Grum, why'd you sell your house? Sounds like you've caused yourself a lot of problems. This is why I never rented once I left college, and have no desire to rent - owning has always worked out better for me.
The issue is that you have a number of New Yorkers who want to move where it's not so cold and property values are lower. Then they move, bring their "values" with them, and there you have it. I realize I'm a recovered New Yorker, but I never belonged there anyway - it was just where I was born. You have a lot of people who belong there culture wise.
One of my friends has lived in Buffalo NY his entire life, and is retiring later this year with the plan to move to a more southern state - and NC is on his mind. I've warned him that he's going to have a culture shock when he moves, but I don't think he quite understands what I mean, nor do I think he realizes how much of his personality is rooted in New York State, even though he's not a fan of living there at all.