Raleigh NC Real Estate

Commonly known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees, Raleigh is the second largest city and capital of the state of North Carolina. The city has shown a rapid growth in its population over recent years. There has been a 42% rise since the 2000 census where the estimated population on July, 1st 2008 was 392,552, making it the 8th fastest growing city and the 45th largest city in the United States. This population boom has also led to an increase of popularity for Raleigh real estate.

Raleigh has come a long way since its establishment in the year 1792. It witnessed a great fire that destroyed the State Capitol in 1831 and was completely restored in 1840 with the granite being delivered by the first railroad in the state. Peace College, the first institution of higher education for women was established in 1857. The later part of the 20th century saw some rapid developments in Raleigh NC with the city’s first airport, Curtiss-Wright Flying Field starting operations in 1929. Raleigh also experienced severe damages as a result of the Hurricane Hazel in 1954, considered as one of the deadliest and costliest storms of the 20th century causing 95 deaths in the US. Two large skyscrapers, the Union Capital Center and Hanover Plaza, adorned the skyline of Raleigh in 1991. At the turn of the 21st century, Raleigh has been at the forefront of economic development and owing to its quality of life and business climate, has been featured in a number of "Top 10 Lists," including those by Forbes, MSNBC and Money Magazine.

These strong economic factors have made Raleigh NC real estate a popular investment. The economy of the city is controlled by various sectors of the industry like medical, electronic and telecommunication equipments, clothing and apparels, films, food processing industry, paper products and pharmaceuticals. Raleigh, which is a part of the North Carolina’s Research Triangle, is a major center for high-tech and biotech research and also advanced textile development in the United States.

Raleigh is a great place to be, either as a resident or as a tourist. There is a wide variety of recreational activities, parks, historical sites, museums, and sports activities to be entertained with. If you are relocating to the area, a Raleigh realtor can show you the way to the home you’ve been looking for.