Any yuppie/ Gated community-free areas left ? (Charlotte, Raleigh: middle-class, transplants, sale)

[Hopalong]

Are the mountains and Piedmont becoming a second Florida? Seems the areas are being overrun with self-absorbed yuppy types, BMWs,Lexus, Mercedes, all safely hiding in their over-priced, contrived gated ant farms. Where can a normal family go to find unmolested nature, real people and traditional values ? Don't let the greedy developers find out, they will swoop down and try to buy out the working man and turn the area into another yuppy cesspool.All suggestions are welcome from others who have observed this problem.

[Carolina_native]

HMMM, well there are plenty of towns and small cities in NC that are "Mayberry" like. The problem is that no one really wants to live in these places, because they are distanced from metro areas which offer entertainment and shopping.

Avoid the Charlotte and Raleigh areas.

About 2 years ago I went for a ride a long with a Cornelius police officer (Cornelius is a lake community just north of Charlotte) I commented on how "all the rich people people seem to be moving here." He pretty much summed it up by replying that these people were not really rich, but that they moved here from very expensive areas throughout the country and can afford alot more here. I pretty much knew that already.

Definitely certain areas are rather pricy, and this is also evidenced by all the upsale shopping getting built here as well as McMansions being built on small tracts of land.

The Charlotte area is probably 90% transplants from around the country, so I am led to believe whatever attitude they had from their previous state is bound to stay the same, whether it be good or bad.

10 to 15 years ago this area was a small town, whether it be Huntersville or Mooresville (also lake communities north of Charlotte ). Both became highly desirable areas because of their close proximity to Charlotte. Charlotte started to really grow, Lake Norman, and cheaper taxes/property, led people to relocate here.

[silverwing]

Originally Posted by Hopalong

Are the mountains and Piedmont becoming a second Florida? Seems the areas are being overrun with self-absorbed yuppy types, BMWs,Lexus, Mercedes, all safely hiding in their over-priced, contrived gated ant farms. Where can a normal family go to find unmolested nature, real people and traditional values ? Don't let the greedy developers find out, they will swoop down and try to buy out the working man and turn the area into another yuppy cesspool.All suggestions are welcome from others who have observed this problem.

Wow. Flames crackling around the edge of this post

Don't be surprised if you get hopped on by transplants or wannabees who justify their plans by saying they are being driven from their homes by transplants. I'm sure the mods will lock this thread down toot-sweet if an argument ensues.

The developers have been a strong presence in this state for 20 years or more, so the current growth is not new, it's just been affected by the bubble markets of other states with transplants selling out there and buying bigger here. If the number of new posters here is any indication, it seems the housing drop in other states will mean less of a rush to move here. Certainly we see fewer posts from people saying they've made a huge windfall in the sale of their house in New Jersey or Florida, or one of the western states, and that they plan to move here and pay cash for a house; something in the 300-450K range. So, perhaps, we'll see the return of people who are just looking for a middle-class neighborhood, perhaps even an older one.

You can still find many nice communities here if you know where to look, who to ask, and what kind of research to do (nicely, please). Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh, and the environs around those towns get the most press from newspapers and business journals, so that is where people look and for whom the developers build. If you offer up info on what field of work you are in, what kind of school you are looking for (some people are specific about private or religious-based schools) and what size of town you want to live in, we can offer some suggestions. And please turn the burner down to low There's no sense in raising your blood pressure about a situation that the natives and long-timers are having to become resigned to.

[DawnW]

If you want what you described and you can find a decent job in that area, go for it. In our fields we have to be in a larger city.

Charlotte is small to those of us from large cities. It is large enough to provide a city feel but small enough to live out of town and feel like you have some space.

Dawn

[lifesigns64]

I agree . . . but in our area, it's a down home place.

We live in Alexander County . . . towns Taylorsville, Hiddenite, Bethlehem are all beautiful . . . and best of all "normal" people, no gated communites, and beautiful mountains.

[carrie7777777]

Hello. I like the tone of your response in your previous notes. I have to agree that there is no need bashing outsiders or people that have lived in NC for a long time. My husband and I are Southern California natives. During the housing boom we were unable to make it in CA. any more, therefore we chose to relocate to Hot Springs AR. (an hour outside of Little Rock) back in 2001. My mom and dad moved here and we love it! People always ask us how the "transition" was from CA. to AR. My reply...EASY! We were ready. Our family (we have two little boys now 3 and 5) was the most important thing in our life and it was what we needed to do to try and give them/us a better life. We do still carry some CA. "ways" with us....accent, the way we were brought up etc. My husband may have a job offer in Charlotte NC and we are interested in finding out what area would be good for us. When I say we carry some of the CA. ways with us I mean that by saying we are very open and acceptable to all religions and the way people live their lives. I consider myself not liberal but leaning more that way. My husband is a republican/conservative businessman that is the VP of a records managment company (paper/scanning company). Our biggest concern in our children and the schools. Of course we would love to live in a wonderful family oriented neighborhood that is fairly new. We live on a lake now in Hot Springs and being close or in a golfing (my husband and 4 year old play) area would be great. I am a stay at home mother BUT was a nurse before I had my children. I am planning on going to work in a hospital when my 3 year old goes to preschool full time. We love the trees, water and wonderful people of AR. that have been so good to us. We hope we find those kind of wonderful accepting people in NC. I hope you can help me with some great advice. I look forward to hearing from you.

[Asheville Native]

Asheville has at least stopped any future gated communities.

Nothing says "I'm glad I moved here, and I want to be part of your community" than a gate/guard/ and no trespassing signs.

[al_roethlisberger]

Sanford, which is about 40 miles southwest of Raleigh(approx. centrally located between Raleigh/Durham, Greensboro, and Fayetteville) is an easy commute, is large enough(30k pop) to have just about anything you need, but retains a lot of that small town feel/atmosphere.

We do have some golf communities, but also have plenty of rural, farm, and historic neighborhoods as well.

Here are a couple maps showing Sanford relative to the region:

Live Well Centered.


Good luck on your search.

Al