Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
So as the title says last min decision and I'm coming up in two weeks. husband can't come so its just myself my sister and 3 kids. My husband and I are ready to buy a house, currently in Naples,Fl. For those who don't know its one of the most expensive cities in Fla. We want to keep our options open if we can't find anything here (we want to keep our budget around $160,000-170,000 for a first time home and we have up to $100,000 down.) In our price range we will not have the option for a single family and can hope for an older condo around 1200 sqft, HOA's run around $1000- $1200 a year but some are up to $500+ a quarter plus condo insurance here is higher than home insurance. So the bottom line is if we don't find what we like or can't afford we would like to take other places into consideration. Husband is currently a 911 dispatcher and about to finish his Bachelors in Finance and Economics from FIU. I'm a former pastry chef for the Waldorf turned SAHM and I work a few days a week at the kids museum here to get out of the house. Yearly income combined is just under $90,000 but if he starts in a new career we can expect less to start no doubt.
That being said with me coming up I would love if you guys could give me some of the following.
Great neighborhoods in our price range for a first time buyer, just browsing some sites I can see we can gt a very nice house in our range. Family friendly is a plus, we have a lot of retirees around where we are that don't particularly seem like they like kids playing outside (no sidewalk chalk and such)
Great school systems, our daughter starts kindergarten this year.
Areas to avoid while there
Areas to check out with kids (parks etc)
Also opinions on:
Finance sector if anyone knows around that area
Anyone from Fla want to chime in on their experience on the move up there, what they like/dislike and so on
Any other places we should consider in the NC area
Any other information you think would help me out! I don't have a lot of time to prep! Thank you guys
Just checking the budget, under $170,000 for a house with good schools?
is that unreasonable in NC? Judging by what I'm seeing in realesate it seems like there are plenty of homes in that price range. I'm not familiar with the area so I don't know if these homes are in nice places or not.. The homes themselves seem nice. We could go up to $200,00 with $100,000 down and still be fine but I find it ludicrous imo to start spending tons of money for a first home.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,814 posts, read 34,684,299 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sweetbottoms
So as the title says last min decision and I'm coming up in two weeks. husband can't come so its just myself my sister and 3 kids. My husband and I are ready to buy a house, currently in Naples,Fl. For those who don't know its one of the most expensive cities in Fla. We want to keep our options open if we can't find anything here (we want to keep our budget around $160,000-170,000 for a first time home and we have up to $100,000 down.) In our price range we will not have the option for a single family and can hope for an older condo around 1200 sqft, HOA's run around $1000- $1200 a year but some are up to $500+ a quarter plus condo insurance here is higher than home insurance. So the bottom line is if we don't find what we like or can't afford we would like to take other places into consideration. Husband is currently a 911 dispatcher and about to finish his Bachelors in Finance and Economics from FIU. I'm a former pastry chef for the Waldorf turned SAHM and I work a few days a week at the kids museum here to get out of the house. Yearly income combined is just under $90,000 but if he starts in a new career we can expect less to start no doubt.
That being said with me coming up I would love if you guys could give me some of the following.
Great neighborhoods in our price range for a first time buyer, just browsing some sites I can see we can gt a very nice house in our range. Family friendly is a plus, we have a lot of retirees around where we are that don't particularly seem like they like kids playing outside (no sidewalk chalk and such)
Great school systems, our daughter starts kindergarten this year.
Areas to avoid while there
Areas to check out with kids (parks etc)
Also opinions on:
Finance sector if anyone knows around that area
Anyone from Fla want to chime in on their experience on the move up there, what they like/dislike and so on
Any other places we should consider in the NC area
Any other information you think would help me out! I don't have a lot of time to prep! Thank you guys
In your price range look at Belmont, Cramerton, SE Gastonia, & Kings Mountain to also get good schools. None are a horrible commute to Uptown where most of the financial jobs are. Also search Indeed for financial jobs in Gastonia & Shelby.
This really sounds iffy. You shoul be looking at rentals until you know where the job is. This is a very large area, geographically. Check Gaston County for a dispatcher job.
In your price range look at Belmont, Cramerton, SE Gastonia, & Kings Mountain to also get good schools. None are a horrible commute to Uptown where most of the financial jobs are. Also search Indeed for financial jobs in Gastonia & Shelby.
This really sounds iffy. You shoul be looking at rentals until you know where the job is. This is a very large area, geographically. Check Gaston County for a dispatcher job.
We would look at rentals while up there but WHERE to look is important. This move wouldn't happen till next year minimum, and late next year at that. We just want to make sure we have another option if buying here falls through. This is not a last minute decision move and we would not move without jobs. We've done the cross country move before so we know to have all our ducks in a row. I'm simply looking for where to look, things to look for etc. If I don't like the area then no biggie, I got a vacation out of it.
is that unreasonable in NC? Judging by what I'm seeing in realesate it seems like there are plenty of homes in that price range. I'm not familiar with the area so I don't know if these homes are in nice places or not.. The homes themselves seem nice. We could go up to $200,00 with $100,000 down and still be fine but I find it ludicrous imo to start spending tons of money for a first home.
For a single family home in Charlotte with good schools, not too much within city limits. And the down payment amount doesn't matter at all since you are still looking for a home under $200,000. If you would consider a townhome, there are some pockets here and there. As southbound said, outside of Charlotte is more affordable and definitely look into her suggestions.
As it being a ludicrous amount to spend for a home regardless of first or second, well it's a good thing you are coming up here for a visit to see for yourself.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,814 posts, read 34,684,299 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sweetbottoms
We would look at rentals while up there but WHERE to look is important. This move wouldn't happen till next year minimum, and late next year at that. We just want to make sure we have another option if buying here falls through. This is not a last minute decision move and we would not move without jobs. We've done the cross country move before so we know to have all our ducks in a row. I'm simply looking for where to look, things to look for etc. If I don't like the area then no biggie, I got a vacation out of it.
Well, in your price range you should be able to find single family homes in your price range, as of now, zoned to good elementary schools. The schools in the area are unlikely to be rezoned. The area that I mentioned has not seen the flood of transplants & therefore the prices are lower. The trick with Kings Mountain is to only look on the Cleveland County side, for schools. 2 of the elementary schools are blue ribbon schools.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,814 posts, read 34,684,299 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by momtothree
For a single family home in Charlotte with good schools, not too much within city limits. And the down payment amount doesn't matter at all since you are still looking for a home under $200,000. If you would consider a townhome, there are some pockets here and there. As southbound said, outside of Charlotte is more affordable and definitely look into her suggestions.
As it being a ludicrous amount to spend for a home regardless of first or second, well it's a good thing you are coming up here for a visit to see for yourself.
Thanks momtothree. There are good schools out here but not much glitz & glam, which doesn't bother me. Now if the casino gets approved, all bets are off on the housing prices.
Thanks momtothree. There are good schools out here but not much glitz & glam, which doesn't bother me. Now if the casino gets approved, all bets are off on the housing prices.
Well if hubby ever works over yonder, I am coming! For now I am stuck in the land of the glitz and glam. Sigh.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,814 posts, read 34,684,299 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by momtothree
Well if hubby ever works over yonder, I am coming! For now I am stuck in the land of the glitz and glam. Sigh.
If he comes out here hitch a ride. Depending on where you go you might be pleasantly surprised.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
For now I am stuck in the land of the glitz and glam. Sigh. 
