Affordable Apartment Rent In Charlotte (Raleigh, Tryon: rental market, crime, hotels)

[Eristic1]

Originally Posted by NDL

This doesn't answer the question that I raised.

When an immigrant population is willing to do a job for below market wages, they artificially drive down wages. You can't say that it's always been this way, as instruments like H1B work visa's are more of a recent phenomenon.

Notice: I am not anti immigrant, as my Paternal Grandparents' were immigrants, and I have immigrants as friends. But I am against corporate loopholes that oppress both the native born, and immigrant, alike.

Charlotte's saving grace was it's below average cost of living. As the cost of Charlotte's housing increases, there will come the increased problem of staffing certain jobs.

To answer your question from the prior post directly:

No, I'm not happy with the result which is the hiring of illegals to fill the void. They belong back in their own country and company's that hire them should be fined into bankruptcy. If America wants this issue addressed...make the penalties serious.

[NDL]

Originally Posted by Eristic1

To answer your question from the prior post directly:

No, I'm not happy with the result which is the hiring of illegals to fill the void. They belong back in their own country and company's that hire them should be fined into bankruptcy. If America wants this issue addressed...make the penalties serious.

It wasn't undocumented immigrants that I was referring to.

I speak to the multiple challenges that the American workforce has encountered:

1.1-1.5 million immigrants come to America annually, for a better life. Great. But the influx of newcomers continually replenishes the labor force, which means that the wages of lower end jobs remains stagnant.

At the same time, many skilled labor jobs have gone to China, as Americans cannot compete with a Chinese wage scale.

Add to that, H1B work visas which employ people in white collar professions, at artificially low wages.

Couple this with advanced automation, which reduces the need for workers.

Multiple factors, all at once.

Charlotte's done a good job of juggling all of this, as the City diversifies it's economy. A few advantages that have drawn people to this area are the low cost of utilities, taxes, and cost of housing. As the City grows, all three factors will be impacted.

If the City wants continued growth, it needs to keep the cost of rentals in check.

[Eristic1]

Originally Posted by NDL

It wasn't undocumented immigrants that I was referring to.

I speak to the multiple challenges that the American workforce has encountered:

1.1-1.5 million immigrants come to America annually, for a better life. Great. But the influx of newcomers continually replenishes the labor force, which means that the wages of lower end jobs remains stagnant.

At the same time, many skilled labor jobs have gone to China, as Americans cannot compete with a Chinese wage scale.

Add to that, H1B work visas which employ people in white collar professions, at artificially low wages.

Couple this with advanced automation, which reduces the need for workers.

Multiple factors, all at once.

Charlotte's done a good job of juggling all of this, as the City diversifies it's economy. A few advantages that have drawn people to this area are the low cost of utilities, taxes, and cost of housing. As the City grows, all three factors will be impacted.

If the City wants continued growth, it needs to keep the cost of rentals in check.

I couldn't disagree more.

Originally Posted by NDL

But the influx of newcomers continually replenishes the labor force, which means that the wages of lower end jobs remains stagnant.

What do you mean "replenishes" the labor force. Why would anything need to change? If anything immigrants push down the wages of low-skill jobs...those very same jobs that employ people who tend to struggle for homeownership. The increased supply of candidates allows employers to lower the wage, this hurts Americans who are born here, the ones we should care about.

Originally Posted by NDL

At the same time, many skilled labor jobs have gone to China, as Americans cannot compete with a Chinese wage scale.

China has over a billion people, and only fairly recently has gone from an agricultural society to a manufacturing one. So there is a temporary glut of people seeking manufacturing jobs...again allowing employers to offer low wages. Add to that that the environmental policies in China allow businesses to manufacture without concern to the pollution it creates...one of the big reasons America can't hope to compete with them even if we wanted to.

Originally Posted by NDL

Couple this with advanced automation, which reduces the need for workers.

Automation is going to happen, but it's only on the fringes now. In time it will turn the economy upside down as even skilled jobs end up automated. One of the drivers of automation is the fear of upping the minimum wage. Why would McDonalds pay a cashier $15 an hour when a kiosk can do the same job cheaper?

Originally Posted by NDL

Charlotte's done a good job of juggling all of this, as the City diversifies it's economy. A few advantages that have drawn people to this area are the low cost of utilities, taxes, and cost of housing. As the City grows, all three factors will be impacted.

One of the main draws for the city is the banking industry. As more and more banking/financial employees move here, there is more demand for collateral jobs...supermarkets, healthcare, schools, construction.

It's not really getting any more "diverse" jobs wise.

Originally Posted by NDL

If the City wants continued growth, it needs to keep the cost of rentals in check.

Who wants more people here? Go away! The roads are crowded enough. Let the cost of living go skyhigh, that's fine with me.

[NDL]

Originally Posted by Eristic1

What do you mean "replenishes" the labor force. Why would anything need to change? If anything immigrants push down the wages of low-skill jobs...those very same jobs that employ people who tend to struggle for homeownership. The increased supply of candidates allows employers to lower the wage, this hurts Americans who are born here, the ones we should care about.

We are making the same point .

Originally Posted by Eristic1

China has over a billion people, and only fairly recently has gone from an agricultural society to a manufacturing one. So there is a temporary glut of people seeking manufacturing jobs...again allowing employers to offer low wages. Add to that that the environmental policies in China allow businesses to manufacture without concern to the pollution it creates...one of the big reasons America can't hope to compete with them even if we wanted to.

Agreed, and our trade policies should reflect these realities.

Originally Posted by Eristic1

Who wants more people here? Go away! The roads are crowded enough.

That's long been my feeling as well. I can't understand the mad rush to build Charlotte into a metropolis, as the added population adds strain to our natural resources and quality of life.

[kynight]

I suggest to avoid the mainstream renter websites or booklets. They have the more expensive apartments, or the really big apartment complex communities that are too big not to be in there.

There are buildings of apartments that aren't particularly labeled with a big sign. I would go in or call a number shown on the outside.

I hear rent should be 1/4th of your salary (before taxed) not including separate utilities. I also heard 1/3rd which is more realistic. So say someone makes 29k salary, their renting budget should be low 800s.

There's a selection of 1 bedroom apartments around $800. I had a 2 bed 2 bathroom outside of Charlotte for that amount.

If you need 2 bedrooms, chances are u live with another earning adult who can easily bring the budget up to over 1,000.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by kynight

I suggest to avoid the mainstream renter websites or booklets. They have the more expensive apartments, or the really big apartment complex communities that are too big not to be in there.

There are buildings of apartments that aren't particularly labeled with a big sign. I would go in or call a number shown on the outside.

Yep, or try Trulia or Zillow.

[28079]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

Yep, or try Trulia or Zillow.

Craig list is also an option, I had great experience with it (just play it safe on where do you meet, go with gut feeling in your face-to-face meeting).

[AlexSantana]

Rent is crazy in Toronto as well. Sure you can get a place for below $1000, but you'd be living in a very unfriendly part of the city.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by AlexSantana

Rent is crazy in Toronto as well. Sure you can get a place for below $1000, but you'd be living in a very unfriendly part of the city.

Thankfully, that's not the case in Charlotte.

[Gemini365i]

Originally Posted by CLT4

Scattered about the city. Some complexes to check out:

Lakeside: 8061 Woodscape Dr, Charlotte, NC 28212
Runaway Bay: 8242 Runaway Bay Dr, Charlotte, NC 28212
Afton House: 5139-5148 Elder Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Pressley Ridge: 1210 Pressley Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
Pleasant View: 8225 Pence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28215
The Oasis at Regal Oaks: 6701 English Hills Dr, Charlotte, NC 28212
The Flats at Mallard Creek: 601 E Mallard Creek Church Rd, Charlotte, NC 28262

etc.....

Thank you for posting this. It would be nice to think these apartments are desireable, well to do, lower rent places. However, the reality is that these places, most of them are lower-income, low-class filthy, dirty, neglected dumps - in a crime ridden part of town!
I know for a fact about Pressley Ridge. My father, who just turned 70, relocated here from Brooklyn. He wanted to be around me, and he has section 8. I can't find any place decent to get him situated into. His share is $140.00/Mo.
That complex is riddled with drugs and filth. I am currently trying to get him somewhere....I just don't know where. The only place to live on Low Income in Charlotte is the "hood", where the majority of people are not working, there is a major presence of rent subsidies, and drugs and crime.
There are some lower-income working class people - that's all they have to choose from, if they want to live in Charlotte these days.
Now I would like someone with common sense to tell me, What working-class person in their right mind would choose to live like this, given better options?

My rent is almost $1300.00/Mo. I have to work in sales to bring home the Bacon. it's not easy or fun. Yes, the problem people are being priced out and that is leaving all the good people stuck in the middle somewhere. So those problems can go to a hotel on the West side and still create problems. That is until the Punjabi run hotels price them out too?
What I have noticed over the the last 6 years that I have been here, is that Charlotte natives have a history of "problems" and they really are not interested in fixing them.
So guess what? High rent is here to stay unfortunately. What is the solution?