Relocating from Jersey to Charlotte...possibly (Concord, Huntersville: low crime, mortgage, houses)

[IkeaWife]

My boyfriend, myself and our one year old son may be relocating to the Charlotte area sometime around October and I don't know where to start for info. on the area. It's frustrating b/c we won't know til probably the end of August if he got the job (at the new IKEA in Charlotte).

I would like to know if anyone has information on surrounding areas to Charlotte. We now live in Bergen County, New Jersey and ideally I would love to find a similar type of area in/around Charlotte...suburban, good schools, culture, recreation, diversity, low crime rate and so on. Anything within 30 minutes of the IKEA.

I've also noticed that there are A LOT of subdivisions in the south and I don't like that. Are there any specific neighborhoods with a small town feel? Meaning there aren't strip malls everywhere, every house does not look the same.

It's all so overwhelming b/c if we do go everything will happen so quickly, any info is therefore very helpful. I have no idea where to begin...

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by IkeaWife

My boyfriend, myself and our one year old son may be relocating to the Charlotte area sometime around October and I don't know where to start for info. on the area. It's frustrating b/c we won't know til probably the end of August if he got the job (at the new IKEA in Charlotte).

I would like to know if anyone has information on surrounding areas to Charlotte. We now live in Bergen County, New Jersey and ideally I would love to find a similar type of area in/around Charlotte...suburban, good schools, culture, recreation, diversity, low crime rate and so on. Anything within 30 minutes of the IKEA.

I've also noticed that there are A LOT of subdivisions in the south and I don't like that. Are there any specific neighborhoods with a small town feel? Meaning there aren't strip malls everywhere, every house does not look the same.

It's all so overwhelming b/c if we do go everything will happen so quickly, any info is therefore very helpful. I have no idea where to begin...

Since the new IKEA will be located in the northeast end of the city I would tell you to concentrate your search for homes in that end too. In particular, look for neighborhoods in the towns of either Huntersville or Cornelius, maybe even the city of Concord.

[pink caddy]

Originally Posted by IkeaWife

My boyfriend, myself and our one year old son may be relocating to the Charlotte area sometime around October and I don't know where to start for info. on the area. It's frustrating b/c we won't know til probably the end of August if he got the job (at the new IKEA in Charlotte).

I would like to know if anyone has information on surrounding areas to Charlotte. We now live in Bergen County, New Jersey and ideally I would love to find a similar type of area in/around Charlotte...suburban, good schools, culture, recreation, diversity, low crime rate and so on. Anything within 30 minutes of the IKEA.

I've also noticed that there are A LOT of subdivisions in the south and I don't like that. Are there any specific neighborhoods with a small town feel? Meaning there aren't strip malls everywhere, every house does not look the same.

It's all so overwhelming b/c if we do go everything will happen so quickly, any info is therefore very helpful. I have no idea where to begin...

I am going to tell you a different story than most. Bergen county?Don't like sub-divisions? Hmmm, I don't know--might not be to your liking. Need to have some others from Jersey reply --hopefully from Bergen county.

[Chef Giorgio]

Originally Posted by IkeaWife

My boyfriend, myself and our one year old son may be relocating to the Charlotte area sometime around October and I don't know where to start for info. on the area. It's frustrating b/c we won't know til probably the end of August if he got the job (at the new IKEA in Charlotte).

I would like to know if anyone has information on surrounding areas to Charlotte. We now live in Bergen County, New Jersey and ideally I would love to find a similar type of area in/around Charlotte...suburban, good schools, culture, recreation, diversity, low crime rate and so on. Anything within 30 minutes of the IKEA.

I've also noticed that there are A LOT of subdivisions in the south and I don't like that. Are there any specific neighborhoods with a small town feel? Meaning there aren't strip malls everywhere, every house does not look the same.

It's all so overwhelming b/c if we do go everything will happen so quickly, any info is therefore very helpful. I have no idea where to begin...

Hi there, I've been in Charlotte since 1998 but spent 2 yrs (2005-2007) in NJ. We lived in Bedminster but I worked as a Mortgage Consultant for a large bank, in Morristown and Elizabeth (yeah my commute was hell).

The Ikea store will be located nearby the University area, which you will definetely won't like if you are looking for a small town feel. My advice will be to look into Davidson. It may be more than 30 mi to Ikea but it does remind me some of the townships in NJ.

It'll be helpful to know also where is he looking for job, since commutes do vary a lot. Hope this helps.

Best of luck, you guys will love Charlotte.

[SunnyKayak]

Originally Posted by Chef Giorgio

Hi there, I've been in Charlotte since 1998 but spent 2 yrs (2005-2007) in NJ. We lived in Bedminster but I worked as a Mortgage Consultant for a large bank, in Morristown and Elizabeth (yeah my commute was hell).

The Ikea store will be located nearby the University area, which you will definetely won't like if you are looking for a small town feel. My advice will be to look into Davidson. It may be more than 30 mi to Ikea but it does remind me some of the townships in NJ.

It'll be helpful to know also where is he looking for job, since commutes do vary a lot. Hope this helps.

Best of luck, you guys will love Charlotte.

Good city recommindation but this member will be hard press in not finding homes in a subdivision or row housing and if she does she will be forking out some $$$

[Chef Giorgio]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

Good city recommindation but this member will be hard press in not finding homes in a subdivision or row housing and if she does she will be forking out some $$$

Yeah, but believe me that will be peanuts compared to what they are used to see in NJ. The fact they are looking for a small town feel kinda tells me they will be willing to spend that kind of dough since such towns in Jersey (Summit, Berkeley Heights come to mind) are pricey as well, unless they are referring to something like Hunterdon, still small town feel but not as expensive.

One thing for sure taxes are a zillion times cheaper here!!!

I myself wasn't acquaited with Davidson til not too long ago, and I loved it. if works is not too far they will too.

[IkeaWife]

Originally Posted by Chef Giorgio

Hi there, I've been in Charlotte since 1998 but spent 2 yrs (2005-2007) in NJ. We lived in Bedminster but I worked as a Mortgage Consultant for a large bank, in Morristown and Elizabeth (yeah my commute was hell).

The Ikea store will be located nearby the University area, which you will definetely won't like if you are looking for a small town feel. My advice will be to look into Davidson. It may be more than 30 mi to Ikea but it does remind me some of the townships in NJ.

It'll be helpful to know also where is he looking for job, since commutes do vary a lot. Hope this helps.

Best of luck, you guys will love Charlotte.

Yea, I've been reading about the area that the IKEA will be in and am not thrilled. I'll check out Davidson, maybe if it's not too far then my boyfriend won't mind the commute.

As far as the location of the job, it's simply IKEA. He works at the Paramus, NJ location right now and we're hoping he gets a position at the NC store b/c the cost of living up here is just crazy, and we wanna move away and start a life of our own, blah, blah, blah. LoL

Thanks for the info.

[surfer boy]

Wow, I see A LOT of ppl from NY and NJ relocating to CLT.

[IkeaWife]

So, what's up with the subdivisions in the south!?

And, sorry guys, I should have been more specific when I said small town feel. Everyone here is telling me that Charlotte is a big city and that I won't get what I grew up with...I grew up in Englewood, NJ. When I say small town I do mean places like Summit, NJ but I also would love places like Englewood, Ridgewood, Montclair, NJ.

[QC Misfit]

If your not looking to live in a Subdivision there are houses available. With anything nowadays what price range are you looking for?