Gratitude, Grit, and Grout: A Slightly Unhinged Take on Buying & Selling South of Raleigh

by Allen Faircloth

It’s that time of year. The leaves are changing, the air is crisp, and everyone is suddenly performing performative gratitude on social media. #Blessed.

Look, I get it. We should ALWAYS be thankful. But let’s be real: trying to buy or sell a house in today’s market can test the patience of a saint. It’s less "peaceful reflection over a pumpkin spice latte" and more "competitive contact sport played for hundreds of thousands of dollars."

If you are navigating the real estate landscape of Johnston, Harnett, Cumberland, or Southern Wake Counties right now, your nerves are probably frayed. You might be subsisting on caffeine and Anthem Property notifications.

So, in the spirit of the season, let's take a deep breath, lower our blood pressure, and find things to be genuinely—if sometimes aggressively—thankful for in this wild real estate cornucopia we call home.

For the Sellers: Gratitude for Moving On (Literally)

If you’re selling right now in areas like Benson, Angier, Garner, Clayton, or down toward Fayetteville, you’re probably exhausted. You've spent three weeks yelling at your kids not to touch anything because "someone might want to view the house in 45 minutes!"

What to be thankful for:

The "Strategic" De-Clutter: Be thankful that forced minimalism made you finally throw away that box of cords you’ve kept since 2003 because "you might need that Nokia charger someday." You didn't. It’s gone. #Thankful.
The Southern Wake Equity Boom: If you bought a house in Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, or Angier seven years ago, you should wake up every morning and kiss the ground. You’re sitting on a nest egg that looks suspiciously like a golden goose. Be thankful you got in before "affordable" became a dirty word.
Buyers with "Vision": Be profoundly grateful for the buyer who walked in, looked at your questionable sponge-painting decision in the half-bath from 2008, and said, "Oh, I can work with this." That person is an angel sent from above.

For the Buyers: Gratitude for the Hunt (and Decent Plumbing)

Bless your hearts. Buying right now is tough. You’re wading through listings in Harnett County that describe a "cozy fixer-upper" (translation: it might not have a roof) or fighting 12 other offers for a ranch in JoCo that smells faintly of potpourri and desperation.

What to be thankful for:

The Reality Check: Be thankful for the moment you realized you can’t afford a 5-bedroom mansion in Apex, and suddenly a lovely 3-bedroom in Angier looks like paradise. Gratitude is often just lowered expectations in a nice outfit.
The JoCo Commute (Wait, hear me out): If you’re buying in Johnston County to work in Raleigh, be thankful for podcasts. Seriously. You’re going to listen to so many podcasts on I-40. You’ll be the smartest, most informed person stuck in traffic near the 40/42 interchange.
Cumberland County Affordability: If you are military or just looking for more bang for your buck, be thankful for Cumberland County. You can actually buy a house with a yard big enough to throw a ball without hitting your neighbor’s siding. That’s real freedom.
The Inspection Report That Wasn't a Novel: Be thankful when the home inspector comes back and says, "It’s mostly fine." Not perfect. Just "mostly fine." In this market, "mostly fine" is cause for popping champagne.

The Local Appreciation Tour

We live in a pretty great weird slice of North Carolina. Let's give thanks for our specific areas:

Johnston County: We’re thankful for your rapid growth. We are less thankful for the construction barrels that seem to be permanent residents of US-70.
Harnett County: We’re thankful for your rural charm and the fact that you are currently where the "suburban sprawl" line seems to have paused to catch its breath.
Cumberland County: We’re thankful for the patriots at Fort Bragg and the fact that you keep real estate prices tethered to reality.
Southern Wake: We’re thankful you provide top-tier amenities, even if we have to sell a kidney to afford the HOA fees.

The Final Slice of Pie

Real estate is stressful. It’s messy. It involves negotiation, paperwork, and occasionally weeping into a throw pillow.

But at the end of the day, whether you’re handing over keys or accepting them, you’re making a massive life change. And that’s something to be grateful for.

So this season, eat too much turkey, tolerate your in-laws, and try to remember: even if the deal falls through, or the appraisal comes in low, at least you don't have to move a piano today.

If you need an agent who can handle the stress so you don’t have to—and who appreciates the absurdity of this market—give Anthem Properties a call. We're thankful for new clients, and we promise we won't judge your sponge-painted bathroom.