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🚨 Raleigh Sees One of the Biggest Price Drops in the U.S.
Published 6 days ago • 4 min read
Happy Friday, Triangle!
This week around the Triangle, you can really feel momentum building.
Rolesville is getting a brand-new hockey training facility as the sport keeps gaining traction across Wake County.
In Wake Forest, family fun and fitness are moving closer to home with two new active-use spots opening this spring.
And in Raleigh, the housing market just flipped the script, with prices dropping fast enough that buyers are jumping back in.
Driving the news: A 16,000-square-foot hockey facility is set to open this June in Rolesville, tapping into the Triangle's growing interest in the sport. Michigan-based Puckmasters is behind the $1.7 million project, bringing advanced training resources (not just ice time) to the local hockey community.
Details:
Located at 414 S. Main St., the facility includes a three-quarter-size NHL rink, skating treadmill, skills lane with synthetic ice, pro-style locker rooms, and a gym.
It also features classroom space and a “cognitive room” for video review, life skills, and off-ice development.
Puckmasters focuses on coaching and athlete growth, offering training for kids, college players, and adults, including beginner-friendly and 3-on-3 adult leagues.
The site will employ 10–20 coaches and staff and has partnerships with the Carolina Junior Hurricanes and the Triangle High School Hockey League.
Why it matters: Rolesville is one of the Triangle’s fastest-growing towns, and hockey is growing right along with it. The facility gives local players year-round access to elite-level coaching, which is often harder to find in smaller towns. For Wake County families, it’s a chance to train locally without commuting to Raleigh or Cary.
The big picture: Fueled by the Carolina Hurricanes' presence and transplants from hockey-centric regions, the sport is gaining ground fast in North Carolina. Puckmasters is betting that this isn’t a blip, it’s a shift.
What’s next: Puckmasters opens in June, with an eye already on possible expansion through its partner, Optimal Equity Corp.
Driving the news: Two active-use businesses, Happy Feet Planet and D1 Training, are setting up shop in the growing Wake Forest Exchange development, combining for over 20,000 square feet of leased space.
Details:
Happy Feet Planet, a local indoor amusement park, is leasing 15,120 sq ft.
D1 Training, a national fitness franchise, is taking 5,580 sq ft.
Both are expected to open by late spring or early summer.
The businesses are moving into a 60,240-square-foot light industrial building tailored for flex use.
The full development spans 30 acres and will include retail, medical office, and light industrial space.
Why it matters: Wake Forest's population has doubled since 2010, reaching 60,000 residents, and developers are taking notice. This growth is drawing family-friendly attractions and fitness options closer to where people live, adding variety and vibrancy to daily life.
The big picture: Happy Feet Planet and D1 Training are part of a broader strategy by St. John Properties to blend retail, office, and active-use tenants in one place. The design targets businesses that want the flexibility of warehouse space with the feel of a modern office.
Between the lines: These new leases weren’t just a sales pitch, both tenants sought out the development. Happy Feet is expanding from Apex and Clayton. D1 Training franchisees Dylan and Kasey Hudock are opening their first gym, targeting both youth and adults.
What’s next: Expect more tenants in food service and local retail to follow. The developers are actively speaking with businesses looking to tap into Wake Forest’s strong demand and limited commercial availability.
The bottom line: With population growth fueling demand, Wake Forest Exchange is quickly becoming a hub for local experiences, where residents can play, train, and connect, all without leaving town.
Driving the news: Raleigh just saw one of the largest home price drops in the country, and buyers are wasting no time jumping back in.
Details:
The median home price in Raleigh fell 3.6% year-over-year to $430,000 in December, according to the latest Re/Max National Housing Report.
Closed sales in the area jumped 19.2%, the third-highest increase in the U.S.
New listings were up 10.7%, giving Raleigh the second-largest boost in housing supply nationwide.
Homes are sitting longer, with days on market rising 27% to an average of 78 days.
Why it matters: For Raleigh residents, this signals a rare window of opportunity. With more listings and slightly lower prices, buyers (especially locals previously priced out) have more choice and leverage. This shift supports local families and first-time homeowners looking to stay rooted in the area.
The big picture: Across the U.S., home sales rose 14.9% from November and were 5% higher than the previous December. Yet, Raleigh's pricing correction stands out, especially as national median prices edged up 1.1%.
What’s next: If rates hold steady and supply continues to climb, expect more buyer activity this spring, especially in markets like Raleigh where price adjustments are already easing the pressure.
The bottom line: Raleigh’s market is shifting, and fast. For locals who’ve been sidelined by soaring prices, 2026 could be the year to finally make a move.
I’m a Raleigh-based agent who’s passionate about real estate, local life, and making homeownership feel easy (and fun!). Subscribe and join 2,000+ readers who get the inside scoop every week!
