Convincing my husband to move to N.C. (Charlotte, Raleigh: live, restaurants)

[sammydavis81]

Hi,
I am trying to convince my husband to move from Portland, OR to NC. We will be taking a trip out there this June to see if it is a good fit for our family as we are looking to get away from the violence, crime, homeless crisis and graffiti torn area of Portland. I am hoping to get advice on good cities to move to or things to do while we are there. A little about my family:

Husband is 35 and works as a engineering tech
I am 39 and am a bookkeeper
2 kids (1 and 3)
Things we enjoy are: shopping, good food/restaurants, festivals, not a huge city life but not small town either, a larger city close by, swimming, beaches and children's activities like a children's museum, zoo or science center.

The cities we were thinking about are:
Cary
Raleigh
Concord
Fuquay-Varina

We are hoping to get a nice 4 bedroom (or more), 2.5 bedroom house, at least 2250 sq ft for less than $350k.

Any help you could provide would be great.


Thanks,

Kim

[poppydog]

The Charlotte and Raleigh areas are probably a pretty good fit for you. In the Raleigh area look in Cary, Apex, Wake Forest. Your budget may be a little tight in some areas.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by sammydavis81

I am trying to convince my husband to move from Portland, OR to ...

Wanting to get out of Portland is one thing.
Crossing the entire country to achieve it is a bit extreme.

Any help you could provide would be great.

Try somewhere closer, ideally where you already have friends and family...
and limit your choices to 300Kcities on that side of the Continental Divide.
Nail down at least one solid job before uprooting.

[SGMI]

I last visited Portland in September 2002 to see relatives... I have good memories of what it was like before the explosive growth, the street anarchy, the hordes of vagrants. It's really sad to see videos of what people have to deal with there today.

FWIW - North Carolina piedmont cities are similar in climate to Eugene. Eugene sometimes gets that still, thick-feeling, summer humid air - because of it's location at the end of the Willamette valley. Many times I'd pull off the interstate to get gas near Eugene, and say to myself "yeah, feels like home..."

[Buxton Bagpipes]

Don't ignore the Triad...Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point. Lots of manufacturing, which I assume would be good for your husband's job prospect. More affordable than Charlotte or the Triangle. Very family friendly and plenty of amenities.

[skeddy]

Wilmington area sounds like it would work for you

[sammydavis81]

Yeah, I have lived here all my life. It used to be so beautiful and peaceful and now it is just a completely different city.

Thank you so much for the suggestion!

[roadpony]

Originally Posted by Buxton Bagpipes

Don't ignore the Triad...Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point. Lots of manufacturing, which I assume would be good for your husband's job prospect. More affordable than Charlotte or the Triangle. Very family friendly and plenty of amenities.

Agree 100%

[ramieldarini]

Originally Posted by hey_guy

I'm trying really hard not to ask but you'll probably move and vote democrat right?

It doesn't matter if they vote democrat or republican, there is a place in North Carolina for everyone. In the North Carolina where I'm from we accept all beliefs (other than racism and homophobia), traditions and everything of that nature. Lets not make our state feel hostile to people who think differently than you (:

[roadpony]

Originally Posted by ramieldarini

It doesn't matter if they vote democrat or republican, there is a place in North Carolina for everyone. In the North Carolina where I'm from we accept all beliefs (other than racism and homophobia), traditions and everything of that nature. Lets not make our state feel hostile to people who think differently than you (:

Thank you!