I'm going to need a roof over my head.

May 29, 2008 6:55 PM

My husband and I are moving to Charlotte, NC in August. Any tips on finding a (rental) house?

I've done numerous searches on the internet for single family homes for rent (I'm looking for something small, like a two bedroom/one bath). I've found lots of houses that look nice from the pictures posted, and seem relatively cheap, in the $650 - $900 a month price range. I'm wondering if these rents are low because they're in crappy neighborhoods, or if that's really about the average amount people pay in rent in Charlotte.

Is searching the net for rentals a good way to go, or are there any companies in Charlotte I should go through, or use newspaper ads (I'm in Michigan now, and won't actually be able to look at houses until July)?

Are there any recommendations on specific neighborhoods I should look into, or stay away from? We don't have kids, so being near to a school isn't an issue. I want a quiet neighborhood, low crime, etc.

And finally - are there any other smaller towns around Charlotte, especially between Charlotte and Concord, where the rent for houses isn't going to be hugely expensive (as in over $1,000 a month)? We'd be interested in houses in that area too, but I'm afraid rent will be even more in those areas.

Thanks!

posted by All.star to home & garden (5 comments total)

20-year Charlotte resident here. Feel free to send me any specific listings you have questions about via MeFi mail. I know a lot more about buying houses than renting, unfortunately, but I can help ID neighborhoods and/or trouble spots.

It's been a long day, so I'm sorry I not up to writing a more detailed background on the city... hopefully I will remember to revisit this post tomorrow... but here's what comes to mind.

Two big local rental management companies are T.R. Lawing and MECA Properties.

If you're orienting towards Cabarrus County, I think you would find ample houses for rent in the University City area. Harrisburg is a (the only) small town between Charlotte and Concord, so you might want to look there.

Charlotte has done a lot of annexing, so there aren't many suburbs, the way you'd find them in Chicago, say, or Detroit. Mint Hill is a town in Mecklenburg County, east of Charlotte; it was fairly rural for a long time but development has followed the I-485 loop. See what you can find there; it's a quick commute up to Concord and not horrible into the city.

The west side has historically been perceived as the least desirable part of town, although the hipsters are starting to move in to neighborhoods close to the center city business district.

The east side has experienced a big change in demographics (Latino influx) and is thought to be in decline, but there are some nice modest neighborhoods tucked in there as well. Try Merry Oaks. Plaza Midwood is lovely but may be out of your price range.

South side is full of yuppies and soccer moms like me, bigger houses and mostly out of your price range.

University City has lots of subdivisions but not a lot of character; lots of strip malls. College Downs is an older neighborhood close to the university that has some cute houses, but it's unfortunately surrounded by apartment complexes that have become overrun by Section 8. (That might be worth asking about regardless of where you're looking.)

Hope this can at least get you started. And please, feel free to follow up by MefiMail with any specifics.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 7:49 PM on May 29

I'm not sure why you're moving to Charlotte, so this might not be an option. But, don't forget that there are cities in South Carolina that are pretty close to the state line. Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and York spring into my head right now as being right there.

I know Charlotte for me from Rock Hill is around half an hour away, so I don't know if that (rough) time frame is good for you or not.
posted by theichibun at 8:15 PM on May 29

I lived in Mint Hill for four years and it was a charming place. Houses were well kept, the people were friendly, the grass was green, and the streets were clean.
posted by HotPatatta at 8:55 PM on May 29

I'm not sure why you're moving to Charlotte

My husband's company is moving from Michigan to Concord, NC and we are moving with them.

Thanks for the replies. This definitely gives me something to go on!
posted by All.star at 4:05 AM on May 30

If he's going to be based in Concord and you're not set on city living, you could look elsewhere in Cabarrus County, up towards Kannapolis. They are building a big research park there and expecting to transition to more upscale residential. This might be a good time to get in. Both Concord and Kannapolis have had big manufacturing losses in the past few years, so I would think real estate would be affordable for both renting and buying.

But if you'd like to be in the city, then University City, the Mallard Creek area (that is a general location, not a subdivision), Rocky River Road area, Harrisburg and the Mint Hill area are all worth a look. These are Areas 1,2,3 and 11 on the Charlotte MLS map, which cuts up the city like a pie.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 5:04 AM on May 30