How to Find a Month-to-Month Apartment in Charlotte, NC
Charlotte is an ideal place to move, offering residents an unprecedented combination of incredible entertainment, fantastic food, temperate weather, and rapid growth. As you can imagine, all different types of folks can find what they’re looking for in a city, whether they be retirees, young professionals, or even college students.
Finding a place to live in Charlotte is where the challenge begins, with so many different great neighborhoods to choose from. Those looking for month-to-month leases might have difficulty finding exactly what they’re looking for, as these options tend to be more limited.
Thankfully, we did all the homework, so you don’t have to. So, if you’re wondering how to find a month-to-month apartment in Charlotte, look no further. Keep reading to learn all you’ll need to know about finding monthly apartments in Queen City.
How to Find the Best Charlotte Neighborhood
If you’re looking for a well-balanced lifestyle, you won’t have to look too hard among several best Charlotte neighborhoods. Checking all of the boxes for green space, amenities, and location, the best areas in Charlotte depend on your preferred lifestyle.
To help you find the best Charlotte neighborhood for you, here is a list of some of the most popular areas in this North Carolina city.
University City North
As the name would suggest, University City North is a popular neighborhood home to the well-known University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the beloved University Research Park.
But, in addition to being a college town, this neighborhood also houses countless Fortune 500 company offices, which are excellent for thriving professionals.
In addition to offering seemingly endless career opportunities, young professionals and students alike also flock to University City North for the convenience of public transportation. The LYNX Blue Line connection makes commuting in and out of Uptown quick and accessible from University City North.
Plaza Midwood
Gastropubs, barbecue joints, music venues, and quirky pubs are nestled along Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood. Here, you’ll find that Plaza Midwood offers its residents an LGBTQ+ friendly atmosphere, known for its graffiti-clad buildings and eclectic mix.
South End
Charlotte at the Rail Trail is the city’s only linear park, found in the historic South End neighborhood. This park offers gathering grounds in the public plaza and surrounding several art installations. Additionally, you’ll discover trendsetting retail, community, craft beer, and nightlife opportunities scattered throughout this neighborhood.
Steele Creek
For those looking for ongoing revitalization and luxury apartment buildings, look no further than the Steele Creek neighborhood of Charlotte. This mix-use development was historically a rural area, though it is now filled with hundreds of high-end apartments blended with a retail and business hub.
Elizabeth
For the latest happenings in the restaurant world, foodies flock to the neighborhood of Elizabeth, which is just south of Uptown. Anyone looking to take advantage of urban amenities and city living will love Elizabeth. The area is known for attracting everyone from retirees, families, and professionals.
Uptown
Ironically, Uptown Charlotte is the downtown neighborhood of the city. Like most downtowns, you’ll find endless entertainment, restaurant, and business options scattered throughout countless skyscrapers. Of course, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is a prized attraction of Uptown, but locals also enjoy having easy access to shopping and other fun activities here.
NoDa (North Davidson)
Professionals and creatives alike flock to North Davidson often referred to as the NoDa neighborhood of Charlotte. Filled with boutiques, dive bars, art installations, and quirky galleries, NoDa is known for being a part of the vibrant art district of the city. In addition, abandoned textile warehouses have transformed into live music venues and art galleries in NoDa.
How Much Are Month-to-Month Apartments in Charlotte
The number of bedrooms and the type of apartment you are looking to rent will significantly impact your monthly lease costs. Also, the more desirable neighborhoods of Charlotte will cost you more than some of the less popular areas of the city. Wherever you live in Charlotte, you can anticipate paying more for a month-to-month lease than a traditional 12-month lease.
If you’re considering moving to a month-to-month apartment in Charlotte, learn more about the average rent prices for traditional 12-month leases.
- 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
How to Find Cheap Month-To-Month Apartments in Charlotte
It’s possible to find cheap month-to-month apartments in Charlotte, despite the rising cost of living throughout the city. However, before you begin apartment hunting, make it your goal to stick to your budget.
Be on the lookout for outdated amenities or appliances within month-to-month apartments to see if you can lower your monthly rent with the landlord. You can also ask about less desirable floors or units without popular views to help reduce some of your costs. You can also look away from commercial strips or on the outskirts of your favorite neighborhoods to find less expensive month-to-month apartments.
Finding an apartment you can afford is doable. However, it might take a bit more work from your end. Another way to find a cheap month-to-month apartment in Charlotte is to keep an eye out for move-in specials. Common apartment specials include a free month of rent or no application fee.
It's important to remember that there's more to budgeting for your apartment than your rent, whether you haven’t moved in a while or are a first-time renter. Our apartment budget checklist can help guide you through some hidden costs of renting, like monthly utilities. For example, Summers in Charlotte often means higher electricity bills, but you can look for a month-to-month apartment that includes utilities in the monthly rent.
Lastly, coming ready and prepared to sign a month-to-month lease on your new Charlotte apartment will help you beat your competition on the best deals. Bring all of your documentation and references anytime you tour a month-to-month apartment.
When is the Best Time to Move to an Apartment in Charlotte?
Seasonality in apartment rentals can drastically affect prices, whether you live in Charlotte or across the U.S. in Los Angeles. Trends show that the winter season, December through February, is the best time to rent an apartment since fewer people are looking to move during this time of year. As a result, rent prices are more likely to be at their lowest during winter.
Contrastingly, the summer season, July through September, brings peak rental season. Unfortunately, anyone looking for a month-to-month apartment in Charlotte in the summer can expect to find higher rates during this time. But, you might find more options on the market during this season as more people are moving in the summer.
6 Reasons Why Renters Consider a Month-To-Month Apartment
There are several reasons why looking for month-to-month apartments might make the most sense. Here are six reasons why renters consider a month-to-month apartment.
- You’re planning on living with a roommate that can’t commit to a 12-month lease.
- Your work requires you to travel frequently and may unexpectedly ask you to move to new cities.
- You’re planning to buy a home soon.
- You’re new to a city and do not know where you want to live yet, so you prefer some flexibility in your living situation while you get settled.
- You’re expecting a significant life change in the next few months, like a career move, a child, or marriage.
- You’re a student and will only live in the area for 9-months (Use our college apartment checklist when moving)
If you frequently relocate for work or are new to a city, it’s probably a good idea to look for a month-to-month rental apartment. Canceling your lease will come with more flexibility, usually a 30-days notice, but it's likely to cost you more.
How to Find a Month to Month Apartment in Charlotte
Ready to find a month-to-month apartment in Charlotte? Here's the step-by-step process to finding your new neighborhood and place to live.
Determine Your Budget
Consider your budget by following the 30% rule before setting out to find an apartment in Charlotte. According to this rule, your rent should make up 30% or less of your pre-taxed monthly take-home pay or gross income. Just take your gross yearly salary and divide by 40 to get the same number.
Let's say you’ve found a one-bedroom month-to-month apartment in Charlotte with a rent of $1,800. Using the 30% rule, your gross income should be at least $6,000 a month or about $72,000 a year.
Understand the True Cost of Renting
The 30% rule works well to keep your apartment hunting budget in check if your finances are straightforward. However, there's more to figuring out how much apartment you can afford if you have other financial obligations such as student loan debt.
While searching for an apartment, you’ll also need to budget for apartment expenses that often go unnoticed, including:
- Move-in fees
- Apartment application fees
- Security deposit
- Pet deposit
- Moving costs
Analyze your bank statements and credit card bills using the 30% rule as a baseline for your rent. Look over any obligations that could require some adjustments to your apartment hunting budget, such as credit card debt, medical expenses, student loan payments, etc.
Thankfully, we’ve made figuring out all the moving pieces of your finances while apartment hunting easy because we know it can get tricky to balance. To find your dream apartment in Charlotte, use our Rent Calculator to help you figure out how much rent you can afford.
Know What You Want
Outline what it is you are looking for in your ideal rental situation. Then, before starting your search, make sure you answer the following questions:
- Am I interested in living with roommates?
- How much rent can I afford?
- What are transportation options nearby?
- Do I need a furnished apartment?
- What are my must-have amenities?
- What neighborhood do I want to live in?
It's imperative to know what you want in an apartment to strike fast since month-to-month rental apartments can be hard to find! Apartment move-in specials can help keep your budget in check, so always keep an eye out.
Browse Apartment Lease Options
Check apartment websites first, as most apartments will share their lease options on their websites. Monthly leases may not be available for most large multifamily properties, but they might have alternatives for short-term options such as 3 or 6-month leases.
Because long-term leases make their lives easier, landlords place a much higher priority on longer leases. Still, it’s always worth checking to see if an apartment offer aligns with your goals, so always check the website ahead of time.
Call the Leasing Office
Call around to different leasing offices to see what type of short-term rental options are available. Don’t be afraid to check for month-to-month leases. After all, the worst possible scenario is they say no, and you move on to the next. Plus, if they don’t have anything to offer, they might be able to provide you with local options that do have month-to-month apartments available.
Look for Sublets
Subletting or subleasing is another option for those looking for month-to-month apartments. In these situations, another non-lease tenant covers monthly rent charges.
Some circumstances that won’t allow tenants to live in the apartment, such as leaving the city for work for a couple of months, will lead renters to sublet their apartments short term. They will likely be open to considering month-to-month rental apartments since they are probably doing this for a short time.
Explain Your Situation to Your Current Landlord
Make sure you explain why you need a month-to-month lease to your landlord if you find a place you love. Give yourself a chance to prove you are a good tenant by creating trust between you and your landlord by explaining your situation upfront. If you are completely honest about your situation, you may be able to negotiate a month-to-month rental apartment.
Applying for Your Charlotte Apartment
It’s finally time to sign a month-to-month lease on your Charlotte apartment! Bringing your ID, documentation, and plenty of references will ensure you come as prepared as possible.
A lack of rental history isn’t something to worry about for first-time renters. You can ask your new landlord if a lease guarantor or personal references will suffice. Get familiar with the apartment application process ahead of time if you're new to renting.
The least expensive and most impressive month-to-month apartments go the fastest. So before someone else beats you to it, come ready to sign the lease on the spot. Also, don’t forget to find out which form of payment they accept for application fees and potential background checks.
Protect Yourself from Rental Scams
One issue that can sour your apartment tour experience is rental fraud and scams. U.S. renters pay upwards of $5.2 million every year on bait and switch listings and apartments that don't even exist, some of the most common rental scams. Over 30% of renters have lost over $1,000 in scams after paying a security deposit on a false listing.
Trusting your gut is one of the best ways to combat rental scams. Deals that sound too good to be true are likely going to be just that - too good to be true. Ask for recommendations from friends or work with reputable landlords or property managers to help keep yourself protected.
Ready to Rent?
Congratulations on your upcoming move into your month-to-month apartment! Charlotte is an urban epicenter with a reasonable price tag compared to similar urban cores, offering residents superb dining, a great job market, and unbeatable southern charm.
Ready to make your move to Charlotte? Apartment List is here to help you find your dream home.
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