reprinted from Forbes.com 2/10/2011

No. 2: Raleigh-Cary, N.C.

Neat and clean ranch home in Baywood Forest.  Lot  has fenced in back yard is perfect for kids and backs up to natural area with lots of trees.  This home has been well maintained.  Recent exterior paint.  New carpet.  Neutral colors throughout.  One minute access to 264 by pass gives a 20 to 30 minute commute to Raleigh, RTP and RDU!  This home is truly better than new and a perfect starter home.  Great Knightdale location!

Granite Falls in Rolesville is actually three communities.  Granite Falls includes luxurious custom crafted single family homes starting from the $350s. Several floorplans are available with square footages of 2700 to 4300.

Granite Crest includes beautiful custom crafted single family homes starting from the $250s. 2200 to 3900 square foot plans are available along with first floor master bedroom suites.

Granite Ridge is the townhome community starting in the 150's with several floorplans to choose from. 

Other than the great location in Wake county, perhaps the best part of Granite Falls Communities are the amenities.  A 60,000 square foot athletic center, indoor pool and outdoor aquatic center and a free weight center are offered.  many classes and programs are available.  Club info is here.

Parade of Homes award winning builders Jordan Homes and Perry builders have a variety of floorplans to choose from. 

Those of us that live here know that Raleigh has no shortage of wi-fi hotspots and the whole county is wired for the internet.  People moving here say things like internet access is essential - well, no problem!

Forbes magazine has ranked Raleigh the nations "most wired city".  The magazine looked at factors such as broadband penetration and access, and the number of public wi-fi hot spots.  This area routinely wins kudos in various "best of" lists according to the News and Observer.

Bishops Grant is a new community in growing Wake Forest.  Located off of the new 98 by pass it is accessable to not only Wake Forest but is an easy commute to other areas of the Triangle. 

Developed by Contentnea Creek Development Company, the community has 172 homesites with an average size of nearly a quarter acre.  Three builders, HJ Morris Construction, Bock Construction and Buildmaster Custom Homes will build you a quality custom home with prices starting in the 300's.  Future phases will offer 48 townhomes with garages.  

Visit the community website at: Bishopsgrantfinehomes.com

Well, I'll make this short.  I've started blogging a bit lately and I've been told in the past that "it's a sorry dog that don't bark in it's own backyard".  Weathers Hunt is a relatively small neighborhood in Wendell off of Rolesville Road.  It is near the intersection of Rolesville and Marks Creek, near BJ's Grocery.  A fine neighborhood with large lots and great construction (Johnny Watson Homes).  No amenities - or dues!  Kind of bias because I live there.

Homes for sale in Weathers Hunt

For residents of Knightdale Widewaters brings a couple of things to mind.  First the shopping center.  Next would be the Widewaters community.

Built predominately in 2004 - 2006 by DR Horton homes, Widewaters is perfectly situated for folks who want convenience.  It is basically at the intersection of business 64 and Interstate 540 but you can't see or hear the traffic.  Triangle Town Center mall in Northeast Raleigh is only 10 minutes away.  The airport is less than 30 minutes away as is downtown Raleigh. 

Perhaps the best part is the nearby shopping.  Lowes Foods, Target, Best buy, Home Depot, Dick's Sporting Goods, Kohls, Office Max, Michaels, Bank of America, BBT, Petsmart and Petco, and The Dollar Store are all closeby.  Actually within walking distance.  There are dozens of other smaller businesses and restaurants in the same vacinity.   There is also a Rex Hospital annex next to one of the shopping centers as well as medical professionals and a day care center.

The community features a clubhouse and pool. 

There are homes and townhomes in the community.  Prices range from the mid 100's to around 300k.

Currently available homes in Widewaters

Another positive ranking.  I've heard people say that the Raleigh Durham area is "recession proof."  I'm not sure of that but we certainly are one of the strongest local economies around.

Hanley Wood Market Intelligence, a California research firm, has ranked the Raleigh-Cary market first and the Durham-Chapel Hill market sixth on its list of the healthiest markets among the top 100 U.S. housing markets.

According to this News and Observer article by David Bracken, Hanley Wood thinks Raleigh will still experience minor price declines.

Raleigh real estate keeps bucking any kind of recession.

The city of Raleigh began expansion of the greenway system on February 4th.  The Upper Neuse Greenway system will run from Falls Lake all the way to the Johnson county line.  The first part will extend from the Falls lake dam to the soccer park at Perry Creek road.  It will pass through Bedford, Falls River and Riverside.  The Upper Neuse Greenway Trail is scheduled to be complete in the spring of 2011 and will cost $3.9 million.

I moved to eastern Wake county in 2005 for several reasons, one of which was the completion of 540 and 64 by-pass.  Wow, these roads are great.  I can live in a country setting and get anywhere in Wake county in around 30 minutes.  Anywhere that is except Fuquay-varina, Holly Springs, and the surrounding areas.  Well, here is some information explaining how that will eventually change.

The first part is in the Holly Springs area and is scheduled to open in 2019.  Here is a video from the North Carolina Turnpike Authority which further explains things. 

http://www.ncturnpike.org/video/TriEx-SEC%20Jan%202010_1080.wmv

If the outer loop out here did what it did for Knightdale get ready for some fast growth!

NC Turnpike Authority