Thinking of moving to Spartanburg/Greenville area (Taylors, Seneca: house, transfer)

[R_J]

I have a job opportunity in the Spartanburg/Greenville area coming up this spring. Originally my fiance' and I are from Northern Vermont. She is still up north finishing her schooling. I transfered with my current company to Raleigh NC as a sort of pause to getting used to the Southern Culture. I never planned on staying here as I'm a county boy at heart. Raleigh is just too much city for me, and it not even that large.

I wondering what peoples take are on the area. I would like to purchase/build a small house as we don't have kids yet. One thing I have come to realize about living in rural area's down south is people tend to live in small "planned" communities. Coming from the country this is much different then what I'm used to. Growing up I couldn't even see my closest neighbors house. Are there small towns outside of the Greenville/Spartanburg area's that offer housing like this. I would like to purchase some land 5-20 acres or so. What are some good area's for something like this? I don't mind a short ride to work, something around 15-20 minutes would be ideal.

Both my fiance' and I enjoy the outdoors, hiking, climbing, kiaking, water skiing, fishing etc. Ideally we would like to be in an area that offers these amenities reasonably close.

I would appreciate any input from people who live or are from the area might have to lend to this topic.

Thanks

-RJ

[AnotherBravesFan]

About a 25 minute ride into Greenville. Great university, too. Very "small town"ish, and Lake Hartwell is popular for boating, water skiing, etc. If you go West to Seneca and toward Walhalla, it's very scenic and rural. Further on into NC, the Highlands/Cashiers area is full of waterfalls and hiking areas. Was a little too remote for what we were looking for, but may be just your cup of tea. Good luck. It's a beautiful area, and Greenville has a great thing going in their downtown district.

[R_J]

I was recetnly looking at the lake Jocasee region. Does anyone have an experience up in that neck of the woods? It looks like a nice area. The drive to Greenville looks like it wouldn't be too bad.

Thanks for your input thus far!

-RJ

[drfranklin]

RJ,

Please see my post on Seneca, SC and the surrounding areas:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/south...ghlight=seneca

drfranklin

[Oogax3Girl]

Look at the Cowpens or Landrum/Campobello/Inman area. You can find a good bit of land there. They also have that classic down-town, and are small towns. (Lots of land though.)

[Micah Hall]

Cowpens is not the place to live if you are going to be working in Greenville. If you are working in Spartanburg, it's not a bad drive.
My wife and I also enjoy hiking, kayaking, camping, etc., and really like the Taylors and Travelers Rest areas. Right now in Travelers Rest you can get a 3 bedroom house on 6.4 acres for $150K. Want more land than that? You can buy 20 acres with a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house, 1700 sq. ft., and $25,000 worth of timber on the land for $186K. There are definately some great deals out there!

[Apple Annie]

"buy 20 acres with a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house, 1700 sq. ft., and $25,000 worth of timber on the land for $186K. There are definately some great deals out there!"

that's interesting ... see what the neighbors think of the great "deal" after you cut down all the timber and sell it.