Why Charlotte, NC?

If you're facing a move to North Carolina, particularly the south-central portion of the state, you may find that Charlotte has many of the attractive features you look for in a new home. Whether you are moving to be closer to family, for work or just a new start, North Carolina's largest city is also one of its most eclectic. From the primarily business district known as Uptown to the arts district around North Davidson Street, known as NoDa to locals, Charlotte has a little something for everyone.

Before moving to a new city, it is important to investigate the local economy, school districts and property values. Charlotte is home to several of the nation's largest banking centers, making it one of the United States' key financial hubs. Several Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Charlotte, including Wachovia, Goodrich and Duke Energy, among many others. With numbers like these, if you are not already moving to Charlotte for work, maybe you should. Charlotte's unemployment rate of 3.9% is below the national average of 4.6% and the average household income of nearly $55k beats the national average by over $10,000.

Of course what you are going to be primarily interested in when considering Charlotte is its real estate. The majority of the houses in Charlotte are in the price range of $100,000 to $300,000. This doesn't exactly give you a very good indication of how it stacks up to the rest of the country unless you can see the homes for yourself which is why you should take some time to visit and decide if it is what you are looking for. However you may be pleasantly surprised to find that Charlotte is one of the less expensive cities in the United States for housing. This does not, however, detract the city's appeal.

There are more than thirty neighborhoods and areas of Charlotte to choose from when deciding where you want to live. That does not include the hundreds of subdivisions, just the major areas. Myers Park is one of the most notable areas of Charlotte and is home to many of the more prominent members of society. Most average working-class homeowners-probably like yourself-will not be able to afford a home here anytime soon, but it is fun to look. You can take a walking tour of the upscale Charlotte neighborhood and see places like Duke Mansion and E.C. Marshall House, among others.

Just south of Uptown Charlotte is a charming historic neighborhood known as Dilworth. Anyone who loves history and the buildings it happened among will find Dilworth breathtaking, but don't let it's quaintness fool you. Dilworth is also home to Charlotte's largest hospital, Carolina's Medical Center, which happens to boast the area's only level one trauma center. This can be a very attractive resource to anyone with children that are constantly getting hurt. It is really a comforting thought to anyone at all, with or without accident-prone youngsters.

Charlotte is one of the most attractive and growing cities in the Southeastern United States. Because the largest demographic is made up of young professionals between the ages of 25 and 30, it is an excellent place to start if you are just out of college and beginning your life in the real world. It also has an excellent school system which makes it attractive for families with children or planning to have them. You are almost certain to find a home that suits your needs in one of the many neighborhoods of Charlotte so take a trip and check it out. You might be surprised by what this "Little Southern Town" has to offer.

Keith is a Realtor with Golden Realty in the South Charlotte area. He is a member of the National, North Carolina, and Charlotte Association of Realtors. I used to belong to the Long Island board of realtors, making happy homes for people there. Now, I have finally convinced my wife to move down to Charlotte from Long Island, NY. So if you're ready to move into a fine area or you're ready to move on out, then give me a call at 704-607-4729. I want what's best for...

...our Neighbors, our Friends, our Families!