KidVermicious
New member
Utah sucks. Stay away.
All opinions welcome
- Thread starter Compilot
- Start date
I lived in Charlotte, NC for a few years, and I'd recommend that area or Raleigh to anyone. Plenty to do, access to anything you're looking for, cost of living is relatively low. I grew up in Upstate, NY, moved to NC, then came back to the north for work, and to be closer to family (all in New England). Depending on where your families are, and where you'd really like to be geographically, I can't say enough good things about NC/SC.
Lots of outdoorsy things to do? YES. Plenty.
Quality state/national parks within an hours drive? Absolutely. You can be in Boone, NC or Asheville, NC and catch the blue ridge parkway in either place.
Charlotte and Raleigh are big cities. Fly anywhere direct from Charlotte with ease. Bonus is easy access to I-77/81/95.
Bike trails? YES! I'm a bike nerd (read: I have 9 bikes currently and love to build vintage 80's hardtail bikes), and Charlotte has an awesome set of trails, and you can be at Pisgah national forest to ride in a little over an hour. I actually miss having multiple bike trail options IN THE CITY like Charlotte has. I would often fit in a quick ride after work. If you're into racing, there is a weekly race circuit in Charlotte.
Affordable? A THOUSAND TIMES, YES. I still own a house there and rent it out actually. For scale, my MORTGAGE on the house in Charlotte is literally $1350 LESS than my RENT here in Boston. A BIG, newer house in a nice neighborhood can be had easily in a $200k budget. Even Cheaper if you cross over into SC.
Friendly people? Yup! After living there, then coming to the Northeast, its like day and night. I still have a ton of good friends in CLT.
Beaches? They are 3/4 hours away... Like you, I prefer to keep them that far. Charlotte does have a few great local lakes, if you're into boating at all. I had a 20' bowrider when I lived there, and trailiering the boat was super viable. Be on the water in <30min.
Humid? It gets hot (90+) for a few weeks in the summer, but its never unbearably humid. The up-side is no "real" snow, and super mild winters. I rode my motorcycle to work at least once a week when I was there.
Cheap Taxes? I can't stress how cheap it is (in the city of Charlotte, at least). My Property/local/school taxes all-in are UNDER $1300/yr (on a 1500sqf 3bd 2ba with a 1car garage built in 2007). If you live a little more rural, the taxes drop off too. I'm looking at homes New England now... and $6k+ in taxes annually is making me choke.
I should add, as a "car guy" that NC is south of the rust-belt. I was buying and selling VWs there for fun, and its amazing the difference between a 10-15 year old car from the north VS one from the south... jussayin. My next "toy" will absolutely come from NC or SC.
Good luck with your search!!
Lots of outdoorsy things to do? YES. Plenty.
Quality state/national parks within an hours drive? Absolutely. You can be in Boone, NC or Asheville, NC and catch the blue ridge parkway in either place.
Charlotte and Raleigh are big cities. Fly anywhere direct from Charlotte with ease. Bonus is easy access to I-77/81/95.
Bike trails? YES! I'm a bike nerd (read: I have 9 bikes currently and love to build vintage 80's hardtail bikes), and Charlotte has an awesome set of trails, and you can be at Pisgah national forest to ride in a little over an hour. I actually miss having multiple bike trail options IN THE CITY like Charlotte has. I would often fit in a quick ride after work. If you're into racing, there is a weekly race circuit in Charlotte.
Affordable? A THOUSAND TIMES, YES. I still own a house there and rent it out actually. For scale, my MORTGAGE on the house in Charlotte is literally $1350 LESS than my RENT here in Boston. A BIG, newer house in a nice neighborhood can be had easily in a $200k budget. Even Cheaper if you cross over into SC.
Friendly people? Yup! After living there, then coming to the Northeast, its like day and night. I still have a ton of good friends in CLT.
Beaches? They are 3/4 hours away... Like you, I prefer to keep them that far. Charlotte does have a few great local lakes, if you're into boating at all. I had a 20' bowrider when I lived there, and trailiering the boat was super viable. Be on the water in <30min.
Humid? It gets hot (90+) for a few weeks in the summer, but its never unbearably humid. The up-side is no "real" snow, and super mild winters. I rode my motorcycle to work at least once a week when I was there.
Cheap Taxes? I can't stress how cheap it is (in the city of Charlotte, at least). My Property/local/school taxes all-in are UNDER $1300/yr (on a 1500sqf 3bd 2ba with a 1car garage built in 2007). If you live a little more rural, the taxes drop off too. I'm looking at homes New England now... and $6k+ in taxes annually is making me choke.
I should add, as a "car guy" that NC is south of the rust-belt. I was buying and selling VWs there for fun, and its amazing the difference between a 10-15 year old car from the north VS one from the south... jussayin. My next "toy" will absolutely come from NC or SC.
Good luck with your search!!
Last edited:
And if you want less college-town, more grown up, you have Noblesville and Carmel on the north side of Indianapolis. Carmel being a little nicer, but a little pricier. Being the middle of the country, it's easy to go anywhere.
Okki
LightRanger
New member
Bend, the Sierra Foothills, SW CO, or Teton Valley, ID would get my votes...
Rubberdown
New member
Because they hate guns and are full of hippies? Just kidding to the non hippies that are from there.
I live in Columbia, SC. I think the Charlotte, NC area fits all your requirements. South Carolina is going to be a little cheaper than North Carolina, but again you probably won't like the summer temps. I was born and raised in Texas and i can tell you Austin will not fit your temperature requirements for several months out of the year.
jrandom
New member
Properties for less than $300k and low taxes, hmm maybe but seems not so much anymore. The billionaires and buying out the Jackson millionaires and the Jackson millionaires are moving there. There was a time not all that long ago that it was dirt cheap to live on the other side. Suburbia is creeping in, last time I was in Victor (in-laws daughter has lived there all her adult her life), horse property track homes had taken stake, sad truly sad :-(
KVA
Member
I love guns...and wish I had hair like a hippie (lol) - remote towns in CA can be very nice though...problem is you are still in CA. The Sierras are fantastic! There really is a lot CA has to offer...just not in LA, SF or other major cities.
CA from a nature POV is awesome...nowhere else can you get so much so close. Nothing is more than 2 hours away - snow, ocean, parks, trails, desert...
Problem is too many damn people in CA. Too many laws, very high housing prices, crappy governor (no one else wants the job)...I do not know why any company wants to do business in the state.
That said, my father lived in Bend, OR for a decade - funny as he lived next to the national forest and folks there thought he lived in the boonies...20-30 min drive to town. For a guy from LA, this is like a 2 mile commute. Now that same area is considered Estate property...lol.
Bend does get its share of snow...but great town nonetheless.
jrandom
New member
LOL a direct symptom of contraception forgetification, normally referred to as "forgot the rain coat" Too many people spreading out from dense urban areas. It is getting overwhelmed here too, the infrastructure is really beginning to feel the strain, as well as the surrounding environs, more get closed off every year due to stupidification.
