Possibly relocating to Rochester from Charlotte (Greece, Irondequoit: apartment, how much, houses)

[Mamamischa]

First a little background. My husband worked as a consultant for Xerox several years ago which required that he travel up to Rochester quite often. He often commented on how much he liked the area, and that he wouldn't mind living there. We are currently living in Charlotte, NC, and after 5 years have decided that we do not want to raise our children here. Once again, Rochester is coming up as a possible place to relocate and set some roots.

I, being a Canadian, do understand the winters while my husband, being a Californian, obviously does not. However, he finds the whole idea "intriguing". Um...we'll see. I grew up along the St. Lawrence River and like the idea of being close to a passel of family, while he likes the idea of having 4 seasons.

We are both in our mid 40's and still have 2 young children (3 and 6) at home. I'm a registered nurse and my husband is a consultant, and if he is not travelling somewhere he is working from home so I don't believe jobs will be an issue. We have a house budget of around $350K (and yes, we do know that property taxes are high ). We are not too interested in "cookie cutter" newer suburban areas (we've had enough of that here), but we do want an area with a little character as well as good schools. I would love something close to any type of water if possible.

We've done quite a bit of research but it's very difficult to gauge an area without actually having lived there, and we don't want to make the same mistake we made when we first decided to move down here to Charlotte. We've looked at the areas of Penfield and Pittsford as well as various other regions around the Rochester area. Also, we are not limiting ourselves just to these areas, however I don't want to be any further than 4 - 5 hours away from the Canadian border.

I really do appreciate any information, advice, etc. you could give me. Thank you!

[Mamamischa]

Ooops. Just noticed the post down below. Sorry for being redundant.

[NYphil]

Originally Posted by Mamamischa

First a little background. My husband worked as a consultant for Xerox several years ago which required that he travel up to Rochester quite often. He often commented on how much he liked the area, and that he wouldn't mind living there. We are currently living in Charlotte, NC, and after 5 years have decided that we do not want to raise our children here. Once again, Rochester is coming up as a possible place to relocate and set some roots.

I, being a Canadian, do understand the winters while my husband, being a Californian, obviously does not. However, he finds the whole idea "intriguing". Um...we'll see. I grew up along the St. Lawrence River and like the idea of being close to a passel of family, while he likes the idea of having 4 seasons.

We are both in our mid 40's and still have 2 young children (3 and 6) at home. I'm a registered nurse and my husband is a consultant, and if he is not travelling somewhere he is working from home so I don't believe jobs will be an issue. We have a house budget of around $350K (and yes, we do know that property taxes are high ). We are not too interested in "cookie cutter" newer suburban areas (we've had enough of that here), but we do want an area with a little character as well as good schools. I would love something close to any type of water if possible.

We've done quite a bit of research but it's very difficult to gauge an area without actually having lived there, and we don't want to make the same mistake we made when we first decided to move down here to Charlotte. We've looked at the areas of Penfield and Pittsford as well as various other regions around the Rochester area. Also, we are not limiting ourselves just to these areas, however I don't want to be any further than 4 - 5 hours away from the Canadian border.

I really do appreciate any information, advice, etc. you could give me. Thank you!

I haven't lived in Rochester for 12 years but I know the area extremely well and visit several times a year (my parents live there). You can get a LOT of house for $350k. Sounds like Webster may be the area you're looking for- good schools, borders Lake Ontario (and Irondequoit Bay), extremely safe and kid-friendly, and awfully nice houses while not being too far from the city center. Anywhere in Rochester will be less than an hour and a half to the Canadian border, most are closer to 1 hour.

The property taxes everyone speaks of are kind of overblown. My parents' house in the city of Rochester are in line with my brother's apartment I bought him in Manhattan on a value/cost basis, and less than mine in Westchester County.

[itSmellsBAD]

You're going the wrong way. People relocate TO Charlotte FROM Rochester.
Not the other way around.

[I'minformed2]

Obviously not everyone is as negative and bitter about this region as you are smellsbad... Anyways, I think Webster would also be your best bet with the exception of the "non-cookie cutter" part. I know $350k could probably get you a nice house with some charecter, possibly in need of a little TLC, right on the lake with a nice watefront lot in Webster. If not, you could almost definitely get a property like that in Irondequoit, Greece, Hilton, or Hamlin in your pricerange. The village (not surrounding town) of Pittsford would also fit your wants, if you consider the Erie Canal to be a "body of water". There is a beautiful promenade (sp?) type area called Schoen place in the village of pittsford, right on the canal with nice little shops, restaraunts and an ice cream parlor. In the village, $350k could get you a very well maintained historic home with tons of charecter; they are just a little harder to find because they don't get listed very often. I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck in coming to Rochester! I acutally just moved back here this summer from the Raleigh area and am VERY happy to be back!

[sweetclimber]

North Greece would be a great fit around Edgemere drive along the lake. The schools would be Greece Arcadia I believe and you have the lake right in your backyard. There is good proximity to 390 for commuting to work. It is a really nice area, picturesque and safe.

[Doggz3]

You may also want to consider Canandaigua. Very historic downtown - a lot of sweet-looking Victorians within your price range and nestled against the epynomous fingr lake. About 30 minutes outside of Rochester proper to the southeast (about 15-20 minutes from Pittford).

[HomerBrink]

Brighton is very nice. I don't think you'll regret the move to Rochester. Good luck.

[rubygreta]

Originally Posted by itSmellsBAD

You're going the wrong way. People relocate TO Charlotte FROM Rochester.
Not the other way around.

Maybe, but based on a lot of posts here, many people have lots of regrets. Charlotte, other than a vibrant economy, does not exactly sound like paradise.

[Mamamischa]

Originally Posted by rubygreta

Maybe, but based on a lot of posts here, many people have lots of regrets. Charlotte, other than a vibrant economy, does not exactly sound like paradise.

Indeed. Paradise it is not. It's not a bad place, especially if you don't mind bad infrastructure, acres of strip malls, subpar schools, and being treated with "polite disdain". I guess we're tire of being glared at because I have a Canadian accent, and my husband has long hair and wears an earring.

Thank you all for your input. We will definitely research the areas you have all suggested.