Living outside Raleigh, thinking about Greenville (Simpsonville, Fountain Inn: real estate, lease, house)

[gottagetoutofmaine]

My husband and I moved outside Raleigh from Maine 6 months ago. While we like it, we wonder if its too much of a big city for us. The traffic, crowds, etc.
We are out of our lease in 5 months and will try to decide if we buy here, or check out SC for a while.
We have one in kinder. and one who is almost 3, so schools are important, good quality of life, etc.
Anyone have any insight on the differences? We are going to drive down this weekend to check things out.

[ckeegan]

Originally Posted by gottagetoutofmaine

My husband and I moved outside Raleigh from Maine 6 months ago. While we like it, we wonder if its too much of a big city for us. The traffic, crowds, etc.
We are out of our lease in 5 months and will try to decide if we buy here, or check out SC for a while.
We have one in kinder. and one who is almost 3, so schools are important, good quality of life, etc.
Anyone have any insight on the differences? We are going to drive down this weekend to check things out.

While I have never been to Raleigh (crazy I know), I can only attest to the Greenville area in terms of the areas you specifically mentioned. First of all, if your first visit to Greenville will be this weekend, I'd be amazed if you didn't love it. In my opinion, quality of life is one of top reasons people are drawn to our area. I have a son who will be 2 on Friday, and my wife and I have always said (for years before he was born) that Greenville is an amazing place to raise a family.

Plan another visit in April/May, go to Main Street Jazz on Friday night, and check out the groups of 3-5 year olds drawing right on Main St in downtown Greenville with sidewalk chalk. That always makes me smile.

South Carolina is the 6th state I've lived in, and Greenville is the 8th city I've lived in, so I have a pretty good basis for comparison.

[roadpony]

I grew up in Raleigh but haven't lived there since 1982. I have continued to go back for visits and agree with you about the traffic and being too big. It's not the liveable small city I loved while growing up.

After living my entire life (mid-50's) in North Carolina (primarily Raleigh, Winston-Salem, and Boone), we moved to Greenville earlier this year due to my husband's transfer. We love it here, and I feel it's more like the Raleigh of yesteryear (a good thing). I don't have children, but from everything I've observed, ckeegan is spot on. It seems like a GREAT place to raise a family. C'mon down!

[jac]

I grew up in Maine. We moved back there in 2000 for a 4-year stay before moving south. We are really happy here. It is definitely calmer than the Raleigh area. Oh, and I am very pleased with my sons' school. It is a little different than in Maine, as the Greenville County school district is huge.

So, what are you looking for? And what caused you to leave Maine?

[gottagetoutofmaine]

I was from Southern Maine. We left there due to the cold weather, high price of real estate and the need for change.
How about you?

[jac]

We left for the exact same reasons! We lived in a great town just west of Portland. In the 4 years we were there our property taxes more than doubled. I was also not a fan of the cold, the snow, etc.

We now live in the Simpsonville/Fountain Inn area. We are about 3 miles outside the city limits of both. Our boys attend Greenville County schools, which we are very happy with. We have no plans to move again.

[gottagetoutofmaine]

We were in Gorham!! I really hope we love it, and I hope my husband my transfer his job down there.

[jac]

So were we! We lived on Fort Hill off of 114. My oldest went to Country Mile for preschool, but we moved right before he started Kindergarten.

[gottagetoutofmaine]

WOW!!! We were on Narragansett, my husband grew up in the house we were living in. We will def. have to get together if we move. How old are your kids now?

[jac]

My kids are 9, 6 (almost 7), and 8 months.