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Ending the Year Strong & Starting 2026 Right in Charlotte 🎉💛
- Christen Ripoli - REALTOR
- Dec 30, 2025
- 6 min read
🌟Five To Try in the Greater Charlotte Area🌟
🎆 Holiday Holdovers & New Year Adventures ❄️🥾
The calendar may be turning, but the fun is far from over! Charlotte is easing from Christmas sparkle into New Year energy with festive favorites still going strong - plus some great ways to kick off 2026 feeling refreshed and connected.
This week’s Five to Try is all about stretching the season, soaking up winter fun, and starting the year on a high note. 💛
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 Wrapping Up The Holiday Season 🎁🎄✨
Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway 🚗🎄
Drive through more than four million lights synchronized to music, enjoy holiday movies on the big screen, and experience one of the region’s largest Christmas light displays - all from the comfort of your car. A favorite for chilly nights!
🗓️ Through Jan. 4
📍 Charlotte Motor Speedway
Light the Knights Festival ⛸️🎁✨
Uptown’s holiday hotspot returns with immersive light displays, ice skating, snow tubing, festive treats, and endless photo ops. Whether you’re planning a date night or a family outing, Light the Knights delivers full-on holiday fun.
🗓️ Through Jan. 4
📍 Truist Field
2️⃣ Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf 🏴☠️🎄
Ahoy, holiday fun! Pirates Christmas brings festive lights, decorations, and seasonal flair to every hole at High Seas Miniature Golf. It’s a playful twist on Christmas traditions and a great evening activity for families or date night.
🗓️ Nightly | 5-10 PM | Through Jan. 19
📍 High Seas Miniature Golf
3️⃣ New Year’s Day Hikes at North Carolina State Parks 🥾🌲
Start the new year with fresh air and intention! First Day Hikes take place at state parks across North Carolina on January 1, featuring guided hikes of varying lengths and difficulty levels. A peaceful, healthy way to welcome the year ahead.
🗓️ Thursday, Jan. 1
📍 North Carolina State Parks
4️⃣ Family-Friendly New Year’s Events 🎉👨👩👧👦
Looking to celebrate without the late-night countdown? Charlotte has plenty of family-friendly New Year’s events - from early ball drops and daytime parties to fireworks and activities designed just for kids.
🗓️ Dec. 31 - Jan. 1
📍 Various locations across the Charlotte area
5️⃣ Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks Around Charlotte ⛸️❄️
Winter classics never go out of style. Outdoor ice skating rinks across the Charlotte area are open through January (and some into February), offering a perfect mix of movement, music, and twinkle lights. Great for families, friends, or a cozy winter date.
🗓️ Through January or February (varies by location)
📍 Multiple Charlotte-area locations
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!
✨ Save the Date: Speed Networking! ✨
Kick off 2026 with intention, community, and powerful new relationships! Join UCNOW for a Speed Networking event designed for all women entrepreneurs - whether you’re ready to grow your business, expand your circle, or simply connect with like-minded women in Union County.
📅 Tuesday, January 6th
🕣 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM EST
📍 3115 Old Charlotte Highway
This fast-paced, high-energy morning meetup is the perfect way to start the year with momentum. Bring your business cards, bring your brilliance, and get ready to meet incredible women you’ll want in your corner all year long.
👉 Event link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CPjrEfqNk/
Mortgage News
📊 Mortgage Rates End the Year with Minor Movement
As we wrap up the year, mortgage rates showed very small changes - keeping the market calm and predictable heading into the new year. The 30-year fixed edged up slightly to 6.20%, while the 15-year fixed ticked up to 5.75%. Jumbo loans held steady at 6.37%, offering consistency for higher-price buyers.
Government-backed options saw tiny increases as well, with FHA and VA loans both up just 0.01%. The 7/6 SOFR ARM remained unchanged and continues to be one of the most affordable options for monthly payments.
Overall, rates are closing out the year lower than many expected - and that stability sets the stage nicely for buyers and sellers planning moves in early 2026.
*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
Video of the Week
Check out this video featuring: Pros And Cons Of Monroe, NC 2026 | Best Affordable City In Charlotte
Thinking about moving to Monroe, North Carolina? You’re not alone and before you pack the boxes, you need the real pros and cons.
In this video, I’m breaking down what it’s actually like to live in Monroe, NC the good, the not-so-great, and the things that surprise most people when they move here. From affordability and growth to commute times, schools, and everyday lifestyle, this is the honest overview I wish more people shared.
✨ In this video, we cover:
The biggest pros of living in Monroe, NC
The most common cons people don’t realize at first
Housing prices and affordability compared to Charlotte
Commute and traffic realities
Schools, growth, and what Monroe is becoming
Who Monroe is a great fit for - and who it might not be
Whether you’re relocating from out of state or moving within the Charlotte area, this video will help you decide if Monroe, NC is the right place for you.
📞 330.301.0687
Charlotte Market Minute
📢 Charlotte Market Update | December 23rd - December 30th 📢
A total of 505 properties were sold this week, with the average sales price rising to $513,882 and the median sales price coming in at $410,000. Properties spent an average of 64 days on the market and sold for 98.29% of list price, a strong showing considering the holiday slowdown. The average price per square foot landed at $226.96, reflecting typical end-of-year seasonal softness while remaining stable overall. The most affordable property sold for $62,000, while the highest sale reached $4.5 million, showing continued activity across a wide range of price points even during the final week of the year. As we head into a new year, these numbers offer helpful insight for anyone planning a move in the months ahead. Let’s connect and talk about what this means for you!
📊 Here’s your weekly snapshot:
505 total properties sold
Average sales price: $513,882
Median sales price: $410,000
Average price per square foot: $226.96
Properties are selling for an average of 98.29% of list price
Average days on market: 64
Lowest sale: $62,000
Highest sale: $4.5M
Have questions about how this impacts your home plans? I’d love to help!
📞 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!!
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Thank you for your time today!
We look forward to working with you now or in the future!
Christen Ripoli, REALTOR®
Ripoli Real Estate, Real
330.301.0687
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