3-day tour (Raleigh, Durham, Cary: chapel, houses, neighborhoods)

[outtadc]

This is a super broad question, but with all the great resources on here, I thought I'd get some great advice, so here goes...

My husband and I are seriously considering relocating to the RTP area, based solely on tons of internet research - we've never even visited. But we're packing up the kids and grandma and visiting for a long weekend in December to try to get a feel for what it's like to live in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill (a tall order in 3 days, I know). We're looking for a kid-friendly neighborhood that's accessible to RTP (where husband will probably work) with 3-4 BR homes in the $400K or less range near excellent schools. We'd prefer somewhere that doesn't scream cookie-cutter-suburbia as well. Are there any neighborhoods that fit this description that would be worth investigating? And any other "must see" sights for a 3-day tour that will determine the course of our future?

Thanks for any input.

[flyingpiggy]

Overall, your description of what you want sounds like a really good fit for the area. I live in Chapel Hill, and am familiar with Durham. Basically anywhere in Chapel Hill is family-friendly, and so are many places in Durham (I'm excluding Raleigh because I don't know about it, not because it isn't family-friendly).
There are subdivisions (named neighborhoods with a Home Owner's Association) and stuff in the Triangle, but many have houses with character -- I think a lot of people in the area have the same disgust for cookie-cutter houses as you do, especially in Chapel Hill

I suggest you go to realtor.com before your trip and scope out the housing scene. If you find a few houses you like, maybe write down their addresses so you can visit them in person.

I think you are well-suited for one of the younger, family-oriented areas of Durham. There are pockets of Durham filled with Duke professors and young families and stuff, and I think this will match well with your price range and desire to be near RTP. If you're raising a family, though, be sure to check which schools in Durham you're districted to -- some are much better than others, which I'm guessing you've read about in all your internet research
In Chapel Hill things might be a little more expensive and a little further away, but I think a greater fraction of Chapel Hill has un-cookie-cutter-ish houses and family neighborhoods. One neighborhood that I am familiar with, Morgan Creek, comes to mind as one that would fit that and be within your price range.

Must-see sights: Ninth Street in Durham, Franklin Street in Chapel Hill.

Good luck!! I think you'll like the area!!

[I'minformed2]

One tip concerning what you are looking for. If you are looking in Wake County (where Raleigh and surrounding towns are located) don't buy a house just because it is close to a school that you like...because that doesn't necessarily mean that is the school you will be assigned to. Just a tip.

This would be much less of an issue in Durham County and a non-issue in Chapel Hill-Carrboro.

[sneezecake]

I would focus your search on SW Durham, North/West Cary, and North Raleigh. If you like older neighborhoods, check out some of the nice historic Durham neighborhoods. As a previous poster said, Wake county is a little more susceptible to school reassignments.

Chapel Hill may be tougher in the sub-400k price range to get quite the same level of house/neighborhood that you can with these other three options, but don't exclude it by any means.

Other popular places like Wake Forest, Clayton, and Holly Springs are a bit too far to commute to RTP. Oh, people do it all the time, but why make your life more difficult than it needs to be.

[outtadc]

Thanks everyone for your input - this is all very helpful.

[candlegirl]

Get a buyer's agent to show you around, they will help you find what you are looking for...and make it an easier process.

PM me if interested and I will give you the name and number of the BEST one in the area. We moved from California and she was instrumental to us finding what we wanted...

[huckdisc]

As noted in the first response, Morgan Creek is a pretty good fit for that need, aside from a slightly convoluted path to access I40. We moved in for under $400k.