LIVING IN CHARLOTTE | THE PROS & CONS | HOUSING, JOBS & MORE | IS CLT DIVERSE? | ZENESE ASHLEY

Hi Loves!
Welcome back to my channel! In today's video I'm talking all things about my hometown #Charlotte! I have been asked for quite some time to do a video about the pros, the cons, the good & the bad about living in Charlotte. CLT is becoming a major city for many people to move to and I've seen quite a few of these kinds of videos on here on Youtube. However, I very rarely see them from the perspective of actual Charlotte Natives! I felt like hearing about it from the perspective of someone who has been born & raised here - as well has experience living in other cities/states in my adulthood would be a bit different.
I hope you all enjoy this video and let me know if you are in the market to move to Charlotte, or have recently relocated to Charlotte and how your experience has been so far!

If you're a Charlotte Native let me know down in the comments!

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - 2:20 INTRO
2:23 - 8:53 HOUSING
8:56 - 14:05 JOB MARKET/ CAREERS
14:05 - 31:16 THINGS TO DO + NIGHT LIFE + DIVERSITY
31:23 - 33:30 NETWORKING /MAKING FRIENDS
33:30 - 35:30 - TRANSPORTATION
35:32 - 36:41 OUTRO

#livingincharlotte #thingstodoincharlotte #prosandconscharlotte #movingtocharlotte #relocatingtocharlotte #charlottenatives #cltfoodie #cltthingstodo #cltnightlife

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ABOUT ME:

Age: 29
Location: Charlotte, NC
Camera: Canon M50
Vlog Camera: Canon G7X Mark II

[ZeneseAshley]

Hey y’all! Let me know where you’re from down in the comments! 🤍

[samuelbaquera]

Thank you so much for posting this.I know this is two years later, but as someone considering moving and being Hispanic, this really made me look at where I was considering.

[TakeoffWithTheSarfos]

I grew up in Columbia, SC and it's been so crazy seeing Charlotte grow! The young-Black professional population seems to be growing a lot too. It'll be interesting to see how the city grows in a few years. I feel like it's the next ATL once they get nightlife together lol

[allorianhorne]

Moving to Charlotte this month! Thank you for being so real and honest about the city! 💕

[sylviakinley]

Great video, overall, specifically, the housing, job markets, social life, etc, However, I just want to speak to those who may be concerned about segregation “issues” when moving to Charlotte, as it might pertain to you overtly. I moved here in 2007 as a divorced mom of two (a son and a daughter). Coming from a small Southern town in SC, also known as “Killerville”, moving my children to Charlotte, NC, especially my son, was one of the best decisions I could’ve made! Diversity and segregation issues are no worse in Charlotte as probably any other larger city in the US. My children nor I nor any of my black friends, colleagues, associates have had any significant issues regarding racism/segregation while living here in Charlotte. No matter where I go in the US, I am quite aware of these social/racial issues…even among MY OWN RACE, if we are truly being HONEST! I don’t let things/people like this stop my show. I handle any case accordingly and keep moving. Where you choose to live is your choice. If you don’t want to feel segregated, you have the choice of moving to the East or West side of Charlotte. No one is forcing nor preventing people in Charlotte to or from particular areas. “Do you, boo!”Since I left my hometown, my best friend’s son was killed in broad daylight in a park downtown…by another black male. This has been an ongoing issue in the area before and after I moved away. I would’ve been more concerned there than I have ever had to be about my children since we’ve lived here. I absolutely love living in Charlotte NC! And yes, I personally chose to live in South/Southeast Charlotte for my children’s sake, and I would not pretend to apologize for that! No, I would not choose to live in the East nor West sides of Charlotte. If we’re going to be honest, then let’s be honest because we all know why? When I go to Atlanta, it is highly segregated, but no one really cares. Why? Because you can still go to a plethora of black-owned businesses and feel professional and classy…and not like you just walked into a hole-in-the-wall, hoping nothing is going to pop-off at any moment! I love my blackness, and I used to love seeing all the beautiful black people doing their things during CIAA in Charlotte…made me so proud…but it wasn’t long before that started getting ratchet and out-of-control, but no one wants to call anyone out on it. It’s always someone else’s fault and not our own. There are lots of great sides and areas to live in around Charlotte: Southeast/Matthews, Mint Hill, Central, NoDa, South Charlotte, University Area, Ballantyne, Cotswold….and yes, it all depends on your income. You wouldn’t choose to move to the East nor West side of Charlotte no more than you would purposely choose to move to any other hood in any other city. I am not trying to be negative, I am trying to be honest, realistic, and practical. I would say the majority of residents living in those areas are natives because it’s home for them and I am sure it doesn’t feel as bad as it might seem to someone who didn’t grow up in the neighborhood. Here’s the real bottom line, every area in Charlotte NC outside of those two sides, are ideal choices, even those areas don’t appear like most true “hoods”, and people do actually choose to move there and are content because Charlotte is just beautiful overall! The thing you really have to consider when moving here is…can you afford to live here? Honestly, that is where you should do your research because that is what is going to impact your lifestyle the most. If you have children, yes, the right neighborhood for “your” family and the school zones are your focus! If you’re single, and your pocket is right, you have a smorgasbord of choices of places/areas to live. Your biggest concern is your personal interests and goals because she is absolutely correct about the connecting with people, social life and entertainment! Charlotte fails in those areas! Just so happens the endless restaurants, coffee shops, parks and recreational sites, movies, shopping centers, bars and pubs, authenticity and aesthetics all around Charlotte outweigh those lacking components for me. Oh, yes, I appreciate all the diverse cultures from all over the world here in Charlotte. I appreciate the East and West sides, too. I am all game for “us” working together and doing the things that will really bring us the changes we’d like to see in these communities. The talking and waiting for someone else to do it…not effective. By the way, there are plenty black. wealthy and prominent people in Charlotte who could help bring about the changes we keep saying we want without having to wait for someone else to come do it for us. #justsaying❤️

[HoneySoooFly]

This is one of the most “TRANSPARENT” videos about Charlotte I’ve seen..I truly appreciate your honesty…Coming from NY/NJ I really want to know these things and people don’t want to talk about it or they sugar coat it so thank you 💜

[giamills]

Moving in December. I love seeing other black women reviews

[monicabrooks]

704 n the House!! It is soo good to see a fellow North Carolinian. Imma new subscriber. Congratulations on ur marriage. Blessings to you n ur family 💕

[Healthyagingwithmarvin]

I appreciate your honest vlog about Charlotte. I didn't find Charlotte anymore or any less segregated than any other city.

I had a great time meeting new people in Charlotte. It was a very friendly city.

Charlotte isn't on my top cities list but it's a great option for others to consider.

[thebarefootfairy]

Thank you! This was very honest and thorough. I’m considering moving my family up from Dallas area to Charlotte and I have concerns about how our kids will be treated there. You know; the questions we shouldn’t have to ask but we HAVE TO ask. So, I appreciate this video & I look forward to watching more of your content! Great job!

[alanaharris]

Very informative! Thank you for sharing. I’m considering moving to Charlotte and this is the first video I came across that provided a detailed description of a few things that I am worried about. Thanks for your transparency.

[bigrod]

Thank you for this video. I was looking into Charlotte but when you talked about the nightlife and the food I'm rethinking my decision. I want to move to an area where there is a energetic vibe.

[AaronHalpin]

My wife and I moved here about 2 years ago when my job relocated me (It was a toss up between Charlotte NC and Boca Raton FL). Neither of us had ever stepped foot in NC before coming to look for a home, but we had an awesome realtor who found us the perfect house (Northlake area) with neighbors that we could not have handpicked better ourselves. I do have a big interest in beer and cars...I found it pretty easy to meet people before we even moved here through Facebook groups and other social media. I feel like if you are a young professional moving to the state, you should not have any issues at all meeting people and making friends. I have only been to South End once since we moved here and usually stay around Northlake/University City area for the most part...I completely agree with you that the South side of Charlotte is just way overcrowded.

My wife was talking to me just about a week ago that her boss offered her another position...just outside of Boca Raton FL. We love it here too much to leave now...plus There is no way I am going to fight for another house in this market.

[wandasantiago]

Thank you for this honest video. As a black mother who was considering moving to Charlotte, Im glad I came across your video. Im from the DMV so I have no tolerance for ignorance. I can understand the segregation part, personally I want to be around my own. But at the same time, Im not going to move somewhere that will be traumatizing to my child.

[sydneym]

I live in Charlotte and everything she said is 100% true, especially the nightlife being terrible for minorities

[chyni__]

I’m looking to move to Charlotte June 2023. I visited Charlotte back in 2013 when rent was like $600-$900 and I loved it. Will be visiting again jan 2022/ and again in august 2022 and then moving in June23 . Im not a night life person I’m more family oriented so no night life doesn’t bother me at all. I’m from Detroit and I’m tired of the winters here. Looking for warming environment, longer warm seasons for gardening purposes, land for building a home.

[derrickhines]

THIS IS THE VIDEO I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR IN ALL You touched on aspects that I have seen in other videos while providing a major city perspective from SOMEONE WHO IS ORIGINALLY FROM CHARLOTTE!!! Looking to move to Charlotte before the end of 2022 coming from North Jersey just outside of New York City. THANK YOU for the totally honest and unbiased perspective. It gives me some other things to think about to hopefully minimize mistakes in my eventual move.

[larissanicoleonpurpose]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I moved to the Steele Creek area of Charlotte in Feb 2020 from the DMV and noticed everything that you mentioned! I'm still trying REALLY HARD to catch a vibe here. Mostly it feels like a sleepy family town. Kinda boring; but I'm committed to finding my flow here as a single woman. I bought when I moved here (the best decision I made), so the housing market boom has been great for me. And I'm slowly finding some nice hangout spots that are mainly parks and outdoor spaces. Since it's warming up, it could be nice to have a Charlotte newbie meetup or something, lol Kidding; but serious is anyone is down for that. 😊

[thewildhoneybee]

This review of Charlotte is correct.
I recently moved here from NYC and I’m struggling hard to find some nice upscale lounges, museums, classy restaurants that don’t serve dry cafeteria food (no shade) and places where you can just dress up and get cute (like the brunch vibes you were talking about.) I’m not sure if I need to go to Raleigh or ATL for that but girl, I am and trying to catch a vibe out here, fr.

[bossladyskye]

I was born & raised in Charlotte! Charlotte is an amazing city 💙