About Marianne

Marianne Howell Wright

Realtor, Owner/Broker Triangle Area Real Estate.

Hi, I am Marianne Howell Wright. I’ve been involved with homes and real estate my whole adult life. I am a Realtor focusing on helping relocating buyers find the right home and neighborhood for them in the Triangle Area of NC. You can call, text or email me I would love to hear from you! 919-274-4365. Email:  [email protected] or text may be the best because I get many spam calls a day and may not pick up if your name doesn’t show up.

About

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

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.

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.

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 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]