Orange County’s July data shows a median sales price up more than 20% year over year, but price per square foot tells a much steadier story, up less than 2% over the same period. That gap points to a shift in which homes are selling, not a genuine surge in value, and it’s worth understanding before drawing conclusions from the headline number. Inventory also continued its sharp climb, up nearly 25% from a year ago, giving buyers more room to shop than they’ve had in years.
This weekend: Mettlesome throws a 10th anniversary comedy blowout, Durham’s Third Friday Art Walk fills downtown galleries, Lazy Daze brings 250 artists to Cary, Duke Homestead harvests tobacco the old-fashioned way, Nitro Circus flips into the DBAP, and The Mountain Goats bring their newest record to DPAC.
Homeowners insurance might feel like a buyer’s problem, but its cost and availability are quietly becoming part of every seller’s transaction. In this week’s RealGuide, I walk through what’s driving insurance costs up, how North Carolina’s market differs from the coast, and how a higher premium can change what a buyer can actually afford. I also cover the property details that tend to catch an underwriter’s attention, from roofs to older systems, and what to have ready before you list. If you’re getting ready to sell, this is one more piece worth understanding early.
Wake County’s July data shows two flat headline numbers masking a real slowdown underneath. Median sales price and price per square foot barely moved from June or a year ago, but closed sales fell sharply on both comparisons, a sharp reversal from the volume strength that defined the county’s June update. Days on market also stretched out, giving buyers more time and more leverage than the price numbers alone would suggest.
This weekend: ONCE returns to the Murphey School stage, Mystic Farm & Distillery throws a line dance party, For Garden’s Sake goes all in on plants with Cultivate, Wheels Durham hosts roller derby mayhem, Soul Sanctuary serves up Farm to Fork, and Motorco mashes up summer and Halloween for Summerween.
Inheriting a home comes with more than grief, it comes with questions about authority, probate, taxes, and timing that most sellers have never had to think through before. In this week’s RealGuide, I walk through who can actually sell the property, what to consider before spending money on repairs, and which professionals belong on your team. If you’re navigating an inherited home in North Carolina, this is where I’d start.
Chatham County’s July data shows a market working through a gradual shift, not a sharp move in either direction. The median sales price eased slightly while price per square foot actually held above last year’s level, a sign that the mix of homes selling changed more than underlying value did. Inventory continues to climb, giving buyers more leverage than they’ve had in the past year, while sellers who price and prepare carefully are still finding success.
This weekend: Paperhand Puppet Project opens its 26th season at the Forest Theater, Eno Arts Mill throws open its doors in Hillsborough, Liberty Arts fires up the foundry, Durham Central Park goes full Caribbean at the NC Jerk Festival, Saxapahaw settles into its Saturday groove, and The Wallflowers turn back the clock at the Carolina Theatre.
Wide doorways, main-level primary suites, walk-in showers: these aging-in-place features show up on more buyers’ wish lists than you’d expect, and not just from retirees. In this week’s RealGuide, I walk through which features matter most, how common they already are in Triangle housing stock, and whether they’re worth adding before you list. If you’re weighing updates ahead of a sale, this one’s for you.
Durham’s housing market cooled further in July, with both median sales price and price per square foot down from June and a year ago in tandem, a signal of genuine softening rather than a shift in what happened to sell. Inventory climbed to its highest point in over a year, up nearly 19% from July 2025, giving buyers more room to negotiate than they’ve had in some time. For sellers, the data points to one conclusion: preparation and pricing matter more now than they did a year ago.
