Raleigh area compared to NC coastal (Charlotte, Cary: lawyer, estate, military)

[golfgrl]

Sold the house, planned on moving to New Bern (loved it on vacation). However, I have some concern about being too isolated, too many military families, the surrounding towns are a somewhat impoverished. We are from Northport NY which is a nice historic village with old victorian homes. Looking for something similar but affordable. Love NC natives. SO friendly. Have looked a little online at Apex, Cary etc. Anyone out there spent time in both places, with some advice. My husband is a carpenter so he can probably get work anywhere. Thank you.

[Stu Barnes]

I was born in New Bern moved away and moved back in high school..go back all the time. Great place. The neuse and trent river is right there and the beach is 30 minutes on HWY 70. Work wise, it's a professional town, doctors, lawyers ect, but the market there is churning upwards. your husband should be able to find work. They are building a new area/subdivision Carolina Colours....a lot of construction.

[Flamingo13]

Golfgirl, I see you posted on the ENC board as well. My personal opinion of New Bern is: QUIET and not much to do, it depends on what you are looking for. We have family there and while it's a very nice and beautiful place to visit, we don't want to live there. For instance in this area, on Sundays sometimes we like to go to Old Town, etc., shop, eat and most places are closed in New Bern on Sundays. We personally are looking at the Raleigh area.

Maybe some other areas would be more to your liking? As I said, it depends on what you want around you or drivable to (and how far you are willing to drive).

[golfgrl]

Thank you so much for your valuable input. We have been to New Bern and although we found it very charming I think I might want to send the "hub" to Apex or Wake Forest for a week and check things out up there. I'm a little nervous about hurricanes and a little worried about being so close to the military base. Really wonderful town however. People are very friendly in New Bern but I think that this is a North Carolina way of being.

[CindyInRaleighNC]

My parents lived there for a while, liked it for a while, then got bored and moved back to Raleigh. It is quiet and not much to do but I liked them being close to the beach and having a place to stay

Also Nicholas Sparks the author lives in New Bern and if you haven't read his books check them out, he writes about the area and towns surrounding it and my Mom is in love with him since she knows so many places he talks about, not to mention he is an excellent romance novel writer and a hard book to put down once you start it. I just finished his new one The Choice and as always loved his book and story.

Cindy

[golfgrl]

thanks for the tip on the new Sparks novel. I also enjoy reading his books. It is so hard to decide where to move. You do your homework of course, but there are always intangibles. But then isn't that what life is all about. Everyone has their pros and cons about each place based on their own experiences. Everyone is coming from a different place physically and mentally. Every place has its charm and its drawbacks. Some of which you don't discover until you have lived there for quite awhile. Which is where these forums come in handy. As far as beauty and friendly people I can't go wrong either place.

[NC man]

Newbern has become a popular retirement area, lots of older folks. Raleigh apex ,Cary more middle class and up, but you will pay much more to live here then Newbern,it has become expensive in Raleigh and the large influx of people makes job hunting a challenge. As Always find work first unless retired, but building has slowed and realestate sales are down in almost all areas of NC so you might want to be carefull looking for carpenter work. Check out the Charlotte post on finding jobs,its gotten kinda grim. Good Luck.