How to Find an Apartment in Charlotte, NC 2021

Charlotte's rapid growth, temperate weather, fantastic food, and incredible entertainment make it an ideal place to move. Whether you're a college student, career climber, or retiree, you'll find what you’re looking for in Charlotte. The challenging part is finding the perfect place to live, but we did all the homework for you with this guide on finding the best apartment in Charlotte.

Ready to find your next apartment in Charlotte? Here's how to find the best neighborhood and apartment amenities to fit your budget.

How to Find the Best Charlotte Neighborhood

The best neighborhoods in Charlotte check all the boxes for location, amenities, and green space, making for a well-balanced lifestyle. There are also options outside the city if you're craving more space and a quieter way of living. Here are a handful of the best Charlotte neighborhoods to find the best place for you.

1. University City North

Nestled on the city limits of Charlotte, University City is home to University Research Park. The popular neighborhood is also home to the esteemed University of North Carolina at Charlotte and multiple Fortune 500 company offices.

Students and young professionals call the neighborhood home for its abundance of job opportunities. University City North also quickly connects to Uptown via a convenient LYNX Blue Line connection.

2. Plaza Midwood

Plaza Midwood and its Central Avenue thoroughfare offer quirky pubs, music venues, barbecue joints, and gastropubs. This Charlotte neighborhood is incredibly vibrant with graffiti-clad buildings and an eclectic mix of lifestyles in this inclusive LGBTQ+ friendly neighborhood.

3. South End

The historic South End neighborhood boasts trendsetting nightlife, craft beers, community, and retail opportunities. The area is home to the city's only linear park, Charlotte at the Rail Trail, where locals gather around the art installations and public plazas.

4. Steele Creek

Steele Creek is a popular option for luxury apartment buildings and ongoing revitalization. Once a rural area turned business and retail hub, there are now hundreds of apartments planned in the mix-use development.

5. Elizabeth

Foodies walk through the Charlotte neighborhood of Elizabeth looking for trendsetting restaurants. The area is situated south of Uptown Charlotte and attracts professionals, families, and retirees looking to take advantage of city living and urban amenities.

6. Uptown

Despite its name, Uptown is really Downtown Charlotte. Here you’ll find skyscrapers, businesses, and restaurants with endless entertainment options. As the city's heartbeat, locals have quick access to shopping, restaurants, and attractions like the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

7. NoDa (North Davidson)

NoDa is part of Charlotte's vibrant art district with quirky galleries, art installations, dive bars, and boutiques attracting creatives and up-and-coming professionals. The area was once a booming textile town that transformed its abandoned warehouses into galleries and music venues.

How Much are Apartments in Charlotte?

If you’re considering a move to Charlotte, learn more about the average rent prices.

Average Rent in Charlotte

• The average rent for a Charlotte studio apartment is $1,568
• The average rent for a Charlotte 1-bedroom apartment is $1,563
• The average rent for a Charlotte 2-bedroom apartment is $1,964
• The average rent for a Charlotte 3-bedroom apartment is $2,191

Charlotte rents have increased by 2.87% compared to last month, and are up by 20.08% compared to last year.

• 1% of apartments in Charlotte cost less than $1,000 per month.
• 73% of apartments in Charlotte cost between $1,000-$1,999 per month.
• 21% of apartments in Charlotte cost between $2,000-$2,999 per month.
• 5% of apartments in Charlotte cost over $3,000 per month.

How to Find Cheap Apartments in Charlotte?

The cost of living in Charlotte is rising, though it's still possible to find a cheap apartment. Start by making it your goal to stick to your budget before you start apartment hunting. It's sometimes possible to work with the landlord on lowering your rent for an apartment with outdated appliances and amenities. Some apartment complexes also reduce the rent on less desirable floors that take longer to fill. If views and convenience aren't vital, ask about middle floor units instead of the popular top and bottom floors.

Here are some more suggestions on finding an apartment you can afford.

Move-in specials can help you find a cheap apartment in Charlotte. Common apartment specials include no application fee, a free month of rent, or a longer lease term. You can also look on the outskirts of your favorite neighborhoods or away from commercial strips to find less expensive apartments.

Whether you're a first-time renter or haven't moved in a while, it's important to remember there's more to budgeting for your apartment than your rent. Look over our apartment budget checklist to factor in hidden expenses like utilities. Charlotte's weather is relatively mild, but you may need to factor in a higher power bill during the peak of summer. Another option is to look for an apartment with the utilities included in the rental price.

No matter what techniques you use to score a cheap apartment in Charlotte, come prepared. Bringing all of your documentation and references can mean beating out the competition on the best deals.

What’s the Best Time to Find an Apartment in Charlotte?

Apartment rentals have seasonality that can change the lease terms and how expensive they are. Whether you live in Charlotte or across the country in San Francisco, the best time to rent an apartment is usually from December through February. The rental trends show that fewer people move and look for new leases during the winter.

The summer months (July through September) are usually the most popular times to move and may create challenges while looking for rent deals. Rents during the summer months are often higher, but it may still be the best time to move. More leases end during the summer, so you'll find more options on the market.

How to Find an Apartment?

Ready to find an apartment in Charlotte? Here's the step-by-step process to finding your new neighborhood and place to live.

Determine Your Budget

Before setting out to find an apartment in Charlotte, consider your budget by following the 30% rule.

Here's how it works: Allocate 30% or less of your pre-taxed monthly take-home pay on rent. This pre-taxed take-home pay figure is called your “gross income.” There's an easy way to calculate the amount for your annual salary, and just take your gross yearly salary and divide by 40 to get the same number.

Let's use a real-world example. If you're looking for a one-bedroom apartment in Charlotte with a rent of $1,500, your gross income should be at least $5,000 a month or about $60,000 a year.

Understand the True Cost of Renting

If your finances are straightforward, the 30% rule works well to keep your apartment hunting budget in check. However, if you have student loan debt or other obligations, there's more to figuring out how much apartment you can afford.

You'll also need to budget for apartment expenses that often go unnoticed while searching for an apartment, including:

• Apartment application fees
• Security deposit
• Moving costs
• Pet deposit
• Move-in fees

Once you've used the 30% rule as a baseline for your rent, analyze your bank statements and credit card bills. Look over your latest payments for student loans, medical expenses, credit card debt, and any other obligations that could require some adjustments to your apartment hunting budget.

We know that figuring out all the moving pieces of your finances while apartment hunting can get tricky to balance, which is why we made the process easy for you. Our Rent Calculator helps you figure out how much rent you can afford to find your dream apartment in Charlotte.

Set Your Apartment Priorities

Charlotte has a strong job market with rapid growth, attracting college grads, millennials, and families alike. You may need to adjust your apartment priorities to find the rental price you can afford. Whether it's location or space, here are some of the things to consider before renting an apartment in Charlotte.

Amenities

Your apartment and neighborhood amenities can make or break your living experience. Reevaluate your list of needs and wants to determine what you can live with and what you can't. Don't compromise on deal breakers, but remember to stay flexible unless it's truly a need.

Charlotte Location/Neighborhood

It's normal to have a preference on which Charlotte neighborhood you live in and what they offer. You may crave endless nightlife or prefer a quieter, quirky neighborhood with access to the best restaurants. If you want more space, apartments outside of Charlotte are less expensive but probably won't have the attractions and music venues the core of the city offers.

The good news is Charlotte's neighborhoods offer something for everyone so that you can settle into the perfect setting for you.

Commute Time

Charlotte's traffic can get intense, just like any growing metropolitan area. Spend some time thinking about how far you're willing to commute and whether or not public transportation is important to you. Living in Uptown may make a car irrelevant, but it will come with a more expensive price tag than neighborhoods outside of the city with a longer commute.

Charlotte's walk score is 26, but some neighborhoods will prove more walkable than others. The city's transit score is 29, while the bike score is 34, offering some flexibility in how you commute. If you want to skip driving in traffic, find a neighborhood that supports walkability or biking for a lifestyle you enjoy.

Public Transportation in Charlotte

Charlotte's public transportation offers more connectivity to the city than driving. The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) provides bus and rail service in the greater metropolitan area. Local service starts at $2.20 per ride, with monthly passes available at $88. If you want to ditch the car to make more room in your budget, consider relying on rideshares and living in a walkable neighborhood close to work.

Prepare for Charlotte Apartment Tours

One of the last stages before renting an apartment in Charlotte is taking a tour before signing a lease. The pandemic made virtual tours popular, though it's still best to see the unit in person whenever possible. Meeting your property management or landlord helps get a feel for the apartment building and help make a decision on the best place for you.

During your tour, take your time and look over the amenities and anything the original apartment listing mentions. Bring along a list of questions to ask, including information about building rules and their pet or guest policies.

Applying for Your Charlotte Apartment

It's finally time to sign a lease on your Charlotte apartment! Come as prepared as possible with your documentation, ID, and plenty of references. First-time renters shouldn't worry about their lack of rental history. Get innovative and bring personal references, or ask if a lease guarantor is allowed. If you're new to renting, get familiar with the apartment application process here.

Remember, the most impressive and least expensive apartments will go quickly. Come ready to sign a lease before someone else beats you to it. You'll need cash or a credit card to pay for your application fees and a potential background check. Some property managers will also accept a personal or cashier's check.

Protect Yourself from Rental Scams

You will probably have a seamless experience when you come prepared for your apartment tour. However, rental fraud and scams are an issue that can sour your experience. Bait and switch listings and apartments that don't even exist are common scams that cost U.S. renters upwards of $5.2 million every year. One in three people has lost over $1,000 after paying a security deposit that turned out to be a scam.

One of the best ways to combat rental scams is to trust your gut. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Work with reputable landlords or property managers or ask for recommendations from friends.

Ready to Rent?

Congratulations on your upcoming move! Charlotte is an urban epicenter with southern charm, a great job market, superb dining, and a reasonable price tag compared to similar urban cores.

Ready to make your move to Charlotte? Apartment List is here to help you find your dream home.

Here's how it works: First, we get to know you. You'll answer a few simple questions, and we'll find the best matches – just for you. Then, we mix and match your personalized results, making it easy to discover places with the perfect combination of price, location, and amenities.