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I really loved Charlotte and I was impressed with how clean the city is and the downtown area had a lot of police officers everywhere and I did not see homelessness like I have seen in other bigger cities. The impression I got was that it was a bigger city that was safe and welcoming. The people are super friendly also!
Now I am getting ready to move there in January and while researching apartments and various areas I am seeing so many stories about car break-ins, shootings, muggings etc that it makes Charlotte sound like a war zone or something. I don't understand...are impressions deceiving, is there really that much crime going on or just a few incidents that are exaggerated?
I checked the cmpd.com website ( quite a confusing site if I may say so myself), I am trying to do my research and be on the safe side, but I am growing more and more frustrated because I feel like if I move there I will have to live in fear for myself the whole time. Here in NE WI we never really worried too much about safety and some people don't even lock their cars and homes. I used to lived in the Phoenix area but I was young then and did not concern myself with learning about safety issues ( ignorance is bliss some times I guess). I never had any problems there.
I just want to know if I should be overly concerned with safety or just carry on like I would anywhere else? Also, is there any way to tell if an apatment complex is safe or unsafe? Most places we have seen look beautiful, but then you read the reviews and they sound awful. Are those people writing the reviews lying or blowing things out of proportion?
Sorry for the long post and I look forward to your replies!
I really loved Charlotte and I was impressed with how clean the city is and the downtown area had a lot of police officers everywhere and I did not see homelessness like I have seen in other bigger cities. The impression I got was that it was a bigger city that was safe and welcoming. The people are super friendly also!
Now I am getting ready to move there in January and while researching apartments and various areas I am seeing so many stories about car break-ins, shootings, muggings etc that it makes Charlotte sound like a war zone or something. I don't understand...are impressions deceiving, is there really that much crime going on or just a few incidents that are exaggerated?
I checked the cmpd.com website ( quite a confusing site if I may say so myself), I am trying to do my research and be on the safe side, but I am growing more and more frustrated because I feel like if I move there I will have to live in fear for myself the whole time. Here in NE WI we never really worried too much about safety and some people don't even lock their cars and homes. I used to lived in the Phoenix area but I was young then and did not concern myself with learning about safety issues ( ignorance is bliss some times I guess). I never had any problems there.
I just want to know if I should be overly concerned with safety or just carry on like I would anywhere else? Also, is there any way to tell if an apatment complex is safe or unsafe? Most places we have seen look beautiful, but then you read the reviews and they sound awful. Are those people writing the reviews lying or blowing things out of proportion?
Sorry for the long post and I look forward to your replies!
Here's the thing...Charlotte is a large metro now (750,000+) and you can't have that size town without some crime okay?
BUT, you don't have to live in fear, you just have to take the kind of precautions you would take in any large city. Lock your car doors, don't go to the ATM at 2 in the morning, travel in groups when walking outside of nightspots - that kind of thing.
Charlotte's biggest crime problem is property crime - stolen cars, burglaries, larcenies - not violent crime. And the vast majority of murders involve people who know one another in some way.
Because property crime is the biggest crime in Charlotte, you'll hear of problems at the bigger apartment complexes in particular. Be selective, follow simple safety rules and avoid certain areas of town and you'll likely be just fine.
How much rent can you afford, and what part of the city is your job in?
Compared to where you are from where "people don't lock their doors", yes, it would appear as though there is a lot of crime here. Yes, Loves is correct, the biggest problem is property crime. But, overall, it is city rules...act like you would if you lived in Chicago, for example and you will be fine.
This is a fairly large place, and, yes, appearances are just that...appearances. They don't tell the whole story, they just show the outside...
We've been here for almost 6 months. In that time, someone tried breaking into my wifes car by punching in one of the keyholes, and some friends who just moved here had someone break into their apartment and steal all their stuff in the middle of the day.
We've been here for almost 6 months. In that time, someone tried breaking into my wifes car by punching in one of the keyholes, and some friends who just moved here had someone break into their apartment and steal all their stuff in the middle of the day.
lovesMountains, to answer your question, my job is in Uptown and we want a 2bd under $1,000. I looked at a dozen apts and I really liked the Ballantyne area, but it looks like a long commute for work. Some of the Southpark apts we looked at were the Fairington, Fairview, but they seemed liked older buildings in need of remodel. Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks!
chicagocubs, I never lived in Chi-town, but we visited there often and I always felt comfortable in Chicago. I never really worried about safety much while there and I was out at night and on public transit by myself without a lot of fear or concern. Even in NY and DC, I always felt fine. I think that maybe reading all these reviews has started to mess with my head a little or maybe it's the fact that people keep bringing up the safety issue all over these boards.
lovesMountains, to answer your question, my job is in Uptown and we want a 2bd under $1,000. I looked at a dozen apts and I really liked the Ballantyne area, but it looks like a long commute for work. Some of the Southpark apts we looked at were the Fairington, Fairview, but they seemed liked older buildings in need of remodel. Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks!
We aren't allowed to post links to real estate here, so I'll dm you okay?
I live in the Fairington. Is it as nice looking as some other complexes in Southpark or Charlotte in general? Definitely not. But I have not regretted living here at all. I feel they apartments are very affordable, spacious (2bdr that is 1200sqft for $712) and the staff is very friendly and responds quickly to any request you may have. The only complaint I have is that AUM or the trash and utility bill fluctuates month to month and it seems to keep rising. But for the price and location I would recommend living here.
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