1800 Charles Street

Inside Raleigh's Beltline, does an affordable, move-in-ready starter home still exist? Most people have stopped asking. Short answer: it does, and it happens to be durn cute. This one-level unicorn rests in Rochester Heights, a National Register historic district of midcentury ranches near downtown. // With light pouring in from every direction, the interior is cheerful enough to make a sad clown smile. Underfoot, original 1960 hardwoods catch that light and warm it. // Three bedrooms. And a second bathroom, too. Anyone who has shared one knows what that's worth. // The Walnut Creek Greenway runs along the edge of the neighborhood, about halfway between Lake Johnson and the Neuse River. And the lot? Over a third of an acre, with room to add on someday. Or frolic. So yes, it still exists. The address is 1800 Charles Street.©