If you’ve been looking at homes in 28205 or East Charlotte in general, you’ve probably noticed something. A lot of the houses were built in the 1950s and 60s. They’re small brick ranch homes, usually three bedrooms, one bath, and often under 1,100 square feet. And they’re not sitting on the market the way some larger homes are right now.

So why are these smaller 3/1 brick houses still in demand in 2026?

I live and work in East Charlotte and sell a lot of homes in this pocket. Here’s what’s really going on.

First, layout matters more than people realize. In East Charlotte, once you get above about 1,200 to 1,300 square feet, that’s typically where you start seeing consistent three bedroom, two bath layouts. Under that size, most homes are three bedrooms and one bath, sometimes one and a half baths.

Buyers shopping in the $300,000 to $400,000 range are often choosing between a smaller 3/1 closer in or a larger 3/2 farther out. That’s the trade-off. You’re not choosing between good and bad. You’re choosing between space and location.

The limitations of these smaller homes are real. Bedrooms are typically smaller. Closet space is tighter than what you’d see in newer construction. Hallways can feel narrow, and storage isn’t abundant. You’re not getting oversized primary suites or large walk-in closets.

But here’s what you are getting.

Most of these homes sit on quarter-acre to third-acre lots. That means deeper backyards, mature trees, and outdoor space that newer subdivisions often don’t offer. In some cases, there’s also room to expand, depending on zoning and lot coverage rules.

You’re trading interior square footage for land and proximity.

If you’re not familiar with 28205 and why it attracts so much long-term demand, I broke that down in more detail here: https://sellyourhomecharlotte.com/why-28205-is-charlottes-creative-core-and-its-largest-most-diverse-zip-2025-relocation-guide/

And in East Charlotte, location is doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Neighborhoods like Markham Village, Windsor Park, Merry Oaks, Country Club Heights, Shannon Park, and Eastway Park are full of these brick ranch homes. You’re close to Plaza Midwood and NoDa. You have easy access to Central Avenue and Eastway. The commute to Uptown is reasonable.

These are established neighborhoods with character and history. Buyers are paying for proximity and lot size, not just square footage.

Price point also matters. The average home price in Charlotte is now over $425,000. Homes under $400,000 in these neighborhoods continue to attract steady interest because they’re still relatively attainable compared to newer construction in other parts of the city.

The buyer pool for a well-maintained three bedroom, one bath home under 1,100 square feet is deeper than most people think.

Are these homes perfect? No.

If you’re buying one, pay attention to the crawl space, electrical systems, roof age, and whether any renovations were permitted properly. Some updates were done well. Some were not. That’s where working with someone who knows this pocket matters.

If you already own one of these 1950s or 60s brick ranch homes, demand is real, but pricing and preparation still dictate the outcome. Not every small home sells automatically. Strategy still matters.

If you’re curious what your East Charlotte 3/1 ranch might be worth in today’s market, you can start here: https://sellyourhomecharlotte.com/whats-my-home-worth/

If you’re looking to buy in East Charlotte and want to see what’s currently available, you can search homes here: https://sellyourhomecharlotte.com/property-search/

If something catches your eye, call me before you schedule a showing. A quick conversation can save you time and help you avoid common issues in this area. 704-621-3066.

So here’s the real question: if you’re buying in Charlotte, would you rather have more interior space or a larger lot in a better location?

Now strategically — this post is priming your Markham Village listing beautifully. Do you want to add one subtle sentence that hints inventory is about to expand without saying “I have one coming soon”?