To all north carolina residents

[SKWDW]

My SIL lives in Cary and loves it! It's close enough to Raleigh for an easy commute, but far enough away to feel like the 'burbs.

Apex is also nice, but further away from Raleigh.

Good luck!

 

[tar heel]

jillyb -- Hi, Neighbor!

OP -- North Carolina IS a good place to live, but it isn't the employment/low tax Mecca it was just a few years ago. We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Our state budget is in trouble and taxes have risen and are rising again -- we now are blessed with one of the highest state income tax rates.

As far as jobs go, I'm sure you know that a heavy construction job in North Carolina will NOT be unionized and, thus, will not come with the kind of salary or benefits your DH is used to making. Law enforcement could work b/c of attrition/retirements, but most governmental agencies are cutting positions instead of adding. I never expected to see a day when teachers were cut in North Carolina, but it's happened this year.

As far as areas go, I grew up in the mountains, have lived in Concord for years and previously lived in the Triangle (Chapel Hill and Raleigh). If you can afford it, there's not a better place to live anywhere than Chapel Hill, and the schools are outstanding. It's the most expensive place in North Carolina, though.

 

[jillyb]

jillyb -- Hi, Neighbor!

OP -- North Carolina IS a good place to live, but it isn't the employment/low tax Mecca it was just a few years ago. We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Our state budget is in trouble and taxes have risen and are rising again -- we now are blessed with one of the highest state income tax rates.

As far as jobs go, I'm sure you know that a heavy construction job in North Carolina will NOT be unionized and, thus, will not come with the kind of salary or benefits your DH is used to making. Law enforcement could work b/c of attrition/retirements, but most governmental agencies are cutting positions instead of adding. I never expected to see a day when teachers were cut in North Carolina, but it's happened this year.

As far as areas go, I grew up in the mountains, have lived in Concord for years and previously lived in the Triangle (Chapel Hill and Raleigh). If you can afford it, there's not a better place to live anywhere than Chapel Hill, and the schools are outstanding. It's the most expensive place in North Carolina, though.

Hi!! Wow!! I can't believe there's someone in the same town as me!!!

Love your tag!!!

 

[disneywith2kids]

thanks tar heel -

I am aware that NC is not unionized. You're right, the salary and related benefits of the union in NJ NY is a world away from heavy construction in NC. But - with that said, we want something better for our kids. NJ is killing us with property taxes.

How far is Chapel Hill from Raleigh. I checked it out of Realtor.com but I still have to investigate the proximity to Raleigh.

My husband needs to check out the employment situation in NC before we can make any further plans - so keep your fingers crossed that we hear something soon!

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I'm amazed by all of the NC disers!! I'm originally from MA and have lived in NC for almost 15 years. We've moved around NC a few times and I like the Charlotte area as opposed to the Raleigh area...just an opinion. Right now we're in Salisbury....40ish miles North of Charlotte.

 

[tar heel]

Chapel Hill is 20-25 miles from Raleigh. It's a college town and also the most politically liberal place in North Carolina. I would actually be happy with the schools any where in Orange County where Chapel Hill is located. Hillsborough is a nice little town.

Is your DH anticipating getting a state job -- is that why Raleigh is your focus? I know nothing about heavy construction -- are we talking about things like building roads or buildings? There are some big construction companies, but my understanding is that most of them are hurting and eliminating employees now instead of hiring. Of course, we are hopeful that is going to change soon.

 

[Papa Deuce]

We live in the Charlotte area and love it. The Raleigh Triangle area traffic makes my husband want to have a heart attack. I have friends who live in Apex and love it there though. If I had to move to the Raleigh area I'd look in Apex.

Can it really be much worse than Charlotte? My SIL lives near Carmel Ave ( I think it is called ) and every time we visit that areas is always PACKED with cars. And didn't CLT just open a loop around the city because traffic was so bad?

 

[torinsmom]

I live in Hillsborough, which is at the junction of I-40 and I-85. It's a fairly small town, but has really good schools and pretty much everything you need within a few miles(Walmart, grocery stores, fast food) Durham is only 10 minutes away, as is Chapel Hill. Raleigh is about 40 minutes away, and its about 30 minutes to the Research Triangle.

http://www.northcarolinatravels.com/hillsborough/index.htm

Wake county seems to constantly be reassigning kids to different schools due to overcrowding.

Marsha

 

[Angelhalo]

Can it really be much worse than Charlotte? My SIL lives near Carmel Ave ( I think it is called ) and every time we visit that areas is always PACKED with cars. And didn't CLT just open a loop around the city because traffic was so bad?

I have never had a problem with traffic in Charlotte and I used to live off of Carmel Rd. I now live in Indian Trail and drive to SouthPark everyday for work and have no traffic issues. Maybe it has to do with which side of Charlotte you're on? I'd NEVER want to have to use 77 or 85 to commute to work each morning, but other than those two roads I've never had an issue. I take 485 (the new loop) on the way to work each morning and traffic never slows down lower than the 65 MPH speed limit

 

[lecach]

Another NC girl here. I live in Durham, work in Chapel Hill. I think you'd like a lot of the areas mentioned. Fuquay Varina is really up and coming too and house prices are still affordable. My Mom's a realtor there - Cathy Hedrick with Becky Medline Century 21 office.

By the way, you know what Cary stands for? Containment Area for Relocated Yankee's

 

[Papa Deuce]

I have never had a problem with traffic in Charlotte and I used to live off of Carmel Rd. I now live in Indian Trail and drive to SouthPark everyday for work and have no traffic issues. Maybe it has to do with which side of Charlotte you're on? I'd NEVER want to have to use 77 or 85 to commute to work each morning, but other than those two roads I've never had an issue. I take 485 (the new loop) on the way to work each morning and traffic never slows down lower than the 65 MPH speed limit

Well, I don't know CLT well enough to say, but does IvyGate Lane ring a bell? That is her street... near Carmel road. I live near Philly and worked in Philly for 18 years, and CLT seems every bit as busy to me.....

 

[Angelhalo]

Well, I don't know CLT well enough to say, but does IvyGate Lane ring a bell? That is her street... near Carmel road. I live near Philly and worked in Philly for 18 years, and CLT seems every bit as busy to me.....

nope doesn't ring a bell. I think the traffic in Charlotte has to do with where you're commuting to and from. I wouldn't want to have to commute from uptown Charlotte to the Lake Norman area in the evnings as I've heard its horrendous. But, over on my side of town I've never had a problem getting to and from anywhere traffic-wise. It's actually one of the things I love most about Charlotte is that its not too busy. We're big enough to have a basketball team, football, hockey, baseball, a real theatre with broadway shows, museums, clubs, etc etc but we're not so big that its a hassle to get anywhere or do anything. Plus we have the light rail system now which is great for getting uptown if you live in the Pineville area.