Would love your advice about where to buy home in RDU (Raleigh: chapel, house prices)

[729us2]

I have read hundreds of posts and am confused! Would really appreciate your help about where to buy a home in the RDU area.

We are looking for neighborhoods considered "desirable" with a solid reputation and good resale value.

Also looking for custom homes as opposed to "cookie cutter" style homes, trees, some space between homes so not seeming "right on top of each other", etc.

We are looking for a large home with 3-4 bedrooms that does not need a lot of updating/remodeling...around $450,000. We went to Duke in the 70's but otherwise know little about the area.

We are about 60, our kids don't live at home, and we'll be working from home plus wanting to be active in the community...would use neighborhood amenities such as tennis courts, walking/biking trails, etc.

Thank you very much for your help!

[h2ohzrd]

Have you looked in Amberly Village? West of 55 on McCrimmon, 10 minutes from RDU, 6 miles from Southpoint, Harris-Teeter very nearby. We are around your age, no kids and homes that you describe fall within your price range. I will say the lot size is small but that means little grass to mow. Wouldn't call them cookie cutter; they have 4 or 5 builders that can build to your specs. We bought there in February and like the area.

[leighbhe]

ALthough, right now this is a little "out there", briar chapel (has a chapel hill address but is close to pittsboro) has a great community feel, 35 miles of bike trails, walking trails, pools, etc. They have various ranges of house prices, from townhomes to larger homes.

Anyhow, my mom has considered moving there just because it seems to be a great place!

Leigh

[mdp_az]

Treyburn is another one you should consider.

[729us2]

Thank you! I'll check those out! REALLY appreciate your suggestions!!

[toot68]

The Stoneridge area just north of Chapel Hill sounds like it would be up your alley. Backs up to Duke Forest and Triangle land conservancy lands with tons of trails, 1-2 acre wooded lots, custom homes, including alot of 3-4 bedroom one story. There is a neighborhood club with pool and tennis. Neighborhood is 20-30 years old, housing stock turns over pretty slowly but there are typically a couple houses on the market at any given time. Very pretty area with very close proximity to Durham and Chapel Hill (6 miles to downtown of either).

[mjohnson185]

North Hills sounds what you are looking for. It's in North Raleigh and is very desirable right now. The appreciation rate in this neighborhood has been 11% this year even with the tough economic times. They built the North Hills Mall area within walking distance of the neighborhood and I assume this is what is really making it appreciate so great. There are a lot of older ranches there, but the more pricy ones are updated and you have a nice established feel there.

[729us2]

Thank you, everyone! These are all suggestions that I haven't even explored yet...really appreciate the help!!

[Francois]

Check neighborhoods such as Stonebridge, Shannon Woods, and Woods of Tiffany in North Raleigh...you'll find 4-BR homes for much less than $450K, most built in the '90s, and the lots are big and it's a wooded neighborhood. 540 cut off one of the entrances which really cuts down on the through-traffic (i.e., it's very walkable) and there are neighborhood pool/tennis courts. And, it's a quick zip right onto 540 or Six Forks Rd.

[lovebrentwood]

When you say "RDU," some people may think you're referring to RDU airport.

If you mean Raleigh/Durham, then say it, even though most people don't use that term. They'll just say Raleigh or they'll just say Durham.

If you mean the general area, then use the term, "the Triangle."

Hope that helps.