Leaving Long Island (exodus in search of affordable housing)

[Herman Munster]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-limigr0917,0,3418408.story?page=1&coll=ny-li-bigpix

Lisa Marengo has wanted her own home for years. But despite a good job as a product developer for the health insurance company UnitedHealthcare, Marengo, 40, couldn't afford anything on Long Island.

"The market just really isn't conducive to single-income families looking to purchase a home," said Marengo, who is not married. So on Aug. 31, a truck pulled up in front of her Holtsville apartment and movers filled it with her belongings. She is moving to Wake Forest, N.C., where she recently bought a three-bedroom home for $135,000.

Marengo, who has lived on Long Island since childhood, has given up. "It's a sad statement that a professional making a very good living really can't afford to make a wise financial investment on Long Island," she said.

Long Islanders like Marengo are leaving the region in growing numbers, and while traditional destinations such as Palm Beach, Fla., and Fort Lauderdale are still popular, many are bypassing those locations for fast-growing areas such as North Carolina and Tampa, Fla., according to a Newsday analysis of Internal Revenue Service data spanning from 1995 to 2004.

[mnhtnbb]

1. Very afforable housing in Raleigh/Durham area. In Chapel Hill,

with the best public schools in the state, housing is more expensive--with taxes to go with the price of housing. Education costs money!

Economy is Raleigh/Durham area is in good shape. Low unemployment.
Lots of high paying jobs in tech/biotech. Come take a look!

[IADEMO2004]

2. What does a product developer for a health insurance co. do?

[Wiley50]

6. Dunno. But as someone once covered by one of their products

I can say that some of their products are pretty shitty.
My wife's company changed from BCBS to theirs to save money.
They refused to honor their commitnents
and the hospital came after me.
It took a couple of years of harrasment to get them off my tail.
Doctors here were putting up signs at their front desk,
"We no longer honor United Healthcare coverage"

Maybe she had other reasons to bail out, also?

[IADEMO2004]

8. 24 yr old diabetic son

kicked off family BCBS when he graduated college. We are no fans of health ins. co.s

[Bitwit1234]

3. Minnesota

the homes are reasonable in the northern part of Minnesota. I moved here from the east coast. There is snow, but boy over a foot of snow can be cleared with a broom. Back home it took an hour to shovel a foot of snow for 100 feet. It is cold but you don't mind it til it gets way below and the wind blows. Everything is so laid back. I never thought I would like it as much as I do. BUT they are putting in strip malls all over the place. NASCAR tracklike raceways. Pretty soon it will be as bad as the DC area.

[imouttahere]

5. Ick!!!!! Strip malls????

We Americans are so boring! Can't we come up with something different for a change?

[imouttahere]

4. I guess some people will move anywhere to own a home...

It really is that important to some people, isn't it? I would rather live in a box in my favorite area than move to someplace I don't really like just to own a home. I'd like to see how others feel about this.

[napi21]

7. I guess it depends on how much you really like where you are.

I've moved 5 times to 5 different places and 5 different states. If I think back to all of them, there wasn't any one that I would say I really LOVED IT THERE. Each one had positives and negatives. I honestly think my dream place doesn't exist!

[imouttahere]

9. Ok, that makes sense, but I think that I have several....

perfect places, but it doesn't matter to me whether I own a house or not - it's location, location, location. But we all have our priorities, I suppose.

[napi21]

10. I think people want to own a house so they aren't constantly subject

to increaasing rents, all the restrictions usually imposed by landlords, like no holes in the wall to hang pictures,no pets, you have to ask permission to paint a different color room, etc. I can't feel qualified to comment on renters because we've owned a house for 40 years. I can only comment on what I hear from others who have complaints.

We are very close to retirement, and I have looked at selling our house and renting in one of those retirement villages. It would be great if my hubby didn't have to mow the lawn every week, and it must be nice if you can just call the landlord when something doesn't work, but I have other problems with renting. Ihave2 little Bichon dogs. Most rental properties won't let you own a pet. I can't imagine living without a little dog. They are more comfort tham most people can be! I know at some point, we will have to make a move because hubby won't be able to mow that lawn forever. I've checked on getting it done, but at $65 each time, I can't afford that. And NO there aren't any neighborhood kids who would do it for less! I checked that too.

One day at a time, I guess.

[imouttahere]

12. I have rented since I left home, and never....

have I been restricted from hanging my art or whatever on the walls, so that was new to me. I think for people who are accustomed to living in a house, apartment living would be quite a change. Frankly, I feel fortunate that I have lived the way I have all these years because I feel I am more adaptable and don't need as much. I live a modest life for the most part and would rather do other things with my time and money. But I understand that some people really enjoy making a comfortable home and puttering around the house or in their garden. Different strokes...

[RagAss]

11. I spent a year in Long Island one afternoon......