Job's in McLeansville, but where to live? (Greensboro, Gibsonville: apartment, lease)

[ehurt]

I am most likely moving soon for a job in McLeansville, and am having a heck of a time figuring out a good place to rent. I want to live near work since I hate to drive, but would also like to live near the "big city" since I enjoy eating and watching movies. Also I am a vegetarian and saw that Earth Fare is in northern Greensboro, and it would be nice to have a grocery store like that nearby. I'm thinking this means a E or NEish Greensboro area would be nice for me. I have a cat and a dog--both indoors--, so I'd need a place okay with a German Shepherd and a fenced yard. Cheaper is better, but I'd also like to not slum it too badly now that I'm actually going to be making money. I also play online games, so I'd need good internet (as in good latency/ping, not just bandwidth). I'd also like to live near the college crowd so as to make friends easier, but I'm worried about paying a lot more money just to live near a university I'm not attending. That being said I might also try to pursue a master's degree while working. We'll see how much drive I have left in me. Oh, and no children ever ever ever so I don't care about schools in the area. I'd be making upper $50k yearly salary.

So, after all this babbling, I noticed on the map something called "College Forest" but I cannot find information about it. It sounds appealing, and the location seems okay. Advice? Also, does anyone know of an apartment finder type person?

Thank you.

EDIT: Might also be worth noting I'm not into dancing/clubbing/drinking. "Night life" to me either means staying up late on the computer, or a midnight showing of a movie and IHOP afterward...pretty tame.

[RVD26]

Wow, there's actually companies in McLeansville?
I went to high school there so I know McLeansville is a very small town.
There's really not much going on in that area.
Are you planning on renting an apartment or getting a home?
There might be new homes being built in Brown Summit.
There's not really an college life in that area.
The closest campuses are NC A&T and UNCG further down on US-29.

[ehurt]

I'd like to rent to both save up for a down payment if I choose to stay as well as be able to shop around and fight a good place to buy to own, or also in case I hate it there I'd try to suck it up for 2 years then move back home. Sorry that is possibly a run on sentence.

[yourhometriad]

There are tons of new developments in Mcleansville, Whitsett, Gibsonville and around the subdivision of Stony Creek. Tons of stuff for rent too. Let me know if you need help.

[crowe1856]

Finding the right balance between proximity to lifestyle and proximity to work will probably be the hardest part for someone who doesn't like to drive. I don't think you'll be be gouged too much for living close to a college though. "College Forest", if you're referring to the neighborhood on the east side of town probably isn't what you're after (college in name only). The Eastern side of town is generally a little more industrial with exception of some new developments. NW is generally considered the most desirable. The area around UNCG probably has the most "college community" feel.

Try gsorentahome.com or the classifieds in the Rhino Times or News & Record if you're looking for a house to rent, otherwise there's apartmentfinder.com. Might be worth looking at the Aycock neighborhood NE of downtown if you're looking at a house. Some young professionals there, farmer's market on weekend, it's relatively close to "the action", and you can hit Highway 70/Wendover Ave to work without driving all across Greensboro. As was stated previously, there's a number of developments popping up in the smaller communities east of Greensboro, though it's largely your tract housing & a strip mall type arrangement.

Since you mentioned being vegetarian, Earth Fare is a good store, and there's a natural foods co-op called Deep Roots on Spring Garden St. Also a good vegetarian restaurant called Boba House on Tate St by UNCG. Harris Teeter & Fresh Market also have adequate options for grocery.

Where are you moving from?

[ehurt]

Oopsy I forgot I posted this here. Anyway, it is driving me nuts trying to find somewhere because I have to put everything into Google maps to see how far of a drive it is from work; I have no idea where anything is. I emailed that GSO Rent a Home to see how much they charge to pick a place out for me.

Thanks for pointing out that Boba House to me...I'm pretty eager to try out all the fake meat dishes they offer.

I'm pretty torn about keeping my dog or not. He has separation anxiety and goes crazy when I leave. So I've been keeping in his crate when I'm gone and when I'm asleep. That's not a good life for him =/ I'm thinking it is best if I try to find a place with a yard and get another dog...maybe that will calm him (or they'll both be hell hounds).

I am moving from Norman, OK (well now OKC since I moved back to my dad's after my lease was up in anticipation of moving soon for a job) and this is part of the housing wanted ad I put up on craigslist:

Requirements:
Allows pets (I have a cat and German Shepherd, both indoors)
Fenced yard
High speed internet (Not satellite, I play games online and need a low ping as much--if not more--than high bandwidth)
Washer/Dryer Hookups (I have a washer/dryer)
Dishwasher (or at least hook up)
Insulation (My last place was tiny and unbearably hot/cold in the summer/winter even with $100+ electric/gas bills...ridiculous)