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First of all, I'd like to introduce myself to these fine forums. After my initial read, it seems there are several kind and helpful people here!
Currently, my wife and I are looking to move to N.C., though we haven't decided where exactly. My wife is an elementary school teacher and I own and operate my own business (website design and consulting - which will be relocating, as well).
While we have always loved the Smokey Mountains, the economics of my business would suggest I be more around the Charlotte, or possibly Raliegh areas (from my initial studies) - to those with experience in this area, would you agree or disagree? What we want most is affordable housing (something in the range of 100k), a "family friendly" area (we are looking for a good place to start our family), and an economicaly sound area. We are not looking for just "another place to live," but hopefully a place we can call home for decades to come.
Having this basic info in mind, what would you all suggest? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
First of all, I'd like to introduce myself to these fine forums. After my initial read, it seems there are several kind and helpful people here!
Currently, my wife and I are looking to move to N.C., though we haven't decided where exactly. My wife is an elementary school teacher and I own and operate my own business (website design and consulting - which will be relocating, as well).
While we have always loved the Smokey Mountains, the economics of my business would suggest I be more around the Charlotte, or possibly Raliegh areas (from my initial studies) - to those with experience in this area, would you agree or disagree? What we want most is affordable housing (something in the range of 100k), a "family friendly" area (we are looking for a good place to start our family), and an economicaly sound area. We are not looking for just "another place to live," but hopefully a place we can call home for decades to come.
Having this basic info in mind, what would you all suggest? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
You great limit your options if you want something in the 100k range (when we moved we were hoping to find an older home in this price....lol....we were cured of that very quickly). There just aren't many decent (not talking about fancy, just decent) places for that amount around cities.
Maybe someone will have information on smaller towns that offer what you need.
How far outside of the city must you go to get something decent? Again, I don't know neighborhoods or anything like that, but I saw several, of what appeared to be "decent" homes in the 100k to 110k range in Charlotte. Again, pictures only tell so much, but that was the impression I got.
Ideally, what we would prefer is something that has a smaller feel to it, outside of one of these cities (like charlotte) that has no more than a 30 minute drive to the city itself.
First of all, I'd like to introduce myself to these fine forums. After my initial read, it seems there are several kind and helpful people here!
Currently, my wife and I are looking to move to N.C., though we haven't decided where exactly. My wife is an elementary school teacher and I own and operate my own business (website design and consulting - which will be relocating, as well).
While we have always loved the Smokey Mountains, the economics of my business would suggest I be more around the Charlotte, or possibly Raliegh areas (from my initial studies) - to those with experience in this area, would you agree or disagree? What we want most is affordable housing (something in the range of 100k), a "family friendly" area (we are looking for a good place to start our family), and an economicaly sound area. We are not looking for just "another place to live," but hopefully a place we can call home for decades to come.
Having this basic info in mind, what would you all suggest? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
NC has lots of different styles,If you like the Smokies.Asheville maybe
If your wife is a teacher, consider York County, which has a great school system and pays it's teachers quite well. It's a quick commute into Charlotte from there as well.
If you really want to live in Charlotte, I believe North and South Charlotte are typically the better areas, but I doubt you'd be able to find anything decent below $110K, unless you considered a small (and by small I mean SMALL) condo in someplace like Pineville (which is on the southside of Charlotte).
But if your home price range is $110K at the max, think seriously about York County if only because your property taxes will also much than if you lived in Mecklenburg County (Charlotte), NC. For $110K you could possibly buy a home in York County, although it would be an older home and might need some TLC. But areas like Fort Mill, Clover, Tega Cay and Lake Wylie are good areas with great schools. Looking at Realtor.com right now, and doing a search in your price range, I see 30 or so listings of homes, condos and townhomes that are available in Fort Mill, SC (the York County side).
If your wife is a teacher, consider York County, which has a great school system and pays it's teachers quite well. It's a quick commute into Charlotte from there as well.
If you really want to live in Charlotte, I believe North and South Charlotte are typically the better areas, but I doubt you'd be able to find anything decent below $110K, unless you considered a small (and by small I mean SMALL) condo in someplace like Pineville (which is on the southside of Charlotte).
But if your home price range is $110K at the max, think seriously about York County if only because your property taxes will also much than if you lived in Mecklenburg County (Charlotte), NC. For $110K you could possibly buy a home in York County, although it would be an older home and might need some TLC. But areas like Fort Mill, Clover, Tega Cay and Lake Wylie are good areas with great schools. Looking at Realtor.com right now, and doing a search in your price range, I see 30 or so listings of homes, condos and townhomes that are available in Fort Mill, SC (the York County side).
Thank you very much for the helpful information. I too heard suggested that it was a good idea to consider the Fort Mill, SC area since the prices are less as well as the taxes - is this true?
In regards to my wife's teaching, do you suggest she look at NC to teach or SC? Which one offers better pay/better schools? The only reason I ask, is that she needs to apply for the certificate ASAP, depending on what state she works in.
Well, Charlotte *needs* GOOD teachers to help improve the school system that is sadly lacking. So if your wife doesn't mind a challenge (unruly students in public schools) for okay pay, then go with a NC certificate. Or she could always go the private school route too.
If she wants highly-rated public schools with aspiring students, I tend to think Fort Mill schools are the way to go. FM teachers are also paid slightly better in public schools (at least, that's what I've been told). Another good school area is Clover, SC, which is near Fort Mill as well.
Feel free to PM me for any other information - I'm happy to share!
First of all, I'd like to introduce myself to these fine forums. After my initial read, it seems there are several kind and helpful people here!
Currently, my wife and I are looking to move to N.C., though we haven't decided where exactly. My wife is an elementary school teacher and I own and operate my own business (website design and consulting - which will be relocating, as well).
While we have always loved the Smokey Mountains, the economics of my business would suggest I be more around the Charlotte, or possibly Raliegh areas (from my initial studies) - to those with experience in this area, would you agree or disagree? What we want most is affordable housing (something in the range of 100k), a "family friendly" area (we are looking for a good place to start our family), and an economicaly sound area. We are not looking for just "another place to live," but hopefully a place we can call home for decades to come.
Having this basic info in mind, what would you all suggest? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Check out places like Kings Mountain - a 30 minute shot up the interstate to Charlotte, with a rural feel and a few mountains in the backdrop. Teachers are needed all over the state - so your wife should be fine no matter where you choose. Or, look at Clover just over the state line past Lake Wylie - again a commute up to Charlotte for you, but the housing prices would be more what you are looking for and this is a nice place to raise kids. Other than that I would suggest you look at the city of Monroe - larger than the other two I mentioned with a little mall and a hospital. Houses there in the city are still affordable, though that county is the fastest growing in the state so you would need to avoid the area west of Monroe as prices are now thru the roof. Good luck to you!
Hey there Girl,you seem to know about the NC schools.Do you have any information or opinions about the Asheville schools? Thanks
I only know a very little bit about Asheville schools since we only briefly considered moving there. We did visit the town to get a feel for it and decided it wasn't for us. I seem to recall that the schools are gradually improving there - meaning they at one time were not that great but are getting better. I'm acquaintances with a principal of a school in the Hendersonville area (which is nearby) and he tells me that his area is improving every year (both in quality of student and quality of teacher).
Your best bet is to go to greatschools.com and see what that site has to tell you about Asheville schools.
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After my initial read, it seems there are several kind and helpful people here!
teachers
