Community, Connection, & Charlotte Living This Week ✨

Christen Ripoli - REALTOR
Jan 20
7 min read

🌟Five To Try in the Greater Charlotte Area🌟

🍴 Laughs, Love & Local Finds 🎶🎟️

Late January in Charlotte is serving variety - from prix-fixe dining and Broadway laughs to arcade nights for singles and beloved children’s stories brought to life on stage. Whether you’re planning a date night, a family outing, or just looking for something new to try, this week’s lineup has you covered.

This Five to Try is all about savoring the season and saying yes to experiences that bring people together. 💛

And as always, THANK YOU for the support, referrals, and love. Your trust keeps my business growing through relationships, and I’m forever grateful!

Let’s dive in!

1️⃣ Blumenthal Arts Presents: Monty Python’s Spamalot 🎭😂

Get ready to laugh - a lot. This Tony Award-winning musical comedy brings Monty Python’s absurd humor to the stage with knights, coconuts, and plenty of irreverent fun. A great pick for date night or a night out with friends.

🗓️ Jan. 20 - Jan. 25

📍 Belk Theater, Uptown

🔗 Get Tickets

2️⃣ Singles Arcade Night at Dave & Buster’s (Pineville) 🕹️💘

Looking to meet new people without the pressure of a formal date? Singles Arcade Night mixes games, drinks, and easy conversation for a laid-back way to connect. Bring a friend - or come solo - and let the games break the ice.

🗓️ Wednesday, Jan. 22

📍 Dave & Buster’s, Pineville

🔗 Get Tickets

3️⃣ Queen’s Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week 🍽️🥂

One of Charlotte’s most anticipated foodie events is back! Queen’s Feast invites you to enjoy multi-course, prix-fixe menus at restaurants all across the region. It’s the perfect excuse to try a new spot - or revisit a favorite - for a great value.

🗓️ Jan. 23 - Feb. 1

📍 Participating restaurants throughout Charlotte

🔗 Restaurant Week Info & Menus

4️⃣ The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show 🐛🎨

A childhood classic comes to life on stage! The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show features colorful puppetry and stories from Eric Carle’s beloved books. Perfect for little ones and a sweet introduction to live theatre.

🗓️ Jan. 24 - Feb. 8

📍 Children’s Theatre of Charlotte

🔗 Show Details

5️⃣ Vista Auction Expands to Monroe 🛒✨

If you love thrifting, treasure hunting, or scoring deals, you’ll want to check this out! Vista Auction is expanding to Monroe, bringing online auction fun with local pickup options. A great way to shop smart and support a growing local business.

🗓️ Now open!

📍 Monroe

🔗 Auction Info

NOTE: There's much more happening around Charlotte this week, so check out this Facebook group for tons of family-friendly events happening all over the Charlotte area. Family Fun in Charlotte and Union County I'm also trying to build up another group What's Up Charlotte. If you haven't already joined, I'd love your support!

Mortgage News

📈 Mortgage Rates Nudge Up Slightly After Last Week’s Drop

After last week’s noticeable dip, mortgage rates ticked up modestly across most loan types this week. The 30-year fixed moved to 6.07%, while the 15-year fixed rose to 5.60%. Jumbo loans also edged up slightly to 6.35%, continuing to hover in a relatively stable range.

Government-backed options saw the most movement this week, with FHA and VA loans both increasing by 0.05%. Even with these small bumps, rates remain well below where they were just a few months ago. The 7/6 SOFR ARM continues to offer one of the lowest monthly payment options, even after a slight uptick.

Overall, this looks like a normal market correction rather than a shift in direction, reminding us that timing and strategy still matter.

*Most recent mortgage rates according to https://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/

Featured Homes

📍1152 Stone Marker Drive, Monroe📍

Welcome to 1152 Stone Marker Drive - a pristine, 2-year-old home in one of Monroe’s most desirable golf communities! This beautifully designed one-story layout features 3 bedrooms and over 1,800 sq ft of open living space, perfect for both relaxing and entertaining.

The kitchen is the heart of the home with a massive island, abundant storage, and seamless flow into the dining and living areas. The primary suite is a true retreat, complete with a light-filled sitting room, spa-inspired bathroom, and generous walk-in closet.

Step outside to a fenced backyard ready for gatherings, pets, or play. A widened driveway and 3-car garage offer convenience and curb appeal. Plus, enjoy resort-style amenities - pool, cabana, tennis, pickleball, fitness center, and a premier golf course - all just 25 minutes from Uptown Charlotte.

🔑 Highlights:

3 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms
1,863 sq ft of bright, open living
Kitchen with oversized island
Primary suite with sitting room + spa-inspired bath
Fenced backyard + 3-car garage
Resort-style amenities in Stonebridge Fairways
Zoned for Western Union Elementary and Parkwood Middle & High

📍2006 Chapman Street, Indian Trail📍

Welcome to 2006 Chapman Street - where easy single-story living meets timeless Craftsman charm in the heart of Indian Trail. Lovingly maintained by its original owner, this 3-bedroom, 2-bath ranch offers a thoughtful, functional layout that makes everyday living feel effortless.

Step inside and you’ll immediately notice how seamlessly the living, dining, and kitchen spaces flow together - perfect for quiet mornings at home, casual get-togethers, or hosting friends and family. The primary suite is a comfortable retreat with a private bath, while two additional bedrooms provide flexibility for guests, a home office, or hobbies.

Located in a desirable Union County school district, this home blends comfort, convenience, and long-term value. If you’ve been searching for a well-cared-for ranch with character and practicality, this one deserves a closer look.

🔑 Highlights:

3 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms
Single-story Craftsman-style home
Well-designed, flowing floorplan
Primary suite with private bath
Original owner & thoughtfully maintained
Zoned for Sardis Elementary, Porter Ridge Middle & High

Under Contract Homes

📍3627 Secrest Landing, Monroe📍

Welcome to 3627 Secrest Landing - an end-unit townhome designed to make everyday living easy, bright, and comfortable. This popular Catawba floorplan offers an open, welcoming layout with extra natural light thanks to its corner location, creating a space that feels warm the moment you step inside.

The main level flows seamlessly from the living area into the kitchen and dining space, making it perfect for relaxed mornings or hosting friends. Step outside to the patio for fresh air and quiet evenings at home. Upstairs, the spacious primary suite provides a peaceful retreat, while additional bedrooms offer flexibility for guests, a home office, or hobbies. Convenient upper-level laundry keeps daily routines simple.

With a two-car garage, low-maintenance townhome living, and a location close to shopping, dining, and major roadways, this home truly checks all the boxes.

🔑 Highlights:

3 bedrooms | 2.5 bathrooms
End-unit Catawba floorplan
Bright, open layout with extra natural light
Primary suite with room to unwind
Upper-level laundry
Two-car garage
Low-maintenance townhome lifestyle
Zoned for Poplin Elementary, Porter Ridge Middle & High

Video of the Week

Check out this video featuring: Ultimate Relocation Guide: Moving to Charlotte, NC in 2026

Thinking about moving to Charlotte, North Carolina? You’re in the right place!In this Ultimate Relocation Guide, I break down everything you need to know before making the move from cost of living and housing prices to neighborhoods, schools, commute times, lifestyle, and what it’s really like to live in the Charlotte area.Whether you’re relocating for work, family, retirement, or just a fresh start, this video will help you feel confident and prepared for your move.

🏡 In this video, we cover:

Best areas and suburbs around Charlotte
Average home prices and market trends
School zones and family-friendly communities
Commute times and transportation
Local amenities, parks, and shopping
Cost of living insights
Pros and cons of living in Charlotte

📧 christen.ripoli@gmail.com

📞 330.301.0687

Charlotte Market Minute

📢 Charlotte Market Update | January 13th - January 20th 📢

A total of 572 properties were sold this week, with the average sales price climbing to $511,676 and the median sales price at $398,900. Properties spent an average of 68 days on the market and sold for an average of 96.84% of list price, which is very typical for mid-January as buyers move at a more thoughtful pace. The average price per square foot came in at $231.10, continuing to show stable values as the market warms up for the year ahead. The most affordable property sold for $22,000, while the highest sale reached $6.3 million, highlighting continued activity across all price points. While things may feel a bit quieter on the surface, momentum is building - and this window can be a great opportunity for buyers and sellers who are prepared. Let’s talk through what this market means for you!

📊 Here’s your weekly snapshot:

572 total properties sold
Average sales price: $511,676
Median sales price: $398,900
Average price per square foot: $231.10
Properties are selling for an average of 96.84% of list price
Average days on market: 68
Lowest sale: $22,000
Highest sale: $6.3M

Have questions about how this impacts your home plans? I’d love to help!

📩 Christen.Ripoli@gmail.com

📞 330.301.0687

🏡 Christen Ripoli, REALTOR® | Real

Discover "What's Up Charlotte?"

Looking for fun things to do around the Queen City? Check out the Facebook page What’s Up Charlotte? - your one-stop hub for local events, festivals, family-friendly activities, date night ideas, small business spotlights, and so much more!

It’s the perfect place to find weekend plans, connect with fellow Charlotteans, and uncover hidden gems in our city. Whether you’re new to the area or a longtime local, this community has something for everyone.

👉 Join the conversation here: What’s Up Charlotte?

Christen's Connections

"I know a guy" (and plenty of ladies too!). Are you in need of a connection? Maybe you want to have a deck added onto your home, or you need new blinds, or perhaps a cleaning service - I've got an extensive list of the best connections in the area. Consider me your own personal Yelp! Clicking on the link above will bring you to my quick connections list, but I have lots more saved in my Google Drive. Let me know how I can help!

Referrals

We love it when you have an incredible experience moving to the area and we're so grateful when you refer us to your friends and family considering making the move!

Share our channel with them as well as our other social media profiles so that we can keep in touch.

BEST WAY TO SEND ME A REFERRAL

1. Call (Let's talk about your referral)

2. Introduce me in a group text or email

Thank you in advance!!