Trying to re-locate to North Carolina, open to all areas (Raleigh: fit in, new home)
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Hello to all!! I just have a few questions and hopefully they can be answered...I live in Auburn, NY (Upstate) with my husband and two young boys ages 8 and almost 5. We have been considering relocating to North Carolina for the past couple years. We have visited different areas but there are some things more important than others. A few years ago we visited Asheville and absolutely loved the scenery and area. Years ago I have also visited the Randelman area and liked the small town feel. However, here are a few things that are very important to us, we are avid outdoors people...so we need an area that has great hiking, boating, fishing, hunting and baseball(both boys are huge baseball kids). We would also like to be able to find a home that has decent land and privacy with low taxes. Our taxes now are over $5000.00 for a small cape house, but we are paying for the neighborhood. We are also looking for great schools (this is one of the most important factors). We would like a small school, nothing too big as they are here. An area that is kid friendly, parks, roller skating, indoor fun as well. Is there such a place? lol. We would like some opinions on where to narrow our search...being relatively close to a city is a plus for entertainment but definately would like the small town feel with nice people, community activites, boating and homes with creeks and land. Thank you for your help!!
For most folks, employment is the driving force in choosing a hometown area. Is that an issue for you? How about transportation needs such as easy access to commercial airports and/or interstate highways? Climate and severe weather events an issue? Like New York, North Carolina is a big state with wilderness, high-density urban areas and everything in between.
Yeah, you've given us a pretty broad brush stroke. You could probably throw a dart at NC and just about anywhere it lands would meet the criteria you've laid out.
Employment isn't a huge factor, like I said my husband does general construction, so I am sure any area has some of that going on. I am almost done with school as a Medical Tech, so a hospital nearby is a must. We both do not want terribly long commutes, under 20-30 minutes.
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Originally Posted by serenitee31
Employment isn't a huge factor, like I said my husband does general construction, so I am sure any area has some of that going on. I am almost done with school as a Medical Tech, so a hospital nearby is a must. We both do not want terribly long commutes, under 20-30 minutes.
The same recession hit here as everywhere else. Have you looked at unemployment figures?
... like I said my husband does general construction, so I am sure any area has some of that going on.
That's a very dangerous, incorrect assumption to make. It's also dangerous to assume either of you would make the same wage.
You can hike, boat and fish not too far out from any of the cities here even if you lived in downtown Raleigh (which I imagine you wouldn't, but I'm just making a point). And baseball? This is America.
I'd look into Asheville or Wilmington, paying careful attention to the schools in each location because the schools may vary from one street to the next. Wilmington may have better job opportunities if you want to wager on the steady influx of retirees who want to build homes and need medical care, but you'd have to look into that more.
Like everywhere else, living in an area with "great" schools can come with a hefty tax bill. Sometimes you have to start with employment then look for the neighborhood. Also, there has to be some criteria that is ether a deal maker or a deal breaker. What are yours?
Wilmington may have better job opportunities if you want to wager on the steady influx of retirees who want to build homes and need medical care, but you'd have to look into that more.
It's true there is much construction going on from Myrtle Beach to Jacksonville. However, many of the crews are Hispanics, and NC is a "right-to-work" state. So you can't expect the wages you may be used to.
Near Wilmington, Hampstead has very good schools. We have many opportunities of fishing and boating. However the summers are so humid and buggy, you won't want to do much hiking.
Employment isn't a huge factor, like I said my husband does general construction, so I am sure any area has some of that going on.
General construction is one of the toughest positions to land, at least in the Triangle, right now. My husband was a general contractor, had to file bankruptcy two years ago. He spent three years just trying to find something, ANYTHING to keep afloat. He just found work about 6 months ago at less than half of what he was making before, in a somewhat different field (maintenance generalist for a corporate entity). Most of his friends who are in construction have been downsized, laid off, had pay cuts, had their company close over the past three years. Most of these individuals are in their 40's, and have been in the trades their whole lives. This includes job foremen, site supervisors, trim and finish carpentry specialists, tile and flooring specialists, and general construction laborers. In some cases, they are now working "under the table" on a day-to-day basis, or have left construction entirely to go back to school so they can find a new career. Some of these folks have seen their old jobs go to younger people, often immigrants, who are working for about half the pay they had been making. Yes, building is increasing. But there are so many people who were out of work in the trades that are still looking that the pay is still very low, and there is a lot of competition for jobs.
I'm sorry this seems so negative, and I don't want to discourage you from moving, but I think it's important to know the reality of the situation.
GC's are having a tough go in the state right now. New home building is low and I k now quite a few who have had to find other fields of work or branch out. So I would not count on work for him. Unemployment is still pretty high here as well but the medical fields are the ones that seem to be ok.
As for where, you did make it kind of broad and many of your criteria can fit in several places. That being said randleman is an ok town good schools and not too far to drive into Asheboro or Greensboro which both have hospitals and all of the associated (Greensboro much more so) Plenty of outdoor activities as well. Use to live in Asheboro and was not so bad.
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