So with the advice of some on here, I looked at some neighborhoods smack in RTP (Keystone Crossing, Providence Place, Kitts Creek). With 540 opening up soon it would seem convenient to other places. Are these good places to live for the long haul as well as investing? Are there going to be shopping around? Do people like living within walking distance from work?

Or should I pay premium and invest in housing around the Brier Creek area, which is a little farther from RTP but existing shopping.

6/27/2007 11:54:22 PM

I wouldn't live in Durham Co. with the option of living in Wake Co., period.

If you don't mind Durham Co. schools, go for it. But until a MAJOR cultural shift occurs (we're talking decades, at least), selling a house in Durham will always be tougher than in Wake from an investment standpoint.

Considering that Southpoint Mall is nearby, and there's groceries/eateries in Morrisville, you'd already have your shops nearby. But again, whether or not kids are in the future has a lot to do with it. Also, this may have been a REALLY smart move 5-7 years ago. Now, however, you'd be hoping on the "trend" after the prices have already risen to reflect that there is indeed a trend. Housing near RTP ain't near as cheap as it used to be.

6/27/2007 11:58:38 PM

are you going to make a thread about every area near RDU - let me know so i can just put you on autolock

Quote :

"Are there going to be shopping around?"

do you have any idea what you want - why not make a general i'm searching and have no clue what i want thread - or use one of the other real estate threads

6/27/2007 11:59:50 PM

When I first interned out in the RTP, I specifically chose apartments that were farther away from work because I didn't like the feel of getting off work and still feeling like I was so close to it. I wanted to escape it. But I wonder if I am in the minority, and most people like being able to walk to work now, if that is the new trend.

OmarBadu - I thought starting a specific topic just about the new trend in living in RTP would capture more attention and be easier to find for others would be more useful/informational. But if you want to get picky and have it buried in the Real Estate thread, that's your choice.

6/28/2007 9:46:11 AM

Quote :

"most people like being able to walk to work now, if that is the new trend."

That's not a new trend, that's a function of urbanization. As the population grows more and more dense, the benefit of not sitting in traffic for possibly hours a day outweighs the perceived costs of [whatever you're giving up to live near work]

6/28/2007 9:59:55 AM

the best area near/in rtp is brier creek. it's technically in durham co. but wake co. annexed it so kids still go to wake co. schools. plus you have brier creak shopping center right there. but like was mentioned before, it would have been best to invest a few years ago.

6/28/2007 10:04:38 AM

I work at Keystone Park, I think it would be absolutely crazy to be able to see my house from my office window. Living at Keystone Crossing would be entirely too close to work.

6/28/2007 10:14:32 AM

BobbyDigital - yeah I agree so in essence I'm wondering what others opinions are on whether urbanizing RTP will be successful or not. For example, that is what Davis Park is attempting to do: http://www.davisparkrtp.com.

Sparky - thanks I agree Brier Creek is late. That's why I'm trying to gauge if RTP is the next best alternative (or even better since 540 will open soon), well minus the shopping (for now).

6/28/2007 10:16:01 AM

RTP is practically sandwiched between Southpoint and Brier Creek...

6/28/2007 10:18:10 AM

i live in briar creek and i agree, it was very wise to purchase a home a few years ago (pre-const).

i see the benefits everyday. i'm only a couple of mins. away from anything i could possibly need immediately. my physician might be far, but my son's pediatrician is so close i can spit on them from here.

malls are only a <30 min drive away with traffic.

it's fantastic. i also know that in a few years, when i'm looking for a larger property, this one will sell for my asking price quickly (unless RTP suddenly decides to burn down).

i didn't realize at the time how important briar creek would turn out to be.

[Edited on June 28, 2007 at 2:46 PM. Reason : davis park is interesting, but i'd have to see for myself.]

6/28/2007 2:44:02 PM

you can't live in RTP, period. here's a map of all planned development in housing:
http://www.rtp.org/files/CORE_Reduced.jpg

[Edited on June 28, 2007 at 2:57 PM. Reason : .]

6/28/2007 2:47:19 PM

That's just splitting cunt hairs. The implication was obvious.

I guess not to you, though.

6/28/2007 4:23:22 PM

state law + zoning provisions != "splitting cunt hairs".

6/28/2007 4:56:37 PM

I live in Brier Creek and its really nice to be close to everything

BC what what

6/28/2007 7:41:27 PM

fine, you cant live in RTP, but you can live close enough to pee on it from your front door.


I'm probably going to try to get a house near by just to save myself the 6-10 hours a week of traffic time

6/28/2007 7:51:43 PM

fuck that, NW greensboro is where its BLOWIN UP

new garden holla back

6/28/2007 7:54:26 PM

Quote :

"When I first interned out in the RTP, I specifically chose apartments that were farther away from work because I didn't like the feel of getting off work and still feeling like I was so close to it."

yeah i can't believe that, you enjoy the 45+ minute one way commutes otherwise?

6/28/2007 8:42:37 PM

nothin wrong with a 30-40 minute drive home

it's good alone/unwinding time

[Edited on June 28, 2007 at 8:48 PM. Reason : anything over an hour is pressing it]

6/28/2007 8:47:22 PM

except for fucking stop and go heinous bullshit with a manual transmission when its hot as balls outside and you're wasting gas on ac sitting still

6/28/2007 8:53:11 PM

if you're sitting in traffic

you live in the wrong direction

6/28/2007 8:53:53 PM

amen

6/28/2007 8:57:29 PM

no argument on that, just venting

6/28/2007 8:58:24 PM

Quote :

"nothin wrong with a 30-40 minute drive home it's good alone/unwinding time"

Fuck that. I'd rather be sitting at home unwinding by drinking a beer. I just moved out to mineral springs (near rtp) and there is no way I will ever miss having to take 40 every day.

6/28/2007 9:34:18 PM

Quote :

"yeah i can't believe that, you enjoy the 45+ minute one way commutes otherwise?"

and what made you think my apt was 45+ away? it was more like 15+ in morrisville around aviation parkway, so all i'm saying is living in the heart of RTP vs. outskirts (brier creek, morrisville, west cary, etc) what is better

6/28/2007 10:46:50 PM

You never really addressed the fact that you want more the .25 acres. You are going to have a real hard time getting that anywhere close to civilization. Do you intend on purchasing land yourself?

6/28/2007 10:58:42 PM

Quote :

"except for fucking stop and go heinous bullshit"

you mean "go and stop"

you can thank george carlin

6/29/2007 9:05:10 AM

Quote :

"For example, that is what Davis Park is attempting to do: http://www.davisparkrtp.com."

those things are so expensive for what you get... a 1br condo for ~$200k.. i guess that is what you would pay in downtown raleigh.. but still..

fwiw, i have a set of plans on my desk right now for davis park lofts and did some work on the rowhouses

6/29/2007 11:37:00 AM

[old] trend

6/29/2007 11:41:57 AM

your best bet is durham, seriously

cheaper houses, no drive/traffic, and a straight shoot up 147.

cary: expensive, no direct traffic route
chapel hill: controlled development, expensive as shit
morrisville: same as cary
davis park/other "RTP" developments: superinflated for what it is.. and you're seriously in the middle of nowhere, next to an industrial park

6/30/2007 12:35:37 AM

I just moved into a new house in Durham. As madman stated, all other areas (Cary, Morrisville, North Raleigh, Brier Creek) were far too expensive for what I wanted to buy. I got a house for well within my budget and have a commute that is about 12 minutes each way. My friend who bought on the other side of Raleigh may get a higher return, but adding an extra hour to my commute every day would not be worth it.

6/30/2007 12:42:31 AM