North Carolina has much to offer and is booming. North Carolina real estate is on the move as well.

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state with a variety of styles. Head to the mountains and youll find a slower, gentler pace of life in stunning scenery. Providing over 15 percent of all the Christmas trees in the United States, the mountains are full of pines, winding roads, little towns and a hot bed for outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking and camping. Head down into the plains and youre in the tobacco heart of the country, not to mention a hot bed of colleges with Duke, the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State so closely situated that rivalries are red hot. On the coast, youll find beautiful beach areas with little towns and rollicking fun. Locations in North Carolina consistently appear in top ten rankings for best places to live in the country.

Charlotte

Charlotte has exploded over the last ten years and is now the biggest city in North Carolina. The explosion has occurred through careful planning by city leaders, who aimed to make the city an economic hub in the south. Although the neighborhoods contain interesting little shops and areas, the city as a whole lacks the southern charm found elsewhere. If you want to live in a modern southern city, Charlotte is a good place. Some, however, complain the massive development has robbed the city of its soul.

Raleigh-Durham

The Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina is a hot bed of college life. Duke University and the University of North Carolina can be found within easy reach of each other. Let the rivalries begin. If youre a college basketball fan, this area rivals the competition between Lexington and Louisville in Kentucky.

Raleigh is the capitol of the state and a nice little city. Visiting the city is more about taking in the lifestyle versus seeing anything in particular. Walking throughout the area will feel a bit like exploring Charlotte, but with the soul of the place still in tact. With the surrounding colleges, the Raleigh-Durham area has that unique, eclectic college atmosphere you typically find with institutes of higher education.

North Carolina Real Estate

North Carolina real estate is fairly reasonably priced. In Charlotte, a single-family home will run you in the $200,000 area with plenty of housing available. If you prefer the Raleigh-Durham area, you can expect a slight increase in average home prices of maybe $20,000.

Appreciation rates in North Carolina are modest to say the least. Despite the economic boom in Charlotte, overbuilding has lead to plenty of supply. In 2005, real estate in the property appreciated at a rate of roughly six percent.

Raynor James is with the FSBO site - FSBOAmerica.org - homes for sale by owner. Visit our home buying page to view and buy North Carolina real estate.