โจ In This Issue
๐๏ธ News & Notes
๐ 25,000 Sq. Ft. Rec Center Coming to Veridia
Developer-funded facility could leap ahead of other town projects.
A big win for local indoor recreation: as part of the Veridia development amendment, the developer has agreed to build a 25,000 square foot recreation center. The town will help shape the design, aiming for max gym space, classroom flexibility, and enough pickleball courts and camp room to keep everyone happy.
If it stays on track, a 5โ10 year completion timeline is expected. Even better? The construction is covered by the developer in exchange for recreation fee credits.
๐ณ The plan also gives the town free public access to a large privately maintained park and stormwater pondโperfect for community events like concerts, movie nights, or recreation programs.
๐ Target Opening Ahead of Schedule in Fuquay-Varina
Yes, this is big news in a small town! The company is on track for a temporary Certificate of Occupancy by mid-January, with a grand opening set for March 2026โand may even beat those dates.
This project brings a multi-million dollar investment, plus 150 permanent jobs and up to 200 seasonal positions.
But letโs be honestโwhat weโre really excited about is the Dollar Spot, the home dรฉcor section, and walking in for toothpaste only to walk out with a cart full of joy.
๐ This will be one of Fuquayโs largest retail openings in recent years.
๐ธ School Traffic at Willow Spring HS: Town Steps In
The Town is stepping up to address ongoing traffic and student parking issues spilling into the North Lakes neighborhood near Willow Spring High School.
Town staffโincluding Police, Public Works, and Managementโhave met with the South Lakes HOA, school officials, and NCDOT in search of solutions.
The frustrating part? According to the Mayor, โthe school system has no desire to try to help or fix the problem.โ That leaves the town to shoulder the responsibility of solving it alone. Police are actively working on next-step strategies.
๐งญ Residents have raised ongoing concerns about safety and access, especially during peak school hours.
๐ก Curious what this means for prices in your neighborhood?
๐ (919) 725-1885
๐ง [email protected]
๐ Open Houses
๐ Market Insight: Wake County Moves to a Buyerโs Market
Buyer Activity Is Picking Up:ย New pending sales jumped to 359 this week, a 35% increase from the same week last year and a 10% increase from last week. This shows buyers are still very active despite higher inventory and longer days on market.
Days on Market is getting higher:ย However, even though buyer activity is higher, it is still taking longer to sell a home. Inventory is up about 26% since last year. There are more homes for sale but the buyer pool hasnโt increased, which means buyers have more homes to choose form when shopping. Median days on market sits at 29โhigher than this time last year (24 days), but down from last week (36). Pre-pandemic this time of year, 20 days on market was more typical. So itโs even getting a little higher for a โnormalโ market.ย
Sellers Still Seeing Over-List Offers:ย Even so, 15.2% of homes closed above asking this weekโlower than last yearโs 19.5%, but higher than last weekโs 12.5%. This supports the pattern weโve been seeing: well-priced homes in great condition are still winning competitive offers.
Unsold Listings Are Rising:ย I think the biggest news is that more and more homes are being removed from the market. There were 125 unsold listings (withdrawn, cancelled, or expired), up nearly 79% from this week last year. Buyers are truly picky in this market. When preparing your home, you need to consider features that are important to buyers and create a product for market that truly reflects what buyers want.ย
CONCLUSION:ย While this is the slowest market we have seen in many years, and it certainly FEELS like a buyers market, our current market is technically still a sellers market and approaching what is called aย BALANCED MARKET. A balanced market is when conditions donโt favor either buyer or seller and when we have between 4-6 months of inventory on the market. We currently have 3.5 months of inventory. The last time the market had this ratio of buyers to sellers was February 2019. See image below.
Conclusion:
While it feels like a buyerโs market, itโs technically still a sellerโs market, approaching a balanced one.
A balanced market = 4โ6 months of inventory.
We currently have 3.5 months, the highest since February 2019.
๐
Thinking about buying or selling this spring?
๐ Schedule a 30-Minute Discovery Call
๐ก Featured Home of the Week
7508 Hazelhurst Circle, Apex
3 BR, 3.5 BA, 3.29 Acres + Bonus Room + New Roof + Close to Jordan Lake!
Finding a home in Apex on a big piece of land is no small task! Set on 3.29 private acres, this one features all bedrooms on the main floor plus a huge bonus room upstairs with new carpet, office, full bath, and walk-in storage.
Enjoy blooming azaleas from the circular drive or morning coffee in the three-season room surrounded by birdsong. Youโre tucked between Apex and Pittsboro, just minutes from Jordan Lake and major highways for an easy commute.
๐ชด New roof (2021), new flooring (2023), and upgrades like gas logs, security system, and irrigation make this home as functional as it is peaceful.
๐ Contact us for a private showing.
๐ Learn More
Listing courtesy of Chatham Homes Realty
๐ Local Happenings
๐ฅฉ Fuquay-Varina BBQ, Blues & Brews
๐๏ธ Sat, Nov 8 ๏ฝ โฐ 12โ4 PM ๏ฝ ๐Downtown Varina District
This oneโs for the foodies โ and the beer lovers โ and the blues fans. Basically, if youโre human, youโre invited. Head to Downtown Varina to sample BBQ from local cook teams, sip from a curated selection of craft brews, and sway to live music while you browse the makerโs market. Itโs fall festival season, and Fuquay is bringing the flavor.
๐ Learn More ยป
๐น๏ธ Unplugged Arcade Launch Party
๐๏ธ Nov 8 ๏ฝ 12โ7 PM ๏ฝ ๐Gamers Geekery & Tavern, Cary
A new kind of arcade is launching in Caryโand thereโs not a screen in sight. Unplugged Arcade is the brainchild of former LEGO designer Dan Winger, whoโs blending old-school craftsmanship with fresh game concepts. Their debut game,ย Baseball Shuffle, is a fast-paced tabletop mashup of baseball and shuffleboard, played on a hand-built wooden ballpark with dice, strategy, and just enough luck. You can drop in for open play, meet the designer, and join the evening tournament for prizes. Itโs free to attend, and the drinks even become part of the game.
๐ Learn More ยป
๐ญ Murder Mystery Theater โ Holly Springs
Love, greed, jealousy, and murder collide in this interactive comedy at the Holly Springs Cultural Center. Help solve the mysteryโand maybe save the groom.
๐ Event Info ยป
โธ๏ธ Skate the Square โ Cary
Glide into the season at Fentonโs outdoor rink (Nov 7โFeb 8). Mondays are Cheapskate Day ($15) and Tuesdays honor local heroes with discounts.
๐ Event Info ยป
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๐ Day Trips
๐ค Currituck Bulls & BBQ โ Powellโs Point, NC
Needing a little more Southern in your weekend? We got ya! Bull riding, barrel racing, and finger-lickinโ BBQ at the Currituck County Rural Center. Come hungry, stay dusty, and leave smelling like smoke and glory.
๐ Event Info ยป
๐ The Christmas Show of the South โ Myrtle Beach, SC
It is NOT too early for Christmas activities. I repeat. It is NOT too early! Step into the Dickens Christmas Show โ Victorian vendors, twinkling lights, and the smell of cinnamon and pine. Pure holiday magic.
๐ Event Info ยป
๐ Forest City Christmas โ Forest City, NC
In Forest City, NC the entire town gets lit with over a million Christmas lights along historic Main Street, and the festivities run from late November through early January.ย Imagine horse-drawn carriage rides, hayrides, an ice-skating loop (yes, real skates on synthetic ice), hot cocoa under the glow of massive ornaments, and a sweet small-town shopping scene thatโs all charm, no frenzy.
๐ Event Info ยป
