Now that Hurricane/Tropical Storm Helene is largely behind us, the Triangle’s “biggest open day” will continue, rain or shine.
The Triangle Parade of Homes starts this weekend. It takes place from October 4 to 6 and from October 11 to 13, every day from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
The free event is a tour of 242 newly built homes across four counties in 165 communities – from Durham to Zebulon.
Often billed as HGTV enthusiasts’ playground for exploring design trends, this year’s parade is back to pre-pandemic numbers, said Paul Kane, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County.
About 200 builders are participating with prices for new homes ranging from $275,000 to $5.35 million.
Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or just curious about what’s on the market, here’s everything you need to know:
The setup
About 60 of the parade’s 242 homes — about 25% — are listed for more than $1.5 million, reflecting a nationwide uptick in the number of homes with price tags above $1 million.
The parade’s most expensive home is listed at $5.3 million at 222 Reynolds Rd. in the north hills of Raleigh. The 6,218-square-foot modern craftsman home, built by Raleigh Custom Homes, features five bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a gym and a sauna.
The second most expensive is at 117 Lochinvar Court, listed at $5.33 million in Cary’s MacGregor Downs. Built by Loyd Builders of Raleigh, the 8,300-square-foot home has four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a “two-sided infinity pool overlooking the 10th hole.”
At the other end of the spectrum, about 21 of the parade’s homes, or 8.6%, are under $400,000. Many are townhomes in fast-growing cities like Zebulon, Wendell, Roseville and Knightdale in Wake County and Pittsboro in Chatham County.
The Raleigh division of Taylor Morrison of Arizona has three homes at this price. They include the Birch house in Wendell’s Magnolia Townes, starting from $299,990; the Quincy house in Angier’s Camden Place from $339,900; and the Andrews home in Sanford’s Hickory Grove from $393,990.
Despite a sluggish market, demand remains steady, said Mike Reynolds, president of Taylor Morrison’s Raleigh division.
“We have seen a decline in customer traffic in some submarkets,” he said. “As interest rates stabilize and the election season comes to an end, we expect demand to recover.”
California-based Tri Pointe Homes is also among the out-of-state builders showcased in the parade. It has the Shepard house from $487,990 in Durham’s Tredenham; and the Shelby home from $726,049 in Raleigh’s Elm Park.
“We’re selling steadily,” said James Flanagan of Tri Pointe. “We continue to see momentum growing since opening earlier this summer.”
How can you plan your tour?
Pack an umbrella! Weather reports predict sunny skies with highs in the low 80s. But it doesn’t hurt to be safe, given the recent deluge.
Other tips: Visit www.triangleparade.com and create your own “custom tour,” complete with “door-to-door” directions.
The site provides step-by-step instructions.
How it works: The site offers a complete list of this year’s parade entries. Below the photo of each house is the option to ‘Add to my tour’. Users can add homes to a master list and enter a starting address, which generates a “custom parade map” with a link to turn-by-turn navigation.
It can be shared with others or emailed to a specified address.
Any other pro tips or strategies?
Melody Pone is the sales manager of Tri Pointe Home. One of her tips:
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Make the tour an event with friends, pack a ‘Car-cuterie’ plate and snacks for the day.
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Even if you don’t make a map, have a plan.
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Take photos and create a Pinterest board with ideas for later.
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Bring your checkbook/pre-qualification documents. “You might want to buy a house,” she said.
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