Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Washington DC family looking to relocate south possibly Texas, good schools, government jobs, house budget 22k or under, decent size yard for kids, move in ready
Hello everyone! My wife and I are seriously considering a move out of the DC metro area by summer 2007. We are looking for places to relocate to in the south/southeast or possibly Texas. We are unhappy up here with the cost of living/housing in the DC metro area (starter homes in desirable neighborhoods with desirable schools for your kids are over $390K --- this would be OUT of our price range). We are glad that the DC area is vibrant for jobs and economic growth, but if you are NOT already a homeowner, you are priced out of the housing market in the DC area (how do people make it here? But, that's another forum). Anyway, we are looking for a lower cost area in Texas or the south/southeast USA, with good schools and jobs for our respective careers (me -- computer specialist with the Fed Govt; she -- medical/health records field).
We'd love to be able to buy a home, with space to grow, and a decent-sized yard for our 2 kids to play in (ages 7 and 5), but we can't see it happening with (what we call) over-priced homes here in the DC area (at least homes in a desirable neighborhood).
We picture ourselves in the south/southeast or Texas. Any suggestions where we can start our search in? I just recently started a Fed Govt job, but I hope to transfer to another Fed Govt job next summer (summer 2007) in a location in south/southeast or Texas.
Although we have family in Charlotte (me) and Atlanta (wife), they would not be our first choices. Wife does not want to move to Atlanta (the traffic, sprawl, etc!!!); and Charlotte, although nice, is not a hot bed for Fed Govt jobs. Charlotte is more of a city for people in the financial industry.
We are looking for an area in the south/southeast or Texas with good schools, inexpensive housing (starter homes that are ready-to-move in, under $220K) access to an airport with direct flights to most major cities and good prospects for Fed Govt job employment (computer-related) and good prospects for jobs in the medical/health records field. There's GOTTA be a place out there somewhere that fits this bill.
Any suggestions/advice would be helpful. Also, if you can offer any advice on the things we should be doing now (researching, etc, etc) in advance of our plans to move in summer 2007, that would be great also!!!
Many, many thanks in advance! Looking forward to your input on locations for us to check out.
You will find that most of those jobs are around military bases (i.e., Fayetteville, Elizabeth City, and Jacksonville). There are also some federal government jobs in Durham and Raleigh as well.
You will find that most of those jobs are around military bases (i.e., Fayetteville, Elizabeth City, and Jacksonville). There are also some federal government jobs in Durham and Raleigh as well.
Good luck in your search!
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post, Seattlelite.
I've been to Fayetteville. That's been about 10 years ago, though. Has it grown much? The town struck me as dependent on military (for its local economy). What I'm looking for is an area that has a government job presence, but, if for some reason, something happens and I have to seek employment on the local economy, that there will be jobs there. Again, I am in the computer field, and Fayetteville (and the other cities you mentioned also, Jacksonville and Elizabeth City) didn't strike me as a place good for IT jobs. :-) I am looking for areas with a govt job presence, but DO NOT depend SOLELY on military/govt jobs as a economic engine for job growth. Would you (or anyone) know of the govt agencies in the Raleigh/Durham area?
Thanks again, Seattlelite. I'd be interested in the responses from other folk as well!!!
Durham is probably your best bet. There are not a whole lot of federal government offices that do not revolve around the military bases in NC; however, Durham is home to the EPA and NIH and the Department of Veteran Affairs. Durham is also a pretty nice place to live in some parts (near NC 54 and near RTP).
If you fancy Charlotte a bit more, the Department of Homeland Security is there. There aren't too many other places besides that, though.
Swahili, you're correct: Fayetteville is still very much military-dependent.
Raleigh's good for state government jobs, obviously since it's the capital, but other than the federal courthouse and a social security office, I haven't seen that much federal stuff there. So as said...
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeattlitefromNC
Durham is probably your best bet. There are not a whole lot of federal government offices that do not revolve around the military bases in NC; however, Durham is home to the EPA and NIH and the Department of Veteran Affairs.
I'll second that. The EPA campus there is HUGE. Now I've heard most of their IT work is outsourced to some company called CSC but I'm not totally sure about that. Probably would need to research that some more.
Quote:
Durham is also a pretty nice place to live in some parts (near NC 54 and near RTP).
I'll add West Durham and North Durham to that list, too. Very lovely neighborhoods with traditional-looking houses and lots of big trees in the yard. Your typical "charming southern atmosphere" but with very cosmopolitan neighbors.
Or you can go downtown and find tons of condos and apartments that are built from renovated brick warehouses. They are very cool and I'm envious of the people I've met who live in them.
It may be odd to suggest Texas on a North Carolina board but your search criteria is a bit different than some who post here. I currently live in Houston but hope to move to the Raleigh area before too much longer. The two main things driving my move are traffic and weather. That said, the Houston area has one of the lowest costs of living anywhere. You would easily be able to find a nice house in your price range and there are several really good suburban school districts for your kids. We have a world-class medical center here so your wife should easily be able to find employment and Houston has a fair number of government agencies that would be good for your purposes. There are also two major aiports (Bush Intercontinental & Hobby), one on the north side, the other on the south. Houston has great restaurants, great shopping and just about anything you could want. That said, the traffic here bites! We are a city of more than 4 million people and they are all on the roads at the same time. You might check out a town just south of the city proper called Pearland. It has great schools, easy access to freeways, not that far away from the Medical Center and government jobs downtown or even in Galveston (I have a friend who works for the IRS there). Just a suggestion.
Swahili, you're correct: Fayetteville is still very much military-dependent.
Raleigh's good for state government jobs, obviously since it's the capital, but other than the federal courthouse and a social security office, I haven't seen that much federal stuff there. So as said...
I'll second that. The EPA campus there is HUGE. Now I've heard most of their IT work is outsourced to some company called CSC but I'm not totally sure about that. Probably would need to research that some more.
I'll add West Durham and North Durham to that list, too. Very lovely neighborhoods with traditional-looking houses and lots of big trees in the yard. Your typical "charming southern atmosphere" but with very cosmopolitan neighbors.
Or you can go downtown and find tons of condos and apartments that are built from renovated brick warehouses. They are very cool and I'm envious of the people I've met who live in them.
Thanks, RaleighRob. I've been to the Triangle area quite a few times, and absolutely love the area. Especially the Wake County part. I must say that I will have to re-evaluate Durham; unfortunately, Durham has a stigma/perception problem (crime, schools, etc), but I will have to take another trip down there and look at the areas you mentioned.
Also, I've heard a lot of Triangle natives complain about the traffic along I-440 and I-40; but the times I've visited (during the work week; during rush hour) it didn't really seem that bad to me. Of course, I guess "bad traffic" is a matter of perception, b/c I live in the Washington, DC area. Traffic is REALLY bad up this way. :-)
It may be odd to suggest Texas on a North Carolina board but your search criteria is a bit different than some who post here. I currently live in Houston but hope to move to the Raleigh area before too much longer. The two main things driving my move are traffic and weather. That said, the Houston area has one of the lowest costs of living anywhere. You would easily be able to find a nice house in your price range and there are several really good suburban school districts for your kids. We have a world-class medical center here so your wife should easily be able to find employment and Houston has a fair number of government agencies that would be good for your purposes. There are also two major aiports (Bush Intercontinental & Hobby), one on the north side, the other on the south. Houston has great restaurants, great shopping and just about anything you could want. That said, the traffic here bites! We are a city of more than 4 million people and they are all on the roads at the same time. You might check out a town just south of the city proper called Pearland. It has great schools, easy access to freeways, not that far away from the Medical Center and government jobs downtown or even in Galveston (I have a friend who works for the IRS there). Just a suggestion.
Thanks for your commentary! I've never been to Houston (well, just to the airport to change planes; but that doesn't really count), so pls tell me what is it about the weather in Houston that you dislike so?
What I dislike about the weather is that summer hangs on for 9 months of the year and then it marginally cools off for three. I don't mind summer if I know there is a fall coming along in a few months. I have lived here for more than 30 years and am just ready for four seasons. I will say though that Houston is the most air-conditioned city in the world so it is possible to avoid most of the heat and humidity unless you are working in the yard or just generally being outdoors.
I must say that I will have to re-evaluate Durham; unfortunately, Durham has a stigma/perception problem (crime, schools, etc), but I will have to take another trip down there and look at the areas you mentioned.
I live in Raleigh cuz I work here, but i'd just as easily consider Durham if my work was there. Based on what I've seen in the 11 years living in the Triangle, and what my friends currently in Durham tell me, Durham's stigma/perception problem is mostly just that: perception. Crime trouble is mostly limited to certain few areas. Those places I mentioned above are away from that. Durham has a lot of character, texture and charm in its good areas. Plus....
Quote:
Also, I've heard a lot of Triangle natives complain about the traffic along I-440 and I-40
This is due to Raleigh/Wake people commuting to jobs in RTP. That's why Seattlite and I suggested if you're to work at the federal jobs in Durham, to live there too. You can avoid all that traffic mess!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
