German moving to CLT - Best online resources (Charlotte: apartment, lease)

[SSJ2305]

Hi everybody,

I will move from Germany to Charlotte in two weeks and wondering where to look for housing, cars etc. I have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and there is only one place you need to look online: Craigslist. I have looked at Craigslist Charlotte, but it doesn't seem to be as popular in CLT. So where do people look for housing (especially shared housing with room-mates) and cars in Charlotte. For cars I've looked at carmax.com and autotrader.com. These sites are mostly used as advertisment space for car dealers. Where do all the private sellers advertise? I was initally looking for shared housing with room mates. I've looked at roommates.com and was wondering if it is worth paying for. Do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your input.

[Metallisteve]

charlotte.craiglist.org is pretty active in my opinion. Craigslist was started in San Fran, which is probably why it's a little more popular. Most places outside of there may still be either unaware of it or skeptical (like I was before I tried it). I've never tried to look for the things you seek.

You might try the Charlotte Observer classifieds: Classifieds | www.charlotteobserver.com That's the big newspaper here in town.

[Native_Son]

how long are you staying and where do you want to be located?

My brother has a house close to downtown and his roommate just split. He (my brother) has also spent a considerable amount of time in Hamburg and would love to have someone to practice his German with.

He knows quite a few German nationals in Charlotte and could at least hook you up with other folks from the Fatherland.

[SSJ2305]

@ Metallisteve:

Yes, you are probably right. It might not be a good idea comparing SF and CLT craigslist. Craigslist is intrinsically San Franciscan and treatet like a Bible in the Bay Area. I will look at the charlotte observer classified as well. Thanks for the tip.

@ Native son:

If I like my new job, I will stay a couple of years in Charlotte. The job is in the South of Charlotte (I think it is called the Ballantyne area). I grew up just outside Hamburg. I worked in Hamburg for several years and have many friends there. I know the city very well. However, right now I live in Denmark. I am half Danish and after growing up in Germany, I wanted to get in touch with my scandianvian roots. In Charlotte I'll probably like to live as close as possible to Ballantyne. But I wouln't mind a easy commute either. Since I have no idea how bad traffic is or where the good/bad neighbourhoods are (I've looked at this board, but everyone has a different opinion), I have a hard time decided where to live. All input, ideas etc. is therefor greatly appreciated.

[anifani821]

If you plan to work in the Ballantyne area, then I would live there or live in S. Charlotte, for an easy commute. Don't know what to tell you about finding a roommate. If you are working w/ an HR or relocation department at the company where you will be employed, I would ask if they have suggestions as to how to find a roommate. If you can afford to get into an apartment in Ballantyne (you didn't give a $$ range on monthly rent) then you may need to just lease an apartment and see if you can find a roommate after you have moved in. If cost is a factor (and you need a roommate to split rent with) then I am not sure how you will arrange that ahead of time unless "someone knows someone" at your new job . . . or you can find someone thru/ Craigslist.

[bandibadji]

Originally Posted by SSJ2305

Hi everybody,

I will move from Germany to Charlotte in two weeks and wondering where to look for housing, cars etc. I have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and there is only one place you need to look online: Craigslist. I have looked at Craigslist Charlotte, but it doesn't seem to be as popular in CLT. So where do people look for housing (especially shared housing with room-mates) and cars in Charlotte. For cars I've looked at carmax.com and autotrader.com. These sites are mostly used as advertisment space for car dealers. Where do all the private sellers advertise? I was initally looking for shared housing with room mates. I've looked at roommates.com and was wondering if it is worth paying for. Do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your input.

As someone mentione earlier, look at the classifieds in the Charlotte Observer. Also, as far as cars, type in the type of car in which you are interested followed by Charlotte. For example, if you want a Honda, type in "Honda Charlotte" and you will be give a list of dealers.

[Metallisteve]

Originally Posted by SSJ2305

...but everyone has a different opinion...

You are correct. It can be the best thing and, at the same time, the worst thing about this board! I will promise you though, if you give an exact route or very specific question, you'll find someone with direct experience and good, truthful advice. This is opposed to "how's the commute from south Charlotte to Uptown." there are far too many routes, means, and methods to make that trip...thus, you're going to get the person who drives in 30 minutes of slow traffic saying it sucks, and you'll get the person who takes a reverse (against traffic) route or some unknown back road who thinks it's no problem.

[stmaarten]

Originally Posted by SSJ2305

@


I grew up just outside Hamburg. I worked in Hamburg for several years and have many friends there. I know the city very well. All input, ideas etc. is therefor greatly appreciated.

I LOVE Hamburg! Where outside of HH did you live?
In fact, here in Charlotte, I flagged someone down who had a "HH" sticker on the back of her car, only to find out that it stands for "Hilton Head" not "Hansestadt Hamburg"!
How embarrassing!

[SSJ2305]

@ anifani821:

I was initially interested in a room mate setup, so I don't have to sign a lease and buy a lot of furniture. I am pretty flexible in my price range, however my target is 500 plus utilities. My company will pay for a extend stay hotel for the first month, but they seem eager for me to move on as quickly as possible (it is probably a bit more expensive than they anticipated in the beginning). I was really lucky with my room mates in San Francisco (we were 4 sharing one house). Hoping for the same great experience in Charlotte.

@Bandibadji: Thank you for the tip. BTW: How did you know I was looking for a Honda? Probably because everyone is right now, considering those gas prices. What ever happend to those huge SUV? I guess the US will look more and more like Europe with all Honda Fit and MiniCoopers on the road.

@ Metallisteve:
I will be very specific asking those commuting questions. But I reckon, that I will always have a reversed commute from Downtown (sorry Uptown, I just learned that) to the Ballantyne area. That will probably be a great advantage, if I want to live Down..sorry Uptown.

[SSJ2305]

Originally Posted by stmaarten

I LOVE Hamburg! Where outside of HH did you live?
In fact, here in Charlotte, I flagged someone down who had a "HH" sticker on the back of her car, only to find out that it stands for "Hilton Head" not "Hansestadt Hamburg"!
How embarrassing!

That is very funny! Thanks for the tip, I will be careful not jumping to conclusions when seing a HH sticker on a car. To answer your question, just outside Lüneburg (which coincidenlty is a Hansestadt as well).