Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Hey everyone! I was hoping to seek some advice, as I'm considering relocating to Charlotte. I have a potential job lined up and am looking to see where the best places are to live. My budget is somewhat tight. I'm hoping to spend, at most ~$700/mo on rent. I'm a single, 22 year old male who isn't planning on living with roommates. Any suggestions on decent areas that $700/mo is realistic? I've done a little research, and south Charlotte is looking like the best option, but you guys would know better than me!
The job in which I'm interviewing for is in downtown Charlotte. I'm hoping to find a place close to the light rail, but commuting is an option as I do have a vehicle. Thanks in advance for any replies and I look forward to hearing from you all.
The Matthews area is nice and the rents are affordable. having the light rail bring you to work would be nice but some of the neighborhoods around there arent the best, but some are pretty good. Apartments closer to the train stations will cost you more. Matthews is about 20 minutes away driving on Independence. My girlfriend and I moved down here from Albany over the summer and love it. If not Matthews I would agree that South Charlotte is probably the best option, it has established neighborhoods, some areas have sidewalks and there is actually more than 1 road to get you from 1 place to another. That doesnt always happen down here for some reason.
Try to find a place that wont require you to take 77, 85 or 485 to work. There is always traffic every morning. Its not normal traffic, its frustrating traffic (traffic jam caused by a pot hole, the left lane not moving because people are merging into the right lane)
Either way hopfully this is your last winter in Buffalo... We had an inch and a half of snow this year, it didnt stick to the roads at all and melted the next day. I even got out of work early because of "freezing" rain, which was really just cold rain.
If you're young and single, and don't own a fancy vehicle, you can look in parts of Charlotte that people on the forum often overlook. Most crime is domestic violence related, or due to belongings left in open sight in a vehicle which tempts the smash-n-grab opportunists.
If you work in uptown, and live within 5 miles of it, the bus system is pretty decent to use regularly. I agree with the above, stay inside the 485 ring. There can be morning congestion on the roads but it's not terrible by big city standards.
My strong advice is to not live in Matthews as a 22 year old and work uptown - it's great for families (and you can ignore this if that's the vibe you're interested in) but you might be frustrated that the "cool" inner ring neighborhoods with the bars, restaurants, parks, churches, etc. full of other single 22 year olds are so far away. You'll also be frustrated by the 45 minute bumper to bumper traffic. If you want to live far out at least live where you can park and ride on the light rail near Carolina Place.
The best way to find an affordable apartment or house is to drive around the inner ring neighborhoods - start with Plaza Midwood, Elizabeth, Chantilly, Dilworth - if you're more adventurous try Cherry, Country Club, Plaza Shamrock, Wilmore, Wesley Heights. I live in one of these neighborhoods and houses here for rent are less than $700. I rented in Elizabeth and I would start there because there are so many units around and it's a great neighborhood.
My strong advice is to not live in Matthews as a 22 year old and work uptown - it's great for families (and you can ignore this if that's the vibe you're interested in) but you might be frustrated that the "cool" inner ring neighborhoods with the bars, restaurants, parks, churches, etc. full of other single 22 year olds are so far away. You'll also be frustrated by the 45 minute bumper to bumper traffic. If you want to live far out at least live where you can park and ride on the light rail near Carolina Place.
The best way to find an affordable apartment or house is to drive around the inner ring neighborhoods - start with Plaza Midwood, Elizabeth, Chantilly, Dilworth - if you're more adventurous try Cherry, Country Club, Plaza Shamrock, Wilmore, Wesley Heights. I live in one of these neighborhoods and houses here for rent are less than $700. I rented in Elizabeth and I would start there because there are so many units around and it's a great neighborhood.
There are houses, in the Elizabeth neighborhood, for less than $700. per month???
PM me and share where and I'm ready to move from Cotswold, which isn't a bad place.
I agree, Matthews for a single young whipper-snapper doesn't have much of a night life, but places for sent for $700./month are just as strange these days.
I'm a 24 year old single female - live in Ballantyne (South Charlotte) and work in Dilworth. I fell into this area when I relocated quickly a year ago but it has turned out just fine. There are times I'd like to be a little closer to work but my commute is by no means terrible. I like to go out with some friends on occasion but don't really dig the bar scene so I'm comfortable here. Restaurants, shopping, my church are all super close and it's not hard to get uptown if I choose to. I pay upper $700, so your budget is likely doable. I guess it depends on what lifestyle you're going for.
I also had friends whose apartments in Elizabeth were less than $700 - one even had a 2-br for around $675. It is possible, though I think it may be the exception in that area rather than the norm. I'd try your luck there, though - it's a great spot near to Uptown and a lot of young folks live in this neighborhood.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
