Possible relocation to NC - need your help.

[madmax]

My husband and I are thinking about moving to NC. We are so sick of NJ.

I've been looking (on the net) at real estate in Raleigh, Durham, Cary area and I've had to stop quite often to wipe the drool off my keyboard. I can't believe the nice homes available for 150k. Here in NJ you can't touch a dog house 2br condo for that price. None of the listings post the property taxes so I don't know how much they are. What other taxes are there beside State, Property...

Some of the terminology relating to heat systems throw me. Here we have 3 choices - Gas, Elec., or Oil. What's a heat pump? lol

Please feel free to show this Yankee your southern hospitality and tell me what are the pros and cons of living in NC.

Hubby sells furniture and is thinking of applying to Rooms 2 Go.

I know zip about NC except that I've seen 50 houses I would love to own!! I'm a little nervous about moving - I won't know a soul. But, hey look out NC you may be gaining 2 more liberal democrats ;p

Oh man, Liddy Dole as my Senator :puke:

We're thinking of going to NC the first week of April just to drive around and get a feel for the state. Most likely in the Raleigh/Durham area.

[BeyondThePale]

1. Welcome to NC, madmax!

I have lived all over the country, but expect to spend the rest of my days in NC (unless we attack Iran or another Bush is elected, in which case I am leaving the country!). NC is a beautiful state (mountains, oceans), with a pleasant climate (pre-global warming), and an increasingly diverse population. The Triangle is a terrific area, but you might also consider the Piedmont Triad (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point), which is my neck of the woods and is considerably cheaper than the Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill.

While NC has voted red for president and our two current senators, state and local politics tend to be much more blue (with the exception of rural areas).

So, come on down. April will be beautiful as everything should be starting to bloom.

[madmax]

3. Thank you!

I'll be checking the Piedmont area post haste! Can't wait to see NC in person. I've googled earth with an address from one of the listings - so cool.

I'm getting my home ready for sale. Not too much to do just neat'in up the place and de-clutter. I've watched enough HGTV Designed to Sell to know - Keep it Simple and Clean.

[KoKo]

2. Taxes are very low compared to the Princeton Area and North Jersey.

We moved here from there...

Here's a link to NC site for Retirees (not that you are retirees) but it has info about tax rates and comparisons to other states...plus some other good info.

Good luck!

http://retireplan.about.com/cs/wheretolive/a/state_nc.htm

[madmax]

4. Not retirees - just plain tired ;-)

Thanks for the link. The more information the better. :hi:

Made a mistake 20 years ago on a move to Florida. Young and dumb. Not going that route again.

[patricia92243]

5. Anytime Yankee move to the South, they are delirious with happiness over the difference in housing.

They can go from a modest home in the north to a really nice home here. I've worked with Yankees and they go on and on about the difference.

I know you'll love it her. Try Asheville - we're in the mountains. Cool in the sumer and moderate winters. We are sometimes called a liberal oasis in the middle of rednecks.

[madmax]

6. lol

Putting Asheville on my list, too.

I don't know why but, northern builders can't seem to get it together. The layout of most of the southern homes I've seen just makes sense! The house we own now is a 200 year old pita. I've been fixing this sucker for 15 years. It's in very nice shape now except I don't have central air and it's impossible to get it due to a lot of crap to deal with a old house.

Every spring it's the same ol thing. Dig the a/c's out of the closets, the attic wherever I've found a place to stash them for the winter and put them in for 3 months and then do the reverse.

We're looking for a 3br 2bath house for around 150ish? Since I don't see any homes listed with basements I'll need a garage for some storage. What's up with that? No basements?

[KoKo]

7. GACK! I was glad to leave my "spider infested basements' behind

when I moved here! Don't look for a basement ...look for an "attic with finished stairs" or put it in the garage or contract for "Pod Storage" where they come to your home...place the pod...and put it where it's "Out of Sight...Out of Mind." (Big new business here in NC...Pod Storage)

[madmax]

8. I won't miss my spiders either

if I have a garage or shed. I don't have either one here.

Are utilities high in NC. When I live in Fla. houses were cheap but electric and water were sky high. I think I read that in NC you pay a tax on your car each year??

[Labors of Hercules]

9. Asheville if you like Mountains, Wilmington or New Bern if you like the coast...

If you want to get away from it all, Brunswick County on the coast or Transylvania County in the Mountains are both worth the trip...

The piedmont triad or the triangle are developing rapidly... good areas if you are looking for great opportunities, not so hot for retirement.

[madmax]

10. Can't go too far from either

Raleigh or Durham - he could get a job in either city.

[auburngrad82]

16. Mountains and Coast are doable from Raleigh/Durham nt

[shortcake]

24. Sorry

Transylvania Co. is full. I'm the last person they let move in.

[madmax]

33. LOL I love a smart ass n/t.

[wildeyed]

11. Seems like I see more NJ and NY license plates in my neighborhood

than local these days. We have had a good run on folks from Boston recently, too. :)

I am in Charlotte. People who are not from Charlotte will tell you how conservative it is here, but really, it is not so bad, at least if you stay in the right areas. We were blue in 04, and I have been seeing even better changes the past year or so. The economy has been good, at least according to my small business which had an excellent year last year, and housing sales have remained steady.

Good luck with your move. :hi:

[madmax]

13. Thanks wildeyed

I'm a little stressed but, I made up a new song 'Carolina Dreamin' - a little twist on 'California Dreamin.' :hi:

[wildeyed]

15. Excellent!

We can always use a few more lefties!

[LiberalinNC]

12. Cary stands for Congested Area of Relocated Yankees!!!

NC is a great place to live, the winters are mild, generally speaking compared to the North..summers can be brutal.

I live in Cary and sometimes wish I didn't (too many righties here, but I understand the tides are changing)...but I do love it here. Good luck!

[madmax]

14. I'm going to have to get used to

being called a 'Yankee' :silly:

[LiberalinNC]

17. It's becoming a buyers market here in Cary. In my neighborhood

there have been 7 homes for sale since November...NONE have sold as of yet.

[madmax]

18. I've been looking at homes

thru this link: http://www.unitedhomeraleigh.com/search.html
and I've noticed that so many homes are vacant. I can tell that some are new construction but, there are so many pre-owned that are empty.

Looks like real estate isn't moving that quickly. It's not roaring ahead here either. They sell but, there aren't any bidding wars that I can tell.

Some of the homes I've seen have fall or Christmas decorations so, I guess it's slowing down.

Can't wait to visit Raleigh and the area in April. :)

OH btw... are those home listed, lol. Can I see them?

[struggle4progress]

19. A heat pump is an air conditioner you run backwards in the winter

[madmax]

20. I thought you were pulling my leg

so I googled this: home.howstuffworks.com/question49.htm - which I should have done in the first place. ;) I just love to pester my du buds.

[struggle4progress]

21. Yeah, I tried to word it so it sounded like all us Tarheels pulled out our window units,

turned them around, and shoved them back into the window frame the wrong way

:D

[jarnocan]

22. More World Can't Wait Groups here than anywhere except CA:) links

I moved down from NJ as well. http://ncwcw.blogspot.com/ http://cpcnc.blogspot.com for info concerning local rally and links to March on Pentagon :) I'm in between Winston-Salem and Greensboro, moved down from Westfield, NJ

[madmax]

23. Hi !!

Thanks for the info. I visited your blog - so much to do so little time.

NC group really rocks.

[mnhtnbb]

25. Relocated to Chapel Hill (Berkeley of the South) in 2000 and

it's terrific here.

Taxes are higher in Chapel Hill than in other parts of Orange County, Durham County or Wake County (Raleigh/Cary schools). Chatham County also has lower taxes. Housing is also more expensive in Chapel Hill.

If you have kids, though, you ought to try to get into Chapel Hill/Carrboro School district--it's the best in NC and ranks on top ten national lists.

You will fall in love the first week of April. Spring is the best time of year here.

Raleigh/Cary area was just listed as the #1 spot for jobs by Forbes.com


NC does have a state income tax and county sales taxes vary--ours is 7% in Orange County.

[madmax]

27. Thanks so much the info..

Hubby came home tonight and said the same thing about Cary. Looks like we'll be starting our search in the Cary area. As LiberalinNC state 'Congested Area of Relocated Yankees.' :rofl: I'm looking forward to this trip! :hug:

[moose65]

26. Come on down!

I'm in the mountains, but went to school in Raleigh. It's gorgeous in the spring! And I think you'll be surprised at how "cheap" housing is compared to NJ, as well as the property taxes. For example, the property tax on my house for last YEAR was $550. I've heard horror stories of property taxes in NJ and NY.

[madmax]

28. Taxes are pretty wild up here

my brother in law pays 10k. I'm one of the lucky ones paying 3300k. lol

I've been on the net for over a week now checking real estate in NC. My eyes are about to fall out of my head. I was looking at High Point, Raleigh, Apex, Cary, Garner and a few others. We're not looking for a lot of property - too much work. But, I'm not too keen on a townhouse or condo either. I like to puter a little in the yard and I have a little mutt. Thanks, for the welcome.

To everyone who has posted here if we move I'm having a DU party for all you guys who were so kind and helpful! Love the DU'ers :grouphug:

[Vox_Reason]

29. Some more info for you

Greetings from beautiful Raleigh, NC!

I moved here in 1983 from Fairfield County, CT and imagine I will live in NC for the rest of my life. The weather is fantastic (even the summers are tolerable after a while; there's A/C everywhere you go), the people are famously friendly, there are tons of things to do for folks with every interest--I love living here.

Some more info for you:
http://www.relocationguide.biz/
http://www.trianglerelocationservices.com/
http://www.forhomebuyers.com/triangle-relocation-services.htm
http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=18722
http://www.trianglehomesite.com/
http://relocatetriangle.typepad.com/relocate_triangle/
http://www.chrisedwardsgroup.com/default.aspx

The Triangle and Asheville are probably the two most prominent lefty hotbeds in the state. There are so many fantastic places to visit; Boone and Blowing Rock/Banner Elk in the mountains, the Outer Banks, Bald Head Island, Southport, Beaufort, the Brunswick County Beaches... the list goes on and on, and it's all within a day trip.

Please let us know how your visit goes!

[madmax]

32. Good links

Thanks :hi: Working my way thru them.

I sent for a Raleigh visitors guide and it came today. I'll be prepared for a nice visit in a few weeks. :bounce: Can you recommend some good places to eat in Raleigh? Nothing fancy - good local fare would be nice.

While buying a map of NC the clerk said stay at the Clarion in Raleigh - your thoughts? He had lots of praise for NC.

[Vox_Reason]

46. Citysearch is always a good bet

Tons of user reviews; choose the type of food you're looking for, and look for the highest user review scores. Read the user reviews for details. If there's one thing we've got a huge surplus of around here, it's excellent restaurants!

http://triangle.citysearch.com/find/section/triangle/restaurants.html

The Triangle Citysearch site is actually a good one to bookmark; like I said, tons of user reviews, and wide breadth of coverage of not only restaurants but many other kinds of things.

Greg Cox is the longtime restaurant critic for the Raleigh News and Observer:
http://www.triangle.com/dining

If you're a more serious foodie and want a seasoned pro's opinion, you can email him directly, tell him your situation and what you're after (type of menu and price range), and he'll definitely set you up with a few options that will be surefire winners. That guy really knows his stuff.

Another listing:
http://www.triangleipages.com/restaurants/index.htm

Downtown Raleigh:
http://www.downtownraleigh.com/play/list/?t=Dine

Like I said, restaurants is yet another great thing about living in the Triangle. Truly an embarrassment of riches!

[madmax]

49. Thanks Vox

Doesn't look like we'll starve and die in NC. I'm printing them to take. I can eat anywhere and be happy but, we may have to take someone out to eat.

[AshevilleGuy]

30. Here is a negative.

If you like to go out and have a glass or two of wine with dinner or a couple of beers, be careful. The cops in this state are predatory - especially here in Asheville - road blocks and sobriety checkpoints are all over the place. It's really not safe to have alcohol on your breath here in the Summer and drive!! This is a police state, make no mistake.

[madmax]

31. Thanks for the tip - that's a biggie

Here you can have 1 or 2 drinks ONLY and it's not a problem. When I feel I need to tie one on ;p every 4 years while watching the election returns I do it at home. :toast:

[supernova]

34. Just be aware

yes, we have a pretty severe drunk-driving law (you need to have less than .08 in your system while behind the wheel) but usually it's not a problem. Usually law enforecement tend to make a big show for holidays, be very visible on the highway and advertise on the news that they will be on the lookout for DUI problems. Otherwise, they tend to keep a low profile.

And shame on anybody who lives here and can't spot an unmarked car! ;-)

[shortcake]

35. can't be too much of a problem

NC ranks 6th in the nation for alcohol related traffic fatalities

[supernova]

42. WE also have a lot of road construction

and alchohol and orange and white barrels don't mix. :silly:

[madmax]

44. Who knew!

:evilgrin:

[AshevilleGuy]

50. We have sobriety checkpoints here all the time

in warm weather, which is starting now. They are always where you can't see them until it's too late to turn around. If you have alcohol on your breath they will drag you out of your car and make you go through the exam, and then you have to blow through the device. You could have simply tasted a drink but that is all it takes.

It happened to me last September, and it was NOT a holiday weekend! Fortunately I had had only one beer, but I had to go through that shit, there by the street where people going by could see me. It was humiliating. And now they no longer have to have a paper trail from the BAC device, just the cop's word that you were .08 or over.

We have little serious crime here, WAY too many cops with nothing to do but harass motorists. And the fines are so LUCRATIVE!

It always amazes me that all over Asheville you see people in bars, especially tourists in Summer, having a great time drinking. If they are driving they are in danger here, but they either don't know or are willing to chance it.

[shadow731]

52. You are exactly right!!!

Recently, I've been held up in 3 checkpoints driving home from work. It's become so frustrating I've changed my route home to what appears to be a less popular route to law enforcement. As you pointed out the fines are lucrative and plus it provides the police an opportunity to go on "fishing expeditions." It is surprising how much time and manpower is invested here in Asheville in pursuing minor infractions rather than on more serious matters. I wonder if it is because citations are easy to issue and the money is lucrative or is it that success in more serious criminal matters is so limited and difficult to achieve? A good example of what you're referring to happened to a friend of my recently. He received a call on his cell phone driving home one night. He doesn't like to talk on the phone while driving so he pulled into a restaurant parking lot. He unbuckled his seat belt to retrieve his phone from his pocket as he drove into the lot. At the time a group of troopers were standing in front of the business. One walked over and issued him a citation for not having his seatbelt on in a parking lot! Fortunately, it was dismissed but how chickens**t can you get?

[AshevilleGuy]

60. Watch out on Riverside Drive, Biltmore Ave, and of course WOODFIN!

Fuck Woodfin; just a run down mess of trailer parks and pigs. Don't EVER go there with alcohol on your breath!

The cops are basically bullies: they mess with people they are not afraid of, rather than going after real criminals. Every year the bastards try to shut down our drum circle in Pritchard Park. The county needs cops but the city cops don't want to work there, they would have real crimes to deal with.

Just be careful, and don't drive after more than one beer, especially if you have it at Asheville Pizza; it's high alcohol there, but good. :)

[supernova]

57. You are also in a tourist area

So you are probably more susceptible to these kinds of road blocks.

[madmax]

36. IT'S A THREE ALARMER!!!!!

DING DING DING!!! Good news my friends. Seems that when my husband was hired 25 years ago for a funiture company here in NJ the big honcho who hired him is now the Regional Manager in NC!! The news is good regarding hire, salary, etc. Now I have to sell my house here - hope that works out well.

I'm cleaning and prepping for that. Will have the realtor here to discuss price etc. when we come back from our visit to NC the first week of April.

After we sell here our plan is to move everything to NC but, rent for a few months. I want to get a handle on the area and figure out what we can afford and where I'd like to park my carcass for the rest of my life, lol. I'm thinking I should rent a house because I have mucho stuff and a Yorkshire Terrier.

Oh lovies - if this works according to my best laid plans <cough> I will be ready to have a big DU Holiday Par-TAY in December. Keep fingers crossed, send good vibes, prayers whatever.

Once there and settled we plan to be active in helping to turn NC bluer than blue! :bounce:

Love and best wishes to you all.... and please keep any ideas, suggestions, etc. coming. :grouphug:

[LiberalinNC]

37. That is great news!!!

Do you know where in NC you plan on moving? Congrats on the good news!!! And good luck w/ selling your house and finding a great one here.

[madmax]

38. Hi Sweetie

Definately in the Raleigh area. I'm looking at Garner, Knightdale, Apex, Holly Springs. And last by not least Cary! lol Not being at all familiar with the area makes it a little tough, but in a good way. It's hard to find 'neighborhood' on the net. I find houses within the towns but, not the neighborhood. And move of the pics are of the particular house being sold - can't get a handle on the other homes, what the streets look like etc. How far to the stores. I don't feature a 28 mile drive for a quart of milk.

You probably know this but, you never realize how much STUFF you have until you want to move. I'm reminded of George Carlin's skit on 'stuff'.

I've been looking at new construction and older - by older I mean like 5-6 years old. I think I like the pre-owned homes and neighborhoods better.

I somewhat frozen with craziness because I can't wait to get there and look around. By the time I get back I'll be ready to throw out, pack up, and donate.

My husband's friend has a sister living in Louisburg. She told him I'd hate Louisburg - too woodsy? :shrug:

[mnhtnbb]

39. Cary is more expensive. I saw an article in today's paper that

indicated Cary prices were up 14% over last year! There is a LOT of new stuff
on the market here and developers are giving incentives.

Do you have a newsstand where you can get out of town papers? The Raleigh News/Observer has a good section for RE.

If not, and you want to PM me, I'd be happy to send you the newspapers
and rental mags.

[madmax]

40. I was looking in

Fuquay Varina but, I can't prounce it :silly: I know if I say it fast I'm going to offend someone.

[supernova]

41. Few-QUAY VahREENna

That should help. :-)

[madmax]

43. LOL

yeah right, let me try that one when I've had a few Corona's :silly:


:toast:

[lildreamer316]

45. You can order real estate mags from

here: http://www.homesandland.com/OrderMagazine.cfm
and here: http://www.realestatebook.com/order/select.aspx?sid=2954393ea7604a58942f2d7c846fd4d4&refer=treb

Good luck!:hi:

[madmax]

47. Thanks..

If I weren't going down there in 2 weeks I'd order them. I plan to rent for a few months before I buy. I can't make quick decisions - makes me noivous. ;) :hi:

[madmax]

48. I promised myself I wasn't going to pester you guys anymore

Well, I break a lot of promises! I was talking to someone who knows someone who lives in NC. Well, this woman had me in tears. First, she said the heat pump heat system is awful. It's electric and expensive, the vents are in the ceilings so you'll freeze to death all winter. There are no gas stoves or clothes dryers so it takes forver to dry your clothes. Plus the hot water tanks are electric so whoever gets in first gets the hot water and everyone else either has to wait for more hot water or take a cold shower. Holy Moley!! Talk about a bummer. Please tell me there are ways around this or that it's not true.

To top it off I saw 2 nice houses. One was on Chaney Lane and the other on Enduring Freedom. Please, give me a break! :cry:

Ok, I'm not crying anymore - tell me the good news. :silly: :crazy: :dilemma:

[LiberalinNC]

51. Oh good God!!!

I have gas heat, a gas hot water heater, a gas stove, a gas fireplace and I've had friends have a gas dryer. Vents are generally on the floors downstairs and in the ceilings upstairs - and NO I don't freeze in the winter. When it comes to enough hot water, it matters on the size of the water heater...which can always be replaced with a bigger one. Personally I wouldn't listen to your friend's friend. I love living in NC it's a beautiful state..like today almost 80 in Raleigh/Cary/Durham, with a blue sky. Low tonight 56...

You'll love it here!!!!

[madmax]

54. How do I love thee!!!!

I'm so relieved to hear this! I have been busting butt cleaning, throwing stuff out, and just getting ready for the trip to NC. If we like what we see we're calling the realtor in and putting the house up for sale immediately.

I check the local weather everyday both here and in NC and I know I'm going to love the idea of springtime in March! I'm truely relieved. I love my a stove :loveya:

Carolina Dreamin.... once again. :hi:

[shortcake]

53. It's NC not another country

I've never seen heat pump vents in the ceiling. Most places you can get gas. Electricity is no longer more expensive than gas anyway. As for hot water, read the above post. I think the person you were talking to is just, well that wouldn't be nice. Weather is beautiful. Daffodils blooming.

[madmax]

55. Thank you so much

I guess some people just love to piss on my parade. We're so fed up here in NJ - it's not just sky high taxes and cost of housing. It's just damn depressing. Everything is OLD and not well cared for in most <cough> middle income areas. Jobs are disappearing left and right.

I think you're right about my 'friend' - wouldn't be nice :evilgrin:

:hi:

[Vox_Reason]

56. This house has had a furnace since it was built

Love my gas range. One of the fireplaces has a buck stove installed just in case things get crazy on the energy market!

As far as weather, we're on a mild swing right now--predicted high of 84 today--but it'll go back to seasonal by the weekend:
http://www.wral.com/weather/

If you don't like old and run down, you'd love Cary. One drawback of that town is that it has a reputation for being a collection of bland, cookie-cutter, conformist architecture, enforced by the local government. Local regulations and homeowner's associations take care of the "run down" aspect of things in Cary, though.

Other cities and towns in the area have more eclectic buildings and houses, but for some, what Cary is about is appealing. There's something for everyone around here, that's for sure.

In terms of jobs, we've got that covered too:
http://www.forbes.com/home/2007/02/15/best-cities-jobs-leadership-careers_cx_hc_0216cityjobs_slide_2.html

Really looking forward to hearing your impressions of things after your trip.

[madmax]

58. I think I'll love the weather

Spring start for you guys in March about a month earlier than here.

Not fond of cookie cutter neighborhood but, some areas just seem to go completely to hell. People move in and then never drive a nail or whack a paint brush across anything until they retire and sell it as a 'fixer upper'.

The house I have now is over 100 years old. It was a fixer upper in a neighborhood of of older homes in less disrepair. It has a lot of character and charm. All the woodwork is chestnut wood. In the kitchen there is a butler's pantry with nice built ins. It was a lot of work to get everything re-done. Took me 4 months of stripping old varish and grim from all the woodwork. At 57 I'm finished with fixers and just want to move in, unpack and putz around with my hobbies. This house was the extreme it needed everything re-done. The only things that were in good shape were the plaster walls and the hardwood floors. Other than that is was roof, kitchen, bathrooms and the yard was a mess. The unattached garage was so rotted it had to be torn down.

I will definately post when I return. I'm sure I'm going to love it and then I'll be a wreck trying to get there. The only thing I've promised myself is that I NOT right away. There are so many homes for sale that I don't want to make a mistake and buy the wrong one.

Last March we went out one day to 'just look' at some cars and came home with one!!! Worked out ok, tho.

[Vox_Reason]

59. You can move into 100 y.o, house here if you want to

And you can also move into one that's not built yet as we speak! It's all up to you.

Finding a suitable place to live should be the least of your concerns, IMHO. Once you decide what that place looks like for you, you will have an abundance of properties to choose from.

I would recommend focusing on whether this rural/suburban/urban environment fits your lifestyle. This is a really different place than just about everywhere in NJ. I'd recommend staying on the move as much as you can during your time down here; don't sit in any one hotel room or restaurant or store too long. Without overwhelming yourself, try to see all 3 major metropolitan areas, and a good sampling of the outlying towns.

I guess what I mean is that spending too much time in a small hotel in Zebulon or at Fearrington Village in Chapel Hill might really color your experience of Triangle living. Go to the malls; go to the downtown areas and walk the streets; drive through suburban neighborhoods; take a walking tour of one of the local campuses; troll a suburban strip shopping center; visit a state or city park; stop at a roadside stand in a more rural area; attend a locally-produced arts production or exhibit; attend a college sports event.

Strive to see as much as you can, but to do so, you must drive. This is a very car-centric community. Public transport is available, but in very limited areas and on fractionally practical schedules. Extensive use of a car is an unfortunately important part of life in the Triangle. Luckily, outside of rush hour, traffic here is far better than it is in the northeast, but nonetheless, it is an issue far up the list of complaints of area residents.

You're bound to find something here that you find interesting or comfortable enough to want to spend a lot of time with/at, but by spending too much time in a certain location or at a certain pursuit here within a short window of available time, you're bound to miss out on the extensive variegation of the entire tapestry that is life in the Triangle and in North Carolina. That richness and depth of opportunity is what makes life here as rewarding as it is, in my opinion.

Bon voyage!

[miketorse]

61. We are originally...

from Connecticut, and moved here (Cary, NC) in 2003. Love it! Cary, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Thrill are great.