Moving to Greenwood area from NY please HELP (Columbia, Greenville: transplants, sales)

[sandysweetplus3]

My husband will be working in Greenwood and I have been searching for information on schools. My son is 16 and is interested in military, specifically marines. I also have a 5 year old daughter, so info on elementary and high schools would be great. My mother in law is also relocating with us. She is looking for affordable, low cost senior housing. Any information would be appreciated!!

[ckeegan]

I'm sure you'll get some great input from different people on here, but I've always been a big fan of the following website: GreatSchools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community

You can see ratings, and read reviews from parents. Just a tool that I thought I would share.

[Tinabean]

Welcome to Greenwood! I'm not sure if you have visited SC yet but I'll be happy to give you as much helpful info as I can.
First, I don't have kids so I can only tell you what my friends with children say about the schools here. The private schools here aren't worth the money if you get your kids into the best public schools. Merrywood and Northside (both on Deadfall road) were recently recognized as two of the tops schools in the state. You will definitely want to try to find housing in the that school district.
Senior living......now I have had some experience with assisted living facilities but I think, from how I am reading your message, you are interested in independent retiree communities. I am (relatively) young but wound up living in a great neighborhood with primarily retirees.....Hampton Trace is in the city limits, close to everything and there are rental condo units ($700 month for 2 bedroom I believe) and small town homes in the $170s I believe. The area was very safe and the old folks seemed to have a good little network. The other "retiree" communities I am aware of are Grand Harbor and Stoney Point, both on lake Greenwood and VERY expensive. Also, there is Wesley Commons but again, I have heard that is like $4000/month. Maybe you can start with the Greenwood Piedmont Agency on Aging for more info: greenwood sc piedmont agency on aging - Google Maps

If you have any additional questions about Greenwood, I'll be happy to help with what I know. Also, I just put my house on the market a few weeks ago. It is 3 bedrooms/2 baths with a fenced back yard and creek. If you are going to buy in our town, be sure to check out the BLUE house on Windtree Road. Good luck and welcome "home"!

[anniegirl59]

you may not be interested at all, (or able, due to job) but if you have ever considered homeschooling, now is the time to do a little research! I'm also moving to that area from california, and began homeschooling my kids (3rd grade) a year ago. (I have two college kids that did public school k-12) Homeschooling has been the best thing ever! Complete freedom to do whatever we wish. We can read all day in our pjs if we want, or drive to a museum, or just spend day hiking. Much easier than dealing with school, meetings, pickup, dropoff, homework, conferences. It frees you up as far as where to shop for a new home, as well. Just a thought....

[sandysweetplus3]

anniegirl- homeschooling is not for me,best of luck.
Tinabean- Thank you so much for all of your advice!! I will look into the schools you mentioned. Good Luck selling your house!!
Great Schools has been very helpful.
Anymore information willbe helpful!!

[Tinabean]

I'm glad that you found the info helpful. If there is anything specific you can think of that you would like to know, just ask. I added you to my friends list so you can easily find me again. If you decide to buy instead of rent, negotiate a lower fee with your buyer's agent. They are all hungry for biz right now. Some agents charge 7% now, I hear (part to buyer's agent and part to seller's). The average has been 6% but I negotiated a 5% deal with my realtor because I'm allowing her to handle two transactions - the purchase of our new house and the sale of our other house. EVERYTHING is negotiable right now. Another helpful point is to be sure to get competing quotes or check out prices you are quoted for services and items....... with your NY accent, some folks will automatically assume you are one of the wealthy transplants moving to Lake Greenwood and the prices go up. Lastly, be sure to check out any neighborhoods you are interested in with the Sheriff's office before commiting to buy/rent. There are some really cool, older homes in our downtown area that remind me of ones I've seen in NY but the area is bad-bad-bad! Don't even bother to look in downtown Greenwood and South Greenwood. They are building a new library and there is a major push to bring folks back to our downtown area (mixed use commercial and residential) like in many other cities. But our downtown area is FAR from ready and I'd hate to see someone sell you on that dream prematurely. Creekside and Hunter's Creek are the two nicest family-oriented neighborhoods. Watch out for Gatewood!!! The realtors will try to push you there because there are BEAUTIFUL homes there but many have been sitting on the market for over a year because of the regime fees. The houses will probably be a great deal compared to your prices in NY but if you have to sell it at some point, you will sit on it forever.....no one around here wants to pay $200 per month for regime in addition to a minimum food and beverage amount to support the clubhouse. That isn't common in this area so beware of Gatewood.

Let me know if you need any recommendations for realtors, physicians, dentists or horseback riding instructors for your kids. I was raised here so I know a lot of good folks and will be happy to make intros.

Take care!!!

[ScubaDave]

A few shockers to be ready for when you move from states other than some of the other southern states (like GA)...blue laws, the heat, and the education system.

Pros:
People are generally kind and inviting. Pretty conservative here (can be pro or con).

Low cost of living.

Close proximity to Greenville (hippest city around here), Charlotte, Athens, and Columbia

Negatives:

The education system here is sorely lacking. If you are concerned about your child's education, SC is NOT for you. My parents were from here but I am a transplant from Denver and was about 5-6 years more advanced educationally than the equivalent grade.

Blue Laws - has to be one of the most rediculous set of laws still in play here - no alcohol sales on Sunday (not a big deal) but only special privaleged businesses can open before 1:30pm on Sunday (Grocery, drug stores, gas stations). Car breaks down, need to repair something at home - forget it.

The heat - winters are very mild...summers not so much. Steamy and sticky. I've known some people who enjoy the sauna-like temps but normal people prefer it a little milder.