Help!!! Raleigh or Charlotte Area? (Durham, Concord: houses, rental, lease)

[NewHorizons]

Hi Everyone! I hope you can help me. I live in south jersey and would like to relocate to the Carolina's - I have heard nice things about both Raleigh and Charlotte. I would like to live in a rural area and spend no more than 150. I love the beach and mountains. If I had a choice, I would live closer to the beach.

God Bless, Debi

[brichard]

I'm going to respond to you with some generalizations. But before I do, I mean no offense to anyone. But these generalizations are based on what I remember from having lived in Charlotte in the 1980s (my brother lives there now). I actually enjoyed living there at the time. But lots has happened there since then, so what I say below may no longer be entirely accurate. But the reason I'm saying it is because I, too, am curious what the area is like now. So, with that being said, here's how I would compare Charlotte and Raleigh:

Charlotte: If you are a conservative Republican, fundamentalist churchgoer, into NASCAR and wrestling, pro sports; fairly materialistic, like to shop a lot, want to be in a country club atmosphere, you might be happier in Charlotte. (Several years ago, the city council shut down a play because it had a gay character and there was some nudity -- a play that ran in other areas of the country where no one batted an eye.)

Raleigh: If you are more intellectual, have an advanced degree, closely follow national and international issues, are a big college basketball fan, and want to be exposed to arts, culture, a diverse population, and open-minded people, you might be happier in Raleigh. Chapel Hill, by the way (which is in the Raleigh-Durham area) has the distinction of having the largest number of residents, per capita, in the United States with a PhD).

Again, I acknowledge these are generalizations and there is usually some truth behind generalizations. But it's been a long time and things could be somewhat different now.

Originally Posted by NewHorizons

Hi Everyone! I hope you can help me. I live in south jersey and would like to relocate to the Carolina's - I have heard nice things about both Raleigh and Charlotte. I would like to live in a rural area and spend no more than 150. I love the beach and mountains. If I had a choice, I would live closer to the beach.

I work as an administrative assistant and I'm a personal trainer. My husband is on disability and we can't afford Jersey anymore.

I really would appreciate your help, I'm desperate to get out of here.

God Bless, Debi

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by NewHorizons

Hi Everyone! I hope you can help me. I live in south jersey and would like to relocate to the Carolina's - I have heard nice things about both Raleigh and Charlotte. I would like to live in a rural area and spend no more than 150. I love the beach and mountains. If I had a choice, I would live closer to the beach.

I work as an administrative assistant and I'm a personal trainer. My husband is on disability and we can't afford Jersey anymore.

I really would appreciate your help, I'm desperate to get out of here.

God Bless, Debi

No need for such detailed info, the answer to your question is simple enough - neither city would be right for you in that price range. You could however possibly find a home in that range in Mt. Holly or Clover, SC - which are both certainly more rural. But since you like the beach why not look more in that direction? Maybe New Bern, Edenton or Elizabeth City for instance? Best of luck to you

[rdudejr]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

No need for such detailed info, the answer to your question is simple enough - neither city would be right for you in that price range. You could however possibly find a home in that range in Mt. Holly or Clover, SC - which are both certainly more rural. But since you like the beach why not look more in that direction? Maybe New Bern, Edenton or Elizabeth City for instance? Best of luck to you

I want to offer a brief rebuttal:

This is true if you want to live right in the city, but I will say that there are many homes within 30min of Charlotte (like Mooresville, Denver, Huntersville)
and are somewhat rural that are under 150k. It wont be a palace on the lake but it is definately affordable and definately gives you access to Charlotte.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by rdudejr

I want to offer a brief rebuttal:

This is true if you want to live right in the city, but I will say that there are many homes within 30min of Charlotte (like Mooresville, Denver, Huntersville)
and are somewhat rural that are under 150k. It wont be a palace on the lake but it is definately affordable and definately gives you access to Charlotte.

Well, since she wants a rural area Huntersville (which does have great homes in that price range) would no longer qualify in my opinion. It's a lovely scenic place but way too developed and crowded to be considered rural anymore. Guess Denver might work - I should have suggested Newton too. I just think since she loves the beach there are other places she should consider

[friendnc]

brichard's generlizations on both areas are a "bit" off (I live in Charlotte area, have in-laws in Raleigh area; very familiar with both), but both areas are very nice. Some really nice rual areas to consider would be Clover, Mt. Pleasant, or Troutman (Charlotte area), or Hillsborough, Pittsboro, or Louisburg (Raleigh area). Great schools and closer to the beach in the Raleigh area. Lower overall cost of living and more to do recreationally in the Charlotte area. But you can't go wrong with either. If you want ant specifics, just pm me. Good luck!!!

[werker]

Originally Posted by friendnc

brichard's generlizations on both areas are a "bit" off (I live in Charlotte area, have in-laws in Raleigh area; very familiar with both), but both areas are very nice. Some really nice rual areas to consider would be Clover, Mt. Pleasant, or Troutman (Charlotte area), or Hillsborough, Pittsboro, or Louisburg (Raleigh area). Great schools and closer to the beach in the Raleigh area. Lower overall cost of living and more to do recreationally in the Charlotte area. But you can't go wrong with either. If you want ant specifics, just pm me. Good luck!!!

Less than 150k in Hillsborough or Raleigh? Ummmm..... "tear downs" start at 300k inside the beltline. Hillsborrough houses with 750 sg feet or less are going for 150k. You will get a house that needs renovation in that range.

[friendnc]

Originally Posted by werker

Less than 150k in Hillsborough or Raleigh? Ummmm..... "tear downs" start at 300k inside the beltline. Hillsborrough houses with 750 sg feet or less are going for 150k. You will get a house that needs renovation in that range.

Wow! If that's the case in the RDU area, it looks like the towns around Charlotte might be worth a look. My house here in Concord is just 9 years old, in a nice subdivision, 2100sf, 1/3 acre lot, 2-story, 4/2.5, 5 minutes to I-85, close to everything. If I sold it now, it'd go for about $175k. Clover, Mt. Pleasant,a nd Troutman are great rual locations to look at. Good luck!!!

[emski]

Actually, I live in Raleigh now, and our house, which is an older home, but in a nice, quaint area (NE raleigh near Triangle Town Center), is less than $150k. "Inside the beltline" is where some of the most expensive homes are. Average home price I would say is from $250-$300k, although you can find many for less. Raleigh is certainly not rural. I would suggest in the Raleigh area that you check out Coats, Angier, Fuquay, Youngsville, Clayton, and maybe even Garner. You should find something for 150k or less in those areas.

[NC_Investor]

I think both areas are great. I have lived in both areas for the past 15 years and have rentals in both areas. I noticed you did not say what you do or whether you would be working if you moved here. In the past two years I have seen so many people and couples from all areas of the country move to the carolina's (some even renting from me) where only one spouse has a job and the other is looking or neither have a job. Many times their lives turn into a short trip to a nice area with a temperate climate before going back to where they came from (some worse). Please don't take offense to this and don't take this as a rant. I you are going to work in either of these areas do your DD and try to secure employment before coming! There are homes in both of these areas both rural and single homes out side of developments in you price range. You can also check some of the foreclosure sites(be careful). Charlotte has the highest foreclosure rate in the state of North Carolina with many in your price range. Good luck.