Relocating to Charlotte
Signing a lease before you know a city is uncomfortable, and buying before you know it is worse. A year here puts most of Charlotte within reach while you work out which part of it you actually want.
Renting first is usually the right call
Charlotte's neighborhoods differ more than the map suggests, and the difference between NoDa, Dilworth, Ballantyne and University City is not something you can judge from listings. A year gets you through a Charlotte summer, a real commute in real traffic, and enough weekends to know where you want to end up before you commit several hundred thousand dollars to it.
What is within reach from here
- Uptown Charlotte, about 5 minutes by car
- I-77 and I-85, roughly 2 minutes
- Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, about 4 miles
- Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center, about 4 miles
- The Pearl innovation district, about 3 miles
- SouthPark shopping, around 10 minutes
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport, about 15 minutes
Renting from out of state
Plenty of people take this house without flying in first. We will walk you through it on video, cover the parts photographs do not show, and answer the awkward questions honestly, including what is not perfect about it. We would rather you arrive knowing exactly what you rented than have a difficult conversation on move-in day.
Things worth knowing about Charlotte
- It is a driving city. The LYNX Blue Line light rail is genuinely useful, but only along its own corridor
- Summers are hot and humid, so air conditioning matters more than newcomers expect
- Traffic on I-77 and I-85 at peak is the main thing that changes a commute estimate
- North Carolina caps the security deposit on a year-long lease at one and a half months' rent
Signing a year-long lease before you know a city is uncomfortable, and buying before you know it is worse. This house sits five minutes from Uptown and two from the interstate, which puts most of Charlotte within reach while you work out which part of it you actually want.
How it works
- 01
Send your details from wherever you are
Move-in timing, household size and pets. Being out of state is not a problem.
- 02
See it without flying in
We can walk you through the house on video if you cannot get to Charlotte before you need somewhere to live.
- 03
Application and lease
Standard credit and income checks. We can usually work to a relocation timeline if you tell us what it is.
- 04
Move in
Walkthrough, keys, and utilities switched into your name. We will point you at the right providers.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I rent this without seeing it in person?
- Yes, and people do. We will do a video walkthrough covering the parts photographs do not show, and answer specific questions honestly, including the ones about what is not perfect. We would rather you arrive knowing what you rented.
- Is a year long enough to work out where to live?
- It is about right. A year gets you through a Charlotte summer, a commute in real traffic, and enough weekends to learn the difference between NoDa, Plaza Midwood, Dilworth and Ballantyne before you commit to buying in one of them.
- How is the commute from here?
- About five minutes to Uptown, two minutes to I-77 and I-85, roughly four miles to both major hospitals, around ten minutes to SouthPark and about fifteen to the airport. Charlotte is a driving city, so the interstate access matters more than it sounds.
- What is the lease term?
- Twelve months. Renewals are welcome, and we would rather keep a good tenant than find a new one, so if the first year goes well we will talk about extending well before it ends.
- What does unfurnished mean here?
- You bring furniture and household goods. The refrigerator, range, dishwasher and microwave stay in the kitchen, a full-size washer and dryer stay in the laundry room, window blinds are fitted on every window, the balcony keeps its outdoor furniture and grill, and the custom bar stools stay with the bar.
- Who pays the utilities?
- Electricity, water, gas, internet and any TV service are set up in your name and billed to you. The rent covers the HOA fee, which takes care of trash collection, lawn maintenance and the common areas, so those are not separate bills. The CPI security system is included too.
- How big is the home?
- Over 2,600 square feet across three floors. Comparable three-bedroom townhomes in this part of Charlotte typically run 1,600 to 1,700 square feet, so there is roughly 950 square feet more room than you would usually get for three bedrooms.
- Does every bedroom really have its own bathroom?
- Yes. Three bedrooms, three private ensuite bathrooms and three walk-in closets, plus a half bath on the living floor for guests. The ground floor bedroom sits a full floor below the other two, which is useful for a home office or anyone working nights.
- Is there parking?
- A two-car attached garage with epoxy floors, plus free street parking directly out front. No permit to arrange.
- Are pets allowed?
- Dogs are welcome. There is a one-time fee of $200 per pet rather than monthly pet rent. A couple of breed and size restrictions apply, so mention your dog when you enquire. Any pet-related damage is the tenant's responsibility.
- What are the move-in costs?
- The first month's rent and a $1,500 security deposit — under half a month's rent, where North Carolina would allow up to one and a half months on a year-long lease. The deposit is returned after move-out less any damage beyond normal wear. If you are bringing a dog, add the one-time $200 pet fee.
- How does the application work?
- Applications run through TurboTenant, and you can start one without speaking to us first. The criteria are household income of at least 3 times the rent, a credit score of 650 or above, no prior evictions and a background check. Then the lease and a walkthrough before keys.
- What is the rent?
- $2,950 a month, which includes the HOA fee covering trash, lawn maintenance and the common areas, and the CPI security system. Available from October 1.