About Marianne

Marianne Howell Wright

Realtor, Owner/Broker Triangle Area Real Estate.

How I Work With Buyers and Sellers in 2025

I’ve been helping people find the right home in the Triangle for more than 40 years. Over time, I’ve learned that the most valuable role I can play for clients today is connecting them with the right agent — one who knows their area inside and out and can guide them through the details of a purchase or sale.

Why referrals?

The Triangle is growing quickly, and each town, neighborhood, and even street can be very different. Newer agents often don’t have the depth of knowledge to help you avoid missteps. By contrast, I know which areas are best for schools, walkability, new construction, or long-term value. That means I can match you with the right local expert — someone who lives and works in that part of the Triangle every day.

How it works

We’ll start with a conversation where I’ll learn what you’re looking for and what matters most to you.
I’ll either recommend a seasoned general agent or, if you already know where you want to focus, a trusted associate who specializes in that area.
I’ll stay involved in the introduction to be sure you’re connected with someone who truly understands your needs.

Why this helps you

You get the benefit of my decades of Triangle experience and the attention of an agent who is fully focused on your search. It’s the best of both worlds — and it makes the process less stressful, more efficient, and more successful.

What I would like to know about you.

I want to connect you with an agent I trust — someone who will take the time to understand your needs. A few quick questions will help me learn what matters most in your move.

Quick Questions

Prefer texting?
Send me a message at 919-274-4365 and we’ll set up a time to talk.

About Me

I grew up in the DC area, Fairfax Va. and Potomac, Md. I went to school at New Mexico State University and the University of Cincinnati. My Dad was a developer and homebuilder. My first memories were riding around “the job” in my Dad’s jeep.

Chapel Hill

When I moved to Chapel Hill from Cincinnati in 1980’s (for a husband’s job) I had no idea what to expect. My choices were NJ (I pictured towns filled with factories) and Chapel Hill (I pictured Andy and Mayberry ). I pushed for Andy and Chapel Hill and my Mom, who was originally from Texas, helped me practice a Southern accent. I was really surprised when we came for a visit that Chapel Hill wasn’t like Mayberry, even back then! Walking down the street and talking with folks I rarely heard a Southern accent but did hear languages from all over the world. Chapel Hill has been home for many years now and I love the Triangle area.

Homebuilding

A year or so after we moved to Chapel Hill I was the contractor for our first house. Following in a family tradition, I decided home building was what I wanted to do with my life and career. My interest in neighborhoods and what made them different started then. In the 80’s and early 90’s I built homes in Chapel Hill and Durham in many neighborhoods including The Oaks and Chesley in Chapel and Hope Valley and Fairfield in Durham.

New Home Marketing

New homes have always been a love for me. In the 90’s I shifted from building to my favorite part of the business, working with builders and new home buyers helping with home plans, selections, marketing and sales.

General Brokerage

Marianne with CEO of Coldwell Banker

In 1999 I joined Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate later to become Coldwell Banker as a general brokerage agent because I had an opportunity to sell and market a big new home project and at the same time represent the builders I had been working with. I won many awards for being a top listing agent in my office.

I found this article about my website when cleaning out closets. It’s from the Chapel Hill News, June 2000. I think we still had MLS books then but changes came fast.

12 years of the corporate real estate world was more than enough and I decided I wanted to focus on helping buyers relocating to the area.

Triangle Area Real Estate

Triangle Area Real Estate First Closing — Triangle Area Real Estate First Settlement April 2011-Happy buyers!

I found over the years, that the Triangle is so huge that people moving to the area have no idea where to start. I knew I could help with that problem after so many years of watching the Triangle grow.

Triangle Area Real Estate

After leaving Coldwell Banker I went to work in my own company, In April of 2011 I had my first closing with my and my husband Chip’s company, Triangle Area Real Estate. We licenced the company in 1995 for my husbands development and commercial real estate business. NC real estate firm license #C8533. W2 Development DBA Triangle Area Real Estate.

In the past 8 years I have represented many buyers with both new and resale homes. My clients come from all over the US and the world. Many clients can live anywhere they choose and they choose the Triangle because of the quality of life for their family. It’s so rewarding to see clients learn about the area and neighborhood and find a home that is just right for them and their family.

Happy buyers

Happy buyers Brian and Aubree 2019

Chapel Hill Neighborhoods

I started in Real Estate in Chapel Hill and Carrboro specializing in the best neighborhoods based on clients feedback about schools, builders and amenities. In those early days North Raleigh was the only other option with good schools. Even in the 90’s there was constant school reassignment within Wake County schools.

Cary

As the years went by I realized that Cary was really growing and not many real estate agents knew both areas.

It’s hard to believe that when I moved to the Triangle, Cary had only around 10,000 residents. Preston and Cary Parkway didn’t exist. Now there are over 160,000 people calling Cary home. I have watched it grow and know the good builders in both the new neighborhoods as well as the older neighborhoods on larger lots.

Apex

Apex didn’t really get growing until Cary was basically built out. Holly Springs is booming too since HWY 540 was extended to Holly Springs. I can help you get to know those areas too.

Family time

My husband Chip and I live between Chapel Hill and Cary near Jordan Lake. Chip has been a real estate broker since the 80’s and works with me now as well as doing commercial real estate and contracting.

Chip Wright

My children, raised in Chapel Hill, don’t have a Southern accent although they know how to put one on and show off their Southern heritage.

Kristin and William

My husband Chip and I have a rescue Bassador who had the name of Frank when we adopted him. We kept Frank and gave him the middle name Lloyd. He basically sleeps all day but keeps one eye open in hopes we’ll take him in the car on our neighborhood tours.

Frank Lloyd Wright

What I can do for you (in a couple of sentences).

My knowledge of the local market, neighborhoods, new construction and school systems will help you have the information to make the best decisions for you and your family. The most important thing to me is to help my you move on with your life with the least amount of stress. I know it is very confusing to decide on a move and figure the best path through all the possible options. Give me a call and let me know how I can help you find the right home and neighborhood. Marianne Howell Wright 919-274-4365 or email [email protected]

Marianne Howell Wright

919-274-4365
Broker, e-pro, Ecobroker

Marianne Howell Wright You Tube Channel

Triangle Area Real Estate

5.0

Based on 22 reviews

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20:52 02 Feb 20

Marianne was our agent when we purchased our home in Chatham County. She is extremely knowledgeable about the Triangle area, specific neighborhoods and builders. Marianne was very thorough and did an excellent job representing us during the entire process; from finding a house, negotiating the offer, and handling all the closing details. We highly recommended Marianne.

14:51 17 Jan 20

Marianne helped us buy a beautiful home in Chapel Hill while we were living in Pennsylvania. She was a pleasure to work with and accommodated our schedule perfectly during the few times we were able to be in the area. She patiently drove us around for many hours and several days, helping us rule out every possibility. Our final decision was made without a doubt! We felt very confident in Marianne's guidance throughout the entire home buying process. Her thorough knowledge and experience was very evident. She was there for us every step of the way, especially when we could not be there in person.

15:49 24 Mar 19

Marianne and Chip were incredibly helpful throughout the new home building process, especially as we were living in Austin! They were both super pleasant, knowledgeable and responsive! We couldn't have done it without them.

14:59 15 Mar 19

Marianne did a fabulous job as our realtor. It was stressful to be relocating to an unfamiliar, new area from out of town, and Marianne was extremely helpful. She had so much experience and knowledge of the neighborhoods, schools, and services for our special needs child, and she was able to advise us on the best location for our family. Even in the middle of a winter storm she was out looking at houses for us, taking detailed videos so we could see the homes from out of state. She was very responsive and always available to answer our many questions about the area. She was very knowledgeable about the buying process and did a great job of negotiating on our behalf. When we got to Chapel Hill, Marianne gave us several different tours, and even took the time to show our son playgrounds all over town. We are thrilled with the home we bought and couldn’t have done it without her. I highly recommend her!

Yanina Costecalde

16:57 24 Jun 18

Marianne Howell Wright is real Estate Agent; she works with her husband, Chip Wright who was in a construction building contractor. I have been in the area for year and knew quite well the market, and where I wanted my family to be, which I recommend to any new buyer. I contacted Marianne because I liked her videos and she seemed knowledgeable about the area. They both came straight away, which other agents do not do. In general, Marianne recommends new constructions over old houses because she often goes to new development meetings and is well aware of the new construction materials (lighter, better, and more efficient). However, I chose an old house. Being single, Marianne and Chip made sure that I understood what it meant to choose a house that required a lot of work. Once it became clear that I knew what it would take to fix the house, Chip and the inspector built a terrific file and Marianne negotiate and reduced the price significantly, which is rare for the area. I invested this extra money in the house and hired contractors with Chip helps. The house was ready for my family in a month. I would like to add that Chips was not keen to advice for contractors because some clients might be suspicions of his intentions, but if you ask, he would tell you.

A house is everyone own choice. You are the only one who knows what your family likes, can afford, and able or not to handle small/big improvement projects. What chip can do is to give you a far opinion on the house condition. What Marianne can do is to build the best file in order to negotiate the best price for the buyer or the seller. I recommend this team because they are professional, reliable, and efficient.

01:16 09 Jun 18

Marianne is awesome! She was available to us during the entire process of building our new home, from selecting the lot through our final walk-through. Building a new home, especially while living out-of-state, can be nerve-wracking. Having Marianne represent us was such a smart decision. She is so knowledgeable about the new build process and construction, and brought things to our attention that we never would have thought about. She truly looked out for our best interests. She was available to us each and every time we needed her. We now have a brand new home that is well-built and gorgeous! We thank Marianne for the huge role she played in making that dream come true for us!

Maureen Pulscher

21:38 04 Jun 18

Marianne helped my husband and I find a new home in the Triangle area while we were still living out of state. We made a few trips to look at properties and Marianne always made the most of the short amount of time we had and helped us cover a lot of ground. She also spent plenty of time on the phone and over email with us educating us on the area and providing fantastic local insights. She is extremely responsive and will track down information for you. She kept us well informed throughout the buying process and helped us learn what to look for as first-time new construction buyers. She also was tremendously helpful in the new construction walk-throughs, pointing out things and asking questions I did not know to ask. I highly recommend Marianne, especially if you are moving to this area from out of state!

Marianne proved an invaluable resource in our house hunting endeavors. Her knowledge of the market and the neighborhoods proved to be incredibly helpful, as well, navigating the purchasing process.... read more

emesmer
March 11, 2020
My Wife and I were looking to move to North Carolina from New York. We had no idea who to contact, so we searched the internet, and came across Marianne's... read more

mikejsav100
February 18, 2020
We “found” Marianne Howell Wright online. Her articles and YouTube videos were well done and demonstrated her many years of experience and expertise of the Triangle area. Although... read more

Debbie Bush
January 21, 2020
When we decided to move back to the Triangle, we knew we'd be calling Marianne. We've done three total transactions with her over the past 3 years. Her deep knowledge... read more

Britta Alexander
January 10, 2020
Marianne did a fabulous job as our realtor. It was stressful to be relocating to an unfamiliar, new area from out of town, and Marianne was extremely helpful. She had... read more

jvomsaal
March 15, 2019
Marianne was fantastic, we found her online as she seemed to pop up for every search imaginable for someone looking to relocate to Chapel Hill which spoke to her depth... read more

user6526633
October 22, 2018
Marianne found properties for me to consider that were exactly what I was looking for and provided excellent support throughout the purchasing process. She asked specific questions about the... read more

johnstonc7
August 12, 2018
My husband and I enjoyed watching Marianne’s YouTube videos and wanted to work with her on what we figured would be a simple in-town move. Well, the process turned out... read more

spark007
June 4, 2018
My husband and I had an excellent experience buying our home with Marianne as our Real Estate Agent. She is extremely knowledgeable about real estate in the Triangle Area. She... read more

fanryanyang
April 1, 2018
Marianne and Chip were amazing. We were coming from out of state and met or spoke with various realtors to decide who was best to represent us by truly... read more

tseant77
October 17, 2016

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