Relocate to charming Durham neighborhood, Help! (Raleigh, Chapel Hill: for sale, chapel, houses)

[asneed2]

I am moving to the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area with my young son. I am looking for a neighborhood that has a good school system and homes with character, NO NEW CONSTRUCTION! Fixer uppers are fine, I would love to make my house a home. A place where I can hop on my bike and get to the store. a place with parks, and that is near enough to places like museums and shops, but not right in the thick of things. It has to be a safe neighborhood though, no exceptions. A farmers market in the area would be great too. I am willing to be further from town if that's what it comes down to. I have a budget of $200,000. Is it too much to ask for? Or is there such a place? Any feedback would be great Thanks.

[leighbhe]

I would suggest carrboro, in that you can get some cute bungalows at that price, probably would need some fixing up, and it is a very walkable, ridable town.

Leigh

[welovedurham]

Originally Posted by leighbhe

I would suggest carrboro, in that you can get some cute bungalows at that price, probably would need some fixing up, and it is a very walkable, ridable town.

Leigh

Under $200K for a bungalow in Carrboro? Wow, prices have come down.

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Originally Posted by asneed2

I am moving to the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area with my young son. I am looking for a neighborhood that has a good school system and homes with character, NO NEW CONSTRUCTION! Fixer uppers are fine, I would love to make my house a home. A place where I can hop on my bike and get to the store. a place with parks, and that is near enough to places like museums and shops, but not right in the thick of things. It has to be a safe neighborhood though, no exceptions. A farmers market in the area would be great too. I am willing to be further from town if that's what it comes down to. I have a budget of $200,000. Is it too much to ask for? Or is there such a place? Any feedback would be great Thanks.

Where are you going to be working? No point in recommending a place in Raleigh if you plan to work in Chapel Hill.

[egarlick2000]

You should check out Eno Trace in Durham. There are a few homes for sale under $200K and I think it's sort of what you're looking for. PM me if you have any questions!

[sneezecake]

You say Durham in the title but in the body of your post you say R/D/CH. Are you looking for suggestions in Durham or just in the triangle period?

[goat1of2]

Your description matches my old neighborhood exactly: the area south of the intersection of University Drive and Hope Valley Road. There are many many houses built in the 50s which are available for less than 200K. Safe neighborhood and acknowledged to be in the best school district in Durham. Five minutes drive time gets you to four different grocery stores etc.

[MrsSteel]

Originally Posted by goat1of2

Your description matches my old neighborhood exactly: the area south of the intersection of University Drive and Hope Valley Road. There are many many houses built in the 50s which are available for less than 200K. Safe neighborhood and acknowledged to be in the best school district in Durham. Five minutes drive time gets you to four different grocery stores etc.

Is this the Rockwood neighborhood? I really like that part of town. There are some really great restaurants near there, too - Nana's, Q Shack, Foster's Market, Guglhuph, & the new Rockwood Filling Station.

[welovedurham]

I don't think that's Rockwood. There are several neighborhoods off that part of Hope Valley that do not have names. It's the non-HOA, nonorganized (not unorganized though, LOL) part of Hope Valley.

Mmm, I love that Rockwood area, too. Such the hoppin' spot on a Saturday night.

[seattlenextyear]

What if you rented a house first for a year or two while you build up a stronger down payment? That will allow you to get more familiar with the area and you'll be able to find the school district that you want to end up in.