Raleigh, Charlotte and Durham are among the metropolitan areas with the greatest percentage of remote workers, according to a recent report from CoworkingMag.

Why it matters: Although many large employers like banks have started mandating workers come into the office certain days a week, remote work is here to stay for a large swath of the working-age population.

• Since the pandemic, the rise of remote work has contributed to office vacancies in city centers, and it's informed how businesses operate.
• Employees' ability to work from wherever they want also means they can live in places with a relatively low cost of living, good climate and access to attractive amenities and entertainment — like North Carolina.

By the numbers: CoworkingMag's analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey found that in Raleigh, 24.5% of employees worked remotely in 2023, making it the No. 2 city nationwide for remote work.

• Charlotte is No. 5 at 21.5%.
• Durham's No. 9 at 19.5%.

The big picture: In 2023, there were more than 22 million remote workers in the U.S., a number that's tripled throughout the last decade, CoworkingMag wrote.

Zoom out: The rise in remote work has prompted employers to prioritize the quality of amenities over the quantity of space they lease.

• This is why, for example, a growing number of Charlotte businesses are abandoning the antiquated cubicles and towers of Uptown for modern, walkable and often smaller workplaces in South End.

Between the lines: Plenty of people who work remotely point to the flexibility it allows — but working from home appears to make people feel more alone, Axios' Emily Peck reported.

• Requiring workers to be at the office in person won't necessarily solve the problem, experts say.

Read the full report

Ann & Sid Mashburn will open their first Charlotte storefronts — offering upscale men's and women's clothing, shoes and accessories — next summer or early fall at the Specialty Shops SouthPark, according to a statement from the shopping center. A pass-through will connect the two stores.

The Fallon Co. last week broke ground on a $100 million, seven-story apartment development in Cotswold called The Colwick. (CBJ)

• A Boston developer, the Fallon Co. is also working with Charlotte's housing authority Inlivian on a long-planned project called Centre South, a major mixed-use, mixed-income project at the edge of Dilworth.

Andrea Smith will stay on as interim CEO of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance into the first quarter of next year, at least, as the search continues for a permanent replacement. (CBJ)

Lowe's has launched a Western North Carolina Small Business Recovery Fund, a $2.5 million initiative that will provide $20,000 grants directly to small businesses in North Carolina. (Lowe's)

• From Nov. 18-22, small businesses in disaster-declared communities can apply for grants to meet urgent needs, such as payroll, rent or replacing equipment or tools. More on the application here.

Friday marked the final broadcast of one of Charlotte's longest-running radio shows, "The Big Show" with John Boy and Billy on 99.7 the Fox. (Observer)

If you're on the hunt for a new job, here are 6 to get you started.  

• Lower School Art Teacher at Trinity Episcopal School.
• Director, Business Recruitment [International & Domestic] at Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.
• Marketing Associate at Cordero Home & Lighting.
• Baker Lead at Southminster.
• Administrative Assistant, Art, Design, and Music Department at Queens University of Charlotte.
• Legal Secretary at Hull & Chandler, P.A.

Want more opportunities? Check out all openings on our Job Board. 

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The national share of mortgage-free homes continues to reach new highs, according to the latest census data.

• That's true for North Carolina as well.

The big picture: Many outright homeowners are Baby Boomers who refinanced when mortgage rates were lower, Axios' Sami Sparber writes.

• The average 30-year mortgage rate this week is around 6.8%, according to Freddie Mac, up from around 6% in September and below 3% in 2021.

Living mortgage-free doesn't mean living expense-free, but it's often reason enough for empty nesters to hold onto their big homes.

Between the lines: More people have also bought homes with cash since interest rates started rising, Redfin research shows.

By the numbers: The share of mortgage-free homes nationwide climbed from 35.7% to 39.8% from 2013-2023, per the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey one-year estimates.

• North Carolina's numbers have climbed from 34.8% to 38.9% over the past decade.

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