relocating from Chicago (Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro: home, transfer, good schools)

[scarrie]

Hello everyone. I'm new here. I've been doing extensive research on North Carolina. Although neither me or my husband have NEVER been there, we are convinced this is where we want to live. However, not knowing the state, we have our hands in the air as to where in NC to start looking.

We are originally from Michigan, Chicago is not a lifestyle we want. We are country people, who wish to have some land (at least 1/2 an acre), enjoy closeness (within an hour) of museums, etc. , enjoy festivals and live music, and FISHING, camping, stuff of that nature.
So tell me, Where do we move to?

We are a young couple, 30 yrs old, with a new baby. we'd like a nice home for our buck, planning to spend around 250,000 - 300,000, and good schools.

Near the ocean was my first thought, but i don't want to have to deal with Hurricane damage and clean up. I am open for any suggestions, please help us to decide by limiting our cities/towns to focus on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

another pre-req, my husband is a ups driver. At UPS, transfers are not an option, you must quit and get re-hired thru the normal hiring process. We're hoping once we decide on a place, we'll find someone able to pull some strings and get him a driving position in their facility. (Anyone with any string pulling power to ups , i'd love to talk to them)
so, a UPS hub must be within driving distance for my husband to work out of, providing he can get hired.

Thanks ahead of time. I appreciate every bit of information and advice.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by scarrie

Hello everyone. I'm new here. I've been doing extensive research on North Carolina. Although neither me or my husband have NEVER been there, we are convinced this is where we want to live. However, not knowing the state, we have our hands in the air as to where in NC to start looking.

We are originally from Michigan, Chicago is not a lifestyle we want. We are country people, who wish to have some land (at least 1/2 an acre), enjoy closeness (within an hour) of museums, etc. , enjoy festivals and live music, and FISHING, camping, stuff of that nature.
So tell me, Where do we move to?

We are a young couple, 30 yrs old, with a new baby. we'd like a nice home for our buck, planning to spend around 250,000 - 300,000, and good schools.

Near the ocean was my first thought, but i don't want to have to deal with Hurricane damage and clean up. I am open for any suggestions, please help us to decide by limiting our cities/towns to focus on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

another pre-req, my husband is a ups driver. At UPS, transfers are not an option, you must quit and get re-hired thru the normal hiring process. We're hoping once we decide on a place, we'll find someone able to pull some strings and get him a driving position in their facility. (Anyone with any string pulling power to ups , i'd love to talk to them)
so, a UPS hub must be within driving distance for my husband to work out of, providing he can get hired.

Thanks ahead of time. I appreciate every bit of information and advice.

Welcome to NC!

Sounds like one of Charlotte's outlying areas would be a good choice for you. In particular, focus on Lincoln County, northwest of Charlotte. I believe it has everything you are looking for. I'm pretty sure the UPS hub is on the north side of uptown Charlotte right near the interstate so you would be located pretty well from there out in Lincoln county. Good luck!

[fd46468]

Raleigh sounds like a good fit, or maybe Greensboro or Winston Salem.... just a thought

[blazingclaymore]

Hi I live in Greensboro NC and work at UPS. Greenboro is nice but I would generaly stay away from the city also It would be REALLY hard to get a position as a driver without working here for 5-20 years also the hub in greensboro is one of the largest USP hub in the world so you would have allot of people trying to get a driver position. I do know a few people that can help but I think its a rule that you most work there for 5-20 years before you can be a driver so it may be a bad idea to move at all if his job is the main source of income. he will be started at $8 hour in 2 months or so $10 / hour but I think drivers make $20 or more so that would be a big loss of income. but you would need to ask someone in a higher position I have only been there for 6 months here is a number you can call its for HR 336-370-3765 that is if you dont mind long distance calls. So I dont really know if that helps but I tried.

[SunnyKayak]

When you mention UPS I thought like the above poster about the Greensboro Hub and the Shelby NC hub.

You dont have to limit yourself to Greensboro for living if you do choose that location I would look around Stokesdale for country setting or Archdale, or Wallburg.

Lincoln County suggestion is nice place to live but may be to long a commute to work at the UPS center of Charlotte.
Shelby is gorgeous rolling foothills but stick with the country side vs the city.
You probably can get either nice size property or nice size home or both in the triad location or Shelby location.

[friendnc]

You might want to look in the Kings Mountain area. It's near Shelby, but not far from Charlotte either (about 35-40 minutes during regular times). Very beautiful area.