Charlotte, Greensboro or Raleigh? (Fayetteville, Cary: military, rental, job)

[ncnewbie]

My husband and I are looking to move back to NC next year. We lived there in 2001 while we were in the military. Needless, to say... Fayetteville is not an option for us. We used to go to Raleigh quite a bit while stationed there, but never did any house searching. Because of his occupation he can get a job whereever we decide to live. He's a Surveyor, and I will be finished with Medical Assistant school when we move.

Both of these areas appeal to us, and I figured I'd come to the "experts" for help. I doubt we will live in the actual city limits. We have a big family and need a home that has room for our kids to get out and run around. We plan on renting for at least a year so we can get an idea of the area before we decide to buy a home and get stuck somewhere we don't like. After spending the last 12 years moving around due to our military obligations, we are both tired of moving, and so are our children. Right now, we live in the Northern VA area, but this is just temporary.

If you live in any of these areas, what made you decide to move there? Of course we want an area that is not high in crime, good schools, and my two personal requirements...a Walmart and Target have to be in the close vicinity..LOL! Is there another city you recommend?

TIA for all the responses

[NCHomeFinder]

There are a lot of great towns in the Raleigh area - Cary, Apex, Clayton... I think you may want to take a look at Wake Forest as well. There is a brand new Super Walmart, Super Target, Lowes, Home Depot, and others, but you still get a good small-town feel, with a historic Main Street that has some great mom-and-pop stores. There are plenty of rental opportunities anywhere you decide, pm me for specifics.

[friendnc]

I live in the Charlotte area and love it here. Don't plan on ever leaving. A few areas worth looking at would be Concord, Mooresville, and Ft. Mill. All have very good schools, low crime, low housing prices, and good freeway access to Charlotte and all there is to do there. LOTS of recreational assets. Good luck in your search!!!

[ncnewbie]

Originally Posted by friendnc

I live in the Charlotte area and love it here. Don't plan on ever leaving. A few areas worth looking at would be Concord, Mooresville, and Ft. Mill. All have very good schools, low crime, low housing prices, and good freeway access to Charlotte and all there is to do there. LOTS of recreational assets. Good luck in your search!!!

I've been doing a lot of research in the Charlotte area, and Concord has been the top of my list. Thanks for the recommendation!

[friendnc]

Originally Posted by ncnewbie

I've been doing a lot of research in the Charlotte area, and Concord has been the top of my list. Thanks for the recommendation!

Yes, I live here in Concord and love it!!!

[hug631]

is the Charlotte area having the same problems that the Raleigh area (wake county) is having? are the schools overcrowded in Charlotte also? friendnc, do you have any children or know some one that have kids in schools in Charlotte, Mooresville, Marvin and/or Ft Mill? any comments...

[friendnc]

Charlotte does have some covercrowding issues, but it seems to be mainly in the northern part of Mecklinburg County in the Lake Norman area. There's a lot of juggling trying to balance all of that out. But any time you have high growth anywhere, this is what you have to deal with. The area systems that seem to be handling it better than average are Cabarrus County (I home school our sones, but my wife teaches here), Iredell County, and York County (have neice/nephew there). The schools in Union County are very good, but I've always wondered how they control the growth of the schools when they have one of the highest population growth rates in the nation, yet have no interstate and most roads are two lanes each way. Don't take me wrong, it's a great county and a lot of people seem to love living there. It's just a lot of people in one half of the county that's expoding with growth.

[CharlotteAgent]

We have to give the CMS some slack though. The school overcrowding is hard to deal with but schools cannot be built over night. My son's Elementary school opened under capacity this year. I live in Cornelius.

[ncnewbie]

Bumping up in hopes of some more replies