Triangle ‘starter homes’? Knightdale houses hit the market starting at $350K

New construction is coming to the fast-growing bedroom town of Knightdale, offering something of a rare find in today’s market: detached single-family homes priced under $400,000.

Morrisville-based Garman Homes has begun presales in Allen Park at 2320 Old Milburnie Rd. East of Raleigh, it’s about 10 miles from downtown with access to I-540 and I-87.

The woman-owned firm is building a little over half of the 624 homes in the planned community developed by Natelli Communities . The other builder is Durham-based Ryan Homes .

Garman’s first phase includes 211 two-story townhouses and single-family houses. All feature three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms with a mix of floor plans, ranging from 1,580 to 2,059 square feet.

Would-be buyers also have access to a slew of amenities: pickleball court, pool, clubhouse with a central pond, dog park, playground, fire pits, herb gardens, potting shed and play areas among them.

Prices start at around $340,000 for townhouses and $380,000 for single-family homes — what many experts now say is today’s entry point in Wake County.

“That’s our whole business, staying at the midpoint or lower,” said Garman Homes’ chief executive Alaina Money-Garman, who founded the firm in 2007 and builds new construction across the greater Triangle.

As prices creep up and growth spills over from Raleigh, she said Knightdale is becoming “one of the best places to live” from an attainability standpoint.“It never stops growing,” she added.

The first model home is expected to be complete by late 2024, with quick move-ins slated for January 2025.

Money-Garman said the firm will build an additional 130 homes during the second phase. The start date has not been announced.

The builder is also selling homes in Pittsboro’s Chatham Park starting at $459,000; Wake Forest’s Holding Village starting at $385,990; and Fuquay-Varina’s Serenity starting at $343,990.

It’s also behind Chatham County’s tiny home village project for people with mental illness and Durham Habitat’s recent “ Builder’s Blitz ,” building two 1,200-square-foot homes, from start to finish, in seven days.

Knightdale’s rise

Between the region’s long-running housing shortage and high home prices, buyers are increasingly seeking deals in smaller, outlying towns like Knightdale.

It’s also become more competitive.

In June, Knightdale home prices were up 11% compared to last year, selling for a median price of $499,500, Redfin data shows. On average, homes sell after 31 days on the market compared to 56 days last year.

There were 34 homes sold in June this year, up from 30 last year.

Knightdale’s in-migration is from across the nation. Roughly 0.91% of buyers searched to move into the area from outside metros, Redfin found. New York buyers searched more than any other metro, followed by Washington and San Francisco. As of 2023, Knightdale had a population of 20,273, according to the U.S. Census Bureau . That was up from 11,401 in 2010.

Builders are rushing to meet the demand.

Florida-based Dream Finders Homes recently opened its new community, Knightdale Station , selling single-family homes starting at $375,420.

Atlas Stark plans over 50,000 square feet of commercial space for the Knightdale Station community, the Triangle Business Journal has reported.

For sales information, go to www.garmanhomes.com or call 984-217-3220.