Charlotte, North Carolina, remains one of the primary drivers behind the Carolinas’ emergence as a top region for new-home construction, combining strong demographic growth with a diverse and expanding employment base. The metro ranked fifth in Zonda’s 2026 Markets to Watch list based on factors including employment growth, incomes, the number of Fortune 500 companies present, and new-home sales rates. As an illustration of the strength in the Carolinas, four of the top five markets to watch are in the Carolinas (Charleston and Columbia in South Carolina and Raleigh and Charlotte in North Carolina).
Zonda’s Charlotte Dealmakers event with provide a comprehensive look at the trends, risks, and tailwinds shaping the market alongside broader regional and national housing insights.
Population growth indicates Charlotte is “punching above its weight,” with over 300,000 people added since 2019. This growth is the seventh largest in the nation for a metro area that is the 21st largest in the country. Additionally, household formation remains strong with an all-time high of 35,000 households added in 2025.
Heading into 2026, Charlotte stands out for its employment strength. Only New York City has more jobs added in 2025, with 37,600 jobs gained in Charlotte last year. The year-over-year growth in high income industries is 3.6%, which leads the nation. Long known as a premier banking hub, Charlotte continues to draw companies across finance, insurance, technology-adjacent industries, and health care, supporting a steady influx of young, educated workers. Recent finance job announcements include JP Morgan Chase adding 400 jobs and Sumitomo Bank adding 2,000 jobs.
The economic diversity has helped sustain housing demand across product types and price points, giving builders a relatively broad buyer base. A business-friendly environment and ongoing corporate expansion have further reinforced both short- and long-term growth prospects.
“Job growth in high-income sectors leads the nation in the past year, driving demand for move-up and luxury housing,” says Shaun McCutcheon, Zonda’s vice president of advisory, Carolinas.
At the same time, the Charlotte market is showing some signs of moderation. Starts are down more than 10% year over year, while closings have declined by approximately 9%. Affordability is becoming a more visible constraint: the median price for existing homes is around $370,000 compared with more than $435,00 for new homes. There is also an ongoing shift with attached versus detached product, as affordability challenges for first-time buyers led to a 4% median price decline for new attached product over the last year, while new detached product has increased in price by 6%.
Overall, Charlotte remains a bright spot in the national economic picture, with strong job growth, rising household growth, a quality of lift that attracts a variety of ages, backgrounds, and life stages.
At the Charlotte Dealmakers event, Zonda advisory experts, including McCutcheon, Ali Wolf, Nicollette Chapman, and Tim Sullivan will discuss the regional and national housing landscape.
The Charlotte Dealmakers event takes place May 20 at the Sonesta Charlotte Lower South End. Register here.
