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Old 11-19-2016, 08:08 PM
 
1 posts, read 1,126 times
Reputation: 10

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Hey,

So my husband and I are planning to relocate to either Austin or Charlotte, NC next year and can't decide on a city. We're in our early 30's, (30 and 32), both work at home full time. We're moving from Upstate NY and we're looking for a place with lots to do but that can allow you to settle down pretty comfortably when you want to. I feel like all of the info we get on both Austin and Charlotte is buried in layers of marketing garb & spin and I wanted to get the honest opinions of people who've lived in either city.

We're okay with renting to start but don't want to rent too long... want to be in a house in maybe 18 months and our budget will be $350-$400k. I guess we'll eventually have kids so a place where we can comfortably transition to that stage (more from a financial standpoint) would be ideal...

Core things we'd like feedback on is housing market... renting market...restaurant/nightlife scene...bad weather...diversity (we're an interracial couple so a more progressive area would be ideal)...crime...overall lifestyle/vibe of the city...

We worry we're too old for Austin but too young for Charlotte..what do y'all think?


Thanks!!

Last edited by alanabelle86; 11-19-2016 at 08:10 PM.. Reason: Typo
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Old 11-19-2016, 08:32 PM
 
116 posts, read 226,249 times
Reputation: 76
How in the world did Charlotte make it into the final two?
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Old 11-19-2016, 09:28 PM
 
Location: central Austin
7,228 posts, read 16,101,771 times
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How much time have you spend in either place? I would really recommend a week's visit at least.

How well do you handle hot weather? And hot for a LONG time!

Your housing budget falls within a super competitive segment, it won't get you much within Austin proper anymore (hard to find a SFH), plenty of homes to buy far out but then you are in another world.

Crime: Austin is a very safe place overall. Great restaurants and nightlife, diversity? Austin is a majority Hispanic city, just barely. Not many AAs, about 8% of the population, Asians about 6% and rapidly rising but it is a pretty white place. Folks are live and let live for the most part.
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Old 11-21-2016, 07:39 AM
 
483 posts, read 532,709 times
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If you have ties to upstate NY and would like to travel back there with any frequency I would recommend Charlotte. Austin is a long long way from upstate NY.

It's been many years since I spent any significant time in Charlotte but overall I prefer the Austin and Texas culture and feel to the North Carolina culture and feel, FWIW. Charlotte does have the better weather in my opinion, summers here are long and brutally hot and people from the North East generally have the hardest time adjusting to it. In my personal case every fall I am about ready to lose my mind when it is 95 degress in October.
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Old 11-21-2016, 11:23 AM
 
2,094 posts, read 1,926,060 times
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As far as climate and being within a few hours of lots of things to do- Charlotte. I kind of like access to mountains and better beaches though, and I don't like it hot all the time. But with both working at home though, I'd be more inclined to open it up to even more cities.
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Old 11-21-2016, 12:43 PM
JH6
 
1,435 posts, read 3,217,950 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DCtoTejas View Post
If you have ties to upstate NY and would like to travel back there with any frequency I would recommend Charlotte. Austin is a long long way from upstate NY.

It's been many years since I spent any significant time in Charlotte but overall I prefer the Austin and Texas culture and feel to the North Carolina culture and feel, FWIW. Charlotte does have the better weather in my opinion, summers here are long and brutally hot and people from the North East generally have the hardest time adjusting to it. In my personal case every fall I am about ready to lose my mind when it is 95 degress in October.
Agreed, we are from western NY and it is tougher and more costly to get to and from Austin by far.

Not a big deal for me, but my wife would like family to be able to come down easier, and vice versa.
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