Charlotte, North Carolina
has seen its share of growth over the years. New construction is constantly
introducing the latest and greatest, newly constructed single-family homes,
townhouses, condominiums, and lofts designed for every specific life style and
budget imaginable. Home buyers have many choices to consider when looking for a
new home in Charlotte. Use our guide to begin your search for a new home,
Charlotte home builders, and the best communities in the area. Read on to learn
more about what "The Queen City" has to offer.
The City of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
was nicknamed "The Queen City" after British King George III's queen
consort, German Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg. Despite it's royal name, the
city is unassumingly progressive with a young, urban-professional vibe. There
is approximately 1.6 million people living in the Charlotte metro area, with
roughly 650,000 of them residing within the actual City of Charlotte. In the
past ten years, about 20,000 people have moved to Charlotte yearly, making it
one of the fastest growing metros in the United States.
Charlotte is located in the
Mecklenburg County, in the south central part of North Carolina, near the South
Carolina border. Charlotte offers many advantages to its residents, like the
subtropical weather, numerous parks and recreation centers, and diverse, young
professional population. Charlotte constantly makes the top 20 lists of places
to live because it offers affordable cost of living, a wealth of employment
opportunities, and varied living options for its inhabitants.
There are many distinct
neighborhoods in Charlotte, each encompassing their own unique history and
culture. Charlotte neighborhoods include Uptown, University City, South End,
Dilworth, Elizabeth, Myers Park, South Park, Eastland, Ballantyne and NoDa.
Uptown's skyline is a
beautiful urban, sky-scrapper laced, neighborhood that combines business and
living spaces with cultural events, schools, and restaurants. University City
is located on the edge of Charlotte and is a college town because of its
proximity to The University of North Carolina campus. Dilworth, Elizabeth, and
Myers Park were Charlotte's first suburbs and encompass historical charm of
turn of the century traditional colonial architecture guarded by lengthy
driveways and well manicured landscapes. For a more trendy and artistic flavor,
NoDa, or the North Davidson Street Arts District has often been compared to
SoHo because of its numerous art galleries, theaters, restaurants and bars.
This neighborhood is a popular stomping ground for the urban sophisticate of
Charlotte and a thriving GLBT presence. With 199 individual neighborhoods to
choose from, Charlotte has a home for everyone.
Another reassuring factor
for home buyers, Charlotte has a strong economy that helps support the local
real estate market. Large corporations with headquarters in Charlotte include
Bank of America, Wachovia, Lowe's, Time Warner Cable, Duke Energy and Family
Dollar. These companies, and many more like them, contribute and help sustain
the local economy.
Some of Charlotte's most
notable attractions are
· Carolina Panthers
· Charlotte Bobcats
· Carolina Raptor Center
· Carowinds Amusement Park
· Dirt Track Racing School
· Lowe's Motor Speedway
· US National Whitewater Center
· NarroWay Theater & Conference Center
·
The
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association