Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
Jun 17th 2007, 7:56 am
#1
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Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
Hello All,
I've recently found myself reading this forum again after 3 years hoping that it will help me in my dilema. I am currently contemplating a move back to the States - specifically North Carolina. I had been in the States for 8 years 96 - 04 when I relocated back to the UK after a divorce so that my children could get to know England, family and friends. After almost 3 years of renting I have finally realised after a lot of effort that trying to buy a home here large enough for my family is near impossible and would leave me struggling every month. With house prices continuing to rise I have decided that it would be in our best interest to relocate back to the States. Benefits are lower cost of living, ease of buying a home, job opportunities in my industry and my children would be able to have more contact with their Father.
I'd really appreciate any first hand knowledge on the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area as this is where I plan to relocate to. I have been there once to interview but was not able to stay for very long and look around. Pro's and con's would really help me to decide i.e. education, cost of homes, weather (I have heard that the bugs there can be bad!). I'd really like to make sure I'm making the right decision. I have previously lived in Colorado and Minnesota but feel that North Carolina being on the east coast would at least allow me to be closer to the UK - less flying time and cost of going home.
Any thoughts/advice/help would be greatly appreciated
I've recently found myself reading this forum again after 3 years hoping that it will help me in my dilema. I am currently contemplating a move back to the States - specifically North Carolina. I had been in the States for 8 years 96 - 04 when I relocated back to the UK after a divorce so that my children could get to know England, family and friends. After almost 3 years of renting I have finally realised after a lot of effort that trying to buy a home here large enough for my family is near impossible and would leave me struggling every month. With house prices continuing to rise I have decided that it would be in our best interest to relocate back to the States. Benefits are lower cost of living, ease of buying a home, job opportunities in my industry and my children would be able to have more contact with their Father.
I'd really appreciate any first hand knowledge on the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area as this is where I plan to relocate to. I have been there once to interview but was not able to stay for very long and look around. Pro's and con's would really help me to decide i.e. education, cost of homes, weather (I have heard that the bugs there can be bad!). I'd really like to make sure I'm making the right decision. I have previously lived in Colorado and Minnesota but feel that North Carolina being on the east coast would at least allow me to be closer to the UK - less flying time and cost of going home.
Any thoughts/advice/help would be greatly appreciated
Jun 17th 2007, 9:25 am
#2
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Re: Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
Hello All,
I've recently found myself reading this forum again after 3 years hoping that it will help me in my dilema. I am currently contemplating a move back to the States - specifically North Carolina. I had been in the States for 8 years 96 - 04 when I relocated back to the UK after a divorce so that my children could get to know England, family and friends. After almost 3 years of renting I have finally realised after a lot of effort that trying to buy a home here large enough for my family is near impossible and would leave me struggling every month. With house prices continuing to rise I have decided that it would be in our best interest to relocate back to the States. Benefits are lower cost of living, ease of buying a home, job opportunities in my industry and my children would be able to have more contact with their Father.
I'd really appreciate any first hand knowledge on the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area as this is where I plan to relocate to. I have been there once to interview but was not able to stay for very long and look around. Pro's and con's would really help me to decide i.e. education, cost of homes, weather (I have heard that the bugs there can be bad!). I'd really like to make sure I'm making the right decision. I have previously lived in Colorado and Minnesota but feel that North Carolina being on the east coast would at least allow me to be closer to the UK - less flying time and cost of going home.
Any thoughts/advice/help would be greatly appreciated
I've recently found myself reading this forum again after 3 years hoping that it will help me in my dilema. I am currently contemplating a move back to the States - specifically North Carolina. I had been in the States for 8 years 96 - 04 when I relocated back to the UK after a divorce so that my children could get to know England, family and friends. After almost 3 years of renting I have finally realised after a lot of effort that trying to buy a home here large enough for my family is near impossible and would leave me struggling every month. With house prices continuing to rise I have decided that it would be in our best interest to relocate back to the States. Benefits are lower cost of living, ease of buying a home, job opportunities in my industry and my children would be able to have more contact with their Father.
I'd really appreciate any first hand knowledge on the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area as this is where I plan to relocate to. I have been there once to interview but was not able to stay for very long and look around. Pro's and con's would really help me to decide i.e. education, cost of homes, weather (I have heard that the bugs there can be bad!). I'd really like to make sure I'm making the right decision. I have previously lived in Colorado and Minnesota but feel that North Carolina being on the east coast would at least allow me to be closer to the UK - less flying time and cost of going home.
Any thoughts/advice/help would be greatly appreciated
hope everything works out for u and coming back is really the answer u are looking for ...
Jun 17th 2007, 12:09 pm
#3
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Re: Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
Raleigh Durham International has (I think) only one direct flight to London (Gatwick) on American Airlines, and of course, you can connect throughout the East Coast to London. Of course if you are connecting, then you can just as easily live in Minnesota and connect through Ohare, or some other feeder airport location (etc, etc).
If airports are a major concern, then you may look a little farther north to the Northern Virginia area where Dulles airport has about 5-7 flights a day to London on three different airlines, and nearby BWI has a couple as well. More flights generally = lower cost. Probably costs a bit more to live though.
As for R-D-CH, I've only been through a couple of times. Kind of college towns, though not necessarily in the sense of Cambridge. If you are looking for a bigger city at slightly less cost than most bigger cities you might consider Charlotte, NC.
As for bugs, they're pretty much everywhere.
Jun 17th 2007, 2:46 pm
#4
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Posts: 11,061
Re: Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
Hi,
Raleigh Durham International has (I think) only one direct flight to London (Gatwick) on American Airlines, and of course, you can connect throughout the East Coast to London. Of course if you are connecting, then you can just as easily live in Minnesota and connect through Ohare, or some other feeder airport location (etc, etc).
If airports are a major concern, then you may look a little farther north to the Northern Virginia area where Dulles airport has about 5-7 flights a day to London on three different airlines, and nearby BWI has a couple as well. More flights generally = lower cost. Probably costs a bit more to live though.
As for R-D-CH, I've only been through a couple of times. Kind of college towns, though not necessarily in the sense of Cambridge. If you are looking for a bigger city at slightly less cost than most bigger cities you might consider Charlotte, NC.
As for bugs, they're pretty much everywhere.
Raleigh Durham International has (I think) only one direct flight to London (Gatwick) on American Airlines, and of course, you can connect throughout the East Coast to London. Of course if you are connecting, then you can just as easily live in Minnesota and connect through Ohare, or some other feeder airport location (etc, etc).
If airports are a major concern, then you may look a little farther north to the Northern Virginia area where Dulles airport has about 5-7 flights a day to London on three different airlines, and nearby BWI has a couple as well. More flights generally = lower cost. Probably costs a bit more to live though.
As for R-D-CH, I've only been through a couple of times. Kind of college towns, though not necessarily in the sense of Cambridge. If you are looking for a bigger city at slightly less cost than most bigger cities you might consider Charlotte, NC.
As for bugs, they're pretty much everywhere.
Last edited by NC Penguin; Jun 17th 2007 at 2:57 pm. Reason: Additional info
Jun 17th 2007, 2:49 pm
#5
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Re: Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
BROMLEYGIRL! How are you? Good to see ya (formerly izibear) 
Jun 17th 2007, 2:55 pm
#6
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Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
Hello All,
I've recently found myself reading this forum again after 3 years hoping that it will help me in my dilema. I am currently contemplating a move back to the States - specifically North Carolina. I had been in the States for 8 years 96 - 04 when I relocated back to the UK after a divorce so that my children could get to know England, family and friends. After almost 3 years of renting I have finally realised after a lot of effort that trying to buy a home here large enough for my family is near impossible and would leave me struggling every month. With house prices continuing to rise I have decided that it would be in our best interest to relocate back to the States. Benefits are lower cost of living, ease of buying a home, job opportunities in my industry and my children would be able to have more contact with their Father.
I'd really appreciate any first hand knowledge on the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area as this is where I plan to relocate to. I have been there once to interview but was not able to stay for very long and look around. Pro's and con's would really help me to decide i.e. education, cost of homes, weather (I have heard that the bugs there can be bad!). I'd really like to make sure I'm making the right decision. I have previously lived in Colorado and Minnesota but feel that North Carolina being on the east coast would at least allow me to be closer to the UK - less flying time and cost of going home.
Any thoughts/advice/help would be greatly appreciated
I've recently found myself reading this forum again after 3 years hoping that it will help me in my dilema. I am currently contemplating a move back to the States - specifically North Carolina. I had been in the States for 8 years 96 - 04 when I relocated back to the UK after a divorce so that my children could get to know England, family and friends. After almost 3 years of renting I have finally realised after a lot of effort that trying to buy a home here large enough for my family is near impossible and would leave me struggling every month. With house prices continuing to rise I have decided that it would be in our best interest to relocate back to the States. Benefits are lower cost of living, ease of buying a home, job opportunities in my industry and my children would be able to have more contact with their Father.
I'd really appreciate any first hand knowledge on the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area as this is where I plan to relocate to. I have been there once to interview but was not able to stay for very long and look around. Pro's and con's would really help me to decide i.e. education, cost of homes, weather (I have heard that the bugs there can be bad!). I'd really like to make sure I'm making the right decision. I have previously lived in Colorado and Minnesota but feel that North Carolina being on the east coast would at least allow me to be closer to the UK - less flying time and cost of going home.
Any thoughts/advice/help would be greatly appreciated
You can use realtor.com to get a feel for house prices in the Triangle. You will notice a big difference in the cost of homes between the three cities. The housing market is a buyers market at the moment. Houses are selling much slower than say a year ago.
The Triangle is in the Piedmont region of the state and probably has the best weather because we don't have a coastline and are very rarely susceptible to hurricanes and flooding. We don't get the colder temperatures familar in the west of the state nor the snow (Durham's had 0.5 inch of snow over the last two winters). However, being in the central of the state, the mountains and the coast are less than 3 hours away (opposite directions of course).
If you have specific questions about the Triangle, feel free to send me a Private Message.
Jun 17th 2007, 9:54 pm
#7
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Re: Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
Yes, I really do hope that I can finally settle somewhere.
Jun 17th 2007, 9:57 pm
#8
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Re: Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill are known as the Triangle. The three main counties in the Triangle are Wake, Durham and Orange. Research Triangle Park (located in both Wake and Durham counties) is the major business hub and draws people from all over the world (commercial, research and non-profit).
You can use realtor.com to get a feel for house prices in the Triangle. You will notice a big difference in the cost of homes between the three cities. The housing market is a buyers market at the moment. Houses are selling much slower than say a year ago.
The Triangle is in the Piedmont region of the state and probably has the best weather because we don't have a coastline and are very rarely susceptible to hurricanes and flooding. We don't get the colder temperatures familar in the west of the state nor the snow (Durham's had 0.5 inch of snow over the last two winters). However, being in the central of the state, the mountains and the coast are less than 3 hours away (opposite directions of course).
If you have specific questions about the Triangle, feel free to send me a Private Message.
You can use realtor.com to get a feel for house prices in the Triangle. You will notice a big difference in the cost of homes between the three cities. The housing market is a buyers market at the moment. Houses are selling much slower than say a year ago.
The Triangle is in the Piedmont region of the state and probably has the best weather because we don't have a coastline and are very rarely susceptible to hurricanes and flooding. We don't get the colder temperatures familar in the west of the state nor the snow (Durham's had 0.5 inch of snow over the last two winters). However, being in the central of the state, the mountains and the coast are less than 3 hours away (opposite directions of course).
If you have specific questions about the Triangle, feel free to send me a Private Message.
I have heard that there is a once a day flight to Heathrow that they call the Brit Bus! If that's ok I will PM you directly.
Jun 17th 2007, 10:00 pm
#9
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Re: Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
Hi,
Raleigh Durham International has (I think) only one direct flight to London (Gatwick) on American Airlines, and of course, you can connect throughout the East Coast to London. Of course if you are connecting, then you can just as easily live in Minnesota and connect through Ohare, or some other feeder airport location (etc, etc).
If airports are a major concern, then you may look a little farther north to the Northern Virginia area where Dulles airport has about 5-7 flights a day to London on three different airlines, and nearby BWI has a couple as well. More flights generally = lower cost. Probably costs a bit more to live though.
As for R-D-CH, I've only been through a couple of times. Kind of college towns, though not necessarily in the sense of Cambridge. If you are looking for a bigger city at slightly less cost than most bigger cities you might consider Charlotte, NC.
As for bugs, they're pretty much everywhere.
Raleigh Durham International has (I think) only one direct flight to London (Gatwick) on American Airlines, and of course, you can connect throughout the East Coast to London. Of course if you are connecting, then you can just as easily live in Minnesota and connect through Ohare, or some other feeder airport location (etc, etc).
If airports are a major concern, then you may look a little farther north to the Northern Virginia area where Dulles airport has about 5-7 flights a day to London on three different airlines, and nearby BWI has a couple as well. More flights generally = lower cost. Probably costs a bit more to live though.
As for R-D-CH, I've only been through a couple of times. Kind of college towns, though not necessarily in the sense of Cambridge. If you are looking for a bigger city at slightly less cost than most bigger cities you might consider Charlotte, NC.
As for bugs, they're pretty much everywhere.
I don't think I could ever live back in MN again after 3 years of snow - this is why I am looking at NC for better weather.
Jun 17th 2007, 11:14 pm
#10
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Re: Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
Airports are not a major concernn but it would be so much nicer to be on the east coast instead of mid and upper mid west. Reduced travelling times figure highly when you have children in tow!!
I don't think I could ever live back in MN again after 3 years of snow - this is why I am looking at NC for better weather.
I don't think I could ever live back in MN again after 3 years of snow - this is why I am looking at NC for better weather.
Jun 18th 2007, 1:18 am
#11
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Re: Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
Thanks NC, I have been looking at realtor.com and the homes do seem to look nice there. I'd really like to know what it is really like to live there warts and all just so I know what I'm getting myself into.
I have heard that there is a once a day flight to Heathrow that they call the Brit Bus! If that's ok I will PM you directly.
I have heard that there is a once a day flight to Heathrow that they call the Brit Bus! If that's ok I will PM you directly.
Jun 18th 2007, 1:43 am
#12
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Re: Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
Hello All,
I've recently found myself reading this forum again after 3 years hoping that it will help me in my dilema. I am currently contemplating a move back to the States - specifically North Carolina. I had been in the States for 8 years 96 - 04 when I relocated back to the UK after a divorce so that my children could get to know England, family and friends. After almost 3 years of renting I have finally realised after a lot of effort that trying to buy a home here large enough for my family is near impossible and would leave me struggling every month. With house prices continuing to rise I have decided that it would be in our best interest to relocate back to the States. Benefits are lower cost of living, ease of buying a home, job opportunities in my industry and my children would be able to have more contact with their Father.
I've recently found myself reading this forum again after 3 years hoping that it will help me in my dilema. I am currently contemplating a move back to the States - specifically North Carolina. I had been in the States for 8 years 96 - 04 when I relocated back to the UK after a divorce so that my children could get to know England, family and friends. After almost 3 years of renting I have finally realised after a lot of effort that trying to buy a home here large enough for my family is near impossible and would leave me struggling every month. With house prices continuing to rise I have decided that it would be in our best interest to relocate back to the States. Benefits are lower cost of living, ease of buying a home, job opportunities in my industry and my children would be able to have more contact with their Father.
Jun 18th 2007, 5:09 am
#13
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Re: Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
Thanks NC - Someone told me that it was to Heathrow so Gatwick makes me feel better - closer to Bromley!!
Jun 18th 2007, 5:11 am
#14
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Re: Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
Oh I know immediatley that it would be much harder to return if I had left it longer than a year after moving back. At the time when I obtained my citizenship, I never thought that I'd be moving back and going through all of this, but here I am! Thank god for dual nationality.
Jun 18th 2007, 11:48 pm
#15
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Re: Moving back to the States - North Carolina??
Hi Bromleygirl,
I lived in NC in 2005-06 but we decided to move back to Indiana. I'd advise staying away from very small towns. But, who knows, they probably like Brits better than yankees, lol.
If we ever move there again, and we may, we will move to the Winston Salem area. I also lived in Raleigh after college for three years and loved some things about Raleigh also. That was before the Research Triangle population blast so I'm not sure what the atmosphere is like now.
In any event, welcome. I'm new too. I'm sure you'll make the right decision.
I lived in NC in 2005-06 but we decided to move back to Indiana. I'd advise staying away from very small towns. But, who knows, they probably like Brits better than yankees, lol.
If we ever move there again, and we may, we will move to the Winston Salem area. I also lived in Raleigh after college for three years and loved some things about Raleigh also. That was before the Research Triangle population blast so I'm not sure what the atmosphere is like now.
In any event, welcome. I'm new too. I'm sure you'll make the right decision.