Happy Friday, Triangle!

The end of July brings a late-summer rhythm to the Triangle. During this stretch the tomatoes reach peak flavor, pools do not offer much relief after 4 p.m., and every good plan starts with finding shade.

This weekend features a full lineup of events. The events include barbecue in Cary, an evening soccer match, and a local artist market at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Here is a quick look at all three.

Having moved from Minnesota years ago, I still never take a Carolina summer evening for granted.

Grab your coffee, get comfortable, and let's get into it.

Here’s your D&M BRIEF:

[B]est Weekend Plans: BBQ, bourbon, and a Margaritaville-themed soccer night
​[R]ealty Pulse: Where buyers and sellers stand as the season shifts.
​[I]n the News: 400 homes advance near the Durham–Chapel Hill line.
​[E]xclusive Listing: A blank-canvas homesite on 1.53 wooded acres in Efland.
​[F]riday Favorites: Two new Caribbean nonstops coming to RDU.

Scroll down and enjoy!

—Brette

[B]EST WEEKEND PLANS

EVENTS

BEST THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TRIANGLE

FOOD FESTIVAL Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival 📅 July 31 (6–10 PM) & August 1 (12–6 PM) 📍 Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary ​MORE INFO→​

SPORTS Courage vs. Orlando Pride 📅 July 31 | 8:00 PM 📍 First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary ​MORE INFO→​

MARKET The Market at NCMA 📅 August 1 | 11:00 AM–4:00 PM 📍 North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh ​MORE INFO→​

​Click here to see 80+ events for the whole month!→​

[R]EALTY PULSE

REAL ESTATE MARKET Altos' Market Action Index Here's where the Raleigh market sits this week. SEE MORE ≫

REAL ESTATE MARKET Altos' Real-Time Market Profile All key market indicators in one easy-to-read chart, with trend lines showing changes over the past three months. SEE MORE ≫

What this means: The market is cooling slightly. Raleigh's Market Action Index slipped from 36 to 35 last month, giving sellers a slight edge as the market moves toward balance.

Inventory has climbed to 1,191 homes, so buyers now have more to choose from. Nearly half of active listings (46%) have already seen a price cut.

The median list price is holding at $565,000. With the typical home now taking around two months to sell, sellers who price accurately from day one continue to see the best results.

[I]N THE NEWS

GROWTH 400 homes clear the Durham Planning Commission near the Chapel Hill line READ MORE ≫

▷ Driving the news

Two housing projects along southwest Durham's Farrington Road corridor took a major step forward.

At its July 14 hearing, the Durham Planning Commission gave both a favorable recommendation, voting 8-2 for a 350-unit apartment complex and 7-3 for a 50-unit townhome community, and sent them to the Durham City Council for the final decision.

Together, the sites would add about 400 new homes along a two-lane stretch near the Durham–Chapel Hill line.

▷ The apartments: Alexan Farrington

The larger project would place up to 350 apartments on 15.4 acres, with buildings as tall as 75 feet. The site sits less than a mile from the UNC Medical complex and about a 10-minute drive from the UNC-Chapel Hill campus.

Roughly 5% of the units (18 apartments) would be reserved for households earning 80% of the area median income for 30 years.

Before the vote, the developer added three environmental commitments: doubling the tree-canopy coverage, keeping impervious surfaces below the city's maximum, and placing half of the required open space inside the property's 100-foot stream buffer.

▷ The townhomes: 4702 Farrington Road

Directly north, a proposed 50-unit townhome community sits on 7.5 wooded acres next to Creekside Commons.

The plan was originally entirely market-rate. At the hearing, the developer committed to pricing 5% of the townhomes at 80% of the area median income.

▷ The sticking point: roads and schools

Residents pushed back on two fronts. The apartments alone would add an estimated 1,410 daily vehicle trips to Farrington Road, with the townhomes adding several hundred more nearby.

School capacity is the second concern. The apartment project would bring about 68 new students to schools that are already stretched, with Githens Middle and Jordan High both operating over 100% of capacity. The developer has offered a one-time $15,000 donation to Durham Public Schools to help offset the impact.

▷ Why this matters for the Durham–Chapel Hill line

This road demonstrates the pressure the whole region faces. Durham needs housing, and much of it is being built in southwest Durham near UNC-Chapel Hill employment centers.

For anyone who lives in west Durham or commutes through it, the milestone to watch now is the Durham City Council vote, which decides whether the land is annexed and rezoned.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

RETAIL Mythic Mini-Golf is the first business to open in Raleigh's former Kmart building Mythic Mini-golf has opened inside Raleigh’s former Kmart on Western Boulevard, becoming the redevelopment’s first tenant. The fantasy-themed venue features three immersive courses, arcade games, and prizes. Businesses including Gold’s Gym and 810 Billiards & Bowling are coming this year. CLICK TO READ IT ≫

FOOD Benchwarmers Bagels opens a third Triangle location in North Hills Benchwarmers Bagels opens its third Raleigh location July 30 in North Hills. The cozy cottage-style shop features wood-fired bagels, outdoor seating, sports-inspired décor, its signature Southern grits bagel, and plans for expanded hours, lunch service, and weekend pizzas. CLICK TO READ IT ≫

DEVELOPMENT Beacon Partners takes over more than $70M in Midtown Raleigh property Beacon Partners has expanded its Midtown Raleigh footprint, paying $10.5 million for a fully leased Atlantic Avenue warehouse. The Charlotte developer has now invested $70.5 million across five nearby properties, with long-term plans that could eventually include redevelopment. CLICK TO READ IT ≫

[E]XCLUSIVE LISTING

Start from a blank canvas on 1.53 wooded acres FOR SALE LOT 6 Conner Ridge Rd, Efland | $949,900

This homesite offers a quiet cul-de-sac, a tree-lined backdrop, and 1.53 acres with no house on it yet. The property is a build-to-suit homesite with Drees Homes, a well-regarded semi-custom builder, so the layout, the finishes, and the details are yours to shape. It is rare to find a homesite near Efland at a $949,900 price point.

The plan on offer is the Branford, one of Drees's most popular floorplans. It places the primary suite on the first floor, adds a private main-level guest suite, and opens the family room into a bright sunroom. The kitchen is built around a large island with ample cabinetry.

Upstairs, there is room to grow: a game room or flex space, a bonus room, and a dedicated office with a Jack-and-Jill bath.

Key features:

• 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3,601 square feet
• 1.53-acre cul-de-sac homesite with a wooded treeline and basement potential
• First-floor primary suite plus a main-level guest suite
• Open-concept family room flowing into a sunroom
• Upstairs game room, bonus room, and office with a Jack-and-Jill bath
• Updates include an encapsulated crawlspace
• Build-to-suit with Drees Homes — customize the plan or explore other options

The location offers two advantages. The lot provides privacy, and the property sits close to downtown Mebane, Duke Health, Tanger Outlets, and the future Buc-ee's.

Click here to view the full details 👇🏻 See all the details ≫

[F]RIDAY FAVORITES

NEW OPENING Merritt's Grill Merritt's Grill is opening a second Chapel Hill location in the clubhouse at the UNC-Chapel Hill Finley Golf Course. The location offers ample seating, TVs, a full bar, a patio, and plenty of parking. The restaurant is open to the public, not only golfers. Opening Date: Friday, July 31. SEE THE RESTAURANT ≫

NEW VIDEO Why Massive Data Centers Are Crippling Raleigh, NC Real Estate WATCH IT NOW ≫

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TRENDING RDU to Paradise: Two NEW Caribbean Nonstops Coming December 2026 BermudAir has announced two brand-new nonstop routes launching from Raleigh-Durham International Airport this December: 🏖️ RDU to Belize City, Belize 🏝️ RDU to Turks and Caicos SEE THE POST ≫

» Quick Pro Tip

Get ready, back-to-school season is almost here!

Before school starts, shift your family schedule 15 minutes earlier each day. Use that extra time to create calmer mornings, smoother drop-offs, and an easier transition back into routines, organization, and the school-year rhythm.

Brette has been the best! She listened to us and learned what we wanted. Her connections were most helpful (she has resources for everything you could need). She accommodated our busy schedule and took the time to explain North Carolina. In the end, her guidance resulted in us buying our new home over long distance without seeing it in person. She truly is a problem solver, full service and goes the extra mile. Brette bonded with our two teenagers and made us all feel welcomed by Raleigh. She and her husband have become friends and will always be welcome at our house!

—T Rausche

Thanks for reading the D&M Triangle BRIEF. See you next Friday! —Brette Davis

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