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IMO...the jobs issue and poverty levels are going to get worse here. The numbers you see are false, the unemployemnt numbers are very much worse that what is posted by the NCESC. Can't see the real estate market turning any time within the next few/several years. I do not care what you are hearing on tv or reading in the newspapers. Like many, if you are seeing an NC Jobs Available Sign somewhere - it's a bad joke.
That being said, your making the loot so come on down while the gettin' is good.
BofA isn't a deciding factor, merely one factor as one of the largest employers in an already struggling metro area that is built on and touts banking as a core industry. It's not MY industry, but if another 3,000 workers flood an already overcrowded job market, it will only make matters worse for many looking for employment.
Do tell on east west side differences Miley...we visited so I know we'd stay on the lower half of either side, but i'd like to hear your perceptions of the differences.
We're form the big city - a 45 min. commute is not a huge deal
It's Mikey as in Michael
THE big city or A big city?
The West side is much more rural then the East side. Especially when you talk the lower lake where the transplant density is heavy in the Cornelius / Huntersville / Mooresville area (which I'd wager is an area you visited). City folk are much more apt to prefer that area or Davidson which is arguably the nicest town of the Lake Norman area. As you know, you'll pay a significant premium to be on the lake itself with likely more deals available on the West side and North of Mooresville. It really depends on what you're looking for exactly and, of course, your budget.
Which county you choose to live in will have an impact because of the public schools (even without kids it matters for resale), amount of taxes you pay, and generally the services available in the immediate area. There are several counties that border Lake Norman, including the city itself (Mecklenburg county).
Most potential transplants fall into a trap of the perception that the Charlotte metro is smaller then it is in real terms based on population. Yet, people live and commute into Charlotte in a very wide range of directions from Uptown proper.
We would be transplants. We saw all the places you mentioned and also drove through Denver and a bit further north up the west side of the lake. Despite coming from a large city, we are looking for a bit of land (.5 acre would be nice), wooded, doesn't need to be on the lake since many of the properties we saw hadn't been touched since 1964. lower taxes would be nice of course. Not placing too much emphasis on resale as this will be our retirement home - not planning to go anywhere if at all possible. Too many families mean I get taxed to put other kids through school - I've already paid into that fund if you know what I mean.
If access to the mountains and the ocean, plus a temperate climate, are what you desire, you could also look at any of the following cities. Some even have access to wonderful lakes:
Atlanta, GA
Charleston, SC
Greenville, SC
Columbia, SC
Raleigh, NC
Winston-Salem, NC
Roanoke, VA
Nashville, TN
Birmingham, AL
Good suggestions, but my career necessitates we live to a reasonably larger urban area in order for me to have ample opportunities for employment - too small and the companies either aren't large or sophisticated enough to hire someone with my type of background, which eliminates a few. Charleston would have been our pick but the same thing applies - too few companies that would hire me. Atlanta too large and not for us. brother lives in Greenville and he finds it boring. Charlotte just always seemed like a good option.
FYI - the other place we are considering is Austin TX. Here is the high level bullet list:
Charlotte - Pros: temperate climate, nice access to mountains and ocean, able to live near a very nice lake (Norman), clean downtown, state is very green and wooded. Cons - dismal job market, NASCAR types, moderately high taxes, low on the "fitness" scale
Austin - Pros: Good employment numbers and stability, stable housing market, sunshine, ocean same distance as Charlotte, no mountains but TX Hill Country. Cons - unrelenting heat 3-4 months a year, higher natural disaster risk (tornado, fires, drought) cost of living a bit more expensive.
Just to name a few - we hope to make a final decision this weekend.
Last edited by wedmiston; 09-14-2011 at 09:33 PM..
NASCAR types? and you would never run into any of those "types" in TX right? I know "yankees" who live at the lake and are the biggest "ErnHaaaaardt junnior" fans in the world.
At least you have done your homework and looked at the unemployment,etc. Most people just say they are moving here and what kind of work can they find when they get here. Good luck in your decision.
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I know "yankees" who live at the lake and are the biggest "ErnHaaaaardt junnior" fans in the world.
