For the third time in four years, North Carolina has claimed the top spot in CNBC’s Top States for Business ranking. The state earned high marks across multiple categories, ranking #1 in Economy, Workforce, and Business Friendliness.
The report cites strong job growth, a skilled labor pipeline, and a low corporate tax rate as key factors behind North Carolina’s winning edge. Major metro regions—Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, and Greensboro-Winston-Salem—continue to attract investment from companies in tech, manufacturing, life sciences, and logistics.
As businesses expand and relocate to North Carolina, the ripple effects are clear: more jobs lead to population growth, which fuels demand for both housing and neighborhood shopping centers. For real estate investors, this business-friendly environment and demographic momentum create compelling long-term opportunities.
Doug Kline, PhD, has held income properties in North Carolina for more than 20 years. He holds a North Carolina broker’s license, and is a member of the National Association of Realtors and the Triangle Real Estate Investors Association. He holds an MBA and a PhD in business. In addition to his real estate activities, Doug enjoyed a successful career in academia, achieving the rank of Full Professor in the Cameron School of Business at UNC Wilmington. He was honored with research and teaching awards, served as Director of the MS Computer Science and Information Systems program, and was awarded the endowed position Distinguished Professor of Information Systems.