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Yes, another "thinking about moving to Raleigh, thread". Stick with me, though.
I'm a 43 year old, married father of 3. My profession is x-ray tech specializing in CT Scan. My wife's a cosmetologist.
I've lived all over the country. Born in Michigan, did middle and high school in Texas, and then 20 years in the Atlanta area of Georgia after that. I've also had brief stints in Boston and San Diego.
I came back to Michigan in 2007 when I was single, and BOY have things changed since!
We're looking for a fresh start now. My wife has lived in northern Michigan all her life. She's very eager to live somewhere else, and we need to be in a bigger metro area for access to good medical facilities for our kids. Right now we have to drive 4 hours to downstate MI for their specialist appointments, and we don't want to do that for much longer if we can help it......especially during the winters, when it is often downright dangerous to travel. It's a pain to plan, and very expensive for gas, food and hotel. We live in a beautiful place, but have decided to make a change while the kids are still little and able to adapt better.
I have always loved North Carolina, having spent a lot of time there when I lived in GA. Never been to the Triangle region, though, and am looking for opinions about the area from anyone who cares to offer, but particularly from those who re-settled there.
We need/want the following things from a perspective new area:
Top notch medical facilities, particularly for pediatrics.
Affordable housing ($200,000 max home budget)
A job market with a pulse.
Nice selection of Christian churches.
Less snow. We usually get well over 100 inches a year. Wouldn't mind some snow, just not that much.
Other areas we're considering are Nashville, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Charlotte, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Virginia, Cincinnati/NKY, and the Detroit area, in case anyone cares to offer anything about the Triangle in comparison to any of these places.
BTW, I would never move us anywhere without having a job secured first. Seems people jump all over you in these forums if you don't make that clear off the bat.
I've been here for about a year and a half now, coming from the Charlotte area. I've started looking at homes in this area, and from what I've been seeing, 200K would be way low for a house, and more along the lines of the price for a decent townhome. That would be true for the Charlotte metro as well. I'm curious at this point why you've excluded the Triad area from your consideration.
Seems like the area would meet most of your needs. $200K is low for housing but I guess it depends on where you commute to and how far away you want to live.
I've been here for about a year and a half now, coming from the Charlotte area. I've started looking at homes in this area, and from what I've been seeing, 200K would be way low for a house, and more along the lines of the price for a decent townhome. That would be true for the Charlotte metro as well. I'm curious at this point why you've excluded the Triad area from your consideration.
Triad.....is that Winston Salem and such? Hadn't really thought about it. Tell me what you know, please.
200K is WAY low? What's the average house down there going for now?
I think it depends on what you are expecting for $200K. I live in a less than 200K house in the middle of Cary. It is do-able, but in general they will be older houses (mine was built in 1974).
Duke Hospital and UNC Hospitals are excellent for Pediatrics!
there are tons of churches to choose from.
we hardly get any snow at all (but yes, if we do get any you're stuck in your house for a couple of days). It snowed like a 1/4-1/2 inch the other day and was melted by the next afternoon.
Seems like the area would meet most of your needs. $200K is low for housing but I guess it depends on where you commute to and how far away you want to live.
I would work at a medical facility and live within 10-15 minutes of that, closer if possible. Do not do the long commute thing.......at all. Don't have to be right in town, either. Within 30 minutes is just fine.
I think it depends on what you are expecting for $200K. I live in a less than 200K house in the middle of Cary. It is do-able, but in general they will be older houses (mine was built in 1974).
That's good. We wouldn't expect newer construction in our price range. I heard Cary is pretty good for families.
I know this is the NC forum, but I will add the Dallas job market is very strong now and houses within your price range. Plenty of traffic, though! Oh yeah, forget about the snow...but is that a bad thing? :-) Great medical facilities in the area. And no income tax in TX.
Having said that, we're moving back to NC this Summer. I miss green and real BBQ made from pork vs brisket! And it's home! ;-)
I think the Trianlge is worth keeping on your list as it meets all of the criteria you listed. You can certainly find a nice home for $200k, don't let others convince you otherwise. Yes, it will not be brand new in most cases but that budget is certainly doable. You seem like a level headed person so I am confident you will do well wherever you end up. Good Luck!
Duke Children's Hospital in Durham and UNC Children's Hospital in Chapel Hill are both excellent. Duke Children's in particular has an excellent national rep. Chapel Hill schools are also excellent but housing in general is more expensive in Chapel Hill. My older home in Chapel Hill built in 73 is probably worth about $250000 now but it does have a fully finished basement with 2 more bedrooms down there. Three small ranch style bedrooms upstairs. Durham housi g is cheaper but schools don't have the rep Chapel Hill schools do.
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