Anchor your commute
Write down your actual workplace, days on site and arrival time. Add a second destination if another household member commutes.
Test the whole trip →
THE CHARLOTTE RELOCATION FIELD GUIDE · OCTOBER 2026
A new city.
A place that
feels like you.
Start with the life you want to live. Find the areas worth exploring, the questions worth asking, and the resources that make your move easier.
Find your starting point ↓Research schools ↗01 / MAKE THE MOVE PERSONAL
Before you choose a home,
picture an ordinary Tuesday.
Your workday, school run, grocery trip and evening walk tell you more than a list of “best neighborhoods.” Use these three decisions to create a manageable shortlist.
Name your non-negotiables
Choose three: monthly housing cost, a specific school program, outdoor space, walkable errands, home style or access to the water.
Build your area shortlist →Set a comfortable monthly total
Include taxes, insurance, HOA fees, utilities and travel costs. A purchase price alone won’t tell you how living here will feel.
See what to budget →02 / FIND YOUR PART OF CHARLOTTE
Different places.
Different everyday lives.
Explore by geography, then look closely at individual streets and homes. Save the places you want to compare with Mike.
Area descriptions are orientation prompts, not home recommendations. Prices, school assignment and walkability depend on the specific property. Open the area guides for deeper research.
No saved areas yet. Select “Save area” on any card to start your shortlist.
03 / THE SCHOOL RESEARCH DESK
Find the fit.
Then verify the address.
A school near a home isn’t necessarily the school assigned to it. Start with the district, confirm the move-in school year, then compare programs and data.
START YOUR COMPARISON
SchoolDigger
Look up schools by name, city or address. Compare grade levels, testing results and school profiles. Use it alongside district information and a school conversation.
THE ADDRESS RULE
Save the exact address.
Check the correct school year.
Confirm directly with the district.
North Carolina
CMS assignment & registration ↗
Find assigned-school tools and enrollment steps for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
CMS school-year boundary maps ↗
Check boundaries for the year your student will attend.
Union County address lookup ↗
Research addresses around Waxhaw, Weddington, Indian Trail and Monroe; check the year shown.
NC official school report cards ↗
Look beyond one score: examine growth, performance and available school data.
South Carolina
Fort Mill / Tega Cay school locator ↗
Use the district’s attendance maps and York County address tool.
Fort Mill enrollment requirements ↗
Review residency and document requirements before scheduling your move.
Lancaster County Schools ↗
Start here for Indian Land addresses; contact the district to verify assignment.
Research other SC districts ↗
For Lake Wylie and Rock Hill, identify the address’s district first. “Charlotte area” does not mean one school system.
What should I ask a school before choosing a home?
- Which elementary, middle and high schools serve this exact address for our move-in year? Are changes proposed?
- What are the enrollment documents and deadlines? How are transfer credits handled?
- Does the school offer the services or programs my student needs, and whom should we speak with?
- How do transportation, after-school care, sports and extracurriculars work?
- For magnet, charter or private options: what application, lottery, tuition and waitlist rules apply?
04 / TRY THE TRIP BEFORE THE MOVE
A great home should
work on a workday.
Compare the same trip from each shortlisted area. Use your real arrival time and include parking, walking, transfers and school or childcare stops.
- Enter a candidate home address and workplace.
- Open the route, then use the map’s departure or arrival-time options for a weekday.
- Compare a second route and return-trip traffic. Drive it during your scouting visit.
Check current service rather than assuming a planned line is operating. For a rail commute, test the walk to the station and the final walk to work.
05 / BUY WITH THE FULL PICTURE
The price is only
part of the decision.
Rent first or buy?
Consider renting first if your work location, timeline or preferred area is still unsettled. Compare lease flexibility, pet fees, parking, deposits and the cost of moving twice.
Consider buying when you have a clear budget, likely holding period and a shortlist you’ve tested. Ask a lender to compare your monthly payment and cash needed at closing.
Talk through your timing with Mike ↗The costs to get in writing
- Loan payment, taxes and homeowners insurance
- HOA dues, special assessments and amenities
- Inspection, appraisal and closing costs
- Repairs, maintenance and utility bills
- Moving, storage and overlapping housing
- Flood coverage, parking and tolls if applicable
Check the property’s jurisdiction and assessment. Ask for a current estimate rather than assuming the seller’s bill is yours.
Use the county’s flood resources, then discuss the specific address with an insurer and inspector.
Request an address-by-address comparison of school assignment, commute and carrying costs. Mike is licensed in NC; ask him to coordinate SC representation.
What should I check on a home tour?
Visit the street at more than one time. Ask about drainage, roof and HVAC age, permits, HOA rules, internet availability, road projects and nearby development. For condos, request association documents and assessment information. For lake properties, verify dock rights and access. For new construction, review lot premiums, delivery timing, warranties and what incentives require.
06 / FINANCE YOUR NEXT CHAPTER
Know your buying power.
Keep your comfort zone.
Start with a payment that fits your life, then compare financing options. A lender conversation can help you understand your budget, the documents to gather and the timing of your move.
YOUR FEATURED LENDER
Matt Richardson
Your featured lending contact for the move. Reach out to Matt to talk through your home-financing questions and next steps.
A useful first conversation
Bring your target timing, housing budget and whether you’ll sell a home before buying. Ask Matt to explain the options available to you and provide a written breakdown of the costs.
- What monthly payment includes principal, interest, taxes, insurance and any mortgage insurance?
- How much cash will I need for the down payment, closing and reserves?
- How will a new job, remote work, self-employment or selling my current home affect the process?
- What still needs review after pre-approval, and when should I discuss a rate lock?
You are free to choose any lender. A lender introduction is not a loan application, rate quote or approval.
Gather the right documents
Ask the lender for its checklist. It may include identification, recent income documents, tax returns, asset statements and details of existing debts or a job offer. Use the lender’s secure portal to share documents.
Look beyond the rate
Compare Loan Estimates for the same loan type and terms. Review lender fees, points, estimated monthly costs, cash to close and whether a rate is locked.
Line up the timing
Ask how your move date, home sale and start date at work fit the loan timeline. Check with your lender before taking on new debt or moving funds during the process.
Read about shopping for a mortgage, comparing offers and preparing for closing.
Use Mike’s mortgage calculator for planning, then ask a lender to confirm the full cost.
Read the current program information and ask a participating lender about eligibility.
Which loan options should I ask about?
Ask your lender to compare conventional financing with FHA, VA, USDA or jumbo options when applicable. Eligibility, property requirements, mortgage insurance and costs vary. A low down payment does not necessarily mean the lowest total cost. For new construction, compare a builder’s preferred-lender incentive with another lender’s written offer.
07 / YOUR FEATURED MOVING PARTNER
The move deserves
a plan of its own.
Make A Move
Moving & storage · Charlotte and the Triangle
Agent for Bekins Van Lines
Call Charlotte: 704.378.8588
Shane Rozzi
Director of Relocation Services
Support from packing to placement
Make A Move is the featured moving partner on Concierge Relocation. Their services include local and long-distance moving, packing and unpacking, storage, and white-glove handling. If your closing and moving dates don’t line up, ask about storage and delivery coordination.
Local & long-distancePacking & unpackingStorageWhite-glove service
When you reach out: share your origin and destination, target dates, home size, stairs or elevator access, and whether you want packing or storage. Ask for a written estimate explaining the scope, delivery window, valuation coverage and any extra charges.
Services, availability and pricing are confirmed directly by Make A Move.
YOUR SCOUTING VISIT
Come for the weekend.
Test the weekday.
Make the commute real
Travel from your top area to work at the time you would actually go. Visit a grocery store, pharmacy and any everyday destinations that matter to you.
Compare two or three areas
Tour a manageable set of homes. Walk nearby streets. Check parking, road noise, sidewalks, outdoor space and the route to places you would use.
Write down the tradeoffs
Compare the same criteria for every area. Keep the places that fit your priorities, and list what still needs verifying before your next trip.
08 / YOUR GET-SETTLED TOOLKIT
Less searching.
More settling in.
Start with your exact address. Utility providers, pickup schedules and local services can change across town and county lines.
YOUR MOVE, ONE STEP AT A TIME
A checklist that remembers your progress.
Saved in this browser only. If you share the guide, each reader starts with their own checklist.
09 / TURN RESEARCH INTO A PLAN
Let’s narrow it down
around your life.
You don’t need every answer yet. Share what you know so Mike can help you focus your areas, home search and scouting visit.
Mike Perlosky
REALTOR® · NC License #292411
Ivester Jackson | Christie’s International Real Estate