Looking for some advice VA or NC (Virginia Beach, Richmond: real estate, apartment)

[Merrie]

I have been looking through some threads and with all the great responses I want to share my situation and get some advice.

I live in a small town with not much in it. It is very hard for me to get a job, and there is not much to do here. I live an hour away from a city and go there a lot, even to eat at a good restaurant, (bad speller) ir to go to a mall. My husband works at a factory and doesn't mind his job, but we both know it is not what he wants to do for the rest of his life. I work here and there at the high school as a substitute. I am trying to get a job with the postal service because they have great benefits and pay. However I have been watching where they have openings and there is nothing around my area, closest is over 3 hours away. I am trying to figure out the best way for us to move. For example, a job transfer or a brand new job all together. I am looking for a job everyday and have had no luck. As soon as I find one I will be saving every penny I can for the move. We don't have any money saved yet, and have bad credit so I was thinking about an rent to own home to begin with. I can't express how much I want to leave this small town, one concern is I have been here all my life and there is no crime here. Niether one of us have a degree although we both have about a year of college finished. I am looking into bookkeeping at the moment maybe get a degree in accounting. My long term goal is to be a landlord and have several rental properties. There are no property management places around here for me to inquire if a job with one would be right for me.

We want to move to VA or NC to get out of the cold winters, he doesn't mind the snow and I hate it with a passion. We want to be somewhere where there are things to do, and see. We don't have children yet, but are talking about starting a family in about 3 years.

[Jeri]

Merrie, I am in Hampton/Newport News, VA area.... I know a person that is leaving the postal service here and going to Utah.... have you considered our area? To see the cost of housing in this area go to: www.hrmls.com/preferred agent ..... click on Property Wizard and insert your name and e-mail address then you can search for FREE for rentals and sales.

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[tokyopapa]

Virginia is a gorgeous state. It does not snow a lot, and the climate is great with warm summers and mild winters. The southwestern part of the state probably has the least crime, as it is also the least populated. The southwestern part probably also has the lowest cost-of-living, largely due to a high percentage of Republicans who support low taxes and also a lower percentage of higher income families. The beaches and inner coastal region in the eastern part of Virginia is really nice, but the homes can be a little pricey. With this said, however, it could make a great spot to look into some beach-front investments to fast forward your goal of being a landlord. The area is really urban, so your husband finding a job would also be less difficult. A warning, however: I would try my best to stay away from downtown Richmond/Virginia Beach after dark because the area does not have a reputation for being very safe. Lastly, the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area of northern Virginia is probably the most expensive, most highly progressive, most diverse, but also probably the most dangerous area of Virginia. It snows a bit more up here than near the beaches and the southern parts, but the summers are still very warm. Real estate is a bit more challenging to find and sell in this region, but the large industrial-base economy should make it easier for your husband to find a job.

North Carolina would be the state I would most highly recommend. The western part has beautiful views of the mountains and friendly, well-educated natives, especially around the cities of Boone, Asheville, and Hickory. The Charlotte metropolitan area is highly progressive, but also a little on the pricey side. The Research Triangle area of Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Cary is probably the most liberal, offers the most shopping options, and is the most highly educated area of the state. Homes here are more expensive than anywhere in the entire state with average home prices in the well-to-do suburb of Cary climbing over 200K (which is very high for the South which is known for having low cost of living expenditures). The coastal area of North Carolina is nice, inexpensive, but also sparsely populated, and finding a job for your husband would be really difficult. Of the six regions I've mentioned, I would lastly suggest the eastern region of North Carolina, as the economy is slow, and real estate would be difficult to buy and sell.

I hope that my post has been helpful, and I would gladly accept any questions or comments you may have. ^_^

[roanoker 4]

To elaborate further on VA/NC. I think if you choose a big city in either NC or VA it will be more expensive than the state as a whole. SW VA and Southside VA have very low housing rates but they are not generating jobs like other parts of the state. They are great places to relocate to if you are coming from a pricier state like California or New York, IF you are retired and you would like to keep more of the money that you have earned. VA and NC are in the top five states in the U.S. now where people are flocking to. IF a person needs career growth look at the booming areas of Charlotte, Raleigh or Northern Va. IF quality of life is the main issue from someone relocating look at Roanoke, Asheville, Charlottesville, Wilmington and Greensboro Triad.

[eddieb323]

It sounds like you're in a tough situation and I hear where you're coming from. That being said I would suggest you finish your education where you're at right now. The cost of living in the larger cities in va and nc has risen dramatically over recent years. I live in SE VA and have watched real estate prices nearly double in the last 5 years! It's getting harder to survive on a blue collar/working class wage here and be able to also live in a good affordable rental property. If you really can't find any work where you're at, y'all might try coming here for a couple of weeks, and using the time to see what type of work you could find and seeing if there's an apartment that you could afford on that wage. I hear what you're saying about the weather. I came to VA from Illinois and I quickly came to enjoy a short winter with little or no snow. Good luck!

[Steven2149]

I have one word for you... TRIAD. Check out the Greensboro / Winston Salem / High Point area. You can be in or near a larger city. Not much snow or harsh weather at all, yet you are a very easy day trip to even larger cities, mountains, and about 4 hours or so from the beaches. The job markets there are fairly strong, and the cost of living is excellent. I had hoped to move to the area last year, but plans changed. You have some fairly distinct areas outside of Winston that I like, because they have a very small town feel, yet are extremely easy drives to get into the city. Clemmons, Lewisville, Pfaffotwn (you can't go wrong with a town that has a high school named Ronald Reagan H.S. ), King..... Where else... Lexington.... Just to name a few. Do a little research on that area, you may be suprised.