Why Is 28277 Such a Hot ZIP Code?
Community leaders share their hypotheses
By Nan Bauroth | Photos courtesy of Chris McGowan
Hot is the coolest place to be. Or so says realtor.com, which just ranked the ZIP code 28277 No. 26 in the country on their Hottest ZIP Codes of 2024 list. According to Charlotte Stories, this is the third year in a row that 28277 has made the prestigious list, leaping from No. 43 in 2023. It is also the only ZIP code in the Carolinas to make the list.
Although other ZIP codes in the Queen City have appeared on the list in the past, the repeated high ranking of the 28277 ZIP code is evidence of this community’s consistent appeal in a highly competitive housing market. Median number of days on the market for homes in 28277 is 26, with 2.6 viewers and a median home listing price of $661,000.
When it comes to why this neck of the woods in the Carolinas, and Charlotte in particular, is such a sizzling hot market for homes, Chris McGowan, head of The McGowan Group at Allen Tate’s Charlotte-South Office at Ballantyne, has one word: schools.
“Top-rated schools drive demand and desirability,” he says. “People want their children to have the best education possible. We deal with a lot of corporate [relocations], and the No. 1 criteria is schools. This is also one of the main factors in keeping home prices here elevated.”
As one of the most successful Realtors in South Charlotte, McGowan, who works in partnership with his mother, Lori McGowan, another longtime Realtor here, has witnessed the explosive growth in 28277 over the past 30 years. “People moving here are also buying the lifestyle,” he notes.
“We have great shopping and dining, especially now with all the great new restaurants in The Bowl at Ballantyne. Northwood has been building what is needed here, with the Greenway Connector offering access for walkers and bikers and The Amp providing music and entertainment. All that only increases the demand.”
Ben Mears, executive vice president of Towne Bank at Ballantyne and chair of South Charlotte Partners, a nonprofit organization that promotes the quality of life in this area, believes 28277 has another star quality: location. “You begin with its proximity to major transportation routes I-77 and I-485, plus easy access to the airport,” he explains.