Thinking about dipping your toe in the homeownership pool? Cary is for you, first-time home buyers.
The growing Triangle town recently earned a top five spot on WalletHub’s list of the Best Places for First-Time Home Buyers ranking fourth out of the 300 cities and towns the personal finance website reviewed.
Compared against 23 key indicators, WalletHub assessed each to determine market attractiveness, affordability, and quality of life. Cary scored well, especially for affordability and real estate market rank, which evaluated market health, share of homes sold annually, building-permit activity, home price appreciation and more. Not surprisingly given its past recognitions as one of the safest places to live in the nation, Cary also snagged fifth place among the cities with the lowest property-crime rate.
“Cary has made its mark on the map as an ideal place to live in the Triangle for first-time buyers, seasoned homeowners and those seeking the perfect place to enjoy retirement,” said Beckie Hanley, branch manager of the Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston Cary Office. “With a downtown revitalization plan underway and focused growth to bring in new businesses and support citizens’ requests for recreational offerings, the town is poised to be the area’s most popular suburb.”
The Town of Cary wasn’t the only Triangle location on the national list; Raleigh and Durham also made an appearance ranking 23rd and 66th, respectively. However, when reviewed by size, Raleigh took home first place on the large city list, and Durham snagged 22nd position on the mid-sized city compilation.
Consider Living in Cary
A convenient Triangle area suburb, Cary is making a name for itself among home buyers in all walks of life.
The thriving town is a short commute away from the larger Triangle cities of Raleigh and Durham and the region’s popular Research Triangle Park business center.
Numerous well-known companies call Cary home including SAS Institute, Verizon and Deutsche Bank. Local businesses and restaurants are also abundant with more and more opening in the community monthly.
Recreational offerings at area parks and cultural events and live performances hosted at the renowned Koka Booth Amphitheatre are highly anticipated and well attended throughout the year.
Popular Cary Neighborhoods
Want to live in a new home development? Seeking country club living? On the hunt for a home in an established, family-friendly neighborhood? Cary has what you want.
Home buyers will find the homes they seek in neighborhoods that suit their families in the lauded town.
“Cary has wonderful communities, new developments, and well-established neighborhoods, with homes in an array of styles, sizes, and prices,” added Hanley. “Buyers can count on our expert Cary real estate agents to help them narrow down their house hunt to find the right neighborhood and the best home for their wants and needs.”
Some popular Cary neighborhoods to consider include:
Amberly
A new home community located in West Cary, Amberly has scenic, wooded lots with home starting at 2,680 square feet with four or more bedrooms. Home buyers will appreciate the well-designed homes with large, open kitchens and unique outdoor living spaces including covered patios and screened porches.
Additionally, Amberly residents will enjoy a state-of-the-art Clubhouse with fitness center, a Junior Olympic pool and children’s play pool, a gymnasium with basketball court, outdoor kids’ playground and hiking trails that wander throughout the community.
Cary Park
The family-friendly Cary Park community offers beautiful traditional homes, townhomes, and condominiums in a convenient West Cary location. Built around a 28-acre lake, the community feature miles of paved walking and biking trails and sidewalks that connect the neighborhoods within.
Cary Park homeowners also have access to a clubhouse, pool, volleyball court, playground, picnic shelter and sports field.
Carpenter Village
Cary’s Carpenter Village is a desirable community that combines beautiful front-porch, Southern-style homes poised along tree-lined streets. The established community also offers the amenities families seek including walking trails, tennis courts, and a pool.
The community recently welcomed Franklin Park at Carpenter Village, a mixed-used development with retails shops, townhomes, and condominiums. Touting “urban living in a village setting,” the new community offers walkability that appeals to today’s home buyers.
Lochmere
Located in East Cary, Lochmere is a well-known and highly sought-after neighborhood. With homes built in the late 80s and early 90s, the established community is a draw for families in all stages of life.
With three lakes, walking and biking trails, two community pools, tennis facilities, sand volleyball courts and more, Lochmere homeowners can be as active as they like.
MacGregor Downs
Boasting half-acre homesites with mature trees and beautifully appointed homes, MacGregor Downs is a picturesque Cary country club community.
Located near the town’s center on an award-winning golf course, MacGregor Downs is known to be a place of exceptional living and convenience with condominiums starting in the $200s and extraordinary homes typically priced from the $500Ks to more than $1M.
Preston
Another of Cary’s most prestigious golf communities, Preston draws buyers from all over the Triangle and even the state. A well-established neighborhood with homes of all styles, sizes, and design—ranging from $250K to more than $2.5M—homeowners enjoy easy access to the Research Triangle Park, good schools, a community playground, private lake, and scenic golf course views.
Homeowners who join the Prestonwood Country Club can enjoy three 18-hole golf courses, nine tennis courts, three pools and a Georgian-style clubhouse with restaurant.
Learn more about Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston and the cities and towns our leading real estate team serves.