For families building in the Triangle

Your guide to building a home in the Triangle

Finding land, getting it ready, permits and the build itself, explained step by step in plain English, for Wake, Johnston, Chatham and the counties around them. Every fact is checked against its source.

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A family walks up a stone path to a finished white farmhouse with a front porch, a green lawn and planted beds, among pines and fall trees.

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Find your answer

Start hereEvery step from finding land to moving in, in order.1 guide →Finding landHow to find a good lot, and what to check before you buy it.4 guides →Costs and loansWhat it takes to get a lot ready, and how people pay to build.6 guides →Permits and rulesThe permits a new home needs, and the rules that shape it.3 guides →Towns and countiesWhat building is like in Apex, Johnston County, Chatham County and more.5 guides →The buildHow long it takes, what happens when, and choosing a plan.3 guides →

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Costs and loans

What does it cost to build a house in the Triangle, and what do families forget?

National and regional build prices, where the money goes, and the Wake, Johnston and Raleigh fees to budget for.

4 min read

Finding land

Found a lot you like? What to check before you buy, and who to call

A walk through North Carolina's standard land contract, the checks it lets you make, and the Wake and Johnston County offices that can answer your questions.

5 min read

Towns and counties

How to find out which public schools your Triangle address is assigned to

How to look up assigned schools in Wake, Johnston, Durham, Chatham and Franklin, why Wake's answer can change after you buy, and who to call.

5 min read

Costs and loans

How does a construction loan work when you build a home in the Triangle?

How construction loans and one-time close loans differ, how the builder gets paid, what FHA, VA and USDA allow, and a North Carolina rule to know.

5 min read

The build

How long does it take to build a house in Wake or Johnston County?

The stages from permits to move-in, using Census building averages and the review waits Wake and Johnston counties and state law set out.

5 min read

Towns and counties

Building a home in Apex: permits, water and sewer, fees and who to call

Where your Apex lot sits decides how you get water and sewer, whether you need annexation, and what you pay. Here are the steps, fees and phone numbers.

5 min read