North Hills sits at the intersection of Six Forks Road and Lassiter Mill Road, approximately 6 miles north of downtown Raleigh. This mixed-use urban village combines walkable retail with diverse housing options, ranking consistently among Wake County's most active real estate markets.
The original North Hills Shopping Center opened in the 1960s as Raleigh's first enclosed regional mall. Located at Six Forks and Lassiter Mill Roads—then surrounded by undeveloped land—the shopping center served as Wake County's premier retail destination for four decades.
In 2005, Kane Realty Corporation, led by developers John Kane and Henry Kaestner, launched a $200 million redevelopment. The project demolished portions of the aging mall structure, replacing them with:
The redeveloped North Hills opened in phases between 2007-2009, establishing Raleigh's first true "live-work-play" urban village outside downtown.
Kane Realty continues developing adjacent parcels. Recent additions include The Park at North Hills (2018), expanded office towers along St. Albans Drive, and infill residential projects in surrounding neighborhoods like Bedford at North Hills.
Market insight: Condo inventory averages 8-12 active listings; median DOM is 14 days.
Current market dynamics: Single-family homes average 15 days on market; 68% of listings receive multiple offers. Teardown lots (older homes on desirable parcels) sell for $425,000-$575,000, with buyers immediately rebuilding.
St. Albans (West) Tree-lined streets, predominantly 1950s-60s brick ranches, strong neighborhood association. Annual Fourth of July parade on St. Albans Drive.
Anderson Heights (East) Walking distance to North Hills shopping via pedestrian paths off Glenwood Avenue. Mix of townhomes and renovated mid-century homes.
North Hills Park (Northeast) Centered around North Hills Park (city park with playground, tennis courts, basketball court at 3921 Lassiter Mill Rd). Family-oriented, 1960s-70s construction.
Nine North (North) New construction townhome community developed 2018-2022. Modern architecture, age-restricted sections (55+).
Drewry Hills (East, via Drewry Ln) Quiet streets, mature tree canopy, strong sense of community. Drewry Hills Neighborhood Association hosts annual spring yard sale.
Country Club Villas (West, adjacent to Raleigh Country Club) Luxury custom homes, golf course access, gated sections. Premium pricing: $1.2M-$3.5M.
Ramblewood (West, off Six Forks Rd) Townhome and apartment community, younger demographic, convenient to I-440 access.
Chestnut Hills (Northwest) Established 1970s neighborhood, brick homes, cul-de-sac streets, proximity to both North Hills and Crabtree Valley Mall.
Farrior Hills (West) Spacious lots (0.4-0.6 acres), traditional two-story homes, popular with families upgrading from smaller homes.
Woods of St Albans (Northwest) Contemporary and traditional mix, homeowners association maintains common areas, annual neighborhood social events.
3815 Spring Forest Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609
5801 Harps Mill Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615
1625 Creekside Dr, Raleigh, NC 27609
723 St. Mary's St, Raleigh, NC 27605
Buyer tip: Wake County uses a choice system allowing families to apply to schools outside their base assignment. Popular magnets require early application (typically October-November for following school year).
4523 Six Forks Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609
2718 Overbrook Dr, Raleigh, NC 27608
7005 Lead Mine Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615
7409 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615
2727 S Raleigh Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27610
1000 E Millbrook Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609
401 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27612
6029 Six Forks Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609
8210 Creedmoor Rd, Raleigh, NC 27613
Coquette (4351 The Circle at North Hills St, Suite 101) French brasserie, oyster bar, prix-fixe menus, wine program. Reservations recommended weekends. Average entree: $32-$48.
Capital City Grille (4521 Six Forks Rd) Steakhouse, dry-aged beef, seafood tower, bourbon selection. Private dining rooms available. Average entree: $38-$62.
Rosewater Kitchen and Bar (4350 Lassiter at North Hills Ave, Suite 140) Southern-inspired, seasonal menus, craft cocktails, Sunday brunch. Average entree: $28-$42.
STIR (4201 The Circle at North Hills St, Suite 109) Contemporary American, craft cocktails, late-night menu, patio seating. Average entree: $24-$36.
Las Ramblas (4351 The Circle at North Hills St, Suite 115) Spanish tapas, paella (order 24 hours ahead), sangria, flamenco music Thursday-Saturday. Tapas: $8-$16.
Vivace (4209 Lassiter Mill Rd, Suite 100) Italian trattoria, house-made pasta, Neapolitan pizza, Italian wine list. Average entree: $18-$32.
CO (4421 Six Forks Rd, Suite 100) Australian-inspired brunch and dinner, weekend brunch wait times 30-45 minutes. Brunch: $14-$22.
Bartaco (4351 The Circle at North Hills St, Suite 141) Upscale tacos, beach-casual atmosphere, outdoor seating, no reservations. Tacos: $4-$6 each.
Yard House (4140 Main at North Hills St) 140+ beers on tap, American menu, large groups welcome, sports viewing. Average entree: $16-$28.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill (4350 Lassiter at North Hills Ave, Suite 100) Wood-fired steaks and seafood, gluten-free menu, happy hour 4-7pm daily. Average entree: $20-$34.
The BBQ Lab (4350 Lassiter at North Hills Ave, Suite 125) North Carolina-style barbecue, local beer selection, outdoor seating. Plates: $11-$18.
Another Broken Egg (4421 Six Forks Rd, Suite 106) Breakfast and brunch specialist, weekday 7am opening, weekend brunch lines 9-11am. Brunch: $12-$18.
Chuy's (4351 The Circle at North Hills St, Suite 125) Tex-Mex, complimentary salsa bar, family-friendly, happy hour. Entrees: $10-$16.
Giorgio's Pizza (4209 Lassiter Mill Rd) New York-style pizza by the slice, late hours (11pm weeknights, 2am weekends), delivery. Slices: $4-$6.
Cow Bar (4209 Lassiter Mill Rd, Suite 105) Burgers, craft shakes, ice cream, outdoor counter service. Burgers: $9-$14.
Sola Coffee Cafe (4350 Lassiter at North Hills Ave, Suite 135) Locally roasted, pour-over options, pastries, outdoor seating, opens 6:30am weekdays.
Insomnia Cookies (4209 Lassiter Mill Rd) Late-night bakery, delivers until 3am, warm cookies, ice cream sandwiches.
Local tip: Parking fills quickly 7-9pm Thursday-Saturday. Use the Renaissance garage (free 2 hours with validation) or park on side streets (St. Albans Drive, Industrial Drive).
Shopping districts:
Studio Movie Grill (4140 Main at North Hills St, Suite 1410) Dine-in theater, reclining seats, full menu and bar service, advance reservations recommended for new releases.
Babylon Lounge (4341 The Circle at North Hills St, Suite 100) Upscale nightclub, DJ nights Thursday-Saturday, dress code enforced, cover charge $10-$20.
Foundation (4350 Lassiter at North Hills Ave) Cocktail bar, craft spirits, small plates, quieter atmosphere for conversations.
Ale House (Multiple locations, nearest at 4350 Lassiter at North Hills Ave) Sports bar, local craft beer, trivia nights Wednesdays.
Several restaurants (Las Ramblas, STIR, Rosewater) feature live music Thursday-Saturday evenings, typically 7-10pm. No cover charge.
Center of Main at North Hills St
1.5 acres
Open lawn, stage area, fountains, seating walls, mature trees
3921 Lassiter Mill Rd
6.2 acres
Hours: Dawn-dusk daily
4524 Club Dr
Residents in designated neighborhoods (Bedford, St. Albans sections)
Olympic pool, baby pool, tennis courts, clubhouse
Local running group: North Hills Running Crew meets Tuesdays 6pm at Midtown Park (free, all paces welcome).
Thursday evenings, June-August, 6:30-8:30pm
Midtown Park
Free beach music concerts, food trucks, BYOC (bring your own chair), beer/wine available for purchase, typical attendance 800-1,200
Saturdays, 8am-12pm, May-October
Parking lot off The Circle at North Hills St
25-30 local farms, baked goods, artisan crafts, flowers
First Friday of December, 6-8pm
Midtown Park
Bi-annually (spring and fall), typically March and October
Select Sundays, 12-4pm, check North Hills social media
Various parking areas
DestinationDistanceTime (Off-Peak)Time (Peak)RouteDowntown Raleigh6.2 miles12-15 min20-28 minSix Forks Rd to Wade Ave to DowntownRDU Airport14.8 miles18-22 min25-32 minI-440 W to I-40 W to Airport BlvdResearch Triangle Park22.4 miles26-32 min38-48 minI-440 W to I-40 W to RTP exitsDowntown Durham18.6 miles22-28 min32-42 minI-440 E to US-70 E to NC-147 NCary/SAS Campus19.2 miles24-30 min35-45 minI-440 W to I-40 W to Cary exitsNorth Carolina State University7.8 miles14-18 min22-30 minHillsborough St routeDuke University20.1 miles25-32 min36-48 minVia NC-147UNC-Chapel Hill32.6 miles35-42 min50-65 minI-40 W to US-15/501
Peak traffic times: Weekdays 7:30-9am (inbound), 4:30-6:30pm (outbound). Six Forks Road at I-440 experiences heaviest congestion.
Real-time traffic tools: Google Maps, Waze, NCDOT 511 traveler information
GoRaleigh Bus Routes Serving North Hills:
Route 6 - Glenwood Avenue
Route 25 - Falls of Neuse
GoRaleigh fare: $1.25/ride, $2.50 day pass, free transfers within 2 hours
Rideshare/Taxi: Uber and Lyft readily available; typical wait time 3-7 minutes during business hours. Average fare to RDU Airport: $25-$35.
Address: 3400 Wake Forest Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609
Distance: 3.6 miles (8-minute drive)
Services: Full-service hospital, 24/7 ER, trauma center, cardiology, orthopedics, cancer center
Parking: Visitor garage, valet available
Address: 10000 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh, NC 27614
Distance: 6.8 miles (12-minute drive)
Services: Emergency department, imaging, surgery center, women's health
Address: 4420 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607
Distance: 5.2 miles (11-minute drive)
Services: Comprehensive hospital, heart & vascular center, cancer center, birthing center
Address: 4350 Lassiter at North Hills Ave, Suite 200
Distance: On-site (within North Hills)
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5pm
Services: Minor injuries, illness, X-ray, lab work, no appointment needed
Address: 8320 Bandford Way, Raleigh, NC 27615
Distance: 3.2 miles
Hours: 8am-8pm daily
The Park at North Hills Medical Plaza (4350 Lassiter at North Hills Ave)
Tenants include: dermatology, primary care, physical therapy, dental, optometry
Address: 2101 Lassiter Mill Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609
Distance: 0.8 miles
Response time: Average 4-6 minutes to North Hills addresses
Services: Fire suppression, EMS, hazmat response
Address: 700 Beacon Lake Dr, Raleigh, NC 27610
Jurisdiction: Covers North Hills area
Non-emergency: (919) 996-3335
Emergency: 911
North Hills and surrounding neighborhoods report crime rates 18-24% below the Raleigh city average (per 2025 RPD data).
Property crime (larceny, vehicle break-ins):
Violent crime (assault, robbery):
Overall assessment: North Hills is a safe, family-friendly area with active community engagement and responsive public safety services.
Seller's market (but moderating from 2023-2024 peak)
18-24 active listings (up from 8-12 in 2024)
68% of listings receive multiple offers (down from 82% in 2024)
Condominiums:
Townhomes:
Single-Family Homes:
Teardown Lots:
YearMedian PriceYOY Change2022$495,000+12.4%2023$535,000+8.1%2024$550,000+2.8%2025$562,000+2.2%2026$575,000+2.3% (projected)
Appreciation drivers:
Condos/apartments:
Townhomes:
Single-family homes:
Rental yield: 4.2-5.8% gross (competitive for Raleigh market)
Vacancy rates: 3-5% (low; high demand from relocating professionals, NC State graduate students)
Primary buyers (2025 data):
Age demographics:
North Hills is unique among Raleigh neighborhoods for active teardown/rebuild activity. Older homes (1950s-1970s construction) on prime lots sell to buyers who demolish and build custom estates.
Typical teardown scenario:
Curtis Custom Homes
Trinity Custom Homes
Allure Homes, Herring Homes, Homes By Dickerson, Thorne Construction, MBM Builders, JR Huntley Homes, Waters Construction, Mangrum Building, Raleigh Custom Homes, Custom Estate Homes, Dougher Construction Company, Homestead Building Company, Marlowe Builders, AR Homes Monterey Bay, Arthur Rutenberg Homes, Homescapes Builders, DJF Builders, Southern Heritage Residential, Dixon/Kirby & Company, Medallion Construction, Tuscany Construction Group, L and L of Raleigh, Duncan Ray, Revolution Homes, Legacy Custom Homes, JW2 Building Co, Aiken Construction, Midtown Custom Homes, Concept 8, Crane Building, Cambridge Classic Homes, Bluestone Builders
Lot availability: 2-5 teardown lots typically available at any given time (check with local agent for current inventory).
4105 Main at North Hills St, Raleigh, NC 27609
4-star (Marriott brand)
132
$169-$289/night (varies by season)
Guest reviews highlight: Modern design, walkability to restaurants, free parking (rare for urban hotels)
4100 Main at North Hills St, Raleigh, NC 27609
4-star (Marriott brand)
225
$179-$319/night
Guest reviews highlight: Family-friendly, connected to shopping via skybridge, excellent business amenities
Booking tip: Both hotels offer Marriott Bonvoy points. Book directly for best rates and member perks.
Best rental property types:
Rental demand drivers:
HOA short-term rental policies: Many North Hills condo associations restrict short-term rentals (<30 days). Verify rules before purchasing for Airbnb/VRBO use.
1. Walkability (mentioned by 78% of residents)
"I can walk to dinner, groceries, movies without getting in my car. It's rare in Raleigh." - Sarah J., Midtown Tower resident (4 years)
2. Central location (72%)
"Twenty minutes to RTP, fifteen to RDU, ten to downtown. Everything in the Triangle is accessible." - Marcus T., St. Albans homeowner (8 years)
3. Dining variety (68%)
"Forty restaurants within walking distance. Date night doesn't require driving to another part of the city." - Jennifer K., Anderson Heights resident (6 years)
4. Community events (61%)
"The summer concert series is incredible. We bring chairs, the kids run around, neighbors catch up. It's authentic community." - David R., Drewry Hills homeowner (12 years)
5. Schools (59%)
"Douglas Elementary and Broughton High have strong academics and programs. That's why we moved here." - Angela M., North Hills Park resident (3 years)
Traffic/parking (mentioned by 42%) Six Forks Road congestion during rush hour; weekend parking in shopping district can be tight (arrive before 11am or after 2pm for easiest parking).
Cost of living (38%) Home prices and property taxes higher than outer Raleigh suburbs; HOA fees for condos average $350-$550/month.
Noise (22%) Residents in condos facing Main Street note weekend nightlife noise (especially near bars/restaurants); units facing away from main district are quieter.
"North Hills appeals to buyers seeking urban convenience without sacrificing space or schools. It's Raleigh's most successful mixed-use development because Kane Realty created a true neighborhood, not just a shopping center.
Who thrives here:
Who might look elsewhere:
Investment outlook: North Hills has limited inventory (landlocked, fully developed). Demand consistently exceeds supply. I expect 3-5% annual appreciation next 5 years, outpacing Raleigh average (2.5-4%)."
Choose North Hills if you want:
Consider other neighborhoods if you want:
Phone:
Email:
Website:
Office: Jim Allen Group at Coldwell Banker HPW
Free resources:
The median home price is $575,000 (Q1 2026), ranging from $385,000 for condos to $2.8M for luxury custom homes. Townhomes average $565,000; single-family homes average $775,000.
Average days on market: 12-18 days. 68% of listings receive multiple offers. Well-priced homes often sell within one week of listing.
Yes. Teardown lots (older homes on desirable parcels) sell for $425,000-$575,000. Buyers demolish and build custom estates ($850K-$2.2M construction cost). 30+ custom builders active in area.
Condo HOA fees range $350-$550/month, typically covering: exterior maintenance, amenities (pool, fitness center), water/sewer, trash, insurance, reserves.
Policies vary by HOA. Many condo associations restrict rentals <30 days. Verify rules before purchasing for short-term rental use.
Public: Douglas Elementary, Daniels Middle, Broughton High (all rated 7-9/10 on GreatSchools). Private: St. Timothy's School, Our Lady of Lourdes. Charter: Endeavor Charter School, Longleaf School of the Arts.
Yes. Walk Score: 78 (Very Walkable). Residents can walk to 40+ restaurants, 60+ shops, parks, entertainment within 0.5 miles. Pedestrian-oriented street design with wide sidewalks.
14.8 miles, 18-22 minutes off-peak (25-32 minutes during rush hour). Route: I-440 W to I-40 W to Airport Blvd.
Free summer concert series, Thursday evenings June-August, 6:30-8:30pm at Midtown Park. Features beach music, food trucks, beer/wine sales. Draws 800-1,200 attendees weekly.
Yes. Crime rates 18-24% below Raleigh average. Property crime (mainly vehicle break-ins) is most common. Violent crime is rare. Raleigh Police patrol regularly; private security active in shopping district.
22.4 miles, 26-32 minutes off-peak (38-48 minutes rush hour). Route: I-440 W to I-40 W to RTP exits.
Yes. Midtown Park (1.5 acres, event space, hosts concerts). North Hills Park (6.2 acres, playground, tennis/basketball courts, walking trail). Bike paths connect to Crabtree Creek Greenway.
Wake County property tax rate: $0.7220 per $100 assessed value (2025-26). For a $575,000 home: approximately $4,152/year. Additional special assessments may apply.
Yes. GoRaleigh Route 6 (Glenwood Avenue) serves North Hills with 30-minute frequency weekdays, connecting to downtown Raleigh Transit Center. Fare: $1.25/ride.
Harris Teeter (1.2 miles, Lassiter Mill Rd), Whole Foods (1.8 miles, Wade Ave), Trader Joe's (2.4 miles, Glenwood Ave), Wegmans (4.2 miles, Wake Forest Rd).
Varies by property. Condos have mandatory HOAs. Single-family homes in some sub-neighborhoods (Bedford, North Hills Club areas) have HOAs; others (St. Albans, Drewry Hills) have voluntary neighborhood associations.
1BR: $1,650-$2,200/month; 2BR: $2,100-$3,200/month; 3BR: $2,800-$4,500/month (condos/townhomes). Single-family homes: $3,200-$6,500/month.
Significant infill development (Bedford at North Hills custom homes, Nine North townhomes, The Park at North Hills medical plaza). Median home prices increased 68% (2016: $342,000 to 2026: $575,000). Restaurant/retail mix evolved (more upscale dining, local boutiques).
March 2026
Tim M. Clarke, Realtor | 17+ Years Triangle Experience
Ready to explore North Hills homes? Contact the Tim M. Clarke Team today for personalized neighborhood tours, current listings, and expert guidance. Your Raleigh dream home awaits.
17 years as a Realtor in the Research Triangle, Tim seeks to transform the Raleigh-Durham real estate scene through a progressive, people-centered approach prioritizing trust & transparency.
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