Keep the following in mind, before considering that job offer in North Carolina.

Moving to an area with lower housing costs often doesn't pay off for low-income Americans, according to a study to be released today by the Center for Housing Policy, a nonprofit research group based in Washington.

The study, which looks at families with low to moderate incomes in 28 metropolitan areas, found that transportation costs in places with cheaper housing are often so high that they wipe out the savings from lower rent or mortgage payments. Such places tend to be farther from employers or short on public transportation, which makes commuting costlier.

Complete story: Relocating to Cheaper Housing Doesn't Always Cut Costs - By James R. Hagerty, The Wall Street Journal Online