Charlotte is a top city for relocation because it has something for everyone. In fact, the Urban Land Institute and PwB recently named Charlotte as the third-best real estate market in the nation. If yo
u’re considering relocating to Charlotte, we here at True Homes extend a Southern welcome! We know you will have lots of questions, from the weather and the top neighborhoods to what to do on the weekends.
Naturally, it would be impossible to cover everything you would want to know about living in Charlotte in a single blog post (there’s just so much to talk about!), so we’ll hit some highlights here and break it down more in upcoming posts. Let’s get started!
Job opportunities
If you’re thinking about moving to Charlotte, you probably already know that business is booming. As a financial center, Charlotte is second only to New York City (but so much more affordable!), led by Bank of America and Wachovia, which are based here. Seven Fortune 500 companies call Charlotte Home, and more than 300 have facilities here.
The University of North Carolina Charlotte, in partnership with the public and private sectors, has created the Charlotte Research Institute, a 1.2-million-square-foot campus to accelerate technology commercialization and champion the growth of entrepreneurial ventures. Plus, more than 2,000 manufacturers employ more than 100,000 people in such industries as textiles, electronics, printing, plastics, and industrial machinery.
Climate
One of the things we love about Charlotte is the weather. Unlike some other Southern states, we have all four seasons here, which means we have glorious spring flowers and stunning fall leaves. The winters are mild, with occasional light snowfall, but we’re close enough to the mountains for weekend ski trips. Like 
most places, summers can be on the warm side in Charlotte, but there are plenty of lakes within an easy drive to help us cool down. When we need to get out of town, we can head to the cooler climes of the mountains or scoot over to coastal beaches.
Places to live
One of the great things about the Charlotte region is there truly is a community to fit every lifestyle, whether you’re looking for an in-town, walk-to-everything neighborhood, family-centric suburbs, charming small town Americana, or lakefront resort living. And with above-average salaries and affordable housing, your housing dollars will go far here.
If you’re looking to buy a new house in Charlotte, True Homes has new home communities in the city and in many of Charlotte’s best suburbs, including Fort Mill, SC, Stallings, Waxhaw Creek, and Tega Cay, SC. Given the strength of the real estate market, buying a new house in Charlotte is a great choice!
Culture
One of the things that defines a region is the vibrancy of its cultural arts scene. Charlotte is a community that both embraces and celebrate the arts, from the Charlotte Symphony, Charlotte Ballet, and Opera Carolina to the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, and Discovery Place. There’s also no shortage of opportunities to see live music in Charlotte. Those are the big national acts, but don’t forget that Charlotte also has a huge local music scene. Click here for a list of venues hosting live music.
Sports
If you’re a fan of NASCAR, then you know that Charlotte is the place to be. There’s no lack of NASCAR action at the track here, plus the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and the headquarters of various race teams such as Richard Petty Motorsports in Mooresville.
As a major city, Charlotte has a full complement of professional sports teams, including football, basketball, hockey, baseball, soccer, and even lacrosse! Whatever sport you cheer for, you’ll find it here in Charlotte.
If you’re into running or cycling, you’ll find lots of like-minded folks here in Charlotte. Check out this list of area running clubs and cycling groups and events. Rugby? Check. Gaelic football? Check. Quidditch? Yep. We’ve got that too!
What is there to do on the weekends?
That’s both an easy and a difficult question to answer because there is so much to do, you might have trouble deciding. As a community, Charlotte loves to come together for a party. There’s a festival for everything from soul music to rockabilly, beer to tater tots, and dogs to reptiles.
Of course, you don’t have to wait until the weekend to check out the area’s parks. Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation alone has 210 recreation facilities, including playgrounds, sports complexes, skate parks, dog parks, swimming pools, community gardens, and greenways.
You also can’t beat a day at the lake. Lake Norman, the largest man-made lake in North Carolina, is a quick drive from Charlotte. For something more active, plan a visit to the U.S. National Whitewater Center; its 1,300 acres offers all ages and skill levels a wide variety of outdoor activities, including whitewater rafting and kayaking, flatwater kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, rock climbing, zip lines, ropes courses, a canopy tour, and mountain biking on a 30-plus mile trail system.
So, that’s an overview of what you might want to know about relocating to Charlotte. Naturally, if you want to buy a new home in Charlotte, True Homes would love to help you. As the leading semi-custom home builder in the Carolinas, True Homes can help make you feel right at home. For more information on buying a new home in Charlotte from True Homes, click here.