Buying · Selling · Owning
Practical writing on buying, selling and owning a home in the Triangle — plus the local guides Jim and Lori put together along the way.
The blog
Jim and Lori have been writing about the Triangle housing market since 2017 — what a contract actually commits you to, what a repair really costs, what is worth doing before you list and what is not.
Most of it is written for a specific moment: your first offer, your fourth move, the year the kids leave. Pick the topic that matches yours.
Worth reading
Market reports, buying and selling guides, and the local round-ups — restaurants, parks, museums and pizza. Newest first; every post opens on hillnhills.com.
Keeping up with the Triangle's restaurant scene almost feels like a full-time job lately. New neighborhoods are popping up, old spaces are being reimagined, and food continues to be one of the clearest reflections of how fast this region is growing.
If you live in Wake Forest or anywhere in the Triangle, you know the holiday season brings some of the best family traditions in North Carolina. One of the most popular experiences is The Polar Express Train Ride at the NC Transportation Museum in Spencer. It draws visitors from Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill each year because it delivers something rare. A full holiday experience built for families who want real memories, not crowded malls.
North Carolina’s dining scene has officially joined the world stage. In 2025, Michelin expanded its iconic restaurant guide to include the American South—marking the first time North Carolina has ever been featured. For the Triangle region (Wake Forest, Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill), that means new recognition for the state’s top chefs, growing tourism, and stronger lifestyle appeal for homeowners and future residents.
If you’re buying a home or building on land in the Raleigh or Wake Forest area, one of the first questions you’ll need to answer is simple but important: sewer or septic?
Welcome to Raleigh and the Triangle — an area that includes Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and surrounding towns like Wake Forest, Cary, and Apex. If you’ve recently moved here or are planning to, this guide is designed to help you settle in. From parks and museums to festivals and food, here are 50 things locals recommend, with links and details you can use right away.
If you’ve been thinking about buying a home this year, the Fall 2025 Edition of the Things to Consider When Buying a Home Guide is full of insights to help you move forward with confidence. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or moving into your next place, this guide breaks down the myths, market trends, and reasons why working with an experienced real estate agent is so important.
If you’ve been wondering whether now is the right time to sell your house, you’re not alone. Many homeowners across Wake Forest, Raleigh, Durham, and the broader Triangle are asking the same questions. With housing market shifts, changing mortgage rates, and rising home equity, it’s important to know what to expect before putting your property on the market.
When Warren Buffett speaks, people listen. The billionaire investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway has a long history of smart decisions, and his perspective on the housing market is no different. Recently, Buffett said Americans should be “lining up” to buy homes. For anyone thinking about real estate right now, especially in growing communities like Wake Forest NC real estate or Raleigh NC real estate, that’s advice worth considering.
Discover haunted houses, ghost tours, and historic haunts around Raleigh. As fall settles over North Carolina, the Triangle transforms into a hotspot for spooky fun. From eerie hayrides and haunted forests to centuries-old mansions with ghostly reputations, there’s a fright for every thrill-seeker. Explore the top Halloween attractions near Raleigh and beyond for an unforgettable autumn adventure.
If you own a home in Wake Forest, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, or anywhere else in the Triangle, you probably received your new property value from Wake County. For many homeowners, these new numbers were higher than expected. Since property taxes are based on this assessed value, an inaccurate number could mean you are paying more than your fair share. The good news is you have the right to appeal.
When you're ready to sell your home, the price you choose isn’t just a number—it’s a strategy. And in today’s market, that strategy needs to be sharp, smart, and rooted in local market knowledge.
If you’ve ever looked up your home on Zillow, you’ve likely seen the “Zestimate”—Zillow’s estimated market value for your property. While this feature can give a ballpark idea, it’s important to understand its limitations. As real estate professionals serving Wake Forest, Raleigh, Durham, and the greater Triangle area of North Carolina, we’ve seen firsthand how relying solely on a Zestimate can lead to confusion and missed opportunities.
Homeowners Associations, or HOAs, are common throughout the Triangle area—especially in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, and Wake Forest. Whether you're buying a home in a new development or an established neighborhood, there's a good chance an HOA will be part of the equation.
Raleigh, North Carolina, isn't just the capital city—it’s a cultural hub overflowing with learning opportunities, history, science, and art. Nicknamed the "Smithsonian of the South," Raleigh is home to some of the best museums in the Southeast, many of which are free to explore. Whether you're searching for educational experiences for kids, interactive science museums, local history exhibits, or fine art collections, Raleigh’s museums offer something for everyone.
Buying your first home is one of life’s most exciting milestones—but it’s also one of the most overwhelming. At Jim and Lori Hill Realtors, we know how many questions are swirling through your mind. From figuring out your credit score to understanding mortgage rates and down payments, the journey to homeownership can feel like a maze. That’s why we created our complimentary First-Time Homebuyer Guide, designed to walk you through every step of the home buying process in Wake Forest, Raleigh, and the surrounding areas of North Carolina.
If you're searching for homes for sale in Wake Forest, NC or wondering whether now is the right time to buy or sell, this market study will give you the insights you need. We’ve broken down the latest Wake Forest home prices, sales trends, and real estate forecasts—all using clear charts, easy-to-understand data, and the top Google real estate keywords for the Wake Forest area.
If you’re a physician, surgeon, resident, or healthcare professional preparing to relocate, you know that finding a new home isn’t just a transaction — it’s a life transition. Between tight move-in timelines, licensing requirements, hospital schedules, and family considerations, the process of buying a home or even renting near your new medical facility can feel overwhelming. That’s where The Doctors Home Finder comes in.
If you're thinking about selling your home in Wake County, NC—including towns like Raleigh, Wake Forest, Zebulon, and Rolesville—one of the first questions you’re probably asking is: How much will it actually cost me to sell?
Raleigh’s food scene continues to grow with new restaurants, bars, bakeries, and cafes opening across the city. Whether you're exploring homes for sale near Raleigh, Wake Forest, or Glenwood South, these new dining spots offer fresh flavor near the best neighborhoods and commercial real estate.
Raleigh is known as the City of Oaks, and it's not hard to see why. With more than 200 parks in Raleigh, the city offers everything from sprawling nature preserves and lakeside greenways to vibrant urban parks and playgrounds. Whether you're searching for things to do in Raleigh, Raleigh outdoor activities, or family-friendly parks near me, this guide covers the must-visit parks to explore in the Triangle area.
If you're searching for the best pizza in Raleigh, NC, you've come to the right place. Whether you're a longtime local, relocating to the Triangle, or just exploring things to do in Raleigh, this city has a pizza scene worth talking about. From classic New York–style slices to gluten-free pies and Detroit-style deep dish, there's something for every taste and craving.
Everything else
The other 357 posts, back to 2017. Open a year to see what was published.
Past reading
The posts cover the general case. Your house, your street and your timing are the specific one — call either of us and we will work through it with you.
Get in touch
Send it over and Jim and Lori will come back to you personally, 8am to 8pm, every day of the week.
