Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
My wife and I were considering the same areas and we both decided Clayton was right for us. We were not concerned about HOA / no HOA and wanted new construction and we both pretty much knew we had found the right house within 5 minutes of driving up to it. Of course, it took some time afterwards to make a final decision, but we are purchasing and will move in soon after...If you have the time, I'd at least recommend taking a look around the area...
Location IS an issue. We have one shot at finding a home (to purchase, not rent). We know Raleigh. Charlotte is out of our budget, and I'm not interested in learning all about a brand new city. I like the idea of going back to something that is familiar, and which had many of the things I want in my life.
FV -- one house came up for us as affordable in FV. Isn't it a lot farther to get to north Raleigh from FV than from Clayton/Knightdale/Garner?
Gotcha. I understand a bit more now.
I used Google Maps and entered this information into the "To" and "From" fields using "Directions"
"North Raleigh, Raleigh, NC"
"Fuquay Varina, NC"
Fuquay-Varina = 25 miles from North Raleigh
Garner = 17 miles
Clayton = 23 miles
The travel time of Clayton and FV to N. Raleigh are very close, Garner's commute time is about 7-10 minutes shorter. However, 401 in Garner during "high traffic" times is literally hell on Earth. Lol. If I had to live out of the above three towns, it would be easy for me: FV. I love Fuquay, it's really convenient to Holly Springs, Apex, Durham, Raleigh, etc. For example, you can get on US-1 in Apex within 10-15 minutes down HWY 55. As I said before, I live here, so I may be a bit biased. However, I can get to Crabtree in 30 minutes, Streets at Southpoint (great mall in Durham) in 35 minutes, 25 minutes to Cary Towne Center (another mall, just easy examples, etc.) FV has a lot of charm, too. I love the downtown area.
Quote:
We can't afford anything in Holly Springs . I feel pulled to Garner or Knightdale. I noticed, though, that Clayton has more options for fitness and yoga than Garner or Knightdale. I don't get that part of it--if Clayton is "sort of" moving away from its country culture past, but not really there yet (maybe it won't ever be), I don't get why there are more fitness options, and also more grocery shopping options.
Understandably, Holly Springs has gotten very expensive over the last several years. Two of my older siblings planted their roots in Garner, and I lived there for several years as a child. Another older brother took a more 'rural' route and settled into Archer's Lodge. If you are interested in Clayton, maybe you should look into the Archer's Lodge area? My brother and his wife absolutely love it. They are heavily involved in the community, their kids love their schools, etc. According to some quick research, Archer's Lodge has experienced 172% population growth since 2000 (I didn't even know that lol), but is still a small town with a bit over 4,200 people. I am unsure of the conservativeness of the area, though. Still, I wouldn't consider that a small town, but I am sure most would. I grew up in towns that ranged from 500-2000 people. Middlesex being the town that had a population of about 500~ when I lived there. :P
Using Google Maps, Archer Lodge is 24 miles away from North Raleigh. Then again, Google Maps is literally placing North Raleigh veryyy north. :P So, the commute could be shorter for all the above mentioned towns.
Quote:
Hmm...Knightdale is in a great spot for us to get to many colleges, which is part of my plans. After having spent 3 years in isolation, I don't think I'd mind Knightdale at all. Wendell, yes, but not Knightdale.
Mmm, I dunno if I was clear enough about my feelings regarding Knightdale. Have you been able to find overall "reviews"/"feelings" of people who have actually lived in these places that you are most interested in? I would prefer Wake Forest over Knightdale, honestly (somewhere a bit away from the Seminary, though). Wake Forest and Knightdale have the same commute time to N. Raleigh, too (~20 miles).
Obviously, I've lived a lot of places (my mom moved us around a lot, and I followed in her footsteps when I moved out haha). Knightdale isn't a bad place, and it has definitely grown over the years. However, I do not know if you'll find that it has a large population of folks that have open-minded, liberal attitude you are looking for. Garner, too, is okay. It just wouldn't be a top choice for me, and I lived there for many years, and I still return several times a year to visit family and friends. I think what [some/most] people like about Clayton is the affordability factor. Personally, I've lived there, been there, have to travel there to take my mother to a specialist, and I despise it. :P
If you want, feel free to message me on here. I really do have a lot of insight into most of these towns you are looking at. I hope some of this helps! Just keep in mind that most rural areas in Eastern NC are pretty conservative. I *so* wish you could get into a home in Carrboro, especially with your love for yoga. I graduated from UNC-CH, and I had the most fantastic professor, and she teaches Jivamukti yoga in Carrboro (Hollie Mann, you can Google her, she has a website)...and of course, Carrboro is very, very liberal and has such a uniqueness to it.
Jane, couldnt help but notice that above poster pretty much knocked most of the suggested areas in some way or another, but I think you would be fine in Clayton, knightdale, or Garner. Because they are diverse areas-both racially and socioeconomically, you will find that they are not all conservative. Now my little section of Clayton has too many conservative neighbors, but they keep to themselves and I really don't see them much. (one did tell us we better take down our political sign after we first moved in) but all of these areas are fine for what you are willing to spend.
Jane, couldnt help but notice that above poster pretty much knocked most of the suggested areas in some way or another, but I think you would be fine in Clayton, knightdale, or Garner. Because they are diverse areas-both racially and socioeconomically, you will find that they are not all conservative. Now my little section of Clayton has too many conservative neighbors, but they keep to themselves and I really don't see them much. (one did tell us we better take down our political sign after we first moved in) but all of these areas are fine for what you are willing to spend.
I really didn't try and "knock out" Clayton and Knightdale, however; I did take into account the OP's original intent - to move somewhere that had a more liberal and open minded community. I gave her various other options, which are very close to Clayton and Knightdale, but most importantly - N. Raleigh. I have lived in NC my entire life. I've lived in all of the areas I mentioned, except Archer's Lodge. However, I did mention that my brother and wife absolutely love it. I do believe - at one point - it was considered a part of Clayton.
I didn't mean to offend anyone, as I, too, have lived in Knightdale. It's not like I think it's an awful place or anything. I just advised for her to check out the Wake Forest region, with the exception of areas close to the Seminary.
Sorry if I offended anyone, including the OP. I truly was just trying to be helpful. Have a goodnight.
Garner doesn't need to have many Yoga options because of its proximity to Raleigh. With Raleigh only being 10 minutes away you can "do yoga" in Raleigh. It's that way for a lot of things here in Garner. That's why I say it's like living in Raleigh without the high costs of housing. Can't be beat.
The. Leash law is a Wake county law. Not often enforced. The bar i mentioned is really a non issue especially in the future location. Its more of a restaurant and is currently beside a Kroger and Chick-fi-la. In other words not seedy and i only mentioned because you said your husband rides i think? However if seeing other bikes is a problem dont drive down 70 on a Saturday afternoon because there are plenty of them driven by good decent people who have more expendable income then myself. Those bikes arent cheap.
Thanks for the info regarding the Leash Law. Weird that there is one for cats (not just in the Raleigh area, I've seen it everywhere we've moved, but never leased my animals, I just can't do that to them).
Thanks also for info re: biker bar. I'm not meaning to make a big deal about it, it simply is that I do not want to drive past a biker bar that may have a lot of bikes in front of it. The reasons why are personal.
Where is the future location?
Quote:
Originally Posted by TBonz
Hi Jane,
My wife and I were considering the same areas and we both decided Clayton was right for us. We were not concerned about HOA / no HOA and wanted new construction and we both pretty much knew we had found the right house within 5 minutes of driving up to it. Of course, it took some time afterwards to make a final decision, but we are purchasing and will move in soon after...If you have the time, I'd at least recommend taking a look around the area...
Thanks for your input . We'll look at the area; that is a given. I've seen a lot of those "cookie cutter" communities using Google aerial for most areas around Raleigh. I'm not interested in purchasing a home that looks like all other homes in a neighborhood. It makes it so much more difficult to sell.
Quote:
Originally Posted by duhmanda
I used Google Maps and entered this information into the "To" and "From" fields using "Directions"
"North Raleigh, Raleigh, NC" "Fuquay Varina, NC" Fuquay-Varina = 25 miles from North Raleigh
Garner = 17 miles Clayton = 23 miles .
The travel time of Clayton and FV to N. Raleigh are very close, Garner's commute time is about 7-10 minutes shorter. However, 401 in Garner during "high traffic" times is literally hell on Earth. Lol. If I had to live out of the above three towns, it would be easy for me: FV. I love Fuquay, it's really convenient to Holly Springs, Apex, Durham, Raleigh, etc. For example, you can get on US-1 in Apex within 10-15 minutes down HWY 55. As I said before, I live here, so I may be a bit biased. However, I can get to Crabtree in 30 minutes, Streets at Southpoint (great mall in Durham) in 35 minutes, 25 minutes to Cary Towne Center (another mall, just easy examples, etc.) FV has a lot of charm, too. I love the downtown area.
If you are interested in Clayton, maybe you should look into the Archer's Lodge area? According to some quick research, Archer's Lodge has experienced 172% population growth since 2000 (I didn't even know that lol), but is still a small town with a bit over 4,200 people. I am unsure of the conservativeness of the area, though. Still, I wouldn't consider that a small town, but I am sure most would. Middlesex being the town that had a population of about 500~ when I lived there. :P
Have you been able to find overall "reviews"/"feelings" of people who have actually lived in these places that you are most interested in?
Knightdale isn't a bad place, and it has definitely grown over the years. However, I do not know if you'll find that it has a large population of folks that have open-minded, liberal attitude you are looking for. Garner, too, is okay. It just wouldn't be a top choice for me, and I lived there for many years, and I still return several times a year to visit family and friends. I think what [some/most] people like about Clayton is the affordability factor. Personally, I've lived there, been there, have to travel there to take my mother to a specialist, and I despise it. :P
I really do have a lot of insight into most of these towns you are looking at. I hope some of this helps! Just keep in mind that most rural areas in Eastern NC are pretty conservative. I *so* wish you could get into a home in Carrboro, especially with your love for yoga. I graduated from UNC-CH, and I had the most fantastic professor, and she teaches Jivamukti yoga in Carrboro (Hollie Mann, you can Google her, she has a website)...and of course, Carrboro is very, very liberal and has such a uniqueness to it.
Good luck on your continued search!
Thanks for the wealth of information . That really was nice of you to check commute times like you did. People like you are rare finds, so thank you! (I did a bit of editing to reduce the space it takes up on the screen)
We're not into a cookie-cutter community unless we can purchase a home that is different from all the others. We were able to do that in Arizona twice, and it benefited us because we were able to sell it much faster than anyone else in the same neighborhood could sell theirs. Even despite those homes having different upgrades, landscaping, etc.
We have no children, we aren't interested in community activism unless we end up loving the community/town. We just want to be able to say what we think, and get responses from people, instead of shocked looks and silence (films, a tv show, current events). We aren't activists, we don't like confrontations. It's very difficult to explain. I think it's more about what the community has within it that will let us know how "open-minded" it is (that might be a better term than "liberal").
Quote:
Originally Posted by goodbyesnow
Jane, couldnt help but notice that above poster pretty much knocked most of the suggested areas in some way or another, but I think you would be fine in Clayton, knightdale, or Garner. Because they are diverse areas-both racially and socioeconomically, you will find that they are not all conservative. Now my little section of Clayton has too many conservative neighbors, but they keep to themselves and I really don't see them much. (one did tell us we better take down our political sign after we first moved in) but all of these areas are fine for what you are willing to spend.
Thank you! It isn't so much 'conservative' vs 'liberal' as 'open-mindedness' vs 'closed-mindedness.' We've been good friends with both cons. and non-cons. people. Live and let live is how we are.
Quote:
Originally Posted by duhmanda
I really didn't try and "knock out" Clayton and Knightdale, however; I did take into account the OP's original intent - to move somewhere that had a more liberal and open minded community. I gave her various other options, which are very close to Clayton and Knightdale, but most importantly - N. Raleigh. I have lived in NC my entire life. I've lived in all of the areas I mentioned, except Archer's Lodge. However, I did mention that my brother and wife absolutely love it. I do believe - at one point - it was considered a part of Clayton.
I didn't mean to offend anyone, as I, too, have lived in Knightdale. It's not like I think it's an awful place or anything. I just advised for her to check out the Wake Forest region, with the exception of areas close to the Seminary.
Sorry if I offended anyone, including the OP. I truly was just trying to be helpful. Have a goodnight.
No offense taken. I'm reading what everyone writes, and I truly appreciate all of it. Our budget is so low, we don't have many choices, so we'll have to choose what we feel comfortable with.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Loud
Garner doesn't need to have many Yoga options because of its proximity to Raleigh. With Raleigh only being 10 minutes away you can "do yoga" in Raleigh. It's that way for a lot of things here in Garner. That's why I say it's like living in Raleigh without the high costs of housing. Can't be beat.
Thanks for commenting. I never spent any time inside the 440 belt when I lived in NC. Except for a job I held at the university. I have searched for fitness and yoga near Garner, and don't see all that much even inside the belt, so I'll need to dig further. Thanks again
We bought in Garner aND moved in a month ago, we are finally settling in and liking it. Where we live near Lake Benson, I've had an easy commute to NCSU, about 20-25 minutes (but I don't have to go on US 70 at all if I don't want to). People haven't been particularly close-minded that I can see so far, though one older neighbor did raise some eyebrows upon finding out I'm the one with a PhD working at State and not my husband. But I think you may find that attitude in many places with folks of that generation. There is a sign in one of the storefronts on Aversboro Rd for a new yoga studio/wine place going in, so I think amenities are coming. No regrets so far.
We bought in Garner aND moved in a month ago, we are finally settling in and liking it. Where we live near Lake Benson, I've had an easy commute to NCSU, about 20-25 minutes (but I don't have to go on US 70 at all if I don't want to). People haven't been particularly close-minded that I can see so far, though one older neighbor did raise some eyebrows upon finding out I'm the one with a PhD working at State and not my husband. But I think you may find that attitude in many places with folks of that generation. There is a sign in one of the storefronts on Aversboro Rd for a new yoga studio/wine place going in, so I think amenities are coming. No regrets so far.
It's great to hear you're liking Garner. And to hear about that yoga studio. Thanks so much for posting
What area of Garner did you move to? I see there are some areas which have more crime than others, did you check all that out when you were searching for a home?
We did check it out; the Town of Garner uses the RAIDS app which I think they have a link to on their website. We are down near Lake Benson and White Deer Parks, so it's mostly property crime at rates that seem average. It seems like most neighborhoods south of Poole Dr. And South Garner Park were like that. I have also read good things on this forum about Cloverdale, which is one neighborhood north of US70. My impression so far was you would want to avoid are between Woodland Rd and US70, and patches north of 70 as you get closer to Southeast Raleigh.
My mother is retiring here and buying, with a substantial down payment but still with a mortgage - she looked at properties in the $100-150k range. She chose a neighborhood just south of US70 between Aversboro and Benson - Western Terrace - have to admit I didn't follow her choice closely as we were dealing with some other emergencies, but it seems OK - that street is well kept but some a couple streets north have not been kept up as well. But near where she's under contract, two houses have gone on the market and under contract again in the last month. I'd honestly tried to steer her towards Cloverdale, but she's coming back east after 15 years on the west coast and decided that was too far away from us. She did also really like the Southview neighborhood.
The one exception to those general rules is that I have seen references in Garner Town Council meeting minutes a couple years back to "gang" activity on Bayberry Lane, which is behind the Food Lion. I don't know much about it though, i.e., whether it's neighborhood stuff that is overblown due to racial/class perceptions versus true connectivity to national and international gangs. I drove through that neighborhood screening a house for Mom at the opposite and the properties on that east side of the neighborhood were definitely shabbier, though some had been rehabbed. Certainly the RAIDS data from the past year don't support the number of crimes you'd expect if they were really targeting a major gang area for enforcement... but then maybe neighbors aren't reporting? So I'd look into that more carefully to see if it really is still a current problem. It looks close to us on the map, but connectivity is so poor (only access from Timber and Benson Rds) so it may as well be miles away.
We did check it out; the Town of Garner uses the RAIDS app which I think they have a link to on their website. We are down near Lake Benson and White Deer Parks, so it's mostly property crime at rates that seem average. It seems like most neighborhoods south of Poole Dr. And South Garner Park were like that. I have also read good things on this forum about Cloverdale, which is one neighborhood north of US70. My impression so far was you would want to avoid are between Woodland Rd and US70, and patches north of 70 as you get closer to Southeast Raleigh.
My mother is retiring here and buying, with a substantial down payment but still with a mortgage - she looked at properties in the $100-150k range. She chose a neighborhood just south of US70 between Aversboro and Benson - Western Terrace - have to admit I didn't follow her choice closely as we were dealing with some other emergencies, but it seems OK - that street is well kept but some a couple streets north have not been kept up as well. But near where she's under contract, two houses have gone on the market and under contract again in the last month. I'd honestly tried to steer her towards Cloverdale, but she's coming back east after 15 years on the west coast and decided that was too far away from us. She did also really like the Southview neighborhood.
The one exception to those general rules is that I have seen references in Garner Town Council meeting minutes a couple years back to "gang" activity on Bayberry Lane, which is behind the Food Lion. I don't know much about it though, i.e., whether it's neighborhood stuff that is overblown due to racial/class perceptions versus true connectivity to national and international gangs. I drove through that neighborhood screening a house for Mom at the opposite and the properties on that east side of the neighborhood were definitely shabbier, though some had been rehabbed. Certainly the RAIDS data from the past year don't support the number of crimes you'd expect if they were really targeting a major gang area for enforcement... but then maybe neighbors aren't reporting? So I'd look into that more carefully to see if it really is still a current problem. It looks close to us on the map, but connectivity is so poor (only access from Timber and Benson Rds) so it may as well be miles away.
Wow! Thanks so much!
I've used the RAIDS website when I was looking around Virginia Beach (I think that was the area). I'll definitely find it for Garner. a HUGE TY for that info
I'm going to get a map of Garner and find the areas you mentioned.
Maybe I'll get lucky and someone will give me that kind of detailed info for FV, Clayton, and Knightdale.
IDK how you got to view minutes of a town meeting (you REALLY did your research, that is for sure), I've never delved that deep with research. Kudos to you! I hope you have many, many happy years there. And I'd love to hear more about where you mother found a place, as it looks like we may be in the $120k range now (with a small mtge)---$120k AFTER negotiating downward .
Would you be willing to share the % you negotiated off the asking price of your home? Or the one your mother is buying? I keep seeing the same % to offer under the listed price. I realize a lot has to do with where the home is within a town, how long it's been listed, etc. but usually the % under listed a home is sold for fairly matches the comparison market.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
. I feel pulled to Garner or Knightdale. I noticed, though, that Clayton has more options for fitness and yoga than Garner or Knightdale. I don't get that part of it--if Clayton is "sort of" moving away from its country culture past, but not really there yet (maybe it won't ever be), I don't get why there are more fitness options, and also more grocery shopping options.
.
