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.
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.
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.
City of Kannapolis
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.
Town of Mint Hill
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.
