Migration Report – Charlotte Ranked As The 10th Most Popular Rental Market in the US

0

Despite the pandemic, Charlotte maintained its renter fanbase throughout 2020 as it received the nation’s 10th largest number of renter applications last year. That’s according to RentCafe’s most recent mobility report, which analyzed approx. 1.7 million renter applications nationwide to search for renter migration patterns.

Key findings from the report on Charlotte’s apartment market include:

  • A little over 50% of the renters who decided to move here came from the suburbs, the other half coming from other urban locations. 47% of incoming renters relocated from out of state.
  • Raleigh takes the lead in the list of the most common originating places for inbound renters. It is followed by Concord and Durham in the top 3.
  • The no. 1 out-of-state originating city for renters interested in Charlotte is New York City.
  • 52% of the renters interested in relocating to Charlotte applied for more spacious homes with Mallard Creek and Ballantyne attracting the most interest.
  • Charlotte is still a magnet for millennials, as they were by far the largest share of renters headed to the city, 52%, followed by Zoomers (20%). Actually, Gen Zers were the fastest-growing segment, registering a 41% increase as compared to 2019.
  • The typical apartment renters landing in Charlotte (51%) had an income between 30K-65K, while 27% were in the 65K-100K and above income brackets.

Charlotte Stories is continually partnering with the best real estate agents in every part of the Charlotte region.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home anywhere around the greater Charlotte region, let us connect you with a top agent in your area by filling out the form below:

    Charlotte Man Drives Car Into Pond After Daring High Speed Police Chase

    0

    Yesterday afternoon, a Charlotte man drove himself and 2 passengers into a private pond in Union County after a high-speed police chase involving multiple squad cars and CMPD’s ‘Snoopy’ police helicopter.

    The chase began just after 4 pm as CMPD officers were pursuing what they believed to be a stolen vehicle. When they crossed into Union County, several Union County Sheriff’s deputies also joined the chase.

    The driver turned down a private road in Indian Trail and began circling a pond before losing control and going for a “swim in the pond”.

    The driver of the “water taxi” has since been identified as 48-year-old Ward Baxter Weiland. Weiland is now being charged with multiple counts of Habitual Felon, Felony Speeding to Elude, Driving while Impaired, Possession of Stolen Goods, and several other driving-related charges.

    The male passenger, 62-year-old Armond Dewayne Douglas, was also taken into custody on outstanding warrants. The Union County Sheriff’s office also noted; “the female occupant of the water taxi was released and does not face charges.”

    What are the best areas to try to build a business in 2021

    0

    With the greater part of 2020 overshadowed by Covid19 restrictions, several businesses have suffered from the mandatory lockdowns imposed by governments of the world. Hence, as an entrepreneur, you cannot but wonder what will be the best area to try to build a business in this period. In 2021, regardless of the area you wish to build a business, it would ideally be a business where you can serve your clients and customers without much physical interaction- hence, best to build an online one. This will help you avoid the obstacles of the Covid-19 restrictions. 

    Several businesses such as online casinos canada have not felt the impact of the lockdowns compared to physical casinos since they are online and offer players the same fun. Therefore, in thinking about your more preferable area to build a business in 2021, you should make sure it is online. Some of the areas you can try include:

    Dropshipping

    Dropshipping involves you selling products online. What makes dropshipping so good is that it does not matter whether you can afford to purchase your inventory or to store them. This is because it is a model in which you need not deal with the products physically. What you simply have to do is create an online store and work together with suppliers that will help in storing, packaging and shipping orders to your clients. You also need not worry about the best products to deal in since there are dropshipping apps that help you to discover the products in demand.

    The major reason a lot of persons are attracted to this area of business is you need not have an inventory, and you can easily avoid Covid-19 restrictions and still make good money in 2021.

    Translation

    If you know multiple languages, then this area of business is just for you as the demand for multilingual persons is on the rise. So, if you are fluent in English, French, Spanish, or any two languages at all, you should think about creating a business through which you can make money. To begin this business, you can register on websites such as Fiverr and Upwork, where you can easily set up your profile, set your rates and get clients. The best thing about them is the higher your ratings, the higher your patronage by clients and the higher you can set your rates and business growth strategy.

    Another advantage of this business is you may get patronized by companies to do extensive translation works. This means you can even expand your business and hire translators in additional languages

    Website Flipping

    One of the modern online business ideas which has thrilled everyone is Website flipping. Website Flipping involves you purchasing an already operating website, but then making improvements on the content, as well as the design. Upon making these improvements, you then put the website up for sale at a higher price than you bought it.

    You can purchase and make website sales for profit in certain places. For instance, Shopify’s Exchange marketplace permits you to purchase ecommerce websites which you can make improvements on by SEO Optimization, content creation amongst other strategies. Immediately your website starts getting traffic and increased revenue, you can then list it for sale.

    Virtual Assistant

    Another effective idea is offering to serve as a virtual assistant. In modern-day businesses, sole proprietors up to big corporate organizations require assistance in their daily operations. So, you can make use of your outstanding administrative knowledge and skills to ease the burden. You will definitely get your pay for the effort and time you put in carrying out the administrative tasks, such as scheduling of meetings and answering emails.

    You can start up your career as a virtual assistant by clicking on the online ads on websites such as PeoplePerHour, FreeUp amongst many others. 

    Online Tutoring

    This is for you if you are an expert in any educational field, whether it is science or arts. Online tutoring is quite easy and you simply teach your students from the comfort of your home. Though, you should take note that some platforms require you to have a university degree in the course you wish to tutor. 

    To be easily recommended, it is advisable that you teach subjects you are an expert at since you get to share your knowledge to develop the knowledge of your students. Some online tutoring websites where you can begin include Tutor.com, or Skooli. You can also make use of Google meet, Skype or other video conferencing sites to communicate with and lecture your students.

    Content Writing

    This is one which you should try out. Virtually, every company that extends its business online requires assistance in the creation of content for its products. Therefore, this is one area of business you should try to build. Some websites where you can find your clients include BloggingPro, Remote.co. There are also Facebook groups you can join which introduce you to content writing as a business.

    When it comes to this business, there is a lot of competition. Therefore, you must be able to show what stands you out, your selling point could be optimization of keywords in your content or timely delivery of work. Just do what makes you better.

    WordPress Support

    WordPress hosts many websites, and the majority of website owners need a form of assistance. Therefore, if you are familiar with how the platform operates, then this is another money-making business you can venture into. Some form of help you may need to render includes fixing of CSS, locating and addressing security issues.

    It is advisable that you make a website where your services are listed to avoid the heavy commissions you may incur on websites like Upwork. This way, you get to also interact easily with your customers and clients.

    Email Marketing

    Writing emails is easy no doubt. So, for this, you just need to write your emails in a more formal and attractive way for clients. It is that easy. Once you have shown the skill to draw more recipients, your services will be in high demand.

    You can also register on Upwork or Fiverr to get your first clients in this business. 

    Your aim for building a business is to make profit. The businesses listed above are easy to begin and do not require so much physical interaction. They are proven to be among the most effective in 2021 as you can easily avoid being caught up with Covid-19 restrictions on your business.

    How You Can Add Value to Your Rental Property in the UK

    0

    From small fixes like changing locks to larger repairs like changing the roof, there are several methods you can add value to your rental property in the UK. Homeowners hate vacancies because it makes them lose money, but that is not the end of the line. If you have a rental property in the UK, you can add value to it. The best way for homeowners to improve their return on investment in their rental property is to invest in the interest of their tenants. Doing that means renovating or upgrading your rental property to increase your tenants chance of renting it.

    Tip: When renovating your rental property in the UK, you must upgrade it to a modern standard. But don’t invest all your time and money to renovate a rental property like you are renovating your home. The occupants are not likely to take care of your property the way you will take care of your home. The point is, don’t over-invest in your rental property.

    Use Decking Boards

    The use of decking boards is one way you can spice up your rental property in the UK. A good decking material like composite decking will not only provide extra space for your tenant but will increase the aesthetics of your property. When you install composite decking boards on your property, you will give your tenant the chance to relax outdoors on the decking. Also, your tenant can hold parties or get together on composite decking. Since a good decking like composite is durable, it is worth adding to your home because it will last long.

    Renovate Your Kitchen

    One method to enhance the value of your rental property if you live in the UK is to invest in renovating your kitchen. If you own old appliances in your kitchen, it is time for you to change them. Adding a dishwasher, microwave, and oven are ways you can renovate your kitchen. Do you have furniture in the kitchen? You can add kitchen furniture so that arranging things in it will be easier.

     If your kitchen cabinet is old, then you can spice the colour so that it will look new. A good sanding with sandpaper and painting with good latex paint will upgrade an old cabinet. This way, you will increase the aesthetic value of your home. Take a look at the roof of the kitchen. Is the countertop old, or don’t you have one? If you have the money, you can change your kitchen countertop and, if possible, the entire rental. You should choose a countertop that is durable and has high aesthetic value. 

    Renovate the Bathroom

    Another way you can increase the value of your rental property in the UK is to remodel the bathroom. An upgraded bathroom is what many tenants look for when they want to rent a property. You can do a simple improvement to your bathroom by changing the toilet seat. Or, if you have the cash, you can change the entire toilet. To enhance the functionality of your bathroom, you can add a new shower head.

    If the cabinet of your bathroom is old, you can change it to a new one. If the bathroom of your rental property is small, you can maximise the use of space by putting everything in order. You can use a pocket door and convert the bathtub into a walk-in shower. To save space in the bathroom of your rental property, you can install a shelf that will not take lots of space.

    Update the exterior of Your Rental Property

    The exterior of your rental is what your tenant will first come in contact with before renting your home. So, it is best to update the landscape of your property. We have mentioned building decking as a way to increase the external appearance of your property. Other ways to increase the appearance is by planting new grasses. 

    You can also add a small garden to your property where you can relax and watch nature. Painting the entire exterior of your property is another way you can increase the value. Do you have flowers? You can install planters in the front of your rental, where you will place the flowers. Another rental property upgrade you can do is pour concrete and build a pergola in your garden.

    Conclusion

    The best methods to add value to your rental property in the UK is by building decking in your garden and upgrading the exterior of the rental. Other ways are renovating the kitchen and bathroom to make it modern.

    Composite Materials and Their Applications to Property Development

    0

    Composite materials are the best building materials you can use for property development. When you build or develop your property with composites, it will last longer and resist the elements better than traditional materials. There are several composites, and their uses in property development vary. 

    What Is a Composite Material?

    Also called composition material, a composite material is a material or product that contains more than one constituent. The constituents of composite materials have dissimilar properties, and when they merge, they form a better and more durable structural material. It is one reason engineers and builders are increasingly using composite materials in building construction or property development. 

    Type of Composite Materials

    There are several types of composite materials. Composite decking is one of them. Aside from composite decking, there are reinforced concrete and reinforced plastic materials. Metal matrix composite is another composite that is used in property development. Let’s consider the applications of the various composite materials in property development.

    Composite Decking

    The composite decking is an outdoor flooring material that makes it possible to build a patio in your garden. The advantages of using composite decking material in property development are numerous. Engineers refer to composite decking as wood-plastic composite. It is because composite decking contains wood and plastic as its constituent. Engineers mix the wood dust and recycled plastics in a factory and bond them with an adhesive before heating them till they form composite decking. The finished wood-plastic decking is better than wood and plastic.

    Application of Wood-Plastic Decking to Property Development

    Outdoor Decking Construction

    One application of composite wood decking is in building outdoor decking. Using wood-plastic composite comes with lots of benefits. Wood-plastic composite is the most durable decking material you can use to build any outdoor decking. Aside from that, wood-plastic composite offers the advantage of being easy to maintain. Plus, they are lightweight compared to wood decking. With a simple cleaning, you can easily maintain your composite decking and keep it longer than traditional wood. Wood-plastic composite offers the best value for your cash and increases the worth of your property.

    Reinforced Concrete

    Reinforced concrete is another type of composite material that you can use in property development. This composite material is a combination of cement and steel bar. Concrete has a relatively low tensile strength and flexibility, but when it is combined with steel bars, it provides a strong structure that will not collapse easily. The way engineers make reinforced concrete is different from how they make a wood-plastic composite. During construction, steel bars are embedded in concrete when they are wet and left to dry.

    Application of Reinforced Concrete to Property Development

    Engineers can build many kinds of structures with reinforced concrete. The structures include slabs, walls, beams, columns, frames and foundations. Building the wall and foundation of your property using reinforced concrete will make the structure stronger and more durable. A house that is built with reinforced concrete will resist wind and other structural damage that can occur in a building. Without reinforced concrete, building a modern structure would not be possible.

    Reinforced Plastic

    Another kind of composite material that engineers are using in property development is reinforced plastic. This kind of composite material is made of a polymer matrix reinforced with fibre. The fibres engineers used are usually glass, carbon or aramid. One common type of reinforced plastic is fibreglass. As a composite material, fibreglass is stronger than most metal, and it is resistant to the elements.

    Application of Fibre Glass in Property Development

    Fibreglass has many applications. Engineers can use it to make bathtubs, swimming pools, cladding, roofing, and external door skin. If you roof your building with aluminium, there is a chance that it will rust eventually. But using fibreglass to build the roof of your home will provide a durable and long-lasting roofing material. Since fibreglass will not rust, then it will resist the elements better than other roofing material. Composite material like fiberglass will add value to your property and increase the worth. 

    Composite Cladding

    Another composite material that has value and is used in property development is composite or wood-plastic cladding. This composite is stronger and more durable than wood. The advantage of wood-plastic cladding is similar to composite decking. Composite cladding is durable and easy to maintain, plus it is lightweight.

    Conclusion

    Composite material has several applications in property development. One common composite material is composite decking. This outdoor flooring material is stronger and easy to maintain. Other composites also have the advantage of being durable and lightweight.

    Major Plastics Manufacturer Announces Plans To Build First American Headquarters in Gastonia

    0

    Swedish plastics manufacturer Polykemi AB has just announced plans to build an $11.8 million North American headquarters in Gastonia.

    According to officials with the NC Commerce department, the new headquarters will bring at least 22 jobs to the region with an average starting salary of $59,132 per year.

    “We are pleased to welcome another global manufacturer that has selected North Carolina for their North American operations,” said Governor Cooper. “Polykemi’s decision emphasizes our state’s world-class talent and affirms the strength of our economy in the global market.”

    The new 50,000 square feet headquarters will be located in the 350 acre Gastonia Tech Park near the intersection of 321 and I-85.

    It’s not yet been announced when construction will start.

    Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory Announces He Will Run For US Senate in 2022

    0

    Former Charlotte Mayor and NC Governor Pat McCrory has just announced plans to get back into politics with the launch of an official 2022 US Senate campaign.

    McCrory sent out a statement on Twitter this morning, confirming the new campaign.

    “For the last few years, I’ve sat on the sideline and watched people like Chuck Schumer and the far-left drag this country toward radical liberal policies,” McCrory said. “I can’t sit on the sidelines anymore.”

    McCrory was the 53rd Mayor of Charlotte, serving from 1995 to 2009 and also served on the United States Homeland Security Advisory Council from 2002 to 2006. He was then elected as the 74th Governor of North Carolina, serving in that position from 2013 to 2017.

    In 2016, McCrory lost his reelection campaign to Democrat Roy Cooper, the North Carolina Attorney General, and soon after, became the host of a Charlotte radio show.

    What do you think about McCrory’s decision to run for Senate? 

    The First Annual Charlotte Earth Day Film Festival Launches April 22 – 25

    0
    The inaugural Charlotte Earth Day Film Festival (CEDFF) will officially launch later this month.
    The groundbreaking festival will virtually offer six free films, all intended to broaden awareness and deepen our understanding of what is at stake regarding the dangers that confront our environment today.
    These “big picture” documentaries address how our actions as the human species are interconnected to and now responsible for sustaining our life-giving ecosystems on this planet.
    The CEDFF is presented by Omimeo Mime Theatre and the Charlotte Film Society. It is dedicated in honor of Anne Springs Close, for her lifetime as a champion and steward for the environment, and is co-sponsored by Clean Air Carolina, a statewide nonprofit advocating for the health of all North Carolinians by pursuing equitable and collaborative solutions that address climate change and air pollution.
    For more information check out the festival’s website here.

    Red Rover Building New Facilities in Charlotte – Our City’s First ‘Fetchable Storage’ Option

    0

    Today, Red Rover has announced the opening of their third market in Charlotte, North Carolina, with the goal of providing customers with a more affordable moving and storage option. Their first two locations are 16,000 square-foot, climate-controlled storage centers at 5033 Sirona Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina and 703 Pitts School Road NW, Concord, North Carolina. 

    Red Rover created a new category in the marketplace known as Fetchable Storage offering customers a portable storage unit, pre-loaded onto a truck, that the customer picks up and drives for free. The storage unit is then stored in one of Red Rover’s storage centers. If the customer is moving out of the market, Red Rover takes care of the transportation between their locations. With the opening of the new facilities in the Charlotte area, Red Rover can now service most of the Carolinas for inbound long-distance movers. 

    “Currently, Charlotte is one of the top five fasting-growing cities in the country,” said Peter Warhurst, CEO and founder of Red Rover. “We look forward to establishing roots in the Charlotte community as well as servicing most of the North and South Carolina markets for inbound long-distance traffic.” 

    A key differentiator for Red Rover is that their customers get to use their truck for free. That includes 60 miles of travel, gas, tolls and a dolly. The customer has from 8am – midnight to fill their container and return the truck. The storage unit is then stored in one of the company’s storage centers until the customer needs their belongings back. No loading a truck, unloading a truck and reloading belongings into a storage unit. 

    Red Rover launched in February 2020 and currently has three facilities in the Tampa Bay area and one in Long Island, NY. By May 2021, the company plans on growing to a total of nine facilities throughout the East Coast with one additional facility under development in Long Island, two facilities in Charlotte, North Carolina and two more facilities in a location to be announced soon.

    Charlotte Home Price Growth: Median Sale Price Up 24% Over the Past Decade

    0

    As the ongoing health crisis continues to impact the economic sector, the website PropertyShark.com looked back and see how the housing market had fared over the course of a decade, before the pandemic.

    They analyzed residential sales in the largest cities in the US and took into consideration all homes that sold both in 2009 and 2019. Taking inflation into account, we determined the best price ranges for home price appreciation, as well as for homeownership and home value gains over the past decade.

    Key takeaways from their study:

    • The national median resale price was $275K, up a notable 35% over 2009 levels.
    • Homes over $2M resold with the highest price increase and large urban centers surpassed national price gains across all price ranges.
    • The Sunbelt made a name for itself with significant price increases, reconfirming the surging popularity of Sunbelt cities in the 2010s.
    • Charlotte saw a 24% increase in the median resale price, coming in at $237K in 2019 from $190K in 2009.

    Considering that Charlotte grew at a slower pace than the national average proves that we still have a lot of room for more pricing growth – especially considering that we were just ranked as the 9th fastest migration growth state in America.

    Charlotte Stories is continually partnering with the best real estate agents in every part of the Charlotte region.

    If you’re thinking about moving in or around Charlotte, let us connect you with a top agent in your area by filling out the form below: