Relocate from VA (West of Richmond) to Triangle Area (Raleigh: health insurance, chapel)

[That_Beach_Girl]

We are really interested in relocating to the Triangle Area. Maybe towards Willow Springs (Fuquay Varina?). We own a construction company in Virginia but are in a dead area (and the taxes are only going up... figure that). The fuel to travel to Richmond to work is taking a lot of profits we are making (and health insurance is killing us). After 10 years in this business, we are ready to move as all of the industry has vanished from this area. My husband has his VA Masters License and does PLC/Control work. He was a Plant Engineer for 10 years so he can handle a lot of job situations. He has also did maintenance work for about 12 years. Can anyone give us a heads up on jobs and/or employers who would be interested in him. Also, what is the cost of living in that area. We need some land as we have two Belgian Horses and need pasture. I understand about the drought as we are going through the same situation. Any and all information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[That_Beach_Girl]

Does anyone know where we could purchase an older home with some land for horses? We have two draft horses (2,000 lbs per) and would like to relocate. What is land going for near Willow Springs/Apex/fuquay Varina area??

[PennyH]

Try searching on the Real Living Partners Triangle site - they seem to have the best search engine to go through the MLS without help. Also try Chatham County (which starts just outside Apex), or Harnett County (which starts just below Fuquay Varina). Both have more rural area, and may be the best place to start. Go to Advanced Search on their site (it's under "properties"), and you can input minimum acreage, price range, and location.

(I don't work for Real Living by the way)

[rcarrillo]

Johnston county to the SE of Wake also is more rural. Wake County you will be hard pressed to find many homes with that amount of land, and it will not be cheap.

Fuquay Varina and to the South and East are good places to start.

[sackolantern]

I'd look say draw a bead on Chapel Hill, draw a vertical line on the map, and look to the left; Hillsborough to the north and Pittsboro to the south. THe West is more rural, with farmland etc and might be cheaper than other areas, without being too far away. Pittsboro just reiterated their moratorium on new construction for 2 more years, as they do not have the infrastructure to provide water to more new residents. So, the character of the area will not change drastically in the near future. Near CH and south of Durham farms are disappearing... Pittsboro and west of CH still has many farms and might have what you're looking for at a more reasonable price. Anyway you cut it though, you're going to be at a remove from Raleigh downtown itself; its your outlook that determines whether that's a positive or negative factor. Good luck!