we are trying to estimate if we can afford a move to Texas from NJ
136968
It really depends on the weight of the shipment. The best thing to do is to call movers from your yellow pages. They always give you "free" estimate. Make sure to ask for "not to exceed" estimate, which means even if the actual cost exceeds the estimate, you don't need to pay more. Also make sure you don't get charged extra surcharge for gas over the estimated amount even if the gas price goes up. Have everything put in writing. Get at least 3 estimates.
156259
You've paid a lawyer for this, why aren't you asking the lawyer? Why are you near Houston? Are you planning on staying in that area? Why is it costing you more than if you were someplace else?\n\nContact the office of one of the US Senators or the Congressional Representative for your district. They may be able and willing to help you.
5730
Are you talking about CDs, Money Market, Savings, Mortgage?\n\nYou can check bankrate.com\nYou can select the link that says "Compare ??? in my area", it will allow you to enter in your state and city. Replace ??? with Savings, mortgage, etc
581017
impossible to do.  There are too many factors to deal with.  First problem what is the cost of housing compared to the suroundings because families with school age kids can't afford high cost housing and will move to cheaper neighborhoods while you will get a few you will get more with lower home cost.  How is the neighborhood in terms of zoning new developments to poor schools will get less families than those zoned to better schools.  Take Reno, NV huge construction boom almost a zero student growth because the median home price is up to $330,000 most families can't afford that it is usually upgrades and transplanted retires from other states.  Of course the year before huge student growth.  There is no magic formula you can predict there will be growth but it comes down to cost of homes and jobs for the parents and that is just the tip of the iceberg.
237540
It should be about $500 month plus your rent and tuition.  That includes groceries, beer, electricity, beer, pizza, beer, phone, beer, did I mention beer :)
381771
It really depends on what you're looking for.  There are four counties surrounding Philadelphia plus New Jersey across the river.  \n\n1. Delaware County: Just south of the city.  Has the best deals on houses of the four counties.  A 3 bedroom single can be found for under $200K.  Very accessible to center city via the SEPTA regional rail.  Some parts are just a 20 minute drive to Center City Philadelphia.  Good schools and okay taxes.  Some of the safer/affordable areas that I'm familiar with are Norwood, Glenolden, Brookhaven, Drexel Hill, Aldan, Aston.  Avoid Chester, Morton, Darby, Essington and some parts of Landsdowne. There's a slightly higher concentration of people per square mile in DelCo but I've found neighborhoods to be much more close knit because of this.  We bought a home in Delaware County after moving from Philadelphia.  We love it!  \n\n2. Bucks County: This is north of the city and pretty expensive.  You'll have trouble finding a good home for under $300K.  However, it's very spread out and safe.  Doylestown is still within commuting distance of Center City and a nice area.  So is Feasterville, Trevose, Bensalem and those parts of lower Bucks County.  I would avoid Bristol.\n\n3. Montgomery County: I think I heard this is the richest county in the state.  It's just west of Philadelphia.  I don't know too much about it but have heard that East and West Norriton are nice affordable areas.  Avoid Norristown though.\n\n4. Chester County: I know even less about this one.  Sorry. :-(\n\nIf you go over to New Jersey you'll be paying $3 in tolls to come to Philly.  But I know there are some good deals over there.  You might want to post a seperate question about that and see who answers.  Also, craigslist discussion forums were helpful to me when I was searching for a home/area to move to.\n\nGood luck!
191556
I do not know your budget, BUT go to Austin.  My wife and I live on Lake Travis, and love it.  Try lake Austin....It's always level.  Your Realtor will understand.
101883
For Texas, I wish i had good news for you.....Texas taxes are low and so is redistributive assistance.  Depending on WHAT type of help you need, you need to visit the web at http://www.hhs.state.tx.us/ and you will need to figure out WHAT region you will be living in.....Virginia will probably be more 'assistive' best wishes.\nHope this helps.
241983
http://www.state.tx.us/ has all applicable web sites. You will probably have to pay a charge. I would search there first
656895
Whoa, dear one, which planet are you from?  The rent covers your portion of living there, your use of electricity for the TV, Cable and the Internet fees, computer, DVD players, CD players, the printer, Monitor, the Speakers.  The furniture upon which you sleep or sit.  How about the food you eat or the clothes you wear, or the materials you need for school?  \n\nPaychecks don't go too far these days.  Gas has gone up tremendously in the last couple of months.  Phone, gas, electricity have all gone up and in some states have doubled because of municipal, city, and local taxes have been added.\n\nUnfortunately after all that, they just might be right.  Definitely was that way for me.\n\nMy son started collecting all the old newspapers in our apartment complex.  Collecting the soda cans tossed at our football games and saving up the plastic containers at home.  It was work, sure, but he was getting almost $20 bucks a week.  Darn sharp I say.\n\nHope this gives you a bigger picture on what may be happening with you.  Good Luck with how you chose to deal with your situation.
659656
I live in Virginia, but here's a little I have found.\n\nHave relatives in Georgia.  Brother and sister-in-law love it, their children looking to go elsewhere, if they can.  I've only visited Atlanta and Albany, so can't personally get a true picture of life there.\n\nNorth Carolina, I've visited a lot of the region in the western part of the state, near the Tennessee border.  Scenic, moderate climate except in the highlands around Boone.  Brief visit to Charlotte.  The Research Triangle area well known to be driving R&D development.  State seems progressive in their vision, transporatation system improving.\n\nA little about taxes I found from link listed below:\nState income tax rate\nGA 1.0 - 6.0% in 3 brackets\nNC 6.0 - 8.5% in 4 brackets, rates scheduled to be reduced in 2007\n\nState sales tax\nGA state 4% local 3% = 7% total - groceries exempt\nNC state 4.5% local 3%= 7.5% - groceries exempt from state portion, local is optional\n\nReal estate transfer rates\nGA $1 for 1st $1,000 consideration, $.10 for each additional $100, making rate of .10%\n2004 revenue generated $420,000\n\nNC $1 per $500 consideration, 51% of revenue stays at local level, rate is .20%\n2004 revenue generated $54,940,000\n\nNow of this last comparison, I was struck by the wide difference in revenue generated.  With NC rate being twice that of GA, the revenue generated was over 100 times the amount of GA.\n\nEither NC real estate valuation is much higher or there was not much real estate transfer in GA in 2004.\n\nHope this information helps, and good luck in your move!
168865
Go to money.com  they have a site to compare relocation areas.\nOr Google  "cost of living".\n\nNo matter where you live, $36k with kids will be tough.
489670
I wouldn't live in New York if I had an apartment free and all expenses paid.  I agree with you 100%.  You can put a saddle on those rats and ride them to New Jersey.
331282
Despite what some people here said, moving to California would be a stupid thing to do. Home prices are the highest in the nation at an average of $391,000. Gas prices are the second highest at $3.29 per gallon. So, if you can't afford to live in Michigan, you certainly couldn't afford to live in California.\n\nWhat do I think you should do?\n\nDO SOME RESEARCH!\n\nMICHIGAN ISN'T THE POOREST STATE...\n\nMichigan ranks 18th highest out of 50 states in average houshold income (and it is higher than the national average). And, because the cost of living is quite low, it is even better than it seems at 18th. For example, New Jersey is the highest, but the cost of living is very high there. The median home price in New Jersey is $291,000, more than twice as high as Michigan's $145,000. \n \nMICHIGAN DOESN'T HAVE THE HIGHEST TAXES\n\nRegarding taxes, Michigan's current taxes are $2405 per person per year. That is just $213 more than the national average. 14 states have higher taxes per person per year. The highest is Vermont at $3600, the second highest Hawaii at $3478.\n\nMICHIGAN DOESN'T HAVE THE HIGHEST GAS PRICES\n\nRegarding gas prices, Michigan's current gas price is $2.85 per gallon. 23 states are more expensive. Eight states have gas prices over $3.00 per gallon, with the highest being Hawaii at $3.38, the second highest California at $3.29.\n \nMICHIGAN DOESN'T HAVE THE HIGHEST CIGARETTE PRICES\n\nRegarding cigarette prices, Michigan's current cigarette price is $5.50 per pack. Just 6 states are more expensive, so you have a point there. The highest is Massachusetts at $6.46 per pack, the second highest New Jersey at $6.06 per pack. But, you shouldn't smoke anyway. \n\nPlus, Michigan is inexpensive in many other ways. Home owners insurance is low compared to the norm. Do you realize how much people pay in the hurricane prone areas, for example? Water bills are low compared to the norm due to the plenty fresh water. Do you realize the that there are water shortages in the west (Neveda, Arizona, California, for example)? I could go on, but it is getting late...
495812
Homes in Texas appreciate at a rate of 3%-4% per year.  In Dallas and Fort Worth, homes generally appreciate at a rate of up to 6% per year.  The Scenery Hills addition has some nice homes and is an established neighborhood.  The property values appear to have increased over the last couple of years, or have remained steady, depending on the home.  \n\nIf one purchases a home and years later, he/she has done no updating, doesn't take care of the home, or the location is no longer desirable, then that will certainly affect the value of the home, and in the case of location, might affect the value of every home in the subdivision, depending on what the circumstances are that made the area undesirable.\n\nAs far as markets that are "better off" around Fort Worth, try the City of Mansfield, located in southeast Tarrant County.\n\nI'm confused though, as you first indicated you "just purchased" a home and later indicate that you want to make sure you're "making a correct decision."  If you purchased the home, the decision has already been made, as you now own the home.  If you just submitted an offer to a seller and haven't closed, then you haven't "just purchased" the home. \n\nAnyway, good luck to you!
541767
I just got into a bussiness of networking power for a company in Dallas Tx. It has really good potential to make a large amount of money for somebody interested in this type of work. You need to be living in Texas, Georgia or New York to do this bussiness at this time but will be gathering more states in time.
99513
yes but then I live in TX