re: Raleigh, NC Tigers need advice!!!

Depends on where you work, what kind of neighborhood you want, schools, etc.

I'm in central Raleigh, near NC State. Only been here 5 years, so we still have "new eyes" for the city.

Like just about any town, you'll find more for your money out in the burbs. Wake Forest, Cary, Apex, North Raleigh all have nice neighborhoods and mostly good schools. And, compared to the NVa traffic, traffic is generally not bad.

One note on the Apex/Garner/Fuquay area, which is south of town - research carefully the plans for the southern stretch of I-540. They haven't finalized plans, and you don't want to end up living 20ft from the highway in 10 years.

We live in-town just because we like more established neighborhoods over 'burbs and like the energy of being near downtown. Very pretty, rolling, wooded streets. But fairly expensive houses. The transformation of downtown over the last few years has been awesome.

Overall - a very pleasant, vibrant and beautiful city at a manageable size. Welcome!