Relocation from NH (Charlotte, Gastonia, Concord: for sale, houses, neighborhoods)

[jvstrat]

Our house in NH is under contract and due to close June 30th. After that hello NC. My family and I have been down a couple times and hate going back to NH. My job is lined up already with a major construction company in Charlotte, but I'm having a hard time deciding which town to move to. We really like Concord, but are also open to Charlotte. Which areas of Charlotte have lower taxes and more importantly the better schools? There is a lot of nice houses in Charlotte for under $200,000, but I want to make sure my kids go to a good school. Their ages are 6,8,9, and 15. Thanks for any advice.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by jvstrat

Our house in NH is under contract and due to close June 30th. After that hello NC. My family and I have been down a couple times and hate going back to NH. My job is lined up already with a major construction company in Charlotte, but I'm having a hard time deciding which town to move to. We really like Concord, but are also open to Charlotte. Which areas of Charlotte have lower taxes and more importantly the better schools? There is a lot of nice houses in Charlotte for under $200,000, but I want to make sure my kids go to a good school. Their ages are 6,8,9, and 15. Thanks for any advice.

I would recommend sticking with Concord. Union county is cheaper than Charlotte, but, I don't see how it can stay that way with all the new schools and infrastructure needed there to keep up with the growth. Union county is the fast growing place in the whole state. Concord is not growing quite as rapidly and the schools are good, not to mention your housing dollar will go a lot further there than Charlotte or the popular parts of Union County. You could always check out Mint Hill or Gastonia - but truthfully I think in your price range you would be happier with Concord. Just my 2 cents

[dandevder]

I think lovesmountains said it perfectly!

[TerryMcDonald]

It will depend on how important very good to great schools are important to you... you will get more house in Cabarrus, but much better test scores in the S Charlotte suburbs of Mint Hill, Matthews and zip 28270 in Charlotte. The two high schools that serve that area, Butler and Providence, are both top 200 high schools in the nation according to Newsweek's annual ranking. The middle and elementary are equally excellent. The best place to check schools out will be www.ncreportcards.org. Put a school name in, check their test scores, class size and my favorite, teacher turnover. Compare the S Charlotte elementary's ; McKee Road, Elizabeth Lane, Bain, Endhaven, Providence Springs- against any in Cabbarrus, or elsewhere in Charlotte, and you'll see the differences are wide. You won't get quite as much house for the money, but you can still get 4-5br, 2.5 bath for 200K or so in these neighborhoods if you look. You can see these communites online at removed an online relcoation guide I sponsor. Check out the Community Slide show and the About the Schools links.

[lukepoke]

Charlotte is definately a great area to live in and I think you are making a good move. I actually live in York County, SC near Rock Hill and very close to the shores of Lake Wylie. My home is approximately 35 minutes from Charlotte. We are in an excellent school district and the property taxes are approximately $1500 for a 200K home. You might want to check our community out at mysunsetpoint.com. The neighborhood is built out, but there are nice homes for sale in the 200K range, plus you have a pool, boat storage and beach on Lake Wylie.

Luke