Charlotte, NC

The city of Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina. It was cited by CNN Money as the fastest growing city in the country. The 2010 census listed the city itself as having a population of 731,424 and is now about 827,000 (nearly double the size of Raleigh.) The Charlotte metro area has a current population of over 2,400,000.

When you live in Charlotte, you learn to call the downtown area "Uptown." Uptown Charlotte is a very walk-able city center with options for restaurants, museums, theatre, concerts, sports, and more. It is considered a "new" city. You will find the stadium for the Carolina Panthers there as well as field for the Charlotte Knights Triple-A baseball team. Time Warner Cable Arena is home to the NBA Charlotte Hornets and also hosts many concerts and other events.

Home to Johnson & Wales Culinary school, the city enjoys the talents of many excellent chefs.

There are popular older neighborhoods scattered outside of the Uptown area loop. Old street-car neighborhoods like Dilworth with its old oak trees and stately older homes command a high price. Trendy areas like Midwood, Elizabeth, Eastover, NoDa, and the South Boulevard area are also in demand. Growth and revitalization can be seen throughout the city.

Charlotte-Douglas International airport is located on the west side of Charlotte and about 30 minutes from the southern towns of Lake Norman.