Garner (JoCo) vs Clayton

[Rapp5]

Thanks pallasathena7! That's all good info to know. I keep getting mixed reviews on the Garner area. A few people have DM'd me with their issues/concerns with Garner but I do like some of the homes I've seen over there. Is crime a problem in your area? I read some things about break ins and things like that in general. A few people sent me messages commenting they moved because of things happening in Garner. By no means do I think the area is crime infested, so please don't take it that way! LOL I just meant things in general.

Thanks again. The Draft House seems to be a popular spot!!!

[native2nc]

Keep in mind that most people think of Garner as being the Wake County town. Some have had issues with the town of Garner, crime, schools etc. (FWIW, I do not have issues with it and know that all areas have positive and negative things in the community. ) Most people in the general public do not realize that the "Cleveland School" area of Johnston County has an address of Garner. Two different areas with different school systems completely!

[Rapp5]

native2nc- right, I've had a few people DM me about Garner and some of the issues. Nice homes, nice schools, but some pointed-out issues do sort of concern me.

I'm use to a commute, driving, and all that so the things people have sent me DM's about regarding Clayton- I already do now where I'm at. So, that's not an issue.

Thanks everyone!

[ducter]

I have seen some people tell me about garner crime but when I dig more it was more on the Wake side and closer to the downtown direction. I didnt hear anything about the cleveland area until the recent rash of breakins which doesnt seem to be the norm.

[chadewest]

While I am clearly biased - there are several great neighborhoods on the north eastern side of Clayton (they are Flowers, but they are not on the new properties where her new clubhouse is) - they are on Neuse River Parkway - Mill Creek West (125 homes,1/2 acre 225k+), Walker Woods (80 or so homes 3/4 acre+ 275k+) are two really nice ones (Glen Laurel too but it is much larger for my liking) - they each have a membership in a community pool I prefer this side of Clayton for a couple of reasons - the traffic over in 40/42 is really bad especially around evening rush hour - it can be maddening at times. Commericial development is coming along, in fact Harris Teeter is starting construction and opening next year and this will help attract higher end future commericial development as well as help home values over time. Getting to downtown Raleigh is only 20 minutes (you can access 64 in 10 minutes and avoid 70/40 altogether). The schools are really good and the sense of community is also very strong (very wide roads, sidewalks throughout, curb and gutter) - I would give it a look if you haven't already. We originally from CT and we felt at home right away.

[pallasathena7]

Rapp: We've had no problem with crime, except at Christmas, someone stole extension cords out of our neighbor's yard. I hear there are some less desirable places closer to downtown (Garner sprawls in very odd directions) around Mechanical. One neighbor takes her walk in the morning at 4:30 with only her dog, so that might give some indication of how people see the neighborhood. We have 0.7 acres and a 1,500 square foot house. We paid around $160K. (Lee's Plantation subdiv.) I mean, it's not the biggest house on the block, but it does what we need it to do. We do have one or two neighbors who have brought their bad attitudes with them, but I think you get that in any neighborhood. Some people really keep to themselves. We've been here a year, and we've never met the people behind us. But our other neighbors are nice. We're a little standoffish ourselves, so it works for us. (We just figure that we're imposing on others, so we leave people be.) Garner, or at least my subdivision, strikes me as a place where people go when they "move up" financially, like a step from a rougher neighborhood to the real 'burbs. It's not posh. There isn't a club or a pool or any of that, but the lots are big. We see kids riding their bikes and playing. I'm not sure I would call it "family oriented" in the way that's been described. No one has house parties or anything like that. But it doesn't seem hostile to families. I think most of the moms are working moms.

We are considering a move in 3-4 years if my husband is still with his company. It's in North Raleigh, and the commute is killing his soul. But we moved right in (from another state) without renting first, and we feel like we did okay. I like to think that we could sell right now and break even. (Meaning, the property values seem to be stable to appreciating right now.)

I'd even be happy to talk via email if you want.