need some help!! (Columbia, Greenville, Lexington: transplants, sales, real estate)

[williebear12]

im a 40 year old male married with 3 children 17,8,4 years old..i will be retired from nypd and my wife is a registered nurse..we currently live on long island in a 1500 sq ft home paying 8,000 in property and school tax..we are looking for a home that is much bigger 2900-3200 sq ft..resaonably priced 375-425 k good schools/low crime/ better taxes than what we have now somewhere close for my wife to work in a hospital..we tired of the taxes of long island and want to make our money go a bit more. can i get some southern hospitality from someone and help us out on our search??

bill

[gentlearts]

You are in a great position, because you can go almost anywhere, except California, and make out like a bandit. I presume you are thinking of SC, since you're on this post. We are hoping to move to SC, but we have no kids at home. I don't really know how the school systems are.
If I were you, I'd also look at Nashville, TN. It's a cool city and your wife could work at Vanderbilt.

[Nausikaa]

Originally Posted by williebear12

im a 40 year old male married with 3 children 17,8,4 years old..i will be retired from nypd and my wife is a registered nurse..we currently live on long island in a 1500 sq ft home paying 8,000 in property and school tax..we are looking for a home that is much bigger 2900-3200 sq ft..resaonably priced 375-425 k good schools/low crime/ better taxes than what we have now somewhere close for my wife to work in a hospital..we tired of the taxes of long island and want to make our money go a bit more. can i get some southern hospitality from someone and help us out on our search??

bill

You could live on Lake Murray, Columbia for that much. Swim and boat all summer. Kids could go to University of SC, and live at home. Prop taxes are going down next year. Lexington 5 have award winning schools. 100 miles from beach, 100 miles from mountains.

[Skyliner]

Raising a family, I would choose to live in Greenville anyday over Columbia. Greenville has a tremendous family friendly atmosphere with lots of free and affordable options for entertainment. The international influence in Greenville is also much greater and that has brought a major positive element to the community which is hard to compare with any other place in SC. I don't know exactly what you are looking for in a place to live, but the Greenville area has virtually everything you could hope to find. Living at the foot of the beautiful mountains is just one of the best parts about this city.

[janrey]

Originally Posted by williebear12

im a 40 year old male married with 3 children 17,8,4 years old..i will be retired from nypd and my wife is a registered nurse..we currently live on long island in a 1500 sq ft home paying 8,000 in property and school tax..we are looking for a home that is much bigger 2900-3200 sq ft..resaonably priced 375-425 k good schools/low crime/ better taxes than what we have now somewhere close for my wife to work in a hospital..we tired of the taxes of long island and want to make our money go a bit more. can i get some southern hospitality from someone and help us out on our search??

bill

If you're considering Greenville area I'd recommend the Eastside in the Riverside High, Riverside Middle or Northwood Middle, and Brushy Creek or Buena Vista Elementary school districts. This is area 22 and has a lot of transplants from New York/Ohio/Massachusetts. Some real estate web sites allow searching by areas. Coldwell Banker Caine is one. They show homes that are listed not just by them but by other realtors too.

I think you'll be happy with taxes and housing in your price range but don't overlook houses that are less than that range as you will find them worthy too. My house is in the neighborhood of $250K is between 2800-3200 sq.ft. and last years tax bill was just over $1800. Next year they are removing the portion for schools. Sales tax increased to 6% (to cover the removal from property tax) on everything except food which is currently 3% to be removed totally in November. Restaurant tax is I think 7%. What you might find different is that cars/boats/planes are taxed as property, however, like home taxes the portion that covers schools will be removed next year greatly reducing the amount. Income Tax is 5% (haven't heard if this is changing).

Jobs, great area for nursing. Several hospitals as well as clinics and doctors offices.

[Brandon Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Nausikaa

You could live on Lake Murray, Columbia for that much. Swim and boat all summer. Kids could go to University of SC, and live at home. Prop taxes are going down next year. Lexington 5 have award winning schools. 100 miles from beach, 100 miles from mountains.

I second Nausikaa's opinion.

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by Brandon Hoffman

I second Nausikaa's opinion.

Of course you do, being the loyal Columbia real estate agent that you are. LOL

[geoffandliz]

Isn't this the Upstate forum?!? I would assume he is looking here, not Columbia, if he posted here. So I am confused as to why the push for columbia?

[Brandon Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Skyliner

Of course you do, being the loyal Columbia real estate agent that you are. LOL

LOL, I like the board. I haven't picked up any business from here but that's not really why I post anyway. I actually forgot I was posting on the G-Ville section, was thinking it was under the SC forum.