About two-and-a-half years ago, I moved from Chicago to Winston Salem with my two boys. It’s been a great change for us, but I do wish I had known a few things before I came, just to make the transition easier. Here, I’ll share the things I wish I had known with you!
Vehicles
In Winston Salem, you get your driver’s license and tags in two different places, which is a little odd and slightly inconvenient but certainly not a deal-breaker. Another thing I wish I’d known in regard to cars is that in North Carolina, vehicles are subject to property tax on an annual basis, just like your house would be. I wish I’d known that when I was calculating the cost of living in Winston Salem. It offers a better value than similarly sized metro areas when you compare housing costs to median household income. The average income of its residents is less than the national average, but the cost of living is significantly lower as well. The tax isn’t a life-changing amount or anything (a $30,000 car costs about $350 a year), but it’s definitely something you should know.
Liquor
The state owns and runs all the liquor stores in North Carolina. You can get beer or wine in the local grocery stores, but anything with higher alcohol content is sold only in the ABC stores, which the state owns and operates. On occasion, I like a good, stiff drink (I’m a Realtor—we need to unwind), and what I’ve noticed about these stores is that A) the prices are a little more than what I paid in Illinois, which surprised me, B) the stores are closed on Sundays, which means you have to plan ahead, and C) the selection varies from store to store, and even from town to town.. All ABCs are not created equal. Again, these things aren’t deal-breakers or anything, but they’re good to know ahead of time.
Roads
Finding your way around Winston Salem and familiarizing yourself with the roads can take a minute. I came from the Chicago area, where the roads are set up in a grid pattern, so once you orient yourself to north, south, east, and west there, you can pretty easily find your way around. Here … not so much. The way the roads are laid out doesn’t always make a lot of sense—they’re twisty and windy, they change names for no apparent reason, and everything is so lush and green that you can’t always tell where you are. In other words, get used to using your GPS.
The region appeals to outdoorsy types, too. Winston boasts a web of local hiking trails and a couple of tourist places, including Pilot Mountain, Bailey Park, amazing restaurants and Hanging Rock, which are just a quick drive away. These areas feature wood-sided Victorian and Craftsman style homes, predominately.
Pace
If you’ve moved or are moving to downtown Winston Salem, remember: you’re in the south now. Get used to living life at a Southern pace. Here, they don’t have quite the sense of urgency that I was accustomed to before. They take the time to talk to each other and be together, rather than speeding on their way to get things done. Winston-Salem is in Forsyth County and is one of the best places to live in North Carolina and Raleigh Durham area. I’ve grown to appreciate that, but it was not an immediate fit for me. Also, their conversation levels go deeper than what I was used to—it’s not just small talk anymore. They really want to know how you’re doing and what’s going on. This Southern hospitality and charm is terrific, which makes Winston Salem a better choice but for me it was a little adjustment.
Winston-Salem is also home to higher education institutions including Winston Salem state University, Wake Forest University, Carolina university, Salem college and some affiliated high tech business. The University of North Carolina School of the Arts hosts community performances and other cultural events each year.
This slow and steady growth has preserved the region’s small-town feel while allowing for improvements, such as repurposing old textile and tobacco factories into loft apartments.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling real estate in the area, I’d love to be a resource for you! Please reach out to me at:
Phone: (336) 837-5924
Email: jeff@govalentino.com
