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I’m on track to retire in less than a year and am strongly considering relocating to Raleigh. My family is in the Raleigh area and while I have visited them, I’ve never really had the opportunity to explore different parts of the city. It’s a large metro and I’m hoping for some pointers on which areas to consider.
I will be 50 next year, single, and am very active. I am hoping to find a vibrant area close to running trails and parks, coffee houses and breweries, and has a strong community feel. While I would imagine downtown Raleigh probably has this in spades, I also wouldn’t be opposed to an alternative that is a bit smaller and easier to live with, day to day. I really wouldn’t be interested in a bedroom community full of subdivisions with no distinct downtown whose main demographic is families. I will not be commuting to a job at RTP so that isn’t a factor.
I’d like to stay below $600K and buy a home in an established neighborhood, even if it’s a smaller one. I like the look and feel of older historic neighborhoods that have character and are close to the things I mentioned.
In your opinion, which areas should I focus in on? Thanks for any insight.
I’m on track to retire in less than a year and am strongly considering relocating to Raleigh. My family is in the Raleigh area and while I have visited them, I’ve never really had the opportunity to explore different parts of the city. It’s a large metro and I’m hoping for some pointers on which areas to consider.
I will be 50 next year, single, and am very active. I am hoping to find a vibrant area close to running trails and parks, coffee houses and breweries, and has a strong community feel. While I would imagine downtown Raleigh probably has this in spades, I also wouldn’t be opposed to an alternative that is a bit smaller and easier to live with, day to day. I really wouldn’t be interested in a bedroom community full of subdivisions with no distinct downtown whose main demographic is families. I will not be commuting to a job at RTP so that isn’t a factor.
I’d like to stay below $600K and buy a home in an established neighborhood, even if it’s a smaller one. I like the look and feel of older historic neighborhoods that have character and are close to the things I mentioned.
In your opinion, which areas should I focus in on? Thanks for any insight.
Assuming you are open to the whole Triangle area and not just the city of Raleigh itself..
I'd say in-town Chapel Hill or Trinity Park/Watts-Hillandale/Old West Durham areas would be a great fit for what you are looking for and have decent options in your budget. They would be on the smaller side for detached homes; but many smaller older/homes with character and walkable to amenities as you've described. Some newer lofty-townhome options could also be found; especially near downtown Durham.
These are both areas with a high concentration of academia-oriented people (NOT just college students to be clear)
Downtown Cary is still coming along as well; has a little more of the suburban feel but definitely developing as more of a "satellite city". You're also more centrally located to the Triangle as a whole in downtown Cary.
What never gets discussed is the divide that is causing the increase in crime. Check the local news here as it is not the place you may be reading about.
What never gets discussed is the divide that is causing the increase in crime. Check the local news here as it is not the place you may be reading about.
Is the “divide” a place, and why does it not get discussed?
I’m on track to retire in less than a year and am strongly considering relocating to Raleigh. My family is in the Raleigh area and while I have visited them, I’ve never really had the opportunity to explore different parts of the city. It’s a large metro and I’m hoping for some pointers on which areas to consider.
I will be 50 next year, single, and am very active. I am hoping to find a vibrant area close to running trails and parks, coffee houses and breweries, and has a strong community feel. While I would imagine downtown Raleigh probably has this in spades, I also wouldn’t be opposed to an alternative that is a bit smaller and easier to live with, day to day. I really wouldn’t be interested in a bedroom community full of subdivisions with no distinct downtown whose main demographic is families. I will not be commuting to a job at RTP so that isn’t a factor.
I’d like to stay below $600K and buy a home in an established neighborhood, even if it’s a smaller one. I like the look and feel of older historic neighborhoods that have character and are close to the things I mentioned.
In your opinion, which areas should I focus in on? Thanks for any insight.
I'd focus somewhere inside the belt line near downtown Raleigh. The east and south sides of Raleigh are bit shady. The further you get away from downtown, the more suburban and family oriented it gets, and the more driving you'll be forced to do. Raleigh is fantastic for the greenways and breweries, and you can easily meet alot of people that way. 50 is still pretty young here, for the active singles.
What you really need to do is contact a Realtor who can help you sort it all out. There are many areas that match your criteria and having a professional help you sort it out will make the process way less stressful.
I’m on track to retire in less than a year and am strongly considering relocating to Raleigh. My family is in the Raleigh area and while I have visited them, I’ve never really had the opportunity to explore different parts of the city. It’s a large metro and I’m hoping for some pointers on which areas to consider.
I will be 50 next year, single, and am very active. I am hoping to find a vibrant area close to running trails and parks, coffee houses and breweries, and has a strong community feel. While I would imagine downtown Raleigh probably has this in spades, I also wouldn’t be opposed to an alternative that is a bit smaller and easier to live with, day to day. I really wouldn’t be interested in a bedroom community full of subdivisions with no distinct downtown whose main demographic is families. I will not be commuting to a job at RTP so that isn’t a factor.
I’d like to stay below $600K and buy a home in an established neighborhood, even if it’s a smaller one. I like the look and feel of older historic neighborhoods that have character and are close to the things I mentioned.
In your opinion, which areas should I focus in on? Thanks for any insight.
I think that you will have a challenge finding a SFH in your price range in a neighborhood with the characteristics that you seek, but you probably have lots of options with condos. Given how much the Triangle has grown in the last 3 decades, the amount of old and historic is limited and treasured.
I'd look in the area north of NC State and south of Wade Avenue in the vicinity of the Village District, or on the SW side of downtown near DiX Park. Caraleigh, to the immediate east of Dix Park might be another place to look.
You might want to explore the small historic downtowns of some of the surrounding suburbs. They will likely be cheaper, but these downtowns are really quite small and more young family oriented than Raleigh.
That said, I would start looking now if you are serious. The market is tight here, supply is low, and prices seem to keep climbing. FWIW, I am in the same life stage as you and I am on the west side of downtown.
How about somewhere in downtown Hillsborough or Pittsboro? Hillsborough has some really nice older homes and a small but walkable downtown with several good restaurants, a co-op grocery store, and the Eno Riverwalk. Pittsboro also has a walkable downtown and is quickly growing, but there might be something close to the center of town. Haw River and White Pines Nature preserve are a short drive away for recreation - less than 10 minutes. Mebane also has a nice downtown if you venture away from I-40. I don't think the suburbs of Wake County have what OP is looking for in terms of neighborhood feel. Raleigh's older and historic homes are "ITB" or inside the beltline (I-440) and too expensive for the budget.
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