The Charlotte real estate scene offers trendy townhomes, beautiful bungalows, classic brick colonials, and luxe lakefront abodes. We tapped the area’s top-notch REALTORS® at Helen Adams Realty to get their insider info on the hidden gems and hot places to buy and why.
BELMONT (the town not the neighborhood)
REALTOR® Liz Georgion cannot say enough good things about the town of Belmont.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Conveniently located approximately 20 minutes from Uptown Charlotte, a 10-minute drive to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, 10 minutes to the U.S. National Whitewater Center, and 15 minutes to downtown Gastonia
- Situated between the Catawba South Fork Rivers, think: rich forests, rolling hills, and rambling banks of Lake Wylie and the Catawba River
- Historic picturesque downtown and golf-cart-friendly neighborhoods
“During the holidays, downtown is reminiscent of a hallmark movie! There is always something going on at the Stowe Park whether it’s a festival, a farmers’ market, or a movie in the park.” – Liz Georgion
According to Liz, there is so much variety in Belmont, starting with the locals: “From young professionals to new home buyers and growing families, to empty nesters and investors.”
With its picture-perfect Main Street and average sale price of $424,730, Belmont turns on the charm and has available inventory.
“Belmont home styles range from bungalows with gorgeous front porches to Colonial Revivals and Victorians, custom craftsman homes on the lakefront, and new builds featuring single-family townhome/condos. There really is something for every buyer here,” encourages Liz.
Belmont residents are lucky enough to be surrounded by Lake Wylie and the Southfork River which offer boating and fishing, as well as many nature trails in and around town.
Liz notes, “Accessibility throughout Belmont is easy especially the closer you are to downtown. I personally loved putting my children in the stroller and heading out to our favorite parks to play. And then we grab drinks and food at one of my favorite spots, ‘Station’, and of course sneak over to grab ice cream at ‘Bumblebee Creamery’.”
If you’re planning a move for the entire family, Liz speaks highly of the public school system, saying that “The local schools are some of the best in Gaston county, with ‘Good’ and higher’ ratings by ‘GreatSchools.org’”.
Liz loves to show clients the variety of neighborhoods via her golf cart, and often hosts post-showing discussions at one of her favorite local restaurants, ‘The String Bean’. She recommends that her clients who are considering the Belmont area ask themselves questions including:
- Do you want a neighborhood with lots of families and amenities?
- Do you want a HOA-managed community?
- Do you want acreage?
ONE LAST THING FROM LIZ
“Just to show you the range of what you can get; I recently sold two very different properties in Belmont. First, I sold a 2-story, 4-bedroom home within two days of being on the market and for over the asking price. Then I sold another charming 2-bedroom 1920s home, with a welcoming front porch, that went under contract within 1 day and also sold for over the asking price. Why did they sell so quickly? Proximity to Uptown, schools, parks, the lake, and of course being only a golf cart ride away from Main Street for some night life. Don’t sleep on Belmont, N.C. folks!”
OPTIMIST PARK
REALTOR® Katharine Gaylord wants to shine a light on Optimist Park.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Hustle and bustle, up and coming
- Access to bars, restaurants, green spaces, coffee shops
- Textile mill-turned-food hall: Optimist Hall
“I wouldn’t say I have a favorite street in Optimist Park, but in terms of housing, anything in close proximity to the Greenway is always a bonus! Especially in the spring and fall months with the beautiful weather.” – Katharine Gaylord
Optimist Park is often overshadowed by the popular Plaza Midwood and NoDa neighborhoods, but Katharine encourages buyers to consider the exceptional urban location that is uniquely Optimist Park.
“Optimist Park really is in the heart of everything and serves as a connector to neighboring ‘burbs throughout the Mills District,“ she explains.
Within minutes of Uptown Katharine says, “There are some updated, and newer homes that are tucked away on quiet dead-end streets. ”You can expect to find newer construction homes starting around $500K and moving up to the $800K+. The average is $300 per square foot.”
According to Katharine: “The Optimist Park neighborhood brings the opportunity for an incredible investment with significant new developments recently completed, and many more in the works.”
With its close proximity to NoDa and Plaza Midwood, Katharine is seeing more young professionals branching out and looking to buy in the Optimist Park area. While the 28206 zip code has quite a few homes for sale now, to buy in what is considered a ‘prime location’ in Optimist Park is hard to find without an agent.
Katharine likes to take clients to Optimist Hall saying “It is always a fan favorite, but if you’re ever in the area you have to check out ‘Rosie’s Coffee & Wine Garden’, and the New York Times #2 pizza spot in America, ‘Bird Pizzeria’!”
ONE LAST THING FROM KATHARINE
You can usually find parking; however more popular times of the day can prove difficult to snag a spot. Katharine recommends taking the light rail if your destination is within walking distance to a stop.
ALEXANDER ROAD, CHARLOTTE
REALTOR® Liz Khodak votes for all of the neighborhoods off of Alexander Road in Charlotte.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Easy access to major arteries including Providence Rd., Pineville-Matthews Rd., and Sardis Rd.
- Many independent and public schools
- Fantastic restaurants and shopping in SouthPark and Matthews
“The neighborhoods are made-up of tons of cul-de-sacs and quiet streets so walking your dog or finding a street where your kids can ride their bikes or play ball is very easy! If it’s not the street you live on, it’s the one right around the corner.” – Liz Khodak
“I love the neighborhoods off of Alexander Rd. right now. There are homes in every price point and most still have mature trees and larger lots, and great access to SouthPark, Matthews, and South Charlotte,” says Liz.
According to Liz, the area appeals to multiple demographics, “Families with school-aged children, newlyweds, people relocating to Charlotte, local business owners, athletes, doctors… you name it, this area has it!”
Homes have been popping up more and more over the past few months, but they go almost instantly. Liz recommends the neighborhoods of Oxford Hunt and Alexander Woods for price points between 600-900K, Fawn Hollow if you’re looking in the low $1M range, or The Manors at Mattie Rose if you’re shopping with a $4M budget.
“There are also outliers on either side of that spectrum, homes with optional or no HOA. There is such pricing diversity in the neighborhood, which makes it an ideal place to look for almost anyone wanting the proximity to town and the serenity of the suburbs,” says Liz.
“Each neighborhood has its own unique beauty. You have mid-century modern streets, full brick homes on other streets, and then magnificent estates that house local celebrities. It’s really such a mix and that’s what I love most,” comments Liz.
Given the area is almost equal distance between the two, Liz loves to take clients to either ‘Vicious Biscuit’ at The Arboretum or ‘Brakeman’s Coffee & Supply’ in Matthews. She also recommends the Farmer’s Market in Matthews, Squirrel Lake Park or William R. Davie Park for those with kids or dogs, and Waverly, The Promenade, Rea Farms, Stonecrest, and The Ballantyne Bowl for shopping, restaurants and live events – all just a short drive away.
ONE LAST THING FROM LIZ
“Another neighborhood that I’d consider up and coming but still a hidden gem, especially for those that want to be close to town but don’t want to spend millions, is Oakhurst. Oakhurst has seen such growth over the last few years and there are so many more planned projects ahead. One huge project is going to make Monroe Road more accessible with wide sidewalks that are separated from the street with greenery. You can get new construction townhomes for under 500K, and even updated small bungalows in that price range. Oakhurst puts you 10-15 minutes from pretty much everything in central Charlotte – NoDa, Plaza Midwood, Uptown, Dilworth, South End, SouthPark.”
MT ULLA TOWNSHIP
REALTOR® Laci Owens loves Mt Ulla, and in particular the Berkshire neighborhood.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Mount Ulla Township is in Rowan County
- Known for its rural charm, family farms, and idyllic landscapes
“The Berkshire neighborhood is known for its new-build gorgeous custom homes on big lots – many that back-up to natural wooded areas.” – Laci Owens
Laci says many of her buyers have larger lots on their mind, and Berkshire delivers just that with most homesites offering 1-4+ acres.
Hinsdale Drive has Laci’s heart, and she notes that the average sale price is $773,000, approximately $295 per square foot. If you’re interested in the area, Laci recommends being prepared to move quickly on your offer declaring that, “People who move here love it and stay!”
The Berkshire neighborhood takes pride in being in a quiet rural area, but – according to Laci – buyers still like that it is “close to everyday conveniences such as grocery stores, restaurants, and shopping in Mooresville and Salisbury within a 10-20 minute drive.”
Berkshire residents also enjoy nearby Sloan Park, with 100 acres of green space, 3 miles of trails, volleyball courts, a softball diamond, a playground, and a historic gristmill; Sloan Park may be the one thing that gets neighbors to leave their beautiful Berkshire community – at least momentarily.
Many people searching for a property in Berkshire desire more space and privacy. Laci recommends that her clients considering the Berkshire/ Mt Ulla area ask themselves questions about lot and layout:
- What is the size and condition of the lot (is it sloped, flat, wooded, cleared)?
- Layout: Do you want a split floor plan? Do you need a large kitchen for entertaining?
ONE LAST THING FROM LACI
The Mt Ulla area is known for family farm staples such as Patterson Farm, as well as innovators Sovereign Traditions, a collaborative of several small family farms where you can shop everything including fresh baked goods, local produce, Mt Ulla dairy, meat raised within 10 miles of the store, and a full apothecary.
