I’m considering moving back to Buffalo

[Pete]

I moved in with girlfriend in Massachusetts a couple years ago- I need to lose her and get on with my life.   I love NH - not a lot of jobs.  I checked out Burlington Vermont- $1500 studio apartments - too rich for me.  I checked out Massachusetts and Pennsylvania- pricey.

Buffalo- bargain!  I moved from Buffalo 1979 to Connecticut.  The day we moved there was a tornado- maybe that was a message lol.  So like the salmon returning, I’m strongly considering Buffalo.  I need to get out of here ASAP.  
Buffalo is a world class city imo.  Museums, architecture, culture. 
So I’ve been looking at jobs, apartments, and moving costs.

So if anyone could give me any tips - where to live, moving, jobs, I’d greatly appreciate.  
thank you Bills brothers and sisters!

[EmotionallyUnstable]

First, good on you for making the move to change what isn’t in your best interest. If it’s what you think is right for you long term, do it and don’t look back.

 

As far as buffalo goes, are you looking for urban living, or more of a towny vibe? Either way, real estate has vastly jumped in price in both rentals and purchases. Probably cheaper than what you listed, however. 
 

When you get to buffalo and are looking for work, do you have a specific field or are you open to different careers/jobs? There are many openings from bus drivers, to night shift managers, substitute teachers and even a property assessor in a nearby town. There are jobs to be filled, it’s just a matter of qualifications, desires and capabilities. 
 

Idk your situation, but I’m married with kids, own a house, have another 30 years in my career and love that day to day, regular grind. Change isn’t in my forecast. I love my situation, it isn’t for everyone. But if I were staring down the barrel of regret with leading a life that I wasn’t happy with, I think the city of good neighbors is a great place to start. 

[Pete]

Thanks for a great post!  I will live most anywhere- urban is fine.  
I’ve been cooking 30 years, but would like something different.  I put a bunch of applications at Wegmans.  They must be doing a double take seeing my Massachusetts address.  Once I get a job offer out there- I’m really going to move quickly(we’ll hopefully).

I’m 52, and will be single by then

[Just Jack]

A few jobs listed here

 

https://www.buffalobills.com/about-us/career-opportunities

[LeviF]

I'd move to Buffalo in a heartbeat if I could get a transfer there. I just know where to go hang out, not necessarily live. Everyone is hiring out there, especially in hospitality. Good luck brother!

[Draconator]

Download the Hotpads app on your phone. Private rentals and company/corporation owned apartment rentals. I've referred a couple of real estate clients to that, and it's worked out nicely. 

 

As for a job, Yahoo (where I work) is hiring. It's primarily work from home but they do have offices in Lockport. PM me if you want to know more.

Edited December 9, 2021 by Draconator

[Gugny]

1 hour ago, LeviF said:

I'd move to Buffalo in a heartbeat if I could get a transfer there. I just know where to go hang out, not necessarily live. Everyone is hiring out there, especially in hospitality. Good luck brother!

 

Buffalo's population is only 7.54% Hispanic.  You'd be bored in less than a month!

 

[teef]

as someone who lives in the rochester area, are you sure you may not want to move somewhere a bit more sun laden?  i do love my work and living situation here, (even though i B word about the taxes) but the january to april run is brutal.  cold, damp, and gray.  the lack of sun is what messes me up.  other than that, i do like living in wny.  maybe a bit too routine at time, but i'm comfortable here.

[Logic]

Been considering the same.

I grew up in Rochester but haven't lived there since I left at age 18.

The rent and home prices seemingly ANYWHERE in the country other than WNY are insane. I live in Portland, OR currently, and there's not a chance in hell that I can reasonably afford a house here. For what I'd spend on a small, 1 bedroom, ranch style house in the city here, I could get a five bedroom palace with acres of land and a creek in WNY. Truly. It's mind boggling how affordable housing is in WNY when compared to most of the rest of the country.

I'm not sure I want to do Rochester again, though. I'm almost more tempted to give Buffalo a shot, though I've never lived there before. I suppose the two cities are comparable in a lot of ways, but at least Buffalo might be a bit more exciting since I've never lived there before. I'm not familiar with what areas surrounding Buffalo would be desirable to live in, though. What suburbs, what neighborhoods, etc. 

Anyway...good luck in your search. Hopefully the knowledgeable folks here can give you some valuable insight.

 

[muppy]

you could not have posted a thread and it being read by more knowledgeable articulate folks. This thread will be fruitful for you Pete. Amen,

 

I have zero knowledge about living in WNY have not done it since 1978.  My roots.

 

anyway best of luck and keep we posted!

 

m

[Pete]

I applied to jobs in Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York.  I just got a phone call from 716!

[Tiberius]

The city is really looking good lately, imo. North Buffalo is doing great. Good luck. Have to admit I really miss Buffalo and would love to live area Delaware Park again. 

 

 

[qwksilver]

I would love to move back as well. I'm just not sure my wife & I could handle the 4+ months of winter. South Florida sun is so nice in the winter.

 

[Saxum]

Just now, qwksilver said:

I would love to move back as well. I'm just not sure my wife & I could handle the 4+ months of winter. South Florida sun is so nice in the winter.

 

 

Aren't those the only months when they ARE nice?

[qwksilver]

3 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

 

Aren't those the only months when they ARE nice?

The only truly bad months are July & August. The rest is pretty fantastic. It just took my Buffalo blood a little while to get acclimated.

[Saxum]

2 hours ago, qwksilver said:

The only truly bad months are July & August. The rest is pretty fantastic. It just took my Buffalo blood a little while to get acclimated.

 

I went one time and it was like walking thru a steam bath and some I knew said only way to deal with it was to have a garage and run air conditioning before you drive car.  I went to Hong Kong in summer and it is hot all day and night when it is not rainy but humidity was high but not as bad and way from main city good breezes.

[Nextmanup]

19 hours ago, qwksilver said:

I would love to move back as well. I'm just not sure my wife & I could handle the 4+ months of winter. South Florida sun is so nice in the winter.

 

As a native WNYer who has now lived in SE FL for like 8 years, (and lots of other places too) I can't fathom anyone seriously considering a move BACK to WNY.

 

It's more like 6 months of "bad weather" depending on how you define bad.

Down here, every day is summer.  Not that it's perfect mind you!  I have tons of complaints about south FL living...

 

But no way could I endure the weather in a climate like WNY again.  No way.

 

I guess it depends on the individual.  Some people are much more sensitive to weather/climate/gray sky than others are! 

 

 

19 hours ago, Limeaid said:

 

Aren't those the only months when they ARE nice?

You're in NOVA right?  FL is no different than the DC area in terms of raw heat and humidity.

It's just the season for that lasts a month or 2 longer down here in FL.

DC/NOVA is a still swamp though.

 

FL definitely has 4 seasons and the weather changes here with the calendar.  It's just that the changes are more subtle than some other areas.

 

Starting about a month ago, including now, an into April, it's glorious down here.

Best month of the year, for me, is March.

 

 

 

[qwksilver]

1 hour ago, Nextmanup said:

As a native WNYer who has now lived in SE FL for like 8 years, (and lots of other places too) I can't fathom anyone seriously considering a move BACK to WNY.

 

It's more like 6 months of "bad weather" depending on how you define bad.

Down here, every day is summer.  Not that it's perfect mind you!  I have tons of complaints about south FL living...

 

But no way could I endure the weather in a climate like WNY again.  No way.

 

I guess it depends on the individual.  Some people are much more sensitive to weather/climate/gray sky than others are! 

 

 

 

I agree November through March is almost perfect.

I probably wouldn't be able to do the winters/cold and gray for 6 months. I could see us having a summer place in WNY, when we retire but my bank account says we're not ready for that yet.

[May Day 10]

Like anywhere, there are pros and cons, most of the major ones listed here.  

 

Id say the best pro... is you can find an affordable house here that would be considered a lap of luxury and be like 500% of the price elsewhere.  Followed by the relatively slow-ish pace and low traffic nuisance.  

 

Biggest cons would be the weather, mainly the extra month or 2 tagged onto winter.  Also  high paying job market/lack of fortune 500s.

 

 

 

I think at this point, if I wasnt so rooted with my/our jobs and our parents/relatives, etc... I would really want to move to like the Carolinas or something.  Not quite the Florida scene.

[Nextmanup]

^  That is it in a nutshell.

 

Were to live?  What's "good" or "bad" ????  

 

The correct answer is it all depends, and it all depends on the individual.

All you can do is isolate a variable or 2 that you find MOST important, and then try to live in an area where those variables are in the "pro" column and not the "con" column.

 

Another thing, nowhere is perfect and everywhere has downsides of all kinds.

 

Also, not everyone is equally impacted by weather.  Some people don't mind it or flat out love the winters in Buffalo.  It all depends on the person.