What are the Best Triangle Areas?

Cary new home interior

Raleigh and the Triangle are huge. Most of my clients choose to buy a home in Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex or Holly Springs. These areas are popular because they are convenient to RDU Airport, Research Triangle Park, Duke University, Downtown Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The schools are also ranked high in the State. North Raleigh is also popular but commute times can be long depending on traffic. Inside the Beltline in Raleigh is really nice but you have to have a big budget to live there.

How do you decide what is best for you?

School Buses

Some of the factors that make a difference to my clients when making the decision of what town in the Triangle is best for them are inventory of available homes in their price range, location and commute times, schools, taxes, shopping, parks and walking trails, lot sizes, neighborhood amenities and characteristics of the town itself. That’s quite a list!
Some clients start by taking my quiz. Where you should really live in the Triangle.

Chapel Hill/Carrboro in the Chapel Hill Carrboro City School District.

Chapel Hill Home

Prices for a single family home average around $500,000.
Taxes are highest in the Triangle $1640 a year per $100,000.
Schools are excellent, stable and not capped
Shopping and restaurants are more local than other areas of the Triangle
Commute time to RDU airport and Research Triangle Park is around 25 minutes. Raleigh 35 minutes.
Lots of Greenways and Parks, more hidden, not as manicured as Cary
Almost no new homes, most homes dated and built in 90’s
Lot sized larger in pre 2000’s neighborhoods
Some neighborhoods have community pools.
University town with lots of music and cultural activities.
Popular neighborhoods include: Southern Village, Meadowmont, The Oaks, Lake Hogan Farms, Wexford, Sunset Creek

Chapel Hill/North Chatham County

Briar Chapel Great Meadows Park

Briar Chapel is a favorite for clients because of amenities, new homes, low taxes, good schools. My average sales price for buyers is $385,000
Neighborhoods with larger lots(1 acre), average sales price $426,000, include Fieldstone, Westfall, Manns Crossing, Horizon, Harrison Grove, Heartland Grove (some have Pittsboro address but not in Pittsboro)
Taxes $740 per $100,000
Schools Perry Harrison Elementary, Margaret Pollard Middle and Northwood High are good.
Commute to RDU and RTP is 35-40 minutes. UNC 15 minutes, Duke 25 minutes.
Briar Chapel has 14 miles of mountain bike and walking trails. 9 parks, a sports court and 2 saltwater pools and big clubhouse and fitness center.
Lots are either small in a planned community or big with septic systems.
Very good selection of new homes.
Has country feel, but close to Chapel Hill

Cary

Weycroft, a Cary Neighborhood

Prices for single family homes are in the 300’s and up with the best selection in the $500,000-$700,000.
Schools are generally excellent, some with caps
Some production builder new homes around $500,000. Custom builder new homes start in 700’s. Resales are hard to get under $350 because of multiple offers.
Wonderful system of parks and greenways.
Commute to RTP and RDU is excellent, less than 15 minutes
Excellent shopping, new Whole Foods is West Cary, Southpoint Mall 15 minutes, Targets everywhere. Lots of big box and chains.
Wide clean roads, manicured, trees
Older homes (90’s) have larger lots new homes very small.
Favorite neighborhoods: Preston Village, Amberly, Cary Park, Carpenter Village, Sedgefield, Copperleaf. and Highcroft

Apex

Preserve at White Oak in Apex

Prices range from 300’s with most hew homes in the 450,000-$600,000 range.
Excellent schools, some caps new neighborhoods and new schools.
20 minutes to RDU and Research Triangle Park.
Cute little main street with restaurants, shops. Lots of events and festivals
Nature Park, Sports Park, Skate Park
Feels rural in areas.
Lots of newer homes
Shopping at Beaver Creek Commons (Target, Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Kohl’s etc.
New Costco
Favorite neighborhoods, Scotts Mill, Bella Casa, Salem Village, Arcadia.
Many new developments under construction. Stillwater, Mckenzie Ridge, Saddlebrook, The Preserve at White Oak, Lake Castlebury, Green Level Estates, Enclave and Regency at White Oak.

Holly Springs

12 Oaks Holly Springs

Holly Springs is booming because of the new toll road I-540. I travel on that road showing clients the area and love it! The commute from the airport to many new developments is 25 minutes on a 70 mph straight road. It’s so easy to get around the Triangle from Holly Springs.
Good schools. New schools.
Cute tiny downtown with identity.
Lots of new shopping and restaurants.
New construction with prices much less than Cary.
Favorite neighborhoods include Holly Grove, 12 Oaks (good amenities and golf), Woodcreek (great amenities), Sunset Ridge and Sunset Oaks