Auston Woods Apartment Homes Blog

The Auston Woods Welcome Center will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2011 in observance of Labor Day. We hope that everyone has a safe and happy extended weekend.

Children of all ages come out for a community movie night. We will be viewing “Rio” (2011 - Rated G), the story of a blue macaw, Blu, who is taken to Rio de Janeiro to save his species. With the aid of a colorful group of friends, Blu sets out on an adventure to escape from an evil Cockatoo, Nigel, and his fumbling, bird-smuggling owner.

The viewing will be at 7pm on Friday, September 23rd at the Resident Activity Center. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Popcorn and sugar-free Kool-Aid® will be provided while supplies last.

We all need a place to call home but even with the real estate downturn, many people continue to think that buying a home is a good investment and a way for them to build wealth. When times were good, this was not really the case for most people. Wherever you choose to live, make sure it’s for the right reasons. Owning a home can be rewarding. Renting an apartment home with Auston Woods can also be very rewarding. Don’t just take our word for it - check out this article on Yahoo Finance - Why Your Home is not the investment you think it is. In recent months, the housing market, interest rates and the economy have been the focus of many news stories and are key issues in the political arena. Consumers have been inundated for years with visions of the American Dream and why homeownership is a great investment.

As seen with the recent housing crisis, homeownership may not be right for everyone.

• If you bought in Rochester, N.Y., in 1980, you would have seen only a mediocre 4% annual growth for the next 25 years.
• If you bought in Dallas in 1986, as the oil boom went bust, your home wouldn’t have appreciated at all before 1998.

It is also important to look at the “net appreciation”. Most people do not subtract all of the interest paid to the banks, maintenance, decorating costs, closing costs, taxes, and insurance from the appreciation. In many cases, especially if you do not own your home for more than a few years, there is not true appreciation and in more and more cases, there is negative appreciation. Many do not realize the real financial and practical advantages HHHunt residents experience every year when they decide to rent an apartment home at one of our communities.

There are just a couple of points to consider and think about. Renting is a long term investment and very rewarding. Especially in the North Carolina area we are a respected and very diverse community. Be sure to take a look at our communities and our activities we have to offer. Our unique apartment homes at Auston Woods combine convenience, comfort, and technology for today’s lifestyle in our apartment homes. Our beautiful interiors are designed to optimize the way you live, work, and play. Contact us today to learn more about renting at Auston Woods, or feel free to stop in and take a tour of our community.

Apartments in Charlotte, NC

"Pimp My Valentine's Day"

Enter to win $200 and a limo ride* for your Valentine from OpenTable and Limos.com! Learn more.

Beat The valentine's Day Rush, February 14 is Just 2 Weeks Away!

OpenTable makes Valentine's Day seductively simple! Reservations are going fast, but with our vast list of restaurants, there are premium tables to be had Valentine's weekend. Book a Table for Valentine's Day.

1,000-Point Reservations, Earn Free Meals Faster

With just one of our special 1,000-Point Reservations, you earn ten times the Dining Points of a standard reservation. 2,000 Points gets you a $20 Dining Cheque from OpenTable, so you can reap your rewards after dining out only twice! Learn more.

OpenTable Diner's Choice, As Voted on by OpenTable Diners

Thanks to the Dining Feedback forms from diners like you, we've got ratings on everything. Want to pick a restaurant based on the wine selection? We've got a list for that. Looking for some place romantic? Good for groups? Open late? Kid friendly? We've got you covered. See All Lists for Charlotte.

Apartments in Charlotte, NC

Enjoy a culinary extravaganza during this 10-Day celebration of Charlotte's restaurant scene. From Friday, January 21, through Sunday, January 30, each participating upscale restaurant will offer a spectacular 3-course, prix fixe dinner menu for only $30 per person (not including tax and gratuity).

It's a royal opportunity to experience Charlotte's ever-expanding array of dining options and remarkable chefs, from popular favorites to new hot-spots.

Reservations are recommended. Peruse the participating restaurants to learn more about their offerings and how to book your table.

Also, explore options for transportation and parking during Charlotte Restaurant Week.

Click Here to join the Queen's Feast® email list for news and updates.

So you’ve just moved into your new apartment, great! How exciting is this, a new start in a new place! When searching for apartments you only visited the ones you believe to be in a desired location; but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t follow a few extra resident safety precautions. Here are a few tips Auston Woods recommend:

Resident Safety Tip Sheet

As a resident at an HHHunt Community we unfortunately can never provide any assurances or guarantees for your personal safety.  Crime and other emergencies are often inescapable and occur indiscriminately.  However, all of our residents can be certain we are committed to a proactive approach concerning deterring and managing criminal activity at our communities.  It is in your best interest and ours to take the necessary steps to deter crime from occurring when possible.  Below are some general safety tips for you to follow while living at our community to help protect yourself, your family and your property from criminal acts.

• Always report suspicious people or cars to the proper authorities, then to the Management Team
• Keep all doors and windows locked in your apartment home, even if home or taking a short walk.
• Never open your door to strangers and report solicitors to the Management Team immediately.
• Teach your children not to open the doors to strangers, talk to strangers, or get into a vehicle with any strangers and to report strangers to an adult..
• Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid strangers at night.
• Avoid walking or running alone at night.
• Avoid using headphones while walking or running.
• If someone in a vehicle stops and asks for directions, answer from a distance. Do not approach the vehicle.
• Try to take trash out during daylight hours.
• Never give amenity access codes or gate keys or codes to friends or guests.
• Do not label your keys with your address.
• Report inoperable window or door locks to the Management Team.  Inoperable window and door locks are considered emergency service requests.
• Do not discard mail with your name and address listed into common area trash receptacles.  Shred all mail or documents with your personal information (name, address, social security number, etc.) listed prior to disposing.
• Never publicize planned vacations or business trips.  This may notify potential burglars of opportunities to commit theft.
• Use lamp timer devices when out of town for an extended period of time.
• Request a mail and newspaper stop when out of town.
• Let a spouse, friend or other relative know your whereabouts, especially if you live alone.
• Vary your routine.
• Do not hide a key to your apartment under a mat, plant or other patio decoration.  Give a spare key to a trusted friend or relative instead.
• Purchase a Renter’s Insurance policy to cover loss of personal property due to theft.
• Purchase Comprehensive Insurance to cover loss due to auto theft.
• Take pictures or a video inventory of all valuable possessions in case of theft or fire.
• Never leave candles, oil lamps, stoves, ovens, or any other heat-producing element unattended.  
• Know all escape routes from the building and discuss escape routes and how to react in the event of fire with all family members.
• Report lighting outages in the breezeway to the Management Team.
• Check the backseat before entering your vehicle.
• Always lock your car doors.  
• Never leave packages, store bags, and other valuables in plain sight in your car.
• Avoid leaving cars running in the parking lot unattended to “warm up” during winter months.
• Always have car keys or apartment keys in hand when walking to and from your vehicle.  Never overload yourself with packages, bags or groceries when coming home.
• Do not leave your keys in your car.
• Develop a Family Emergency Plan to prepare for natural disasters, fire, crime, acts of terrorism and other emergencies and communicate to all family members.

Apartment living does not have to mean a life without pets. Though some landlords and building managers do have restrictions regarding pets, smaller spaces should not limit your ability to enjoy the companionship and joy of owning a pet. We allow our residents to enjoy the company of their animal. In fact, our apartment complex is the perfect environment for owning unique and exciting pets. Cats and dogs can make great pets, but the restriction of a smaller space can be the perfect reason to branch out in your pet ownership. At Austin Woods we allow dogs & cats (no aggressive breeds) and exotic pets are allowed with management permission.

Birds of different types can be a colorful and inviting addition to an apartment. Not only do these lovely animals brighten a room, they can also add a liveliness to your home through their beautiful singing. It is important to consider how loud a bird species can be before you purchase one as a pet. If sound travels easily through your building, it is important to be considerate of others and not own a pet that may keep others up at night. Birds, which do well even in limited space, may be a perfect addition to your family and apartment.

If birds do not seem like the right option for your home, a ferret may be the perfect choice. These interactive, curious, and excitable pets can do well in a home of any size. A cage is essential for keeping ferrets in your home, but these environments can find a place in any apartment. The larger the cage, the more a ferret will enjoy it's home. But ferrets can also be allowed to roam throughout a house as long as they can be supervised.

If inquiring about animal fees or owning a pet in your apartment we do have a pet fee. 1 Pet $350 flat non-refundable fee, 2 Pets $500 non-refundable flat fee, $250 non-refundable pet fee for caged animals including: ferrets, rabbits, chinchillas and prairie dogs. And only a limit of 2 pets per home. Contact us today to find out how you can join our lovely comunnity and be a aprt of Charlotte's own Austin Woods.