Moving from New Jersey to North Carolina
Moving from New Jersey to North Carolina
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Summary:
Moving from New Jersey to North Carolina? You aren’t the only one. The greatest number of people moving to the Charlotte/Lake Norman area are relocating from the Northeast – specifically, New York and New Jersey. I interviewed a neighbor and good friend, John Mottola, about the experience he and his wife, Sharon, had when they decided to make the move.
John and Sharon moved here in 2005. They didn’t make the decision to relocate quickly. They started to think about moving in 1999! John and his family discovered the area because they are big Nascar fans. Crossing over Lake Norman, John and Sharon realized they wanted to move to the area. But, it wasn’t until 2005 when John and Sharon decided to buy a townhouse in New Jersey, they quickly did the math and realized it was time to pull the trigger on the move! The townhouse in Bedminster they were considering was going to cost $700,000, plus property taxes were going to run at least $12,000.
Up until John and Sharon moved, they would take the opportunity to take long weekends and check out the area. They did their research on shopping and activities. They researched the cost of living. They settled on building a house in Cornelius, NC, and they haven’t looked back! John and Sharon build a 2800 square foot home here, and they figure something comparable to what they own would have cost them around 800K in New Jersey.
One big aspect of moving was employment. Sharon is an RN, and John works in specialty pharmacy sales. They did not have a difficult time finding employment. Unemployment here in Charlotte NC is extremely low, at 3.7%. Employers are moving to the area at a rapid clip.
John and Sharon did a lot of research on the area and what it has to offer. They were impressed with all the area has to offer. For example, Birkdale Village has many restaurants and shops. They also have a great common area that hosts music and other activities throughout the year. Birkdale Village also features a nice movie theater, and a cigar bar, which John frequents often!
They enjoyed attending festivals and events in New Jersey, and it was important for them to have that same access when they moved. There are many events to chose from in Lake Norman. Tawba Walk, Cornelius Jazz Festival, NC Brewers and Music Festival, Loch Norman Highland Games, Warrior Dash, and the Renaissance Festival are just a few.
Lake Norman has some great restaurants as well. In fact, there are many places that cater to individuals from other places. Prosciuttos is a great Boston restaurant. Great pizza, and a great place to watch the Patriots! Big Al’s is the place to be if you are a Buffalo Bills fan!
John liked the proximity to Charlotte. On the weekend, you can be uptown in about 20 minutes. BB&T ballpark is a terrific baseball stadium where you can watch the Charlotte Knights play. Plus, Charlotte offers so much – from the Carolina Panthers to all the restaurants opening in the area.
A little known fact is the amount of craft breweries in the area. Second only to Denver, there are many exceptional breweries, from OMB to D9. And, we have many drafthouses and bottle shops.
John and Sharon have two dogs and they love taking them places. There are many dog-friendly restaurants and bottle shops where your dog is welcome. There are also lots of parks and trails in the area.
The area has many fitness-related activities as well. Aside from all the lake has to offer, like boating, sailing, paddleboarding and the like, there are numerous gyms. From pilates to CrossFit, there is something for everyone.
I asked John if he ever felt it was difficult to fit in here. He has a VERY strong New Jersey accent. John never had one issue. He was impressed with the friendliness of the area, and how welcoming people have been.
He also loves that he’s only 2 hours from the mountains, and 3 hours from the coast!
In all, John and Sharon are glad they made the move!
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