Maybe you finally landed that job netting you six figures a year or perhaps you just want to see how the other half lives. Either way, it can be fun to check out some of the more ritzy neighborhoods in your home town. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a rich old woman selling her house for well below market value. Probably not, but it doesn’t hurt to look. Charlotte, North Carolina is home to a number of different neighborhoods and subdivisions, many of which are of the “Upscale” variety.  You may not be able to afford one of these amazing homes, but you having them nearby can actually increase your own property value.

 

If you are looking for Country-Club living and resort atmosphere in Charlotte, one word just about says it all: Ballantyne. This is one of the most misspelled but well known upscale areas in Charlotte. Ballantyne is a community that has experienced a large amount of growth in recent years which has included the extravagant Ballantyne Resort as well as homes ranging from $500,000 to nearly $3 million. In addition to well funded public schools, this upscale Charlotte neighborhood also houses a slew of private schools boasting college prep education, such as the British American School of Charlotte. This school, part of the larger British School System provides “British primary and middle school education for children of all nationalities.” It’s hard to say exactly why you would want your child to obtain a British education rather than a standard American one, but if it is part of this upscale Charlotte lifestyle it can’t be bad!

 

 

Meyers Park, another extravagant upscale Charlotte community is home to some of the city’s oldest, largest and most expensive houses. The streets are lined with history and it is a popular attraction to many visitors as well as locals. It was designed in the early 1900’s by a developer who cast aside the boring grid most cities were being built on and designed winding, curvy streets that flowed with the natural shapes of the land. Many of the homes in Meyers Park are actually named, mostly after their famous former or current owners. The Earle Sumner Draper house is named for its architect who designed this “cottage” which sits on a little less than an acre of land. Other attractive homesteads include the Cameron Morrison House, constructed in 1919 and the Jamison House which was constructed in 1911 for about $30,000. That translates to about $1.2 million in today’s dollar.

 

 

Eastover is another part of Charlotte that most would refer to as “upscale”. The average home price is around $600,000, though they can very easily reach into $3 or $4 million. Currently the highest priced house on the market is valued at approximately $3.25 million, but you know the asking price is always high. You can probably talk them town to an even $3 million if you really wanted to! 

 

Truthfully, these extravagant neighborhoods of upscale Charlotte are the exception rather than the rule. If you are seriously house hunting, you will find that the majority of homes will be very reasonably priced in comparison to the rest of the country. As for the expensive, upscale neighborhoods, they will always be there to give you something to strive for.