To Those In The University Area... (Charlotte, Woodlawn: cheap apartment, rent, insurance)

[Britt03445]

I have a question for you: Have any of you ever heard of Heather Ridge Apartments? If so, what can you tell me about them? They look like relatively new construction and the pricing is unbelievably affordable. Keep in mind that I am a young professional (23), with no children or roommates, and am a fan of diversity. Occassional noise does not bother me, but gang banging and car break-ins do. Also, I'm a new grad and am looking to stack some money so I am willing to sacrifice things like luxury cabinets and countertops, I just don't want anything too janky. An area like Southpark is closer to my job (which is Uptown), but if I can save a few hundred dollars a month I'm willing to drive 20min (Univ area) vs. 7min (Uptown). I know I just went off on a tangent, but let me know what you all think about the apartments. The zip is 28213.
Have a good day everyone, and thanks in advance!

[Britt03445]

7min parenthesis should say (Southpark- Park Rd. & Woodlawn) and not Uptown.

[SuperchargedSS]

what is unbelievably affordable?

[Metallisteve]

While I like to toot University City's horn, I'd feel guilty if I didn't tell you that depending on the time you travel, your drive may be more like 30-40 minutes to SouthPark from that area. Add bad weather and it's an hour. Also, it is near UNCC, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I'm willing to bet that's why the price is attractive. So as long as you're cool with that commute and the possibility of the college crowd, I'd say go for it. Your reasons make sense (wanting to save money).

Here's a resource that may be of value to you: Community Crime Information System You can zoom in to the neighborhood/apartments you're thinking about and it will show you all the police incidents over a given period of time. Comparing this complex to some others across the city with the date ranges filtered to the past 6 months, I see nothing out of the norm for an apartment complex...the norm being a few auto thefts, some random armed robberies, and vandalism. If it were me, this wouldn't deter me...because like I said, EVERY apartment complex has this, even the gated ones. It comes with the territory of living in an apartment. For that, you get a lower cost of living than buying a house.

You could possibly find comparable apartment prices elsewhere in the city that are a little closer to SouthPark, but you will most certainly not find an apartment IN the Southpark area for anything "cheap." It pains me to detract someone from University City, but I may have to suggest a closer complex. You're already giving up the luxury of a nicer place (for good reasons: to save money). You don't want to be stripped of the luxury of the quality of life, which a long sommute may do. Just my opinion.

I hope this helps some.

[Metallisteve]

Originally Posted by SuperchargedSS

what is unbelievably affordable?

It looks like $600's for a 2/2.

[Britt03445]

...and $499 for a one bedroom w/ vaulted ceilings! My job will be a little south of "Uptown" (hospital). I'd like to have a little shorter drive where I could take the streets.
Metallisteve, I guess I wasn't clear earlier- I will be working Uptown. I know that Southpark is closer to that area and is a more desireable area. But I'm thinking if I should just go on and spend the extra money.
Thank you all for replying!

[anifani821]

I would rather spend the extra money and know I was in an area where I was not so concerned about such things as car break-ins in parking lots. It seems that area has had a lot of problem w/ that sort of activity. Let's say your car gets broken into - glass smashed. Your insurance isn't going to cover it totally - you are gonna have a deductible. You may end up w/ that costing you so much to repair that it would have been cheaper to use that money towards higher rent somewhere else. Plus, your insurance premium might go up after that. Also, go for the easiest commute. Less time in traffic, and also less gas.

[baybook]

I'd choose the less expensive apt. If you are working uptown, you're commute will be minimal. I'd probably take the streets from that location.

There reports in that area do not seem out of line.

[Metallisteve]

Uptown is much different commute than Southpark. You would be fine with a commute to Uptown from that apartment complex. In fact, depending on exactly where, you might even be able to catch the express bus and not drive at all.

Ani has a point...this is just a cost-benefit thing. What's more important? Saving a truckload of money, or spending a little extra (which obviously means saving a little less) and gaining some other small perks. I don't believe you'll get a measurable difference in safety at any apartment complex. All biased-ness of University City aside, I'd be willing to bet that if you mapped all apartment complexes in Charlotte on that previous link I provided, they'd all have a darn near equal amount of petty crimes. It's tough to say that since it sounds like I'm trying to justify the crimes...but I'm absolutely not. I'm just trying to show that the playing field is level in that respect. In other words, you have just as much of a chance of having your car window smashed in the 28211 zip as you do the 28213 or 28262. Apartments come with that chance.

If your goal is to save as much money as possible, then I think you're on the right track of thinking by finding a cheap apartment. Yes, Ani has a point about the deductible you may spend by replacing a busted window, but that's not somethign that can be given a definite value...and it's where your emergency fund should pick up the slack (we won't get into a Dave Ramsey financial discussion here!).

[Britt03445]

I'm guessing that since I'll have to be at work at either 7am or 7pm, I'll most likely miss all of the traffic heading in that direction. I know thiefs are willing to break into anything, but I don't think they will get too much out of a Honda Civic w/ factory everything =)