Considering move to Chapel Hill/Raleigh

[doodle 0]

We are currently living on Martha's Vineyard which is obviously not working for us. We have done extensive research and without being too far from the northeast (most of our families live there) we have thought that Chapel Hill/Raleigh area would be a good place to start.

Anyone live there or have input?

Housing costs are reasonable...especially when you compare where we are coming from.

Jobs are plentiful

Wages seem right in our expectations

Beach isn't too far away (important to us as we are living on an island right now)

What do you think? I'll take all feedback, positive and negative, the more the merrier...

[Jenn! 918]

I went to college in the Triangle area and I thought it was a pretty nice place to live (even though I was in Durham, which is definitely not as nice as Chapel Hill or Raleigh). There were some adjustments for me, having lived around Boston my whole life. But if you're at all worried about it being too "southern" for a NE girl, I'd say that it's not really a concern. There are tons of transplants down there.

Good luck in your decision!

P.S. Never really went to the beach though. It's really kind of a hike.

[bean9 0]

We are currently living on Martha's Vineyard which is obviously not working for us. We have done extensive research and without being too far from the northeast (most of our families live there) we have thought that Chapel Hill/Raleigh area would be a good place to start.

Anyone live there or have input?

Housing costs are reasonable...especially when you compare where we are coming from.

Jobs are plentiful

Wages seem right in our expectations

Beach isn't too far away (important to us as we are living on an island right now)

What do you think? I'll take all feedback, positive and negative, the more the merrier...

Hi,

My boyfriend lives in Chapel Hill. I've been there 3 times to see him and I really like it. The people are really friendly, it's cute and not too far from Raleigh/Durham. I like that it's a progressive little pocket in the south. Buses are free!!! What I don't like about it though is that you have to drive/take the bus to get everywhere...which I guess is not unusual for a small town/city. Also, coming from Canada, I don't mind the weather at ALL!!!! It doesn't ever seem to get really cold.

When I do eventually move to America to be with him I will be settling in Chapel Hill too. He tells me it's not hard to find a job there and because it's so close to Raleigh/Durham you can always commute from Chapel Hill if your work is in those areas. Also, a new facility is being built by UNC which he tells me will increase the property value of homes there. Something to keep in mind. Good luck, whatever you decide!

[anya-D 8]

We are currently living on Martha's Vineyard which is obviously not working for us. We have done extensive research and without being too far from the northeast (most of our families live there) we have thought that Chapel Hill/Raleigh area would be a good place to start.

Anyone live there or have input?

Housing costs are reasonable...especially when you compare where we are coming from.

Jobs are plentiful

Wages seem right in our expectations

Beach isn't too far away (important to us as we are living on an island right now)

What do you think? I'll take all feedback, positive and negative, the more the merrier...

COME ON OVER!! I LOVE it here.. I actually live in south Durham - very close to Chapelhill.. it's a collage town (both Chapel hill and Durham but it seems like more going on in Chapel hill.. It's very diverse too

The houseing is not very expensive.. My husband is a realtor and if you want to talk to him just PM me HE can give you a very good advice on housing and area

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Go for it. It's a great place to live. Not much of a mass transit system though and some parts have been so overbuilt that rush hour traffic can get ridiculous.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

city-data.com has a lot of relocation information. Their NC section of their forum is huge. I'd check it out too.

[Rodney 0]

I live in Raleigh. I was also born and raised in this area. I have traveled extensively and love coming back here. Feel free to email me if you have questions. I would stay away from Durham if it were me.

Good luck.

[anya-D 8]

I live in Raleigh. I was also born and raised in this area. I have traveled extensively and love coming back here. Feel free to email me if you have questions. I would stay away from Durham if it were me.

Good luck.

The south durham part - hope vally area, wood croft, south square and south point are very nice.. growing very fast too...

[Thee_Rak 0]

I lived in Durham (worked at Duke) for 2 years a while back and really liked CH. There's lots of jobs there in several fields, the winters aren't that bad, the summers are good, the air seems fresh and clean, the people are really pretty friendly for the most part.

Virgina Beach is 3 hours away but you can get to the Outer Banks in around 2 if I remember right.

Sometimes I really miss it.

I think CH still has the most millionares per capita of any city in America??

Homes in the area seemed afforable to me (but that was a few years ago) and the "county" is just a short drive away from the "city". 15 min's drive South and you're kind of out there.

[sarah and hicham 3]

I went to school in NC for a while and I am from California. I only lasted 6 months. I had an extremely racist roomate and just couldn't believe that racism was still that rampant in the US (clearly I was naive). I'm not saying everyone is racist but I ran into some people with very differing views from my own. It is the Bible belt.

It's beautiful and you're right the houses are not too expensive and they are nice. The neighborhoods are great, there's tons of shopping, restaurants. I just couldn't handle the culture shock personally.

Good luck!

Edited January 11, 2007 by sarah and hicham

[Yodrak 7]

doodle,

I-40 can be a pleasant place to spend an evening ......

Yodrak

We are currently living on Martha's Vineyard which is obviously not working for us. We have done extensive research and without being too far from the northeast (most of our families live there) we have thought that Chapel Hill/Raleigh area would be a good place to start.

Anyone live there or have input?

Housing costs are reasonable...especially when you compare where we are coming from.

Jobs are plentiful

Wages seem right in our expectations

Beach isn't too far away (important to us as we are living on an island right now)

What do you think? I'll take all feedback, positive and negative, the more the merrier...

[doodle 0]

yodrak...where would you suggest going?

being in an interracial marriage the racial concerns are there. I think that is why we were more drawn to chapel hill. Found a nice townhome there for 158K and almost new. People were a bit warmer. Anyone else have input on this issue?

I'm looking for jobs right now and we are going to be adventurous and move down around the first of February. We would like to buy sooner than later but I guess we will need to get a shorter term rental whil we figure it all out.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Found a nice townhome there for 158K and almost new.

You can get brand new townhomes in Apex (also a nice town, same area) for closer to 100-120. That town is very diverse and professional! Don't overpay if you don't have to. For 158k you can get a nice SFH in Holly Springs.

[sarah and hicham 3]

My old neighbors just moved to Cary and paid about 450K for an 8 bedroom brand new home on 5 acres. It's a nice area too I think.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Cary is awesome. If I moved there, that would be my #1 choice town. Apex is more affordable though, it's right next to Cary and is less built out than Cary is.