Moving to Roanoke, VA (Blacksburg, Salem: hardwood floors, lease, co-op)

[btbishop]

I've read both good and bad comments regarding Roanoke. Having lived here for 30 years and raised 5 children here, I would have to say it's a pretty darn good place to raise your children. We live in Vinton (east of Roanoke) and our kids attend or have graduated from Roanoke County Schools. Vinton is quite laid back and mostly conservative. The people are unbelievably friendly.

13 years ago my late husband lost a leg due to diabetes and in turn his job. I was 27 at the time with young children. Although we had never asked for help the people here decided to help us anyway and gave us a Christmas I'll never forget. Santa came in on a Fire Truck followed by police cars, ambulances, a Pepsi truck and lord knows what else and suprised us with gifts and food. They surely didn't have to do any of this but they did. He passed away 2 years later and I remarried but I'm still here.

There's something to be said about small town living and the values which are passed on to our children from some of these oldtime "rednecks". Oh and sometimes they still bring out the firetrucks to rescue kittens from trees...LOL

[btbishop]

PS...I'm a pc tech and love the latest technology and trends but I also love the peace and quiet of the Vinton/Roanoke area.

[Ryleigh]

btbishop -- great story about Southern hospitality and kindness. Thanks for sharing. ) That is the kind of thing that I remember most about the area; how people go above and beyond what's necessary to help others out.

[seanpecor]

Originally Posted by btbishop

PS...I'm a pc tech and love the latest technology and trends but I also love the peace and quiet of the Vinton/Roanoke area.

Hey a fellow geek! Haha. I don't head out to Vinton much anymore although I used to drive up there to pick up a truckload of Purina horse feed about once a week. It's got a nice small town vibe.

Sean

[amys80424]

Hi, my boyfriend and I are looking to relocate from Breckenridge, Co to either VA or NC. I've lived here 10 years, orig from Chesapeake/VA Beach. I love Breck but the long winters and high cost of living are getting to us and would like to be closer to our families. I am looking for a similar community--laid back, open-minded, friendly and in the mountains. The company my boyfriend works for has an office in Roanoke and he could transfer there. We love the outdoors, rock climbing, hiking, biking, snowboarding, etc. I'd kinda like to get a feel of what the actual town is like. Looks like Roanoke is more of a city so I'd probably be looking in the outskirts of town. We are very laid back, non-judgmental, outdoorsy, creative people. Would we fit in here? And does anyone know if there is any rock climbing in the area? Pls feel free to IM with any info!! Thanks! Amy

[seanpecor]

Originally Posted by amys80424

I am looking for a similar community--laid back, open-minded, friendly and in the mountains. The company my boyfriend works for has an office in Roanoke and he could transfer there. We love the outdoors, rock climbing, hiking, biking, snowboarding, etc. I'd kinda like to get a feel of what the actual town is like. Looks like Roanoke is more of a city so I'd probably be looking in the outskirts of town. We are very laid back, non-judgmental, outdoorsy, creative people. Would we fit in here? And does anyone know if there is any rock climbing in the area? Pls feel free to IM with any info!! Thanks! Amy

Hi Amy, I think you'd love it in the Roanoke Valley. If you love the outdoors, the valley is a great central location because such a variety of topography and recreational opportunities are right next door or less than an hour away. You've got the Blue Ridge mountains with miles and miles of mountain trails, plenty of rivers, lakes and streams for kayaking/boating, a bunch of state and national parks for mountain biking and more. Great bike routes abound, both in the hills and over paved mountain passes. The nice thing about Roanoke is the mountains and dales help mitigate urban sprawl so you're never more than 15 minutes from country roads that see only about a car an hour You've got alot of unbroken mountain lands on the West and South side of the Valley, full of lots of creative types! For proof, you could visit Art on a Mission in the Tanglewood Mall, or the Jacksonville Arts Center in Floyd. Speaking of the Jacksonville Center, that reminds me, I've got to sign up for my blacksmithing classes I took some last year and it was so much fun. Who doesn't need a foundry in their backyard!?

Sean

[CHumphries]

Hello Ryan,
Did you and your fiancee wind up finding a home here in Roanoke? If so, how are you liking it here? My husand and I both live and work in Roanoke. We're quite happy here. (I moved here from Boston, MA to be with him. He was born/raised in this area.) We're both in our 30's, younger professionals and we have plently of friends who fall into the same category. I believe a "young working professionals" culture definitely exists here. I'd be curious to know what your impression of the area is if you've been here a little while now and had a chance to settle in. Take Care. :-) Cari

[sonwalker]

Hey Ben.

I grew up in Roanoke and its GREAT, GOOD, Bad AND Ugly.

You will get more for your money moving to Roanoke county, than the city, but get you a realtors guide and you should do fine.

Good Luck

[TheUtopian]

Hello all.....

I've spent the last hour reading this thread and much great information has been spread.

Here is my situation and I'd appreciate as much information as possible no matter how opinionated it is.

Ok... I currently live in an extremely rural part of Coastal Mtn Southern Oregon. And when I say rural what I actually mean is a small town of 4200 population, county seat,with a 30 minute drive to the nearest McDonalds / Burger King / Wal Mart. A 2 1/2 hour drive to reach a city of 100,000 or more.

We basically have two seasons....the wet and the dry. The wet lasts 7 1/2 months and the dry 4 1/2. During the winter months the town rolls up and there is no traffic / very little after 8:30 pm Summer time about 10:00 pm - 10:30.

I am 42, divorced, and self employed. I just sold my retail business of ten years and I'm strongly considering moving to Roanoke in the late fall. I went back to school sometime ago part time and plan to go back full time if I move. I'd like to work in the legal arena.....possibly a paralegal.

Fortunately....money is not an issue at all. I purchased rentals and some commercial property many years ago when it was very cheap and I have profited handsomely. I don't want to blow all the cash, so it wouldn't be big deal for me to wait tables at Ihop or Denny's just to pay for my necessities. I have read a few posts here from young graduates that would like to have these cool IT / White-Collar jobs, and I understand that....but I don't need one. However.... I have no desire to work in a factory or bust my butt digging ditches.

Ok.... here's my questions

I want to purchase a small Victorian house in decent shape 900 to 1600 square feet with a finished basement or attached workshop in a decent neighborhood. I don't care if the house needs a little work...just nothing major. I'm not worried about rednecks or country folk..... but I do not want to live in area that is drug infested or scummy down-trodden people.

1} I've heard there are quite a few older Victorians in both downtown and Salem. Is this true....and where else might I find them that is really nice? Keep in mind, that unlike most of you....I've already lived on /owned 12 acres of rural property and I have no desire to cut briar's or keep up acreage. Just a nice little old Victorian with a small yard/backyard would suite me fine.

2} What might something like I've described above cost? A high and low ball park is what I am asking?

Also.... what will it be like for a guy from the west coast who is not overly religious or a church-going-person ?

And how bout the women.....that's really important! Is there many single women in Roanoke in their mid-late thirties / early forties? What's the situation? I'm a fiscally conservative libertarian, but no where near a a Jerry Falwell supporter. Will this hurt me? I'm in hella good shape and work out in the gym 6-7 days a week.

One last thing.....what about the food and eating places? Is it upscale, cutting edge, eclectic...... or all country bumpkin? I don't care about Starbucks or the coffee scene..... but I do eat out a lot and I like good grub.



Seriously......thanks in advance to all!

[seanpecor]

Originally Posted by TheUtopian

I went back to school sometime ago part time and plan to go back full time if I move. I'd like to work in the legal arena.....possibly a paralegal.

There are a few colleges to choose from in this area (Roanoke College, Virginia Tech, Virginia Western, etc).

Originally Posted by TheUtopian

I want to purchase a small Victorian house in decent shape 900 to 1600 square feet with a finished basement or attached workshop in a decent neighborhood. I don't care if the house needs a little work...just nothing major. I'm not worried about rednecks or country folk..... but I do not want to live in area that is drug infested or scummy down-trodden people.

Two neighborhoods come to mind and I may have mentioned them in a previous thread you've read about Roanoke. They're Grandin Village and Raleigh Court. Both nice neighborhoods with single professionals and young families in their 30s and 40s moving in, nice side streets too narrow for through-traffic and the houses - mostly craftsmans, victorians and tudors, are well kept.

Originally Posted by TheUtopian

1} I've heard there are quite a few older Victorians in both downtown and Salem. Is this true....and where else might I find them that is really nice? Keep in mind, that unlike most of you....I've already lived on /owned 12 acres of rural property and I have no desire to cut briar's or keep up acreage. Just a nice little old Victorian with a small yard/backyard would suite me fine.

I think you should shoot for Roanoke first and fall back to Salem. I say that based on the vibe I get for what interests you, so I might be wrong. Salem is a little sleepier than Roanoke.

Originally Posted by TheUtopian

What might something like I've described above cost? A high and low ball park is what I am asking?

I think a range would be $125K for a smaller victorian in need of some work to $249k for a 1,500 square ft victorian that might require some cosmetic remodeling just to get it into the vibe you want (no re-framing or re-flooring). You could get a cheaper house in a less stellar neighborhood but I'm thinking you want to avoid that, and generally I'd recommend avoiding them except for investment property. I'm not sure what your ideal budget window is, if you have one post it and I'll fish out some entries in the MLS for you. I like house shopping for other people My wife says that one 7,000 square foot house is enough so I've been limited to buying adjoining land, haha. It's fun living vicariously through other people's house shopping experience.

Originally Posted by TheUtopian

Also.... what will it be like for a guy from the west coast who is not overly religious or a church-going-person ?

I think you'd do fine. It's not Children of the Corn over here You'll find lots of women who aren't devout Christians who attend church every week.

Originally Posted by TheUtopian

And how bout the women.....that's really important! Is there many single women in Roanoke in their mid-late thirties / early forties? What's the situation? I'm a fiscally conservative libertarian, but no where near a a Jerry Falwell supporter. Will this hurt me? I'm in hella good shape and work out in the gym 6-7 days a week.

I think you'll do fine. Roanoke has many fiscally conservative and socially tolerant folks. Falwell doesn't even register on the map of Roanoke's popular media. He just isn't a factor to anyone I know. This isn't Children of the Corn, not by a long shot

I do have an observation about religion. Coming from New England and being an athiest, I'm beginning to rethink my feelings about the South and the Bible Belt, at least as it pertains to the Roanoke Valley and SWVA. I just get the feeling that the reputation started out as Catholic vs Baptist chaffing, if I'm making sense. There are no more or less religious people in New England, it just seemed to me that up north most were Catholic. Down here, the majority are Evangelical. Down here, you might go to a dentist's office and see a bible verse in a frame on a wall. Up north, you'd hardly ever see anything like that, but you'd see a Crucifix hanging in its place. Anyway, just an observation. I think the Roanoke is firmly outside of the bible belt, at least in practice.

Originally Posted by TheUtopian

One last thing.....what about the food and eating places? Is it upscale, cutting edge, eclectic...... or all country bumpkin? I don't care about Starbucks or the coffee scene..... but I do eat out a lot and I like good grub.

You'll have plenty to choose from here. Upscale cutting edge (Metro! Roanoke), Upscale traditional (Alexanders), Eclectic (Carlos Brazilian International Cuisine), Country Home Cooking, Greasepits, Sandwich Shops, Ethnic, and so on and so forth.

Hope this helps,

Sean