We're escaping! But to what section of Charlotte? HELP! (Asheville: apartments, rental)

[devoneri]

So my fiance and I are escaping the jobless land of Buffalo, NY at last but we don't have much money to work with & no job offers (yet).

My daughter, she will be going into 1st grade in the fall so I want to be in an area that has good schools (the ones in Buffalo are so bad I opted to pay more to live outside the city limits here).

Me, I just got my BA in the useless fields of history & american studies. I will be looking for office administration type jobs. Possibly a banking job if they'll have me (since my degrees aren't related).

Him, he has to go back another 2 yrs to get his BA (after we establish residency) & he doesn't drive. I may or may not have a car by the time we get down there so something reasonable as far as buses & public transport would be great. His job experience is all in the restaurant industry as a cook. Also, he has whiteboy dreadlocks. Can't make it simple, right?

We have a friend in the NoDa district who hasn't really left it (also no car) so he has no idea about schools & other areas of the city really. I'd like to live there, but not if it isn't a good school area or affordable.

I'm just worried we will get down there & end up spending hours & hours commuting to & from work because we pick the wrong area to live & that my daughter will end up in daycare before & after school so much that she has to practically set up a cot!

So to sum up:
1. good elementary school districts?
2. ease of public transportation?
3. office & restaurant jobs
4. affordable & safe housing rental areas?
5. opinion on NoDa district?

I should add too, we are more hippie-ish types. Ex: He went to Warren Wilson in Asheville for his first 2 yrs of schooling. We play hacky sack & go to outdoor music festivals....

Oh and Thanks!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by devoneri

So my fiance and I are escaping the jobless land of Buffalo, NY at last but we don't have much money to work with & no job offers (yet).

My daughter, she will be going into 1st grade in the fall so I want to be in an area that has good schools (the ones in Buffalo are so bad I opted to pay more to live outside the city limits here).

Me, I just got my BA in the useless fields of history & american studies. I will be looking for office administration type jobs. Possibly a banking job if they'll have me (since my degrees aren't related).

Him, he has to go back another 2 yrs to get his BA (after we establish residency) & he doesn't drive. I may or may not have a car by the time we get down there so something reasonable as far as buses & public transport would be great. His job experience is all in the restaurant industry as a cook. Also, he has whiteboy dreadlocks. Can't make it simple, right?

We have a friend in the NoDa district who hasn't really left it (also no car) so he has no idea about schools & other areas of the city really. I'd like to live there, but not if it isn't a good school area or affordable.

I'm just worried we will get down there & end up spending hours & hours commuting to & from work because we pick the wrong area to live & that my daughter will end up in daycare before & after school so much that she has to practically set up a cot!

So to sum up:
1. good elementary school districts?
2. ease of public transportation?
3. office & restaurant jobs
4. affordable & safe housing rental areas?
5. opinion on NoDa district?

I should add too, we are more hippie-ish types. Ex: He went to Warren Wilson in Asheville for his first 2 yrs of schooling. We play hacky sack & go to outdoor music festivals....

Oh and Thanks!

So you will be looking to rent? Price range please

[devoneri]

That depends on the jobs I guess. After having been in Buffalo for the last 4 yrs it's scary thinking about anything over $750 but I know that's just due to the area here.

Since I don't know the area yet, I'd prefer a month-to-month lease (if people do that in Charlotte, here it's quite common).

Realistically, I'd like to keep it under $1000. We'd like a 2BR but if there are 1BRs out there with monthly leases, that would be okay for awhile until we found steady jobs.

If a 2BR is out for that price range, I'd rather pay more for a 1BR to start & be in a good school district so we don't have to move to another one halfway through the year once we can afford more.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by devoneri

That depends on the jobs I guess. After having been in Buffalo for the last 4 yrs it's scary thinking about anything over $750 but I know that's just due to the area here.

Since I don't know the area yet, I'd prefer a month-to-month lease (if people do that in Charlotte, here it's quite common).

Realistically, I'd like to keep it under $1000. We'd like a 2BR but if there are 1BRs out there with monthly leases, that would be okay for awhile until we found steady jobs.

If a 2BR is out for that price range, I'd rather pay more for a 1BR to start & be in a good school district so we don't have to move to another one halfway through the year once we can afford more.

I've got just the place for you: Echo Forest Apartments. You'll get a two bedroom for under $1000. and be zoned for the best elementary school around, Elizabeth Lane Elementary

1729 Echo Forest Drive
Charlotte, NC 28270
704-845-1120

ps - monthly leases are not common at all here I'm afraid.

[devoneri]

Thanks!
I didn't think a monthly would be common. I'm from FL originally & never much heard of such a thing until I got to Buffalo. 4 yrs has gotten me accustomed to some of its ways though...

[tamaraw]

You would probably enjoy the NODA district...although I'm not sure about the schools...very close to downtown charlotte so commute to jobs would be easy via bus... You would definitely be in your demo...young and hipster-esque in NODA....HOWEVER...Once you get settled in and start thinking about buying, consider Monroe...which is in Union County. If you like character and cool houses, Monroe is a good place to live...you can buy a historic home (late 1800's to early 1900's) for under 200k.... Monroe is an up-and-coming area...and I for one would encourage as many dreadlocked peeps as possible to move in!!! Many commute to charlotte (20 - 40 mins, depending where you're going)... The schools are improving in the city...the county schools are exceptional...and there is a charter school in the city that is exceptional as well. Chek out the website... and best of luck....
http://www.downtownmonroenc.com/info...n/about_us.php

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by tamaraw

You would probably enjoy the NODA district...although I'm not sure about the schools...very close to downtown charlotte so commute to jobs would be easy via bus... You would definitely be in your demo...young and hipster-esque in NODA....HOWEVER...Once you get settled in and start thinking about buying, consider Monroe...which is in Union County. If you like character and cool houses, Monroe is a good place to live...you can buy a historic home (late 1800's to early 1900's) for under 200k.... Monroe is an up-and-coming area...and I for one would encourage as many dreadlocked peeps as possible to move in!!! Many commute to charlotte (20 - 40 mins, depending where you're going)... The schools are improving in the city...the county schools are exceptional...and there is a charter school in the city that is exceptional as well. Chek out the website... and best of luck....
http://www.downtownmonroenc.com/info...n/about_us.php

Tamaraw you're killing me here - enough already LOL!!! We all get it - check out Monroe folks, it really does have a lot to offer, but Tam give it a rest for today!

[19yearsincharlotte]

Good god, you're not kidding! My eyeballs are bleeding.