New home Holly Springs or re-sale in Cary/Apex? (Raleigh: hair salon, established neighborhood)

[mmkidd1]

Need some help or insight here! We just spent a few days with a realtor looking at homes in Holly Springs, Apex and Cary. We are relocating from NY on December 2 and will be staying in temporary housing until we find something we like. We have 3 kids (9, 6 and baby) so schools are important. The question is: Do we buy the beautiful brand new construction in Holly Springs with a water park and clubhouse or a fairly older home in Cary or Apex in an established neighborhood for the same price. I know about the possibility of school re-districting but the schools in Cary and Apex just seem so much better. We have a short time to make a choice and I was hoping someone out there might have a little insight that might help. Thanks!

[leighbhe]

It is all about personal choices. Do you think the new neighborhood works for you, are the lots big enough, how is the commute to work, does the floor plan work for you? What is it about that house that has you "in love". Do the same with the other house.

Write a list, pros and cons about each house. Does one stand out more than another? When you think of the two houses, is there one that you would be SO sad about losing?

I think it is just such a personal choice. Many people would not live in any of the homes I have lived in, but for us they worked.

If you are going to have a commute to work, to me that is a BIG factor in home purchase. Because a long commute can get very frustrating over time. If that is not a concern, which home has the "conveniences" you are looking for (shopping, etc). Schools, well, honestly, they are probably a wash between the two.

Sorry not to be any help, but it is a very personal choice, and it is not like one area is significantly better or worse than the other.

Leigh

[urbywan]

Move to cary.

[DanielChang]

If you are commuting to RTP, Morrisville/Cary/Apex are good choices in terms of commute. I'd check individual houses/neighborhoods against the schools. I know that a lot of people look for houses that are zoned to feed Davis Dr elementary and middle schools and Green Hope high.

[KellyCrash]

Which neighborhoods are you considering? Where will you be working?

Holly Springs is a very up & coming area. New restaurants and shops are going in off of 55. Holly Springs has a very nice but small library & cultural center. I live very close to H.S. & go there often.

[DMBFan]

Holly Ridge schools are excellent! Holly Grove also very nice. West Lake schools (which are technically in Apex but very close to Holly Springs) are also great. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Cary as far as thinking it's the ONLY area to live in the Triangle. Yes, it's very convenient, but you get smaller lots, less house for your money and there are still lots of issues that exist in some Cary schools. I would put Holly Ridge on par with Davis Drive as far as quality and composition.

If you're very status conscious then Cary may be better suited for you, but I know plenty of very wealthy, educated people who live in and send their children to Holly Springs schools and are very satisfied!!

Just my two cents! Go with whatever house you like better and forget about the area...plus in an older home you may have more work to do either immediately or down the road.

[kristennc]

Absolutely agree with previous posters that say it is personal preference! There seems to be less concern with status in Holly Springs - but it may exist. I absolutely love it here - in my working class digs in my working class neighborhood. But I also dearly love my well-off friends in Holly Springs, whose homes are over the 1M mark included. Maybe it's because they hang out with folks like me? While the 1M and up crowd in Cary seem to be a bit more isolated.

Both HS and Cary have excellent schools, they both have great potential for resale (Cary more now, HS more later) and they both are very charming in their own way. Both towns have their fair share of educated, interesting people from all over the globe. Cary is much bigger and has more to offer in quantity. Holly Springs generally has some of the most loyal citizens around who love their town. Oh and Holly Springs has fantastic police and fire. Restaurants and hair salons are limited, but there are a couple of great options.

[Gabagole]

Move to Cary. Holly springs is closer to the Nuclear power plant and there will be a massive land-fill in Holly Springs. Apex is nice but it's not Cary! Just my opinion as a life long Long Islander. I now live in Cary/Morrisville and Love it. Good luck with whatever you choose.

[tluv00]

http://www.wastenotnc.org/SFHOME/IHS_County_List.pdf

http://www.wastenotnc.org/SFHOME/IHS_Landfill_List.pdf

There are dumps in Cary, Raleigh and Apex as well. As far as the Nuclear Power plant....moot point......if it goes Durham will feel it as well so being 10 seconds farther away from a fallout means nothing. Live where YOU want to not where other people, in different situations than you say you should.

[mmkidd1]

Thanks for all the responses- it was greatly appreciated! We decided to buy in Apex- very nice house in the Vintage Grove subd. Close to all and traditional school calendar (for now anyway). Closing on house Dec 14- pretty excited! Thanks again.