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Building a new home in Raleigh involves many steps and many decisions, which can seem overwhelming. In which area of Raleigh do you want to live? What kind of lot should you select? What type of builder should you select? How many square feet do you need? How many bedrooms? And the list of questions goes on.
Our experts at McNeill Burbank Home Builders want to make building a home easier for you. So, we are providing this article with guidance for the decisions you will need to make. We will take you through an ordered series of actions you need to complete the home you dream of– from key areas to consider in the larger Raleigh area, what to look for in a lot, what to look for in a builder, to other considerations to complete the process. We hope you find this information helpful.
Neighborhood Selection
Raleigh has many desirable neighborhoods including historic neighborhoods, neighborhoods with good schools, as well as neighborhoods for your professionals. If you haven’t already, you should check out our list of the Top 8 Growing Suburbs of Raleigh. Here are some additional key neighborhoods near Raleigh “proper” that are desirable for you to consider when finding a location to build your home.
Five Points is a trendy area in the center of Raleigh inside the beltline that has a mix of homes, tree-lined streets, and a variety of dining and entertainment options, attracting young professionals.
Oakwood is a historic district with a close community feel and beautifully preserved Victorian-era homes. This neighborhood is essentially one minute from downtown Raleigh and 22 minutes from Research Triangle Park.
The Mordecai area is one of Raleigh’s oldest neighborhoods with well-preserved homes, local parks, and easy access to downtown amenities. This neighborhood is six minutes from downtown Raleigh and 22 minutes from Research Triangle Park.
Hayes Barton is a top-rated neighborhood with large, historic homes and tree-lined streets. This neighborhood is ten minutes from downtown Raleigh and 18 minutes from Research Triangle Park. McNeill Burbank is proud to be a builder featured in this neighborhood.
Downtown Raleigh has a vibrant mix of business, culture, and entertainment with high-end condos, historic homes, world-class museums, and a fast-growing food scene.
North Hills is a great neighborhood for singles and young professionals with a mix of condo-living and single-family dwellings on streets that have that “old” Raleigh feeling. North Hills is 12 minutes from downtown Raleigh and 18 minutes from Research Triangle Park.
The Village District is an older, adored neighborhood near North Carolina State University’s main campus, including a mall full of boutiques.
Cresimore is an exclusive community in a desirable part of North Raleigh, with some of Raleigh’s most elegant custom homes. It is close to RTP, the RDU airport, shopping, and restaurants. McNeill Burbank offers a rare opportunity to custom build luxury estate homes on spacious private homesites within the desirable North Raleigh area. Five homesites comprise this pocket of grandeur with two dedicated for McNeill Burbank homes.
Forest Park is a neighborhood filled with colonial and American history, with many of the houses still having Colonial Revival designs. It is just 7 minutes from downtown and 21 minutes from Research Triangle Park.
The Briar Creek development is on the west side of Raleigh going toward Durham, NC. It is 2,000 acres and includes a shopping area, a corporate park, a country club with an 18-hole golf course, and a 10-acre recreational area with a community center, fitness room, picnic shelters, and playgrounds. It is 26 minutes from downtown Raleigh and nine minutes from Research Triangle Park.
Raleigh, North Carolina has a top-performing public school system and is considered one of the best cities in the US for raising a family with safe streets, great outdoor recreation, and a top-25 job market. Here is a link to the top-rated schools in Raleigh.
Wake County Schools: Wake County is the largest public school system in North Carolina, with over 161,000 students. It’s one of the state’s top performers, with a strong budget that provides a variety of educational opportunities and support services.
Raleigh Schools: Raleigh, North Carolina has a large public school system that is considered one of the state’s top performers. Additionally, Raleigh is considered the second most educated city in the United States.
Raleigh, NC is like much of the Southeastern U.C. with a four-season humid subtropical climate. Winters are typically cool with a normal January daily mean temperature of 41.9 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 degrees Celsius). The terrain is characterized by gently rolling hills that slope toward the coastal plain and is known as the “fall line” because waterfalls appear in creeks and rivers at this elevation. The city is located in east-central North Carolina, where the Piedmont region meets the coastal plain.
Being in the Piedmont region, the conducive terrain and the climate create an environment where gardening is considered relatively easy. A wide variety of plants thrive if you plant at the desired time and choose suitable varieties for the area. Landscaping is generally considered easy, requiring a low effort, especially if you choose native plants that are well-suited to the climate. This includes options like flowering dogwood, butterfly weed, and Carolina phlox.
Raleigh, North Carolina’s zoning and regulations are governed by the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), which is a rule book that explains what can and cannot be done in each zoning district. The UDO includes regulations for zoning, subdivision, stormwater, and natural resource conservation. The UDO’s purpose is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the city’s residents and businesses.
Here is a guide to the zoning and regulations relative to building a house in Raleigh.
Choosing a lot size that fits your lifestyle is a key decision. If you have a family or want more privacy, you may want to choose a larger lot. However, if you want lower maintenance and a smaller home, then you may want to choose a smaller lot.
The infrastructure in place for a lot, including utilities, water, and sewer, is a main consideration. If these systems aren’t in place, you will need to determine the costs involved in connecting them.
Depending on the orientation of the house directionally on the lot, your sunlight exposure will be affected which will also have an effect on the energy efficiency of the house. Orientation will also impact outdoor living spaces and landscaping on the lot.
You may not want to stay in the house forever so future resale potential will be a consideration. Look for areas with growth potential and positive resale value.
Ensure the lot is suitable for building and won’t have issues such as flooding or unstable foundations.
These are some important things to look for when selecting a builder.
Choosing a builder who has experience in the Raleigh market and a strong, substantial portfolio of complete projects is very important because they likely have a deep understanding of local building codes, soil conditions, weather patterns, and the specific needs of the neighborhood. This can lead to a smoother construction process, better quality work, and fewer potential issues down the line. Additionally, they may have established relationships with local suppliers and subcontractors that can potentially provide better pricing and access to materials.
Selecting a builder who can provide customized options is important when you want the right design elements to make your home truly special.
Finding a builder who offers premium materials and craftsmanship regardless of price point or home size is important. Choosing a builder specializing in high-end finishes ensures your home will have superior quality materials, meticulous craftsmanship, and a level of detail that is not typically found in standard construction. This results in a more aesthetically pleasing, durable, and potentially valuable property, especially if you are looking for a luxury home with unique design elements.
Choosing a builder with transparency and a clear communication process is crucial because it fosters trust, allows for informed decision-making, helps identify and resolve issues early, minimizes surprises, and ultimately leads to a smoother construction process and a better final product, ensuring the project aligns with your vision and budget.
It is important to find a builder who values your input and offers flexibility to adapt plans to your preferences. These are some benefits of hiring a builder who listens and collaborates with you.
Understanding your needs: A collaborative builder will actively listen to your ideas, design preferences, and concerns, incorporating them into the project plan to create a home that truly reflects your style.
Open communication: Regular updates and discussions throughout the construction process allow for timely adjustments and problem-solving, preventing surprises and minimizing potential conflicts.
Creative input: A good builder can offer valuable insights and suggestions based on their experience, potentially enhancing your initial design concept.
Reduced stress: A collaborative relationship fosters trust and transparency, leading to a more relaxed building experience with less anxiety about potential issues.
Quality control: By actively involving you in the decision-making process, you can ensure quality standards are met and materials align with your vision.
Home Design and Features
It is good to be aware of the designs and features new homes in Raleigh are incorporating. Many of these features result from the work-from-home predominance. Here are a few:
Smart Home Technology: More and more, new homes in Raleigh are including smart thermostats, doorbells, and locks that can be controlled remotely, as well as WiFi-enabled appliances. Safety and convenience are the primary reasons for these technology improvements.
Healthy Home Technology: Technology that creates a healthy home environment is becoming more popular in new homes. Systems such as whole-home air filtration, low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paint, and whole-home moisture wraps ensure low instances of mold and unhealthy particles seeping into the air.
Energy Efficiency: Features that can help reduce energy use such as smart thermostats as well as insulation and roofing provide efficiency in the amount of energy you use.
Practical Spaces: Designs that provide dedicated work-from-home areas, expanded pantries, and flex spaces for fitness equipment are gaining popularity.
Electric Vehicle Charging: Many new homes are incorporating “rough-ins” for electric vehicle charging.
Hardwired Ethernet Cable: Hardwiring ethernet cable enables faster home networking.
Acoustical Thermal Insulation: New homes are using insulation that reduces outside noise, improves indoor air quality, and maintains indoor temperatures.
Planning the budget from the beginning is an important step. This includes setting realistic expectations for costs, including construction, landscaping, and any additional fees. A detailed budget provides clarity on the cost of the entire project, from start to finish, and helps to keep expenses under control. Without a clear understanding of the expenses involved, you can end up overspending and experiencing unnecessary financial strain.
Having a builder who develops a well-calculated timeline for different stages during the building process and manages those milestones can’t be overstated. Understanding how local weather and labor availability in Raleigh might impact your build schedule helps in developing a reasonable expectation for the project.
Keeping the potential resale value in mind should not be ignored. Including features that add value for buyers in the future will play a big part in capturing the ability to resell at a good price.
It’s important to work with architects, designers, and landscapers who understand the Raleigh market to get advice that applies to the locality.
We encourage you to consider all the aspects we have emphasized in this article. This advice will go a long way in ensuring a successful new home-building process. Take the time to plan, select the right location, select the right lot, select the right builder for the project, and customize your home for long-term satisfaction.
If you’re ready to start your journey to building your dream home in Raleigh, connect with our local experts who can guide you every step of the way.
