Historic Homes for Sale in Raleigh

The city of Raleigh, NC has a history going back over 250 years and has been the capital of the state since 1791. Some of the homes in the area date back to this era and have distinctive colonial and federalist styles.

In Raleigh, there are two types of designations for historic areas and homes: Raleigh Historic Districts and the National Register of Historic Places. These designations have different requirements and benefits.

Raleigh Historic Districts are areas preserved because of their unique historic qualities. The City of Raleigh has designated 6 districts as historic in order to preserve their character: Blount Street, Boylan Heights, Capitol Square, Moore Square, Oakwood, and Prince Hall. As a homeowner in one of these districts, any exterior changes made to the house are subject to design review by the Raleigh Historic Districts Commission.

Raleigh boasts many areas on the National Register of Historic Places, administered under the National Park Service in conjunction with state governments. Homes and neighborhoods on the National Register are not subject to any restrictions like those in local historic districts.

There are a few benefits to owning a National Register home. Owners are eligible for a 20% federal investment tax credit that can be claimed against the cost of a certified rehabilitation of an income-producing historic building. In addition, there is a 20% state investment tax credit for income-producing historic properties, and a 30% state credit for non-income-producing historic properties. For more information about tax credits, please visit http://www.hpo.ncdcr.gov/credits.htm.

Oakwood, known as the oldest neighborhood in Raleigh, features beautiful homes built in the late 19th century. The oldest house in Raleigh lies in Mordecai, a community made up of several different neighborhoods: Oakdale, Historic Mordecai, East Mordecai, Pilot Mill, and Capitol Park.

Three prominent suburbs were developed in early twentieth century Raleigh: Cameron Park, Boylan Heights, and Glenwood-Brooklyn. Each of these neighborhoods feature the hallmarks of pedestrian friendly planning: tree-lined streets, sidewalks, alleyways, and smaller lots. A second wave of suburban development brought about neighborhoods in the Five Points area, including the prestigious Hayes Barton.

Raleigh’s historically black neighborhoods developed around the city’s two historically black colleges, Shaw University and Saint Augustine’s University. These neighborhoods include Idlewild, College Park, and South Park.

Neighborhoods that developed later, in the 1940s through 1960s, include Cameron Village, Battery Heights, Longview Gardens, and Rochester Heights. These neighborhoods feature mostly ranch-style and split level houses, as well as some Colonial, Minimal Traditional, and Cape Cod.