Buying a Home in North Raleigh? Here's What You Should Know.

Established neighborhoods. Custom homes. Mature trees. And details worth looking at a little closer.

North Raleigh has something that's increasingly hard to find in newer areas of the Triangle: established neighborhoods with character, mature landscaping, and homes that don't all look alike.

From traditional brick homes built decades ago to beautifully renovated properties and newer custom construction, North Raleigh offers an incredible variety of housing options.

But with that variety comes an important consideration: Not all homes age the same way, and not every renovation tells the whole story.

At Jenne Homes, we believe buying a home is about more than finding a floor plan you love. It's about understanding the property, the neighborhood, and what you're investing in for the years ahead.

Older Custom Homes vs. Newer Construction

One of the biggest draws to North Raleigh is its collection of established neighborhoods filled with custom-built homes.

Unlike many newer subdivisions, where homes were constructed by a handful of builders using similar plans, older North Raleigh neighborhoods often feature a wide variety of architectural styles, floor plans, materials, and construction methods.

What we love about established homes:

Larger, more mature landscaping and wooded lots
Unique architectural details and custom features
Established streetscapes with individual character
Opportunities to update or personalize a home

Our favorite North Raleigh restaurants:

Lafayette Village- Shops and restaurants, great place to take the kids because you can eat outside and kids can play …
Gonza’s Taco and Tequila- amazing Mexican!
Sola Coffee Cafe- Local coffee, delicious breakfast, always bustling, they have a great thing going and I love their support and love for Raleigh. They serve lunch and dinner too, with local musicians at dinner time
Margaux’s Restaurant- Great atmosphere with indoor and patio seating
Hibernian on Falls of Neuse is my favorite place to grab a drink with girlfriends
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar in North Raleigh has my favorite salad and a covered roof top area to opt outside
Poppyseed Market is an excellent place to meet a friend, client or take the family to lunch, or pick up dinner to go.
Relish Craft Kitchen- Southern Charm, such as fried green tomatoes with eggs, and they sell local jams, art, honey, great Sunday brunch place!
Milton’s- this family friendly Italian favorite has been around since 1983.
ZincHouse Winery and Brewery- A total of 87 acres complete with vineyards, multiple event spaces, winery, brewery and massive roof decks that allow for incredible views of the Vineyard and Estate.

Selling N. Raleigh video

Our favorite outdoor spots in North Raleigh:

Blue Jay Park (on Falls Lake)- great for hiking, flying kites, playing soccer, teaching kids to ride bikes, has a playground and even the Go Ape ropes course with Zip Lines for adults and kids!
Falls Lake- We have a huge lake for boating, paddle boarding, kayaking, even a beach. There are hiking trails and camping spots, a great way to spend a day or a weekend.
Treetop Runner- new zip line adventure spot in North Raleigh that even lights up for night time adventures. Trying this one in September!
Baileywick Park- great playground, popular place for birthday parties
The Finley YMCA- if you have kids in sports, the Y offers everything and they are one well oiled machine. So thankful for the programs they offer our community.
Shelley Lake- this is a small lake that offers a 2 mile loop around the lake for runners, walkers and bikers. It’s a great place to get your exercise in and have a view while doing it. Sertoma Art Center at Shelley Lake offers art classes, dance classes, activities for children and adults. There are paddle boats in the summer, a great playground and basketball courts. This is a City of Raleigh park.
New Life Camp- need a wonderful camp for your kids? I highly recommend checking out this place. Your eyes will fill with tears on the final night, and pretty sure, you’ll be back.
Neuse River Greenway- 4.5-mile long paved greenway located in the Raleigh area of North Carolina, running along the banks of the Neuse River from Falls Lake Dam to the town of Clayton.
Zinc House Winery and Brewery- 87 acres complete with vineyards, multiple event spaces, winery, brewery and massive roof decks that allow for incredible views of the Vineyard and Estate.

Falls Lake in North Raleigh is one of our favorite places for fun outdoor activities

Check out the Featured Listings page for our current homes for sale in North Raleigh

The Neighborhoods

Stonebridge:

Living above 540 off of Creedmoor or Six Forks, offers a little bit of country feeling while heading home away from the grocery stores, restaurants and traffic. This area is ideal for larger lots and privacy. You drive into Stonebridge and you see mature landscaping, beautiful trees and well manicured lawns. This community has so much to offer: 2 neighborhood pools, clubhouse, playgrounds, fishing pond, soccer field/walking track, tennis courts, excellent schools, easy access to greenways. Map it

Stonebridge Flipbook

MacTavish:

MacTavish is located in a beautiful residential pocket of North Raleigh, set among 38 acres of mature forest.offering wooded views, spacious lots, and custom homes. It is convenient to local amenities including shopping, dining, Falls Lake, I-540 and the RDU Airport! Map it

Falls River:

Falls River was the original planned community built in the 2000’s with the concept of parks, walking trails, front porches and sidewalks. It offers a long list of recreational amenities for its residents, including a community clubhouse, recreation center and tennis/volleyball/basketball courts. The Greenway Club at Falls River is a member based swim club with an onsite pool and active swim team, tennis, staffed snack bar, live music, and a clubhouse rental program from October-April. Map it

At the front of this community, you will find the Falls River Town Center that has everything you need from a grocery store, pharmacy, restaurants and more.

Bedford at Falls River:

Bedford is located within the Falls River subdivision. Over 30% of the area is preserved as common area in pocket parks and gathering areas. The central commons area has expansive open areas with a 60′ high clock tower in the center. Surrounding the central town commons are homes, the Recreation Center, and the Shoppes at Bedford. All of these are interior to the community and walkable for many residents. Bedford also offers recreational amenities included in their HOA dues: a clubhouse, pool, tennis, basketball, volleyball, and a playground. Map it

Bedford has two access points to the Neuse River Greenway which is a trail beginning at Falls Dam and follows the Neuse River for 27 miles.