{"id":179110,"date":"2024-11-20T14:00:38","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T21:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/?p=179110"},"modified":"2024-11-20T14:01:05","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T21:01:05","slug":"north-carolina-could-be-the-next-boom-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/north-carolina-could-be-the-next-boom-state","title":{"rendered":"Here&#8217;s Why North Carolina Could Be the Next Big Time Boom State"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/markets?market=Raleigh-Cary%2C%20NC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Raleigh<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> and <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/markets?market=Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia%2C%20NC-SC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Charlotte<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, North Carolina, metros grew tremendously over the past five years, with a population growth of 11.53% and 8.81%, respectively (the U.S. average was 2.94%).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Raleigh also had a 64.2% increase in its median price, while Charlotte experienced a 76.9% increase (the U.S. average was 46.9%).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<p><iframe title=\"Raleigh &amp;amp; Charlotte, NC MSA Median Price\" aria-label=\"Interactive line chart\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-6LOmm\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/6LOmm\/3\/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" height=\"395\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();\n<\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One could consider North Carolina a pandemic boom state, along with <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">the likes of<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Texas, Florida, and Arizona. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I think<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> in the long term, it has more potential for growth than is being recognized.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Let\u2019s take a look at everything North Carolina has going for it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Business Tax Climate<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A 2003 study published in the <\/span><em><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/228132921_Do_States_Choose_Their_Mix_of_Taxes_to_Minimize_Employment_Losses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">National Tax Journal<\/span><\/a><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> found that \u201ccorporate income tax has a significant negative impact on employment, while the sales and individual income taxes do not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If this is true, a more business-friendly tax environment should continue <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">to support employment growth over time<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> And when the local economy grows, <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/13-real-estate-hotspots-with-the-best-economies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">so does the local real estate market<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Let\u2019s take a look at the corporate business tax environment across the states. Here is a nice visual made by the <a href=\"https:\/\/taxfoundation.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tax Foundation<\/a><\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3057\" height=\"2879\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/CIT_Rates_24.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-179113\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/CIT_Rates_24.png 3057w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/CIT_Rates_24-300x283.png 300w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/CIT_Rates_24-1024x964.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/CIT_Rates_24-768x723.png 768w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/CIT_Rates_24-1536x1447.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/CIT_Rates_24-2048x1929.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3057px) 100vw, 3057px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Corporate Income Taxes by State - Tax Foundation<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You\u2019ll notice <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">there are<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> a few states without a corporate income tax rate. Unfortunately, while this is a plus for investment, it doesn\u2019t paint the entire picture of the business tax environment.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cNo Corporate Income Tax\u201d Isn\u2019t the Entire Picture<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">These states don\u2019t impose a corporate income tax:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Nevada\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Texas<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Washington<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ohio<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Wyoming<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">South Dakota<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">North Carolina (by 2030)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, Nevada, Texas, Ohio, and Washington also impose what\u2019s known as a \u201cgross receipts tax.\u201d <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> is a tax on a company\u2019s gross sales, without deductions for its business expenses, such as cost of goods sold.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> can benefit companies with a <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">high profit<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> margin while penalizing companies with a <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">more<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> narrow profit margin. It can also hurt startups, which have low-to-no profit margins to begin with. Or these companies may pass these taxes on to the consumer, as depicted in this image:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1102\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/FF845_-fig3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-179114\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/FF845_-fig3.png 2000w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/FF845_-fig3-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/FF845_-fig3-1024x564.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/FF845_-fig3-768x423.png 768w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/FF845_-fig3-1536x846.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The Effects of Tax Pyramiding - Tax Foundation<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On the flip side, in Nevada and Ohio, these rates are relatively low to begin with. Ohio also recently implemented new thresholds <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">that will<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> exempt many small businesses from this tax. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> means things are looking up for Ohio.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">North Carolina already has the lowest corporate tax rate<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, sitting<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> at 2.5%.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> And by 2030, the state\u2019s corporate tax rate will drop to 0%. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> will put North Carolina into the same category as South Dakota and Wyoming, which are states with no corporate income <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">tax<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> or gross receipts tax.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What\u2019s interesting is that Wyoming\u2019s population only grew <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pewtrusts.org\/en\/research-and-analysis\/articles\/2024\/05\/07\/population-growth-in-most-states-lags-long-term-trends?pop_map_data_picker=ltnm&amp;pop_map_date=2009_2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">0.13% per year<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> from <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2008-<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2023 from net migration. The U.S. average was 0.27% per year, and over the same <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">time period<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, South Dakota saw a 0.51% increase, and North Carolina saw a 0.84% increase. (If you\u2019re curious, Florida had the highest average population growth, at 1.29% per year from 2008-2023).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div>\n<script\ntype=\"text\/javascript\"\ndefer\nsrc=\"https:\/\/www.pewtrusts.org\/-\/media\/data-visualizations\/interactives\/2024\/fiscal50\/assets\/indicator-chart-embed.js?config-file=\/config\/POP_MAP_20240507.json\"\ncharset=\"utf-8\">\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If the corporate tax environment were all <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">that <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">was<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> needed<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> to grow the number of employers, and thus, the number of employees in an area, Wyoming and South Dakota should have seen more growth than North Carolina (and these states aren\u2019t even the top five fastest-growing places). We inherently know there\u2019s more to the story.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Employers need access to well-educated employees <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">in order to<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> expand. In fact, for each new university patent, <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www2.census.gov\/ces\/wp\/2012\/CES-WP-12-10.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">researchers estimate<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> an additional 15 jobs <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">are created<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> outside the university in the local economy.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">So next, we\u2019ll specifically look at the number of colleges offering a large proportion of STEM degrees in each state.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Colleges Offering a Large Proportion of STEM Degrees<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After downloading college scorecard data from the <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/collegescorecard.ed.gov\/data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">U.S. Department of Education<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, I filtered out all universities not offering four-year degrees, small universities, and universities not located within a city or nearby suburb. I wanted to track only large institutions <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">located<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> within<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> or near major metro centers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Next, I calculated the percentage of STEM degrees given to recent graduates. Then, after sorting from the highest percent of STEM degrees to the lowest, I kept only the top half of institutions. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For anyone curious, the median percentage of STEM degrees <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">given for this set of large institutions<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> was about 22%.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Then, I <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">simply<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> summed the number of large four-year universities left in each state <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">that had<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> more than 22% of its graduates <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">earn<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> STEM-related degrees.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Here were the results (states with no colleges fitting these criteria were not included, such as Wyoming):<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<p><iframe title=\"STEM College Concentration by State\" aria-label=\"Map\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-npr3L\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/npr3L\/3\/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" height=\"527\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();\n<\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Notice how California, New York, and Texas are on top, three of the four most-populated states (the other being Florida).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As a side note, I\u2019d also like to point out that Ohio has one more of these universities than North Carolina. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, combined with how affordable Ohio is and its business-friendly tax environment, makes it an excellent place to invest for the long term.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The only strike against Ohio for me <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">personally<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> is its high property tax rate. But the Kentucky side of <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/markets?market=Cincinnati%2C%20OH-KY-IN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cincinnati<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> (literally across the river) looks quite attractive, as you could benefit from the city\u2019s growth without the accompanying high real estate property tax cost.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">North Carolina\u2019s Colleges: The Research Triangle<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">So far, North Carolina has one of the best business-friendly tax environments<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, and by<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> 2030, it will be comparable to South Dakota and Wyoming, with no corporate income tax or gross receipts tax. However, unlike South Dakota and Wyoming, North Carolina has many prestigious universities producing many STEM-focused graduates.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Three of these universities are <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">all<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> within one combined statistical area (<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">essentially,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> one large metro).<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill make up what\u2019s known as the <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Research_Triangle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Research Triangle<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, which includes the <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">largest<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> research park in America and is home to numerous tech companies.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Take a look at Raleigh\u2019s employment numbers over the past decade:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<p><iframe title=\"Raleigh, NC MSA Employment\" aria-label=\"Interactive line chart\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-n4mof\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/n4mof\/2\/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" height=\"395\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();\n<\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">An Investor-Friendly Agent on Raleigh\u2019s Real Estate Market<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It\u2019s always helpful to get knowledge from a boots-on-the-ground expert. We\u2019ve been collaborating with <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/katie.vividnc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Katie Rother<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, a real estate agent who works with investors, on a breakdown of the Research Triangle market (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Here are a few highlights Katie mentions in her new report:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What areas are seeing the most growth in the Triangle?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cOver the next five to 10 years, places like Pittsboro, Sanford, Hillsborough, Lillington, Angier, and Benson are showing <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">strong<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> price increases and will continue to <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">see growth<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Within 15 minutes of downtown Raleigh, towns like Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, North Raleigh, and Knightdale are also thriving, with more amenities and housing developments popping up. Even areas further out, such as Wendell, Zebulon, Clayton, and Benson, are becoming more attractive to buyers and investors, as they offer more affordable housing and more space.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For long-term growth and <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/what-is-appreciation-in-real-estate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">appreciation<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, I\u2019m <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">particularly<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> focused on areas like Sanford, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, and Pittsboro, as they show great potential for the future. The Triangle has a little something for everyone, from the vibrant city life of Raleigh and Durham to the suburban charm of places like Cary and Apex, and the peaceful, growing communities farther out.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How are buyers and sellers navigating this market?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cIn today\u2019s fast-paced and competitive real estate market, buyers and sellers are leaning heavily on their agents to guide them through the complexities of buying and selling a home. Whether it's navigating pricing, negotiations, or market-specific practices, <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/agent\/match\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">having a knowledgeable agent<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> makes all the difference.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For buyers:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Understanding Costs:<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Many buyers have questions about due diligence fees and earnest money deposits, especially if they\u2019re new to the area or the homebuying process. Agents are crucial in explaining these upfront costs and ensuring buyers are comfortable with their investments.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Home Inspections: <\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Buyers often look to their agents for advice on inspections\u2014what to expect, what to prioritize, and how to handle repairs or contingencies that arise during the process.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Market Strategy: <\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With competition high, agents help buyers craft strong offers, prioritize needs versus wants, and identify homes that are a good value for their budget.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For sellers:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Pricing and Marketing: <\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sellers rely on their agents to recommend competitive listing prices and market their properties effectively to stand out in a crowded market.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Preparing for Sale:<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Agents help sellers decide on presale improvements and staging to attract buyers and maximize offers.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Negotiating Offers:<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> From handling multiple offers to answering compensation questions, agents ensure sellers <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">are informed<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> and in control throughout the process.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>For both buyers and sellers:?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Agents are the go-to resource for navigating tricky questions about compensation, contracts, and market trends. Whether you\u2019re a first-time buyer or a seasoned seller, a trusted agent can make the process smoother, more informed, and less stressful.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">My <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">personal<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> interpretation of the data is that the high number of well-educated graduates in the region, along with one of the best business environments in the nation, will continue to drive growth in the Raleigh metro area for years to come.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Would you like to see a data-driven breakdown of the best neighborhoods in the Raleigh-Durham area to invest in? Let me know in the comments. If enough people are interested, it\u2019ll justify spending the time to gather and analyze the data.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"hero-block_6559f884480527cb1da8a3fa30bf6232\" class=\"first:mt-0 hero-block py-4  alignfull   has-background has-slate-50-background-color has-text-color has-theme-gold-color\">\n    <div\n        class=\"gap-10 lg:gap-20 flex flex-wrap lg:flex-nowrap max-w-screen-xl mx-auto px-4 relative lg:items-center \">\n\n        <div class=\"relative z-30 lg:w-1\/2 \">\n            <main class=\"py-4\">\n                \n\n<p class=\"has-slate-800-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:800\">Find the Hottest Deals of 2025!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"my-3 md:my-5 lg:my-8 has-slate-900-color has-text-color\" style=\"font-size:18px\">Uncover prime deals in today's market with the brand new Deal Finder created just for investors like you! Snag great deals FAST with custom buy boxes, comprehensive property insights, and property projections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=button-custom-event-block_a024d6a7ffa20b95ac9f5d1f9743ff3c class='button-custom-event'>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/deals\" x-on:click=\"window.analytics.track(&#039;Blog Block | Deal Finder&#039;, {\n      referrer: &#039;https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/north-carolina-could-be-the-next-boom-state&#039;,\n    });\" class=\" btn-shape inline-block no-underline has-background has-theme-gold-background-color has-text-color has-white-color\" target=\"_blank\">Snag a Deal<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n\n            <\/main>\n        <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"lg:w-1\/2 first:mt-0 relative h-full lg:flex lg:items-center\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"object-cover w-full relative z-20 my-0  rounded-md\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1-6-1.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\n        <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina, metros grew tremendously over the past five years, with a population growth of 11.53% and 8.81%, respectively (the U.S. average was 2.94%). Raleigh also [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":613753,"featured_media":179116,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7364],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-179110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-housing-markets"],"acf":[],"comment_count":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/613753"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=179110"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179110\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/179116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=179110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=179110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=179110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}