Ballantyne zips to top of the list

Millions of people use the internet to search for their ideal home – a great neighborhood and schools, lots of amenities and close to work. Though everyone’s definition of the perfect neighborhood can vary, Realtor.com found that certain ZIP codes are among the most researched.

Of the Top 5 ZIP codes looked up at on the Realtor website, 28227, home to Ballantyne, ranks as No. 5.

Lisa Archer with Keller Williams in Ballantyne said she wasn’t surprised, given the area’s highly sought-after schools, nice homes, nearby shops and restaurants, cultural offerings like a theater and recreational activities at golf courses and the YMCA. Archer said other factors make Ballantyne attractive as well, including the proximity to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and the availability of corporate office space, referencing the recent addition of MetLife’s retail business headquarters’ move into the corporate park. Added bonus, according to Archer: “It’s not crazy congested yet.”

So who is researching the Ballantyne neighborhood online?

It’s not just people looking to move to the area from out of state, according to Archer. Often, it’s people who live in Charlotte already that are checking on the values of their homes or those looking to either downsize or upgrade in the neighborhood. Archer said her website, Live Love Charlotte, gets at least 500 hits a month with people researching Ballantyne.

Realtor.com found that the other top researched neighbors on the database were Pembroke Pines in Hollywood, Fla.; Wellington in West Palm Beach, Fla.; McKinney, Tex. and Old Town in Chicago.