Walkable neighborhood in Raleigh (Cary, Chapel Hill: appointed, rent, chapel)

[clsundy]

My husband and I may be moving to Raleigh in the near future. We are just waiting to hear the final word about his relocation from his job.
My husband will be working near the 440 and 401 interchange. We do not have any children yet but this is one reason we want to move out the DC area.

We currently live in Alexandria, Va, just outside of DC. We love the area and how we can walk to restaraunts, coffee shops and unique stores not only strip malls. I am wondering if there are any neighborhoods in Raleigh like this. I have been to Five Points in the city which I think was great but I think the area is too pricey and too in the city for us. We are looking for a single family home with a yard for my chocolate lab and would like to stay under $300K. My husband wants to move and rent for a while but with interst rates so low right now we may buy right away. So I am just trying to get as much information on specific neighborhoods as possible.

Thanks!

[grababun]

Cameron Village is probably the closest thing to what you want. But it is downtown, and not cheap.

[saturnfan]

North Hills has some stuff (expensive) but Raleigh is not a walkable city and is lethal to pedestrians.

You will dearly miss the Metro.

[CHTransplant]

Hillsborough, maybe, but it would be a hike to his job.

[Clever User Name]

Hey there. As a former Old Town resident, I can say that there is nothing like that around here (ah... I miss walking to Misha's and the Majestic). The heart of Chapel Hill/Carrboro comes the closest. There's only a handful of places that come anywhere near that type of walkability (Five Points and Cameron Villiage and North Hills...sort of) and the prices start to get DC-esque if you're looking for a nice place with decent square footage if you're looking for a single family home. We've sucked it up and now live in North Raleigh suburbia.

[Shelby1234]

In that price range, it's going to be nearly impossible. The type of neighborhood you described is going to cost you well over $500k. You can find nice homes and neighborhoods at lower prices here but I can't think of any where you can walk to cute village settings with shopping/dining.

[wjsluvskaz]

Originally Posted by Shelby1234

In that price range, it's going to be nearly impossible. The type of neighborhood you described is going to cost you well over $500k. You can find nice homes and neighborhoods at lower prices here but I can't think of any where you can walk to cute village settings with shopping/dining.

This is true, we have been disappointed in this.

[Francois]

The neighborhoods with the better "amenities" (however that is generally defined) will naturally be the pricier neighborhoods--this is true in any city. Good ole Supply and Demand. Five Points is next to Hayes Barton, one of the most "old, established, expensive" neighborhoods in Raleigh. As others have said Cameron Village would fit the bill but while you can rent an old townhome there (not unlike ones in Arlington), it's not cheap, plus whenever you do have children, the Cameron Village area is not really a "kid" neighborhood--lots of retired people and 20somethings and a funky vibe.

Brier Creek is new and said to be "walkable", but the traffic is pretty heavy around there and I wouldn't want young children around those roads.

[MikeJaquish]

Don't overlook the Heart of Cary.

It doesn't have the offerings of Cameron Village, North Hills, 5 Points, but there is some interesting stuff going on, and you can likely get a house, needing redecoration, and a yard closer to your price range.

[lottamoxie]

There's nothing here with the same ambiance and wealth of resources of Alexandria/Old Towne, in your price point. Chapel Hill and Carrboro probably come closest, but neither is near where your husband's job will be. I think you'll end up in suburbia with strip malls or near a big mall (suburbia comprises 98% of what's available here).