enjoyed the stay, and was glad to get home, with the knowledge that there was no way in he77 I would ever move there.

Point being, if you are considering moving to a certain city/area, you best go down and spend a couple weeks or a months and get the lay of the land...you might change your mind!

 

[k0ua]

I know this has probably been said already, but it bears repeating...and I'll start with an example. A few years back, the wife and I visited St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. It was a one day excursion from a cruise ship. It is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places I have ever seen. We visited Megan's Bay, spent the day there swimming, and took an island tour. I loved it; even talked about what it would be like to live there.

A couple years later, we rented a condo and a car and stayed there a week. It was a whole new and different world. The roads were very narrow, hilly, poorly marked, dangerous curves, dips, etc. We had to back into the driveway because the condo was on a steep hill at a curve in the road. Milk was like $4.50 per gallon, property was sky high, I'm told electric bills run $1000 per month or more; water is scarce so you have to catch rain water and process it (The water treatment system in our condo cost $35,000). Crime is common in the port city (don't remember the name, but were told we best stay out of it, especially at night). We ate at the only good restaurant on the island, and with tips, it was over $100 for the two of us.
We took a ferry to St. Johns Island; had a flat, found out there was only one filling station on the island...and besides, they drive on the left side there. I only partially enjoyed the stay, and was glad to get home, with the knowledge that there was no way in he77 I would ever move there.

Point being, if you are considering moving to a certain city/area, you best go down and spend a couple weeks or a months and get the lay of the land...you might change your mind!

That sounds like very wise advice.