With a population of 44,000 Kannapolis is a small town but very conveniently located to Charlotte and the Piedmont area.  Originally a mill town the city is now home of the NC Research Campus which was developed as an economic revitalization tool and which dominates the downtown landscape.

Kannapolis boasts its own AAA baseball team, the Intimidators as well as the NC Music Hall of Fame.

Homes in Kannapolis are cheaper than in Charlotte and in neighboring Concord and recent improvements to both I-85 and the completion of I-485 have made the city an attractive option to many seeking a more economical housing option or who enjoy the small-town feel.   You can still buy a smaller single family home for well under $100k in Kannapolis but most properties are older and there are very few townhome/condo opportunities. 

City of Kannapolis

Pineville occupies a fantastic location in the Charlotte-metro area. With easy access to I-77 and the I-485 loop as well as the Lynx light rail service it’s perfect for uptown commuters.   The old town center offers mainstreet shopping but Carolina Place Mall along with its numerous big box neighbors makes Pineville a center for retail shopping within Mecklenburg county.

In 2015 Movoto named Pineville the #1 Charlotte suburb for Young Professionals (article here) 

Citing the easy commute and the relative affordability of homes.

Relatively few properties come to market in the Pineville area reflecting the low inventory in the general Charlotte area.  Homes start in the mid $150s for townhomes and the $200s for single family homes.

Uptown’s Fourth Ward extends to the north-west from Trade and Tryon to the I-277 loop. There are some beautiful single family homes in this area – mostly located along Poplar and Pine and W.9th and 8th streets. These homes are generally around 2000 sq ft and priced at over $500k this is an expensive choice but popular with those who enjoy a small town feel so close to the city center. Due to high demand it’s extremely difficult to find one of these properties.

Condos are much easier to find – but even the smaller units are expensive and sell quickly. Most of the condos are although a few older buildings like “The Poplar” built in 1927 are located in this area.

This uptown area offers a great commute and is walking distance from most of Uptown’s sports and entertainment venues.

Friends of Fourth Ward

• RiRa Irish Pub
• Charlotte Ballet
• VBGB Beer Garden