Movin South... Silly yankee questions...

[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.

 

[Danno1]

An old timer in Houston once told me, "Heck, as far as I'm concerned, anybody born north of I-10 is a Yankee to me"!

I still use that one 35 years later. LOL.

Well, I've been saying for many years, anyone living south of the Saugus River (you'll have to Google that one!) is a southerner.




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[Danno1]

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Fire ants and maniacal wasps and killer bees, oh my!


We got ~ 3 in of snow combined w freezing rain during the day yesterday. Spent 3 hours after work digging in the dark. Another hour this evening with more freezing rain due overnight.

For now, I'll take that over the biters. Can't even stand 'skeeters!



Might change my mind when I'm old...

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[newbury]

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.

My comment was more focused on the fact that it is real easy to stay warm without electricity, like when I am outside I can bundle up and I'm good to 50 below Fahrenheit. If inside I can easily heat without electricity. I can't cool without electricity.

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

Yup, and that is reflected in the also in the average low income worker at the Walmart, gas station, Big Box store. In Mississippi I've had more than one cashier ask me what State Vermont was in.

<snip>
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.

My BIL is like that.

<snip>
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.

Same in Itawamba County, MS., but the place I own was owned by a part time Sheriff and he was known throughout the county for his beer parties, in a dry county.

<snip>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.

They run rabbit with bagles and put loks on their cages.

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.

This makes it critical you do/get a GOOD house/building inspection BEFORE you buy. I've numerous instances of poor wiring. Stuff that would literally make your hair stand on end, or kill you. Plumbing that is of the lowest quality with the cheapest parts.

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.

Our initial "realtor" took the MAX that we said we would spend ($300K) and would only show houses well above that.
The realtor who showed the house we bought did not share his listing, did not put any signs on the road saying the house was for sale and only listed it for a week when it had been for sale for two months.

 

[mbohuntr]

As soon as the company gives us the location, we will be flying down for a recon. mission. I am very happy they are willing to transfer us as we would be moving and starting over anyway.

So far no snow on the ground here, it's the best winter i'be ever had!

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Don't hear about too many willfully moving up north....

 

[IslandTractor]

Don't hear about too many willfully moving up north....

Except those seeking education. Lots of Southerners come North for university. And then they stay.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Don't hear about too many willfully moving up north....

I did.

 

[Helitech]

My son willfully moved north this week! And yes, he did receive a good education in Mississippi! Starting Monday with GM at the proving grounds as an engineer. Everyone in the south does not suffer from a bad education.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I did.

You are a rare bird. May I ask why? family? Job?