A Ribbon Neighborhood Guide: Charlotte, NC

Charlotte is one of the fastest growing metro areas in the country. The Queen City, named after the wife of England’s King George III, is beloved by its 2.5 million residents for its outdoor activities, live music, and many different places to live. On average, 91 people move to one of Charlotte’s 11 counties each day. It’s an exciting time to be joining the city—business is booming! Wondering if Charlotte is right next step for you? You’re in the right place. Let’s dive in.

Employment 

Charlotte has a strong job market with unemployment at 5.9%, below the national average of 6.7%. As one of the fastest-growing metro areas, new employers are constantly moving into the area – like Honeywell and Wells Fargo. Some of the best employers to work for in Charlotte include Bank of America, Red Ventures, Atrium Health, Wells Fargo, Duke Energy, and Amazon. With hundreds of open positions at top employers, you’re likely to find a position with great growth potential and big communities of coworkers to explore the city with.

School Districts 

Charlotte has more than 10 public school districts and many private schools as well. Some of the top Charlotte school districts are Fort Mill School District, Clover School District, and Union County Public Schools.  In terms of top schools, the top 3 elementary schools in Charlotte are Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy, Gold Hill Elementary School, and Pine Lake Preparatory School. The top 3 middle schools are Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy, Pleasant Knoll Middle School, and Pine Lake Preparatory School. For high schools, the top 3 schools are Ardrey Kell High School, Marvin Ridge High School, and Weddington High School. Want to ensure you’re in these district lines? Make sure to mention it to your real estate agent so they can prioritize when pulling homes for you to look at.

Amenities 

There’s no shortage of things to do in Charlotte. With over 300 square miles of a variety of neighborhoods—from Uptown, to art districts, to historical areas—Charlotte has it all. One of the best restaurants to visit in Charlotte is Kindred, a small-plate restaurant that’s won numerous awards. Great service and unique dishes make Kindred a must-visit restaurant. Don’t miss out on the fried oysters with dill yogurt. You can even order online for COVID-safe pick up!

If shopping is more your speed, Charlotte is perfect for you. From South Park Mall, the premier shopping destination, to outlet malls, like Concord Mills, Charlotte’s shopping scene has plenty of options in a wide range of costs.

Charlotte is also home to a variety of attractions, like the Billy Graham Library, Freedom Park, NASCAR Hall of Fame, and Discovery Place Science, which is a great place for kids.

Outdoors more your speed? The U.S. National Whitewater Center has a variety of outdoor activities that are perfect for nature lovers, like mountain biking, ziplining, and whitewater rafting. It also offers live music, drinks, and ice skating in the winter. A total find. Other great Charlotte outdoor places are Lake Norman, Morrow Mountain State Park, and nearby Myrtle Beach. And this is just the beginning list.

Real Estate Trends 

The last thing we need to discuss is, of course, what’s going on with the real estate market. Charlotte has been in a real estate boom for a while now, and 2020 was no exception. Demand surged even higher than usual due to low interest rates and low inventory remained. In December, there were 55% fewer homes on the market than the same time the year before. This strong seller’s market has pushed the average sales price up 11.7% to $334,985.

With low inventory, rising prices, and strong competition, it’s a challenging time to be a buyer in the area. However, low interest rates still make now a good time to buy. If you’re looking to move to Charlotte, you should upgrade your offer to cash to make sure you secure your dream home. We can help with that.

See you in Charlotte!