For those familiar w/ Chapel Hill--some neighborhood/subdivision questions (Franklin: for sale, renters)

[findingmesomeday]

What can you local experts tell me about the following neighborhoods:

Briarcliff
Chandlers Green
Coker Hills
Lake Forest
Springcrest

These are areas we've zeroed in on as they're all districted to ECHHS, though the middle/elementaries might be different. Most seem to be a older homes on larger lots than you would typically find in a new subdivision (something we like, coming from MA, where the lots are large and generally full of mature foliage).

I think we'd be looking to rent initially. We might even have to look at renting a smaller home/townhome, if we make the move as a split family for 6-8 months. In either case, the more I think about renting first, the more I like the idea. Every other move we've made to a new area, we've purchased outright and though we've been pretty lucky, I think we would have purchased in a different neighborhood had we rented first. Also, since a lot of our house equity has been wiped out trying to dig ourselves out of debt after a long period of unemployment and our credit got dinged, that year renting will probably be to our benefit as we re-establish ourselves.

Thanks!

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Originally Posted by NChomesomeday

What can you local experts tell me about the following neighborhoods:

Briarcliff
Chandlers Green
Coker Hills
Lake Forest
Springcrest

These are areas we've zeroed in on as they're all districted to ECHHS, though the middle/elementaries might be different. Most seem to be a older homes on larger lots than you would typically find in a new subdivision (something we like, coming from MA, where the lots are large and generally full of mature foliage).

I think we'd be looking to rent initially. We might even have to look at renting a smaller home/townhome, if we make the move as a split family for 6-8 months. In either case, the more I think about renting first, the more I like the idea. Every other move we've made to a new area, we've purchased outright and though we've been pretty lucky, I think we would have purchased in a different neighborhood had we rented first. Also, since a lot of our house equity has been wiped out trying to dig ourselves out of debt after a long period of unemployment and our credit got dinged, that year renting will probably be to our benefit as we re-establish ourselves.

Thanks!

I don't know a darn thing about those neighborhoods, but I thought I would share that if not just to give your post a nudge back up to the top where it may get some more exposure and responded to by those more in the know.

Is it just me or is this forum lacking strong representation from Chapel Hill? I know we have a few fine folks on this board from there, but I am surprised we don't have more.

[findingmesomeday]

Thanks NRG--I appreciate the kind gesture. I hate bumping my own threads. Kind of self-serving. LOL

There are a few CH folks on here but I guess they don't post as often? Jdatlas has been very helpful--we've communicated via DMs, etc. She came from MA and lives in CH. But there have got to be some other folks out there?

[MikeJaquish]

Coker Hills and Lake Forest are beautiful neighborhoods with large wooded lots, and a lot of culdesacs that minimize through traffic.
Like anything else in Chapel Hill, they aren't cheap, but the sure are pretty.
Estes Hills, too, might be worth considering.

Probably looking at Guy Phillips MS and Estes Hills Elementary.

Easy access to shopping and services along E Franklin St.

Mostly older homes with a lot of ranchers, some traditionals, and then a few classic mid-century moderns tossed in.
Anything nice is $400,000 and up, it seems, or in need of updating.

[frogandtoad]

I DM'd you yesterday about Lake Forest. Great area. Chandler's Green is nice--not as high quality building in my opinion as LF, but certainly a lot of big trees, decent sized lots (not as big as LF but still a good size). One weird thing there is that they are districted to Rashkis which is nowhere near them (relatively. It's still probably only a 10 min drive, but they are much closer to Estes). Any time you are not in a walk zone, you do risk redistricting. It is uncommon in Chapel Hill to redistrict, but it's possible, and Chandler's Green (along with Silver Creek and some others along that stretch of Weaver Dairy) were redistricted to Rashkis.

Coker Hills is also nice, as is Booker Creek (not on your list). They are both less expensive than LF b/c they do not have lake access. Coker Hills is probably a bit nicer than Booker Creek.

I don't know much about the rest of the ones you mentioned. If you're looking in the Estes district, you will mainly find older neighborhoods, which personally I love. Old growth trees, interesting homes (often something which looks average outside is gorgeous inside), large lots. There are some exceptions (Timberlyne, Cross Creek for example) but it's a nice area. Very diverse school in terms of nationality too. MANY nationalities represented there and at Philips and East.

[Jdatlas]

I was just at a meeting in a house on N. Elliott Street and although the house was fairly old and small the location more than made up for it. I would love to live there. You can walk to Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Estes and Phillips schools, the library and the lake. And if you choose not to walk to these places it would take you only seconds to drive there. They are also building a new Starbucks near TJ's so you could walk there for your coffee if you felt like it.

[findingmesomeday]

Starbucks. Trader Joes. Whole Foods.

You have convinced me! LOL

Hopefully, we'll find something to rent in one of these nice areas. Smaller, older houses are fine, though as renters we'd obviously want something that's in good condition. When we are in a position to purchase, we can look past old flooring, dated wallpaper, etc., so we'll have more options. And we'd be in the $400-500K range for a house which is probably what we'd have to spend for a 3 bed/2 ba older home--maybe a 4 bedroom? Remains to be seen.

I drove through a neighborhood last summer--it was almost directly across from Estes Hills and Guy Phillips. I think it was the other side of.....what's that road? Estes Dr? I remember driving up Airport/MLK and then into this neighborhood. Anyone want to venture a guess what neighborhood that was based on my very vague description? The lots were good sized, the houses all nicely kept, though different styles of split, ranch, colonial, contemporary, etc.

[Jdatlas]

Originally Posted by NChomesomeday

I drove through a neighborhood last summer--it was almost directly across from Estes Hills and Guy Phillips. I think it was the other side of.....what's that road? Estes Dr? I remember driving up Airport/MLK and then into this neighborhood. Anyone want to venture a guess what neighborhood that was based on my very vague description? The lots were good sized, the houses all nicely kept, though different styles of split, ranch, colonial, contemporary, etc.

I think that neigborhood is Estes Hills.

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by NChomesomeday

Starbucks. Trader Joes. Whole Foods.

I drove through a neighborhood last summer--it was almost directly across from Estes Hills and Guy Phillips. I think it was the other side of.....what's that road? Estes Dr? I remember driving up Airport/MLK and then into this neighborhood. Anyone want to venture a guess what neighborhood that was based on my very vague description? The lots were good sized, the houses all nicely kept, though different styles of split, ranch, colonial, contemporary, etc.

Originally Posted by Jdatlas

I think that neigborhood is Estes Hills.

Jdatlas: Go to the head of the class.
Estes Hills it is.
Caswell Rd and Granville Rd encircle most of Estes Hills, right across from the two schools.

Lots of nicely kept brick ranchers, with some traditionals mixed in. Many are owned by very long-term owners, with the occasional original owner mixed in.
I don't think there are a lot of true contemporaries in Estes Hills, though.

[findingmesomeday]

Thanks Mike. I didn't notice very many "for sale" signs there last June and the neighborhood definitely had the feel of a very stable, long term place so it probably is Estes Hills. I'll add it to my growing list of neighborhoods/subdivisions. I'm not real big on new/big/cookie-cutter-y! (though their isn't much of that in CH, thank goodness)