Need Advice on Everything in Cola Area

If you're looking for a home downtown, my house is for sale. MLS # 190820. There are some special deals if you buy a home downtown where your interest rate gets locked in at approximately 4%, if you qualify. I don't know the details on the interest rate deal, but my realtor does. The two kids bedrooms are already painted blue and yellow. :)

We live in NE Columbia and it has been great! My father inlaw actually sells and rents homes here and in Blythewood if you need him to help you out. His name is Chuck Brazel ###-###-#### with Russel and Jeffcoat realitors and he will be fair with you. Just let him know what you are looking for and he will send you house or rentals in your price range and the area you want through email. By the way his email address is ____@____.com Good Luck

I currently live in Blythewood and have lived here for over 8 years. We definitely like it and I use to work downtown. I now work in 5 Points (near downtown) and I can get to work in 20-30 minutes, but I don't have to be at work until 9:00 am. The drive is much better from the NE than from the Irmo/Harbison area. It is growing a whole lot out here and many stores, restaurants, etc are popping up everywhere. The school district is very good.

I've been using Trinity UMC Child Care Center for the last 8 years (my 8 year old and 4 year old). They are great, although there may be a waiting list. Their telephone number is ###-###-####. I've also heard good things about Corn Crib Daycare ###-###-#### and Candle Lakes Daycare ###-###-#### are good too.

My oldest daughter is at Bethel Hanberry Elementary school in Blythewood and it's been great! She's in 2nd grade and started there in kindergarten. She's also in the after school program and in the summer program at Trinity UMC CCC. So depending on where you move to Blythewood would depend on the school your son would attend. There's also Round Top Elementary that is in the Blythewood that I hear is good too.

My husband & I were separated for a while and I lived in the NE in a neighborhood called Lake Carolina last summer. It was a very nice neighborhood with different levels of housing (neighborhoods). Their elementary school is actually inside of the neighborhood. I've also heard good things about it too.

I wish you luck and hope you find your new home without too much trouble. If you are looking at building or buying a new home, Essex Homes is a great quality builder for the price and they have homes in Blythewood and NE.

S.

Welcome to the south! Blythewood is about a 20 min. drive from downtown Columbia. I hear that Richland 2 school district (NE) is the best, as well as Blythewood.
However, there are some great houses downtown that are being renovated - decent sized yards, parks and library nearby. But the downtown schools aren't that great from what I hear. We homeschool, so schools aren't a concern. I don't know about day care either, sorry.
There's plenty to do around town in the summer! Free/$1 weekday movies at most of the theaters, library programs, city and county parks and recreation dept. day camps,Free Movies in the Park (Finlay) on Friday nights, free Saturday admission to the Art museum, Free First Sunday admission to the State Museum.

I moved here from TN a little more than a year ago and I would say stay in the NE or Blythewood for sure! I was also told when I moved here not to live further down than were 77 and 20 cross Two Notch. We live in the NE area and they just built a new school, Polo Road Elementary. We love it! The teachers are wonderful and they are learning things that I would not have though my kindergartener was ready for! She has spelling tests and has learned some sentence structure and has Spanish classes. I know school is a little ways off for you but if you are buying I would consider that district (Richland 2). The daycare that I have heard is a good one in this area is Gateway Academy. My four all stay home so I have not used a daycare here. If you are looking to buy I know of a couple of places they are building new homes for a reasonable rate and for apartments we really like ours. Let me know if you want to know the names of out apartments and where they are building.
:) jenny

Blythwood is a good area my husband did student teaching at Blythwood High School and at an elementary school in the area. Lexington is also a good area but more expensive. Job wise you can find just about any thing here just depends on your education level.