Selma, NC

138 Apartments for Rent

Selma, North Carolina is the home of Lunsford Richardson, the inventor of Vick's Vapor Rub. Vick's is named after the town's pharmacist, Dr. Joshua Vick.

Selma is located about an hour south of the Virginia border and a half-hour east of Raleigh. The town is 3.2 square miles in area and is part of the agriculturally rich coastal plain of North Carolina. Selma is considered a railroad town, and it is home to the oldest train station in North Carolina, Mitchener Station. Uptown Selma is the social hub of Selma, and is known for a variety of antique shops, vintage soda fountains, the famous Rudy Theater and other specialty stores and restaurants to satisfy any avid shopper's craving. The Selma Union Depot, built in 1924 and reconstructed in 2002, receives Amtrak trains daily, so visitors and residents can travel to and from neighboring New York, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Washington, DC with ease. Selma's small-town feel coupled with the access to bigger cities and fertile land make it a quaint yet thriving place to live.

Moving to Selma

Don't be thrown off by the town's petite size--it still offers a variety of housing types from studio apartments for rent, 1 bedroom apartments, condos and even homes for rent (or purchase). Naturally, when preparing for a move you will want to begin your housing search at least one month in advance. Take the time to figure out what kind of life you want to live in Selma. Do you want to be near the action, or somewhere off the beaten path that will offer a bit more solitude? Also, planning in advance will enable you to factor in your desired budget and set up appointments to see the options that fit in with your preferences, as well as your personality.

Apartment or House

Before you begin your search for an apartment rental (or home-hunt), it's important to consider the size of space you'd like to live and the type. Some people like their own space with a backyard and the feel of a close-knit neighborhood. Others prefer smaller spaces that are efficient and require less upkeep. Whatever size space you want, Selma has it, you just need to know what you are looking for so you can narrow down the search. Additionally, you'll want to think about what style place you want. Those interested in modern space and amenities like pools, parking garages, and fitness rooms want to target newer buildings, while those who like a more homey feel should opt for older buildings with fewer units.

Uptown or Nearby

Once you brainstorm whether you would like to seek a home, apartment, or condo for rent in Selma, North Carolina, consider the daily rituals that are important to your happiness. Most people start with where their work is located and consider how long the commute will be before choosing a place to live. Commute is important, since it's a habitual practice and can have a big impact on life satisfaction. For some, living close to work is more important than living outside of town or in a more remote neighborhood. Maybe you're not a morning person and like to roll out of bed for a short commute. Or maybe, you just want a nice quiet place to catch up reading those books you've been putting off for years. Also, if you want easy access to public transportation, nightlife, schools and events, being close or in-town would likely meet your needs more than living outside of the hustle and bustle. Make sure to think it over and prioritize your list of wants, necessities, and favorite daily activities.

What You Need

When you're packing your bags, you'll want to make sure that you have specific pieces of documentation to show your new landlord. Some people opt to sublet a room or apartment on a short-term basis while they are looking for long-term housing and getting to know the town. This approach will help improve your chances of making a more certain decision on signing a lease because you will have spent some time in the town and are more aware of the different neighborhoods, streets, and residents. It's also convenient since most short-term housing options are sublets and therefore include such perks as all utilities paid, full-furnishing, and shorter contract terms. In order to sublet, the landlord will likely request to see identification like a driver's license, proof of income, and personal and/or professional recommendations. Also, you may need to show that you own your car and have insurance. If you own a pet (or plan to), make sure to notify your landlord to make sure that there are no restrictions on your little furry friend.

Neighborhoods of Selma

Three of Selma's most popular neighborhoods are Town Center, Hocutts Crossroads/Jordan and Route 301/N Webb Street. While all three are in Selma, each has a distinct personality. When doing research on potential areas to live, make sure to take in account your initial list of priorities like proximity to work and entertainment, as well as amenities like a garage and built-in laundry. Additionally, some areas are known for offering all utilities paid or generous move-in deals like one month for free. How can you beat that?

Town Center: A popular part of town, vacancy rates tend to be on the lower end of the spectrum. Options for all ranges of desire from studio to house are available, you'll just have to keep an eye out if this where you'd like to move. Since this is the core of Selma, apartments are abundant -- the tricky part is simply finding vacancy. Town Center is known for historic buildings and a variety of architecture, which gives Town Center a vintage feel. Town Center is home to well-known restaurants like Denny's and McDonald's, and also unique local eateries like Hula Girl Ice Cream and Grill. If you like being in the center of everything that's happening (or just the center of attention), Town Center is a neighborhood to put high on your list of places to check out.

Hocutts Crossroads/Jordan: This is the newer, more suburban part of town. While homes range from apartments to homes, the average rent or house cost is more expensive than living in town, and most homes are owner-occupied. Vacancies are low, and the number of local motorhomes is high. Almost half of the residents are employed in manufacturing or labor fields. Like other parts of Selma, there are chain restaurants as well as local eateries like nearby Don Beto's Tacos. If you enjoy space and breathing room from the noise of downtown, absolutely consider Hocutts Crossroads/Jordan for your next home.

Route 301/N Webb Street: If you're looking for a great neighborhood, this is it. Rents are lower than average, and the architecture is traditional yet young -- most buildings were built from 1970 and later. Vacancies are high, which may be due to the residents being of college age or that the homes are used for vacation. Like the other neighborhoods in Selma, there are well-known within distance as well as local favorites like Shoney's. Those who like variation and access to the 301, make sure to visit the Route 301/N Webb Street area.

Living in Selma

Life in Selma, NC has few boundaries. The town reaps the benefits of being located in a land where the soil is rich for agriculture, which means that it has easy access to nearby cities like Raleigh. It has also maintained the small-town feel by centering around Uptown, which serves as the town's social hub and is where a majority of the events, restaurants, schools and other gathers are held. If you like to be in the middle of everything, you have the option to live in uptown, or if you prefer to live just outside of the action you can, well, you have that option too. Selma offers diverse options for lifestyles, whether you're a homebody that enjoys kicking it around the house, or someone who likes going out on the town. Selma is also known for celebrations such as the American Jubilee, an on-going musical show that gathers every Saturday night, and the Ham and Yam festival which happens in the first weekend in May. Residents in work hard, enjoy themselves, and recommend visiting so you can get a feel for life in Selma!