Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We have begun to look in NC because friends from our church here moved to Charlotte last month. They thought it might be a good fit for us too.
Although we love the weather and beauty here in So. Cal, we cannot afford to buy and maintain a house with a one income family. We would like to continue to homeschool our daughters and have read that NC has support and more affordable. Also wondering about the west too.
We would like to move our toner recycling business there and heard that Charlotte area good central location but not sure it's the only place. We are able to serve any companies who do large amount of printing, does anyone has any ideas of where else this might work?
We would be looking to rent initially but if we find enough work, eventually buy a house around 100-150K. We are not interested in a big place or lot size, just a safe, 1000-1500 sft. house, in family friendly area with some green spaces nearby. Most of NC looks beautiful on the internet.
My husband is planning a trip next month. We would appreciate ideas for communities/neighborhoods for home or business. We are willing to commute to work about 50-60 miles.
Also any months/places good for fun events to plan a family trip for as well!
EllaBella,
I think you might like Hickory, NC. It's in the foothills of the Western North Carolina Mountains, but actually the Charlotte forum is where you would find a few posts concerning Hickory. Of course there's our City-Data page for Hickory, also. It has a number of photographs and lots of stats, including the affordability. Hickory is less than an hour from Charlotte, and same distance up to the mountains via I-40 where I live in Asheville, and also up to Boone for skiing via NC 321, which goes right through the far west side of Hickory.
Lake Hickory is the jewel of the town, also Lenoir Rhyne College is there, and all the neighborhoods between that college and expanding northwest over to the lake and above the lake, those are all good places to live. Homes are in the price range you put, and you can get everything from a typical suburban home with garage on ground level, to an older style home with architectural pointed roofs and arched doors. Their downtown has a walkable shoppe area which no cars go thru there, there are easily a dozen printing places in Hickory!!!, and it has the usual schools, mall, hospital, parks, ballgames, libraries, and other interesting places and normal recreational activtiies.
In general, it's fairly coolish in Hickory, but not quite as snowy or freezing as Asheville is. And Hickory gets plenty warm in summer, so the lake is very appealing. A few blocks from there, you can get a house in your range to where you can walk down to the lake and enjoy it, might help make up for losing the Pacific Ocean. Or you may like living in an older established neighborhood with lots of trees, too. I don't know how long it's been since you all have been back East, but it is some kind of green everywhere, that's the biggest difference between So Cal (I've spent a couple summers there) and NC, and also plenty of rain.
Since we're in the South, friendliness is commonplace, things are a little slower than Calif, much more casual, and if you choose our foothills and Hickory, your Charlotte-based friends will be relatively nearby for visits now and then. Getting to our beaches will take you a little doing, so you may wind up cutting across SC to historic Charleston or maybe Myrtle Beach will suit you better, it's built-up and modern. But the Atlantic Ocean is nothing like the Pacific. It is truly wild and rough, beaches have eroded in many areas, but everybody on the East Coast loves going to the ocean, just like in Calif. Hope this helps some.
GG
In general, it's fairly coolish in Hickory, but not quite as snowy or freezing as Asheville is. And Hickory gets plenty warm in summer, so the lake is very appealing. A few blocks from there, you can get a house in your range to where you can walk down to the lake and enjoy it, might help make up for losing the Pacific Ocean.
Since we're in the South, friendliness is commonplace, things are a little slower than Calif, much more casual, and if you choose our foothills and Hickory, your Charlotte-based friends will be relatively nearby for visits now and then. Getting to our beaches will take you a little doing, so you may wind up cutting across SC to historic Charleston or maybe Myrtle Beach will suit you better, it's built-up and modern. But the Atlantic Ocean is nothing like the Pacific. It is truly wild and rough, beaches have eroded in many areas, but everybody on the East Coast loves going to the ocean, just like in Calif. Hope this helps some.
GG
"Fairly coolish in Hickory" is, of course, describing the winter. From mid-April through September it is HOT. You might love it - but it's something you should know before you move, especially if you like outdoor activities. I recommend planning your visit for July (but not for the 4th).
How old are your daughters? That will help people suggest fun things for your vacation.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
children
