DC/Nova Transplants

[DownEastB]

My husband was sent down from Chantilly VA to Morrisville to open a new branch for his NoVA based company. 18 months later, HQ pulled the plug on the branch. He can't find a job with an NC employer that pays anything close to what he's making in VA. So we're having to move back to VA. Want to buy our house? =-)

I'll miss a lot of things down here like our quiet neighborhood and lighter traffic (my work commute is ideal and avoids the worst patterns) but I do miss some things in NoVA and am looking forward to having them again. There's just a lot more to do up there, especially for singles and couples with no kids. I don't think there's a huge difference in humidity between here and DC.

[WDJ]

I moved down here from Fairfax a little over a year ago, and I've liked it more down here so far. I don't plan on moving back to the DC area anytime soon. In terms of the summers, it feels pretty comparable to DC, and like someone else mentioned, I think it's a bit less humid, but then again, I lived further south for a while.

Pros: I could actually buy a decent house down here, a lot less traffic, still has a lot of activities to do, friendliness

Cons: Fewer restaurant choices, not being able to hit up the big city, no Wegmans/H-Mart

[valree]

This is a great thread. I currently live in Alexandria, and I am contemplating a move to Raleigh-Durham area. I am looking forward to the possibility of being able to buy a house instead of living in a condo for the rest of my life. Less traffic sounds good too!

[Clever User Name]

One thing to keep in mind is that coming from DC to the Triangle the job market is much smaller by what feels like an order of magnitude. There just aren't the options for jobs as what you'll find around DC. From what I've seen and what many others have reported on these boards most jobs pay significantly less. I managed to keep my job with a DC firm, and my backup plan is another DC firm should I need to change. Failing that, only then would I begin to look for a job in the area.

The home prices can be a little misleading. If that's your main reason for looking at a move then you might be in for a surprise because: 1) as mentioned above, your earning potential will likely decrease in proportion with the home prices, and 2) the area really isn't that cheap. As we found, many of those big cheap homes you see on the realtor sites sit on moonscapes, next to train tracks, in the boonies, etc. Many of the more desirable neighborhoods can get pretty pricey.

[Grizzmeister]

Originally Posted by Clever User Name

The home prices can be a little misleading. If that's your main reason for looking at a move then you might be in for a surprise because: 1) as mentioned above, your earning potential will likely decrease in proportion with the home prices, and 2) the area really isn't that cheap. As we found, many of those big cheap homes you see on the realtor sites sit on moonscapes, next to train tracks, in the boonies, etc. Many of the more desirable neighborhoods can get pretty pricey.

Thanks for making that point! Remember folks, if it seems too good to be true, it certainly is.

Raleigh is no longer that well kept a secret as many people are willing to pay a premium to live here and be close to the colleges and medical facilities. You may find some really inexpensive house somewhere but ultimately you’re gonna get what you pay for. Nobody’s giving anything away here in terms of real-estate or property.

[Mtaylo24]

I currently live in Richmond, VA and I am very interested in Raleigh or Charlotte. How are the accounting and banking industries in the area?