Happy Friday, Triangle!

It's the kind of week where stepping outside feels like walking into a warm towel.

Peak July heat is here, and after all my years down from Minnesota, I still can't quite believe I traded snow shovels for sunscreen (and I'd make that trade again every single time).

Just so you know, downtown's about to get even busier. GalaxyConGalaxyCon rolls into the Convention Center this weekend with tens of thousands of cosplayers, so if you spot a Jedi in line for coffee on Salisbury Street, just wave.

I've packed this week's BRIEF with plenty to do in the AC and out of it — a major UNC announcement, a cooling market worth understanding, and a build-to-suit dream home out in Efland.

Grab your coffee, get comfortable, and let me guide you through the latest updates.

Here’s your D&M BRIEF:

[B]est Weekend Plans: Cosplay, pro soccer, and a park full of bubbles
​[R]ealty Pulse: A quick answer to "How's the market?"
​[I]n the News: UNC's 230-acre second campus is coming to Chapel Hill
​[E]xclusive Listing: A build-to-suit homesite of your own, minutes from everything
​[F]riday Favorites: The Brutal Reality of Retiring in Raleigh, NC

Scroll down and enjoy!

—Brette

[B]EST WEEKEND PLANS

EVENTS

BEST THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TRIANGLE

POP-CULTURE FESTIVAL GalaxyCon Raleigh 📅 July 24–26 | Times vary 📍 Raleigh Convention Center ​MORE INFO→​

PRO SOCCER NC Courage vs. Utah Royals 📅 July 25 | 7:45 PM 📍 WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary ​MORE INFO→​

FAMILY FESTIVAL The Bubble Festival 📅 July 26 | 11 AM – 4 PM 📍 Moore Square, Raleigh ​MORE INFO→​

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

[R]EALTY PULSE

REAL ESTATE MARKET Altos' Market Action Index An at-a-glance answer to “How’s the market?” 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: Raleigh's Market Action Index sits at 35, down slightly from 36 last month—maintaining a slight edge for sellers as the market moves toward balance.

With inventory rising to roughly 1,153 active listings, buyers have more options and less pressure to rush into decisions. The median list price sits near $561,000—though new listings average closer to $500,000—and roughly 44% of active listings have taken price reductions.

For sellers, this signals the need to price accurately from day one, as homes average eight weeks to go under contract.

For buyers, this creates real opportunity to negotiate terms.

[I]N THE NEWS

DEVELOPMENT UNC's 230-acre Carolina North will grow Chapel Hill without replacing its historic campus READ MORE ≫

▷ Driving the news

UNC-Chapel Hill is moving forward with Carolina North, a 230-acre campus extension along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

University leaders view the project as a complement to the main campus and Franklin Street business district rather than a replacement.

"We want to emphasize that this is a place for everybody who lives, works, and studies in Chapel Hill and Carrboro," said Tiffany Lacey, executive director of real estate development for Carolina North.

▷ More housing, for more than students

Carolina North is planned to add a range of housing — apartments for graduate and undergraduate students, employees, and community members with no University affiliation.

Leaders have committed to affordable and workforce housing as well.

A planned mixed-use district featuring restaurants, shops, and public parks will be open to the surrounding communit.

Main campus upgrades are also advancing alongside the project.

UNC will break ground later this year on a new residence hall that adds 734 beds, while renovations to the Ehringhaus and Craige halls will add more rooms close to classes.

▷ A third corner for the Research Triangle

The extension is also designed to give startups room to grow.

Economic development leaders view Carolina North as a key innovation anchor, paired with the Franklin Street Innovation Hub to connect back to the historic campus.

Future phases include office space for regional businesses and research facilities for industry partners.

▷ Trails, transit, and access

The 750-acre Carolina North Forest, with its 20-plus miles of trails, is not part of the development, and the Pumpkin Loop Trail will be retained and improved.

The project will connect to Chapel Hill's NS RAPID transit line, which is scheduled to open by 2030 with dedicated bus lanes and bike paths along MLK Boulevard.

▷ Why this matters for Chapel Hill

A 230-acre "live, work, play" extension reshapes housing supply, commercial demand, and commute patterns across Chapel Hill and Carrboro for years to come.

For Orange County real estate, this is one of the most consequential projects underway.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

INFRASTRUCTURE Raleigh advances final New Bern Avenue BRT construction package The City of Raleigh plans to advertise the third and final construction package for the New Bern Avenue Bus Rapid Transit project by the end of summer, covering vertical construction of the transit stations. A virtual pre-advertisement meeting is scheduled for August 12. CLICK TO READ IT ≫

INFRASTRUCTURE Timberland to open its only NC store at Crabtree Valley Mall Timberland is opening at Crabtree Valley Mall this summer, its only specialty retail location in North Carolina. The store will carry the brand's full assortment of footwear, apparel, and accessories. CLICK TO READ IT ≫

DEVELOPMENT Woodfield Development begins $100M apartment community in Cary Woodfield Development has started construction on a 330-unit, $100 million community on Macedonia Road in the Crossroads area, across from Tryon Village. The project includes more than 50,000 square feet of amenities, a sky terrace, and a golf simulator. CLICK TO READ IT ≫

[E]XCLUSIVE LISTING

A build-to-suit homesite, designed around your lifestyle. FOR SALE LOT 10 Conner Ridge Rd, Efland

The Reserve at Evergreen Farm offers a wooded homesite with room to breathe, tucked into a quiet enclave only minutes from everything.

This is The Reserve at Evergreen Farm, and it comes with a rare kind of freedom: this is a build-to-suit opportunity where you choose the floor plan, the front elevation, and the finishes.

Sitting on the I-40/I-85 corridor, the homesite offers a straightforward commute to Duke Health, Research Triangle Park, and RDU.

Downtown Mebane's shops, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and Durham's restaurants and DPAC are all close by.

Families are served by the top-ranked Orange County Public School System, and there is no city tax bill to factor in.

To bring the plan to life, the community has partnered with Drees Homes, a builder known for craftsmanship and semi-custom flexibility.

Floor plans can be tailored to a sprawling ranch, a first-floor primary suite, or another configuration.

Key features:

• Build-to-suit — choose the floor plan, elevation, and finishes
• 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, about 3,953 square feet as planned
• Private acreage in a quiet enclave
• No city taxes
• Top-ranked Orange County schools
• Easy access to Duke Health, RTP, RDU, Mebane, and Durham
• Built by Drees Homes, semi-custom

Offered at $999,760

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

[F]RIDAY FAVORITES

NEW OPENING Lloyd's Full Service Downtown Cary's most anticipated corner is finally getting its restaurant. Lloyd's Full Service, from the Early Bird Night Owl group, opens in August at 107 E. Chatham Street, on the Academy Street corner. Executive chef Dennis Bernard cooked at Michelin-starred Blackbird in Chicago, and the menu runs from The Corner Dog to Linguine with Clams. Seats 75 inside, 100 on the patio. Opening in August SEE THE RESTAURANT ≫

NEW VIDEO The Brutal Reality of Retiring in Raleigh NC WATCH IT NOW ≫

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TRENDING A 112-Year-Old Trail Station Turned Rooftop Bar in Apex: But It’s Only the Beginning... Meet TapStation, a craft brew-pub built inside the original 1914 Seaboard Air Line Railway service station in the heart of downtown Apex. Think rooftop patio, a beer tap made from a vintage Model-A axle, stunning murals by local artist Max Dowdle, and a fenced courtyard where kids can play while you sip. SEE THE POST ≫

» Quick Pro Tip

Peak-season farmers' market.

Late July is the best eating of the year here. Tomatoes, peaches, corn, and blueberries are all peaking at once, so get to the State Farmers Market or your local one early for the good stuff — and go with a loose plan, because the peaches will change it.

Brette Davis & her team are simply AMAZING! She's honest, kind, hard-working and puts her clients first. I'd recommend her to anyone in Raleigh area looking to buy or sell your home. Give her a shot, you won't regret it!!!

—Christina N.

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.