Not sure whether to move to Raleigh or not (Charlotte: house, job market)

[Southern25]

I apologize if this has been posted before but there are alot of posts to go through!

My husband and I currently live in Northern Virginia/DC and are considering moving to the Raleigh area to escape to traffic and to live somewhere with a slower pace with a mild southern feel. I was born and raised in small town western NC and loved it but there just aren't the jobs there that we need.

We really would like to find a quiet smallish town of about 15,000 that is a reasonable distance to city jobs (within 30 min). My husband is looking for a defense contracting/fed. government job. Have any of those there?

Anyway, we are a young, educated couple, politically conservative, do not require ethnic diversity nor child oriented "stuff" and have a budget of $300,000-$350,000 and prefer newer construction. I do hate those cookie cutter neighborhoods though! If anybody could suggest N,S, E, W, towns, neighborhoods..... Anything would be great since we haven't gotten to actually visit Raleigh yet. We just hear good things! Thanks!

P.S. I'm a horse lover! Suggestions for quality hunter/jumper show stables in the area?

[NewSpring]

You should come down and take a look at the area. I'd recommend the area down in Garner, Johnston county where there are ranches for horses and cows, very beautiful area. Cost of living is cheap, house is really affordable in that area.

[adlnc07]

Originally Posted by Southern25

My husband is looking for a defense contracting/fed. government job. Have any of those there?

Not a lot of that here - nothing like the DC area. I definitely suggest he find a job before moving to the area if that is indeed what he's looking for.

[Frudy McRomson]

Originally Posted by adlnc07

Not a lot of that here - nothing like the DC area. I definitely suggest he find a job before moving to the area if that is indeed what he's looking for.

The job market is definitely going to be more lucrative overall but more volatile. Jobs are cut on a dime and scooped back just as easily. It's not for the faint of heart.

Most people I've come to know who have left the Triangle did so because they overspent and lost their job. When they exhausted what little savings they had, they left to find a more stable job track (defense contracting, etc).

[sundaze]

I am in the process of moving to Raleigh from the DC area (Bethesda, MD.) The reason so many people live in the DC area, in spite of the difficulties of traffic and housing prices and all the rest, is jobs. Especially in the fields you mention, DC is the place to be. It's a tough reality, but true.

[mdp_az]

Hillsborough is a great town that is worth checking out.

Not sure you'll find much in the way of defense contract work around here, though.

[NCgirl]

My husband is looking for a defense contracting/fed. government job. Have any of those there?

There is an FBI branch office and Homeland Security offices (customs and immigration) in Charlotte. Maybe your husband can contact them to find job openings throughout the state.

Federal Bureau of Investigation - Charlotte Field Office

400 South Tryon Street
Suite 900
Charlotte, North Carolina 28285
(704) 377-9200

Department of Homeland Security

- Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services
Contact: Richard Gottlieb, Officer-in-Charge
Address: 6130 Tyvola Center Drive, Charlotte, NC 28217
Phone: 704-672-6990 Fax: 704-672-6969

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection
Contact: Howard Blitzer
Address: 1901 Cross Beam Dr.; Charlotte, NC 28217
Phone: 704-329-6136 Fax: 704-329-6144
Web: CBP.gov - home page