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Looking at Monroe NC (specifically the Southwinds CPMorgan development). Looking at Fort Mill (more $$) and anywhere south Charlotte (husband's job is in Ballantyne) but don't want to spend more than 180k on a house. He is professional, I am finishing a MsEd, we have 3 young kids.
Looking at Monroe NC (specifically the Southwinds CPMorgan development). Looking at Fort Mill (more $$) and anywhere south Charlotte (husband's job is in Ballantyne) but don't want to spend more than 180k on a house. He is professional, I am finishing a MsEd, we have 3 young kids.
Do a search on Monre and CP Morgan. Both topics have been discussed here endlessly and there are some fairly recent posts on both subjects. That said, Monroe doesn't rank high on the list amongst transplants. IT, Waxhaw and Weddington seem to hold more appeal to many. However, we moved to Monroe from Jersey and love it. However, I don't love Southwinds. Too many reasons why I don't find it appealing and my guess is if you had more insight, you might not be interested either (but again, I am making an assumption). Of course I don't know your personal situation but research extensively before making a decision.
Other than that, if you like the Monroe area, there are offerings in your price range that are nice. Are you working with a Realtor yet?
Don't relocate to Monroe. I don't even live in Charlotte yet and know to steer clear of Monroe. My wife and I drove through there looking for houses in Union County and quickly decided that while some parts of Union County were okay to live in, the area in and around Monroe was not. For just under 200k you can find better options in and around Charlottle than Monroe.
Don't relocate to Monroe. I don't even live in Charlotte yet and know to steer clear of Monroe. My wife and I drove through there looking for houses in Union County and quickly decided that while some parts of Union County were okay to live in, the area in and around Monroe was not. For just under 200k you can find better options in and around Charlottle than Monroe.
WOW ... an entire city and areas surrounding it uninhabitable? I don't think so.
Like I said, Monroe has some beautiful countryside, nice homes and good people. Perhaps you were looking in the wrong places. The funny thing is when I speak to Monroe natives, they are shocked to hear how "down" transplants are on their hometown. Monroe has no pretense about it, development has been slower and I suspect it's simply not trendy enough for most transplants.
WOW ... an entire city and areas surrounding it uninhabitable? I don't think so.
Like I said, Monroe has some beautiful countryside, nice homes and good people. Perhaps you were looking in the wrong places. The funny thing is when I speak to Monroe natives, they are shocked to hear how "down" transplants are on their hometown. Monroe has no pretense about it, development has been slower and I suspect it's simply not trendy enough for most transplants.
I live in Indian Trail and I venture in to Monroe on occasion. I don't care for Monroe....the "main drag" down 74 is a very depressing place. Most of the area looks like it saw its "heyday" back in the early 80s. The world's tiniest mall is there. So is the world's smallest movie theater LOL. The area seems to be very economically depressed. Look at the demographics. http://www.city-data.com/city/Monroe...-Carolina.html
That being said....Union County is a strange place. There isn't much here besides farmland, subdivisions, and the occasional strip mall. Monroe probably has more commercial areas than most of Union County.
I wouldn't want to live in Monroe, but that's JMHO. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
We lived in Monroe for a year and half and did not like it at all. We're now getting a house built close to Ballantyne (about 10-15 minutes) in Indian Land, SC in the Legacy Park subdivision. You may want to check out Indian Land because it's not too expensive now, but that will rapidly change, as the area is developing pretty quickly.
saralee said about Monroe "...I suspect it's simply not trendy enough for most transplants," and that's how we felt about it (we moved from Connecticut). It is simply too quiet and doesn't have the nice upscale shopping, restaurants, etc. that we love to frequent.
If you like VERY quiet towns and don't mind driving a bit to get to more developed areas and shopping and what not, then Monroe is for you. Also, if you decide on Monroe make sure your kids are zoned for Porter Ridge, Parkwood, or Sun Valley schools.
Don't relocate to Monroe. I don't even live in Charlotte yet and know to steer clear of Monroe. My wife and I drove through there looking for houses in Union County and quickly decided that while some parts of Union County were okay to live in, the area in and around Monroe was not. For just under 200k you can find better options in and around Charlottle than Monroe.
I'd say the second sentence says it all!! Until you've lived here say...more than a month...please don't criticize and presume that you "know" all there is to know about this charming little town. No...it is not Ballantyne. Thank God for that....as one is enough. What you will find in Monroe is much more diversity than in some other little towns. We live in Weddington/Wesley Chapel where everyone pretty much has the same income, drives the same foreign SUV and has had the same plastic surgery . (Don't send me hate mail. I read that in another thread about Ballantyne and it reminded me of Weddington.) It's really not that bad, but there certainly aren't a lot of lower income families or minorities here. Not good or bad....just an observation.
Monroe has several different sections to it. Yes, there is ugly Hwy 74 that is a nightmare, but once you get off of that it's filled with quaint neighborhoods and seriously the nicest, most welcoming locals that I have found since we transplanted here. I love historic Monroe. The houses are beautiful and the people that live in them are always willing to share a story about their house.
Monroe is a place where you will have to do your homework, but I think it will be worth the effort. There are pockets of yuck....but really you can find that anywhere. Good luck to you in your search.
Not sure on the actual Southwinds community, but I live across the way in Lexington Commons which is the sub at the end of the road across from Walter Bickett. We are coming from Long Island, and we love the area and our little slice of Monroe. It's very quiet and everyone is very friendly. The few times we have stayed at the house(Have not moved yet) and have gone out for walks and jogs everyone waves, stops you to start a conversation and so on. All of our neighbors are great. It is a very mixed area as most of Monroe is so if living in a very diverse area among a melting pot of different races does not bother you than I am sure you will enjoy living there and love it too. Keep in mind that Monroe is a rather old city so on the exterior it does not have that squeeky clean look, like some of the newer more recently developed areas. I really like the fact that the area has not become overly developed like other parts of Charlotte, so you still have that country feel depending on which way you pull out of the sub. I'm sure over time that will change. Another thing you should be aware of in that subdivision is you will here the CSX trains from time to time as the train tracks run along 75. Again, we may be weird but we feel it adds to that country charm, but you will hear them a few times a day so if it's something that may bother you than it may be a bad spot to build your new home. Good luck and maybe we'll see you around.
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. (Don't send me hate mail. I read that in another thread about Ballantyne and it reminded me of Weddington.) It's really not that bad, but there certainly aren't a lot of lower income families or minorities here. Not good or bad....just an observation. 
