12 Surprising Reasons People Regret Moving to North Carolina
12 Surprising Reasons People Regret Moving to North Carolina
Are you considering moving to North Carolina and wondering if it would be a good place to live? My family and I were in the same situation six years ago when we relocated from California. Moving to a new place can be a gamble. And North Carolina, despite its charm and allure, is no exception. And even if you do a lot of research online and watch a lot of YouTube videos, it's not the same as visiting and actually living here.
We actually moved here sight unseen in three weeks, and it was definitely a whirlwind. And if there's one thing we could change, If we could do it all over again, visits first after narrowing down the possible locations. So today i'm going to deep dive into 12 reasons that might make something twice about moving here based on my personal experience Along with what some others who have relocated here have to say, and even some of my clients who decided it wasn't for them and moved back to their previous state.
Okay, so let's just jump right on in and we're going to start with the fact it can feel a bit claustrophobic. Now, I know you might think that sounds a little bit funny, but this is something we hear quite often from newcomers. Especially if you're coming from a state that's wide open, as they say in the South, and you can see for miles.
Here in North Carolina, we have big, beautiful oak trees, pine trees, and lush landscapes. Personally, I think it's a very beautiful and serene drive. But, some don't like the fact that all they see are trees when they're driving. And at night, especially if you're driving on country roads, It can be dark and hard to see and sometimes you feel like you're driving through a tunnel.
Living here in the Raleigh Triangle area, even though there are a lot of trees, there are many suburbs and communities that are more open and you can see around, so it's not like you live in the Amazon forest or anything. But holistically, it's just a different landscape than some are used to, especially moving from, say, the west coast or some of the mid states.
So if you tend to feel a little bit claustrophobic and you don't like the idea of being surrounded by a lot of trees and you want to be able see everything around you for miles on end, you just may regret moving here. Speaking of our trees and lush landscape brings me to my next reason, and that's all the bugs and snakes North Carolina has.
Coming from Los Angeles and Orange County, I was not prepared for this. We have everything here, from flying cockroaches to mosquitoes to flies. Ticks, chiggers, hornets and more. And then, of course, there's the snakes. The copperheads are venomous, and they're the ones you have to look out for. Now the black snakes are the good snakes and chase off the copperheads.
Depending where you live, you may never see a snake, or you could see up to a handful a year. Personally, we live on three acres with a stream backing up an 86 acre farm, and we have an acre of trees in our backyard. So, needless to say, we usually see around seven copperheads per year. But as scary as it sounds, they don't tend to be aggressive if they aren't startled.
We just stop, let them pass on by, and go back into the bushes. But it's definitely something to be mindful of if you're coming from a state that doesn't have snakes. I feel like no matter where you move from, there's going to be some kind of critters to worry about, but Here, that just happens to be ours. Now with all the trees and bugs, we have to hit on the rain here.
We came from an area that saw, on average, less than 11 inches of rain each year. Whereas here in North Carolina, we get so much rain, it can actually rain for days in the summer months. Here in the Raleigh area, we get an average of 47 inches a year. And when it rains quick, it can pour so hard that you can't even see and you come to a slow crawl if you're driving.
And no matter how fast your windshield wipers are going, you just can't see a thing. So the rain can definitely be a bummer, especially when towns have outdoor festivals planned and they get canceled because of the rain. That actually happened to us two times this past year with the chocolate and s'more bonfire festival and they made it up to us and ended up passing out s'mores to everyone one weekend when the rain finally let up.
During the summer months it can have a tropical feel between the rain and all the humidity. And speaking of the humidity, Yes, it does get humid here in North Carolina. It is hot and sticky. If you're coming from the east coast, it'll likely feel like what you're already used to. And if you're coming from Florida, well, let's just say you're going to get relief from feeling like you live in that A.
D. C. But if you're moving from the West Coast, where there are hot temperatures with dry heat, you will be in for a new experience. We used to be avid runners in California with a dry heat and low humidity levels. However, once we moved here, we felt like we could barely breathe and we were melting into the street.
You'll find most runners here tend to run either super early before the sun comes up or really late at night. Or they end up running inside on a treadmill, which is what I opted to do. But I used to run at the beach with the nice breezy air blowing through my hair, not chewing bugs out of my face and buckets of sweat running down my body, which led me to the necessity of air conditioning, which is no longer considered a luxury here.
But very much needed. The good news is here in North Carolina, we do have all four seasons, which is really nice. So you only have to deal with a few hot months. The fall and spring tend to be most like California weather, which I absolutely love. But with spring brings me to my next item that some regret, which is allergy season.
For all you newcomers that face seasonal allergies like my daughter and myself, the beautiful blooming flowers and trees can wreck havoc on your sinuses, which will have you reaching for Allegra or even booking an appointment with an allergist, which I happen to have a few I can recommend if you need one.
On the brighter side, the yellow pollen blanket is only around for about three weeks or so, and then it does seem to let up. But, if you do have allergies, you may want to do some research and see how it compares to where you currently live. Another reason some regret moving here is the lack of entertainment.
While North Carolina is rich in natural beauty and history, Some find the entertainment options limited. Especially when comparing it to the buzzing nightlife and culture hubs they left behind. So if you're moving from a big city with hoppin nightlife and late night entertainment options like Los Angeles, New York, or Miami, you may just be a little disappointed in the lack of nightlife seen here.
There are still things to do, but many of the restaurants are do close down early in com of the suburbs are alread or 10 p. m. And in a lot o you'll find a lot of the still close on sundays an you're like us and have a life, kids, school and in weekend, enjoy venturing fun or to shop or dine. T So plenty to do.
But it's just a little different quieter vibe than big city life Which brings me to the next reason some people regret moving here and that's going to be they miss the big city lifestyle One of the reasons we moved here was for a slower pace of life and more of a work life balance But coming from a bigger city in california and with just under 500 000 people to a town To only 18 000 residents It was pretty shocking.
At first, it was super exciting and I loved all the trees and the farmland and all the space. But, then I did start to feel a bit claustrophobic and bored. It's crazy when you come from a super busy place and you don't realize how fast paced your life really is and how you're just always on the go, go, go.
And then, you have a moment to stop and breathe.
And actually, hear yourself think, and it's like, whoa, for our family, It definitely took some time to adjust to that feeling and be okay with it and not being able to Constantly go to all the seasonal professional games We've since settled in and feel home now and have gotten used to the small town life versus our big city life, but I have had some clients come and give it a try and decide it wasn't for them and decided to move back to their big city life.
Which brings me to the next reason, which is it can seem difficult to fit in. Now the South is known for its Southern hospitality. And there's definitely a very welcoming feel when you arrive. And you will notice there are so many transplants from all across the country. But it's still a different vibe which can make newcomers feel like outsiders.
struggling to find their place and end up regretting moving here. I had a client call me eight months in and say she wanted to sell her home and go back to her old life. But after talking through with things with her, she was actually just lacking having connections and friendships working from home and didn't really know how to make any new friends at this point in her life.
Which I think many of us can definitely relate to. Fortunately, I was able to connect her with some local friends close to her community, as well as some babysitters so her and her husband could go out on some dates and explore on their own. And I'm happy to say she is feeling much better about building her new life here.
So like I mentioned earlier, there are so many little differences from where you may be moving that even though it's an exciting time, once you get here and settle into your new life, it can really start to weigh in on you and you may find yourself missing your own environment with your old routine and friends.
But if you give it a chance, there are some really amazing people here that you can connect with and make new friendships. If you have kids who are in activities, I feel like you can definitely connect a lot quicker. But even if you are single or an empty nester, there are so many events and groups that you can join depending on what you like to do.
We have everything from outdoor hiking clubs to book clubs, wine clubs, you name it, we have the group for it. So don't be shy. I've met some of my closest friends reaching out to random strangers on Facebook or talking to someone while out at a restaurant or park. I know it sounds crazy, and yes, you definitely want to be careful, but it really is that easy and you'll have new connections before you know it.
Now a subject that many don't like to talk about, including myself, as I just love to love on people, is the political climate. But, it is a question I get asked a lot. So I'll just say this right quick as they say in the South in the state of North Carolina, you'll find the political landscape is both liberal and progressive.
and conservative. And some may find certain areas to be more liberal, while others find certain areas to be more conservative. Now, personally speaking, when it comes to living in the Raleigh Triangle area, it seems like the closer you are to the city will have more of a liberal feel, while the further out you go, it tends to get more conservative.
While there can also be a nice mix of both. Unlike when we lived in California, it seems like people love displaying their yard signs that show exactly how they're feeling. So, when you visit and drive around the communities, you will see them. Including local businesses with ad signs or stickers in their windows welcoming all.
But holistically, I feel like there is a nice mix across the Triangle area and there's a lot of kind loving people who just want to live their lives the way they want to live their lives you. And come in here, just know that no matter what your political views are, You can make just as many friends here on all sides who have a lot in common with you, even if you don't agree on everything.
A big challenge for many newcomers that can make them regret moving here is choosing the wrong neighborhood. Choosing where to live is crucial and some find that despite thorough research, they end up in an area that doesn't fit their lifestyle or expectations. Whether it's being too remote, too urban, or just not the right vibe.
We made this mistake with the first place we chose when we moved here. We thought we'd love a rural town and we did for all of about two months. And then we decided for us, it was just a little bit too rural and boring and far removed from the city life. Another thing that shocks a lot of people who are considering moving here is the fact that the home prices are are actually higher than they expected.
There are still many affordable areas to live in North Carolina as a whole, but dialing it down to the Raleigh Durham Chapel Hill triangle area, since this is where we live, many are surprised that homes are not quite as cheap as they expected. Back in 2018, when we moved here, you could still find what many people call asking for right now, which is a 25 to 3500 square foot home on a couple of acres of land for less than 300, 000 all while staying within a 15 to 20 minute drive where all the action and all the amenities are.
Unfortunately, I know across the country, most of the states have seen housing prices skyrocket since 2020. And many people are cashing out on their equity in states like California, New York and in Florida. And they're coming to the triangle and paying cash for their home. Many that consider moving here are finding with the rapidly growing areas and the continued big name companies.
bringing their businesses and employees has pushed housing demand and we've seen home prices continually rise each year and in some areas, especially suburbs near the Research Triangle Park. Homes are not only selling for top dollar, but many can still sell for over asking with multiple offers, which shops and disappoints many.
But if you're willing to live a little bit further outside and have a 30 to 45 minute commute, you will find your home dollars will stretch a whole lot further. I'm talking about 150, 000 to 200, 000 further. And you won't have as much competition or have to deal with multiple bids holistically. And you still can find homes under 400, 000 here, but they will typically be under 2, 400 square feet and on a much smaller lot.
Switching over to food, if you've watched any of my videos for a while now, you'll know that my hubby and I are big foodies. And we love, love, love our Mexican food. He grew up in San Diego and we moved here from LA County. So we know our Mexican food. So if you're like us and moving here from California and craving authentic Mexican food, you will find it can be a bit challenging.
When we first moved here and asked a local where we could go, they said Taco Bell. I am not even kidding you. Honestly, it took us a while before we found our spots, but thankfully our virtual Facebook friends and our friends on our Californians in Raleigh page helped us find some of our favorite places and we're still exploring more.
There's even some on the page that make homemade tamales each year, and they are absolutely delicious. So, depending where you are moving from, whether it's Mexican food or other cuisine, it may take you a while to find your favorite places. While North Carolina is a state of undeniable beauty and charm, these are 12 reasons that spotlight the importance of doing your research and keeping an open mind when relocating.
Every place is going to have its pros and its cons, and personal fit is key to making any move a success and living the lifestyle that you want to live. If you found this information helpful, please click the like button below so others like you can find this information as well. And if you're considering relocating to the Raleigh area or anywhere surrounding the Raleigh area and looking to purchase a home, we would love to help.
All you have to do is reach out to us My number is right here on the screen. Whether you want to give me a call, shoot me a text, or send me an email, we would love to chat. Till next time, we'll see y'all later.
Brandy Nemergut, Realtor ~ eXp Realty Raleigh, NC
919-583-6895
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