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My husband is considering taking a job in New Bern. Does anyone have any insight on housing in the $180,000 range? My biggest concern is finding a job for myself. Currently I work at a Chamber of Commerce and I have a great deal of experience in public relations and marketing. Judging by the New Bern Sun Journal there aren't a lot of jobs available. However, the town is wonderful and the possible employer has just been great. Advice?
My husband is considering taking a job in New Bern. Does anyone have any insight on housing in the $180,000 range? My biggest concern is finding a job for myself. Currently I work at a Chamber of Commerce and I have a great deal of experience in public relations and marketing. Judging by the New Bern Sun Journal there aren't a lot of jobs available. However, the town is wonderful and the possible employer has just been great. Advice?
You can find some pretty nice older homes in New Bern at that price range. There are ones all over Trent Woods, River Bend, Brices Creek (where I lived). We had a very nice two story house, 2100 square feet. Sold it for 135 about five years ago.
Here is a list of New Bern neighborhoods and towns (all are in New Bern)
-Brices Creek: (my home) Very nice, located along the Trent river and Brices creek
-James City: Older homes, located along Neuse river. Taberna is the nicest subdivision in James City, and New Bern. It is a golfing community. Check here last though. Because it could get pricey. But you just might find something.
-Trent Woods (tons of new and old subdivisions) very pretty area along trent river. Many houses in your price range....and over.
-River Bend (Located off Hwy 17 south and Trent River) 15 minutes from downtown New Bern, 5 minutes from city limits. This is also an older community. But still very nice. Tons of houses in your price range. There are other subdivisions along 17 on the way to River Bend. Not the community I would choose, but everyone is different.
Greenbrier- New Berns first golfing community located off of Glenburnie rd and hwy 70. Very nice older neighborhood. You might be able to find some smaller houses around 180. But I can't be sure. I would look here for sure though.
Those are the areas I would look in. It does not sound like a lot, but trust me, it is. Trent Woods is huge! In fact, Trent woods is so large it is a town within New Bern. But seperate I think. Strange I know. They have their own police station and everything. Just don't speed, there is never any crime there, so they have to pick on somebody. You could spend forever looking in this town alone. There are tons of huge oak trees all over the place. It really is a pretty town. (there is no downtown though, just neighborhoods)
I lived in Brices Creek, so it is my favorite. I lived on Possum trot rd, which is a subdivision now, but I don't know the name if it. Maybe River trace. When we first moved there, it was a dirt road. lol But if there are houses for sale on and off Possum trot, there will be houses within your range. It is a very nice neighborhood and I miss it a lot. Nice houses as well. Also in Brices Creek check out snug harbor, Hunters ridge, Hoods Creek, Deer run, OaK View. More houses in your range.
I really can't tell you much about the jobs. There probably is not a good selection. When I lived there, my father ran the cable tv company, my mom worked at a bb&T bank. I was in school So I can tell you about all the schools.
Thanks, Beffrey2, very reassuring because I had heard it was expensive with all of the retirees moving to the area. Of course, I'm still concerned about the job situation. I did get a relocation package from the Chamber and they gave me a list of the biggest companies, so that will be a help. We were there for his interview a few weeks ago (it was rainy and nasty and not the best day to see any new city). I really liked Bellefern (I think that is how you spell it) off Chelsea Road, but it may have been out of our price range. I really want to keep the home price low since I don't know what my job prospects are going to be like. Would you move back? How far is it from Wilmington? Since the city is more inland off the bay, how does it fair as far as hurricanes go? I don't want to move some place and be wiped out a year later! Thanks so much for your reponse.
Thanks, Beffrey2, very reassuring because I had heard it was expensive with all of the retirees moving to the area. Of course, I'm still concerned about the job situation. I did get a relocation package from the Chamber and they gave me a list of the biggest companies, so that will be a help. We were there for his interview a few weeks ago (it was rainy and nasty and not the best day to see any new city). I really liked Bellefern (I think that is how you spell it) off Chelsea Road, but it may have been out of our price range. I really want to keep the home price low since I don't know what my job prospects are going to be like. Would you move back? How far is it from Wilmington? Since the city is more inland off the bay, how does it fair as far as hurricanes go? I don't want to move some place and be wiped out a year later! Thanks so much for your reponse.
Katie Belle
Well, it has been five years since we lived there. I just checked some prices, and wow, they have gone up a lot. Looks like you might need to prepare to spend more like 220,000.
However, you can still find houses through out most of the neighborhoods in your price range. But you will not have as much to choose from. So I still think you will be fine.
I do remember Bellefern, and it was always one of the more expensive neighborhoods in Trent Woods.
I still think you can find lots of stuff in Trent Woods. You might have to settle for some of the much older, smaller, one story houses. But the good thing about New Bern is these houses are still in great neighborhoods and very safe ones at that.
Try River Bend for sure, and Trent Woods.
There are also some subdivsions further down 70 east, little past James City. Might be worth looking at for 180,000's.
Also try some of the houses behind New Bern High school, Try the ones behind Glenburnie rd, where 17 meets as well. These are smaller houses built in the middle 90's. I bet you could find something there.
Just be prepared to sacrafice some house. But I don't know what you are used to anyway, so you might be fine.
Alice_61
The schools are probably some of the best in eastern NC.
The best two Elementary Schools are Brinson Memorial in James city, and Bangert in Trent Woods.
Best Middle school is HJ, off of Glenburnie rd.
There is only one high school. It is very nice. So it is a bit crowded, even when I went. So, it must really be crowded these days. lol
You will be good with those schools for sure though.
Katiebelle,
I belong to the New Bern Board of Realtors (As well as the Crystal Coast Board). I did some research and found the average sold price for New Bern from Jan. 1 thru today (Dec.19) to be $195,201. That is sold price not list price.
Please keep in mind-That's with all of the expensive waterfront properties factored in too.
Your target range of $180K is more than do-able, from new construction to historic homes.
There are a lot of PR/Marketing opportunities in the area. We have a cluster of TV/Radio stations in two markets near by, multi-million dollar fishing tournaments, world class boat manufacturors and more "big" events than you could imagine.
Moderator cut: Removed
Take Care,
Bill
Last edited by xxman777; 01-06-2007 at 09:32 PM..
Reason: advertising
Bill and Beffrey - you both have been great. I have to admit that we went to New Bern a few weeks ago, like I said, when it was rainy and cold and any town would have looked terrible. I saw the Chamber's and CVB's websites and they just sold me! My husband is considering a job at Tryon Palace, so we want to be near the downtown area. We are big supporters of the downtown businesses where we are now, but are suburbanites at heart (one border collie, three cats), so we have some definite ideas about the type of neighborhood we want to live in. Trent Woods keeps coming up, but I was surprised that most of them had one car garages! We are looking for the typical 3 bedroom, 2 bath house and a quiet street is a must, we have two acres now. Water front or golf course lots are not important to us. But Beffrey - I'll keep Brice's Creek in mind! I don't think we ever made it up around Glenburnie Road while we were there, how is that area?
The hard part in this decision is I love my job. I work at the Chamber of Commerce and Chamber/CVB is in my blood, but I do have experience working at an art museum and a house museum. Considering the tourism aspect of the economy I'm hoping that will be to my advantage.
Yes, Beffrey, I think housing prices have gone up since you lived there. But I think our next step will be to get my husband in a room rental (I saw one near Tryon Palace for rent) while I sell here and get us moved there. If either of you know anyone willing to rent a room for a few months - cheap - let me know. Also, are there any good employment agencies I can go ahead and get my resume to? I'm good at high profile public relations/marketing positions. And I have this feeling I'm going to be a big New Bern booster!
Bill I saw where you sent a private message, but my pop up blocker blocked it. Sorry.
You will have no problem getting something close to downtown. Everything is close to downtown except river bend (15 minutes) and Fairfield Harbor (15-20 minutes)
Brices Creek is the best area for real though. It's close to downtown...emmm 5-7 minutes. I gave you some of the subdivision above. There are also some subdivisions further down on the edge of the Crotan National forest (Jones Co. Line. They are only another 2 miles further from downtown. So you would still be within 10 minutes. Another great thing about Brices Creek is our local store (merchants) it has such a small town feel, everyone knows everybody. It is located right on Brices Creek. They rent out canoes, and other cool stuff. They also have a boat dock, so if you are out on the water you can stop in to get gas for the boat, and lunch and breakfast (which is great). Brices creek runs into the Trent and Neuse river, so if you ever get a boat, you will have a blast.
The only negative thing about the area is the shopping. However, you are a downtown supporter so that probably is not a problem.
Oh yeah, there are plenty of historical homes. Bridgeton has plenty also. Probably some to rent as well. Look down along the A and B streets in Bridgeton.
Bill: We will probably be looking for a room for my husband until I get things settled here. So any help with that, let me know. Also, you have a great website.
One last worry thing - how are the hurricanes there? My family is from Louisiana, so need I say any more about why it is a concern?!
Bill: We will probably be looking for a room for my husband until I get things settled here. So any help with that, let me know. Also, you have a great website.
One last worry thing - how are the hurricanes there? My family is from Louisiana, so need I say any more about why it is a concern?!
Don't worry about Hurricanes. New Bern does not flood. The winds are weakened by the time they get there.
I lived in New Bern during all the bad Hurricanes. Just pine tree damage mostly. So get rid of your tall pine trees, you will be fine. Hurricanes in New Bern are more of a fun thing. Oak trees are tough. New Bern we saw wind gust around 100 MPH Fran. And the rest of the storms were 70-80MPH gusts. None of them were really bad in New Bern, Compared to Wilmington area. If a Cat 3 or stronger were to ever come in at Atlantic Beach or Emerald Isle though, that would be a different story. It has never happend though.
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Very nice, located along the Trent river and Brices creek
Thanks!
