Overview
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The small town of Apex, North Carolina ensures a relaxing down home atmosphere. The historic downtown area has many commercial and residential buildings that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In fact the train depot dates back to around 1867. Apex is a growing suburb of Raleigh that is known locally for its small-town charm and relaxed vibe. This area is great for families, as housing prices are reasonable. The area is not particularly diverse, as more than 85 percent of the population is white. Opinions from residents who live here are overall positive, but there is some issue with the Wake County School District, which is criticized for being poorly run. However, on a popular online ratings system, the school district received a 7 out of 10, so perhaps the complaints are limited to a small area of the population.
Residents of Apex are mostly middle class to upper-middle-class, as the median income for individuals is more than $70,000 per year, and about $90,000 for families. Apex is a nice choice for people who are working in Raleigh but would rather live in the suburbs. The commute between Apex and Raleigh is no longer than 30 minutes
The area's restaurants, nightlife and shopping scenes are similar to other suburbs of its size. You can find a small variety of restaurant cuisines (Mexican, Greek, Indian), some smaller sports bars, and tiny mom and pop shops along with larger malls and a Super Target. If you're familiar with suburban life, Apex should be very familiar to you.
While you'll need a car to live in Apex, most of the housing here offers plenty of free parking. For other transportation needs, the Raleigh-Durham International Airport is only a short drive, and offers a considerable number of flights per day. Amtrak is not located in Apex, but it is also a short drive to stations in Cary and Raleigh.
Apex is close enough to major NC cities to ensure big city amenities and is an easy commute to the North Carolina Research Triangle area. With an excellent school system and conveniently located to Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University educational opportunities are numerous.
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Apex is home to great little restaurants, most of which are in the downtown (Salem Street) area. Peak City Grill is a well known restaurant with great food and a great atmosphere. It is also a nice bar to have happy hour in after work or late night drinks. Ocean Grill, which was opened by the same people, has some amazing seafood and has a bar upstairs to enjoy drinks in. Along that same strip is Anna's Pizza Place which has fantastic Italian food. Among those there is a little ice cream shop, a coffee house and other little restaurants. It's a nice selection in a convenient, charming area.
Apex is GROWING. Multiple apartment communities are located in Apex and for the money, you get great value. The rents are competitive and are typically less expensive than Cary or Raleigh. That and the fact that Apex has retained a bit of small town charm is what the main draw seems to be for people.
Traffic, depending upon what time of day, can be on the congested side. More so in the morning hours on HWY 55 in mulitple areas and in the late afternoon, rush hour time frames. It's getting better as they choose to widen roads but people need to plan accordingly when leaving for work or appointments.
1) Familiarize yourself with the area in which you are looking, be proactive in researching the community ahead of time and know exactly what it is you are looking for. Ultimately, making sure you getting what you are looking for (or close to it) is key to ensuring that you will be happy while you live there.
2) Right now price is a driving factor for a lot of people in making a decision about where they are going to live. On the flip side of that, you don't necessarily need to settle or sacrifice things for price. That is where the importance of doing your homework ahead of time comes in handy.
3) One has to have realistic expectations. You can't go into a community with stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors thinking you can get it for $500.
4) It also doesn't hurt to check out the reputation of the managing company as well. Being backed by a reputable company typically means the communities they manage practice business with the same values.
5) Another good idea is to check out rating websites such as apartmentratings.com. Do keep in mind though that more people are apt to vent displeasure in a situation rather than venting praise. So these websites can tend to be a little skewed as to the reality of many experiences.
6) Do expect to pay an application and/or adminstrative fee. These fees are common but a lot of communities tend to run specials on these fees.
7) As much as we would like them to be, most places cannot negotiate rental prices and utilize a market driven system that can mean prices change daily.
There are plenty of new shopping areas being built or having just been built in the Apex area. Apex has everything you are looking for as far as shopping goes. There are a couple of Super Wal-Marts that have just gone up (end of 2008 - a new one opened up at the corner of Hwy 55 & US-1). Beaver Creek, located off of Hwy 55 near the Hwy 64 interchange, offers many restaurants, shopping and specialty shops. Grocery stores, gas stations, gyms, salons and drug stores are convenient to almost all residents living in Apex. Usually all within a five mile radius, making a quick stop on the way home completely feasible. With the area growing as it is, expect to see many positive changes and additions in the near future.
Weather in Apex is typical NC weather. It is hot and mostly humid in the summer, pleasant in the fall and spring with a few crazy hot days sprinkled in and then cold in the winter. If it does snow in the area, it typically misses us.
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