The prices are right.

• Position: Charlotte

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts recommended The Ryland Group Inc.'s stock this summer in part because of the Westlake Village, Calif.-based homebuilder's presence in Charlotte, which the New York-based investment banking firm deems one of the best housing markets in the nation. Last year, Ryland acquired the Charlotte and Raleigh operations and assets of Raleigh-based Timberstone Homes Inc., which was the ninth-largest builder in the Queen City in 2011. Horsham, Pa.-based Toll Brothers Inc. bought more than 100 lots in Union County in 2012. Its number of sales in the metro has increased 120% over the past year. Dustin Read, director of the Center for Real Estate at UNC Charlotte's Belk College of Business, says all of the region's housing metrics are up compared with a year ago, but the rise in prices is the ultimate attraction. "The proof is in the pudding. All of the national homebuilders are trying to acquire land here."

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