What type of neighborhood are you looking for? There are all types of different areas. Do you have kids? I would look at Plaza Midwood, Dilworth, Southpark areas in Charlotte. Those are more city locations. Uptown (downtown) too if you don't need a house/yard. For more suburban, Ft Mill, SC, Davidson, Waxhaw are good choices too.
What type of neighborhood are you looking for? There are all types of different areas. Do you have kids? I would look at Plaza Midwood, Dilworth, Southpark areas in Charlotte. Those are more city locations. Uptown (downtown) too if you don't need a house/yard. For more suburban, Ft Mill, SC, Davidson, Waxhaw are good choices too.
We don't have kids (yet), but plan to within the next couple of years. We definitely want a house (4-5 bedrooms) with a yard ($300k budget). We don't mind being in close proximity to neighbors. I don't mind a community pool, but J would like our own pool. Do communities with pools allow private pools in yards? I like to be near to civilization--restaurants and shopping close by. Must be commutable to whichever hospital I would end up working in. And decent schools (J's job and future children).
Post by carolinagirl831 on Aug 1, 2015 17:08:06 GMT -5
I live on the border of concord and work in Huntersville. The overall lake Norman area is great (Huntersville /Davidson / Cornelius area) I like that area much better than actual city of concord. West of I85 there are many new neighborhoods with a concord address, but actually closer to the lake Norman stuff. all the new neighborhoods east of I 77 and west of i85 are realky nice Also check out southpark/Dilworth realky nice areas south of uptown Ballantyne Is realky nice suburban area in the southern region
It realky depends on where you're working as to what area is the most practical to live.
I don't live there but you need to go to Amelie's and eat 100 pastries for me.
Off to google this place!!Â
They're open 24 hours. The most amazing pastries ever. I also love their sandwiches and salads. My roomie and I drive to Charlotte sometimes just for Amelie's.
I'm in South Charlotte and from NY. I don't know the Concord or Huntersville area so I can't comment on that. Where we are is super convenient to most everything. I would definitely check out the Plaza Midwood, NODA , Dilworth, South End area. I think where you would be working may dictate more where you want to live based on commute as well. We have been here 2 yrs this fall and like it so far. It's a really nice change of pace from NY.
Post by trytobearunner34 on Aug 1, 2015 18:27:17 GMT -5
We live in Huntersville and love it! There is a lot of traffic in the Lake Norman area but there are several hospital and school options that you may be able to play your cards right and be close to everything you need.
We live in the Fort Mill area and my parents live in the Waxhaw/Marvin area. We chose to live in SC because the taxes and gas are so much cheaper, but you still have all the amenities of Charlotte. We are about 2 miles from the state line.
I love the Blakeney, Balantyne, and Piper Glen areas as well as the ones previously mentioned.
My dad lives at Lake Norman and it is getting more and more crowded. They are about to start on a HUGE condo complex and mall area on 150 right as you get into the lake area which in a few years is going to be terrible. Traffic in Mooresville is a nightmare, Davidson and Huntersville aren't nearly as bad. Cornelius was great when my late grandmother lived there.
I'm in South Charlotte and from NY. I don't know the Concord or Huntersville area so I can't comment on that. Where we are is super convenient to most everything. I would definitely check out the Plaza Midwood, NODA , Dilworth, South End area. I think where you would be working may dictate more where you want to live based on commute as well. We have been here 2 yrs this fall and like it so far. It's a really nice change of pace from NY.
Whereabouts in NY are you from? (If you don't want to answer or would rather PM, that's cool). I'm in Queens/work in bklyn. We are renting because house prices are absolutely ridiculous. I've come to the conclusion that the only way we can own the beautiful home that we want and start a family is to head out of here. I make a great salary (6 figures), yet it's still impossible. I'd probably end up taking a relatively small pay cut, J may not have a big cut..but I think we can live really well there.
Post by sunshineluv on Aug 1, 2015 21:27:23 GMT -5
You have been given some great ideas. I think if you move here, it would be best to rent for at least 6 months before you buy. Charlotte is so spread out, and people are drawn to different areas. Some love south Charlotte, where it's more established. I personally prefer north Charlotte but it took me a while to get that figured out.
My favorite restaurant is eez fusion, it's in huntersville in a little shopping village that has a great vibe.
How did I not know so many of you guys lived in the area? GTG please...
I live in the western section of Concord, we are five minutes from North Charlotte/Highland Creek area as well as Huntersville. We are close to just about everything. With what you are looking for, you could find some nice choices in the communities out this way. Mooresville is a traffic nightmare. I love Davidson (we were under contract on a house there earlier this year but it fell through). I like sticking to the suburbs bc I feel you can get more for your money. You can get a small bungalow in the trendy sections outside uptown for what you can get a large house for in some of the burbs. Private pools are certainly allowed, just has to be approved by HOA. We were outbid on a house last week in Denver, NC, it had a private pool, that was a bummer. Oh also, my parents like just below Fort Mill, SC in a town called Indian Land, this entire section of SC is nice but EXPLODING, I worry about how crowded and congested it'll get down there.
Lurker here...we moved to the north charlotte area last year and absolutely we love it. You have already received a lot of good advice as far as specific areas but I will just reiterate that the best thing you could probably do is rent for at least six months if not longer. We were anxious to get settled and bought a house within the first few months and while we are really happy with where we are, we are constantly discovering other areas that would have been really good too. The great news is no matter what you are looking for, you should be able to find it here. Good luck!
How did I not know so many of you guys lived in the area? GTG please...
I live in the western section of Concord, we are five minutes from North Charlotte/Highland Creek area as well as Huntersville. We are close to just about everything. With what you are looking for, you could find some nice choices in the communities out this way. Mooresville is a traffic nightmare. I love Davidson (we were under contract on a house there earlier this year but it fell through). I like sticking to the suburbs bc I feel you can get more for your money. You can get a small bungalow in the trendy sections outside uptown for what you can get a large house for in some of the burbs. Private pools are certainly allowed, just has to be approved by HOA. We were outbid on a house last week in Denver, NC, it had a private pool, that was a bummer. Oh also, my parents like just below Fort Mill, SC in a town called Indian Land, this entire section of SC is nice but EXPLODING, I worry about how crowded and congested it'll get down there.
Best of luck to you!
We are in the Denver area and love it. It is lake Norman with low property taxes and way less traffic than Huntersville/mooresville. Close to everywhere, but much more relaxed feel of a town - good luck looking for another place!
Lurker here...we moved to the north charlotte area last year and absolutely we love it. You have already received a lot of good advice as far as specific areas but I will just reiterate that the best thing you could probably do is rent for at least six months if not longer. We were anxious to get settled and bought a house within the first few months and while we are really happy with where we are, we are constantly discovering other areas that would have been really good too. The great news is no matter what you are looking for, you should be able to find it here. Good luck!
I know it'd probably make sense to rent...BUT we don't really want to keep moving. Almost 2 years ago J moved into my apartment that I'd been in about a year at the time. Last year we moved to our current apt. I really don't want to make a big, far move into an apt and then be on a house hunt in a year if at all possible.
Lurker here...we moved to the north charlotte area last year and absolutely we love it. You have already received a lot of good advice as far as specific areas but I will just reiterate that the best thing you could probably do is rent for at least six months if not longer. We were anxious to get settled and bought a house within the first few months and while we are really happy with where we are, we are constantly discovering other areas that would have been really good too. The great news is no matter what you are looking for, you should be able to find it here. Good luck!
I know it'd probably make sense to rent...BUT we don't really want to keep moving. Almost 2 years ago J moved into my apartment that I'd been in about a year at the time. Last year we moved to our current apt. I really don't want to make a big, far move into an apt and then be on a house hunt in a year if at all possible.
I get it...believe me. Moving is the worst. In that case I would see where both of you are able to find jobs and then base your housing search around that and how far you are each willing to commute. It is such a great city, you really can't make a bad choice and your budget should allow you to have a lot of options.
I know it'd probably make sense to rent...BUT we don't really want to keep moving. Almost 2 years ago J moved into my apartment that I'd been in about a year at the time. Last year we moved to our current apt. I really don't want to make a big, far move into an apt and then be on a house hunt in a year if at all possible.
I get it...believe me. Moving is the worst. In that case I would see where both of you are able to find jobs and then base your housing search around that and how far you are each willing to commute. It is such a great city, you really can't make a bad choice and your budget should allow you to have a lot of options.
I'm probably going to be on the hunt first for a job because I work in medicine which can be more specific as to the field I work in. He's a teacher so hopefully he'll be able to find something suitable and full time right away, but who knows depending upon what point of the school year we move during. Our commutes here in NY suck-mine is worse than his. A roughly 14 mile commute takes me no less than one hour and it's horrendous. It can't get worse, really.
How did I not know so many of you guys lived in the area? GTG please...
I live in the western section of Concord, we are five minutes from North Charlotte/Highland Creek area as well as Huntersville. We are close to just about everything. With what you are looking for, you could find some nice choices in the communities out this way. Mooresville is a traffic nightmare. I love Davidson (we were under contract on a house there earlier this year but it fell through). I like sticking to the suburbs bc I feel you can get more for your money. You can get a small bungalow in the trendy sections outside uptown for what you can get a large house for in some of the burbs. Private pools are certainly allowed, just has to be approved by HOA. We were outbid on a house last week in Denver, NC, it had a private pool, that was a bummer. Oh also, my parents like just below Fort Mill, SC in a town called Indian Land, this entire section of SC is nice but EXPLODING, I worry about how crowded and congested it'll get down there.
Best of luck to you!
We are in the Denver area and love it. It is lake Norman with low property taxes and way less traffic than Huntersville/mooresville. Close to everywhere, but much more relaxed feel of a town - good luck looking for another place!
Thank you!! The more time I spent up there house hunting, the more I loved it up there. The house we lost out on is in the Westport area, which I have fallen in love with. I think that one will always be "the one that got away" We're keeping our eyes peeled on that area, though
We've lived in Concord and didn't care for it. Harrisburg or Huntersville would be good places to look. Traffic on the north side has gotten a LOT better since 485 opened. While I love some of the houses in S. Charlotte, my budget doesn't. We were able to afford much more by moving to N. Charlotte. We're right on the border of Cabarrus and Meck Counties.
Teaching-CMS isn't the greatest. I know several people trying to get out. Kannapolis has a good reputation for teachers.