Hi,
This is my first time posting to this site. I found it a few months ago and it looks great. Everyone is so helpful and informative. We are planning to visit South and North Carolina this July (I know it will be hot). We are hoping to move from Lake Oswego, Oregon (Portland metro area) in two to three years or sooner. My husband and I are both originally from sunnier climates and have never gotten used to the cold and rainy "rain season" that lasts 9+ months here. I don't mind some snow in the winter, but I would to have other seasons as well. It is very beautiful in the summer, but we would like a place that is warmer. I've visited North Carolina as a child and don't know much about the different areas in the Carolinas except for what I have read in various places.
I loved the friendly people in the south and the warm hospitality. I would not say that we are "extreme right wing" or anything, but we are definitely more conservative than much of the general philosophy in the Portland area.
I also like the idea of moving from "the least churched state" to the Bible belt. Even though I would like to be in an area with good public schools, we would like to put our girls in a private Christian school in a few years.
We have two twin girls that are 5 and starting kindergarten this September. Good schools and education are important. I know for sure that we want some place in the foothills. I took a quiz on "Find your spot.com" and they came up with Hickory / Morganton. I really don't know much about these areas and if they are a good place to live. I visited Ashville before and it is beautiful, but we don't want to live that far into the mountains because they seem to cold and remote. The low country might be too humid (mold problems) and buggy. Also, I love the rolling hills type of countryside with lakes nearby for their beauty and recreational amenities. I am not looking necessarily for a big city. Portland is much larger than the type of community that I am looking for. Although, I am not ready for a really small town either. We would like someplace that has charm (not just a bunch of strip malls), good schools, good medical facilities, pretty/ scenic location,
good economy, low crime, upbeat community with community events like farmers markets, festivals, etc.
We haven't made a decision yet whether we would be more interested in North Carolina or South Carolina. Are there definite pro or cons to one of them?
We are in the real estate / apartment business and would most likely buy and manage some small apartments wherever we move. I know that I am describing a utopia like place, but is there anywhere that sounds like what I am describing? The good news is that we aren't restricted by a job relocation, but this also opens up the state and we need to refine our search.
The home prices in the Portland area have risen so much in the last 15 years that it is quite expensive to buy a nice home (3 to 4 bedroom - 2,000-2,500 sq. ft.) for less than $425,000 or more. We would like to find a place where home prices are substantially less and more affordable.
Thank you all for your help.