Charlotte City Guide

Charlotte is, without a doubt, a city on the rise. People from all over are flocking to the city for its relatively low cost of living, entrepreneurial spirit, access to nature, and much more. Here are 10 things to know before making the move to the "Queen City".

10 Things to Know Before Moving to Charlotte, NC

Durham is more than the old tobacco town it once was. The city is now a place with a rich history, loads of innovation and a vibrant culture. Also called the "City of Medicine" or "Bull City", it's full of great people, food, jobs, nature and much more!

Durham Skyline 

Durham is more than the old tobacco town it once was. The city is now a place with a rich history, loads of innovation, and a vibrant culture. Also called the "City of Medicine" or "Bull City", it's full of great people, food, jobs, nature, and much more!

10 Things to Know Before Moving to Durham, NC

Raleigh image

Raleigh has grown into a hub of innovation unmatched by any other city in the Southeast. With its great business climate, top-tier universities, and affordable lifestyle, Raleigh has become a great place to lay roots. Here are 10 things that make Raleigh an amazing place to move to.

10 Things to Know Before Moving to Raleigh 

Being a good neighbor is important. Learn some ways that you can improve your neighbor relationship 

be a good neighbor

Neighbors are the people who are always there. Though you may not interact with them, they exist. Stay on good terms with your neighbor, as they are the people you have to see daily. Being cordial with your neighbor makes living, no matter where you are, much easier.

10 Ways to be a Good Neighbor 

best places to live in charlotte, nc

There are a few different neighborhoods in Charlotte, all with their own charm and charisma. The area you choose depends on your budget, taste and needs, but all of these are great options for the right person.

5 Best Neighborhoods in Charlotte, NC

Alcove Home

Rentals might not have any personality, but that’s where you come in. Adding some personal touches to your rental property can make the space feel more like home. Follow the 5 tips to make your space feel like your own!

5 Ways to Personalize Your Rental 

Stay safe with your roommates and practice social distancing 

Social Distancing

The days of social distancing are still very much here - if you’ve recently moved into a coliving home, what do you do? To keep everyone safe, you should stick to socially distant activities while the Coronavirus pandemic continues. If you’re looking for some inspiration, we have some ideas right here!

6 Socially Distant Activities to do With Roommates

Decorating your bedroom with plants, area rugs and mirrors is just the start.

6 Ways to Decorate Your Bedroom

There are many ways you can easily and affordably decorate your bedroom (no matter the size) to make it feel cozier and trendy, especially when renting a room. Here are a few ways to make your room look and feel amazing!

6 Ways to Easily Decorate a Small Bedroom

Best Indoor Plants

Looking for indoor plants that are easy to care for? These are the best indoor plants that will add beauty to any living space and won't instantly die on you. 

7 Best Indoor Plants Anyone Can Grow

These indoor plants will not only keep your furry friend safe but will also add natural beauty to your home.

9 Pet Friendly Indoor Plants

Looking for indoor plants that are also safe for your dogs and cats? These 9 houseplants are not only non-toxic to pets but will also add beautiful color and texture to your home decor. 

learn more about room rentals with Alcove

renters guide to raleigh

Raleigh, N.C., has been on the rise as one of the best cities in the Southeast and as a result, it’s seen an influx of people from all over the country. From its culture to the emerging tech scene, this city could be the perfect destination if you’re looking for a new place to call home. 

A Renter’s Guide to Moving to Raleigh, N.C.

Alcove Rooms will assist in the management of your real estate

property management in raleigh and durham

With Alcove on your team, many of the property management tasks are handed off, resulting in happier tenants, aligned incentives with property managements firms and landlords, and much more - all at no extra cost. Learn how property management works in this article and reach out to us if you're interested in listing your property with Alcove Rooms.

How Alcove Works with Property Managers

biggerpockets and alcove rooms host a networking meetup for property managers, real estate investors, and enthusiasts

Alcove and Bigger Pockets

Alcove Rooms and BiggerPockets host a networking event for real estate investors and property managers.


Alcove Meetup with Bigger Pockets

Charlotte, NC

Alcove is expanding their coliving platform and services to one of the fastest growing metro areas in the US - Charlotte, NC

Alcove's Brings Coliving to Charlotte, NC

Justin Smith, head of property acquisition at Alcove

Alcove unveils growth plans to launch in Charlotte, NC at their inaugural real estate investor's meetup in their Durham HQ.

Alcove Unveils Growth Plans for Charlotte, NC

atlanta skyline

Are you ready to pack your bags and head to Atlanta, Georgia? Learn more about this great southern city in our guide. Which of the places that we have mentioned in our Atlanta City Guide would you love to visit first? 

Alcove's Atlanta City Guide: Top Things to See and Do in Atlanta, GA

tampa bay skyline

Tampa Bay is a hidden gem in the southeast known for its great restaurant scene, active nightlife, access to breathtaking nature and more. Learn more about visiting Tampa Bay in our city guide - maybe you'll want to live there!

Alcove's Tampa City Guide: Top Things to See and Do in Tampa, FL

real estate investing in raleigh-durham, nc

raleigh-durham

Coliving represents a new model for both people looking to move, and for real estate investors trying to build a portfolio. Here are the best places to buy investment properties in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina.

Where Are the Best Places to Buy Investment Property in Raleigh-Durham?

Property Managers are hired to oversee the day-to-day operations of a unit of real estate.

What is a Property Manager?

In this article, we list the best property management firms in the Raleigh-Durham area. A property manager is a bridge between you, the tenant, and the landlord. Your property manager will be your first point of contact if you have any inquiries about the property or if any issues arise during your stay.

Best Property Management in Raleigh and Durham

Durham is full of amazing restaurants that will hit your cravings throughout the day. 

Durham restaurants Header

Looking for the best breakfast, lunch, and dinner restaurants in Durham, NC? These top restaurants will keep you coming back to the Bull City for more.


Best Restaurants in Durham, NC

Raleigh is home to some of the best restaurants in the southeast

Best Raleigh Restaurants

Looking for the best breakfast, lunch, or dinner in Raleigh, NC? These top restaurants are every food lover's dream and will satisfy your cravings throughout the day. 

Best Restaurants in Raleigh, NC 

best rental sites for landlor

Finding good tenants is difficult as a landlord or property manager. In this article, we list out a few great sites for finding high-quality tenants. We may be biased, but we think Alcove is the best of them all.

What Are the Best Sites to Find Renters For Your Rental Properties?

Breaking the Preconceived Notion of Co-living 

Breaking the Preconceived Notion of Co-living hero

These preconceived notions about coliving make it, so potential tenants don’t give it a chance. What people don’t hear, however, are the great benefits that can come with coliving. These are some notions that have been debunked. 

Breaking the Preconceived Notions of Coliving

why alcove is different

Alcove Rooms makes shared living easy. Match with great roommates, apply to rooms, and find community!


Why is Coliving Different Than Traditional Renting?

single family build to rent

Because the per-bedroom model is optimized for long-term, per-bedroom leases,  occupancy will be maximized and NOI will increase substantially. If you're interested in seeing how much you can earn with per-bedroom leasing, try our Coliving Rent Estimator. 

Earn more rental income with coliving

durham real estate

Emerging real estate trends in Raleigh-Durham, NC and beyond. 

Emerging Real Estate Trends for Raleigh-Durham in 2021

Renting a home for the first time is hard. These tips should help!

First time renters 

Is it your first time renting a home? Don't know how to begin? This step by step guide to renting your first home or apartment should help! In this guide, we’ll detail exactly how to find an apartment to rent and critical things to look out for. 

Renting for the first time?

Co-living has a rich history and is now one of the most popular ways to live.

History of Coliving hero

Coliving is the act of living together in one community, with a group of like-minded people. You’ll probably all work remotely, and while you certainly won’t be obliged to do everything together, many mealtimes and activities are communal. But how did this concept come about? In this article, we’ll look at the history of coliving and how it became the movement it is today.

History of the Coliving Movement 

homeowner faqs

Alcove's coliving platform matches renters to private rooms in shared homes. We answer a few of our most frequently asked questions in this article. If you're a homeowner or property manager considering listing with Alcove, we encourage you to read it!

Homeowner FAQs - How does Alcove work?

calculate rent image

Rent tends to be one of the more expensive bills when it comes to financing and budgeting every month. It’s the major bill that causes people worry and stress. If you can’t afford rent, you won’t have a place to live. It’s important to calculate your rent budget before settling in a place. 

How to Calculate Your Rent Budget

clean bedroom

Deep cleaning your apartment or home is a great way to live healthier and feel a sense of accomplishment. We hop this deep cleaning guide can help inspire you to take the first steps!

How to Deep Clean With a Room-by-Room Checklist

Living with roommates can be tough. Follow these tips on how to improve your roommate relationship 

How to improve a roommate relationship 

 Roommates can be friends, family, and sometimes even strangers. All of these kinds of roommates can have altercations that lead to bad relationships. It’s on those roommates to work to improve that bond so they can co-exist peacefully. These tips will help roommates improve their relationship and hopefully allow you to enjoy your shared home even more.   

How to Improve a Roommate Relationship 

Alcove for property managers and landlords

List Your Property

Higher occupancy, maximized revenue and high-quality tenants

How to List Your Property on Alcove

Alcove per-bedroom leasing will allow you to earn more than traditional renting

list your home on Alcove

How to maximize rental income with your investment property? Simple. Use Alcove and earn more than you would traditionally with per-bedroom leasing. Learn more about listing your home on Alcove in the article.

How to Maximize Income for Your Investment Property

These two roommates are discussing ways to save money in their Co-living home

Roommates Talking

Just moved into a coliving home? Have you been living with housemates for a while? Whatever situation your house is in, you might wonder how you can save some money as a group. This article will give you some ideas about doing just that. 

How to Save Money as Roommates 

Co living with alcove is most defiantly a safe renting option. Our premium support team is here to help you every step of the way!

Is coliving safe hero

Many people come to us with the important question of coliving and its safety. We understand that people usually get skeptical when talking about coliving with random people. Thus, we decided to explain everything you need to know about coliving and its benefits. 

Is Coliving Safe?

Rooms for rent in Raleigh-Durham. Match with roommates, all-inclusive prices and more with the best co-living experience you can find.

LivingLab is now Alcove

New name, same great coliving experience.

The rental market is shifting as young professionals look towards shared, communal living over entry-level homes

Maximizing Net Operating Income

Alcove provides the systems and technology to make the experience of finding roommates and maximizing your real estate assets' net operating income one and the same. 

Maximizing Rental NOI with Coliving

Downtown Durham is a vibrant and fast-growing city. 

Downtown Durham

Should you move to Durham, NC? Find out the top 5 reasons people love Durham and if it's the right city for you.

Top 5 Reasons People Are Moving to Durham, NC

Raleigh, NC is growing like crazy. The City of Oaks is a hub of innovation and is great for starting families.

Relocating to Raleigh, NC

Should you move to Raleigh, NC? Find out the top 6 reasons people love living in Raleigh, and if it's the right city for you.

6 Reasons People Are Moving to Raleigh, NC and Loving It

Try Co-Living

Across the country, rent prices are rising at an unprecedented rate. Coliving is the remedy , and presents a win-win scenario for both tenants and landlords.

Our Approach to Rising Rent: Coliving

finding roommates in Raleigh or Durham can be difficult, but with Alcove it's easy

Resolving roommate conflicts

Here are some ways to peacefully settle any tension between you and your roommate. 1. Talk about it. At times the best way to resolve an issue is to have an open conversation about what's bothering you. 2. Negotiate. Compromise on a new way of doing things until you reach an agreement. 3. Check the Roommate Agreement. Look back on the terms you initially agreed to. 

Resolution Strategies for Roommate Conflict

Follow these steps to create moody or ambient bedroom lighting

How to create great bedroom lighting

Even if you're renting, creating a functional and comfortable bedroom space is essential. Lighting can go a long way to help create the right mood, so follow these steps to learn how to create the best lighting in your room.

The Best Ways to Light Your Bedroom

There are many hidden costs of moving that most people don't realize 

hidden cost of moving hero 

If you’re planning on moving sometime soon, it’s worth taking a look at the cost of it all. We don’t mean paying more for rent; there are actually several hidden fees you should watch out for. Here are some things to consider when you are moving. Make sure that you’ve saved some money up for these! 

The Hidden Costs of Moving

These roommates are happily living in their co-living home.

Find Your Ideal Roommate

Finding a roommate can be stressful, scary, and nerve-racking. Here are some tips to make roommate hunting a breeze and not your living nightmare.

Tips For Finding a Good Roommate 

7 tips for stress-free apartment hunting. 

Stress-Free Apartment Hunting

If you're moving to a new city finding a place to live can be overwhelming. Here are 7 things you can do right now to find your ideal rental even from a long-distance. 

Moving to a New City? 7 Tips for Finding an Apartment From Afar

top 5 benefits of co-living hero 

Modern coliving is unlike any other living situation. There are many benefits that you can not find anywhere else! Coliving with Alcove is really living made easy. Our support team has your best interest in mind and does their best to find you the perfect home.

Top 5 Benefits of Alcove Coliving

investing in charlotte, nc is a great way to find the rental income you're looking for.

charlotte real estate investors

Hundreds of people from across the country move to Charlotte every single day, looking for the suburban peace and comfort, combined with the amenities of the large city. Find the best places to invest in real estate in Charlotte, NC.

Top 5 Places to Buy Investment Property in Charlotte, NC 

single family homes and build to rent

The build-to-rent shift has allowed the scalability of the real estate investors business. It's become another type of asset in the ever-growing real estate investor portfolio.

Trends in Real Estate: Build-to-Rent

national mall dc

Planning a trip to Washington D.C.? Or maybe you're relocating to this iconic city? We'll guide you through the best things to see and do in D.C. in our city guide. Let's check it out!

Washington, D.C. City Guide: Top Things to See and Do in the US Capital

Make your apartment more sustainable to do your part in protecting the planet 

Sustainability 

Everyone should do their part to take care of the environment. Whether that means carrying around a metal straw or using reusable grocery bags at the grocery store, every action counts. Home renters and owners can do their part, too. These are ways to make your apartment more sustainable. 

Ways to Make Your Coliving Home More Sustainable

best websites for finding roommates

Finding roommates is difficult. However, there are now tons of great websites you can use to find the best match for you. Alcove is shared living made easy.

What Are the Best Websites to Find Roommates?

real estate broker

Learning how to perform a CMA, or comparative market analysis, properly will be one of the most helpful things you know about the real estate industry. Let’s take a look at what a CMA is and how you should be doing them.

What is a CMA, or Comparative Market Analysis?

These roommates are happily enjoying their shared living space in their beautiful coliving home

Roomates

 No matter who your roommate is or where you’re living, it’s important to set up a roommate agreement. A roommate agreement puts into writing the duties, rules, and obligations that are expected of each roommate. If one roommate was to not follow through with the roommate agreement, this document could be used to prove that the roommate initially agreed to that rule. This agreement also lays out exactly what each roommate expects of the other, which removes any stress or worry that may occur without it. Overall, roommate agreements make coexisting simpler for everyone involved. These are the most important ideas to cover on a roommate agreement. 

What is a Roommate Agreement and Why is it Important?

A security deposit is collected upon move in to ensure any damages a tenant may cause to a home. If you don't ruin anything you will get this sum of money back 

security deposit 

When renting an apartment, there are many fees involved. Many landlords request first and last month’s rent, a rental fee, and a security deposit. Some may ask for more or less, but it’s fairly uncommon you’ll rent an apartment without a security deposit. Because of this, you should know everything about them. 

What is a Security Deposit?

This is one of the many beautiful homes available for rent through alcove 

When you are renting a property, it’s crucial to know exactly what is included in the money that you pay out each month. Sometimes, the money that you pay your landlord will literally just cover the use of the space (and potentially its furniture, if your property is furnished) each month. Other times, your rent may be all-inclusive. But what is all-inclusive rent? Let’s explain. 

What is All-Inclusive Rent?

properties

Depending on where you live, it may be inevitable to live in a community with an HOA. They have become more common in single family neighborhoods. Learn more about what HOAs are and how they work in this article.

Locations

Washington, D.C. City Guide: Top Things to See and Do in the US Capital

What is Net Operating Income?

Alcove's Atlanta City Guide: Top Things to See and Do in Atlanta, GA

What is an HOA?

Earn more rental income with coliving

What is the 1% Rule for Real Estate Investors?

What is a CMA, or Comparative Market Analysis?