Anyone Relocated From So. Cal.? (Raleigh, Cary: rent, how much, home) - The Triangle Area - City-Data Forum

socal22 · 06-03-2007, 05:33 PM

I Would Love To Hear From Someone That Has Relocated To The Raleigh Area From Southern California (Orange County Area).

Tyster · 06-03-2007, 06:23 PM

My wife and I moved here (Raleigh) after I left the Navy. I was stationed in San Diego. Best decision I ever made. The cost of living is much cheaper, the jobs are plentiful in this area and the beach and mountains are nearby. Plus Wash DC is only 4 hours away, and Myrtle Beach is even closer. The people here have been very nice as well. On the whole a very wise move.

Hope this helps!

LexiMiller · 06-03-2007, 11:22 PM

Hey there! We are in Northern Cali and we are moving in 16 days to Cary. I am getting nervous, but excited at the same time.

I know it is not Socal, but I can let you know after we get there. We visited and loved everything. The people were outstanding. So different from California. Strangers talking to each other, what a concept.

Are you there now or thinking of moving?

Alexis

Tuxedo729 · 06-04-2007, 04:49 AM

We relocated from Orange County, we lived in H.B., Buena Park, and Fullerton. We moved about a month ago with our newborn son. We decided to move here because we knew it would be a better place for our son to grow up. My husband was offered a great job in RTP so we jumped at it. It is really nice to see nature and not just concrete and buildings everywhere. Also, the fact that you don't see smog everyday. The weather is great, even my husband a native of California agrees that the weather is better then Cali's. We just bought a home in Kitts Creek in Morrisville, we are very happy we came here and hopefully you will be too! Good luck!

CAKD · 06-04-2007, 08:19 PM

We relocated from SO Cal back in Sept. DH worked in Irvine for 14 years and did the commute to the Temecula area. Boy are we happy to be out of there! Love it here can't rave about it enough. Any specific questions?

Tuxedo729 · 06-04-2007, 08:20 PM

This is Tuxedo's husband, she left the computer on this post so I wanted to comment about OC vs. Raleigh (really Cary for us).

I grew up all over California, mainly in OC. I lived in Seacliff in Huntington Beach for a few years, places around HB, westminster, la jolla (in SD), and a beautiful gated community in Fullerton/Buena Park that had a lake (north of the fullerton airport).

First off, the cost of living is a godsend (and I'm not even religious!). We were paying $2900 in rent in OC, I pay half that for a home that's just as nice here and I own it! I took a pay cut moving out here, but it more than made up for it in a lower cost of living and my wife can still stay home with our child. Beyond that, everyone is so friendly here. It's very rare for me to pass someone while walking around that doesn't say "Hi" or "How are you doing?"

Get out of OC if you have a chance. Almost everyone there lives in a bubble where they think LA/OC is the greatest place and there is no reason to leave. That's why my friends are still living at home with their parents and they are in their mid to late 20's. The weather here is better than So Cal. I've had the top down on my convertible almost every single day since we've moved out here.

And there are younger parents here as well! My wife and I are younger (I'm 26 and she's younger than me) and although we haven't come across parents our exact age, at least they are in the ballpark unlike in OC.

I left my job as CTO of a company to just be a Product Manager at a company here because it's a better life for my family and my son. Make the move! You don't regret it.

What is it about OC you think you'll miss? I can definitely let you know if there is an equivalent here.

The only downside is that there is not as much competition as in OC. If you want someone that does an obscure type of work, there is probably only one person close by. Whereas in OC there would be 10 businesses that can repair antique cuckoo clocks within 2 miles of your home that are open 24 hours a day, even holidays. You won't find that here.

SALUKI_LOVER · 06-04-2007, 08:34 PM

Thanks Tuxedo. My hubby and I will be moving from La Mirada/Buena Park in July and we're really excited. Interesting though, most people I talk to about our move are very envious about our move out of CA but for reasons feel they can't make a move and admire our guts for gettin-up-and-going.
Isn't it amazing - all the trees! wide open space! Tonight I needed to go to Costco from Malvern down Beach to La Habra Blvd. and no joke with all the traffic it took me 45 minutes round trip. I've been here 46 years and can't imagine another 46 years here.

Svenskagirl2 · 06-04-2007, 08:49 PM

Hubby and I are moving to glen laurel in Clayton June 16th. We are looking forward to getting out of So. Cal. for many reasons. Where are you looking to live?

socal22 · 06-05-2007, 01:13 AM

Thanks everyone for the information. We are currently still in O.C. in Cypress. We are going out to Raleigh on the 21st of June to have a look around. I was just curious as to what other Californians thought about the area. I am a native Californian, so for me, this is home. My husband grew up in Pennsylvania and is not worried about leaving. We feel that it is just getting way too crowded and way too expensive to live here. We also have two young daughters, ages 6 and 9, and are looking for a better place to raise them. We have done all the research on the schools, cost of living, etc. and it appears that N.C. has a lot to offer. I am just worried about the "culture shock" that everyone out here is trying to convince me that I will find. Wondered if any of you are experiencing any of that??? We are going to be checking out Wake Forest, Apex, Cary and Fuquay Varina. My husband is an IT Manager, so we will be looking for a home somewhere around the Raleigh area. Looking forward to finally getting out there and seeing for myself. So many people are moving out there, I guess they can't all be wrong!!!

CaryCathleen · 06-05-2007, 08:57 AM

I relocated in February to Cary from the San Diego area. I was born and raised in San Diego and lived there, West Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo. We once moved to Scottsdale, AZ and I knew the first week that it was a horrible mistake. After 5.5 months of not being able to go outside day or night because of the heat (except to swim), we high-tailed it out of there. We LOVE it here! I am amazed every day at how green it is, how friendly the people are, and how much there is to do here. We think it is a much better place to raise a family than anyplace we lived in California. San Luis Obispo came close to paradise, but it lacked diversity and job opportunities.