Real Estate By Design

Offer Accepted
3622 Gibson Road
Durham, NC 27703
Buyers represented by Theresa Olson

Congratulations to Theresa's buyers on getting their offer accepted at this Durham home.

The kitchen brings stainless steel appliances throughout, and the primary bath offers a separate tub and shower. Outside, a patio gives them a spot for morning coffee or dinner outside.

If Durham is where your next move is headed, Theresa Olson would love to help.

Wake County just posted the highest housing inventory we've tracked since 2022, over 5,000 homes on the market in July, with months of supply tying an all-time high. July's median price actually came in a touch below every prior July in our data, so buyers are working with real room this summer.

Curious what it means for your neighborhood? Read the full July update: RealEstateByDesignNC.com/WakeUpdate

Just Listed
5122 Thornton Knoll Way
Raleigh, NC 27616
Listed by Amy Gretenstein

Thornton Commons keeps a low profile in North Raleigh. Close to US-1/401 and shopping, with an easy commute to downtown Raleigh, a bus line nearby, and quick access to Thornton Road and the Neuse River greenway, it's an easy home base for getting anywhere else.

This two bedroom, two and a half bath townhouse comes freshly updated, new LVP flooring, new carpet, new paint, and new light fixtures throughout. The roof was replaced in 2025 and the water heater in 2021, and while the HVAC dates to 2006, its capacitor was replaced in July 2026. Private driveway parking includes two tandem spots, plus plenty of room for visitors.

Reach out to Amy Gretenstein to set up a tour.

OnlyBurger

A really good burger doesn't need much reinvention, and OnlyBurger proves it. Since opening as a food truck in 2008, they've built a following that's landed them national press alongside a new local honor, Best Burger and Best Fries in Durham Magazine's 2026 Best of Durham awards.

The approach stays simple on purpose: burgers made fresh to order, fries hand cut daily, and a menu that hasn't chased every trend to stay relevant. Owner Brian Bottger brings 25 years of fine dining experience to the kitchen, and between the original truck still roaming the Triangle and the Shannon Road storefront, OnlyBurger has kept the same following coming back for going on eighteen years.

📍 3710 Shannon Rd., Suite 118
Durham, NC 27707
🕒 Monday–Saturday | 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM

Just Sold
1101 Prewitt Ranch Drive
Holly Springs, NC 27540
Buyers represented by Geoff Boone

Congratulations to Geoff's buyers on the purchase of their two-story home in Briar Gate, close to NC-55, shopping, dining, and RDU.

The eat-in kitchen was a standout, shaker-style white cabinetry, quartz counters, and a pendant-lit island, and upstairs, the primary suite added a walk-in closet and a step-in glass shower. A screened back porch and paver patio gave the outdoors just as much to offer as the inside, and Briar Gate's community pool rounded things out.

If Holly Springs or anywhere else in the Triangle is where your next move takes you, Geoff Boone would love to help you get settled.

Weekend Event Highlight
Eno Arts Mill Grand Reopening

The Orange County Arts Commission reopens the Eno Arts Mill with a full night of open studios and live music from Liquid Pleasure, food trucks, and a beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beer selection on hand. Mer Haggerty leads free art-making activities for all ages, and the gallery debuts Chrysalis: Resilience | Renewal | Transformation, bringing together studio artists whose work and workspace were affected by Tropical Storm Chantal.

Whether you're browsing open studios, catching a set from Liquid Pleasure, or taking in a gallery show built around rebuilding, there's a lot to take in on one night at the mill. Come see what a season of recovery looks like when the artists tell it themselves.

Friday, 6–9 PM
Eno Arts Mill, Hillsborough

See more weekend events at RealEstateByDesignNC.com/WeekendGuide

Just Listed
123 Gregory's Grange Drive
Yanceyville, NC 27379
Listed by Lisa Ellis

In Gregory's Grange, this one-level home skips the fixer-upper stage entirely. An open layout and finishes ready to enjoy from day one meet a fenced backyard the homeowners added to make the outdoors feel like part of the house.

Low-maintenance LVP flooring runs throughout this split-bedroom, three bedroom, two bath layout. The kitchen centers on a large island, with soft-close doors and drawers, a tile backsplash, and quartz counters, and the refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, and microwave all convey. A walk-in pantry with wood shelving and an oversized laundry room with cabinets and a folding shelf round out the everyday spaces.

The primary suite brings a large walk-in closet and a bath with a barn door, a frameless glass walk-in shower, double sinks, and additional cabinet storage. The two-car garage is oversized too, room enough for both vehicles and a workshop.

With the finishes already in place, all that's left is picking a move-in date.

Reach out to Lisa Ellis to see it in person.

Weekly Home Maintenance Tip

Test and Secure Railings, Inside and Out

Railings get used every day without much thought, on the front steps, along the deck, down to the basement, so a quick check now is worth the few minutes it takes.

Give every railing a firm shake, indoors and out, and look for any wobble at the posts or where it meets the wall. Check that screws and bolts are snug, look over wood railings for splintering or soft spots, and check metal railings for rust at the joints. Tighten what needs tightening and make a note of anything that calls for a closer look.

Solid railings support the small daily moments, carrying a laundry basket down the stairs, keeping a toddler steady on the porch steps, or helping a guest find their way in the dark.

A sturdy railing is one of those things nobody thinks about until it needs attention, so a few extra minutes now go a long way.

Advice by Design What Younger Buyers Are Prioritizing Today in Home Searches

Square footage isn't the deciding factor it used to be. This week's Advice by Design looks at what younger buyers are actually weighing in a home search, from proximity to a favorite coffee shop, to a home office that pulls its weight, to outdoor space that's actually usable rather than just large. The list ranges from energy efficiency and smart home features to how buyers are starting to think about resale even on a first purchase, and the throughline underneath all of it is fit over trend.

Read the full post: RealEstatebyDesignNC.com/LearnMore

"Summer is being blessed and hot, with abundant sunshine."
Terri Guillemets

August afternoons here get properly hot, air conditioning running nonstop and the shade under the old oaks turning into the most valuable real estate on the block by two o'clock. That same sun is exactly why the tomatoes come in heavy this time of year and porches stay full long after the heat finally breaks each evening.

Not a bad trade, all things considered.