Whether you want to rent or own; whether you love the bustling urban scene or quiet treelined streets; whether you seek an apartment, condominium, loft or single-family home, you’ll find what you want in Charlotte.

Thanks in part to Charlotte’s healthy economy and aggressive annexation of new neighborhoods, this city offers tremendous variety in housing. The new-home market is booming in all areas of suburban Mecklenburg, even as families rehabilitate quaint bungalows in older neighborhoods near the center of town.

Plan to spend some time exploring the possibilities, either by yourself or with the help of a real estate agent. The maps and descriptions on the following pages will acquaint you with the different sections of Mecklenburg County, including areas within Charlotte’s city limits and other towns outside of Charlotte, and the surrounding region.

As of June 2007, Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s average single-family home sale price was $220,496. While demand for upscale housing developments throughout Mecklenburg County certainly pulls up the average home cost, you can still find many attractive homes for much less. Residential construction costs remain 20 percent below the national average.

Uptown Charlotte is one of the trendiest residential areas, with glitzy condominiums, rehabbed lofts, new single-family homes, town homes and elegant Victorian homes within blocks of each other. Nearly 12,000 people currently reside within the Uptown loop, the area encircled by I-77 and the John Belk and Brookshire freeways. By 2026, approximately 100,000 people will reside here.

Charlotte was originally divided into four districts, or “wards,” with Trade and Tryon Streets serving as the inner boundaries. The city still uses the terms to identify areas Uptown. Fourth Ward was the first to be revitalized, starting in the 1970s. Today, it includes homes, condominiums and apartments in a Victorian atmosphere, within walking distance of the cultural district and office towers.

Third Ward has experienced a resurgence in recent years, thanks to its proximity to Bank of America Stadium (home of the Carolina Panthers) and the development of offices, shops, restaurants and the cultural facilities campus currently under construction. Another addition is Johnson & Wales University, which revolutionized Third Ward when it opened its doors in 2004.

First Ward is the home of Bobcats Arena, ImaginOn, several museums, restaurants and night life. It has a range of housing options, from apartments to single family homes. And the LYNX Blue Line (light rail) originates at 7th Street in First Ward.

Formerly an area devoted to government buildings, Second Ward is also becoming a residential area. The luxurious Ratcliffe on the Green condominiums stand next to an interactive park with fountains and walkways. The EpiCenter, currently under construction on South College Street, will include a condo tower, a movie theater, restaurants and other retail. More new development may follow soon.

If you’d like to live close to Uptown but not in the direct shadow of the skyscrapers, you have a huge range of options, both in terms of price and type of housing. Charlotte’s Center City Ring, sometimes called urban ring neighborhoods, surround the Uptown area. They can be divided roughly into two categories: the historic streetcar suburbs sometimes known as "Old Charlotte" and the transitional neighborhoods that were built out primarily in the post-World War II housing boom.

Old Charlotte – Compared to most cities, old Charlotte doesn’t look old at all. These neighborhoods were Charlotte’s first true suburbs. They began to emerge in the late 1800s thanks to streetcar routes. Myers Park and Eastover are the grande dames of Old Charlotte with their stately homes and oak-canopied avenues.

Dilworth, created in 1898, experienced a revival during the 1980s and is now a comfortable, elegant neighborhood. SouthEnd, located next to Dilworth near South Boulevard, has recently redeveloped into a hot spot, drawing people from all over the city to its restaurants, nightclubs and businesses. And new apartments and condos have sprung up along the LYNX Blue Line, which runs through the heart of SouthEnd.

Cherry (adjacent to Myers Park), Biddleville and Washington Heights (off Beatties Ford Rd.) are among Charlotte’s oldest historically black neighborhoods. They’ve declined quite a bit from their former glory, but commercial developments in and around these neighborhoods are attracting investors that will likely turn these neighborhoods into residential hot spots in a few short years.

Some other neighborhoods in "Old Charlotte," each in various stages of revitalization, include the Wesley Heights local historic district (northwest of Center City between W. Morehead and W. Trade Streets), Wilmore (off South Tryon Street), Elizabeth (area around East Seventh Street), Crescent Heights (off Randolph Rd.), Plaza-Midwood (along Central Avenue and The Plaza), and Belmont (off 12th Street near Alpha Mill, Charlotte’s oldest textile mill now renovated into trendy, upscale apartments).

Transitional Neighborhoods – Much like Old Charlotte, transitional neighborhoods vary widely in housing prices and level of revitalization. Several of them, such as Chantilly and Sedgefield, are nestled near Old Charlotte neighborhoods, enjoying a certain level of prominence by association. Housing prices in these neighborhoods have climbed rapidly over the last decade.

But if you’re a bargain-hunting urban pioneer, one of the transitional neighborhoods in the early stages of revitalization may be the place for you. Many of these neighborhoods have their own fascinating histories, albeit more recent. Camp Greene, for instance, is named after the World War I army training camp that operated there. Camp Greene brought thousands of soldiers to Charlotte in the 1920s, many of whom returned to Charlotte after the war. Development of the neighborhood continued into the 1950s, and it is now populated with bungalows, ranch houses and a beautiful canopy of mature trees.

NoDa, a segment of North Davidson Street approximately two miles from Uptown, is a National Register Historic District in recognition of the part the area’s mills played in textile history. The last mill shut down in the 1970s, and the area began attracting artists who envisioned and created an arts community. NoDa is now home to a variety of funky galleries, restaurants, live music venues and housing options.

Some of the earliest residential movement outside of the city headed east along Independence Boulevard, Central Avenue, Albemarle Road and Monroe Road. These roads continue to support this area, which is full of older, established neighborhoods and many apartment complexes. Central Avenue is known for its diverse shops and restaurants, and Eastland Mall, located in East Charlotte, features an indoor ice-skating rink.

When the city started expanding rapidly during the 1960s and ’70s, most of the development headed south. The Cotswold neighborhood was one of the first areas, developed in the 1960s. SouthPark Mall, established in 1970, became the catalyst for a host of retail, business and residential development. Today, SouthPark feels almost urban. Throughout the area, you’ll find plenty of housing options, ranging from small brick ranches to new-home communities to mansions. South Charlotte continues to be the best place in town to find upscale shopping.

Ballantyne is a 2,000-acre master planned community in South Charlotte that was developed in the 1990s on farmland once owned by the Harris family, one of Charlotte’s oldest and most prestigious families. Combining all elements of life, the area has a wide range of housing, employment, shopping and entertainment options. The area’s crown jewel is the Ballantyne Resort, a AAA four-diamond hotel and spa and a par 71, five-star championship golf course.

The southwest corner of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County is home to large business parks on Arrowood Road and Westinghouse Boulevard, as well as one of Mecklenburg’s largest parks, McDowell, along Lake Wylie. Airport expansion and the I-485 outerbelt are luring even more businesses. The widening of N.C. 49 through southwest Charlotte into South Carolina bolstered development in the area, including several expensive developments along the shores of Lake Wylie. Duke Power created Lake Wylie in 1904 and enlarged it in 1924. With 12,455 acres and 325 miles of shoreline, the lake provides water recreation to residents and visitors in three counties – Mecklenburg and Gaston in N.C. and York County in S.C.

The Westside saw its first suburban growth in the 1950s and ’60s. The area is experiencing a new growth spurt with the completion of the western portion of the I-485 loop and the U.S. National Whitewater Center. And as home to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport and with easy access to I-85 and I-77, the Westside is a great area for frequent travelers who want to get in and out of town quickly.

The Whitewater Center has the world’s only multi-channel recirculating whitewater river, as well as challenge courses, 11 miles of biking/hiking/ running trails, climbing walls and a climbing school, guided kayak tours along the Catawba river, a conference center and event venues, and The Eddy restaurant and bar overlooking the whitewater course. The Whitewater Center will bring tourists from all over the world.

Mountain Island Lake, which covers 3,235 acres, is bordered by Gaston County on the west and Mecklenburg County on the east. Duke Energy created the lake in 1924. Much of the watershed is protected from development, since the lake provides drinking water for most Mecklenburg and Gaston County residents.

Once a small, farming village known as Shuffletown, the Mountain Island area has become a popular location for residential development. Numerous new housing developments are emerging along Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road, which runs parallel to I-485 in this area from I-77 to Mountain Island Lake.

University City, home to UNC Charlotte and University Research Park, began to blossom in the late 1980s. The area is one of Charlotte’s largest employment centers, with many technology and banking firms with offices in University Research Park and nearby business parks. Housing in this area is a great mix of single-family and multifamily choices. This area also has some of Charlotte’s best choices for apartments, condominiums, town homes and patio homes that serve college students and young professionals.

Retail development is booming in this area, with more than 3 million square feet of stores centered on W.T. Harris Boulevard and I-85. The region’s largest outlet mall, Concord Mills, lies just over the Cabarrus County line along I-85. And Northlake Mall is located near the I-77 and W.T. Harris Boulevard junction.

Information provided by Charlotte Chamber of Commerce