PRICED OUT
Rochelle Vassar, a single mother in Charlotte set out to buy a small, single-family home or a townhouse that would allow them to establish real roots. But in this market, that has been far from easy. As the market grows hotter, and home ownership slips out of the hands of many, renting in the Charlotte area is becoming more difficult than ever. This special report from The Charlotte Observer takes a look at what it takes to buy a home in Charlotte and how the market is trending, plus tips for starting your real estate search.
- A Charlotte single mom set out to buy a starter home. She’s on the verge of giving up.
- As Charlotte’s rental market heats up, residents are being priced out.
- What houses can you get for $300,000 or less in the U.S.? These 7 listings give an idea.
- Buying or selling a home involves plenty of jargon. The glossary breaks it down simply.
- Rent prices in Charlotte are rising. Here’s how to negotiate your monthly rate.
Rochelle Vassar has specific parameters she’s been using in her search for her first home:
She wants three bedrooms and two baths and at least 1,300 square feet of space; she wants it to be reasonably updated; although it’s not a deal-breaker, she’d love a fenced-in backyard that her 1-1/2-year-old daughter Meadow can run around and play in; and — since she’s a single mom — she’d prefer to be near her older sister and her mother, who both live in north Charlotte.
More than anything else, however, what Rochelle wants is for Meadow’s childhood to have a sense of stability.