*This post is based on my personal thoughts, backed by my studying of NAR, business journals, and market involvement.
Primary markets:
Raleigh- there are about 10 zip codes in Raleigh. Inside the beltline homes and north hills are the most expensive and are stunning. We now see prices up to $7m+. 27616, in north Raleigh continues to be the fastest growing zip. NW Raleigh has excellent proximity to RTP, Cary, downtown Raleigh, and Durham. Homes in this area have some charm and are older. Raleigh is home to an exceptional entrepreneur and start up base.
Cary- one of our most expensive, eclectic, diverse and cultural markets. Cary is highly desired due to schools, golf, and excellent social scene. Foodies unite!
Secondary markets:
Apex- directly next to Cary and a charming town and a wonderful downtown- almost everyone’s favorite! Apex has excellent schools and is an awesome proximity to airport, Cary, Raleigh. Even with less buyers in the market, apex pulls a big draw because it is priced less than Cary.
Holly springs- right next to apex. Further out, so less demand, but you can get a lot more home for the price. Be aware the nuclear plant is in this town. Good schools and great neighborhood amenities.
Wake Forest- this town borders on North Raleigh and is a short distance into Durham. My personal favorite for its charm, community, and some special parks. The Heritage area is one of the most popular and a bit more bustling than downtown although a new Foodhall is coming, and a new UNC hospital is coming! Wake Prep Academy is also 2-3years old. Great homes that can have a bit more land and less cookie cutter.
Knightdale and Garner- are right next to downtown Raleigh and have a cool, urban-scape and some great developments built along with a lot of commercial and retail in the pipeline.
Tertiary markets:
Fuquay- this town and community has a vibe all its own. The residents have made this their own destination town, and I love that! Fuquay has appreciated quite a bit in the last 5 years due to being on the top 10 best towns in the nation list.
Wendell/Zebulon- these small town, charming towns are just beginning to feel the growth of the power of the area. Wendell is a bit ahead of Zebulon in growth, but both areas are very close drive (20 mins) to Raleigh and offer more opportunities for land. You can get a steal in Zebulon, and I especially recommend looking at some new construction.
Rolesville- I call this Wake Forest 2.0. It has had lots of developments in the last 2 years, and it continues to grow. A great place if you want to buy a well-built spec home or a custom home. There is also a Thales academy and the long-awaited cobblestone mixed use development is amazing!
Youngsville/Franklinton- 2 of my recommended areas although Franklinton is winning the race. Franklinton downtown is turning into a major contender with places like @carolinamanorhouse, @theslammer and @francos! It’s approx 20 mins to drive to Wake Forest and closer to 35 mins to get to Raleigh; while Youngsville is closer. Both allow you to find options to build on big land and Youngsville has great proximity to the projected hospital and railway.
Creedmoor- lesser known and slow to grow, not much infrastructure there but it has amazing proximity to Raleigh, Durham and WF and we’ve had some clients build excellent custom homes here! I love Creedmoor.
Clayton- this town has been booming since they began their major landscape change with the Waterfront District. Flowers plantation and Portofino and many others are strongly desired communities. This town was a hotbed for investors for a while but has since called down. About 25 mins into Raleigh. The Cleveland schools are terrific.
If you would like to explore some of these areas, please reach out for more information!