North Carolina Best Places – Frequently Asked Questions

"ASK BOB”

Hi Kevin,

Greensboro. NC is an up and coming area where things are still affordable. It is well located on Route 85 which continues to be a major growth factor in that area making it a best place to live in North Carolina.

You're close enough to Raleigh, NC/Durham, NC to be able to enjoy their services without paying the higher price tag for them. And you also have Winston-Salem, NC and Burlington nearby.

Check out Reidsville just north of Greensboro. The outlying areas of moderately sized metro areas are very affordable.

God Bless and See You in the Carolinas,  Bob
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Hi Lucy,

Thanks for writing!

If your best place to live in North Carolina is near a metropolitan area, then I assume you're speaking of the Charlotte, NC and Raleigh, NC areas. I would suggest you also consider Wilmington, NC and Asheville, NC.

You might find, even though they are not big metropolitan areas, there are other factors in each case such as tourism, the existence of a University, a major employer, other towns close by, etc. that give the area a much bigger feeling and draw, and it can have all the services you're looking for, without needing to have millions of people.

And many times you can get more for your money!

If you're best place to live is in a country club/golf community and you are drawn to Charlotte, NC, you could consider Highland Creek and Palisades. In Raleigh, NC look at Hedingham and Wakefield Plantation.  Again, what one person considers a golf community, others consider country club, resort style living.  People's definition of "best place to live" is dependent upon personal tastes and needs and there are different types of planned communities available today.

Once you have narrowed down the area in North Carolina that is your best place to live, we can provide you with a very comprehensive report detailing all aspects of the area including the services available, the type of people you'll find there, its different forms of real estate, what each neighborhood is about, and the planned communities in the general area, as well as what people say about them.

That way you can make an educated choice of  where your best place to live in North Carolina really is!

Good Luck and See You in the Carolinas, Bob

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Hi Lora,

So you guys are just starting out in North Carolina and South Carolina!

It must be an exciting time for you, although it can be a bit overwhelming at times. It's always nice to have family around. There are plenty of good (affordable, low crime), best places to live in North Carolina and South Carolina that are stimulating whether you're retiring or just relocating.

I'm assuming you consider Currie, NC to be a country setting and would like to stay within 2 hours of it to still be near family, but your best place to live has a bit more services, yet affordable.

I would take a ride to Fayetteville, NC and New Bern, NC. New Bern has a great quality of life and enough services and cultural entertainment, but it has retained its small town charm.

Stop in Jacksonville, NC on your way to New Bern.

You might also consider Myrtle, Beach, SC. Although a bit developed, due to the current real estate market, you might find it more affordable than otherwise. I think Wilmington, NC is nice but even with the price adjustment due to the current market, it's still overpriced.

Don't shy away from foreclosures when you’re looking. They offer some great bargains these days!  Please understand this is not meant to be investment advice. As always, you need to do your own due diligence.

If you'd like to read about over 100 places I handpicked for value and quality lifestyles, take a look at our Special Reports, Guides and Directories.

See You in the Carolinas, Bob
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Hi Holly,

It's nice to hear from you!

I've found out, regardless of where you choose as your best place to live, even in North Carolina and South Carolina, you pay a premium for any property having to do with water, whether that be a lake, river, ocean, sound, bay or even a creek. However, the same holds true for mountain properties with beautiful views in North Carolina or South Carolina. They don't come cheap, but are probably more affordable than the properties on the ocean or sound.  And property/housing in NC and SC is more affordable than many other parts of the country.

Lenoir, NC was included in National Geographic's Adventure magazine as one of "The Next 50 Great Towns". It's just starting to show some signs of being found and a best place to live in North Carolina. They termed it "a hot bargain".

It's in the same Marion, NC/Morganton, NC area, but not on Lake James, so it's still affordable. I like its proximity to Pisgah National Forest and best places to live in North Carolina Boone, Banner Elk and Blowing Rock which you should also check out, if you want altitude!

I'm assuming when you mentioned Henderson in the context of mentioning Asheville, NC and Brevard, NC, you meant Hendersonville?(There's also a small town of Henderson northeast of Durham,just off Route 85.) Asheville.\,NC is one of my favorite best places to live in North Carolina and where I'm planning to move!

While you are there, drive to Mount Mitchell which is at 6600', northeast of Asheville between the towns of Black Mountain and Burnsville.  Burnsville, NC is another best place to live where you'll find good value, right now. I also like the views in the Lake Lure/Chimney Rock area, southeast of Asheville, and Waynesville, which is west of Asheville.

If you position yourself right, you'll stay within your budget in these areas and find your best place to live in North Carolina.

As always, this is not meant as investment advice. Make sure you do your own due diligence.

See You in the Carolinas, Bob
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Hi Cindy,

I have sent you a report giving you a Birdseye view of Troy, NC. Let me know that it has come through.

Troy is a small town in the middle of several larger, growing towns. It's surrounded by best places to live in North Carolina – Asheboro, NC, Albemarle, and Pinehurst/Southern Pines, NC.  You may also want to take a look at the best places  Kannapolis/Concord, North Carolina area a bit further to the west, and Mooresville.

I don't know what your intention is, but I would make sure if you have decided Troy is your best place to live, that it has the services you are interested in.  Will you have to work or are you just going there to retire? Will you be raising a family there, and using the public schools?

I usually find the housing prices to be very reasonable in towns of this size, especially when they are located outside other medium sized towns, and not the larger metropolitan areas.

Tell me, why this area? I love hearing what people find important in making their decisions about their best place to live in the Carolinas.  It helps me help other people to find the best places to live.

Be Well and I'll see You in the Carolinas, Bob

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Good Morning,

If your best place to live is in a little warmer climate, check out Aiken, SC, northeast of Augusta, GA.  Great small town with a big future! Sumter National Forest is nearby.   Also, Georgetown, SC northeast of Charleston, SC is on my list of best places to live in South Carolina.  Still affordable, and Pawleys Island is nearby along with Francis Marion National Forest, Lake Moultrie, Lake Marion, and an ocean setting.

I'm trying to give you some smaller towns that will grow as time goes and are affordable now and build in value. They aren't as affordable as Troy, but you might see more upside in the future.  As far as best places Raleigh, NC and Charlotte, NC go, they're pretty big metropolitan areas, I like Monroe and Matthews which are southeast of Charlotte.

Also, if you don't mind it just a bit cooler, you may want to consider the best places in North Carolina of Asheville, NC ,Hendersonville, NC and Brevard, NC.

You had better get going…you've got some sites to see and homework to do!

Take a look at our Special Reports, Guides and Directories in which I've handpicked some of the Best Places to live in North Carolina and South Carolina.  These best places are good values, affordable and are poised for future economic growth.   I'm sure you'll find your best place to live in the Carolinas.

Good Luck…See You in the Carolinas, Bob

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Hi Melanie,

I sent you a snapshot of Greensboro, NC in a separate email.  Let me know that you got it!

Greensboro is well located due to its proximity to the Interstate 85 corridor, and its position between best places Winston Salem, NC and Durham, NC.   However there are best places in the Carolinas in which "equestrian communities" are more prevalent, along with your equine friends.  However, if you have something set up in Greensboro, don't shy away from it.  You can find well-priced housing in the area.

The triangle of Mill Spring, NC/ Tryon, NC/ Landrum, SC is "horse country"!  These are small towns southeast of Hendersonville, NC and northwest of Spartanburg, SC.   The best places to live in South Carolina of Greenville/Spartanburg,SC would provide good housing values for your dollar.  And I believe will continue to grow in the future.

In North Carolina, you'll also find many equestrian communities west of Asheville, NC in the Waynesville, NC and Sylva, NC area.

As always, this isn't investment advice. You must do your own due diligence and hire competent professionals to advise you.

Be Well and I'll see You in the Carolinas, Bob

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Frank

Your considerations and observations are valid. Based on my 35+ years of experiences as a location analyst/site selector, I've found incredible buys in areas that were still "growing into" their future. Yes, the best place of  New Bern, NC is more countrified and getting there is a bit more circuitous. However, I believe it's growing and things will keep evolving.

Asheville, NC was the same way….not anymore!!

Some of it depends on how much you have to spend and how much you want to get for what you spend, right now. As you know, if you want exactly what you want right now and in a more populated area, you always pay more.  I live in the Westchester/Putnam area, so I know what you mean about being near Manhattan and airports. But I'm sure glad I started buying in Asheville a while ago, before it looked exactly the way I wanted it to.

Look over our articles which will help you decide what's important to you. Also, check out our Special Reports, Guides and Directories. I've reviewed over 100 places which will allow you to see if they fit what it is you've decided is important to you and help you to find your best place to live in North Carolina or South Carolina.

Be Well, Bob

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Good Morning Larry,

The best places to live in North Carolina and South Carolina, have been selected based upon affordability, lifestyle and future economic growth among other considerations.

Also, I kept an eye on crime when I included the towns in my Ultimate Guide To Finding Your Best Place To Live In The Carolinas.  A number of towns didn't make it because of high crime. There is a section under each town on schools. A good place to further research schools is www.schoolmatch.com

It's harder to find "affordable" waterfront areas where prices and taxes are not either already out of control or going in that direction. But they do exist!

If you're interested in "coastal living", there are a number of best places in North Carolina and South Carolina that would suit you very well.

Also, you may want to consider looking at best places that aren't right on the water, so you can get more for your money, especially now. Places like Wilmington in NC; and Charleston and Beaufort in SC. Wilmington is a "good buy" right now because of the recent adjustment in real estate prices.

The areas of Summerville, SC, Mt. Pleasant and Johns Island outside Charleston, SC might be more to your liking, if you found Edisto a bit remote.

The Myrtle Beach, SC area is a bit too built up for me, although Conway is nice because it gets you out of the thick of it. You should find reduced prices in the Myrtle Beach area because, along with other areas, things are overbuilt and there is a big inventory that will take quite some time to sell off! Also, I like New Bern, NC very much! Although the coast is about 40 minutes south, the Rivers in New Bern are incredible.

You can also consider some of the mountain lakes in western North Carolina in places like Asheville, Lake Lure, Cashiers, and Bryson City.

Check out our Planned Community Articles you'll find Lake and Coastal Communities in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Also, take a look at our Special Reports, Guides and Directories. I've reviewed over 100 places which I've picked for good value and lifestyle, now and in the future!

See You in the Carolinas, Bob

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Hi Julie,

I am between NY and the Carolinas.

I am in the same process as most of my subscribers, researching that next move and finding my best place to live in North Carolina or South Carolina. I've purchased several properties in the Carolinas, but haven't made the move yet due to family circumstances, winding up businesses, etc.

I make no bones about one of my favorite areas if not my best place to live in North Carolina is Asheville.  It has everything you describe, however the job market isn't really robust yet. Asheville is trying to draw other types of companies there, and it's starting to happen. Right now, the jobs center around the service industries…hotels, restaurants, tourism, retail.

I also think Charlotte, NC has a lot to offer now and will continue to do so. It's stable and progressive. There's a growing young professional component in the downtown area.

I don't know what size town you're looking for, but those are two that go from small town (90,000 pop.) to medium size city.

I also think the growth in Summerville, SC is attractive and a good value, nice town, friendly people, and far enough away from the coast, yet close enough to enjoy Charleston, which is fabulous.

Go read the Free Articles and subscribe to The Carolina Report.

You'll get some other ideas, free reports, etc…No Charge!

Good Luck, Bob

For more Frequently Asked Questions About The Carolinas Check Out….

Best Places To Live In South Carolina – Frequently Asked Questions

Do You have a question about finding Your Best Place to live in North Carolina or South Carolina?    Or having trouble finding what you're looking for? Have a quick question to help make your decision about where to relocate or retire in the Carolinas? Submit a question using this form for a speedy response.