Need Major Advice/Help with Southern States Please! (Greenville, Anderson: for sale, to rent)

[sqessvd]

Hi,
I really could use some major feedback please!

We have been dreaming of moving south, from PA, for a couple of years now. We have been thinking of East TN but are now exploring east SC.

Been looking at the south for several reasons - call me naive with some of them :-)
Dreaming of "nice" people. Yes, we have nice people up north. I'm talking about the whole "feel" of niceness on more of a daily basis. Everywhere I've ever been in the south there is "niceness". Even the McDonald employees are nicer down South.

It's still the "Bible Belt". Very hard, in my area, to find a good bible-based Christian church.

We homeschool. I believe more people homeschool and that there is more of a homeschooling community down south.

WARM/HOT SUNSHINE-Y WEATHER!!!

TN country is beautiful - rolling hills... But I'm nervous that the weather might be a little too cool though. I want 90+ deg. July and Augusts not 70's most of the time. And it seems like they get a lot of rain??

Knoxville area seems great for homeschool activities but due to prices and what we want, we might have to live too far away (2 hours??) to consider that a viable resource.

I know it's weird, but I feel if I go too west in TN I'll be too "far away" LOL! From what I don't know, maybe because I've always lived in PA and NJ.

Reasons for SC:
*Just by looking at internet, SC looks like the weather is hotter. I'm moving south - I want hot. No, of course I don't want humidity all the time, but I love a 90+ deg. summer day.

*Thinking we want to be close to the ocean. Doesn't have to be right on the coast - just within an hours drive or less would be ideal. Really don't want to do the summer traffic living any closer. We vacation in Sept. in Myrtle Beach - LOVE IT!

We do want some acreage for a horse or two.

Want to have a small town, but close enough to civilization (shopping, grocery - doesn't have to be huge malls, but I don't want to have to drive 30 minutes for a gallon of milk).

Want to be around others with horses, stables, etc.

ALSO - new problems for us have arrived. I'm sorry, wasn't going to get this detailed, but I'm feeling burdened and need advice :-0
We have to make the move sooner than we are ready. We were going to wait until we reached a litigation settlement (maybe within the year??) but we can't now. Several reasons (at the same time too ): My husbands business is folding (major sales loss from an area fire), and the owner of our home and business (both on the same property) is putting the place up for sale. We don't have the credit or funds to purchase right now until the settlement so I guess we will have to rent. Since hubby has to find a job, we figured it might as well be where we want to move instead of him having to find another job when we do make the big move. I don't know why I feel compelled to share this, I really just need information on at least which state to choose

Thank you in advance for any and all advice!!

[Skyliner]

I was very excited by everything I read up until the part where you feel being within an hour of the beach is ideal. I'm sorry that I can't help you with that, however, according to everything else you disclosed, you will definitely want to check out the Greenville/Upstate are of South Carolina.

I know how important support groups are for homeschooling families and this area has multiple very strong groups with all kinds of fantastic opportunities available to homeschoolers.

The weather is great here, warm (hot for some) in the summer and cool (cold for some) in the winter, but the extreme temperatures during each season don't last too unbearably long as they can and do in most southern cities. If you do decide to live near the coast, expect much hotter temperatures that will last longer. Here in the Upstate, we enjoy long Spring and Fall seasons of beautiful temperatures in the 60s and 70s, which is perfect for all of the wonderful outdoor activities we love.

Of course there are plenty of Bible-based churches in the area as you may have heard already.

Homesteads with horses and other livestock are common in many areas around Greenville, Pickens, and Anderson. Clemson University is nearby and is well established as a leading university in horticulture and agriculture.

As for which state to choose, I really don't have a preference other than the fact that Greenville (our Greenville that is) is in South Carolina. We enjoy visiting North Carolina whenever the occasion arises - in fact, the quaint moutain village of Highlands, NC, is my favorite weekend/daytrip getaway, so I am not generally partial on which state to chose.

[brightcopperkettles]

Skyliner's advice here is excellent; I would definitely listen to her on the points she made. (Good job, Skyliner!)

Oh, and I grew up in SC and lived there most of my life, so I do know the area. :-)

[Nausikaa]

Aiken is horse country. Affordable. Near Augusta.

[sqessvd]

Thank you so much!

This has really helped me out. Very much appreciate it!

[Akhenaton06]

Being that you say you want to be close to the coast, but not right on the coast, and you prefer more of a small town atmosphere, I think Conway would be right up your alley. It's a few minutes from Myrtle Beach and would have all of the basic amenities you need, but you wouldn't have to deal with all of the things that come with living in Myrtle Beach itself.

[carolinajack]

homeschooling is awesome and just google homeschooling in sc and find lots of info. I am 40 now but my parents homeschooled us and it was great!!

on the coast lots of great Bible believing christian churches to find. if you are in charleston area look up Victory Baptist in johns island

[friendnc]

Originally Posted by Skyliner

I was very excited by everything I read up until the part where you feel being within an hour of the beach is ideal. I'm sorry that I can't help you with that, however, according to everything else you disclosed, you will definitely want to check out the Greenville/Upstate are of South Carolina.

I know how important support groups are for homeschooling families and this area has multiple very strong groups with all kinds of fantastic opportunities available to homeschoolers.

The weather is great here, warm (hot for some) in the summer and cool (cold for some) in the winter, but the extreme temperatures during each season don't last too unbearably long as they can and do in most southern cities. If you do decide to live near the coast, expect much hotter temperatures that will last longer. Here in the Upstate, we enjoy long Spring and Fall seasons of beautiful temperatures in the 60s and 70s, which is perfect for all of the wonderful outdoor activities we love.

Of course there are plenty of Bible-based churches in the area as you may have heard already.

Homesteads with horses and other livestock are common in many areas around Greenville, Pickens, and Anderson. Clemson University is nearby and is well established as a leading university in horticulture and agriculture.

As for which state to choose, I really don't have a preference other than the fact that Greenville (our Greenville that is) is in South Carolina. We enjoy visiting North Carolina whenever the occasion arises - in fact, the quaint moutain village of Highlands, NC, is my favorite weekend/daytrip getaway, so I am not generally partial on which state to chose.

Good post! (We homeschool as well )

[Rapture]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

Being that you say you want to be close to the coast, but not right on the coast, and you prefer more of a small town atmosphere, I think Conway would be right up your alley. It's a few minutes from Myrtle Beach and would have all of the basic amenities you need, but you wouldn't have to deal with all of the things that come with living in Myrtle Beach itself.

I agree with this...I moved to Conway a couple months ago from NJ and love it here. I was also looking for something with a large property and not too far from the beach. The house prices are reasonable and the taxes are low. Everyone is really friendly and and the weather is great! Myrtle Beach and the airport are within 30 minutes. I'll send you more info. in a pm (upper right corner).

[baylovers]

I would agree with the others about Conway if you'd like to be closer to the coast than Greenville. Aynor is about 15 minutes west of Conway & worth taking a look at too.