South Atlantic states

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Charlottesville real estate is roughly 75-80% of Northern Va pricing....not cheap. The cost of living is manageable though.

The median home price is about $225,000. Because of the university, the market typically stays fairly strong.

Options run the gammut from condos to estates with older and newer neighborhoods in between. In the county, it seems as though pricing is driven by school location with the higher scoring schools commanding top tier pricing.

The Boar's Head is still in operation (thriving) but Rt. 29 has 4 lanes in each direction within 2 miles of the city. The Corner at UVA is still active especially given the 25K+ student body. The Corner is one of the more revered locations to browse and hang out and keep up with the trends of college students.

Sounds like things are not as bad as I might have imagined, especially given the proximity to DC.

Favorite dish at the corner: "fried with" - basically a fried donut of the Krispy Kream type (though long before Krispy Kream became a cult), the "with" or "without" referred to a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

HoJo hotel was the place to entertain your date for the weekend. Shifflet was the most popular last name amongst the "townies."

Maybe I'll make a trip back to scope it out. Thanks for the update.

 

[cmy1176]

I relocated from Seattle to Atlanta 4 years ago.

Things I miss:
Puget Sound, Lake Washington and the Mountains
Numerous unique local restaurants

Things I don't miss:
Long overcast winters
High cost of Living

Atlanta is a very liveable city. Relatively low cost of living, easy travel access through the worlds bussiest airport, beautiful spring and fall. Winter isn't bad but I still don't like July and August due to the heat and humididty. But overall I really enjoy the weather and having seasons. Atlanta is a very diverse city since most people are transplants. (less so in the outlying areas where you have the redneck factor) Atlanta has great cultural activities too.

 

[polloloco]

The Rednecks from Scotland were the first to settle in the South and did so before the advent of air conditioning and the Yankee hords following soon after. Many of us regret the fact that we cannot persuade the Yankees to go home again.

 

[Patrick]

Many of us regret the fact that we cannot persuade the Yankees to go home again.

Never!

 

[RE2Boys]

Check on Huntsville, AL You would be suprised. See thread under Fire & Money.

RE2Boys

 

[lifeisgood]

Hey, Rich. It's Krispy Kreme, not Krispy Kream.

The Williamsburg, VA area has attracted a lot of retirees. Gets some glow from College of William and Mary, and Colonial Williamsburg.

 

[califdreamer]

I got a good report on Gainesville, FL from a friend recently. My understanding of possible pros and cons:

Pros: college town, mild winters, access to Atlantic and Gulf beaches, attractive looking

Cons: humidity and high rainfall, relatively high crime rate, some isolation (nearest major airport?)

Looks like you can do very well in the 250 to 350k price range for housing.

Anyone have any first-hand observations about the place?

PS From reading "Ocala" thread I assume there are plenty of thunderstorms in the area.

 

[dumpster56]

I got a good report on Gainesville, FL from a friend recently. My understanding of possible pros and cons:

Pros: college town, mild winters, access to Atlantic and Gulf beaches, attractive looking

Cons: humidity and high rainfall, relatively high crime rate, some isolation (nearest major airport?)

Looks like you can do very well in the 250 to 350k price range for housing.

Anyone have any first-hand observations about the place?

The humidity for 6 months of the year is well nasty, sure everything is AC BUT if you like to workout run exercise outdoors the summer gets awfully long.

Hurricaines thunderstorms, mold etc. I dunno, I have moved to the carolinas and when sept showed up I had had enough of the heat and humidity, which did break, FLA is still muggy and hot.

PS From reading "Ocala" thread I assume there are plenty of thunderstorms in the area.

 

[REWahoo]

Hey Newguy. You need to make your comments underneath, not within quotations. When you do what you did above and what you did here, we don't know who is saying what.

Thanks.

 

[BOBOT]

Favorite dish at the corner: "fried with" - basically a fried donut of the Krispy Kream type (though long before Krispy Kream became a cult), the "with" or "without" referred to a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

Rich, that would be the "Grillswith" at the White Spot, also the home of the famous (& possibly lethal) "Gusburger", a cheeseburger with a fried egg on top, & a breakfast delight called "Hell-of-a-mess".

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Rich, that would be the "Grillswith" at the White Spot, also the home of the famous (& possibly lethal) "Gusburger", a cheeseburger with a fried egg on top, & a breakfast delight called "Hell-of-a-mess".

Bingo -- "grilled with" it was. Missed it after 40 years. Gusburger - guaranteed to plug your coronaries within 15 minutes. And worth it.

Great memories. Thanks.

 

[califdreamer]

You guys sure it isn't a "Gasburger"? (or for you English majors, "Gasburger?")

Every 45 to 60 days or so I get a little obsessive about the idea of taking the home equity and moving it to a high-quality-of-life area with less expensive housing. I went through a Santa Fe/Scottsdale/Southwest phase. More recently I've been investigating points further east... North Carolina, Georgia, northern Florida. There are a lot of great places to live around the country. The only "drawback" I see here in San Diego is sitting on home equity that could perhaps better be spent funding ER in a less expensive location.

This over-analysis makes me want to start a poll..... just how important is location in determining quality of life?

 

[Patrick]

This over-analysis makes me want to start a poll..... just how important is location in determining quality of life?

Very!

 

[Goonie]

This over-analysis makes me want to start a poll..... just how important is location in determining quality of life?

They say "Location, Location, Location..."

I've given a lot of thought to the same thing. I too have analyzed (way too much, probably) the money end of things...then I started looking seriously at new locales to live (possibly). At first I was looking at climate....I've been up to the butt in snow for just shy of 50 years....I want winter WARMTH!!! Or so I thought!

But then reality reaches through the snow drift and bites me in the bum, and I start to see the really important aspects of "Location".

It's about the proximity of good, quality medical facilities and staff, close by and in abundance!!! It's about low crime rates and good neighborhoods & neighbors!!! It's about opportunities for education, entertainment, culture, hobbies, fun, stimulating activites, changes of seasons (or lack there of), shopping, etc.

The more I've thought about all the possibilities for relocation, the more I've concluded that the best place to live (for me) is right where I am! I have a major (more or less) hospital 1 1/4 miles from my home, with more doctors and specialists than I can shake a squid at. Also 5 more excellent hospitals and medical centers within 25 miles. And only about a 20-25 minute LifeFlight from one of the best cardio/neuro trauma centers around.

I'm just barely over an hour from Chicago, for that "Big City" entertainment and culture. I have several VERY nice and unique state parks within bicycling distance! Our community college is about 20 minutes away. We have several malls within a 15 to 40 minute drive....even though I'm not much of a mall person.

I live in a fairly quiet 'hood, with some of the bestest neighbors money can't buy!!! We share laughs, tears, venison, beers, a few neighborly lies, and homebaked fruit pies!!! VERY low crime rate!!! The town is small enough that everybody pretty much knows everybody, but big enough that know one really knows anybody elses business. The housing market is growing and pretty darn affordable, and the taxes aren't sky-high....thank goodness! There's a great deal of commercial development taking place, and land use has been well planned....good zoning laws!!! A good strong job market, and good wages. An EXCELLENT school system!!!

I think I may just about be in Nirvana!!! Well, except for the snow up to the butt!!! But, hey, that's what God created Florida beach front hotels for!!! I've been discovering that for the last 7 years or so!!! Nothing quite like a blizzard in Illinois, when you're laying on a beach in Florida!!! (I love watching the Weather Channel when I'm down there!!!) A couple years ago I called my boss from Key West, while he was looking out at a snow storm!!! He hung up on me!!!

I guess I just live by that old quip...."Bloom Where You're Planted"

 

[Mr._johngalt]

They say "Location, Location, Location..."

I've given a lot of thought to the same thing. I too have analyzed (way too much, probably) the money end of things...then I started looking seriously at new locales to live (possibly). At first I was looking at climate....I've been up to the butt in snow for just shy of 50 years....I want winter WARMTH!!! Or so I thought!

But then reality reaches through the snow drift and bites me in the bum, and I start to see the really important aspects of "Location".

It's about the proximity of good, quality medical facilities and staff, close by and in abundance!!! It's about low crime rates and good neighborhoods & neighbors!!! It's about opportunities for education, entertainment, culture, hobbies, fun, stimulating activites, changes of seasons (or lack there of), shopping, etc.

The more I've thought about all the possibilities for relocation, the more I've concluded that the best place to live (for me) is right where I am! I have a major (more or less) hospital 1 1/4 miles from my home, with more doctors and specialists than I can shake a squid at. Also 5 more excellent hospitals and medical centers within 25 miles. And only about a 20-25 minute LifeFlight from one of the best cardio/neuro trauma centers around.

I'm just barely over an hour from Chicago, for that "Big City" entertainment and culture. I have several VERY nice and unique state parks within bicycling distance! Our community college is about 20 minutes away. We have several malls within a 15 to 40 minute drive....even though I'm not much of a mall person.

I live in a fairly quiet 'hood, with some of the bestest neighbors money can't buy!!! We share laughs, tears, venison, beers, a few neighborly lies, and homebaked fruit pies!!! VERY low crime rate!!! The town is small enough that everybody pretty much knows everybody, but big enough that know one really knows anybody elses business. The housing market is growing and pretty darn affordable, and the taxes aren't sky-high....thank goodness! There's a great deal of commercial development taking place, and land use has been well planned....good zoning laws!!! A good strong job market, and good wages. An EXCELLENT school system!!!

I think I may just about be in Nirvana!!! Well, except for the snow up to the butt!!! But, hey, that's what God created Florida beach front hotels for!!! I've been discovering that for the last 7 years or so!!! Nothing quite like a blizzard in Illinois, when you're laying on a beach in Florida!!! (I love watching the Weather Channel when I'm down there!!!) A couple years ago I called my boss from Key West, while he was looking out at a snow storm!!! He hung up on me!!!

I guess I just live by that old quip...."Bloom Where You're Planted"

Where do you live? (if you don't mind my asking). I promise not to visit
This sounds exactly like my location, although I hate the cold weather
and Illinois politics.

JG

 

[Goonie]

Where do you live? (if you don't mind my asking). I promise not to visit
This sounds exactly like my location, although I hate the cold weather
and Illinois politics.

JG

I live in LaSalle County, in the Land of the Rod & Judy Mud-slinging Contest!

 

[astromeria]

LaSalle County..."Of nation's counties, ranks No. 5 in production of soybeans."

Approximately 2.8 billion bushels of soybeans were harvested from almost 73 million acres of cropland in the U.S. in 2000. This acreage is roughly equivalent to that of corn grown for grain. Over 350,000 farms in the United States produce soybeans, accounting for over 50% of the world’s soybean production and $6.66 billion in soybean and product exports in 2000. Soybeans represented 56 percent of world oilseed production in 2000.

Soybeans are used to create a variety of products, the most basic of which are soybean oil, meal, and hulls. According to the United Soybean Board, soybean oil, used in both food manufacturing and frying and sautéing, represents approximately 79 percent of all edible oil consumed in the United States. Soybean oil also makes its way into products ranging from anti-corrosion agents to Soy Diesel fuel to waterproof cement. Over 30 million tons of soybean meal are consumed as livestock feed in a year. Even the hulls are used as a component of cattle feed rations.