Leaving Connecticut for Charlotte or Central Florida (Durham, Wilmington: rent, insurance)

[juicycoach117]

Okay here's deal I have been visiting the Charlotte area at least 2 times a yr for the last 3 yrs. I have 3 kids 13, 10 and 4 and in my early 30's. I have wanted to move to Charlotte for the past 2 yrs. I am a young black mom and I am married and I wanna know the truth about living in the Charlotte area. I am thinking about Central Florida as well so I am trying to decide where to go for the new year. I love central Florida and posted a thread and didn't get much positive feed back. So I wanted to see how the Queen City residents feel? Any advice?

[The Native 1]

I'm sure you have read the numerous threads about how bad the job situations are here at the moment. My first opinion of living here is to have something lined up before you come down. CLT is very family oriented and our cost of living is pretty low compared to many areas. I have not lived in FL but have visited many times and personally I could not deal with the heat there compared to CLT. You could always move to FL and then to CLT. You would then be considered an official halfback like so many of my friends here in NC.

[pink caddy]

There's only one thing you need to investigate about "the real truth about Charlotte". That is: Do you have a job lined up, and set in stone or not?

Then again, I guess that question is applicable to just about anybody else in your situation.No sense in going into other aspects of CLT vs. Fla until you know the first ans.

[Metallisteve]

My wife and I moved away from Central Florida over 2 years ago (after living there nearly all our life) and haven't looked back. Charlotte has been great. Central Florida has some true challenges and troubles in its future. Once the rest of the world gets over this economic hump, Central Florida will be left to deal with the nasty side effects like the ruined neighborhoods, drastic socioeconomic changes, severe lack of funding for local municipalities, and other relatively intangible (at the moment) problems that have never been dealt with before down there--and thus, people refuse to acknowledge.

As for Charlotte, while our job market may not be rosy at the moment, we've weathered this storm far better than a lot of other areas. We've still taken our punches, but we're in much better shape to recover quickly once we're given the chance.

Everyone on these forums (and every other piece of media out there) has their own devote prediction and assessment of how a region is faring and its respective outlook. For that matter, I think a wise direction to take is to determine which area you'd like to live in best (climate, amenities--natural and man made, geographic location for traveling from/to, etc.). The rest of the unpredictable details can be filled in over time.

[vindaloo]

Originally Posted by juicycoach117

Okay here's deal I have been visiting the Charlotte area at least 2 times a yr for the last 3 yrs. I have 3 kids 13, 10 and 4 and in my early 30's. I have wanted to move to Charlotte for the past 2 yrs. I am a young black mom and I am married and I wanna know the truth about living in the Charlotte area. I am thinking about Central Florida as well so I am trying to decide where to go for the new year. I love central Florida and posted a thread and didn't get much positive feed back. So I wanted to see how the Queen City residents feel? Any advice?

Charlotte is a large city with things to do. Except for Orlando, central Florida has no really large cities. Both are fine. Charlotte has four seasons, central Florida has hot weather and humidity most of the year plus tornados.

[Metallisteve]

Yeah, let's not forget about the constant Hurricane threat down there. Continually stocking an emergency kit, being gouged for repair materials when one does hit, interruptions from school and work...those are all part of the norm down there during hurricane season.

[viajero8]

If you don't have a job I'm not sure either area is good. You should consider Durham/Chapel Hill as well. The unemployment rate is lower there. I was raised in Durham and I also think it is one of the best places in the country for race relations by virtue of the high intellect of the population. Durham has a vibrant black middle class. It has a street downtown referred to as the black wall street because it was where the first black owned insurance and bank was stationed.

If you like the beach RDU is less than two hours form Wilmington while Charlotte is 3 hours from the beach.

But If you have a job already lined up here in Charlotte go for it. Anywhere you can get work these days is a good place to live.

[NCNewbietoo]

Well Juicycoach,First thing you need to decide,are you running FROM something,or TO something.I myself will be relocating to NC in the future.Will be in the Uwharrie area checking it out the first week of Dec.My husband and I are running both TO and FROM.

[NCNewbietoo]

I managed to post reply before I had completed it.Sorry, the heat has gotten to me.
We will be running away from this area because we don't care for the direction the Orlando area is taking.TOO much growth.If you are in the medical field, this will be the #1 place in the country to move to. My hubby and I bought acreage in the country for the peace and quiet.That's all changing now.A new "Medical City" is being built 3 miles from us.New (toll) roads are being built in the middle of nowhere to better connect with surrounding counties.We are getting Nemours childrens hospital, UCF College of medicine,Burnett school of Biomedical Science,MD Anderson Cancer research Center, University of FL Research center,Burnham Institute for Medical Research AND a VA hospital, so, I disagree with Metallisteve about our future in this area. The housing market is already rebounding. The Realtors are NOT suffering.We have one in the family and business is fine. The tornado issue, that gave me a giggle.Be more afraid of lightning than tornados. Now hurricanes,You need to understand 2004 was a very very weird summer.I was born here and have been here my entire life.That was my first ever hurricane(s).Yes they are scary as hell!!!!!!!!!!!!! But for the hurricane prep,if you have kids, I'm sure you already keep a stocked pantry. Forget the flashlights and candles.Spend a thousand bucks and get a generator.You won't need ice and all that other stuff. Now for the negative negative negative stuff about this area.EVERY morning the news reports murders and home invasions.Do you have a concealed weapons permit? You're gonna need one,purses being snatched,carjackings not to mention all the perverts here. I honestly believe the summer heat fries peoples brains.Always hear about kids getting snatched. Just today some lunatic went in an office building downtown and shot about 7 people some deaths just no definite numbers yet.Had one person had a weapon, he could have been stopped with less casualties. Just freaks here sometimes it seems. Schools, they SUCK here. Slolwly improving,but we rank pretty close to the bottom in the nation. We do have a growing number of private and magnet schools if you have the luxury of time and are able to be a non-stop taxi.
Culture, well there are a number of community and professional theaters.Of course zillions of nightclubs.Lots of sporting events.The Magic is getting a new arena. I don't follow sports but the Bucs are a 90 min. drive away. Disney has a Wide World Of Sports, spring training for a# of teams.The ocean is close.After storms move thru you can take your metal detector over and sometimes find old coins.That's pretty cool.
One of our local tv stations is WFTV. Check out the news regularly.Maybe that can help steer you.One persons reasons for running from are often the other persons reasons for running to. Oh yeah, hope you speak spanish,we have a lot of New Yoricans moving here that don't speak a word of English and have no intention of learning.I had HELL getting a drivers license renewed.(Yes, you would think the county would screen for that. )
Why am I going to NC? My hubby will be attending gunsmithing school in Troy.Which will be a big change for us,but we are boring people anyway so it won't be too hard to adjust.I personally have been HOT most of my life and I am sick of it.We don't have seasons.We have cold(20's sometimes)then hot hotter and hottest. I might start a business,I have a few in mind. I might just look into transferring.I can't say who I work for,but think of the #1 icon in orlando that has stores in most malls.

Any questions? Home prices are starting to rise, rent is outrageous.A home in a good neighborhood 2,000 a month. Gated communities?A joke. The gates are always open in most of them.

[Nativechief]

If you think florida has big snakes check this one out I caught in my back yard. Come on down. lol It ate up a small dog and three of my chickens before I caught it ,,,,,LOL