Charlotte is no longer a housing bargain
Charlotte-area home prices now exceed the national median by about $5,000, according to a recent report from Homes.com.
Why it matters: This marks a notable flip from pre-pandemic days, when the gap between the median home price in Charlotte and nationally was significantly larger.
By the numbers: For-sale home prices in the Charlotte metropolitan area reached $385,000 in March 2025 — up about 2.7%, or $10,000, from the year before, according to Homes.com.
That's slightly higher than the national median home price, which rose $8,000 from $372,000 to $380,000, or 2.2%, over the same period.
Flashback: In March 2019, the median home price in the Charlotte metro area was $225,000, compared to roughly $247,000 nationwide, says Chuck McShane, senior director of market analytics at CoStar.
Yes, but: Charlotte prices are growing slower than the 6% annual gain seen through 2024.
The big picture: Historically, Charlotte's relatively affordable real estate market has attracted out-of-state movers. But that demand from migration is now driving home price increases that outpace the rest of the country.
What they're saying:"We're still affordable compared to some of these larger markets, like larger coastal markets, major dense urban markets," McShane says. "But it is going to become a less affordable market for people who've been here for a while."
Zoom out: The Charlotte metro's 2.7% price growth in March tied with Dallas-Fort Worth, was behind Nashville at 2.8% and ahead of Raleigh at 2.4%, per CoStar.
Meanwhile, Florida markets — such as Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa — are seeing prices drop off.
Floridians are increasingly moving to North Carolina, contributing to the state's population growth. Plus, the rising cost of insurance is also driving coastal homeowners to list.
Northeastern and Midwestern cities, such as Chicago and New York, lead in the largest price jumps.
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