Please recommend realtors in Belmont (Gaston County) (Charlotte: crime rate, buying a house)

[cgballer]

We are thinking about buying a house in Belmont (Gaston County) and are wondering if someone who has bought a house there can recommend a realtor who has in-depth knowledge about the area.

Thanks in advance!

[SunnyKayak]

use direct message for recommendations and not on the forum

thanks

[wintergrace]

Hi Cgballer,

Currently live in Belmont but can't recommend any realtors (I'm currently looking for one myself (to sell). I have kids in the schools here, so if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them (or other types of questions).

[Tspoon]

Hello,
Looking to move to belmont, what school district would you recommend (elementary/middle)? Any areas that you would recommend NOT living in?
Thanks!

[wintergrace]

Tspoon,
There's only one school district in Belmont, so that makes things simple, and even better, it's pretty good (by NC standards). Belmont is small, so there's only one middle school, one high school, and most kids in Belmont attend 2-5 grade at Belmont Central Elementary. All good

Areas I would recommend not living in? Well...since all the kids go to the same schools and there's not much crime in Belmont, the main considerations might be whether you feel strongly about living in the city proper (convenience, but higher property taxes) or if you'd be willing to live about 4 miles down South Point Road, which is technically "South Belmont", although I have never heard anyone call it that. Much lower taxes, same good schools, slightly longer drive.

IMO this is a great time to buy in Belmont...last year there new construction here was still high. This year prices have come down dramatically.

Hope that helped. Feel free to direct message me if you'd like to know anything else. Good Luck.

[cgballer]

Originally Posted by Tspoon

Any areas that you would recommend NOT living in?
Thanks!

I would not recommend the following areas:
- Between Hwy74 and I85, Park St and the river
- South of Hwy74, west of N Central Ave, north of the railroad tracks

[cgballer]

Originally Posted by wintergrace

The main considerations might be whether you feel strongly about living in the city proper (convenience, but higher property taxes) or if you'd be willing to live about 4 miles down South Point Road, which is technically "South Belmont", although I have never heard anyone call it that. Much lower taxes, same good schools, slightly longer drive.

A lot of the newer neighborhoods are in South Belmont. I prefer the city proper because:
- Shopping and restaurants are all along Wilkinson Blvd (Hwy74)
- Access to Charlotte across the river is only via Hwy74, I85 or SR49 way down south at Lake Wylie
- YMCA is in North Belmont (just across I85) or Lake Wylie, SC if you like to exercise
- Traffic on S Point Road is pretty heavy at times and will keep getting worse as new neighborhoods are being built
- There's a coal fired power station in South Belmont (GG Allen Steam Station) on Plant Allen Rd. I prefer not to live right next to that
- Belmont keeps incorporating the neighborhoods in South Belmont so even if the taxes are lower right now they won't be in a few years

Hope this helps!

[wsobchak]

Originally Posted by cgballer

I would not recommend the following areas:
- Between Hwy74 and I85, Park St and the river
- South of Hwy74, west of N Central Ave, north of the railroad tracks

I am looking at a house on Lincoln street. It's not the ritz, but then, I can't afford very expensive housing. The house is very inexpensive, but my idea would be to do an inexpensive wood modernist facadectomy outside and inside. That facadectomy would include making the house unbreachable (why do they still built houses with great big windows in the Land of Home Invasions)?!?

It's just south of 74, and seems to be an area you suggested people stay away from. Can you elaborate? The crime rate is very low in Belmont - they've had one murder in the last 10 years.