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Hello everyone - PLEASE don't be put off by my screen name - I am not your "typical" NJ loudmouth - I spent the first part of my life in Tallahassee and was teased plenty in Jersey schools for my southern accent! Also, my wife is from rural Pennsylvania. So those are my open-minded/non-condescending-northerner "credentials."
Anyway, we (with 3 little ones - aged 3, 2 and 3 months - I know we're crazy!) are looking to relocate; while NJ doesn't deserve the joke of a national reputation it has, it still has legitimate concerns for us as parents (crowds, taxes, home prices, often materialistic values).
Everyone speaks highly of the Triangle, Raleigh specifically, so we will be down next week to explore in person - not tourist attractions, but neighborhoods, grocery stores, parks, etc. - daily living stuff.
We're looking for a charming, family-oriented neighborhood, in which to plant ROOTS. Where neighbors interact. Where kid are safe, with good schools, etc.
About us:
I can work from home.
Price range - 400 - 500,000
I am caucasian, my wife is Vietnamese (American born and raised) - an issue?
We're open-minded, curious, non-judgmental, enjoy a bit of art and culture, good food, but definitely no longer "hipsters"
Thanks in advance for any insider feedback you provide - I am really curious about the reality behind my computer screen!
Seriously, your screenname and disclaimer are an annoyance and typical of the "hey, I'm from up North look at me" attitude that we deal with on a seemingly daily basis here. You sound like an average couple with a family from anyplace really, so just go with that, and lovesbrentwood gave you a great recomendation.
Please come on down and don't worry about your mulit-ethnic family, this is not the 1950's time suspended smallville, if you have any issue because ot that here, post the dealio, we'll help fix it. We don't stand for that in NC!
Actually Matthew I think you and your family hit the sweet spot of the Raleigh area. Young, around 2.5 children, and can work from home. IMHO you define the area! I think your situation is a perfect fit.
I know you will find any number of places that meet what you are looking for anywhere inside Raleigh and all around it. Your selections of homes is well to be exact about 820 awaiting you in Wake County alone. These are the available home in the $400k to $500k range and in that range people are dealing man!
So good luck in your look-see trip and I think you will find the Raleigh area WARM (temperature and personality wise), Friendly (Like the Friendly's Ice Cream shops you have in Jersey), and Inviting (like a pop-cycle salesman in the dessert).
You could ask people from all of the towns in and around raleigh (wake forest, holly springs, apex, cary, knightdale, clayton, durham, chapel hill, etc) which town is their favorite and they would all probably pick the town they live in! Within all of those towns there are some great great neighborhoods that offer all kinds of amenities. I think when you are down here, you should try and spend time in the different towns, that may help instead of driving from apex to wake forest then back to cary, kwim?
For me, I am partial to wake forest, I live here, have for 4 years (live in cary before that, holly springs before that, north raleigh before that, and grew up in chapel hill). I think wake forest has that small town feel, with some wonderful neighborhoods with lots of amenities for young kids.
Check out the carolina parent online for activities for the little ones (the magazine is a great resource). Definitely check out the museum of life and science in durham, if possible.
Gosh, you will have a lot of options. Since you can work from home, you will also have a lot of options. If your kids like a neighborhod pool, then there are a couple of neighborhoods I could suggest. I've found that I've seen many with young kids in neighborhoods with pools. I like Sunset Oaks in Holly Springs and Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill. Briar Chapel is not very close to Raleigh, but it's an 8 min drive into Chapel Hill. You can check out their website. If your like outdoor activities you would like it, plus the pool is the best I've seen in the area.
I live in Wake Forest and absolutely love it. I agree with a previous poster - most people are going to say the area they live in. There are so many beautiful neighborhoods that are close to stores and downtown.
Also, I am white and my husband if Philippino. We've had some people look at us funny but I wouldn't say it's because of the area. It's usually older folks that are set in their ways (my grandfather being one of them) and it's happened in many states. No worries!
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I spent the first part of my life in Tallahassee and was teased plenty in Jersey schools for my southern accent! Also, my wife is from rural Pennsylvania. So those are my open-minded/non-condescending-northerner "credentials."
Thanks for the feedback so far
