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We will be relocating to the Triad area within a month. We can live anywhere since my husband travels for his job. Our top priorities are excellent schools (we have 1 middle schooler & will have 2 elementary aged children), a VERY friendly family oriented neighborhood with swim/tennis amenities if possible, in a very safe area. We would like to stay under 275,000 and do want to have a decent sized yard (doesn't have to be acreage but would like 1/4 acre). We are fine with suburbs but don't want to be way in the country without easy access to stores, restaurants, library, etc.
Would also love recommendations for realtors that have lived in the area for a long time.
My first choice would be Oak Ridge in Guilford County. I don't know prices these days...$275k should be doable. Excellent schools.
My second choice would be where we live, in the Meadowlands subdivision near Wallburg. It's in northeast Davidson County. I'd call the schools "good" to "very good," that's why I'd list Oak Ridge above our subdivision. I prefer the location of Wallburg than Oak Ridge. I like being 15-25 minutes from Winston-Salem, Greensboro, or High Point (and Thomasville and Lexington, but those areas have fewer shopping and services). The only drawback IMO is that it's 15 minutes to just about anything other than basic services (we do have a Food Lion, a few other shops and restaurants right in Wallburg, which is 5 minutes from Meadowlands). Prices for single family homes are from the upper $200s all the way up to the $500k range, with most in the $300s, so the low end of the subdivision would be the high end of your budget. Lots are generally 1/3 to 1/2 acre (ours is 0.40 acre). We love the subdivision; we moved here in 2011. Quite a few people are from other parts of the country, if that's important (could be a positive or a negative, depending on what you're looking for).
Oak Ridge elementary is a terrific school, we love it there. I am not aware of a swim/tennis neighborhood in Oak Ridge at any price point and certainly not $275K. The Oak Ridge Swim Club is across the street from the school however for about $500/year (outdoor pool only) with another $1K upfront one time fees. There are likely some neighborhoods in your price range that are in the Oak Ridge school district outside of the town of Oak Ridge however. I seem to recall one with a pool as well but the name escapes me right now. If I think of it I will edit this message. Meadowlands is a very nice area as well and one we have begun to consider as Oak Ridge continues to be crazy expensive.
Thank you for the suggestions. I looked up both Oak Ridge and Meadowlands and the homes that are for sale are out of our price range.
There are a couple of homes in Meadowlands that are going into foreclosure; they'll probably sell for under $300k, perhaps well under. There are a couple of non-foreclosures on the market: one at $265k, though it's a bit small at 1,780 sq ft, and another at $240k, 2,098 sq ft, but it's on a smaller, patio home lot.
Near Oak Ridge, we looked very closely at Harvest Ridge - the Guilford County side of the subdivision goes to Oak Ridge schools (the Forsyth County side goes to Forsyth schools; we didn't consider any homes on the Forsyth side). But prices are probably out of your range - the only one I see is asking $325k.
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