Happy Friday, Triangle!

The backpacks are back, the carpool lines are long again, and I swear the sunrise looked a little different on my drive this week. Late August always feels like the Triangle catching its breath before the busy fall.

Quiet, though? Not this place. Everywhere I look right now, something's going up.

A new runway out at RDU. New hospital beds in Holly Springs. A brand-new fire station on the way in Chapel Hill. This region is building for whatever comes next.

That's the thread running through this whole issue. So grab your coffee, get comfortable, and let me walk you through it.

Here’s your D&M BRIEF:

[B]est Weekend Plans: Jack Johnson and Durham's foodie market returns
​[R]ealty Pulse: More homes and a little more breathing room
​[I]n the News: The FAA toured RDU's $2.5 billion expansion
​[E]xclusive Listing: 1.53 wooded acres in Efland
​[F]riday Favorites: A Baja surf legend brings taco No. 7 to downtown Cary

Let's get into it!

—Brette

[B]EST WEEKEND PLANS

EVENTS

BEST THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TRIANGLE

FOOD & ART MARKET Durham Foodie Fare 📅 Aug 21 | 5:30–9:30 PM 📍 Durham Central Park, Durham (Free) ​MORE INFO→​

ARTS FESTIVAL Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival 📅 Aug 22–23 | 9 AM–5 PM 📍 Town Hall Campus, Downtown Cary (Free) ​MORE INFO→​

CONCERT Jack Johnson: SURFILMUSIC Tour 📅 Aug 22 | 7:30 PM 📍 Coastal Credit Union Music Park, Raleigh ​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. 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: Inventory is up from last month, and roughly half of active listings have already taken a price cut. Buyers have more leverage now, especially on homes that have been sitting or were priced too aggressively. For sellers, that makes the first few weeks on market even more important.

Pricing close to where buyers are actually willing to pay, paired with strong photos and presentation, can be the difference between getting early interest and chasing the market with reductions later.

[I]N THE NEWS

INFRASTRUCTURE RDU makes its pitch for federal help on a $1.1 billion runway READ MORE ≫

▷ Driving the news

A top Federal Aviation Administration official toured Raleigh-Durham International Airport earlier this month, and RDU used the visit to press its case for more federal funding.

The airport is undertaking a $2.5 billion expansion, and its single largest piece — a new, 2-mile-long main runway — is estimated at about $1.1 billion for the runway and an adjoining taxiway.

▷ Who came, and the local twist

The visitor was Daniel Edwards, who oversees federal airport grants nationwide for the FAA and also serves as the U.S. Department of Transportation's assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs.

He has a personal connection to the airport, too.

Edwards lives in Moore County and commutes to Washington, D.C., through RDU. His tour included the 2-mile construction site for the new runway.

▷ The money

RDU has already received about $200 million in federal grants for its expansion projects, and roughly $142 million of that is earmarked for the new runway.

The airport is seeking as much additional federal help as it can get.

RDU President and CEO Michael Landguth said the visit presents the airport's needs to the officials who make funding decisions in Washington.

Edwards offered no promises, noting that federal airport support comes from several programs and is decided year to year. He said RDU has positioned itself well.

▷ The bigger project

The runway is the central element of RDU's decade-long construction program.

The FAA projects that passenger traffic through the airport will grow about 70% over the next 20 years.

Once the new runway opens — expected by 2029 — the airport can convert its existing runway into a taxiway, clearing room for new gates at Terminal 2.

RDU is also expanding its main ticketing hall, tripling its main remote parking lot, and reworking John Brantley Boulevard.

▷ Why this matters for the Triangle

Few airports in the country are building entirely new runways right now — most are only expanding terminals.

Edwards singled out RDU for coordinating its runway with the rest of its growth, calling the airport's planning "truly extraordinary."

For a region adding people and companies this fast, a bigger, more capable RDU means more flights, more direct destinations, and an easier trip in and out.

That is a real asset for Triangle homeowners and for anyone thinking about moving here.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

HEALTHCARE UNC Health Rex Holly Springs adds 24 beds as demand climbs UNC Health Rex Holly Springs is opening a new patient-care unit on its seventh floor, growing the hospital from 50 to 74 beds and adding about 50 jobs. The expansion is expected to open in the coming weeks in one of Wake County's fastest-growing towns. CLICK TO READ IT ≫

TRANSPORTATION NCDOT launches real-time updates for the U.S. 401 project in Garner The N.C. Department of Transportation has added an email subscriber list for real-time updates on its U.S. 401 improvement project. Drivers should expect nighttime lane closures near Fayetteville Road through late August as crews continue water-line work. CLICK TO READ IT ≫

DEVELOPMENT Chapel Hill moves ahead on a new Fire Station 4 and affordable housing The Town of Chapel Hill is advancing plans for a new Fire Station 4 at Weaver Dairy Road Extension and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, with construction bids expected in mid-2027. The town also plans up to 100 affordable housing units on the old station's site, funded partly by a $44 million bond that voters approved in 2024. CLICK TO READ IT ≫

[E]XCLUSIVE LISTING

Build the house, keep the trees FOR SALE LOT 6 Conner Ridge Rd, Efland, NC 27243 | $949,900

​

The property sits on a quiet cul-de-sac in Efland, with a wooded treeline framing the back of the 1.53-acre lot. This listing differs from most, because the house is not yet built.

This is a build-to-suit opportunity with Drees Homes, a well-regarded semi-custom builder. The featured design is the Branford, one of its most popular floor plans. Buyers can customize it or explore other floor plans.

Key features:

• 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, and about 3,601 square feet on a private 1.53-acre homesite
• A first-floor primary suite, plus a private main-level guest suite
• An open family room that flows into a bright sunroom and a kitchen with a large island and abundant cabinetry
• Upstairs, a game room or flex space, a bonus room, and a dedicated office with a Jack-and-Jill bath
• An encapsulated crawlspace, a tree-lined backdrop, and potential for a basement
• Minutes to downtown Mebane, Duke Health, and Tanger Outlets, with the future Buc-ee's on the way

The lot offers privacy without sacrificing access. Contact the listing agent to discuss available plans and a custom design.

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

[F]RIDAY FAVORITES

NEW OPENING K38 Baja Mexican Grill Taco lovers, downtown Cary is about to get a good one. K38 Baja Mexican Grill is bringing its seventh location to 147 E. Chatham Street, right after opening in Raleigh's Seaboard Station. Wondering about the name? The "K" stands for kilometer — the 38th-kilometer marker on Baja's coastal highway, where founder Josh Vach found the surf break and roadside taco shacks that inspired the original restaurant back in 1993. Bring your appetite. Opening August 29 SEE THE RESTAURANT ≫

NEW VIDEO 10 Things NO ONE Tells You About Living in Raleigh WATCH IT NOW ≫

​

TRENDING Raleigh’s Next Major Hub Is Underway 11 acres. 350 apartments. A 20,000-seat stadium nearby. Kane Realty has filed Phase 1 plans for Downtown South, bringing eight residential buildings, a pool, and a clubhouse to Raleigh’s growing southern gateway. Located at I-40 and I-440, this 140-acre district will connect to downtown, greenway trails, and Dorothea Dix Park. With sports, retail, and entertainment on the way, this is one development worth watching. SEE THE POST ≫

» Quick Pro Tip

Triangle lawns run on tall fescue, and the best thing you can do for yours is coming up fast.

Mid-September through mid-October is the sweet spot to aerate and overseed, so late August is the time to book your core-aeration slot before the calendars fill up — and to start mowing a little lower to thin out the summer thatch.

Do it now, and you'll have a thick, green lawn waiting when spring buyers come looking.

Client Testimonial

Brette was fantastic! She listened to what we wanted, showed us great properties, and helped us close on our dream home last summer. If you need a realtor who really looks out for you, call Davis & Main and ask for Brette.

—Josh H.

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.