Happy Friday, Triangle!

Raleigh’s already starting to buzz with those St. Patrick’s Day vibes, and the downtown parade tomorrow always brings out that fun, green-filled energy around the city. It’s one of those weekends where everyone seems to be out and about.

Quick heads-up, though. That tree pollen floating around right now is no joke. If you’re sensitive like so many of us this time of year, you might want to keep the allergy meds close by.

Today is sitting around 60 degrees with a few clouds, and the weekend could bring a little rain here and there. Honestly, that makes it the perfect excuse to slow down, get cozy, and catch up on a few of the local happenings I gathered for you this week! 😝

Here’s your D&M BRIEF:

[B]est Weekend Plans: The best events this weekend to get you off the couch
​[R]ealty Pulse: An at-a-glance answer to “How’s the market?”
​[I]n the News: RDU’s $2.5B plan is moving forward
​[E]xclusive Listing: Remember the lot we imagined building on last week?
​[F]riday Favorites: This new Raleigh spot wants to feel like your friend’s living room

Let’s get into it!

—Brette

[B]EST WEEKEND PLANS

EVENTS BEST THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN THE TRIANGLE SEE MORE EVENTS ≫

PARADE St. Patrick’s Day Parade 📅 Mar 14 | 10 AM 📍 Downtown Raleigh Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with bagpipes, Irish dancers, and colorful floats in this festive parade. ​MORE INFO→​

SPORTS NC Courage Home Opener 📅 Mar 14 | 7 PM 📍 WakeMed Soccer Park Watch the NC Courage kick off the season at home against Racing Louisville. ​MORE INFO→​

COMEDY Matt Rife: Stay Golden World Tour 📅 Mar 15 | 7 PM 📍 Lenovo Center Viral comedian Matt Rife brings his fast-paced stand-up and crowd interaction to Raleigh. ​MORE INFO→​

[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 of today’s key market indicators in one easy-to-read chart, with trend lines to see how they’ve changed over the past three months. SEE MORE ≫

What it means: Things are still holding pretty steady with a slight advantage for sellers, and inventory has tightened a bit more. Prices have moved up again, and well-priced homes are still attracting attention, so while buyers have a little more breathing room than in the past, sellers are still in a strong position.

[I]N THE NEWS

AIRPORT EXPANSION RDU Unveils New Shops and Restaurants as Part of $2.5B Expansion READ MORE ≫

▷ Driving the news

North Carolina’s busiest airport is getting a $2.5 billion makeover. And honestly, if you’ve flown through Raleigh-Durham recently, you may have already noticed the changes starting to happen.

But wait until you see what’s coming next.

RDU is rolling out a long list of upgrades designed to improve the traveler experience, from new restaurants and shops inside the terminals to major roadway improvements and runway expansions.

Let me break down what’s already happening and what’s still on the way.

▷ New food and shops inside Terminal 1

One of the newest updates just opened inside Terminal 1, the smaller of RDU’s two terminals that serves airlines like Southwest, Spirit, Breeze, Alaska, Avelo, and Sun Country.

And the big change here is food.

New dining spots include Raleigh Beer Garden, Italian café Puro Gusto, and the sweet shop Natalie’s Candy Jar. The terminal also added upgrades to the ACC American Café along with refreshed news and gift shops.

Small upgrades like this can make a big difference if you’ve ever been stuck waiting for a flight.

▷ Road construction to reduce airport traffic

But the upgrades aren’t just inside the airport.

Construction has also started to widen John Brantley Boulevard, the main road leading into RDU.

The project will add additional lanes in an effort to reduce congestion and eliminate traffic bottlenecks during busy travel periods.

▷ A bigger plan through 2032

Here’s where it gets interesting.

All of these projects are part of a larger $2.5 billion expansion plan that also includes a longer runway and a major expansion of Terminal 2.

The full project is expected to wrap up around 2032, but travelers will start seeing improvements well before then.

▷ Why this matters for the Triangle

Here’s the big picture.

Wake County sees about 19 million visitors each year, and tourism spending brings in more than $3.4 billion annually. Recent reports also show hotel tax revenue and food and beverage tax collections continuing to rise.

So improving the airport experience isn’t just about convenience.

It’s about supporting the region’s continued growth and making it easier for people to visit, travel, and do business in the Triangle.

IN CASE YOU MISSED...

AIR MOBILITY FAA taps North Carolina to test 'air taxis' as part of national pilot program The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says North Carolina is one of 26 states to be part of the Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program. CLICK TO READ IT ≫

SCHOOL REBUILD Wake approves plan to rebuild Ligon Middle School. Why some people are not happy. Ligon Middle School’s historic building will be demolished, but Wake County school leaders say they will try to preserve its legacy as a former segregated Black high school. CLICK TO READ IT ≫

CITY CONSTRUCTION Raleigh has dozens of construction projects underway. Track them on this map. Raleigh’s launched a new map that shows public construction work in and around your neighborhood. CLICK TO READ IT ≫

[E]XCLUSIVE LISTING

This is what’s there today

This is an even better possibility

And here’s the exciting part.

That same 0.88-acre lot with a gentle stream is still available.

• No HOA
• Utilities nearby (city water, sewer, gas)
• Established neighborhood

All of this for $39,900.

What would YOU build here?

1️⃣ Modern lodge like this​
2️⃣ Cozy cabin​
3️⃣ Farmhouse with big porch​
4️⃣ Something totally different​

See the lot for yourself and start imagining your version:

[F]RIDAY FAVORITES

OPENING THIS SPRING Biddy Thomas A neighborhood café, bar, and game lounge all in one spot. Think Southern-inspired bites, cocktails, a few retail finds, and tables ready for cards or mahjong. The whole space is designed to feel like a cozy neighborhood clubhouse. SEE THE RESTAURANT ≫

NEW VIDEO Raleigh’s Biggest Megaprojects (Crazy Changes Coming!) WATCH IT NOW ≫

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TRENDING Disney Is Quietly Building Near Raleigh… Disney stepping into the Triangle wasn’t exactly on my bingo card this year. But here’s the thing about projects like this. When a brand that intentional chooses a location, it usually means they’re seeing long-term momentum that a lot of people haven’t fully noticed yet. And honestly… the Triangle keeps showing up on that radar more and more. WATCH THE REEL ≫

» Quick Pro Tip

If you’re heading to Umstead once the weather warms up, go early.

The main park entrances start filling up quickly on nice weekends, especially around late morning. Arriving before 9 AM usually means easier parking, quieter trails, and a much more peaceful hike.

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

Made it this far? Hit reply and tell me what you’re loving about the D&M BRIEF. I really do love hearing from you guys.

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.