Photo: Charles Nardi, Renderings: Crosstown, LOEB, Chisca

When you look at the headlines across the city, you see many new developments throughout the area. Beale Street is now the busiest tourist attraction in the state. Main Street is home to hundreds of new businesses filling the once forgotten buildings that have sat empty for years. The population of Downtown Memphis now has over 30,000 residents with a steadily increasing household income level. The arts are blossoming across the city and Downtown recently ranked in Forbes Magazine in the top “15 U.S. Cities’ Emerging Downtowns”. Memphis also landed at #3 in Forbes magazine list of “The Happiest Cities To Work In Right Now”. If these reasons aren’t enough to make you Choose901, let’s explore even more reasons why Memphis is a great place to call home.

Great Housing Market – The housing market in Memphis makes it very easy for someone to call Memphis home. If you are a first time buyer or an investor, you will find it is very easy to find housing at an affordable price. Realtor.com launched an EasytoBuyIndex and looked at the 50 largest metro areas in the country to determine the 10 easiest places to buy a home. Memphis was named #2. It took into account: the total costs of home ownership, whether it’s a buying or renting market, and local factors like insurance, taxes, and supply of affordable inventory.

We have the best patio weather – One of Memphis’ greatest assets comes naturally: our weather! Residents of Memphis enjoy mild winters, great sunny summers, and beautiful fall and spring weather conditions. The annual high temperature average is 72.4 degrees with an annual low temperature average of 53.6. Average annual precipitation comes in at 53.67 inches with only 3 inches of average snow fall. We get to enjoy all the seasons.

One of Memphis’ greatest assets comes naturally: our weather! Residents of Memphis enjoy mild winters, great sunny summers, and beautiful fall and spring weather conditions. The annual high temperature average is 72.4 degrees with an annual low temperature average of 53.6. Average annual precipitation comes in at 53.67 inches with only 3 inches of average snow fall. We get to enjoy all the seasons. Opportunity – Forbes ranked Memphis among the top 19 cities in the country to “make your mark”. The financially-focused magazine used the following criteria to make the list: average home cost, unemployment rates including direction year-to-year, overall population growth, and millennial population growth.

– Forbes ranked Memphis among the top 19 cities in the country to “make your mark”. The financially-focused magazine used the following criteria to make the list: average home cost, unemployment rates including direction year-to-year, overall population growth, and millennial population growth. Tech Growth – Memphis has been named in the top 10 cities in the country in terms of growth in Tech jobs. The report comes from Forbes using data from a research group. It’s important to note the job growth was in tech companies but also workers doing STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) jobs in other sectors as well. Many of the usual suspects are found in this list as well, but Memphis’ growth noted in particular.

Best NBA Team – Calling Memphis home since 2001, The Grizzlies have stolen our hearts and put us on the NBA map. Uniting the city as one, every jump ball in the Fedex Forum or “Grindhouse” unleashes the loud roar of Memphians supporting their favorite NBA team. ESPN Magazine named our Grizzlies the #1 Sports Franchise and Memphis as the Best NBA Destination.

Memphians are friendly – One of the first traits I noticed when I moved to Memphis was how friendly Memphians are! Whether it’s the person who serves you at dinner to your new neighbor, there is no doubt most of Memphis displays the true definition of hospitality. Airbnb has ranked Memphis at #6 on it’s list of the “10 Most Hospitable Cities” in America. Looking to invest in Memphis? Check out Serve901, Volunteer Memphis, and Volunteer Odyssey.

Education Reform: Urban education is the civil rights issue of our time, and Memphis is the place where you can make a real difference. Join the movement here.

This list could go on and on. Chris Vernon says, “If you love Memphis, Memphis will love you back.” I have found this to be true since the first day that I called Memphis home. I chose to make Memphis my home, and I encourage others everyday to do the same. Of course we have our fair share of problems. But if you only focus on the negative, you will miss the great things that are happening around you and the great things that Memphis has to offer. We can all do our part today to make Memphis even better tomorrow. We must be the change we wish to see. Together we can introduce Memphis to the top of every “Best of” list. I truly believe that now is the time, and Memphis is the place.

What are you most excited about right now in Memphis? Let us know in the comments!

See more Memphis bragging rights here.