Question for Durham, NC Members

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May 19, 2006 | 01:40 PM

vetdude

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Race Director

Joined: Jun 2002

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From: Columbia MD

Question for Durham, NC Members

Hey guys, hopefully you can help a brother out. Our company is building a second site in Durham, NC. Our current office is in Baltimore, MD. I may have the opportunity to transfer to the new site. Is there anything I should know before taking the plunge, good or bad? One thing we have noticed is that the cost of living is way lower down there than up here in "tax hell" MD. Example: a home costing $600k up here costs around $250k for an equivalent down there for. Thanks in advance.

May 19, 2006 | 03:51 PM

Rapidity

Instructor

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From: Rocky Mount NC

I'm not sure that we need more yankees down here

May 19, 2006 | 05:31 PM

Hitch

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Joined: Jul 2002

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From: Clayton NC

My advice would be not to live in Durham. The area is great but Durham has become sort of an old dirty town. That is my opinion. I live on the East side of Raleigh and depending on where the plant is to be located would be a better determining factor as to where to live. I love it down here the road system is in moderate shape and improvements are occuring rapidly. If you can live West of Durham heading towards Burlington or East towards Clayton or Wendell. Dave

May 20, 2006 | 07:27 AM

ANTIVNOM

Safety Car

Joined: Mar 2003

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From: NC

I must agree with Dave. Durham has a much higher crime problem, the tax rates are much higher than Wake County (Raleigh, etc), and the school system is poor. I work in downtown Durham, but you could not pay me to live there.

My suggestion would be to look at Cary, Apex, Morrisville, and surrounding.

May 20, 2006 | 09:46 AM

DWS'03Z

Racer

Joined: Sep 2003

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From: NC

ditto what others have said......I would seriously consider Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Apex, Morrisville

May 20, 2006 | 10:39 AM

Red Velvette

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Joined: Feb 2006

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From: Dacula Georgia

But you are correct on the housing cost differences in most of the south versus the north. Blatimore, DC, and that whole area is out of control. Much bigger homes down here for far less money, (and much lower property taxes to boot).

Get what you guys need for a home and don't fall into the temptation to really escalate the type of home you need because it is "still cheaper" than what we had. Hopefully you will have enough equity to pay for all or most of your new home in cash, and then use all of that extra cash each month to buy a new Corvette or two

Good luck on your move if you decide to make it.

May 20, 2006 | 10:30 PM

vetdude

Thread Starter

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Joined: Jun 2002

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From: Columbia MD

Thanks very much for the feedback. Great info.

May 24, 2006 | 09:46 AM

Dynabob

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From: What do I know anyway? I'm just a 50 year old No0b

Quote:

Originally Posted by ANTIVNOM

As a life long resident I agree. But the Raleigh school system (if that's important for you) is starting to see some troubles too. Adding many thousands of students each year is overcrowding Wake Co. schools and higher taxes and year-around schools are just around the corner.