Any way to live up on those hills?

[caution]

Well I've been moving every 2-3 years for a little more than 20 years. I've got boxes I didn't unpack since 01. I've lived out of a rucksack here and there and had apartments where the police chopper's search light gives you a deep-sleep illusion of being abducted by aliens untill you wake up and realize they're just lookin' for a runner.

So yeah, we're in a hurry to buy, and I figure any neighborhood around those parts is a huge leap in quality of life.

As far as living on the hills goes, my better half is from a very remote area of the world and grew up in the mountains at about 1400m up.

I got 32s and lockers to deal with the weather should it turn bad. But, I'd be more likely to take a day off than drive on southern black ice. :-)

So yes, you are right that renting first is the best idea, and living on a hill can be a pain in the butt.

It's just that from my angle, it's the ideal, and the market couldn't be miuch better. I wait a year or three and we're bound to see more BRAC-induced increases (even if it's only speculative.)

As far as limestone.. you mean like caves and tail-end of the Smokies limestone and not OMG my house in Florida was eaten limestone? Right? :-)

[Southlander]

Your better half will laugh at what we call "mountains!"
Limestone - there are underground streams and some caves around here, but some areas are more prone to sinkholes than others. It's just something to keep in mind when buying. Doubt you'll have a problem with that if you're on an elevation. If you're in a valley, it's something you might ask around about.