Moving Family to MOnroe, Union county area, Good area or should we commute? (Charlotte: how much, job market)

[victracey]

We are moving to Monroe area for a job. With 5 kids (7-19), we are concerned about schools and churches and neigborhoods. Please help???

[thebalogas]

We live in Monroe in Barbee Farms. I have 5 and 10 year old boys. They go to Porter Ridge Elementary and they love it. I like it here. We moved from Fl. People are friendly, neighborly, where we are. It is safe and we are close enough to whatever we want to go to. Restaurants, grocery stores, etc. are very convenient.

[marvinnative]

The Monroe mailing address covers a wide area of Union County. Can you be more specific about where you plan to locate?

[saralee]

Hey!

I saw your DM. Most info would be acquired in the Charlotte forum.

Have you done a search on "Monroe" there? I have posted many times about my (very positive) experience living in Monroe over the past two years. We relocated from Jersey.

I'm more than willing to answer specific questions about the area but so far you've only asked if it's a "good" area. Monroe is an expansive area, we need to know where you're focused, or where your employment will be, or if you have an interest in specific schools, etc. What type of housing you want, price range, etc.

Good luck!

Sara

[newbiemom]

Originally Posted by thebalogas

We live in Monroe in Barbee Farms. I have 5 and 10 year old boys. They go to Porter Ridge Elementary and they love it. I like it here. We moved from Fl. People are friendly, neighborly, where we are. It is safe and we are close enough to whatever we want to go to. Restaurants, grocery stores, etc. are very convenient.

I am also considering moving to Monroe. I grew up in FL and am currently living in Georgia. I looked up Barbee Farms on Mapquest and got nothing. Is there another name that I can plug into Mapquest so that I can take a trip up there? I read the stats on Monroe and it seems like the perfect place for me. The main things I'm looking for are the same things you mentioned in your thread.
Most importantly, does it snow every year in the winter? If so, how much? How long does the winter last and how low does the temperature get? My mom is coming with me and she can't take extremely cold weather because of her bones, but mild winters should be fine
I'm so excited about the possibility of moving up there and I would LOVE to hear the perspective from a fellow Floridian.

Thanks in advance for your time and your thoughts.

[thebalogas]

Barbee Farms is a subdivision in Monroe near the malll. We are off of Seacrest shortcut Road. I don't know about the snow this is our first winter here. It is really cold today, though. The cold here is different than the cold in FL. Cold in FL just goes through you , like a damp cold. It's in the 60's now and most people here probably love it. I am freezing my butt off, but that is because of living in FL for 22 years and getting cold from anything below 75. LOL

[saralee]

Originally Posted by thebalogas

Barbee Farms is a subdivision in Monroe near the malll. We are off of Seacrest shortcut Road. I don't know about the snow this is our first winter here. It is really cold today, though. The cold here is different than the cold in FL. Cold in FL just goes through you , like a damp cold. It's in the 60's now and most people here probably love it. I am freezing my butt off, but that is because of living in FL for 22 years and getting cold from anything below 75. LOL

I'm loving the weather! However, most of my native NC friends have called to say they are "freezing". We have a pup and it's clear she is a native because she was down right ornery when I tried to get her outside this morning.

Perfect timing for us, as our A/C went on the fritz about 2 weeks ago, just as it began to cool down. (Haven't even called anyone out here yet!)

We've been here two winters and no matter how cold it's gotten, it was nothing compared to what we had previously experienced. Any real cold spells are brief, IMO, and bearable. I think it's downright awesome to not have to warm the car up most mornings. I hated not being able to just run out the door, and go, during the winter months back home.

Also, I can only recall maybe two days of actual snowfall (that ultimately didn't last through the day) in the last two years. We did get ice though and that became an issue, as you can guess due to hazardous road conditions (everyone freaks out) and power outtages.

Sincerely,

Sara

[newbiemom]

Thank you so much for your help Sara and thebalogas. I'm excited. 60 degrees sounds awesome to me!!!!! I've lived in NW GA for the past 4 years, so my blood is pretty thick by now. Besides one of the main reasons I moved out of FL was because I just couldn't take the heat anymore. My mother's been living with me for a year, here in Cartersville, GA and she's ok with this kind of cold, (which sounds like it's very similar to the fall and winter over there), so hopefully she'll be very happy also!

Thanks again for your willingness to help out a newbie mom.

[newbiemom]

One other question. How is the job market in Monroe? I am an administrative assistant. I've also worked as an MOA (Medical Office Assistant), and a translator at a hospital.

[thebalogas]

Not sure what the job market is like in that area. We do have a lot of dr. offices, a big hospital and various other medical buildings, etc. Looks like it wouldn't be hard to get a job.