Looking for Relo Advice - Columbia (Clemson, Forest Acres: best neighborhoods, for sale, homeowners insurance)

[KTEJC]

Hi there. We've had enough of Chicago winters and want to relocate to the south. We visited Columbia recently and were surprised by how nice it is. We liked Woodcreek Farms, but is the commute really bad? How about Heathwood? Any advice on good areas to live? Are the private schools hard to get into?

[Chi2Midlands]

KTEJC - I saw your post on the other "Private vs Public Schools" thread. I am originally from Chicago so hopefully I can offer you some perspective.

Woodcreek Farms is definitely a very nice area. University of South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier lives there. The commute (assuming into downtown) can get a bit congested getting onto Clemson Road, I-20, and SC-277, but of course "congestion" in Columbia is nothing compared to Chicago. Rush hour is relatively short, and unless there is an accident or something, it still beats trying to plod through the Kennedy or Edens at 5:30pm.

One thing you might want to be careful in Woodcreek Farms is that portions of the neighborhood are actually within Columbia city limits (as opposed to most of the surrounding area which is unincorporated Richland County). As such, you may have to pay city taxes (to support city rather than county services like fire, police, trash pickup etc.) even though folks in an adjacent neighborhood may only have to pay county taxes. However, there are benefits to being in the city (I believe water rates are lower if you are in the city).

The private schools, to my estimation, are not "hard" to get into other than the rigorous admission criteria typical for a private school (at least this is the case for Heathwood and Hammond). My guess is that if you can make the financial aspect of tuition work out for you, it should not be a problem. I do not get the impression that you really have to be a parent alumni to get a massive leg up. However, these are general impressions from friends we have talked to, since we plan on sending our children to Richland 2 public schools.

P.S.: I was born in Chicago and raised in Skokie. I attended public schools there, although I knew kids who went to Loyola Academy. I also lived for 5 years in Fairfax County, Virginia near DC, and would have sent our kids to public schools there had we stayed. Hopefully this gives you some perspective of my educational background.

[Nausikaa]

Originally Posted by Chi2Midlands

KTEJC - I saw your post on the other "Private vs Public Schools" thread. I am originally from Chicago so hopefully I can offer you some perspective.

Woodcreek Farms is definitely a very nice area. University of South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier lives there. The commute (assuming into downtown) can get a bit congested getting onto Clemson Road, I-20, and SC-277, but of course "congestion" in Columbia is nothing compared to Chicago. Rush hour is relatively short, and unless there is an accident or something, it still beats trying to plod through the Kennedy or Edens at 5:30pm.

One thing you might want to be careful in Woodcreek Farms is that portions of the neighborhood are actually within Columbia city limits (as opposed to most of the surrounding area which is unincorporated Richland County). As such, you may have to pay city taxes (to support city rather than county services like fire, police, trash pickup etc.) even though folks in an adjacent neighborhood may only have to pay county taxes. However, there are benefits to being in the city (I believe water rates are lower if you are in the city).

The private schools, to my estimation, are not "hard" to get into other than the rigorous admission criteria typical for a private school (at least this is the case for Heathwood and Hammond). My guess is that if you can make the financial aspect of tuition work out for you, it should not be a problem. I do not get the impression that you really have to be a parent alumni to get a massive leg up. However, these are general impressions from friends we have talked to, since we plan on sending our children to Richland 2 public schools.

P.S.: I was born in Chicago and raised in Skokie. I attended public schools there, although I knew kids who went to Loyola Academy. I also lived for 5 years in Fairfax County, Virginia near DC, and would have sent our kids to public schools there had we stayed. Hopefully this gives you some perspective of my educational background.

A football coach lives there - and that makes it a good neigborhood? Why?

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by Nausikaa

A football coach lives there - and that makes it a good neigborhood? Why?

All they said is that Steve Spurrier lives there, not that it makes it a good or bad neighborhood.

I would say I'd prefer to be in the city limits; taxes are a little higher, but water is less expensive and police response is faster if ever in need. I believe homeowners insurance tends to be a little cheaper, too, depending on the location. Woodcreek Farms is nice if you want to live in the suburbs, Heathwood and Shandon are beautiful if you'd like to live in town in more established neighborhoods. I have photos of most of my favorite in-town neighborhoods on my website.

Waccamatt's page ·

[JohnnyBreakdance]

Originally Posted by Nausikaa

A football coach lives there - and that makes it a good neigborhood? Why?

IMO that makes it a bad neighborhood. Who wants Antichrist Spurrier for a neighbor?

[waccamatt]

Pardon? Steve Spurrier is a wonderful addition to our city and a great community-minded resident.

[Julie8020]

Now that the kids have posted their coaches corner remarks we will get back to answering your question. I did understand you were buying a home, not a coach? Read need selling advice quick in South Carolina. Moderator cut: advertising One of the best neighborhoods in Columbia. (29206 zip code). 29206 is Forest Lake, Rockbridge, Forest Acres, Arcadia Lakes, Lake Katherine, some Shandon. You can find anything in these neighborhoods for 1+ Mil to 150K. Most of these areas are very safe, family oriented, lots of retirees and families. Upper middle class up. Older homes established neighborhoods

[Chi2Midlands]

Last comments on Mr. Spurrier - promise.

Stating that he lives there doesn't mean he is making it a better neighborhood. I'm merely trying to imply that a high-profile (and obviously well-paid) football coach would likely choose to live in, at the very least, a comfortable and pleasant neighborhood. So his presence is indicative of the area's desirability, not its cause. Now, if you have other reasons for not liking Woodcreek Farms (from personal taste or whatever), that's a different issue. For example, Waccamat's personal taste might strongly favor an in-town urban area like Rosewood or Shandon over Woodcreek Farms (or any other large golf-oriented suburban area in NE Richland, such as the Longcreek or Crickentree or Cobblestone).

As to any Clemson, Florida State, or other anti-Spurrier folks, well, obviously we aren't going to get any traction in this debate. So here we are at the dead end and the end of discussion.

[orioleorange08]

There is a very nice home for sale in Lexington. It has a beautiful pool to enjoy the nice weather with! Here is the link:

Successful Home Sales in Columbia

If the link doesnt work, you can google "andrea reynolds 125 ashworth"
and it is the second one that says "successful home sales in columbia"

you should check it out, it is amazing.