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Moving from a gated planned community in Mt. Pleasant SC to Clayton in the Spring of 2020. My wife and I are retired and ready to leave this high cost of living area. Looking forward to a MBR down 3/4br 2k sq ft. home in a planned community and be closer to our son living in Garner.
I'd like to hear from some of the Flowers Plantation residents as far as pros and cons. We like what we've read about this community. Having lived in northern VA and Charleston SC, we are used to sitting in traffic. I've read most of the older threads about traffic and high water bills and hoping to hear some recent feedback. Our budget is around $300-$320K but can go a little higher for the house that has everything we want. We will be meeting with our realtor 12/22 to look at a house on Duffy Street. Feedback appreciated....thanks.
I researched Flowers Plantation quite a bit during my relocation.
It's a great community:safe, quiet, and a good value for the dollar per sq. ft. (compared to similar areas in the western region of the Triangle).
However, depending on your specific preferences, Wendell Falls might be worth a look. This location is a good bit closer to major retail along with super easy access to major highways.
For example, the nearest Target is 25 minutes from Flowers compared to 11 minutes from Wendell.
Twenty five minutes to a Target is fine with me. Trying to avoid city taxes but will consider Wendell Falls and city of Garner too. We are looking for a planned community with Publix or similar grocery store, HOA, small yard, community clubhouse with pool and exercise equipment and nearby elementary school for granddaughter. Daughter and 3 year old granddaughter will relocate with us and be caretakers when we travel.
It would be hard to go wrong with either community. But the Clayton city taxes are a definite consideration. However, the higher association fees and utility costs in Flowers could offset those.
(Keep in mind that non-Clayton residents pay additional fees for many city amenities.)
If schools are a priority, Flowers appears to have the edge over Garner. And as I mentioned in a prior thread, the Riverwood community also has a highly rated K-5 and middle school on site.
Publix is anchoring a shopping center to be built at flowers parkway and 42 so figure some noise there. I thought the Harris Teeter and others were already a good enough shopping center just a block east of this but evidently there's going to be more.
Twenty five minutes to a Target is fine with me. Trying to avoid city taxes but will consider Wendell Falls and city of Garner too.
Bear in mind regarding "city taxes"--I live just outside a city (Raleigh) too, and it's great that we don't have city taxes, but then we have to pay for private waste disposal/recycling, water, sewage, and our roads are among the last ones plowed when it snows. And we don't get to vote for mayor of the city we live a stone's throw from and spend a lot of time in.
In other words, you won't save as much as you might think due to other fees you wouldn't have on city systems.
Bear in mind regarding "city taxes"--I live just outside a city (Raleigh) too, and it's great that we don't have city taxes, but then we have to pay for private waste disposal/recycling, water, sewage, and our roads are among the last ones plowed when it snows. And we don't get to vote for mayor of the city we live a stone's throw from and spend a lot of time in.
In other words, you won't save as much as you might think due to other fees you wouldn't have on city systems.
So water, sewage and trash pickup are included in city taxes?
Visited Flowers Plantation last week, very nice with many amenities (90 mo HOA + 120 mo for pool, tennis, etc) but houses in my price range were too close together. Made an offer on a new almost finished 2950 sq ft 2 story in Cleveland Bluffs subdivision (Clayton). Offer accepted tonight. Nice subdivision with sidewalks and can see the elementary school from the backyard and the middle school is across the street from entrance. HOA $65 mo included pool. County taxes too and best of all it's only a 7 minute ride to our son's house.
Thanks to those who offered feedback. Closing set for 1/30/20.
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