The Chase: Couple from New York with $850K budget moves to Charlotte
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Photo: Courtesy of Genevieve Williams Real Estate LLC
Buying a home in this seller’s market is a whirlwind, and these home buyers took us along for the ride. This is The Chase, a new series featuring real Charlotteans and their house hunting stories. Read past editions here.
These 30-year-olds moved to Charlotte from New York earlier this year because they wanted to be in a city close to family and away from the snow.
Who: Becky (30) and Andrew Coyle (30) arrived in January 2021. The pandemic allowed them to move and keep their jobs working remotely full time. He’s in software sales and she’s a product marketer.
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The house: They were looking for a house under $850,000 in a walkable neighborhood central to restaurants, breweries and activities.
- Top 3 wish list items: great outdoor space for entertaining, big kitchen, and a layout that would support them both working remotely without wanting to kill each other.
- A screened in porch was a nice to have.
Timeline: They started the process in November 2020, and moved to Charlotte in January 2021. They lived with family and spent two months aggressively looking at homes.
Option 1: Painted white brick
Listed for: $699,000
Sold for: $735,000
Neighborhood: Chantilly
Specs: 4 beds, 3 baths, 2,760 square feet
Why it made the cut: They loved the layout, especially since it has space for two home offices and is larger than it appears from the outside.
- They also liked the size of the backyard, with two outdoor living spaces, including the screened-in porch.
- It was listed well below their budget, which would give them room to make needed updates comfortably.
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Option 2: Curb appeal cottage
Listed for: $859,000
Sold for: $885,000
Neighborhood: Elizabeth
Specs: 4 beds, 3 baths, 2,761 square feet
Why it made the cut: They loved the curb appeal and open kitchen.
- It also had a detached work space that could be an office.
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Option 3: Sedgefield stunner
Listed for: $850,000
Sold for: $805,000
Neighborhood: Sedgefield
Specs: 3 beds, 3 baths, 2,379 square feet
Why it made the cut: They loved how walkable the neighborhood is and the entertainment-friendly backyard.
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If you chose Option 1, the painted white brick, you’re correct.
How it went: They started doing research on Charlotte neighborhoods and realtors and finalizing their budget in November 2020, Becky said. They made one trip down to meet their agent, Lisa Warren, before moving here in January to start aggressively searching.
“We saw about 60 houses in two months and only put offers on two houses (the second one, we got!),” Becky said. “It was stressful but exciting!”
No. 1 piece of advice: “Find an agent you love and trust. We had the most incredible experience with Lisa Warren from Cottingham Chalk. She was patient, responsive, helpful and positive throughout our entire journey. She was equally invested in helping us found a house we LOVE and never urged us to settle. We are so happy in our new home.” — Becky
If you’re house (or apartment) hunting right now, we want to follow your journey. Email me at [email protected] with what’s on your home wish list and your budget.
- This series was inspired by the New York Times. If you’re curious what home-buying in New York is like, take a peek at their series, The Hunt.