Yes, the prices of homes in CLT are less expensive than other places.
But when you purchase a house in CLT, you have the downside of actually having to live in CLT!
Do you actually LIVE in CLT?
Having lived in Manhattan for 12 years, I have found CLT a pretty good place to live. It's all in what you are looking for. No place will EVER compare to NYC, so I don't even try.
Here is my take, from a native returned.
Crime is a concern, but ironically the doe-doe birds in CLT keep electing the mayor into office. This is one area were the city must get a handle before it is out of control. Don't get me wrong. It's not crazy, but NC and Meck. County are seeing an increase in meth use and meth labs. ALOT of problems occur with this. Our mayor has his head in the sand where this issue is concerned.
CLT has two loops. Inner -inner loop around uptown ( 277 ) and Inner loop ( 485..not completed.) The city seems to be priced according to the loops. Inner -inner is getting very pricey as about 15 uptown condo highrises are slated to go up with prices starting around 250K and many already sold out. The new basketball arena uptown is adding to an increasing nightlife buzz uptown and I feel will continue to drive the market. The inner loop is expensive depending on the hood but if you are willing to be a pioneer, you can get your foot in the door in areas like Wesley Heights acroos from BA Stadium and a few other transition neigborhoods.
If you like sports, we do have pro football and basketball and a pretty well followed minor league hockey team that just moved to the new arena. If you like college sports, you are in ACC country and the SEC's South Carolina is not too far away.
The arts lack abit, but there seems to be a push by the two hometown banks to contribute in that area, but it is there.
CLT is not on the forefront of embracing diversity. The mayor has no time for the gay community, has priced out uptown so that the huge Mexican community is so far from the mainstream that nobody really knows where they are. BTW, in CLT, if you are dark and not African American, you are Mexican...period. We also have a descent Asian community...just hidden. CLT's idea of diversity is more than one kind of SUV allowed on I-77 and diversified holy roller churches that hate blacks, muslims, jews, and gays and plenty of their crap on cable.
You will not see a Little Mexico or Little Vietnam ANYWHERE near uptown. The only true Mexican you will see in uptown will be slaving to the button down white business executives in the kitchen of the many restraunts opening uptown. Diversity is here but you have to look for it. Don't expect a "Welcome Wagon" here if you are different...ESPECIALLY from Mister Mayor.
Our mayor is a buttoned down collar kind of guy with oily hair and out dated glasses who wouldn't know diversity if it bit him on the nose. His goal appears to build a big city, but not address the problems OF a growing city.
The people of CLT are fickle. Recently the county voted down a bond worth over $400 million to build new schools. While there is a mess with CMS and distrust towards that system, one man actually stated that he voted down the bonds in revenge of the mayor forcing the uptown arena on us when we voted it down....the same mayor overwhelmingly voted back into office by the same idiots that now take their frustrations out on the children of Meck. county. Why not vote the mayor out? The same mayor that could use the mayoral bully pulpit to CHANGE the direction of CMS? BUT every city has its politics.
SC is cheaper and very close. The area north of charlotte like Huntersville and Concord are fine...alitle too white but fine with alot of good ol country boys that would give their shirts off their backs...especially if you like NASCAR.lol
I like Charlotte. God knows there was alot to dislike in NYC and the crazy politics THERE makes CLT look timid, but it IS true that everywhere you go, there you are and you create your own happiness.
Charlotte is 1.5 hours from my family, has a short winter and little snow. The temp is usually mild. Come March you will still be shivering with not a leaf on the trees. Here Spring is WELL under way. THAT alone is worth it. I love college sports and am close to my fav team. I live in a hub where I can go to many places. 1.5 hours from the mountains, 3 to the coast, and yes, generally nice people. If I want the big city, I am 8 minutes from the airport.
I have an easier life in CLT. She has grown on me. Perfect? No. Liveable? Absolutely.
