Non-Student Apartments in Raleigh (Cameron: wood floors, apartment complex, renters)

[daveguy321]

I am looking to move to Raleigh this summer from Virginia. I am 25 and I want to live downtown, close to restaurants and entertainment, but I dont want to live in the middle of the college crowd. All I need is a 1br place.

I love NCSU, but I want somewhere safe with more of a mix of people. I really want to find someplace with character and charm. I love historic buildings. Oh, and I also dont want to pay too much for rent.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

I have spent some time in the city and driven by Grosvenor Garden, Boylan Apts. and Cameron Court. They look great, but Im afraid they may be to college-y.

Any insight?

[daveguy321]

Also what about The Raleigh Apartments?

[miamiblue]

I'm looking for a similar living situation, except my caveat is that I have to have W/D connections in the apartment, and I'm looking for a 2br. I've been here for a year now, in a big box apartment in NW Raleigh, and the mass produced places are just not very well built. I am used to living in historic and older buildings with wood floors, and the noise level in my current apartment with carpet is just not acceptable. I need to give notice on my current lease next week, so I'm going to be frantically driving around looking for "For Rent" signs, which is very time consuming and frustrating.

It looks like Raleigh Apts, Boylan Apts, Cameron Apts, St. Mary's Apts, Grosvenor Gardens, etc. do not offer w/d hookups, but if that wasn't a concern for me, I'd definitely check them out. There are also some cottage type places that look interesting. I am wondering if anyone has any experience with Cottages on Grant or Country Club Homes Apartments. I don't think Country Club Homes Apartments rents to undergrads, so that is one of the reasons I am considering them.

I have checked out apartmentratings.com for a lot of places in Raleigh, but I don't really trust that site very much, because every single place has massive numbers of negative reviews that seem very biased (probably because the people were kicked out and have a grudge). Not every place can be that bad! And I know for a fact that there are just a lot of not so great renters out there (quite a few are my neighbors!), so I'm sure people get lease violations a lot when noise and leaving your trash all over the place is not tolerated.

Sorry for the rant, this is just something that I am currently dealing with, so all these factors have come bubbling to the surface about large apartment complex living. If I find a nice 1br in my quest, I'll be sure let you know about it.

[miamiblue]

And one more thing: I don't know how much feedback you'll get on this forum, since most people are not renting or looking to rent. I tried the housing forum on craigslist, but it was pretty dead and also had more of an ownership focus rather than renting. I wish there was a forum on the apartment ratings site, that would be very helpful!

[murphykatt]

Anyone have anything to add? My family and I are locating from outside the area and find it difficult to commit to an apartment community without knowing anything about the neighborhood.

My husband wil be working at NCSU - Centennial Campus. We would prefer living in an apartment complex that caters to a more mature crowd (i.e., quiet, respectful, etc.). Thanks.