We escaped upstate NY (Capital District) after 22 years of exile and fled to the Outer Banks of NC. We had paid off our house in NY which certainly helped our move, and I now work remote.
We put 25% down on a house that overlooks the Albemarle Sound, we have sunset views, and are in an X flood zone about 25 feet above the water. Our combined property taxes, HOA and insurance are less than we paid in property and school taxes alone in NY. Our house in NY was assessed for half of value of the house we bought. NC is a 2A-friendly state, we’re about 6 minutes to the beach, have direct Sound access and a far more relaxed way of life.
Yep, very nice area, especially Saratoga County. The problem is that it is surrounded by decaying cities of Albany, Schenectady and Troy. Even Saratoga Springs is now gone totally Leftist. The once strong and proud Saratoga GOP now endorses candidates like Kasich, all but dead as a party.