Sell us on S. Carolina (Green, Greenville: sales, home sales, school district)

[debbie casanova]

This is a new site for us and we are reading many great postings as to comparing cities for relocation purposes. We are moving from Ohio to S. Carolina within 2 years (needed to adjust our plans because of slow home sales) and would like to ask the good people of the south where we should concentrate our search. We have been to Greenville several times and like that area. We have also been in the Ballentine area. We will be re-entering the work force in the teaching field for a few more years. We like the outdoors, city amenities, good schools and safe surroundings. We also don't want to get caught up in trafffic each time we want to get someplace so we have not considered Charlotte. We would greatly appreciate any southern hospitality in narrowing our search for "the best place to live". . . . Eyes wide open and lookin for help

[South Range Family]

You would probably get a better sales pitch if you actually posted this in the South Carolina forum.

I don't think they come to the Ohio forum looking for people to entice to the South.

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by debbie casanova

This is a new site for us and we are reading many great postings as to comparing cities for relocation purposes. We are moving from Ohio to S. Carolina within 2 years (needed to adjust our plans because of slow home sales) and would like to ask the good people of the south where we should concentrate our search. We have been to Greenville several times and like that area. We have also been in the Ballentine area. We will be re-entering the work force in the teaching field for a few more years. We like the outdoors, city amenities, good schools and safe surroundings. We also don't want to get caught up in trafffic each time we want to get someplace so we have not considered Charlotte. We would greatly appreciate any southern hospitality in narrowing our search for "the best place to live". . . . Eyes wide open and lookin for help

Agreed w/South Range...post in one of the S. Carolina forums to get a better response. Having made the move from NE Ohio to Columbia nearly 2 years ago ourselves, we have not regretted it at all. While teachers are still in demand here, it is much less than 2 years ago when we decided to come due to the economy and a lot of districts on hiring freezes and/or cutting a few positions. However, if you have a 2-year window, I have a feeling (or at least hope!) that the economy will start to be turning the corner by the end of this year/early next year, and the teaching freeze is not b/c of a lack of need, it's a lack of money. My wife's school district is planning on buidling 7 new schools over the next 10 years, so there should be plenty of opportunities available. Your mention about traffic is exactly why we stayed away from Charlotte, while there are a couple of troublesome areas in Columbia at times, rarely have I got caught in a traffic jam. We are fortunate to have a solid expressway/highway set-up for a metro this size as I-77, I-26 & I-20 form a beltway around the city making for relatively easy commutes.

The three main metros in SC are Greenville, Columbia & Charleston...all are distinctly different, so I'd recommend exploring their forums for the best fit for you guys. I don't know a whole lot about Greenville, but we chose Columbia over Charleston for a couple reasons, one was affordability, Charleston is much more expensive due to it's proximity to the beaches/ocean, and job opportunities for professionals seemed to be more abundant in Columbia - it is the state capital which means more of those type jobs and having the Univ. of SC along w/it means a more stable economy, that's not to say we haven't been effected by the current recession, but it's not as bad as say in Charlotte where things have regressed in a hurry. Plus, Columbia is 2 hours from the beaches of Charleston as well as the mountains in the upstate of SC, 2 1/2 to Myrtle Beach, Savannah, Asheville or HHI, 90 minutes from Charlotte or Greenville, and 3 1/2 hours to Atlanta. And, while still 8 1/2 hours to much of our family in NE Ohio, we can do it if need be over a long 3 or 4-day weekend. That's not to say Charleston isn't a great place, we love going there, so much history and unique houses and sights to see, plus the beach and ocean are close by! But it was just too expensive for us a young couple wanting a house, plus, they are vulnerable to hurricanes as Hugo hit them pretty hard in 1989 and earthquakes as well.

Hope that gives you a little better idea, but you will definitely find more info on either of the 3 aformentioned city forums or the general SC forum. Good luck to you on your move! Oh, and 'winter' is so much better here, the past 2 it has snowed twice, and both were dustings at best, most days in December and January have highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s, and by the beginning of March it is generally at least 70 everyday until November!

[000000]

SOLD! move on.