Greetings, future Tar Heel State renters, and welcome to your Concord, North Carolina apartment hunting nerve center! Situated a mere 20 miles northeast of uptown Charlotte, Concord is a popular living locale for families, singles, and retirees alike and features some of the Piedmont Region’s most affordable and diverse renting options. Are you ready to join the nearly 80,000 proud peeps who call Concord home? Of course you are! But before you pack your bags and hit the streets (or scour the interwebs) in search of your dream apartment, here are a few things we thought you might like to know about life on the outskirts of “the hornet’s nest of rebellion” to help make your apartment hunt as smooth as possible…
Whether you’re in the market for a spacious, newly constructed luxury unit, a bargain bin studio crash pad, or anything in between, you’ll find options galore in Concord
Greetings, future Tar Heel State renters, and welcome to your Concord, North Carolina apartment hunting nerve center! Situated a mere 20 miles northeast of uptown Charlotte, Concord is a popular living locale for families, singles, and retirees alike and features some of the Piedmont Region’s most affordable and diverse renting options. Are you ready to join the nearly 80,000 proud peeps who call Concord home? Of course you are! But before you pack your bags and hit the streets (or scour the interwebs) in search of your dream apartment, here are a few things we thought you might like to know about life on the outskirts of “the hornet’s nest of rebellion” to help make your apartment hunt as smooth as possible…
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As Easy As It Gets
Whether you’re in the market for a spacious, newly constructed luxury unit, a bargain bin studio crash pad, or anything in between, you’ll find options galore in Concord. Waiting lists are extremely rare and move-in specials pop up frequently, so feel free to weigh your renting options leisurely before choosing which apartment is best for you. And don’t worry about breaking your bankroll on your humble abode: Even 3BR units with all the bells and whistles you could ever dream of (assuming you dream of apartment amenities, that is… which is kind of weird, we must say) are available in the $800-$900 range.
Be Prepared
Bring along the basics when you’re ready to submit a leasing application, including two forms of identification, proof of income, banking info, and a list of previous residences. Many (but not all) landlords require tenants pay a one-time security deposit (which is usually returnable if you refrain from treating your apartment like a hair metal band’s hotel room), while others charge non-refundable move-in/cleaning fees as well. Landlords in Concord have radically different policies regarding pets, roommates, smoking, and subletting, so do some preliminary research about a property before scheduling a visit.
After you’ve signed your lease and you’re ready to move in, you’ll have the chance to fill out a move-in checklist that allows you to make note of any imperfection at your new humble abode. Mark down even the most minor flaw, or else you risk losing your deposit over a preexisting blemish. If something major is wrong – i.e., a large appliance doesn’t function, your water pressure or temperature is inadequate, or somebody else is already living there (which is always awkward) – don’t move anything in until management has resolved the issue. Also, it’s always a good idea to bring along an objective third party who might spot some flaws that your own super stoked eyes were too excited to see.
Picking Your ‘Hood
Before choosing which apartment complex is best for you, it’s always a good idea to decide which neighborhood suits your tastes. In Concord, the neighborhoods range from ultramodern (Afton Hills, Sycamore Ridge) and upscale (Carriage Downs, Laurel Park) to rural (Zemosa Acres), secluded (Haddington East, Partridge Bluff), and historic (downtown, Roberta Farms, and others). Still, we recommend you spend plenty of time in (and do plenty of research about) a specific area of Concord before slapping your John Hancock on a lease agreement.
Paying For Your New Digs (and Keeping Your Sanity On The Road)
Concord has a solid local economy built around the shipping, financial, manufacturing, and motorsports industries, but even so, only about 1 in 7 residents have the luxury of both living and working in the city. Fortunately, the trek to the various businesses in nearby Charlotte is generally gridlock-free and usually takes only 20-25 minutes, tops. Likewise, traffic in Concord itself rarely gets too backed up, even when a NASCAR event is in town, meaning motorists don’t have to worry about losing their marbles in white-knuckled bouts of traffic-induced rage.
Public transportation is readily available, as the CK Rider city buses hit up various commercial and residential areas throughout the city for only a buck a ride. Still, we recommend leaning heavily on your own vehicle to bum around town, as the landscape is so spread out that the only way to shop, work, and play with any semblance of convenience is with your own set of wheels.
Getting Your Kicks
Concord is, for the most part, a suburban “bedroom community,” but that doesn’t mean you’ll have nothing to do than sit around your new apartment wishing you’d moved to Charlotte instead. Motorsports are a big part of life in Concord, as the city is home to the renowned Charlotte Motor Speedway, numerous professional racing teams, a NASCAR research facility, and a state-of-the-art drag racing venue, making the city a sort of Mecca for NASCAR fanatics. Still, you don’t have to be a Dale Jr. aficionado to enjoy Concord. The city also boasts several sports complexes and rec centers, as well as an aquatics center and more than 500 acres of lakeside parks and trails. Meanwhile, the historic downtown area is dotted with arts, crafts, clothing stores, eclectic eateries, art galleries, museums, and theaters, giving the city a cultural shot in the arm to complement its mostly blue-collar vibe.
And now that we’ve covered the basics about life in Concord, it’s time to find you the lodgings of your lives! Welcome to North Carolina, best of luck, and happy hunting!
