looking at House north of Benson help please (Raleigh, Goldsboro: for sale, real estate)

[maverick62]

My wife and I are relocating to the Raleigh area in October. We are from Michigan and have been trying to find an area to live. We have only done research online so far. We have found a nice house for sale. It is on a couple acres 16 miles north of Benson but carries a Benson mailing address. It is off NC 50 north of Ennis. It is very reasonably priced and the owners are willing to rent it for a year which is helpful because we have not sold our other house yet. This is a house we would be happy to purchase as soon as ours sold (at least from info online) Any info about this area would be helpful we have only been to NC one time so far. Does anyone know what elementary school this would be? We have a 4yr old and 3 year old. Is there something wrong with this particular area because the price seems very good compared to other areas in Johnston County we have looked.
We really need help we will only have about a month to move down after we get job offers. We are coming for final interviews 9/21 and hope to lock up a place to live at that time. Thanks in advance.

[zthatzmanz28]

Greetings Michiganander,

My wife and I relocated to Raleigh area from Michigan (metro Detroit) in February. Though we are not experts on any one location near Raleigh we can say a few things.

I work in Johnston County and lived in Selma now in Zebulon (Franklin County) east of Raleigh.

We looked all over Johnston County, some in Harnett (Lillington area) and Wake (Raleigh, Garner). We really wanted to be in Johnston County and my wife really likes the Benson area, but we have two hound dogs and needed a fenced in 1/2 acre area for them to run.

I believe the area you are looking at is easy communte to Raleigh and not far from Smithfield where most people in Benson / Four Oaks area shop. There is the Outlet Mall and most needs on 301.

The real estate is drastically lower here than most of Michigan. Closer to the city costs more than farther out from the city. Best to see the area (if you haven't) and renting is definitely the thing to do until you get to look around and know the different areas and neighbors. Personally I like most of Johnston County--at least between I-95 and Raleigh. The other side of I-95 is more rural and you feel removed from Raleigh. Though Goldsboro has a mall and most of your shopping needs.

I told my wife when I first came down in February (alone) it is like northern Michigan was along US 23 between Tawas and Oscoda 20-30 years ago. One area is just as beautiful as the next -- generally...

As for the schools, since I teach in Johnston County I suppose I am somewhat bias (I enjoy teaching here) and may be others will offer a more objective opinion?

[maverick62]

anybody else?

[playnice]

16 miles North of Benson would be more like the McGees area. Ennis is Dixon Road Elementary but the boundary line for McGees is slightly north of it.

[maverick62]

The listing mentions mcgee's crossroads area. Any thoughts on the schools there playnice?

Originally Posted by playnice

16 miles North of Benson would be more like the McGees area. Ennis is Dixon Road Elementary but the boundary line for McGees is slightly north of it.

[playnice]

Dixon Road is fairly new and I hear decent things about it. McGees seems to get many more mixed reviews. West View is the most coveted elementary in the county and is oh so close to your 'slightly north' target area!

[maverick62]

Thanks again. With your info I was able to find it on the school district map (this particular street is not labled). It would be Dixon road elementary. What do you think about this area in general?