North Carolina Builders

THE SECRET IS OUT: THERE’S NO better place to live than the Carolinas. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than half of all residential building starts in the country are in the South, and it’s no surprise that North Carolina and South Carolina are consistently ranked near the top of the list. Part of the growth can be attributed to an infl ux of baby boomers looking for a place to retire. To that end, the entire southeast coast of North Carolina has seen dramatic growth over the last decade. Condos continue to be popular, as primary homes for people who want to downsize and also as vacation or second homes. The trend toward large, high-end homes along the coast is expected to continue, although perhaps not at 2005 levels. Other metropolitan areas are experiencing higher-than-average growth as well—including Raleigh, in Wake County, and Charlotte, in Mecklenburg County, which is near the South Carolina border. In fact, the urban sprawl of Charlotte is spurring growth to the south, in Rock Hill and its environs. The figures presented in this issue of Carolina Homes & Interiors were provided by Market Opportunity Research Enterprises (MORE) and are based on the number of building permits issued during 2005. The Carolina Homes & Interiors staff has worked hard to assure the accuracy of this information.