Looking to move from PA to North Carolina..All From NC please step in

[Camaro2SSLS3]

Hello,

I currently live in South eastern Pennsylvania. My girlfriend and I are sick of the winters here and want to move to North Carolina. I have a friend that lives in Wilmington and loves it. I currently own a home , well not completely as I still have a mortgage. I want to sell and move to warmer winter weather. I was wondering where some good areas are to live. I have only Visited in the Outter Banks. I don't want to be super close to the ocean. Was looking at around Raleigh or somewhere between Raleigh and Wilmington. We don't have kids, but want still want to live in a decent school district just in case we do have a kid. Also want to live in a good/safe neighborhood in the suburbs. Would need atleast a 2 car garage and some kind of yard.
So if any one from North Carolina could possibly give me a few suggestions on where to look that would be awesome.
Thanks in advance!

[FanDamNCSU]

Raleigh and surrounding areas are nice, I also like the Greensboro/Winston Salem areas. Additionally, where I live (Just avoid Fayetteville) is also nice just not as much to do. The great thing about NC is you're only about 3 hours from the beach or mountains if you live in the middle somewhere.

[45thAnniversary2SS]

Southern Pines is a goreous area! Going to the US Open there this summer.

OP I've lived in NC my entire life. Went to college in the eastern portion of state and stayed for a while.

Closing on a house now just outside of Charlotte. Very nice around here with lots to do. Lakes with world class fishing, Nascar, NFL and NBA teams.

What are some of your hobbies?

[Infidel67]

I like it around Lake Norman not to far from Charlotte, and one of the best lakes in the Carolinas.

[31B]

The Cary and Fuquay-Varina areas are nice

[NC-V]

Haven't lived anywhere else in NC, but I am very happy in the Lake Norman/ Charlotte area. Close to water, close to city/things to do and plenty of car culture!

[GVA 45TH 2SS]

NC is changing rapidly. You really need to look at various areas and see what suits you.
There are Plenty of homes being built that have 2 and 3 car garages.
I'm about 10 miles from Charlotte but about 1 mile from the SC border. It's nice getting 93 octane 30 cents a gallon cheaper by hopping the border.
Its about 3 hours to the beach one way and 2 hours to the mountains the other way. And plenty of lakes in between, lake Norman being the biggest.

What kind of work do you and your girlfriend do? Some areas have more job opportunities than others.
I moved here from Massachusetts in 2007, and love it.

[tw78911sc]

I live in Wilmington, nice small city. Beach, can drive the car 360 days a year (maybe snow/ice 3 days, couple of hurricane warnings). Wilmington is a little pricey because it is a college town on the coast. Been here for 7 years, lived in upstate NY and Ohio, and would never go back except to see family in August.

Great mix of people, people are just friendly here. Not too hot or cold because of being on the coast. Tom

note : A Yankee is a person from north of the Mason-Dixon, a damn Yankee is one that doesn't go home.

http://www.nationalspeedinc.com/

[mygen5]

be sure to check out the TNT Revolution face book page when you get here. it's just a place to hang out and not deal with the big club politics, also check out southeastern gmtoyz website another great place to hang out with all GM types they love to have a mix of GM toys

[Camaro2SSLS3]

Hello, thank you all so much for replying and helping me out. I will have to check out those areas. I am auto mechanic, I worked both a dealer and am now at a small garage working on all makes. My girlfriend and I are both 30 years old. Her job is a little confusing to me but she works at a medical company that makes tools for spinal implants. I guess you would call it , Document control specialist at a medical device company, but can do many other jobs around that like book keeping, administrating jobs,etc. she has a bachelors degree.
that's my biggest problem, hoping we both find jobs somewhat close to home and finding a good safe area to live, plus I got to sell my home but afraid to put it up for sale until we know for sure where we want to live. Depending on where we decide to live in NC, where are anywhere from 6-10 hours away so it's hard for us to just take a drive and start looking, plus with my job it's hard to take off since it's just me and the owner at my job. We changed our resumes online to find jobs for North Carolina, hoping someone might find us and maybe even have sign on moving bonus(I know, fat chance but one can hope). We really really want to move down there , just gotta find a job for Atleast one of us and sell the house. Please keep the suggestions coming, and if you know anyone hiring that would be great too. This house I bought in 2007 at age 23 so it's my first house and first sale so I'm not experienced at selling a house. I know to call a realtor but don't want to sell the house and then not know where to live

Thanks again for your help and please keep the suggestions coming and sorry for my spelling as I am typing this before work on my cell phone.

Thanks again everyone and keep them coming!

[Camaro2SSLS3]

oh and as far as hobbies, I guess you would call us boring. We both don't drink, do drugs, smoke. So local bars we could care less about. We enjoy going to car shows and walking. I have a dog so we walk him a lot. Anyone else have any suggestions? Maybe someone knows a garage whos looking for a good mechanic....haha
Please keep the suggestions coming. Thanks again!

[Rockey33]

You may want to look into Cary, Apex, Fuquay-Varina area. There are several hospitals in this area (Duke, UNC, Wake Forrest). Your girlfriend may find a job there. I have not been there in about 5 years but the area was growing rapidly with a lot of nice places to live.

[Camaro2SSLS3]

We seem to like Johnston County, like Clayton, Smithfield, Benson, we found a lot of homes online that fit our needs and budget. Anyone from that area? Thanks

[NSANEBLK]

Originally Posted by Camaro2SSLS3

We seem to like Johnston County, like Clayton, Smithfield, Benson, we found a lot of homes online that fit our needs and budget. Anyone from that area? Thanks

I live in Clayton, small town but not too far from Raleigh. Feel free to PM me if I can answer any questions about the area.