Relocating - clueless - advice needed (Rock Hill, Spartanburg: real estate, HOA fees, daycare)

[mommy4molly]

We are having to consider relocating from Spartanburg, SC to the Fort Mill/Rock Hill/Indian Land/ area because of a job that my husband has been offered in Lancaster, SC. I am just clueless on where to start. I'm trying to research, but am completely overwhelmed.
We have 2 kids (6 and 3) and in our early 30's. I'm trying to research the best place to live. The school systems, would be a driving factor for me. I am an educator, and we would be leaving an excellent school system and want something very similiar. I want to look into public and private - any suggestions? Also, any help on how to narrow my search? In what I've looked at so far, Fort Mill, seems to be "the place."
I don't know - this is just a big decision and I want to be as informed as possible. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated and I apologize for the length of this post.

[zetaetadg]

Where in Lancaster County will he be working? I am guessing the panhandle portion since you are looking at Fort Mill. I live in Fort Mill near the Lancaster County line and I love it! It's extremely convenient to Lancaster County, Ballantyne and an easy drive up 521 and then over to 485 to uptown Charlotte. But we are also close to 77 so that is convenient too.

My son will be entering Kindergarten in the Fort Mill school system in the fall. I have heard good things about it, but am reserving judgment until he actually starts. We are also planning on moving him to private school in the next few years. Fort Mill doesn't have any private schools, but we are close to private schools in both Charlotte and Rock Hill.

I personally love Fort Mill and think that we made the best decision by moving here over Rock Hill or Charlotte.

Exactly what type of neighborhood are you looking for and what do you and your family like to do?

[sixinthefamily]

Hi,

My husband works in Lacaster too. When we moved down from PA we looked all over. In the end we found the best place to be to stay in Fort Mill Schools and have an easy commute to Lancaster was the Doby's Bridge rd neighborhoods. We live at the top of the rd in Whitegrove which is a neighborhood on the larger size with larger lots in certain sections then alot of neighborhoods have. We were able to get a 5 bedrrom house with a finished walk out basement which is just what we were looking for. Our neighborhood does not have a community pool etc.. but does offer walking trails and two ponds. Our HOA fees are very low compared to other places. Other neighborhoods along dobys bridge that would be great with kids would be McKendry, Dominion Bridge ( also have no ammentities) The under construction and recently bought our Massey -huge subdivision with lots of ammenities, but i honestly dont know when they will "open", futher down the rd headed to lancaster you will find Lynwood farms this neighborhood has houses that are on acre and above lots . Other neighborhoods nearby within Fort Mill schools are: Sandy Point, Becknham$$$, Ardrey Acres and a few I missing the name of.

Nearby to all is Leroy Spring recration complex. We are about 20/25 minutes from Charlotte and the airport.

I did not use them but a great way to search for a home by neighborhood name is at Allen Tate Real Estate .
Good luck it is scary and exciting to move and start over.

[plotzonit]

Originally Posted by sixinthefamily

Hi,

Other neighborhoods nearby within Fort Mill schools are: Sandy Point, Becknham$$$, Ardrey Acres and a few I missing the name of.

I almost rolled on the floor when I read your "Becknham$$$"! Yes - that is a PRICEY hood! I remember driving through there when we first moved out here and day dreamed about living in that one house on the main road that looked like a church. I'm over it now. I know it'll never happen in this lifetime! LOL

And yes - Fort Mill would be the best bet. To the person who mentioned private schools. I say why spend that money when the public schools have been so good? I cannot believe how amazing the schools are here in Fort Mill. Hopefully, that doesn't change with all the people moving here and the budget cuts.

[Mikeopoly]

Fort Mill School Rule We moved here 2 years ago from NY, Long Island...
Been very very happy.

[zetaetadg]

Originally Posted by plotzonit

To the person who mentioned private schools. I say why spend that money when the public schools have been so good? I cannot believe how amazing the schools are here in Fort Mill. Hopefully, that doesn't change with all the people moving here and the budget cuts.

Actually, it was the OP who first mentioned private school, but we are certainly considering it. It is a personal choice. Not every child thrives in public school regardless of how great it is and vice versa.

[rdub1968]

What is your price range? Since you have kids you might want to consider a sub with a pool. Higher HOA fees, but since you are an educator I am assuming you will have a lot of free time in the summer.
I live in Waterstone and really like it. There are a lot of nice subs in the area, but it depends on your budget.

We have 2 kids (8 and 6) in Fort Mill schools and absolutely love it too. I wouldn't go private unless you had a special need.

[mommy4molly]

Gosh....I'm so surprised at the responses. Thank you so much. How helpful and nice. We are supposed to be visiting the area this weekend, so I'm sure I'll have more questions.
This can at least give me started. Thank you all, again.

[MD2NC]

I live in Bridgemill, which is right over the NC/SC line in Lancaster County and we love it. It is a John Weiland neighborhood, huge community pool w/ water slide, tennis courts, pond, etc. Tons of young families w/ kids, great community activities. I have been here 3 years and am so glad that we picked this neighborhood. The schools may not be as good as Fort Mill's, but it is getting a lot better. Good luck w/ your search.

[jessicainsc]

This is what I just wrote to someone else:

I went to middle school and high school in Lancaster and my parents and grandparents still live there. I actually work in Lancaster too, but I REFUSE to live in Lancaster because of the public schools. I currently live in Indian Land right under Ballantyne, and it takes about 30 minutes to get to work, but it is so worth it because there is soo much to do in Ballantyne and Fort Mill and we are only 20 minutes from Uptown Charlotte.

My daughter is currently only 1 year old and she does go to daycare in Lancaster and we love her daycare. Also, Carolina Christian Academy is supposed to be wonderful too (it is a private Christian school in Lancaster) and if we ever do end up moving to Lancaster or even if we stay in Indian Land but still work in Lancaster, I would send my daughter there.

Fort Mill is a great place to live with great schools (that is where I am trying to convince my husband to move us in the next year or so! ). If you do end up moving to Lancaster, Forrest Hills and Arrowood are great neighborhoods and have been popular for years. They both have houses with all price ranges in them. If you would like to live in the country, there are a lot of options for that too. And if you do end up living in Lancaster, definitely tour CCA because everyone I know who goes there/went there/had children there LOVES it! Lancaster High School is not where you want your children to go. It was bad enough when I went there, and it is a whole lot worse now.
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Today, 03:28 PM
jessicainsc
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I just read that you didn't just ask about neighborhoods and schools haha.. Lancaster County taxes are low. You can actually live where I do, right under Ballantyne and (other than schools) get all the perks of living in Ballantyne (lots of shopping, restaurants, etc.) without the high taxes. If you work in Lancaster, you could send your kids to CCA and still live in upper Indian Land (that is our plan unless we do end up living in Fort Mill). In Indian Land, we LOVE the Bridgemill and Bridge Hampton neighborhoods!! My husband loves Millstone Creek, but it is a little too country for me. They are both a little pricey though. In Fort Mill, you could live in Baxter (that is where I want to live) and you are literally right at the 77 which you could take to either 21 or 5 to get into Lancaster. From Indian Land you can just take 521 down into Lancaster, which is a much more pleasant drive, but I want to live in Baxter because of the way it is made. It's like a little town with the elementary school, restaurants, a starbucks, shopping, a wine shop, an amazing chocolate shop, etc. Plus, I am in a mommy sorority in Fort Mill and most of the stuff we do is in Baxter, so it would be very convenient for me socially. Another great neighborhood is the Reserve...I know several people that live there off of Gold Hill Road and Springfield is nice, but super expensive, but if you want to live on a golf course it would be nice. It would be further from Lancaster though.
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Also, as a side note, if your children are ages 3 and 6 and you are interested in making friends for yourself and your family, I am in a sorority for mommies and we accept new members every spring and fall. The website is [url=http://www.deltaalphagamma.com]Home Page[/url] if you want to check it out. It is based in Fort Mill, though so if you end up living in Lancaster, etc. you may not be interested.