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Why is Apex the best place to live?
New Homes in Apex
- One of the top reasons my clients are choosing Apex is the great selection of new homes. Priced from the $350’s to a million, there is something for everyone.
Besides having lots of new homes there are many other reasons Apex is so popular
- Good Schools.
- A charming Main Street with coffee shops and restaurants.
- Lots of parks, including a Sports Park, Nature Park and even a Skateboard Park.
- Family friendly street fairs and holiday activities.
- 15 minutes to the RDU Airport and Research Triangle Park.
- Really good shopping including Costco and Beaver Creek commons.
- Neighborhoods with community pools and activities.
Cary or Apex?
Many of my clients call me about Cary and then ask, what about Apex? Apex is a separate little town in Wake County (the town part is little but the area of Apex is 15 sq miles and that’s pretty big.) There are around 45,000 people living in the town. As a result of available land for development and the number of building permits to be issued, the town planning department figures there will be approximately 60,000 residents when the town is built out.
I think of the dividing line between Cary and Apex to be just above HWY 64, a 4 lane road leading to RT. 1 North to Raleigh and South to parts of Apex and Holly Springs. The transition between Cary and Apex isn’t clear. Apex looks just like Cary until you cross hwy 64 and then Apex looks more rural. It won’t be for long. The pastures and fields are filled with survey stakes.
How is Apex different from Cary?
It’s not that different. Both have small downtowns. Really just one street. The Town of Apex is more charming (just my opinion) with a few restaurants, shops, sidewalk cafes etc. Cary’s downtown isn’t really a destination. The charm of Cary is in the wide manicured parkways, parks and greenways, and newness.
Apex seems more rural
Apex is where Cary was around 15 years ago on a smaller scale. In 2000 there were around 100,000 people living in Cary and now there are 150,000. Cary is basically built out and the few new developments are expensive. Supply and demand.
Parts of Cary looked rural a few years ago just like Apex now. You would be surprised if I showed you where just last year there were donkeys on a farm right in the middle of new neighborhoods in Cary. The donkeys are gone now and the site has new custom homes selling in the $700,000 up.
I took this video a couple of weeks ago as I was leaving a beautiful new development. That’s what it’s like in Apex. You think you are out in the country but behind all of those trees are new homes.
Schools in Apex
Apex is part of the Wake County School District, the 15th largest school district in the country. It’s a county wide system so there really isn’t an Apex school district. The schools in the area are good. There is a crossover with Cary and Holly Springs so your address doesn’t mean you will definitely go to a school with Apex in the name. Your school could be located in Holly Springs or Cary. That doesn’t mean a long bus ride. The towns are irregularly shaped and adjacent to each other. Your address may be Apex but your Cary school could be 2 blocks away.
Here is a quick comparison of elementary schools basically in Apex. You can find lots of detailed school information on this site.
Apex Friendship High School, Middle School and new Elementary School
Check the Wake County Public Schools web site for Capped Schools
My web page explaining capped schools
Apex Friendship High School:
- Address: 7801 Humie Olive Road, Apex, North Carolina, 27502, United States.
- Established in 2015.
- Principal: Brian Pittman.
- Grades: 9–12.
- Enrollment: 2,742 students.
- Mascot: Patriots.
- The school was established for ninth and tenth graders only during the 2015–2016 school year. Eleventh graders were added in the 2016–2017 school year and twelfth graders were added in the following year
- Apex Friendship High School is rated an A by NC Public Schools Report Card
Apex Friendship Middle School:
- Address: 7701 Humie Olive Road, Apex, NC 27502
- Public school for grades 6-8.
- Enrollment: 1,347 students.
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1.
- Apex Friendship Middle School is rated a B by NC Public Schools
Apex Friendship Elementary School:
- Address: 7901 Humie Olive Road, Apex, NC 27502.
- Principal: Jeffrey Williams.
- School Hours: 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. (First Bell – 8:35 a.m.).
- The school is new and started its first academic year in the 2022-2023 school year so no rating
New homes and neighborhoods in Apex
Interactive Town Development Map: Explore Apex’s Growth
This is a really good interactive Town development map. It shows what’s under construction, approved planned and proposed.
Inventory Homes vs. Building Options
Many of the builders start with a base price and most buyers add 15-20% in lot premiums and upgrades. If you buy an inventory home under construction the upgrades are added into the price. Often there are upgrades in an inventory home that would cost more if you were to build.
Leveraging the Expertise of a Buyer’s Agent for New Construction
Remember, I can represent you with new construction and the builder pays my fee. See my post about why you need a buyers agent for new construction.
Best Established Neighborhoods in Apex
Apex is more affordable than Cary and in some cases the lots are larger. Most of the resale homes are in the $450,000-$650,000 price range I think some of the best neighborhoods in the more established parts of Apex are:
Scotts Mill has a community pool and play area with homes in the 300’s -mid 400’s. Homes built in late 90’s and early 2000’s.
Bella Casa, with 3 pools and homes ranging from the 300’s to somewhere around mid 700’s. (Some homes under construction)
Salem Village has a neighborhood pool with clubhouse and homes from the upper 300’s to 600’s.
The Villages of Apex: A 202-acre mixed-use community offering a small-town feel while also providing retail and commercial spaces, natural spaces, and amazing amenities. The Villages of Apex feature a variety of single-family homes, luxury apartments, urban condos, and townhomes
Many of the homes in the $250,000 to $350 price range have a Apex address but are located in the Holly Springs area. In the areas near Cary there are many homes under $350,000 in adjacent neighborhoods around the Beaver Creek Shopping Center, a very convenient location because it’s near I-50 and a quick trip to RTP and the RDU airport.
Best New Neighborhoods
Where do I start? There are so many new neighborhoods coming out of the ground. Even so, supply hasn’t kept up with demand and I see sold signs lining the new streets even before any homes are built. Builders usually have homes in other neighborhoods to show for presales (that’s when you pick a lot and plan and build). If you want to build be sure and have a buyers agent.
Stillwater I like the lots and amenities in this neighborhood.Beazer Homes$650,000 to $850,000. Custom builders from the 900,000’s
Salem Village Very family oriented. Good value. Homes in the $600,000’s to $900,000’s. There is a railroad track that passes through Apex adjacent to the neighborhood.
Kildare Crossing has a Cary address. I’m including in Apex because it could just as possibly have an Apex address. Homes in this neighborhood are from the mid 500’s to mid 600’s. Excellent design center.
Siena at Bella Casa
Quite a bit included. Nice lots. You can see the neighborhood in my video above. upper 500’s to 600’s
Parkside Bella Casa
Huge neighborhood that is completely built out. There are three pools for Parkside and Siena at Bella Casa. Bella Casa is right down the street from Apex Friendship High School and Apex Middle School and Elementary School.
McKenzie Ridge
This neighborhood is located in western Apex. It offers a variety of floor plans, with homes ranging from 1,998 to 5,000 sq. ft. and prices ranging from $327,890 to $662,531. The lots sizes range from .19 to .44 acres. Amenities in the area include proximity to schools, mature trees, natural gas, and a walking trail. Local amenities convenient to McKenzie Ridge include Apex Nature Park, Kelly Road Park, Jordan Lake, downtown Apex, and more. It has easy access to I-540, Hwy 64, 55, 751, Research Triangle Park, RDU airport, and others
Stillwater
This neighborhood in Apex mostly features large homes that are competitively priced, and it’s great for buyers seeking new-construction homes. The current prices range from $605,000 to $1,250,000, with a median sale price of $902,064. The homes have 3 to 6 bedrooms and 3 to 6 bathrooms, and their sizes range from 3000 to 5080 sq. ft. The homes were built between 2017 and 2022
Right next to Bella Casa is the Apex Nature Park and the Apex Sports Park.
Madison Great builder. All inclusive and custom. Small neighborhood just starting.
By Marianne Howell Wright
Broker/Owner
Triangle Area Real Estate
NC Firm C8533
919-274-4365
