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Hi there,
We have just learned we will be moving for a new job in RTP. We are moving from a university town in Indiana and are looking for a nice liberal (and hopefully a bit laid back) area. Our kids are good students (As and Bs) but not the competitive school type. One will finish 8th grade this year and then be starting high school, and the other is now in 3rd grade.
I am looking for advice in areas to buy a home where we can commute to RTP within ~30 minutes, and where schools are good and would be welcoming to new kids, but not be intimidating. We are also hoping for 0.5-1 acre of land around us, if that can happen close to RTP. (Our current house is in a neighborhood where all houses are very close together, so we are looking for an area with a little more space, if possible.)
I hope all that makes sense! Looking forward to any help others can provide. (We are nervous about the big move and want it to be as smooth as possible, especially for the 8th grader!)
Budget?
Moving as a freshman in HS is tough....my sister moved here as my nephew was starting HS. I think the first few days were a it rough but he was a band kid so that was a way to make friends. The kids won't purposely ignore anyone, but if kids are coming out of several different middle schools they will assume that he isn't from their middle school and that he knows people from HIS middle school. If your child has an activity or fall sport that they play, you should start inquiring at your prospective HS NOW about when interest meetings/tryouts are. For instance, football will have (non-mandatory) workouts all summer. Volleyball tryouts are at the end of July...and so on.
You should be aware that a popular area of West Cary has several capped schools, (Mills Park Elementary and Middle schools and Panther Creek HS). Also, Apex High School is currently being housed in the brand new Green Level HS, as Apex HS is being completely re-built from scratch. Confusing? I know, take a deep breath, it will all be ok.
Once you give us a budget there are plenty of people here who can give you some good ideas where to live. Unless you have a very high budget, an acres in suburbia is probably not happening with new construction. What age of house are you looking for?
Thanks for the help so far. Our budget is around up to 500K, I think. It appears we should have some options in that range. I would sacrifice the land for schools that would be easier on the kids. I guess that is our top concern.
Are there schools to avoid in the area? Is Chapel Hill competitive or is it ok? Are the new schools or evolving situation in Apex something to avoid for new kids?
Chapel Hill looks nice, but can you get to RTP from Chapel Hill in 30 minutes or less?
I think Apex would be a fine choice. I'm not sure about Chapel Hill to RTP in 30 minutes, someone else would have to weigh in on that. In areas that are commutable to RTP, whether Chapel Hill or western Wake County, there's not really a need to worry about schools to avoid.
There are new kids moving in here all.the.time. Particularly for your 3rd grader it will not be an issue at all. My youngest is in middle school and new kids have assimilated there just fine for her years there. The only reason for concern with your high schooler is the one I mentioned...kids not really realizing that he's new and that would be the only reason he might have trouble adjusting. But I can tell you that a couple years ago at Apex HS my nephew saw a kid sitting alone at lunch and he took his friends and went to sit with the kid and it was the kid's first day. So....you never know and honestly there's plenty to do and be involved with at the high schools here so s/he should find their niche.
Twingles is spot on - there are so many new kids moving in that your child will be just one more. Hopefully you High Schooler will join in on a sport or other activity that will give them a group of kids to make friendships. A lot of people feel certain schools are competitive, but actually it just depends on your Childs personality. If you 9th grader is laid back and not competitive than there wouldn't be a problem. But, if your 9th grader feels pressure from other kids drive/motivations, then you may look for a school that is not a "top" school.
It can be competitive, but doesn't have to be. Some kids get caught up in it, but other kids are just fine w/o stepping into that.
Just make sure you are close to I-40 or a back route and you should be fine to get to RTP in 30 min. I'd concentrate on the north and east of Chapel Hill for proximity to I-40. East Chapel Hill High is a very good school. If you prefer a smaller school, Carrboro High is a bit smaller and newer, too, but might add to your commute time. Chapel Hill High is a good school, too, but in an older building(s) (due to be remodeled/expanded by 2020) and there has been some turnover at the principal's position. My kid will go there and I'm fine/happy about that, but the other two schools are a little more set for now. Just wanted to give you a heads up on what's in the pipeline. I think CHHS will be really nice when it's all said and done, but it might be a little in flux while the building is going on although they're going to try to do it so it doesn't disrupt the students at all.
You can make it to RTP from Chapel Hill/Hillsborough if you live within 5 minutes of I-40, and depending on where in the RTP you'll work. My co-worker commutes there from Hillsborough in less than 30 minutes. You could live in Morrisville (next to Cary) and basically at RTP. Or W. Cary ( 10-20 mins. away), SW Durham/Southpoint area(10-20 mins), downtown Durham, NW Raleigh, Brier Creek - 5-10 minutes from RTP - some of the newest parts of Brier Creek, which is a multi-use housing, shops type community, are at RTP (Page Rd). The schools in Cary, Raleigh and many small surrounding towns like Apex, Holly Springs, Wake Forest, Knightdale, etc. are all in the Wake County School District.
At to your acreage question - you need a local realtor to help you with this as you aren't likely going to find it in Cary, Morrisville areas. You will need to look at older homes on 1/2 acre lots (probably). You will find these in N. Raleigh - the commute is very doable and schools are good. Look around Creedmoor Rd. near I-540. Not sure about other areas where you find them close to RTP.
New construction, .5 acre and under $500,000 I'd look in Hillsborough. If you don't mind a resale, look for something in the Jordan High School district of Durham. Durham and Orange counties are the liberal areas here though there are areas in Raleigh that are too.
New construction, .5 acre and under $500,000 I'd look in Hillsborough. If you don't mind a resale, look for something in the Jordan High School district of Durham. Durham and Orange counties are the liberal areas here though there are areas in Raleigh that are too.
Plenty of resales to be had in Chapel Hill for under $500K. For new construction in Chapel Hill I'd look in Winmore or Claremont. Both will be pretty close to I-40 for your commute. For resales maybe Lake Hogan Farms (it's always popular), but there are LOTS of very nice resales under $500k.
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