Charlotte NC Queen of the Banking World

What fast-growing city is the second largest banking center behind New York City in the country?  You may be surprised to learn that it’s Charlotte, North Carolina.  Home to headquarters for Bank of America and Wachovia, the nation’s second and fourth largest financial institutions (based on assets), Charlotte has become a major financial center.  Built at the crossroads of what were two prosperous Native American trading paths, the heart of Charlotte is now home to big business; with a nod to the city’s economic strength and stability, nine Fortune 500 companies have headquartered in the Charlotte metropolitan area: besides Bank of America and Wachovia, there is Lowe’s (retail), Duke Energy (utilities), Nucor (metals), Sonic Automotive (retail), Family Dollar (retail), Goodrich Corporation (aerospace and defense) and SPX Corporation (electronics).  Scores of other large companies have based their businesses in Charlotte as well.

Nicknamed the Queen City, Charlotte, as well as the county for which it serves as government seat (Mecklenburg), was named in honor of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg, wife of King George III of England.  With an estimated population of 664,342 (based on 2006 census figures), Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina, and the 20th largest city in the country.  Most notably, the city ranks as the 5th fastest growing among large cities in the U.S.  The larger metropolitan area is home to an estimated 1,583,016 residents.

Relocating to a Charlotte NC New Home

While the median home prices in many other areas of the country have dropped, the market for Charlotte, North Carolina real estate is holding its own.   The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight has released its housing appreciation statistics, and Charlotte was among the leaders nearly doubling the national appreciation average.  Still, those looking for new homes will appreciate that the Charlotte median home price of $207,300 comes in well below the national average of $223,800.  Forbes magazine ranked Charlotte #13 on its list of most affordable housing markets.  New home buyers relocating to this market often can afford a larger home with more amenities than in the one they left behind.  Buyers will also find a variety of new homes for sale in luxury home developments, new home communities, golf communities, and townhome or condo developments in and around the city.

Things to See and Do in Charlotte

Once you find your dream home and a great job in Charlotte, you’ll have plenty to do to keep yourself entertained in this city.   Known as a big city with down-home appeal, you’ll have access to all the amenities a cosmopolitan city has to offer including arts and culture, shopping and dining and big-league sports, as well as golfing and numerous other outdoor recreational opportunities. 

Sports and Recreation

Charlotte spectators can cheer on the home team be it the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats or the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, or watch defending champion, Tiger Woods, play in the PGA’s Wachovia Championship.  Charlotte is also a major center for the motorsports industry with major races being held at nearby Lowe’s Motor Speedway, considered by most fans and participants in the sport to be NASCAR’s ‘home track.’  Charlotte will be the future home of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, expected to open in 2010.

For the competitive at heart, Charlotte hosts many 5-K and 10-k runs, an annual marathon, and the county is home to three major triathlons which attract over 1,700 participants each year.

The Catawba River is home to the new U.S. National Whitewater Center, which will serve as the training grounds for Olympic athletes.  The facility is surrounded by 17 miles of hiking and biking trails.  A system of manmade lakes provides many activities for water lovers.  Lake Norman, just 30 minutes north of the city, is the state’s largest man-made lake, with 520 miles of shoreline and 34 miles of water for sailing, wind surfing, power boating and fishing.

Arts and Culture

The culturally-inclined can enjoy a variety of performing arts, including the Charlotte Symphony, the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra, Charlotte Civic Orchestra, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Carolina Concert Association, Opera Carolina, Theatre Charlotte, Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, and the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Broadway Lights Series.

In Charlotte, you can experience some of the nation’s top museums and galleries. The Mint Museum of Art houses noted collections of American art, pre-Columbian art, American and European ceramics, American decorative arts, historic costumes and accessories, African and Asian art, historic maps, contemporary art and photography. The Mint Museum of Craft + Design features a permanent collection documenting contemporary studio craft and showcases the artists, techniques and creations through its collections of ceramics, fiber, glass, metal and wood. The Levine Museum of the New South features collections of post-Civil War Southern history including its award-winning Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers exhibit. 

And Discovery Place, one of the top hands-on science museums in the country, features an IMAX dome theater, tropical rain forest and aquarium and hosts a variety of ever-changing exhibits.  In 2005 Discovery Place had the honor of developing and presenting a major exhibition featuring the Dead Sea Scrolls, which ultimately was the most successful in its 25-year history, attracting over 300,000 visitors.

The newest educational facility in Charlotte, called ImaginOn, is a one-of-a kind combination children’s library and theater that literally brings stories to life.  Developed as a partnership and joint use facility of The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County and Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, ImaginOn presents a unique approach to learning and the arts.

Residents can celebrate all things cultural at Charlotte’s month-long festival, Charlotte Shout, and enjoy activities like outdoor jazz concerts, BBQ fare and improv comedy, just to name a few.

Or go out for a night on the town and sample some of Charlotte’s award winning cuisine; home to many innovative chefs, creative restaurant concepts and Johnson & Wales University culinary school - Restaurant News magazine recently named Charlotte one of the “Top 50 Cities That Sizzle.”

With a strong job market, affordable housing that is still appreciating in value, big-city amenities and big-league sports, it’s easy to see why so many new home buyers look at real estate and new homes for sale in Charlotte.  Have you considered this sizzlin’ hot city for your next new home?

[tag]Charlotte Homes for Sale, New Homes in Charlotte NC, Charlotte New Homes, Charlotte NC Real Estate Listings[/tag]

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