Am I dreamin? (Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro: rent, low crime, homes)

[lolabyday]

I discovered this forum yesterday while doing some online research on NC and haven't stopped reading since. So much interesting info! Like many of you out there, I have been entertaining the idea of relocating to NC with my husband and 3 sons, ages 11, 7, and 4. We are originally from NJ, but have lived in Clermont, FL for the last 13 years (just outside of Orlando) and I have watched the population explode! Everything is now overcrowded, roads, schools, etc. and the Orlando crime rate is way UP. I want out!

Anyway, we vacationed in the mountains of NC last spring, drove around the state a bit, and that was it for me! I fugured NC had it all, mountains on one side, beach on the other, and places in between to live and work. I had heard lots of things about the Charlotte area, but was not set on any one area in particular. Just looking for a nice town with good schools, parks and recreation for little league and soccer, jobs nearby, reasonable home prices (or rent as I am a renter) and friendly neighbors. I guess I'm dreamin' right? It appears that much of NC is going through what our town in seeing right now. I read on one of the threads that a school had 30 some portables! Maybe we are not so bad off down here?
Please let me hear from some of you NCarolinians! Can my dreams come true?

[friendnc]

Sure, your dreams can come true. You just need to make sure you have reasonible expectations. NC's not perfect, with its growth issues and all, but for me, all of the good outweighs the bad. No area is "perfect" and most all of the areas around the nation that have the highest standards of living are having these same types of problems. I do think NC does a pretty good job trying to deal with the growth compared to other areas. I live in Concord (near Charlotte). Some areas around here you might want to check into with low crime, good schools, good freeway access, low taxes, and family friendly atmosphere would be Concord/Harrisburg (NE of Charlotte), Mooresville (north of Charlotte), and Ft. Mill (south of Charlotte). The area has a lot to do recreationally. We're 2 hrs. from the mountains and 3.5 from the beach. The Raleigh area's also a great area. Both Charlotte and Raleigh have great economies, great weather, and are clean and green. If you want a smaller area in the mountains, check out Asheville. The only caution I'd give there is the city of Asheville itself is expensive, so look into the suburbs to live. Also, its economy is based on tourism/retirees, so it's good to go there with a job already in place or be able to work from home. Outside of those two things, it's an awesome area and would be my personal choice to live if I were to leave Charlotte (which I have no intention in doing. I love the Charlotte area). Good luck in your search!!!

[I'minformed2]

Originally Posted by lolabyday

I discovered this forum yesterday while doing some online research on NC and haven't stopped reading since. So much interesting info! Like many of you out there, I have been entertaining the idea of relocating to NC with my husband and 3 sons, ages 11, 7, and 4. We are originally from NJ, but have lived in Clermont, FL for the last 13 years (just outside of Orlando) and I have watched the population explode! Everything is now overcrowded, roads, schools, etc. and the Orlando crime rate is way UP. I want out!

Anyway, we vacationed in the mountains of NC last spring, drove around the state a bit, and that was it for me! I fugured NC had it all, mountains on one side, beach on the other, and places in between to live and work. I had heard lots of things about the Charlotte area, but was not set on any one area in particular. Just looking for a nice town with good schools, parks and recreation for little league and soccer, jobs nearby, reasonable home prices (or rent as I am a renter) and friendly neighbors. I guess I'm dreamin' right? It appears that much of NC is going through what our town in seeing right now. I read on one of the threads that a school had 30 some portables! Maybe we are not so bad off down here?
Please let me hear from some of you NCarolinians! Can my dreams come true?

I mean, you are moving from one extreme.....to the same extreme. Central NC (especially around Charlotte and Raleigh) is growing and getting out of control just like Central and South Florida were a few years ago. If you are looking for a change from an area with high growth, rising cost of living, rising traffic, overcrowded schools, and ther other vices you don't like from a fast-growing population; then I'd suggest you look someplace other than NC. It's on the fast track to becoming the next Florida (only it is true that there are more distinct seasons here and mountains; but the same's true for every other state on the east coast north of Florida.)

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by lolabyday

I discovered this forum yesterday while doing some online research on NC and haven't stopped reading since. So much interesting info! Like many of you out there, I have been entertaining the idea of relocating to NC with my husband and 3 sons, ages 11, 7, and 4. We are originally from NJ, but have lived in Clermont, FL for the last 13 years (just outside of Orlando) and I have watched the population explode! Everything is now overcrowded, roads, schools, etc. and the Orlando crime rate is way UP. I want out!

Anyway, we vacationed in the mountains of NC last spring, drove around the state a bit, and that was it for me! I fugured NC had it all, mountains on one side, beach on the other, and places in between to live and work. I had heard lots of things about the Charlotte area, but was not set on any one area in particular. Just looking for a nice town with good schools, parks and recreation for little league and soccer, jobs nearby, reasonable home prices (or rent as I am a renter) and friendly neighbors. I guess I'm dreamin' right? It appears that much of NC is going through what our town in seeing right now. I read on one of the threads that a school had 30 some portables! Maybe we are not so bad off down here?
Please let me hear from some of you NCarolinians! Can my dreams come true?

Lola, what do you consider reasonable rent?

[Cassie]

Originally Posted by i'minformed

I mean, you are moving from one extreme.....to the same extreme. Central NC (especially around Charlotte and Raleigh) is growing and getting out of control just like Central and South Florida were a few years ago. If you are looking for a change from an area with high growth, rising cost of living, rising traffic, overcrowded schools, and ther other vices you don't like from a fast-growing population; then I'd suggest you look someplace other than NC. It's on the fast track to becoming the next Florida (only it is true that there are more distinct seasons here and mountains; but the same's true for every other state on the east coast north of Florida.)

No surprise that I agree with i'm informed. No offense to anyone,--- but IMO, most of the people touting their areas of N.C. haven't been through the huge influx of people in other states and the resulting expenses, traffic, overcrowded schools, other problems that have resulted and/ or simply don't believe that it will happen in N.C. I can't blame them for not seeing/ not wanting to see the handwriting on the wall. Those who haven't been through it, understandably don't understand. Those who have and moved here hoping for a better life just as understandably don't want to believe that history can easily repeat itself here.

Regards,

Cassie

[lolabyday]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

Lola, what do you consider reasonable rent?

I pay $1250 right now for a 4 bedroom 2 bath. The home is about 2000 square feet. We have been renting for some time, put off purchasing, and now we are priced right out of the market.

I would love to find a place where my boys can go out and play, you know actually have a yard. Many of the developments here in fl are built with zero lot lines. You can spit into your neighbors window if its open. Let them ride their bike knowing the cars aren't speeding through at 50 mph regardless that there are kids at play. Just a little of the old "American dream" if it still exists.

I guess I am guilty of being swayed by much of what I had read and heard about NC being the place to find all of that. But like I said, when I drove through the state, I really felt at home. I also do miss the seasons that we don't get to experience here in FL.

I read some suggestions about checking out the norther part of SC, south of Charlotte. Any info on this?

[Pasadenagirl]

Please check out this wesite. I intend to support them financially!
www.landfortomorrow.org

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by lolabyday

I pay $1250 right now for a 4 bedroom 2 bath. The home is about 2000 square feet. We have been renting for some time, put off purchasing, and now we are priced right out of the market.

I would love to find a place where my boys can go out and play, you know actually have a yard. Many of the developments here in fl are built with zero lot lines. You can spit into your neighbors window if its open. Let them ride their bike knowing the cars aren't speeding through at 50 mph regardless that there are kids at play. Just a little of the old "American dream" if it still exists.

I guess I am guilty of being swayed by much of what I had read and heard about NC being the place to find all of that. But like I said, when I drove through the state, I really felt at home. I also do miss the seasons that we don't get to experience here in FL.

I read some suggestions about checking out the norther part of SC, south of Charlotte. Any info on this?

For what you are looking for, don't come to Charlotte. It sounds similar in some ways to how you describe your situation in Florida. And you would have a hard time finding 2000 square feet in your price range. My best advice would be to concentrate on one of the smaller cities in NC. Try Greensboro or Hickory. Maybe Morganton and Mt. Airy. South of Charlotte over the state line is Fort Mill. Prices have risen quickly there and schools are overcrowded. You could go further down into SC and look at Rock Hill. A lot will depend of what kind of jobs you need to find.

[Lolahbelle]

Originally Posted by Pasadenagirl

Please check out this wesite. I intend to support them financially!
www.landfortomorrow.org

wow.

that website puts things in perspective, huh. supporting orgs like this is a proactive way to avoiding "another FL" instead of just fleeing to find a place less spoiled. we all should put our money where our mouths are and stop complaining and do something. i plan on supporting them too, thanks for the info.

imagine if all of us that are relocating to NC, for whatever reason, if we all took 1% of the $ we plan on spending on our McMansions and gave it to orgs like that one that protect and conserve land; then maybe we wouldn't have to worry about NC becoming another FL. also, maybe we wouldn't be deemed **** yankees anymore...imagine that.

[lolabyday]

My husband is a contractor. He works for GE capital modudular refurbing units. The dreaded portables that all the schools are now utilizing, (as much as we hate them, I must say, it keeps him in business), as well as office space. He has also worked in the trade show business for the local theatre and stage union. Orlando is a big convention market, but the work and schedules are very inconsistent. I manage vaction homes in a development outside of Orlando --lots of vacation/tourist type jobs in the area we live.

I actually considered Hickory before we visited NC, but when we drove through last May it looked very run down. Maybe we were in the wrong part?

The average montly rent is higher then in alot of NC? I thought it would be lower because the homes are so much cheaper.