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Our family of three + Coonhound + cat is moving to Charlotte in June!
What I need to know:
neighborhoods we should definitely look at for renting [at least] a 2 bedroom house with a reasonably-sized yard. I have two friends in Charlotte who have advised me to look in the SW area, of course that's where they live . However, I can't seem to find a rental home in that area that fits our budget ($900 or less a month) and is far enough West of 77 (essential according to one of my friends). Is that too narrow a search area, if so where else can I look? I'd like to be fairly near I85 because we'll be visiting family in SC & VA often. I'd also like a somewhat rural vibe, and was hoping to raise rabbits in the backyard. I need dog-friendly, preferably wooded, walking/hiking trails reasonably nearby. My husband is still looking for work, and I currently work from home, so we don't have a specific commute in mind.
elementary schools? I'm seriously considering home-schooling but would still prefer to live in an area with good schools, in case I wind up having to work outside the home or my son really hates homeschooling.
things to do with a 6 year old, especially during the Summer months.
things to do with a non-hunting Bluetick Coonhound; which are the best off-leash areas we can go to? Right now I have a group of friends with big dogs that we walk with every morning, out in the desert. The dogs are off-leash and get to practice "pack manners" & exercise. It's awesome, for the humans too, and I'd love to join a group like that in Charlotte.
where to find good PuertoRican, Dominican, and/or Cuban food, grocers & family restaurants.
CSAs? farmers' markets? how, where, when?
Feel free to add anything else I haven't thought of. I've hated living in AZ, *loved* living in Portland, OR before that, and have lived many places I didn't love so much. I'm excited to start over in Charlotte, and I sure would appreciate some help in making this a great move for our family.
If you want to be on the SW side of town, you're better off going just over the border to Fort Mill or Tega Cay, SC. Has everything you're looking for as far as schools and doesn't have the issues that SW Charlotte closer to I-77 have.
On the NC side, Lake Wylie will do, but that's going to be more pricey.
With no traffic, I-77 in Fort Mill is a 20 minute drive to I-85.
As far as your six year old is concerned, that side of town also contains Carowinds, a major theme park in the southeast. The cost of a season pass is about the same as two visits. Look for discount coupons pretty much everywhere.
South Blvd will also have you covered for Hispanic markets.
The Ice House
The Pineville Ice House (http://icehouserinks.com/pville/index.html - broken link)
Charlotte's premier ice skating facility offering a countless entertainment options for children and adults
Zuma Fun Center
http://www.zumafuncenters.com/charlotte/home.html (broken link)
Family entertainment, birthday parties and group events
The SW part of Charlotte is called Steele Creek. You may want to look in Gaston county, just west of Charlotte. It is close to SW Charlotte and 85 runs through it. It will be hard to be far west of 77 in SW Charlotte. Here is a map - link. As you see 77 runs SW into South Carolina. The 485 exits (Tryon St, Arrowood Rd and Steel Creek Rd) in Steele Creek are 1, 3, and 4 miles from 77. 77 is just as close if not closer in other parts of Steele Creek. To be closer to 85 you will need to be in western Charlotte/Mecklenbutg County.
Quote:
things to do with a non-hunting Bluetick Coonhound; which are the best off-leash areas we can go to? Right now I have a group of friends with big dogs that we walk with every morning, out in the desert. The dogs are off-leash and get to practice "pack manners" & exercise. It's awesome, for the humans too, and I'd love to join a group like that in Charlotte.
This area has very strict leash laws so I don't think you will find anything like that here.
This is what my friend wrote to me when I pressed her on why she didn't think a house I'd found on CL was a good option:
Quote:
Traffic on the 485 is bad going E in the morning and W at night. 77 is bad going N in the morning and S at night. (This is all coming from S.)
As far as that area -- anything just off 77 is not as good of an area as off 485. It's more urban, more crime, less money. More poverty/poor housing.
After this, several other houses have been dismissed as "too close to 77!" Since I don't live there, I don't know, which is why I'm asking here. Maybe she only *thinks* she knows that other areas are bad. We all get into our comfort zones
A lot of listings on CL have turned out to be scams, BTW. Very frustrating! My other friend will be looking at a house for us today in the Tuckaseegee & Little Rock Roads area, she went by yesterday to look at the outside and spoke to a neighbor who said he's been happy there for 20yrs. (thoughts, comments?) So I'm hopeful, but I need to know where else to look if this one falls through. No one has mentioned living in Belmont or Mt. Holly as options... ? (husband went to college at Belmont Abbey a million years ago) Both of my friends live in the Steele Creek area and they love it. The Starmount neighborhood was also recommended. Unfortunately for me, I've found houses for sale in that area but not for rent. (as an aside, I think it's funny to read comments on this board about high real estate prices in NC, since I've been living in the West for 17yrs and prices in all three states I've lived are comparably much higher for the house you get)
As to why I don't like AZ... I never wanted to live somewhere where it's this hot; we moved here for my husband's job, which he is now losing (through no fault of his own but rather due to downsizing as a result of the economy). Summer is my least favorite season and I love rain. The Portland, OR area had the best weather for my temperament, I'm hoping Charlotte's will be similar. There are other reasons besides the weather (political, social) but if all those were resolved, The Weather would still drive me out of here! The city where I live has an official unemployment rate of 22%, the 2nd highest in the country. The nearest comparably-sized city to us is El Centro, CA which has the highest unemployment rate in the country.
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. However, I can't seem to find a rental home in that area that fits our budget ($900 or less a month) and is far enough West of 77 (essential according to one of my friends). Is that too narrow a search area, if so where else can I look? I'd like to be fairly near I85 because we'll be visiting family in SC & VA often. I'd also like a somewhat rural vibe, and was hoping to raise rabbits in the backyard. I need dog-friendly, preferably wooded, walking/hiking trails reasonably nearby. My husband is still looking for work, and I currently work from home, so we don't have a specific commute in mind.
Since I don't live there, I don't know, which is why I'm asking here. Maybe she only *thinks* she knows that other areas are bad. We all get into our comfort zones 
