Which South East lake for upcoming relocation?

[Mainah]

We are in the process of narrowing down which lake we want to move to next year. In the ruuning is Lake Hartwell, Lake Keowee, Lake Wylie, and Lake Norman. We love the deep super clean lakes here up north but want the warmer climate of the south east. We want to be within a 2 hour drive of the Charlotte airport for work travel. We have 3 teenagers with one headed off to college next year so good public or private Highschool is also important for the other two. Right now the grocery store and schools are only a few minutes from us and we would like to find a area that offers the same while living on the lake. A good selection of retail stores and resturants in close proximity are a strong desire for us. Budget and lake cleaniness are a factor as well. We are willing to consider lake front communities with shared docks but would prefer a private plot and dock.

We are heading down to Charlotte to drive around and check things out as we narrow things down the end of this month ahead of our pending move late spring next year. So which lake and area of these lakes offers the best compromise of the above wants?

Thanks in advance.

 

[njmr2fan]

PMd you

 

[veedubtek]

Doubt you could go wrong with any of them. Norman sure seems to fit your needs exactly though.

 

[robert843]

Lake Norman is nice I would also throw lake Murray on your list to check out. I would highly recommend the NC or SC coast though coastal boosting down south is a lot different then up north with end less possibilities

 

[Andy S]

I agree with @robert843 you should look at the Lake Murray area. We are 2 hours to Charlotte airport, 2 hours to Charleston, and 2 hours to the mountains. The public schools in Lexington/Richland district 5 rank tops in the state and rank extremely high nationally. Also, the cost of housing is probably cheaper than around the Charlotte area.

If you have any questions about the Lake Murray area don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Mainah]

So based on feedback we are now including Lake Murray and the CSRA area. I thought I had it narrowed down. We are not city folk so we prefer the outer edges of urban sprawls.

Now of all the lakes in the Carolinas that you can live on which ones are the cleanest?

 

[Andy S]

So based on feedback we are now including Lake Murray and the CSRA area. I thought I had it narrowed down. We are not city folk so we prefer the outer edges of urban sprawls.

Now of all the lakes in the Carolinas that you can live on which ones are the cleanest?

Lake Jocassee might be the cleanest lake in the Southeast. Lake Murray is a clean lake with little to no algae.

 

[Julian]

If Charlotte a requirement, you might want to put that in the title to draw the attention of those in that area. (I can add that if you don't see "Edit Thread" in the upper right of your 1st post).

I've heard a lot of nice things about lake Norman....

 

[robert843]

I think the biggest advantage Murray has is cost. You can get a steal up there compared to what you pay on most lakes.

 

[Julian]

I think the biggest advantage Murray has is cost. You can get a steal up there compared to what you pay on most lakes.

Yeah....I'll bet anything within commuting range of Atlanta or Charlotte is going to have a premium

 

[bronze_10]

Lake gaston u can live on but it's 2 hours away from rdu not charlotte

 

[Mainah]

Lake Murray seems to fit the all purpose bill kind of like Yamaha boats. Schools and what you get for your property dollar seem to be very good. Thanks to all who replied as it was not originally on my list but is now at the top. I have seen a lot of pros but what are the brutally honest cons to Lake Murray and the greater Columbia SC area?

 

[veedubtek]

Fire ants. Lol.

And Nascar. All the NASCAR everywhere, but that goes for any of those lakes really.

 

[robert843]

Lake Murray seems to fit the all purpose bill kind of like Yamaha boats. Schools and what you get for your property dollar seem to be very good. Thanks to all who replied as it was not originally on my list but is now at the top. I have seen a lot of pros but what are the brutally honest cons to Lake Murray and the greater Columbia SC area?

I had had a lake house up there for a little over a year while I was on assignment in Columbia. The community I was in was called Sunset Bay it was in Lexington the homes in that spot where a pretty good value. I had a 2800 sqft house brand new with views of the lake and a boat dock and ramp on site. I sold it for $259,000 back in April since my work up there was done. The lake is big and can be rural in some areas so you really have to watch what areas you are looking in as some could be a little out there away from stuff. I cant think of any major complaints from my time up there other then traffic coming from Columbia back to Lexington after work sucked. @Andy S lives on the other side of the lake from where I was in Chapin. That side is nice as well. If it was me I would look in Chapin or Lexington. The Lexington Side will drop you right on I77 so a straight shot to Charlotte. I26 on the Chapin side can get rough at times with traffic. @Andy S can probably give you a lot better info since he is there full time. @DieselCamel and @veedubtek both came up and hung out with us for a weekend they maybe able to throw in some brutal honesty on their opinions of the area.

 

[Julian]

We vacationed on Lake Murray a few years ago and met up with @Andy S and the lake was really nice....not sure it meets your goal of being close to a major air hub though.

Have you also considered intercoastal properties.....I think I'd really enjoy living on the ocean....

 

[robert843]

We vacationed on Lake Murray a few years ago and met up with @Andy S and the lake was really nice....not sure it meets your goal of being close to a major air hub though.

Have you also considered intercoastal properties.....I think I'd really enjoy living on the ocean....

From the Lexington side it's probably an hour and a half to Charlotte. I do agree with the coast completely though. I have lived on the coast for over 20 years and at the end of my assignment in Columbia I had the option to stay up there or come back to the coast and I did even hesitate I was back to the coast. I feel land locked on a lake. Any given day here at the coast I can get on the boat and go as far as I want basically. There are just so many options of things to do on the water down here even though we do the same thing a lot the options are at least available when ever I want a change. If we did a lot of water sports I may prefer the lake though. I have never wake surfed or wakeboard but always wanted to try the two I may have to sweet talk you @Julian next weekend into letting me try it behind your boat.

 

[piney1]

Lake Greenwood is smaller, only 14 square miles, but it is really a nice area. Near the foothills, not too far from Charlotte but not close either. It is more laid back and certainly more affordable than the larger lakes.

 

[Andy S]

@Mainah the Irmo/Chapin area (Northwest) part of Columbia is my preference been living in the area for 24 years, so I'm a little biased. My only downside to the Lexington side of the lake is the traffic there is horrendous. The traffic on the Irmo/Chapin side is bad but nothing like the Lexington side. From the Irmo/Chapin side you can get to Charlotte in a little over 1.5 hours, either around Columbia or back roads through Jenkinsville and up to I-77. Columbia airport is small but lately their airfares more competitive killing the justification driving to Charlotte.

The only downside I know of for the Columbia area is the city's slogan, "Famously Hot". It gets hot as hell here in Columbia but at least you have the lake to enjoy. FYI - this summer we had about 54 consecutive days at or above 90 degrees and many days at or near 100.

 

[Mainah]

@Andy S I hate traffic and while many consecutive days above 90 does sound a bit hot for my liking I find consecutive days below freezing horrible. I enjoy cycling and skiing and have determimed that a annual February trip to Big Sky in Montana will take care of the skiing part. I imagine cycling early or late in the day will work for some of the hotter days? The Irmo/Chapin area certainly sounds more appealing. We are going to check it out the end of this month. Thanks for the help.

 

[cozilla]

@Mainah I live on Lake Wylie in the Riverpointe neighborhood. We love the lake and enjoy going out on it whenever we get a chance. It isn't the biggest lake especially compared to Norman but has a great community and laid back feel. The location is great to get to Uptown Charlotte and the airport. Let me know if you have any specific questions I can answer. Good luck in your search.