Your Guide to Buying a Home in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home in Charlotte, North Carolina

(Uptown Charlotte)

Charlotte is located in Mecklenburg County

The city of Charlotte was named after a German born Queen. Although originally settled by the Scotch Irish in the 1740's, the strong influence of early German colonists in the area is still visible today in the city's more historic districts. Charlotte owes its early growth to the discovery of gold here in 1799. Actually, this was the first such discovery in America, and Charlotte quickly became the gold mining capital until the California Gold Rush some 50 years later. At this time the cotton industry was beginning to move down from New England and by the early 1900's Charlotte was recognized as a textile leader. However, this was only the start of the city's economic boom, as the arrival of the railroad greatly expanded Charlotte's industrial prowess. Even today, Charlotte is at the center of the largest consolidated rail system in the U.S., and the city continues to diversify its already strong economy.

Charlotte's greatest asset has to be its quality of life. The non-profit group Partners for Livable Communities rated Charlotte among four cities it called "America's Most Livable." The reasons for this distinction quickly become clear. Charlotte has been ranked as one of the hottest and most affordable housing markets by U.S. News & World Report. Combine this with mature neighborhoods spotted with large oaks and maples, and the friendly citizens waiting to be your neighbors, and you indeed have one of the most desirable areas in the country.

In order for a city to keep growing, it must have more than a wonderful quality of life...it must have a sound economy and plenty of employment opportunities. Charlotte's location at the center of the nation's fifth largest urban region automatically gives the city access to excellent transportation services and a large pool of potential employees from which to choose. Once an agricultural city, Charlotte has successfully responded to changes in national markets and now employs a majority of its labor force in the manufacturing industry. The city's largest employers include Bank of America, USAirways, and First Union Corporation.

The importance of education is quite apparent in Charlotte, which has the nation's largest community college system (58 campuses). Numerous colleges and universities also service the area, including UNC-Charlotte and Queens College. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools system and 60 private schools educate over 100,000 students each year.

Residents and visitors alike will enjoy the countless cultural and social activities offered in Charlotte. For sports fans, the NBA Charlotte Hornets and the NFL Carolina Panthers are sure to bring excitement. Art lovers will enjoy the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, a breathtaking performing arts center that showcases the best in opera, symphony, chorus, dance and theater. For those who also like to take in a bit of history, the Mint Museum was the first branch of the Philadelphia Mint and houses various historical artifacts including many works of art. For the kids (and the kids in all of us), the Discovery Place attracts over 700,000 visitors per year with its wonders of science and technology. A few of the more popular exhibits include a three-story rain forest and several aquariums featuring both salt and fresh water fish.

Charlotte enjoys a beautiful natural setting in the Piedmont Region of the Carolinas. The city's mild climate allows residents to walk, jog, or run outdoors most of the year in numerous local parks. A variety of sports are also offered, including tennis, basketball, racquetball and golf. Speaking of golf, two Golf Digest top 100 courses are in Charlotte at Charlotte County Club and Quail Hollow.

Charlotte is located in south central North Carolina, about 2 hours east of the Appalachian Mountains. Major transportation routes include I-77 and I-85.