the city - 4/8/2008

does the city have problems? of course its a major city. is the city expensive? NO...not compared to atlanta, miami, dallas, la, nyc, houston, chicago, charleston sc, and so on. i read someone said you have to live in south charlotte and spend over 220k for a nice house? they are not looking very hard at all and are close minded. northeast charlotte has some very nice areas that are very affordable. highland creek, by northlake mall, prosperity church road from mallard creek north till it ends. all of those areas are very nice, pretty quiet, and have nice housing that is affordable---highland creek maybe not so much. the climate is great, the people while some are rude are nice for the most part, and there is plenty to do. i moved here from charleston sc by way of florida. i can tell you that charlotte compared to charleston sc, destin fl, miami/ ft. lauderdale, and orlando is CHEAP. i think the city needs work but i think it gets alot worse rep from the media and people who like to blame everything on everyone else. if you cannot find a job in charlotte you really arent looking, if you cant find a nice safe place to live you really arent looking, and if you cant find things to do you really arent looking. craigslist, monster, and career builder all have THOUSANDS litterally of jobs posted on there.

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Your Recommendation on Moving to Charlotte NC - 3/28/2008

Charlotte NC WAS a great place to live. However, the Southeast, and Charlotte major metropolitan areas have been in a drought on and off for years, and are in an extreme drought situation at this time. This means there isn't enough water for everyone that already lives in Charlotte and the surrounding areas. Sprinkling your lawn is forbidden, and everyone is encouraged to take a short shower, and ideally skip a shower when possible. Oh, and don't forget to reuse that towel you're using to dry off from the shower so water can be saved by not having to wash it as many times. Cars cannot be washed unless done by an approved commercial water recycling car wash, and other measures of water conservation such as less dish washing are highly suggested. The water shortage is a serious problem in this area, and according to meterologists it doesn't appear to be going away any time soon. There are water police, and they do levy significant fines. Why would you recommend that people move to a place that can't support what is already there?

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Queen City - 2/23/2008

Charlotte is definitely one of the more rapidly growing cities in the U.S. I feel that some of the attention is warranted, but there are some downsides to the Queen City. Charlotte has yet to really develop a true identity as a city and currently lacks in the diversity department. There are some hidden gems such as a restaurants and shops, but you really have to dig or just me people. The downtown area (uptown) is also quickly expanding but significantly lacks in the arts at this point. Being the second largest banking city in the U.S tends to rub off with Uptown Charlotte giving off a very white-collar appearance. All is not bad in Charlotte, especially in terms of cost of living and weather. Charlotte is a very moderately priced place to live and has many days of sunshine, which comes with living in the southeast. The humidity can be a bit harsh in the summer, but I'd much rather that than cold, smog ladened skies of our neighboring cities to the north. In closing, Charlotte is to a large degree what you make it and you can have a good time with a little research and a nice group of friends. Its not going to wow you with its diversity or breathtaking beauty, but it can make up for its shortfalls in the areas of cost of living and sunshine.

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What Culture??? - 2/22/2008

I am an African-American female who is also Jewish. I date interracially. Charlotte is not as progressive as they would like people to think that they are. Insofar as interracial dating goes, Charlotte is still in the pre-Civil War mentality. They still call "outsiders" Yankees and Northerners. I know what you are thinking; didn't the Civil War end in 1865??? I have not let it influence my dating preference, but I will definitely NOT make Charlotte my home, It is a country, small town place filled with people with small minds. Move anywhere but here. The New South is still the Old South.

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Charlotte - 2/15/2008

Charlotte is a great place to live. I've been here for 8 years and would never consider living any place else.

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Charlotte, NC...why bad reviews?? - 2/7/2008

I'm really surprised to see all of the negative responses to Charlotte. I love living here, and have lived here since May 2006. Everyone is so friendly, and whoever thinks crime and traffic are that bad here, you really need to get to other cities of comparable size or larger and see that it really is not that bad at all. There are good opportunities here, and there is plenty to do within reasonable accomodation, and I love the being in "the city" without the big city feel. I personally love being here...but to each his own...

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Public Schools don't meet expectations... - 1/28/2008

A number of people are moving to Charlotte because the cost of living is low compared to the national average. Downside in regards to education - most of the "good" public schools are located in expensive areas. Some parents opt for private schooling which can be costly or they may even leave the workplace, as did i, to homeschool their child. Be sure to investigate the local schools before you decide to make the move down South!

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Can't beat it in my opinion - 1/28/2008

Charlotte has 3 great seasons (Spring, Autumn, and Winter). Summers can be hot, but manageable. Having lived in the north (Chicago), it's a welcome repreive during much of the year.

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Charlotte - 1/27/2008

how is living here?

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How does a 46 year old divorced after years of bei - 1/14/2008

I have some college. I have taken care of everyone else all my life. I have not worked in many years. I am on my own with very little money left. I have to take care of my two children and myself. I do not want to go on welfare. It does not offer much anyway. I need to find a job that I can do with my children being concidered. I also want to live somewhere where I can have a good quality of life when I come home for my children and me. We love to go to the beach and mountains. We used to go all the time. Now we go nowhere. Any advice?

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Great Weather - 1/12/2008

The weather in Charlotte is ideal, particularly during the spring, summer, and autumn seasons. The climate is perfect for an array of sports activities and outdoor dining.

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Housing Market in Charlotte - 1/12/2008

Even with all the changes in the Real Estate industry, Charlotte remains a great market. Homes continue to appreciate, though at a slightly lower rate and the inventory is massive. It is a buyer's market. The key is to buy a quality built home in the right area at the right price.

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I am Asian American - there is a lot racism here - 1/6/2008

If you go to the Charlotte craigslist page and look under "rants and raves" you will see many many racist comments about various races. The news is always placing Hispanics in a negative light (it used to be African-Americans, but I guess they grew tired of that). I am not of either of these races... I am just tired of all the negativity. I was dismayed to see the mayor make blatantly racist comments about Black youth with no consequence. If you go downtown there are the banks and there are Irish pubs and bars... that's about it! This is the only real city I've been in without diverse restaurants? What is up with that?? NOTHING else - no Chinese, Indian, Ethiopian, Cajun restaurants... NOTHING. If you are white and don't like being around other races or learning about other cultures or are raciest and expect all minorities to fit stereotypes you see on tv then maybe you will fit in here. Of course, most people here think they are so open-minded... but I find that is because many are from small towns and just have no clue. Move to Atlanta or NY or California if you want some diversity and a creative culture. This is a white-collar suit and tie banker's town.

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WAAAAAAYYYYY better than Los Angeles - 12/29/2007

We moved here from LA back in 11/06 and for my wife myself and our 18 month old, this place is much better than LA. In LA you must spend at least 1 million to live in a place where you feel safe with your kids playing outside. And after this you still need to send them to public school to have any kind of peace of mind. Its not for everyone but for someone trying to raise a family in a semi conservative community, its a great place.

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Just Moved to Charlotte - What a regret - 12/26/2007

Years ago, I visited friends that lived in Charlotte and we were very impressed with its beauty and price of living. Early this year I got a job offer in Charlotte and was extremely excited about the move. I moved my family to Charlotte, NC and we were excited about living in a city with a 'booming' economy. Charlotte today is nothing like it was 5 years ago. Indeed, Charlotte is growing and attracting people from many areas around the country. Such growth is accompanied with several problems. The crime rate is ridiculous. Home break-ins, car-jacking, assaulted-robbery, (you name it) happen daily. You can't find a decent 'starter home' in a decent neighborhood for under $250,000. The school system in Charlotte is unimpressive. Teachers are under-paid. I have been told to either live in South Charlotte, which is extremely expensive, or to move to Fort-Mill, SC for better schools for my children. That will not work for me since the commute is terrible. Taxes in Charlotte are extremely high. If you are moving to Charlotte be prepared to either pay tons of money for a home in South Charlotte where the schools are 'semi-decent', or have lots of money to send your child to private school. Traffic is absolutely terrible, with multiple accidents every hour. In addition, the area is suffering from water-shortage and you are not allowed to water your lawn or wash your car except maybe once a week for no more than an hour (you actually get fined if caught watering your lawn or washing your car on a 'non-watering' day). In short, we have been rather dissappointed with our move to Charlotte. The only thing this city truly has to offer is beatiful weather.

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Transplant from New Jersey - 12/18/2007

I've transplanted from the NJ/Philadelphia area. I grew up in NJ, went to college in NJ and then moved to Philadelphia. My parents moved to Charlotte and then I followed several years later. I love Charlotte. Here are my observations. Plus: Charlotte has great outdoor appeal. Charlotte should definitely play up all the wide open spaces and the natural beauty of the city. It is not uncommon to see people walking, jogging or bike riding here which I find very motivational. There are abundant golf courses, tennis courts, basketball courts, swimming pools, etc. No one could ever say there is no place to exercise here. The city is very unintimidating. For someone who wants the city life without the "big city" vibe, come to Charlotte. You will find plenty to do but you won't feel overwhelmed by the size either. Minus: It takes awhile to get to the beach. 3 1/2 hours is a lot for someone close to the Jersey shore.

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How is it for singles? Interracial dating? - 12/5/2007

I have hung out in Charlotte a few times and it's a nice looking city. I may move there, but I would like to know... how hard is it for a young male to meet quality women in Charlotte? How is the dating scene in general? And I date all races of women... black, white, and candy-stripe, so exactly how open-minded are people there to dating black men and dating outside of their race?

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Charlotte not a place to move if you have kids wit - 12/1/2007

We recently moves here from California. We had thought because North Carolina founded TEACCH and it is a statewide program that their would be good autism services. We have a 5 year old who is autistic he was in a regular kindergarten class in california with the assistance of an aide. Basically if your child does not have Aspergers they thow them in a classroom of all autistic children. We have spend every day since we got here fighting with petty beurocrats trying to get the best services for our son. He was in a regular classroom for 4 weeks after much fighting and now is at home waiting for a due process hearing. They want him in the all autistic class even though he has made amazing progress within the school. They are not willing to make any accomodations to help these children only segregation. This is not only for autistic children my daughter is a sophmore in High School and has an IEP for other reasons and we have had to fight long and hard to get her a resource class they don't usually do that they just send them to another school since they are so concerned with their test scores. Not the children. I wish someone had told me how bad it was before we moved here. Luckily we just rented. We will be relocating out of the area ASAP. It is a shame we live in South Charlotte the Ballantyne area with the best schools. A very nice place to live if you don't have children or are affluent enough to put them all in private school.

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Pension - 12/1/2007

I plan in the near future to move to Charlotte, NC Would my pension be taxed and if so how much? Thank you.

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very pro quality of life - 11/20/2007

great to mork live and raise kids

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