Hi! My husband and I are wanting out of the South (we're in Charlotte, NC)! We're leaning towards moving somewhere in the New England/Mid Atlantic area (including PA and up) but aren't sure where...We aren't really looking at NY though. I'm a real estate agent and he's a computer programmer/software engineer so jobs won't really be too hard to find. Just need some guidance as to where to start looking! We love the mountains and lakes/coast views. If you have any advice on where (or even where I should look for more advice), please email me or reply! Thanks and have a great day!

Have you considered living in NH?
Tax-Free.... !! Portmouth area is wonderful and you can zip up to Maine or to Boston in a flash
You can have all those things!

Or Maine-- Mountains, Lakes, ocean
Try Portland or surrounding areas

Yes, On some sites that give suggestions, Nashua, New Hampshire keeps on coming up...

My relatives live in northern Mass., not far from the New Hampshire line so we go up into New Hampshire, and it is GORGEOUS! Would retire there in a minute if my husband didn't hate cold weather........

I'm fond of Phila. but it is a bit inland. Definitely look into the Providence area!!

NH is not tax free. They don't have a sales tax or income tax, but the money has to come from somewhere -- they have very impressive property taxes.

Be sure to double-check the job market -- I don't recall hearing about any shortage of RE agents or programmers around here.

Would you like me to introduce you to several of the unemployed programmers and software engineers in the Boston area?

Things to consider - how do you feel about cold weather that lasts for 5-6 months of the year? How would you adjust to 60 minute commutes in order to find housing you can afford, even with 2 incomes?

I love Boston area, but the 2 things I have mentioned above make me wonder every year if I should move away.

I would make a realistic list of why you want out of the South and realize that there would likely be equally negative trade-offs to life in the North - just pick what positives are important to you and what negatives would be deal-killers.

I would subscribe to some local newspapers - start with Boston Globe and then work down to more local papers as you become more centered on your location - as a start. Might give you an idea of both employment options and housing costs.

Trisklele,

Unfortunately I have to agree with Gail and her less than glowing assessment of the current quality of life in the northeast.

Unemployed programmers/software engineers along with real estate agents are plentiful in the northeast, especially Massachusetts.

I actually lived in W-S, NC for a few years in the mid nineties. Each area offers a very different experience.
Although I soon realized I am a New Englander at heart and wanted to return to my home state. I couldn't deny a higher quality of life comes much easier in North Carolina than than the northeast.

Most of my northeast living has been spent living in Massachusetts but I have also lived in Connecticut and New Jersey. I believe it is much easier for a northerner to make the transition to the south, than it is for a southerner to move here.
This is due to a lot of reasons such as weather, cost of living, cultural differences and so on.

The economy is so poor here in Western Mass, that my husband(software engineer) and I(mortgage consultant) have been considering the Providence, RI area. We have begun to make weekend visits and reading the local newspaper.

Good luck and keep us posted.

J.

Well, we are refugees from Taxachusetts living in New Hampshire for 15 years now. Another world...

I started out in Baltimore. While the winters are longer here and there's lots more snow (which I happen to find quite beautiful and hardly an inconvenience with the efficient snow removal), I can surely do without humidity. Winters are a lot more appealing with a fireplace, hot tub, and an appreciation for outdoor winter sports and scenery. The long winter makes the spring, fall, and summer seasons all the more enjoyable.

Being in close proximity to the Coast of Maine, the White Mountains and Lake Winnipesaukee in NH, Green Mountains and Lake Champlain in VT, the Berkshires in Western, MA is fabulous. Not to mention being a half a day's ride from NYC or Montreal.

Since the economy is iffy throughout the country, it's always best to find the best job opportunities, then decide where to live.

Here's a nifty cost of living comparison tool

http://houseandhome.msn.com/pickapla...arecities.aspx

Thanks for all your help! Yeah, we want to narrow it down to a few areas rather than a few states, go visit, then look for jobs for awhile then possibly move there! Does it get very humid up in the NE? Cold doesn't bother us...I used to live in Seattle and loved it...would move back there but we can't be that far away from family here in NC. Thanks again for all your help! ~Amanda

Summers can be extremely humid in NE. Seattle is very mild compared to NE, so I hope that isn't your basis for what is cold!

The cost of living is very high in NE, especially the out of control housing market. It is insane how much a house costs these days.

I agree with the above poster who said moving fron the north to the south is easier than moving from the south to the north.

TTT

When are you planning on moving? Many people suggested here to visit the area you consider before moving. It worked well for us. My husband and I visited Asheville area three times where we are moving from the Northeast. I know you stated you don't want to consider NY but think about the Adirondacks where you would have mountains and plenty of beautiful lakes including 100 mile long Lake Champlain between New York and Vermont. You would be close to Montreal and within a few hours of Boston, New York City and Quebec City. Wherever you decide to go you need to check it out at least several times. Go in January when is below zero. Go in November when is wet, gray and snow may fall any moment and stay until April. Last January we had almost a whole month of temperatures below zero (low 20s). Vermont has taxes almost as high as New York State and, as someone already mentioned, New Hampshire has very high real estate taxes. Job market is not as optimistic as some would like us to believe. Almost all real estate agents we talked with have second jobs. On the other hand we could use some agents nice and helpful to a seller. It is so beautiful this time of the year and in October it is glorious around this whole area. Did you consider Southwest of North Carolina? There are mountains and lakes too and you would be closer to your family. Good luck with your final decission