Gardens, Festivals, & Small-Town Charm: This Week in CLT 🌿🍒

Christen Ripoli - REALTOR
May 12
8 min read

🌟Five To Try in the Greater Charlotte Area🌟

🌿 Gardens, Festivals & Small-Town Charm 🍒🎨

Charlotte and the surrounding areas are absolutely packed with fun this week! From hidden garden tours and local art festivals to iconic Southern traditions and quirky nature-themed events, there’s no shortage of ways to get outside and enjoy the season.

This week’s Five to Try is all about community, creativity, and making memories with the people you love. 💛

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 Next Level Hope 💛✨

Enjoy an inspiring evening benefiting a meaningful cause at Next Level Hope. This special event supports programs that help individuals and families in our community move toward brighter futures. Expect an uplifting night filled with connection, purpose, and hope.

🗓️ Friday, May 15 | 7-9 PM

📍 Charlotte area venue

🔗 More information & tickets

2️⃣ Roly Poly Fest 🐞🌱

This is a festival dedicated to roly polies! Roly Poly Fest celebrates the tiny backyard critters kids love most with hands-on activities, educational fun, crafts, and nature exploration. It’s adorable, educational, and perfect for younger children.

🗓️ Saturday, May 16 | 10 AM-2 PM

📍 Rob Wallace Park | 12900 Bethel School Road

🔗 More information

3️⃣ Pineville Arts in the Park Festival 🎨🎶

Spend the day surrounded by creativity at Pineville’s annual Arts in the Park Festival! Browse handmade arts and crafts, enjoy live entertainment, check out the Children’s Art Show, and grab a bite from local food trucks. It’s the perfect family-friendly spring outing.

🗓️ Saturday, May 16 | 10 AM-5 PM

📍 Pineville Park | 1000 Johnston Drive

🔗 More information

4️⃣ Cheerwine Festival 🍒🎤

One of North Carolina’s sweetest traditions is back! Head to Salisbury for the Cheerwine Festival, featuring live music, local vendors, delicious food, arts & crafts, and plenty of that iconic cherry soda. This one always draws a crowd for good reason!

🗓️ Saturday, May 16 | 10 AM-7 PM

📍 Salisbury, NC

🔗 More information

5️⃣ Secret Gardens of Fourth Ward 🌷🏡

Step behind the gates and into some of Charlotte’s most beautiful hidden gardens! This beloved self-guided tour through Historic Fourth Ward offers a rare peek into private outdoor spaces filled with charm, blooms, and inspiration.

🗓️ May 16 & 17 | 12-4 PM

📍 Historic Fourth Ward, Charlotte

🔗 More information & tickets

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!

St. John’s Forest Community Yard Sale

Looking for a fun reason to get out this weekend? The St. John’s Forest Community Yard Sale is happening Saturday, May 16th from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and it’s the perfect chance to hunt for a few hidden treasures!

You’ll find participating homes throughout the neighborhood with all kinds of goodies: household items, storage pieces, furniture, books, clothing, kids’ items, toys, bikes, baby gear, shoes, and more. Planning to shop? Grab your coffee, bring a friend, and make a morning of it!

Want your home added to the map of participating homes? Sign up here: bit.ly/SJF-S26yardsale

Mortgage News

📈 Mortgage Rates Tick Up Slightly This Week

Mortgage rates saw modest increases across most loan types this week, continuing the small week-to-week fluctuations we’ve been seeing this spring. The 30-year fixed climbed to 6.49%, while the 15-year fixed edged up to 6.00%. Jumbo loans also increased slightly to 6.61%, and the 7/6 SOFR ARM rose to 6.29%. Government-backed loans followed the same trend, with FHA moving to 5.95% and VA to 5.97%.

Even with these small increases, rates are still staying within a relatively stable range overall. That consistency continues to give buyers and sellers a more predictable environment as we move deeper into the busy spring and early summer market.

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

Featured Homes

📍12801 Angel Oak Drive, Huntersville📍

Welcome to 12801 Angel Oak Drive: a beautifully refreshed home that’s truly move-in ready from the moment you walk in. This 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath home offers 2,484 square feet of thoughtfully updated living space, where the hard work has already been done for you.

Step inside and you’ll immediately feel the difference - new carpet and LVP flooring, fresh paint throughout, and updated lighting and fixtures create a clean, modern feel that’s both inviting and effortless. The layout simply works, offering comfortable spaces for everyday living, relaxing, and gathering.

Outside, the care continues with a refreshed exterior, trimmed trees, and freshly mulched landscaping. And with a brand new roof, you’ll enjoy peace of mind long after move-in day.

🔑 Highlights:

4 bedrooms | 2.5 bathrooms
2,484 sq ft of living space
New carpet + LVP flooring
Fresh paint + updated lighting & fixtures
Brand new roof
Refreshed landscaping + exterior improvements
Functional, easy-flow layout
Zoned for Torrence Creek Elementary, Francis Bradley Middle & Hopewell High

📍4823 Manchineel Lane, Monroe📍

Welcome to 4823 Manchineel Lane: a charming, storybook home tucked into a welcoming Monroe community where everyday living feels just a little more magical. This 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home offers 1,745 square feet of warm, inviting space designed for both comfort and connection. Step inside and you’re greeted by a cozy great room with a gas fireplace and rich LVP flooring, the perfect place to gather and unwind. The kitchen is truly the heart of the home, featuring a large island, two pantries, and beautiful finishes that make cooking and entertaining a joy.

Upstairs, you’ll find three peaceful bedrooms, including a spacious primary suite with vaulted ceilings, a large walk-in closet, and a spa-like bath with a garden tub, separate shower, and dual sinks. Out back, your private retreat awaits - a fully fenced yard surrounded by mature trees, complete with a fire pit for evenings under the stars. And just steps away, enjoy community amenities like a pool, playground, and recreation area.

🔑 Highlights:

3 bedrooms | 2.5 bathrooms
1,745 sq ft of comfortable living
Cozy great room with gas fireplace
Kitchen with oversized island + two pantries
Vaulted primary suite with spa-like bath
Fenced backyard with fire pit
Community pool, playground & recreation area
Zoned for Rocky River Elementary, Sun Valley Middle & High

📍422 Bougainvillea Court, Monroe📍

Welcome to 422 Bougainvillea Court: a spacious and thoughtfully designed 1.5-story home in one of Monroe’s most loved communities. With 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, and nearly 3,000 square feet, this home offers the kind of flexible layout that just makes life easier.

The main level features a private primary suite, giving you the comfort of main-floor living, while the open great room and large dining area create the perfect space to gather, relax, and entertain. The kitchen is a standout with a center island, tile backsplash, and a full suite of appliances, including a double oven and cooktop.

Upstairs, you’ll find even more room to spread out with a generous loft and a large bonus room with its own full bath - ideal for guests, a home office, or a playroom.

🔑 Highlights:

4 bedrooms | 3 full bathrooms
2,919 sq ft of living space
Primary suite on the main level
Open great room + spacious dining area
Upgraded kitchen with island + full appliance package
Loft + bonus room with full bath upstairs
Fenced backyard for entertaining or pets
Located in St. John’s Forest (NO city taxes!)
Zoned for Rocky River Elementary, Sun Valley Middle & High

Under Contract Homes

📍2237 Balting Glass Drive, Indian Trail📍

Welcome to 2237 Balting Glass Drive - a home that truly feels like it was designed for the way life is meant to be lived. Nestled in the heart of the Glendalough community, this 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath home offers 2,644 square feet of light-filled, inviting living space.

Step inside and you’re greeted by a layout that flows effortlessly, perfect for both quiet mornings and lively evenings. The kitchen is the heart of the home, featuring an oversized island that naturally becomes the gathering spot for family and friends. Upstairs, the primary suite feels like a private retreat, complete with a spa-inspired bath, soaking tub, and oversized shower designed for true relaxation.

And then… the backyard. This is where the magic happens. A fully fenced space with a massive covered patio, pergola, and cozy fire pit creates the ultimate setup for entertaining. With space already prepped for an outdoor kitchen, it’s ready for summer cookouts, fall nights by the fire, and everything in between.

🔑 Highlights:

4 bedrooms | 2.5 bathrooms
2,644 sq ft of living space
Open, light-filled layout
Kitchen with oversized island
Spa-inspired primary suite
Covered patio + pergola + fire pit
Fenced backyard with space for outdoor kitchen
Located in Glendalough with community pool
Zoned for Porter Ridge Elementary, Middle & High

Video of the Week

Check out this video featuring: The REAL Pros & Cons (Before You Move)

Thinking about moving to Charlotte, North Carolina? 🏡

In this video, I’m breaking down the REAL pros and cons of living in Charlotte, NC so you can decide if it’s the right move for you.

As a local Realtor®, I help people relocate here every single day - and while Charlotte has a LOT to love, there are definitely a few things you’ll want to know before making the move.

✨ In this video, we cover:

✔️ Job opportunities and why so many people are moving here

✔️ The lifestyle and what day-to-day life actually feels like

✔️ What the weather is REALLY like (yes… we’re talking about the heat ☀️)

✔️ The not-so-fun parts - like traffic and those famous Carolina bugs 🐜😅

My goal is to give you an honest, balanced look so you can make a confident decision not just based on the highlights you see online.

📧 christen.ripoli@gmail.com

📞 330.301.0687

Charlotte Market Minute

📢 Charlotte Market Update | May 5th - May 12th 📢

A total of 895 properties were sold this week, with the average sales price rising to $545,293 and the median sales price at $410,000. Properties spent an average of 52 days on the market and sold for 98.23% of list price, showing continued strength and strong buyer demand across the Charlotte market. The average price per square foot climbed to $246.53, marking one of the stronger pricing weeks we’ve seen recently. The lowest sale this week came in at $70,000, while the highest reached $4.19 million, highlighting the broad range of activity happening across all price points. Even with fewer overall sales than last week, pricing remains strong and competitive conditions continue to favor well-positioned homes.

📊 Here’s your weekly snapshot:

895 total properties sold
Average sales price: $545,293
Median sales price: $410,000
Average price per square foot: $246.53
Properties are selling for an average of 98.23% of list price
Average days on market: 52
Lowest sale: $70,000
Highest sale: $4.19M

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!!