About Orange County, NC

While Cary NC and Apex NC may be rated as the top places to live, lowest crime, etc, not everyone wants the same kind of home or community.

Recently I helped one of my buyers find exactly what he was looking for. After looking for several weeks in Chapel Hill & Durham, we found this adorable ranch home on over an acre of land within 20 minutes of UNC at Chapel HIll. Located in the chamring town of Pittsboro, it sold for $128,500!

Are you looking for something different? Maybe a little land, or a large garage, or a historic home?

I specialize in listiening to my clients and looking for what they want. I understand that not everyone wants to live in the same suburban community. I'll do more listiening than talking so I show you homes that YOU want to see!

If you're looking for a home in the Raleigh Cary Apex area of North Carolina, I can help! Search for your North Carolina home here! Or call me at 919-621-1691 any day and I'll be happy to get you started.

Amongst cities of similar size (50,000 - 100,000 people), Chapel Hill ranks as the 4th smartest city!

http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/on-numbers/scott-thomas/2011/11/bethesda-palo-alto-rank-1-2-in-latest.html?appSession=50183361508738

Want to see why smart people live in Chapel Hill? Let us show you all that Chapel Hill has to offer!

Orange County Real Estate Report - August 2011

Closings Up, Available Inventory Down in Orange County

The Triangle MLS Report for Orange County for August 2011 has been released, and shows an increase in closings and a decrease in the number of homes available for sale.

August 2010 - 109 Closed Sales in Orange County

August 2011 - 113 Closed Sales in Orange County

3.7% Increase in Closed Sales in Orange County

New listings are down significantly, which means there are fewer homes for sale to select from.

August 2010 - 182 New Listings in Orange County

August 2011 - 148 New Listings in Orange County

18.7% DECREASE in New Listings Available in Orange County

Average Percent of Original List Price Received in August was 94.4%, versus 96% in August 2010.

The total inventory of homes for sale is also down significantly - the inventory of available homes in Orange County was 16.8% lower in August 2011 than in August 2010.

Considering buying a new home in Orange County (Chapel Hill, Hillsborough) NC? Get started here:

Orange County NC New Homes

Build On Your Lot in Chapel Hill NC

Orange County NC is located between Alamance County and Durham County, above Chatham County.

Orange County encompasses Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro.

Attractions in the Orange County area include Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, Montrose Gardens, Ayr Mount Historic Site, Jordan Lake, UNC Chapel Hill, and Morehead Planetarium.

Nearby towns and cities include Durham and Pittsboro.

New Home Ideas, Tips, and Trends

Stanton Homes brings you the latest in new home communities, home building trends and tips, Raleigh/Durham area relocation information, and much more!

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Orange County NC New Homes:

Orange County New Home Communities

Orange County NC New Homes

Orange County NC Property Tax Rates 2011

Acreage Homes in Orange County

Orange County Accessible Home Builders

Golf Community Homes in Orange County

Build On Your Lot in Orange County, NC

Where are the basements in new homes in Chapel Hill and the Triangle Area of NC?

Marianne Howell Wright Certified Eco Broker,Triangle Area Real Estate

That’s a question I get a lot from out of state clients so I thought I’d show you a basement under construction and talk about why we don’t have many in this part of NC.

The first reason basement building is limited is our heavy clay soil. Water won’t drain through the soil away from the house and an underground basement would be wet.

Another reason is foundations should be dug 12” inches below the frost line which can be 5 ft. in the north but only 18 inches in NC. It’s just not as cost effective to build a basement here. A builder will add $30,000 to $80,000 to the cost of a home (depending on the size of the house) for an unfinished basement. Finishing will add another $50-$60 a square foot. A buyer has to really want a basement to pay that much more for a home. We do have basements though. Sloped lots are often called basement lots and the slope allows for the water to be drained away from the house. There is also a system of gravel and drains running around the house to carry water away. If you See a newer home with a totally underground basement it might be a good idea to have an engineer check the drainage before you buy.

Poured concrete foundations are more common these days than masonry block foundations. I asked Carlos to explain why.

The house shown in the video is for sale in a small 10 home neighborhood within walking distance of Chapel Hill Schools. It's almost 5000 sq. ft. with a basement and is priced at $675,000.