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We'll be relocating to Raleigh from the Bronx, NY within the next 9 months to be nearer to family. Although I have visited many times over the last 15-20 years that family has lived there, I have never really branched out to see what was happening beyond my sister's or mom's homes. We usually just pop in for turkey or to show off grandbabies.
Anyway, we dropped the bombshell on my family this past thanksgiving that we are finally ready to make the move. I got around to Holly Springs and saw a few areas that were nice. I am coming again in January and need to narrow my search area because I will only be in town for a few days. I can visit again in the summer to research more, but for now, I want to concentrate on three areas. I want to explore possible subdivisions but see beyond the subdivisions too. I want to get a better feel for what these towns are really like in action.
Being close to RTP is important because ideally my husband will work there, so we don't want to be somewhere with an extremely long commute. I am hopeful to work from home.
My needs:
Best Possible Schools (kids are currently 1 year, 9 years and 11 years)
Affordable homes with decent size lots (under $450K, Lot size over .25 acre)
Established community or newer development, but somewhere where my kids can easily find playmates
Subdivision where your neighbors home isn't your house split in two
Communities that offer basement homes
Area with nearby shopping
You have nearly too many choices to list, from a very wide price range and a wide age range.
You will find basement homes in a great many neighborhoods, and it is a matter of casting a net out and seeing what turns up.
I just pulled up basement homes, on over a 1/4 acre, in N Raleigh, Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Holly Springs, and Northern Fuquay Varina, and got 107 results under $450,000. Now, some of the 107 are so far below the $450,000 they probably lack amenities that you desire. But there is a large selection.
Then it is a matter of picking schools.
I see a nice looking brickfront home in Umstead Ridge with Stough/Leesville Road/Leesville Road schools. I would take that school line-up, and it is at $375,000.
Is your husband looking for work now in the area? That is important to start now if your thinking within the next 9 months. Really all of your area's have some great choices especially at your price point, it just depends what works for you and your family and where you do get that job.
I can tell you that of all the things on your list, a basement home @ $450K or under will be the thing that limits your selection the most. If you can consider a finished third floor as opposed to a basement you will open up your search quite a bit.
Holly Springs is nice. It started out as a small town but they are building so many new things here. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a mall here in a few years at the rate they're going.
I can tell you that of all the things on your list, a basement home @ $450K or under will be the thing that limits your selection the most. If you can consider a finished third floor as opposed to a basement you will open up your search quite a bit.
This is very good advice! Basements are typically only available on slopping properties. And, even then, it's almost always a "walk-out" basement. Tradional basements are a needle in a haystack in the Triangle.
I can tell you that of all the things on your list, a basement home @ $450K or under will be the thing that limits your selection the most. If you can consider a finished third floor as opposed to a basement you will open up your search quite a bit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rnc2mbfl
This is very good advice! Basements are typically only available on slopping properties. And, even then, it's almost always a "walk-out" basement. Tradional basements are a needle in a haystack in the Triangle.
I think it is just "OK Advice."
If one desires a basement, they are definitely available.
Often they are available on a culdesac lot, offering the level of privacy the OP seeks. Some "basement lots" are just really crummy steep lots, but many daylight/walkout basement homes are on actually very nice lots.
I think the basement will be the most difficult to find. If you want to be close to RTP, I'd say Cary or Morrisville would be good choices. Cary would likely get you larger lots as Morrisville has newer developments.
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