Ballantyne is located just south of the I-485 loop between Rea Road and Pineville. Homes in this area are almost exclusively in newer subdivisions with houses starting in the mid $200s and going up into the $1million+ range. This area is extremely popular due to convenient location and properties frequently sell more quickly than the average for the Charlotte area.
Ballantyne offers a wide range of shopping and dining and recreation activities. Popular choices include the Ballantyne Hotel which offers golf, fine dining at the Gallery Restaurant and a very fine traditional Afternoon Tea. If you prefer something more casual you might enjoy Elwoods Barbecue and Burger Bar – popular for great food, local craft beers & live entertainment.
The great thing about the Ballantyne area is that it really does cater to every need – however, if you crave something new then you’re just a few minutes from I-485. Carolina Place Mall is just a few minutes away and it’s only 30 minutes to both uptown Charlotte and Lake Wylie. Truly a great spot – close to everything!
If you're looking for an easy commute (about 30 mins to Charlotte) popular school district, lower taxes and the added bonus of living near the Charlotte Motor Speedway then Concord may be the place for you!
Easily accessible via I-85 and highway 29 Concord even has its own airport should your commute take you further afield.
There are plentiful shopping and entertainment opportunities including the highly rated Concord Mills Mall and various motorsports events & venues.
Dining choices include local favorites and the big chains.
The City of Concord extends over a wide area and includes homes in the historic downtown, new suburbs and quieter rural areas. Home prices start in the mid $100ks for a single family home.
The town of Cornelius offers lots of options for anyone who wants to live near Lake Norman.
The older town is located East of I-77 along with a good range of newer subdivisions offering both town-homes and single family houses with condos starting in the mid $100s.
To the West of I-77 Cornelius hugs Lake Norman with about 70 miles of shoreline. There are numerous lake front homes and subdivisions.
The largest lakeside subdivision, The Peninsula is built around a golf course, country club and yacht club. Custom built homes in this neighborhood come in every conceivable style and can cost as much as $4million. There are however more affordable non-waterfront homes starting in the $500s
Cornelius offers several parks, ample dining & shopping opportunities and a small town feel which adds to its popularity.
Cotswold is to the north east of Charlotte just a few miles from Uptown.
Many homes here were built in the 1950s and 1960s and the design aesthetic of that era shows with lots of ranch & split level properties on large lots.
The area is well established and the wealth of trees and homes with large yards adds to the attraction. Families living here enjoy the proximity to good schools and with the additional advantage of just how close Cotswold is to Uptown it’s easy to understand the appeal of this neighborhood.
Recent building on infill sites has included townhomes & condos and some newer single family homes bringing some new options.
Cotswold Shopping Center offers a wide range of stores and restaurants and much of the area is walkable with sidewalks connecting the various subdivisions.
Very few homes in this area become available at less than $200K and single family homes generally start around the mid $300s.
Just 20 miles north of Charlotte on the banks of Lake Norman you’ll find Davidson, a quaint college town with its own great character.
Frequently listed as a top town to live in North Carolina - after just one visit you'll understand why.
Downtown is like something out of an old photograph with its traditional storefronts and the red brick campus buildings side by side on the main street.
This most northerly part of Charlotte benefits from a great location close to all 3 major highways. It’s the perfect location for commuters who work in the uptown during the week but who want to be close to Lake Norman at the weekend. Shopping at nearby Northlake Mall and easy access to Concord Mills Mall as well as wide variety nearby parks, recreational activities and schools with good reputations makes this a popular choice for families.
There is a wide range of property options in this area with older and newer subdivisions side by side. Prices range can be as high as the mid $300ks for a custom home in Davis but there are numerous houses and townhomes available starting in the low $100ks.
Just south-west of Uptown, Dilworth is one of Charlotte’s original suburbs and still one of the most popular. Just south of Uptown it offers charm, character and the traditional feel of the neighborhood. Older homes and a wide variety of independent stores and restaurants round out the appeal of this popular commuter friendly neighborhood.
Prices for renovated historical homes can reach prices well over the $1mill mark but single family homes are available starting at around $300,000. Condos can start in the high $100s but the majority of recently renovated/built condo units list at over $200,000.
Home to the main campus of Central Piedmont Community College as well as 2 major hospital facilities (Presbyterian & Mercy) and located within sight of Uptown there’s lots to love about the Elizabeth neighborhood.
Many of the homes and businesses in the area are located in older buildings giving the community a lot of historical character and charm. The neighborhood is fairly pedestrian friendly with ample sidewalks and access to the Little Sugar Creek Parkway.
Popular for its eclectic mix of restaurants, pubs & music venues as well as for its quaint and quirky housing choices Elizabeth is a great choice for anyone searching for a more city lifestyle. Many homes in this area are older properties which have been renovated although there are some pockets of new, as well as older townhomes and condos.
Condos (1bed or smaller 2bed) can be found in the high $100s but single family homes in this area start in the high $300s. Demand is high so if you’re looking for a home in this popular area be prepared to be patient and ready to jump when properties come to market.
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.
Highland Creek is a subdivision that’s almost a small town! There are about 4500 homes in this subdivision located in north east of Mecklenburg County and extending across the Cabarrus County line. Highland Creek has parks, a golf course, its own elementary school, 4 swimming pool complexes and a very active community association. A wide variety of properties are available in Highland Creek ranging from large single family homes overlooking the golf course to town homes, patio homes and even assisted living!
That means that if you want to live in Highland Creek there’s a good range of prices starting at around $175,000 for a town home and extending up to $500k for a single family basement style home on the golf course. Homes sell fast in this subdivision!
Prices have remained steady in this popular community and the completion of the final section of the I-485 loop with access just a couple of miles away is sure to consolidate the popularity of Highland Creek.
Would you like to live in a great small town but have all the advantages of the big city just a few miles away?
Huntersville may just be the place for you!
Downtown Huntersville offers a selection of stores & restaurants, a regular Farmers' Market and Discovery Place Kids.
West of I-77 and at I-77 exit 25 there's additional shopping including the town-square feel of Birkdale Village and a good selection of chain/big box stores.
But there’s a lot more to Huntersville!
There are numerous parks including Latta Plantation Park where you can explore the trails, kayak on Mountain Island Lake or go horseback riding. Or you can check out Rural Hill where you can attend the Highland Games or explore the Maize Maze.
Golfers have several choices in the area including golf courses in the Skybrook and Northstone subdivisions both of which have homes starting in the high $200Ks.
Huntersville is at the southern end of Lake Norman - public boat launch for Lake Norman is available at Blythe Landing.
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.
Although it may seem to be a part of Charlotte, Matthews is actually a separate town which was incorporated in 1879.
With a population of about 27,000 Matthews promotes a family atmosphere and benefits from its small town feel despite being located firmly within Mecklenburg county and the larger Charlotte metro area.
The town has seen growth in small retail and restaurant locations its downtown area due to recent new construction and has numerous options for both. There's also a very active year round Farmer's Market every Saturday.
Town of Matthews organizes a Summer Concert Series and Food Truck Fridays both at Stumptown Park as well as numerous other community events during the year.
Homes in Matthews are available across all price ranges. Many are subdivision homes although there are numerous older homes and more rural homes on larger lots within the town limits.
On the eastern border of Mecklenburg county, straddling the I-485 loop is the Town of Mint Hill. The town sprawls around an indistinct town center offering a more rural feel than much of Mecklenburg County. Recent construction has brought several high end subdivisions to this small town with more than 110 homes selling at $350k+ in 2015 compared to only 25 in 2012 but it still retains it’s more small town feel.
Proximity to I-485 gives Mint Hill easy access to everything the Charlotte Metro area offers. The town’s emphasis on community as well as recent business center improvements which have bought a wide range of new shopping & dining businesses into the town along with several new housing developments has made Mint Hill an increasingly attractive place to live.
Taking a drive through Myers Park is like taking a drive to another era. The wide & curving boulevards are lined with trees. Unique homes set back from the road on large lots are the norm and it’s easy to see why this is one of Charlotte’s most sought after areas.
The area was a planned ‘subdivision’ from the days before the word subdivision meant what it does today. Carved out originally in the late 19th century but more fully developed in the 1920s and 30s the area is home to several historic homes as well as Queens University.
Prices in Myers Park are high with numerous homes (including condos) selling at over $1million. Occasionally smaller condos are available in the $200s but single family homes are rarely available under the mid $400s. Homes sell fast and the market is extremely competitive so it is important to be well prepared if planning a purchase in this area.
Eclectic? Artsy? Fun? Yes, Yes Yes! Noda has developed a reputation as the place to be for entertainment in Charlotte. Based along North Davidson (NODA – see?) and E. 36th St. in North Charlotte this area offers a diverse entertainment scene and is home to some of the city’s popular small music & arts venues as well as numerous unique restaurants. The Lynx light rail extension with stops in Noda is scheduled to open in 2017 and will only make the area more popular.
Relatively few homes become available in the NODA area although there have been several new construction condo projects. Many of the smaller homes in the area have been renovated and remodeled and I expect that to continue as this area continues to increase in popularity. Demand for homes in the area and low inventory continues to push prices up and it is difficult to find single family homes under $300k or larger condos under $250k.
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.
This is very much the place to live for Charlotte’s millennials! Many of the area’s older properties have been renovated and newer homes have been built to complement the Craftsman aesthetic of the neighbourhood. The area is walkable, and along with the neighbouring “Commonwealth” district to the south of Central Avenue offers a great selection of restaurants, bars, and stores.
Occasional opportunities still arise to buy un-renovated properties but prices reflect the popularity of the area. Many properties have had partial or full renovations and may include an additional story added to a former ranch style property. Prices for a fully renovated or new construction 2 story single family house will generally start in the $350s with prices in the $500s-$600s or even more not uncommon.
Very few homes are available in this area and most sell very quickly. If you like this area but can’t find a place then you could consider neighboring Commonwealth or Chantilly or the increasingly popular nearby Belmont or Villa Heights neighborhoods.
Historic South End runs along South Boulevard from Uptown to the New Bern light rail station station. It’s an area of restaurants, bars, craft breweries & shopping and is home to many different condo buildings including the Arlington building with its pink windows! Close to uptown and very popular with young professionals who enjoy easy access to the city via the Lynx Light Rail South End offers a pedestrian & bicycle friendly neighbourhood with lots to do!
Single family homes are difficult to find in this area (check out Dilworth to the East for this) but condos are plentiful! Prices range from the mid $100s into the $400s depending on size and proximity to the light rail stations.
Upscale residential areas near the South Park mall are much sought after. South Park offers an great range of shopping & dining opportunities and over the past 15 years there has been a massive growth in housing options as condos & towhomes have seemed to fill every available sliver of land.
Anchored around the sprawling South Park mall this area does present some commuting problems as roads are always busy, but despite that continues to be popular with home buyers.
Condos are available starting in the mid $100s for a smaller unit but very few single family homes are available under the $300k mark. Larger homes can reach into the multi-millions depending on location.
This is a fast moving market with correctly priced homes selling very quickly.
