Looking to locate around Marion & Marganton? (Charlotte, Greensboro: to rent, condo)

[Biff]

My wife loves to see the mountains but we both don't like too much snow. We're also retired and were wondering if there were any communities in these areas?

Looking to locate around Marion & Morganton - or even further east along Interstate 40 to Statesville?
Ever been there?
What do you think? Your knowledgeable advice greatly appreciated!
Biff

[I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA]

I also have been looking at Marion, it looks like homes are cheaper there.

[mhogan10010]

My folks are originally from Marion. I lived in Marion for 5 years, and my Mom and Dad moved back there about 20 years ago. Dad passed last year, but my Mom is still there.
In general Morganton is more progressive and prosperous than Marion.
PM me if you like.

[silverwing]

Originally Posted by Biff

or even further east along Interstate 40 to Statesville?

The "mountains" around Statesville would be a part of the Brushy Mountain chain. Compared to peaks farther west in the state, they are really more like big hills - rising maybe as much as 1000 feet from their base. They are found in Iredell county (county seat is Statesville), as well as Wilkes and Yadkin. You know you've hit them when you are traveling along roads like SR18, in Wilkes county, and all of a sudden, you start going up.

Yadkin county doesn't really offer much in the way of large communities, though you are close to Winston-Salem via 421. The largest town in Wilkes in Wilkesboro, which is about 30 miles from Boone. Statesville is near the junction of I-77/I-40 and is some ~20 miles north of Mooresville which, for anyone reading this board, gets alot of interest.

It would help if people looking at certain areas for retirement be a little more detailed. Their needs are different than the family-range relos who are primarily looking at "good schools, low crime, yap yap yap". Is access to medical facilities that offer good elder care a priority? Have you looked forward to a time where assisted care may be necessary? Living in the mountains is very bucolic, but what activities are you looking for to keep busy? Not asking for income details, but are you looking for a certain range in house prices? And do you want a house .. acreage .. condo? Mountain towns are wonderful, but some of them have very sketchy roads you have to navigate. How are you at driving narrow, twisty lanes?

I'd hate to suggest that this board be broken down into even more specialized forums, but perhaps we need a "Looking at NC for Possible Retirement" section? I think I've seen at least three Mt. Airy threads, gawd knows how many Asheville posts, and quite a few "want to retire on the coast" subjects.

People visiting this forum looking at retirement options needs answers of a totally different vein from those who are concerned with jobs, schools and good neighborhoods to raise their kids.

And on that note .... There's an interesting article in the Winston-Salem Journal, dated Sept 5. Their links suck like a Hoover, and full article quotes get snipped here. If you go to http://www.journalnow.com/ check the sidebar links for "Local News" and <click> on "Mountains". An article titled "Retirees expected to flock to N.C. mountains" details census data for Ashe, Watauga, Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties. Predictions are that there will be a 150% increase in the 65 and older age group in those counties by 2030. Notes Ed Rosenberg, director of the gerontology graduate program at Appalachian State University: "In about 20 years, North Carolina is going to have a higher percentage of older people than Florida does now." "That's what we're going to look like."

[mm34b]

Statewide in NC, 12.1% of the population is 65 years old and over, but in my county in the mountains (Henderson), it's 21.4%.

[hapaleeretired]

We moved to NC last year. We looked at Marion but it lost out because it was a bit too far from a larger city. We narrowed our search to Lenoir and Morganton which are about the same distance from Hickory where we do most of our shopping. We settled in Cajah’s Mountain which is between the two. We are also triangulated between three airports: Greensboro/Winston Salem, Charlotte and Asheville. Love the weather here. Four seasons none of which are extreme. Locals complained that this was one long hot summer. We had two snows last year. One melted as it fell. The other stuck and lasted two days. It may snow one day and be 60 the next.
Upside: WEATHER, the mountains, the beauty including the sky which offers offers cloud formations which have so much personality, location , one day’s drive to most anywhere east of Mississippi River, housing costs, taxes, cost of living and for us: THE BEST MOTORCYCLING IN THE USA. We rode every week last winter. How many places can you ride home, park your bike, jump in you car, drive thirty miles and go snow skiing?
Downside: Locals aren’t overly friendly (we were spoiled by the Midwest), You have to be a bit careful if you like to joke around. Everything is taken literally. Sarcasm and exaggeration is totally lost on the locals. You have to watch your dates on food purchases pretty closely and you cannot find good fresh produce. Even the farmer’s markets are disappointing. They locals seem to wait until everything is over ripe to pick it. Although I list the weather as a plus, if you have any fear of lightening this area can be pretty scary. I have been told that is second to only Orlando FL for lightening strikes.
Do you have allergies? This area is known for the worst pollen counts on record. If I had the allergies I suffered twenty years ago it would have killed me.
Everyone warned us that the big issue was ICE. I guess that every couple of years they have a serious ice storm. If that happens we plan on staying home until it goes away.
Where ever you decide I strongly encourage you to rent there for at least a couple of months before committing to a move.

[Biff]

thanks for your replies.

Biff

[YorkshireLass]

Biff,

Look at Rutherford County as an option. We get less snow here than Marion or Morganton but we have all the great views and good home prices.

If I can help let me know

[mhogan10010]

Originally Posted by hapaleeretired

.Downside: Locals aren’t overly friendly (we were spoiled by the Midwest), You have to be a bit careful if you like to joke around. Everything is taken literally. Sarcasm and exaggeration is totally lost on the locals. You have to watch your dates on food purchases pretty closely and you cannot find good fresh produce. Even the farmer’s markets are disappointing. They locals seem to wait until everything is over ripe to pick it. Although I list the weather as a plus, if you have any fear of lightening this area can be pretty scary. I have been told that is second to only Orlando FL for lightening strikes.
Do you have allergies? This area is known for the worst pollen counts on record. If I had the allergies I suffered twenty years ago it would have killed me.
Everyone warned us that the big issue was ICE. I guess that every couple of years they have a serious ice storm. If that happens we plan on staying home until it goes away.
Where ever you decide I strongly encourage you to rent there for at least a couple of months before committing to a move.

Very good advice and all very true.
I grew up in Detroit area and lived in Marion for 5 years. My folks were from there originally, so we visited there every year I can remember.
When I lived there I suffered with the worse sinus troubles. Even now, when I go back for a visit, my head clogs up and my throat tightens up almost within an hour. I used to get laryngitis every Spring.
We were also surprised by the lousy produce. Guess we got spoiled growing up in Michigan. Here in NYC, we also have terrific produce.
I guess it is what you grow up with, but I also find the people more clannish and stand-off-ish then people in the Midwest.
Yes, rent first. A long weekend or even a couple of weeks, will not tell you if it is where you will be happy.

[robertloftis]

I reall dont believe any of you lived in Marion,Ive lived here for 70 years,and I cant say things that bad about this place.