If you hit pause on your home search in Charlotte over the past few years, you’re not alone—and you’re definitely not out of options. In fact, now may be one of the most promising moments we’ve seen in a while for Charlotte buyers. With more homes coming onto the market, price growth cooling, and mortgage rates easing from their recent highs, today’s Charlotte market is offering something it hasn’t in years: real choices.

Experts agree—buyers today are in a better position than they’ve been in a long time. Here’s what that means for you in the Queen City.

Affordability in Charlotte Is Finally Improving

Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist at Bright MLS, explains that affordability is finally starting to turn the corner:

“Slower price growth coupled with a slight drop in mortgage rates will improve affordability and create a window for some buyers to get into the market.”

While Charlotte home prices are still higher than they were pre-pandemic (like most fast-growing cities), price growth has eased considerably compared to the frenzy of 2020–2022. Combine that with softening mortgage rates, and the monthly payment on a typical Charlotte-area home is looking a lot more manageable than it did even six months ago.

Charlotte Has More Homes on the Market—Finally

One of the biggest shifts we’ve seen locally is increased inventory, something Charlotte desperately needed after years of razor-thin supply.

Realtor.com reports that there are 17% more homes for sale nationally than this time last year—and Charlotte is following that trend. We're seeing more listings across:

• University City

• South End

• Ballantyne

• Steele Creek

• Huntersville & Cornelius

• Mint Hill & Matthews

With more homes hitting the market, we’re also seeing fewer bidding wars and more breathing room—something Charlotte buyers haven’t experienced in a long time.

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), notes:

“Homebuyers are in the best position in more than five years to find the right home and negotiate for a better price. Current inventory is at its highest since May 2020.”

More inventory = more choice. Whether you're dreaming of a South End condo, a Ballantyne two-story, or more space out in Harrisburg or Belmont, the odds of finding a home that fits your lifestyle are finally improving.

How Charlotte Compares to National Trends

Nationally, inventory is up everywhere compared to last year. But when you compare today’s market to pre-pandemic supply levels, the South—including Charlotte—stands out as one of the regions where inventory has recovered the most.

That means Charlotte buyers are benefiting from:

• More listings

• Less intense competition

• More negotiation power

Even though Charlotte is still a popular relocation market, the balance is shifting in favor of buyers for the first time in years.

Why Charlotte Buyers Should Take Another Look

If you stepped away from the Charlotte market because things felt too expensive, too fast, or too competitive—you’re not imagining it. Charlotte was one of the hottest housing markets in the country, and many local buyers felt squeezed out.

But today’s conditions look very different:

✔ More homes available
✔ Sellers more willing to negotiate
✔ Prices growing at a slower pace
✔ Mortgage rates easing
✔ Less competition from out-of-state buyers

This combination doesn’t happen often in Charlotte.

Even if you’re not ready to jump in immediately, this is the perfect time to start planning. Getting pre-approved, refining your target neighborhoods, and working with a local agent can put you in a strong position when the right home hits the market.

Bottom Line

Charlotte’s housing market in 2025 is not 2021.
It’s not 2023.
It’s not even 2024.

This is a new market—one where buyers finally have room to breathe.

If you want a clear picture of what's happening in your Charlotte-area neighborhood or price range, reach out to a trusted local real estate agent for a custom market overview. The opportunity you thought you missed may actually be right in front of you.