Thinking of moving to Greenville (Columbia, Taylors: motels, house, employment)

[CominFromWhereImFrom]

Hello all,

My wife and I are thinking of moving to Greenville. I grew up in Columbia, SC, but have spent the last 11 years in Massachusetts, which is where I met my wife. My sisters and parents still live in Columbia, and the pressure has been mounting to move closer to home, especially since my parents are now experiencing health problems, my heart strings are pulling back to SC.

Looking to hear from local Greenvillians and surrounding area locals. All the websites about Greenville depict it as an up and coming area that is growing into a landmark location for the Carolinas.

I am not worried about work, as I am self-employed, so much of my concerns are with the social status of the area, such as being known for banning homosexual relationships, and the conservatism that has gained repeated public attention (ex. recent anti-immigration rally).

Since my wife and I are technically a 'mixed-couple' (I'm filopino/spanish and my wife is white) and my wife came accross an article this evening about conservative groups being very vocal about thier beliefs. Anyone out there with any direct experience with any of these groups/personalities?

Racism/Conservatism isn't a big surprise to me since I grew up in the Columbia, but I haven't lived in SC for a decade and I can only hope that things have changed for the better.

Thanks in advance to all that respond.

[Sampy123]

I can't comment about the racism there, but my NJ neighbors are moving to Greenville this month. You can get an incredible amout of house for your money over there. I hear it's an absolutely gorgeous area and it is up and coming. I do understand they get a change of seasons and you do get a bit of snow over there. I also think that people are a bit more accepting of mixed couples these days - at least I hope so.

[Team Mom]

My friend and her husband recently moved to the south part of NC--he's filopino & she's white--they have 3 kids that are mixed. In our consideration of moving to SC I spoke with her on a variety of subjects and I asked her if she's had any troubles or felt at all uncomfortable and she said absolutely not. They have been there a year now. Granted thats NC --you are wise to consider--I hope someone else can reassure you further.

[Sampy123]

Just wanted to clarify something in my post above, as there is no edit button. I made a mistake, I was referring to Greenville, NORTH Carolina, not south! Sorry!

[Sonrise]

Hi,
Been lurking for months decided to join today. I felt compelled becuase of Cominfroms post.

Comin...
I feel that it's extremely important to clarify what you posted. I'm not familiar with any rally but if there was it wasn't an anti immigration rally, it was an anti ILLEGAL immigration rally. Huge difference. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here but it's a common trick of the left to convienently leave out a little detail like LEGALITY

I am married to an immigrant, like you my wife is Filipino and the son of an immigrant, pop's from Greece. We live in Los Angeles and we hate it. My wife is from here, having been here that last 23 years from the Philippines. I've been here for the last 10.

I found out about Greenville on ******. It was rated my #1 city and I was instantly intrigued. It had everything I was looking for; traditional family values, i.e conservative, huge christian population, beautiful scenery, cosmopolitan but still neighborly and friendly and suprisingly enough, a cool arts scene. Unlike California, the taxes and cost of living isn't insane. You can actually afford a home for under 500k. Heck, we found beautiful ones for 140k. Coming from Taxachusetts, you know what I'm talking about. I garnered that from 6 months of research.

Eventually research can only get you so far so we went to visit the 1st week of June. Well, in all honestly it was better than we thought. We fell in love with the place and are preparing to move there within the next year. Greenville, quite possibly has the most beautiful downtown of any medium sized city in the US. See Liberty Bridge @Reedy Falls/Park. We walked around with our mouths agape. We drove around many of the tons of new housing developments and people were actually smiling and waving to us. Friendliness and hospitality, what a novel idea.

If you are a far left kinda guy, Greenville may not be for you. Asheville would be more your style. Ony an hour from Greenville in distance but light years away in ideology. I think that's bad, you might think it's good. Different strokes, y'know. The majority of the people in Greenville believe in God, family and country. In that order. That's why we'll be moving there.

[tismekll]

Originally Posted by Sonrise

Hi,
Been lurking for months decided to join today. I felt compelled becuase of Cominfroms post.

Comin...
I feel that it's extremely important to clarify what you posted. I'm not familiar with any rally but if there was it wasn't an anti immigration rally, it was an anti ILLEGAL immigration rally. Huge difference. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here but it's a common trick of the left to convienently leave out a little detail like LEGALITY

I am married to an immigrant, like you my wife is Filipino and the son of an immigrant, pop's from Greece. We live in Los Angeles and we hate it. My wife is from here, having been here that last 23 years from the Philippines. I've been here for the last 10.

I found out about Greenville on ******. It was rated my #1 city and I was instantly intrigued. It had everything I was looking for; traditional family values, i.e conservative, huge christian population, beautiful scenery, cosmopolitan but still neighborly and friendly and suprisingly enough, a cool arts scene. Unlike California, the taxes and cost of living isn't insane. You can actually afford a home for under 500k. Heck, we found beautiful ones for 140k. Coming from Taxachusetts, you know what I'm talking about. I garnered that from 6 months of research.

Eventually research can only get you so far so we went to visit the 1st week of June. Well, in all honestly it was better than we thought. We fell in love with the place and are preparing to move there within the next year. Greenville, quite possibly has the most beautiful downtown of any medium sized city in the US. See Liberty Bridge @Reedy Falls/Park. We walked around with our mouths agape. We drove around many of the tons of new housing developments and people were actually smiling and waving to us. Friendliness and hospitality, what a novel idea.

If you are a far left kinda guy, Greenville may not be for you. Asheville would be more your style. Ony an hour from Greenville in distance but light years away in ideology. I think that's bad, you might think it's good. Different strokes, y'know. The majority of the people in Greenville believe in God, family and country. In that order. That's why we'll be moving there.

Thank you for the information Sonrise. I have been checking this forum for
awhile now waiting for someone to post that actually visited Greenville. I did receive a relocation packet which included a CD and I agree that it looks just wonderful there. Same as you...Greenville turned up as my number 1 city on Find Your Spot
Did you look at the surrounding cities/suburbs? I was looking at Greer and Simpsonville.
I would really like a neighborhood with nice trees..coming from Arizona you could say I am "green" starved
Thank you again..it is nice to see a post from someone who actually saw the area first hand.

[Sonrise]

Tismekll,
It's weird my wife and I have been back in LA for 2 1/2 weeks now and almsot on a daily basis we say to one another how we miss Greenville. I hear you about the green. No offense but Arizona sucks, well the desert sucks and that includes SoCal. In my opinion of course . lol

Simpsonville is the #1 suburb, if you wanna call it that, it's south of Greenville along with Mauldin. A little further south is Fountain Inn. Everything is within 15 minutes of everything else though, so wherever you go you're not to far. To the north of Greenville is Greer and Taylors. Nice developments with lots of land, sometimes 1/2 acre or more. Easley is southwest ofGreenville, didn't get a chance to check it out.

If I were you, I'd just bite the bullet and fly out for at least 5 days. Atlanta is only 2 hours away and Charlotte is 1 1/2 so airfare isn't too bad. Funny anecdote, we stayed at the LaQuinta on Woodruff Road. During our visit there were so many other families staying there that were contemplating relocating to Greenville the lobby would be full every morning with families and couples plotting out which developments thety would be checking out that day.

[tismekll]

Originally Posted by Sonrise

Tismekll,
It's weird my wife and I have been back in LA for 2 1/2 weeks now and almsot on a daily basis we say to one another how we miss Greenville. I hear you about the green. No offense but Arizona sucks, well the desert sucks and that includes SoCal. In my opinion of course . lol

Simpsonville is the #1 suburb, if you wanna call it that, it's south of Greenville along with Mauldin. A little further south is Fountain Inn. Everything is within 15 minutes of everything else though, so wherever you go you're not to far. To the north of Greenville is Greer and Taylors. Nice developments with lots of land, sometimes 1/2 acre or more. Easley is southwest ofGreenville, didn't get a chance to check it out.

If I were you, I'd just bite the bullet and fly out for at least 5 days. Atlanta is only 2 hours away and Charlotte is 1 1/2 so airfare isn't too bad. Funny anecdote, we stayed at the LaQuinta on Woodruff Road. During our visit there were so many other families staying there that were contemplating relocating to Greenville the lobby would be full every morning with families and couples plotting out which developments thety would be checking out that day.

I have a website set up by the Greenville realtor I contacted and there appears to be some very nice neighborhoods-Fountain Inn seemed to have a lot of homes on a septic system which is ok but I don't think I want to deal with the problems that could arise from that. Hence, I am looking at areas that are closer in to Greenville. It seems like Greer and Simpsonville are pretty much the same distance in to the Greenville area. Have you checked out the employment there? I have looked a several job sites and am a bit worried about that.
I flew into Raleigh this past March and have since realized that the housing and taxes are beginning to skyrocket there so I expanded my search to SC. As I mentioned, Find Your Spot pointed Greenville out to me I believe that this area is closer to the mountains (?) also which is a definite plus.
So, are you moving soon..leaving LA? I have a home to sell and the market here is dead right now - actually my 3 month contract just ran out and I will have to look for another Realtor. Soooooo..guess I need to make the trip over to Greenville so that I can make some definitive decisions! Thank you again

[CominFromWhereImFrom]

Originally Posted by Sonrise

Hi,
Been lurking for months decided to join today. I felt compelled becuase of Cominfroms post.

Comin...
I feel that it's extremely important to clarify what you posted. I'm not familiar with any rally but if there was it wasn't an anti immigration rally, it was an anti ILLEGAL immigration rally. Huge difference. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here but it's a common trick of the left to convienently leave out a little detail like LEGALITY

I am married to an immigrant, like you my wife is Filipino and the son of an immigrant, pop's from Greece. We live in Los Angeles and we hate it. My wife is from here, having been here that last 23 years from the Philippines. I've been here for the last 10.

I found out about Greenville on ******. It was rated my #1 city and I was instantly intrigued. It had everything I was looking for; traditional family values, i.e conservative, huge christian population, beautiful scenery, cosmopolitan but still neighborly and friendly and suprisingly enough, a cool arts scene. Unlike California, the taxes and cost of living isn't insane. You can actually afford a home for under 500k. Heck, we found beautiful ones for 140k. Coming from Taxachusetts, you know what I'm talking about. I garnered that from 6 months of research.

Eventually research can only get you so far so we went to visit the 1st week of June. Well, in all honestly it was better than we thought. We fell in love with the place and are preparing to move there within the next year. Greenville, quite possibly has the most beautiful downtown of any medium sized city in the US. See Liberty Bridge @Reedy Falls/Park. We walked around with our mouths agape. We drove around many of the tons of new housing developments and people were actually smiling and waving to us. Friendliness and hospitality, what a novel idea.

If you are a far left kinda guy, Greenville may not be for you. Asheville would be more your style. Ony an hour from Greenville in distance but light years away in ideology. I think that's bad, you might think it's good. Different strokes, y'know. The majority of the people in Greenville believe in God, family and country. In that order. That's why we'll be moving there.

Sonrise - Thanks for the response. I'm glad to see that I 'inspired' someone ;-)

Thank you for the benefit of the doubt as I am aware that the overall intent was to demonstrate "anti-illegal immigration". I am all for "Legal Immigration" and there was no 'liberal' ploy to create confusion amongst fellow forum goers. However, with that said, there were 'extremists' present that burned Mexican flags and displayed signs such as "More INS, Less IRS," "Vote for Pedro to Go Home," and "I Didn't Fight in Iraq for Illegal Aliens." For better or worse, Greenville (or most of SC for that matter) has built a reputation as being ultra-conservative, which is what I was hoping to hear from local Greenvillians as to how things are changing or have changed in this regard and what my wife and I may expect from the socio-political-religious climate.

Thanks for the other info Sonrise, however I am still interested in hearing from 'locals' that have lived and experienced Greenville over the last decade or so.

Best of luck with your move from LA!

[KMT]

Sonrise:

My wife, kids, and I are visiting Greenville next week. I think the La Quinta on Woodruff Road is one of the Motels we are considering? How was it overall (cleanliness, service, food???)?

KMT