Moving to N.C. from Michigan.....HELP!! (Raleigh, Durham: fit in, transplants)

[tiner1234]

We are thinking about moving to N.C. with my husbands parents next summer but it seems as if the locals are not really liking all of this transition. Is anyone finding it hard to fit in? I've noticed everyone complaining about all of the growth which is affecting the traffic and schools. We have dealt with that here in Michigan about 25 miles north of Detroit but they have kept up pretty well with expanding the roads and building more schools in the past 10 years.

Not sure if we will find it very different from what we are used too, but we are coming down next week to get a feel for Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Cary area?? Any advice on where we should look?

We currently live in a City called Grosse Pointe Farms. We have about 40,000 people in our city and we are centered by two small village areas with shopping/restaurants etc. I like living within walking distance to these villages. The homes are between 40-100 years old. We have many historic homes in our neighborhood which we love. It seems like most of the popular areas in N.C. have new housing. Are there areas in N.C. like the one we currently live in?


Thanks for your help!!

[MariGirl]

Originally Posted by tiner1234

We are thinking about moving to N.C. with my husbands parents next summer but it seems as if the locals are not really liking all of this transition. Is anyone finding it hard to fit in? I've noticed everyone complaining about all of the growth which is affecting the traffic and schools. We have dealt with that here in Michigan about 25 miles north of Detroit but they have kept up pretty well with expanding the roads and building more schools in the past 10 years.

Not sure if we will find it very different from what we are used too, but we are coming down next week to get a feel for Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Cary area?? Any advice on where we should look?

We currently live in a City called Grosse Pointe Farms. We have about 40,000 people in our city and we are centered by two small village areas with shopping/restaurants etc. I like living within walking distance to these villages. The homes are between 40-100 years old. We have many historic homes in our neighborhood which we love. It seems like most of the popular areas in N.C. have new housing. Are there areas in N.C. like the one we currently live in?


Thanks for your help!!

The Village of Pinehurst and the town of Southern Pines both have areas like you describe. They are in Moore County, about 1 hour south of Raleigh.
Google the Moore county, NC Chamber to learn more. These towns have alot of retirees, but have grown alot in the past few years with younger folks moving there as well.

[RaleighRob]

Yeah there are areas like you describe...most of the real estate folks will probably try to steer you to all those shiny new suburban subdivisions though, so be warned.

You seem to describe what Chapel Hill & Carrboro are like very much....they are famous for that "walkable" atmosphere.
If you don't mind a larger city, the older historic neighborhoods near downtown Raleigh or downtown Durham would also get you a very similar atmosphere, as far as older homes and being in pedestrian-friendly neighborhood with shops, cafes, etc.
If you definitely want a smaller town closer to the population you describe, then Hillsborough or Pittsboro would be better choices.
As far as Cary goes, they say they have a "historic downtown" area too...but as far as I could tell it's just a pit-stop on the way to the next sprawling strip mall.

[Vansway]

Hello all. I am also interested in relocating to RTP -- looking in the neighboring towns outside of Cary. I was informed Apex was not cool because of the industrial chaos. I would like to buy a new home but am now scared due to poorly built homes. If looking at resale, how old is too old -- would like to stay as new as possible.

Thanks for your help.

[mhogan10010]

I grew up in the Western Suburbs of Detroit. My sister and her family all live in Farmington Hills now. I also, lived in NC for 12 years.
Not sure if you are averse to the Mountains, but I think Asheville would be a better fit than some of the areas mentioned. They have a lot of older neighborhoods there and plenty of older homes with real character, Arts & Craft style etc. There is a great and very walkable downtown, that is terrific. Lots of galleries and shops - bistros - live music etc. The weather is milder than Michigan in the winter, but not as hot as the rest of NC in the summer. My mom lives about 30 miles East of Asheville. If I had to move back to NC, that is probably where I would look. Chapel Hill is pretty and walkable, but very expensive and the traffic is worse than Michigan.
I found it easier to "fit in", in the Western part of the State. The farther East you go the more anti-Yankee they become. In Western NC, lots of folks have family who moved up to Michigan for work (like my folks did after WW II). So, there is a little more context for acceptance.
Be prepared though. The South is different, very different from where you are now. There is no way to really explain it to you, but you will feel it after you have been there a year or two. Let me pose this question. You live North of Detroit for a reason. Would you feel as comfortable living in Taylor or Ypsilanti as where you are now? They are both loaded with southern transplants, is why I mention it.
Good luck on your search and PM me if you like.

[thumbelina]

(Not from Michigan, but if I may jump in with a question...)

I'm pretty much looking for the same thing. In addition to downtown Raleigh and Durham, I'm interested in small towns and my list consists of Carrboro and Hillsboro, and now Pittsboro after reading the recommendation above.

Any other small towns worth considering within, say, a 30-45 minute drive of the metro area? Looking for a place with a "progressive" mindset, or at least an atmosphere where someone with a progressive mindset or a non-traditional lifestyle wouldn't feel alone.

Thanks

[RaleighRob]

Originally Posted by thumbelina

(Not from Michigan, but if I may jump in with a question...)

I'm pretty much looking for the same thing. In addition to downtown Raleigh and Durham, I'm interested in small towns and my list consists of Carrboro and Hillsboro, and now Pittsboro after reading the recommendation above.

Any other small towns worth considering within, say, a 30-45 minute drive of the metro area? Looking for a place with a "progressive" mindset, or at least an atmosphere where someone with a progressive mindset or a non-traditional lifestyle wouldn't feel alone.

Thanks

I think you've covered the best ones, really, particularly the "progressive" part. Most of those small towns & suburbs in Wake County outside of inner Raleigh would hardly fall in that category at all.

[jgmarie]

Originally Posted by tiner1234

We are thinking about moving to N.C. with my husbands parents next summer but it seems as if the locals are not really liking all of this transition. Is anyone finding it hard to fit in? I've noticed everyone complaining about all of the growth which is affecting the traffic and schools. We have dealt with that here in Michigan about 25 miles north of Detroit but they have kept up pretty well with expanding the roads and building more schools in the past 10 years.

Not sure if we will find it very different from what we are used too, but we are coming down next week to get a feel for Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Cary area?? Any advice on where we should look?

We currently live in a City called Grosse Pointe Farms. We have about 40,000 people in our city and we are centered by two small village areas with shopping/restaurants etc. I like living within walking distance to these villages. The homes are between 40-100 years old. We have many historic homes in our neighborhood which we love. It seems like most of the popular areas in N.C. have new housing. Are there areas in N.C. like the one we currently live in?


Thanks for your help!!

Hello~we are also in the process of moving to Cary, NC from Michigan. My husband has been working down there since Aug. & I've visited a few times. I'll be going down in Jan. with the kids to a home he has rented.

Now, I've only been there a few weekends & just came back from a week visit this past weekend--but, this is my first impression of the Cary/Apex area: It's really a new area on the most part. Tons of new building and expanding road construction (lots of road construction). I can't even give you a city in Michigan to compare Cary with--other then maybe Birmingham because of the way the city is kept beautifully & the fact that the homes can be pricey---but, there are not the majority of older neighborhoods like Birmingham or Grosse Pointe. I only drove through Chapel Hill at night, but the look of it reminded me kind of Birmingham/G.P. only with a Southern feel.

I wanted to spend some time in Raleigh and research some of the older neighborhoods, but, I didn't have time. I hope to on my next visit down.

However, I have done a lot of research on neighborhoods & schools in the Raleigh area because I would love to live in an historical home since we currently love our 1901 home in Milford. I think the type of neighborhood you are looking for may only be inside the belt line of Raleigh. And those homes can cost $$$.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

[thumbelina]

Thanks RR. I tend to fall in love at first sight with any small town with a main street and even the vaguest resemblance to Mayberry or Stars Hollow, but I'd rather know upfront whether a town's personality is as appealing to me as its looks

[mhogan10010]

Originally Posted by RaleighRob

I think you've covered the best ones, really, particularly the "progressive" part. Most of those small towns & suburbs in Wake County outside of inner Raleigh would hardly fall in that category at all.

Once again, RaleighRob speaketh the truth.