Moving to SC how is resdential building are there any jobs in this field also we have heard northerner aren't wanted (Columbia: real estate market, to rent)

[CSieting]

Hi I have a few questions. First we really want to move to South Carolina around Myrtle Beach Area. Are there any jobs for people in residential building( remodeling, new homes etc.) We have had our own business for several yrs. here in Northern MI, but it is about dead here and we need to move on my husband has his license, insurance, Knowledge and all the tools of the trade he just needs a job!! We have two kids a boy 10 and girl 7 we want them to grow up in a good community with a good school. It seems when kids grow up here they leave as soon as they are old enough, we would like to live someplace that they would like to stay (and have opportunities.)
Also we have been told many times that Northeners are not very welcomed to SC is this true? I really would like to know because I want my kids to be happy and accepted! What is the weather like? I hate our weather it is always cold! I am very tired of the snow and cold I am ready for warm and sunshine! What's Conway like how big? Does it have good schools and good neighboord hoods? Any feed back welcomed!!

[Tommy1981]

Myrtle Beach is very dependent on Tourism for their local economy. There have been other posts that have discussed the recent decline in construction there due to the economy. Most of SC has been fairly immune to the "buble burst" in the housing world that has dropped home prices 10-20%, but Myrtle Beach is one of the few places in SC that has been effected. When money gets tight, people can't vacation, or buy vacation homes. Many have been selling, or trying to sell there in a market that is already soft. The excess inventory coupled with falling prices has really got the real estate market there in a bind. Very few would be building new homes because there are so many on the market. You might have some business in remodels. I'm not so sure that's the place to go if you're looking to find work in the Homebuilding/Remodeling industry.

Other parts of the state do have large inventories of unsold homes, but the pricing has held fairly well, compared to the rest of the country. In a perfect world, I'd say you should try to nail down some sort of income before moving, but I realize that is not always possible

As for welcoming Northerners, There have been other posts on this topic as well. I don't think a generalization can be made to say that people in SC don't like Northerners. I think it really depends on the people. I'm an SC native. The pace of life is very different, much slower in SC. Some people come from other parts of the country (or world) and try to change things, or get annoyed at things that are considered normal here. These are the folks that "don't feel welcomed." Others come with a "when in rome" kind of mentality, and they feel much more welcomed. Most folks in SC are genuinely friendly, but there are a few cultural difference that can rub us the wrong way, like the Civil War or Politics. South Carolinians are fairly passionate about certain topics, and when these topics come up with folks who are also passionate but with a different point of view, it can cause some friction. There are a few regulars on this site that are from other places originally, so they might be able to give you a better first hand point of view.

[Summering]

Conway is growing. It is an older town, full of cute stores and antique shops..........
But......It is changing. Many Northerners are moving to Conway, you won't feel alone.
I have always felt welcome as a Northerner living in Surfside Beach during the winter months. Then again, I do try to be just as quiet, and friendly, and not so fast paced.....when I get there. And boy, that is so nice and relaxing.
Passing through Conway I saw much new development, and it hardly was looking like the same place anymore.

Reading the above post reminded me of something that happened just this weekend here in Pa. We have the influx of other states coming this way too.
There at the paint department was a lady hands flying, talking fast, making a scene.......about, this, and about that. Things were not fast enough, good enough, proper enough for her. I knew right away she was not from this area originally.
The woman at the counter looked stunned, as was I ........and others.
This woman was out of place, and so noticeable........things are not that way here.

I'd go look at Conway, see how you feel about it. From what I can see when down there Aiken and Loris are building up also.........so you have some great towns to look at.

There should be a site to check school statistics, put the towns name here on the first CD page where there is an area for that. It has good information. Then in the search area above put the town name for more information. Good Luck

[Tommy1981]

You can check the School Report Cards on the SC Education website:

School Report Cards - South Carolina Department of Education

This will allow you to compare schools in SC, but is not so great at comparing SC schools to other states. Our State Superintendent has been pushing a plan to improve the schools in SC drastically in like 10 years or so, so the improvement ratings on the schools indicate how well the school is conforming to this plan. Many eductators on the front lines see the plan as over ambitious, at least in the 10 year time line, so if you see a school's improvment ranking as poor, or unsatisfactory, don't worry so much. The overall ranking is a fairly good measure to compare school A to school B. You can look at years past if you want to see how a school is progressing over the 6 years or so that they have this data.

[CSieting]

Hey thanks for the info I really like the idea of a small town, with afew malls does Conway have that? I guess we are sort of fast paced here cause it so cold we have to hurry all the time! I am so looking forward to slowing down and having nice weather! My husband is trying to get some leads on jobs before we move any where. Does anyone know of Any construction or remodeling companies that may be hiring a very skilled trim carpenter with his own truck, trailer fully equipped with tools? We are planning to come down early June to check SC out maybe find a place to rent etc.. ( I am looking for something with 3 bedrooms 2 baths garage possible fenced yard and allows animals.) Thanks for any input !

[Tommy1981]

Originally Posted by CSieting

Hey thanks for the info I really like the idea of a small town, with afew malls does Conway have that?

Only the largest cities in SC have more than one "traditional" mall. Greenville is top 5 and it couldn't support 2 malls. One closed and a large outdoor shoping plaza opened near by. Columbia has 2, but they're fairly far apart.

Myrtle Beach has a ton of shopping in their 2 Tanger Outlet Centers. Conway has a shopping district with a few strip-mall places (Walmart, Lowes, Etc...), but I don't think there's a traditional Mall there. Its so close to Myrtle Beach it seems most folks there will drive to Myrtle Beach for shopping.

[Jammie]

CS, I don't mean to detour you, but there is a member who lived in the MB area and ended up moving back to her own state. She loved it there and hated leaving the beach, but her husband was in the construction business and couldn't find a job. If you're interested in getting info from her, just send me a DM and I'll let her know you're looking for answers.

There was just an article in my local newspaper that was saying parts of the Midwest haven't felt much of a recession and employment rates are very low. But since it sounds like you'd like a warm weather state, have you checked into Texas? They have a very good economy right now.

[waccamatt]

Your best bet would be in one of the 3 larger metro's, though Myrtle Beach does have a lot of construction going on, too. The problem in the Myrtle Beach area is that most jobs are low-paying tourism related jobs, though with the amount of construction going on down there you would think that market is good, too.

As far as being a northerner, you won't have any problem in most places in SC, though small towns tend to be more insular and suspicious of outsiders. That is generally true no matter what part of the country you're in, though there are exceptions.

[southernbychoice14]

Originally Posted by Summering

Conway is growing. It is an older town, full of cute stores and antique shops..........
.

Reading the above post reminded me of something that happened just this weekend here in Pa. We have the influx of other states coming this way too.
There at the paint department was a lady hands flying, talking fast, making a scene.......about, this, and about that. Things were not fast enough, good enough, proper enough for her. I knew right away she was not from this area originally.
The woman at the counter looked stunned, as was I ........and others.
This woman was out of place, and so noticeable........things are not that way here.

I live in a tourist town that caters to northerners too...90% of them are this way...if I hear we don't do it this way once I hear it a million times a summer!

[guestposter24]

Many of us (myself included) are angry because too many Northerners are moving here.

I don't have a personal problem with the people themselves but...
Will the South be the South if they keep it up?