Charlotte, other NC metros continue climbing on housing index

CHARLOTTE — North Carolina made a strong showing on the latest “Emerging Housing Markets Index” by The Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com, with multiple metros rising in the ranking, including two that landed in the top 10.

The index, released quarterly, aims to point buyers toward markets that are expected to provide both a strong return on investment and a nice place to live. The analysis of the nation’s 300 most populous metros looks at two main areas -- real estate markets and economic health. It is based on indicators such as real estate supply and demand, home-price trends, unemployment and wages, amenities, commutes and small businesses.

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The Charlotte metro made another big jump on the list for the third quarter, moving up to No. 29 from No. 52 in the second quarter and from No. 78 in the first quarter.

But it’s not the state’s highest-ranked metro -- that title once again goes to Raleigh, coming in at No. 4.

Read more here about where metros across the Carolinas placed on the ranking.

(WATCH BELOW: Surrounding counties not immune to Charlotte’s affordable housing crisis)