Hate cities in general, and do not much partake of city amenities. But due to work obligations I have eaten in a variety of the downtown restaurants and I can say there's a good selection of places of very high quality. Decent amount of stuff for kids and families to do (little science museum, little educational museum downtown for the younger crowd, etc). Things to do outdoors include hiking/camping at Pilot Mtn and Hanging Rock, both within an easy drive, tubing/boating/fishing on the Dan River or on the lake, zipline place, various historical sites, and so on. The zoo is a fairly easy drive. It's a good place for families. I'd say housing is still definitely a buyer's market. Housing prices, to my mind, are really very low. Taxes are quite low, too, even in the City.

 

Come further south down 109 or 150 and stay in northern Davidson county. Less taxes and you're still close to Winston.

 

Same with davie county. I bought a house, 2000sqft shop and 8.5 wooded acres for under $125k. Lots of horse property in the area.

 

Or come further weste into Elkin, and Wilkesboro. Only about 45 minutes from WS and I split Wilkesboro and Elkin

 

YAY!!!! COME TO ELKIN!!! Panda drives from Elkin to Winston-Salem from work. It's a fantastic place to live.

 

I've lived in Winston, Clemmons, Kernersville, and now Lewisville, so I am pretty familiar with the area.

Winston: downtown has some good restaurants, but parking can be a pain. If you have children there are a few attractions that help: children's museum, discovery place come to mind. Avoid east Winston. At least east of 52.

Kernersville: small town growing too big for its britches. When I lived there it was just a small town, but now it seems to be an over crowded clump of homes surrounding a main road with bad traffic.

Clemmons: nice area, good schools, easy access to Winston and other surrounding areas.

Lewisville: right north of Clemmons and west of Winston. Nice small town feel. Very little in the way of entertainment, but everything Winston has to offer is 10 minutes away.

 

We like Lewisville and Clemmons, but worry that our $300K budget for a 10+ acre horse ready property wont go very far once we start looking. I'm not opposed to being in a farther rural area, as long as a good grocery store and the downtown restaurant scene isnt far away.

How is the job market? I'll be looking for construction manager/superintendent positions with a home building company, many new homes in the area?

 

We like Lewisville and Clemmons, but worry that our $300K budget for a 10+ acre horse ready property wont go very far once we start looking. I'm not opposed to being in a farther rural area, as long as a good grocery store and the downtown restaurant scene isnt far away.

We recently bought some property on a significantly lower budget than that. Good places can easily be found for that money, though I think you're right in viewing the Lewisville/Clemmons area as likely to be a bit more pricey than some other areas. Still, I remember seeing some nice places out that way that would fit your criteria.

If you don't mind a 45-ish minute drive, you've got Mocksville, Mount Airy, Lexington, High Point, even Greensboro and all the area in between. There's a ton of property available at 10 acres and more, and because of your proximity to those smaller cities (or bigger ones, if you go towards Greensboro), you've got easy access to grocery stores and suchlike right nearby. We weren't looking for horse property, but I saw a lot of places that had horse barns, nice fencing, good looking pastures, and so on. Like I said before, I really think it's still a buyer's market so with your budget you should wind up very happy.

 

Personally I despise Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, but I did move here from AK, so I'm not wild on anywhere with people. I think it's crowded, traffic sucks, and there's not much to do outdoors nearby, I'm not terribly impressed with the dining options either. Definitely stay out of East Winston, and really try to space yourself from 52/40.

For your long term, the further out of town you are the further your money will go, 300k should easily get you 10 acres depending on what you want to do housewise, though it may not be fully ready, might need a barn and fencing in. Wife is pretty big on horses and knows a couple folks that board. Taxes are lower outside Forsyth County.

Not sure on the construction trade job market, they're still building, but doesn't seem like a lot is moving. Most of the heavy equipment companies have dealers in Greensboro.

 

When folks start talking about all of the many different places they have lived, I just smile and say I too have lived many places - I have lived in three different NC Counties - Davidson, Forsyth and Orange. That usually gets a laugh. I was raised in Davidson County. When I got old enough to date I had to go to the north side of Winston, because I am kin to most everybody on the south side. I went to school in Orange County and then moved back to Forsyth County. Ten years later I returned to Davidson County, the North Davidson area where I am currently.

I have worked in Winston for 25 years now. In Forsyth I lived 15 miles north of Winston and now I'm 15 miles south. Housing is booming in the area. Many apartment complexes and neighborhoods full of smaller homes going up all around. With the houses, and of course Walmart, come lots of people.

Finding a decent piece of land 10 acres or more is becoming increasingly challenging. When I built 15 years ago I looked. Best I found was 10 acres of farmland for $100k. I passed and instead built on a one acre corner lot in a nicer neighborhood. Over the last few years I have looked at land in the area for shooting and have not yet found anything suitable. A friend of mine just bought 29 acres in Mt Airy rather reasonably priced.

As for Winston, the city is growing and changing. Younger people are starting to live downtown. There are many apartments being built in old tobacco warehouses or factorys. I see people walking their dogs in the evenings when I leave work. There are many restaraunts downtown where there used to be few.

Nowhere else would I rather live.

Thad

 

If your budget is fixed at 300k this may be too far above. But great location 1 mile from 421 north, 10/12 minutes from Winston Salem..... 1 1/2 hours to Boone under 2 hours to Wake county. Has plenty of deer and the occasional turkey. Every winery (many within 30 miles) around has restaurants and W-S has has several excellent ones. Only drawback is the d*mned bikers, but your are only 1 mile from interstate.
http://www.realtor.com/realestatean.../realestateandhomes-detail/8551-Shallowford-Rd_Lewisville_NC_27023_M50686-27516

 

i'd find a place in mayberry

 

Look in northern Davidson county around the new oak grove school area. You should be able to find something like your looking for.

 

There are also little hamlets like Pfafftown and WestBend where your money may go further.

 

We just bought a house in Kernersville. Technically put in the county. We like t so far. Rural enough to be quiet. But still just a short drive to shopping and a fair amount of decent places to eat when you're too lazy to cook.
Being in the county, nobody complains if I set up and archery target and shoot from my deck.
K'Ville is about half way between W/S and Greensboro. Only a 12 mile drive to work for me in Greensboro.
The YMCA in K'Ville is decent too.

 

Anywhere is a good place to live around the winston area. Kernersville,Clemmons or High point. Down side to High Point is the school in the city.
Davie Co better schools less crime 20 mile commute.

 

Clemmons is awful nice.

WS sucks.

That is all.

 

I know you mention living in the western part of state for your wife's job but how far west is required? Or do you prefer? Kernersville/ highpoint area or more around greensboro may give you more job options with equipment company's and building. None of which are to bad of commute to winston.

 

She needs to be west of Greensboro to still keep her job, but neither of us are willing to do Greensboro. Its a little on the large side, plus I can commute there if needed from WS.

 

Like others have said, the Lewisville - Clemmons area is nice. The housing market is pretty healthy there. Also check out surrounding areas in Yadkin and Davie countys where you can get out in the country a little more where property and taxes will be cheaper.

 

My FIL lives between Kville and Winston off Union Cross...and out toward Wallburg and south to Lexington is nice country. But if you want to get away from potential sprawl near the I40 and soon to be 240 corridor....look at Stokes county

 

But if you want to get away from potential sprawl near the I40 and soon to be 240 corridor....look at Stokes county

Second that. If you would like some info, let me know.

 

Nah nothing but crazy people live in Stokes co.

 

They ain't got no deer up there anymore neither

 

All gone.

 

4 bucks less than 100 yds from house last weekend. Turkeys in the yard early this week. All within 3 miles of "downtown" King. Yeah, we're crazy up here.

 

...All within 3 miles of "downtown" Kang.

 

What's that ice cream place in King named? One of the best

 

Stokes and King are great places to live if you don't have to drive hwy52 south to WS in the am commute.

 

It's "Kang", dammit..."Kang".