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The Triangle Life Newsletter

💙 BRIEF: RDU's about to get $2.5 billion bigger


Happy Friday, Triangle!

We're deep into August heat now — loud cicadas, shimmering pavement by noon, and pool water as warm as a bath. After all those Minnesota summers, I still don't take a warm August night here for granted.

School is returning soon, making these last few open weekends especially valuable — good for a ballgame or an evening at an amphitheater.

Meanwhile, the Triangle keeps building. On Monday, FAA officials visited to signal federal support for RDU's $2.5-billion expansion, and the market is finally giving buyers more space.

Here’s your D&M BRIEF:

[B]est Weekend Plans: Bulls fireworks, a pop-punk throwback, and jazz by the lake
[R]ealty Pulse: Nearly half of Raleigh's listings have a price cut
[I]n the News: The FAA backs RDU's $2.5-billion transformation
[E]xclusive Listing: A renovated Sanford home with a firepit backyard and no HOA
[F]riday Favorites: Major League Baseball coming to Raleigh?!

Let's get into it!

—Brette


[B]EST WEEKEND PLANS

EVENTS

BEST THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TRIANGLE

SPORTS

Durham Bulls vs. Memphis Redbirds

📅 Aug 15 | 6:45 PM

📍 Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Durham (ticketed)

MORE INFO→

CONCERT

Simple Plan and 3OH!3

📅 Aug 15 | 6:30 PM

📍 Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh

(ticketed)

MORE INFO→

CONCERT

Art of Cool Frequency Series

📅 Aug 16 | 6:30 PM

📍 Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary (ticketed)

MORE INFO→

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


[R]EALTY PULSE

REAL ESTATE MARKET

Altos' Market
Action Index

Here is where the Raleigh market sits this week.

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.

What this means: Raleigh still favors sellers, but the market is cooling. Active listings are up, homes are taking slightly longer to sell, and nearly half now carry a price reduction.

For buyers, this means more choice and more room to negotiate than in recent years.

For sellers, homes are still selling, but accurate initial pricing is essential when the typical home takes two months to sell.


[I]N THE NEWS

AIRPORT

FAA Backs RDU's $2.5B Transform RDU Project

▷ Driving the news

RDU is investing $2.5 billion in its Transform RDU program over the next decade. On Monday, August 10, FAA officials visited to signal federal support.

Federal Aviation Administration officials toured the airport that morning, and Associate Administrator Daniel J. Edwards said the projects are meeting the Triangle's growing needs.

▷ The federal backing

The Department of Transportation and the FAA have contributed $250 million toward the expansion.

Edwards said the agency's role is to reduce administrative delays between the project and its available grant funding.

▷ The build-out

The 2-mile Runway 5L-23 replacement will carry larger aircraft to more international destinations, with completion expected by 2029.

The Terminal 2 expansion adds new restaurants, a 24-hour lounge, expanded arrival areas, and new security checkpoint lines, with completion expected by 2032.

▷ Why the push now

An FAA forecast projects Raleigh air traffic will grow more than 50% over the next 20 years.

Edwards said the airport has to be positioned to meet that demand, whether that means supporting leisure travel, attracting businesses, or connecting the wider Triangle.

▷ Why this matters for the Triangle

A larger, better-connected RDU is more than a travel upgrade. New international routes and added capacity strengthen the region's appeal to employers. An airport built for 50% more traffic helps keep the Triangle on relocation shortlists.

Infrastructure projects of this scale tend to lift property values in surrounding communities over the following decade.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

INFRASTRUCTURE

Durham upgrades a key NC 54 water main near Farrington Road

Crews are connecting a new water main to the existing system along NC 54, part of a project to replace and upsize lines between Farrington Road and Little John Road.

FOOD

New cafés and restaurants head to Dix Park, Cary, and Durham

Cottage Coffee and Park Bar are set to open later this month in the restored Flowers Cottage at Dix Park, with an indoor café, a covered outdoor bar, and terrace views. K38 is scheduled to open August 29 in downtown Cary, and Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken is targeting mid-September in south Durham.

TRANSPORTATION

Regional leaders plan the Triangle's transit future

Regional transportation leaders met in Raleigh to discuss commuter rail, Interstate 40 improvements, bus rapid transit, and better links among Raleigh, Durham, RTP, and RDU. No new project was approved; the clearest near-term milestone remains RDU's new runway, targeted for 2029.


[E]XCLUSIVE LISTING

A renovated retreat with a firepit backyard and no HOA

FOR SALE

1832 Sutphin Drive, Sanford, NC 27330 | $390,000

Set on a wooded 0.66-acre lot with no HOA, this fully renovated home pairs a polished interior with a backyard designed for entertaining.

The main-level kitchen features quartz countertops, a porcelain farmhouse sink, and champagne-finished hardware. New luxury-vinyl-plank flooring carries through two separate living areas and a bright four-season sunroom. The primary suite adds a frameless glass shower and an upgraded vanity. The outdoor space is a standout feature.

A paver patio with a built-in firepit, integrated seating, and professional lighting sits against a private treeline inside a fully fenced yard. Recent updates include a new vapor barrier, added insulation, and a dehumidifier, which reduce ongoing maintenance concerns.

The location is practical. The home sits 5 minutes from shopping and the highways leading into Raleigh, which makes Sanford's lower price point suitable for Triangle commuters.

Key features:

  • 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2,471 square feet
  • 0.66-acre lot, fully fenced, no HOA
  • Renovated kitchen with quartz counters and a porcelain farmhouse sink
  • Four-season sunroom and two separate living areas
  • Paver patio with a built-in firepit and professional lighting
  • New vapor barrier, insulation, and dehumidifier
  • 5 minutes to shopping and Raleigh-bound highways
  • Offered at $390,000

Click here to view the full details 👇🏻


[F]RIDAY FAVORITES

NEW OPENING

NOCO Brews & Bites

NOCO Brews & Bites is open at The Salvage Yard at Raleigh Iron Works (2320 Salvage Yard Drive), serving coffee in the morning and on-site brewed beer and food at night. It comes from Jay and Jeremy Bond of Bond Brothers Beer Company, with pastries from Union Special, Benchwarmers, and Sweet Nothings.

Now Open

NEW VIDEO

The Shocking Truth About New Construction Homes in Raleigh NC

video preview

TRENDING

Major League Baseball coming to Raleigh?!

Billionaire investors Tom Dundon and Marc Lasry are both pursuing an MLB expansion franchise for the Triangle. Dundon, who owns the Hurricanes, has committed to the effort, and Lasry recently announced his interest. The two have discussed forming a joint ownership group. State leaders are even drafting budget frameworks for a potential stadium district in Wake County.


» Quick Pro Tip

We're heading into the busiest stretch of hurricane season, and preparing now protects your home.

Walk the yard and trim any limbs hanging over the roof, clear the gutters so a downpour drains away from the foundation, and take five minutes to photograph each room for your insurance file. Do it on a cool morning before the afternoon heat.

Check the readync guide to be 100% prepared!


♡ Client Testimonial

Brette made herself available to us when we were ready to look for a home after leaving an area we've lived in for 50 years. She was empathetic with the emotion that comes with it coupled with a wishlist of things we wanted in a new home. We soon learned how much Brette knew the real estate business and that made it easy to trust her judgment. We could tell she had our interests in mind and that was comforting to us in making this monumental decision. Brette went above and beyond by helping us with resources and suggestions for getting the house ready to live in. My husband and I highly recommend using Brette Davis, at Davis and Main Real Estate for your next move.

Diane C.


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

—Brette Davis

Want to stay in the loop between Fridays? Follow me on Instagram for real estate insights, local events, and what’s happening around the Triangle.

7151 O'Kelly Chapel Road, #251
Cary, NC 27519, USA
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