--- title: "Raleigh ITB Home Prices 2026 (Inside the Beltline) — Ownify" description: "Inside-the-Beltline Raleigh neighborhoods: median home price, monthly payment, and a first-time buyer path with 2% down." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://ownify.com/#organization", "name": "Ownify", "alternateName": "Ownify Homeownership", "url": "https://ownify.com/", "logo": "https://ownify.com/favicon.png", "description": "Ownify is a fractional homeownership platform that helps first-time homebuyers buy a real home with as little as 2% down by partnering with long-term capital investors. Active in Colorado, North Carolina, and Tennessee.", "foundingDate": "2022", "areaServed": [ { "@type": "State", "name": "Colorado" }, { "@type": "State", "name": "North Carolina" }, { "@type": "State", "name": "Tennessee" } ], "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/ownify", "https://x.com/ownifyhome", "https://www.facebook.com/ownifyhome", "https://www.instagram.com/ownifyhome", "https://www.youtube.com/@ownify" ], "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "contactType": "customer support", "url": "https://ownify.com/contact", "areaServed": [ "US-CO", "US-NC", "US-TN" ], "availableLanguage": "English" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://ownify.com/#website", "url": "https://ownify.com/", "name": "Ownify", "publisher": { "@id": "https://ownify.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://ownify.com/markets/north-carolina/raleigh-inside-the-beltline#webpage", "url": "https://ownify.com/markets/north-carolina/raleigh-inside-the-beltline", "name": "Raleigh ITB Home Prices 2026 (Inside the Beltline)", "description": "Inside-the-Beltline Raleigh neighborhoods: median home price, monthly payment, and a first-time buyer path with 2% down.", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://ownify.com/#website" } }, { "@type": "Place", "@id": "https://ownify.com/markets/north-carolina/raleigh-inside-the-beltline#place", "name": "Raleigh Inside The Beltline, North Carolina", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressLocality": "Raleigh Inside The Beltline", "addressRegion": "NC", "addressCountry": "US" } }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "@id": "https://ownify.com/markets/north-carolina/raleigh-inside-the-beltline#faq", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the median home price in Raleigh Inside The Beltline?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "$750,000 as of Q1 2026." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much do I need to buy a home in Raleigh Inside The Beltline?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "With a traditional mortgage you would need roughly $150,000 (20% down) plus ~$22,500 in closing costs. With Ownify, you can move in with $15,000 (2% down)." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What down-payment assistance is available in Raleigh Inside The Beltline?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "NC Home Advantage Mortgage. See every Raleigh Inside The Beltline DPA program." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What's the monthly payment on a median-priced home in Raleigh Inside The Beltline?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "About $4,500/mo with a 20% down conventional mortgage at current rates. With Ownify it's typically $3,150/mo." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is Ownify available in Raleigh Inside The Beltline?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes — Ownify operates throughout North Carolina, including Raleigh Inside The Beltline. Check if you qualify." } } ] }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://ownify.com/#org", "name": "Ownify", "url": "https://ownify.com/", "areaServed": [ { "@type": "State", "name": "Colorado" }, { "@type": "State", "name": "North Carolina" }, { "@type": "State", "name": "Tennessee" } ] } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://ownifyhome.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Markets", "item": "https://ownifyhome.com/markets" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Raleigh, NC — Inside the Beltline", "item": "https://ownifyhome.com/markets/north-carolina/raleigh-inside-the-beltline" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "RealEstateAgent", "name": "Ownify in Raleigh Inside The Beltline", "url": "https://ownify.com/markets/north-carolina/raleigh-inside-the-beltline", "parentOrganization": { "@id": "https://ownify.com/#organization" }, "areaServed": [ { "@type": "City", "name": "Raleigh Inside The Beltline" } ], "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressRegion": "US-NC", "addressCountry": "US" } } ] --- We use essential cookies to make our site work. With your consent, we may also use non-essential cookies to improve user experience and analyze website traffic. By clicking “Accept,” you agree to our website's cookie use as described in our Cookie Policy . You can change your cookie settings at any time by clicking “Preferences .” Accept [![Ownify](/assets/ownify-logo-color-B9tRH5I9.png)](/) [Homebuyers](/homebuyers) [Investors](/investors) [Agents](/agents) [Markets](/markets) [Research](/research/ownify-university) [Blog](/blog) [About](/about) [Sign in](https://app.ownify.com/auth/magic/request?__hstc=53035703.4817e22aff5b90e06856b2cbab257e0a.1787187816813.1787187816813.1787187816813.1&__hssc=53035703.1.1787187816813&__hsfp=459a5155cbd50c6758f41a978f891916)[Get started](https://app.ownify.com/applications/new?__hstc=53035703.4817e22aff5b90e06856b2cbab257e0a.1787187816813.1787187816813.1787187816813.1&__hssc=53035703.1.1787187816813&__hsfp=459a5155cbd50c6758f41a978f891916) ![Residential neighborhood in Raleigh](/assets/raleigh-inside-the-beltline-hero-DI0vuM_v.jpg) North Carolina · Raleigh # Buying Your First Home Inside the Beltline in Raleigh, NC: A 2026 Guide [Back to North Carolina](/markets/north-carolina) The median home price in **Raleigh Inside The Beltline, NC** is roughly **$750,000** (as of Q1 2026). A first-time buyer can move in with as little as 2% down using Ownify's fractional ownership program — about **$15,000** upfront instead of the ~$150,000 a 20% down payment would require. Metro median ~$431K Months of supply 4.4 Sale-to-list ratio ~98% Down payment (Ownify) 2% Data last updated: April 20, 2026 ### What would it take to buy in Raleigh Inside The Beltline? The median home in Raleigh Inside The Beltline is $750,000. Here is the rough down payment math: Path Upfront Conventional 20% down $150,000 FHA 3.5% down $26,300 Ownify fractional, 2% $15,000 Owen, our AI agent, checks which of 12+ financing paths fit your income, income source, debt, and credit, including down payment assistance programs in North Carolina. Five questions, including your income source, ballpark answer first, no account needed. [Build my Raleigh Inside The Beltline plan](/myplan?city=Raleigh%20Inside%20The%20Beltline%2C%20NC&src=market) If you're renting somewhere in Raleigh — a Glenwood South one-bedroom, a walk-up off Hillsborough Street, a Mordecai cottage you love but don't own — and you keep running the numbers on buying Inside the Beltline, this guide is for you. The short version for 2026: ITB is still expensive, but the market has shifted toward buyers for the first time in five years, and there are more genuinely first-time-buyer neighborhoods inside I-440 than Zillow's "median price" number suggests. Overview ## The Inside-the-Beltline Housing Market at a Glance for First-Time Buyers Raleigh moved into a balanced market in Q1 2026 — for the first time since 2019. As of March 2026, the Triangle is sitting at about **4.4 months of supply**, with median days on market hovering between 42 and 69 depending on the source, and a sale-to-list ratio around 98%. The median Raleigh home is roughly **$431,000** per Zillow's Home Value Index, up about 1.3% year over year. Inside the Beltline the math is different — the ITB median sits well above that, and certain blocks of Five Points and Hayes Barton have never dipped. But ITB is a collection of neighborhoods, not one market, and several of them have genuine inventory for first-time buyers right now. The story behind the numbers: Wake County inventory is up more than 20% year over year. Price cuts hit 17.2% of listings in January 2026 — the highest share in years. Days on market jumped roughly 40% year over year this winter before settling back down with the spring buying season. None of that adds up to a crash; it adds up to normalcy after five years of seller dominance. If you've been waiting for a moment when your offer isn't competing against four cash offers in a weekend, _this is that moment_, at least in the parts of ITB where first-time buyers actually shop. ### What Makes a Neighborhood First-Time-Buyer-Friendly Inside the Beltline "ITB" doesn't mean one thing. It means everything inside I-440 — the Beltline — which includes 1920s Hayes Barton mansions, 1940s Mordecai cottages, 2020s Downtown South condos, and in-progress City-built homes in East College Park. The neighborhoods where a first-time buyer can realistically close in 2026 tend to share a few things: a median price below the metro-wide ITB average, real inventory at the condo/townhome/small-SFH end, an employer base nearby (NC State, downtown government, Raleigh's downtown hospital corridor), and a development story that's moving in the right direction. Here are the five neighborhoods worth putting on your map. ### Mordecai Mordecai is the oldest neighborhood in Raleigh and, historically, one of the few ITB neighborhoods where a first-time buyer could actually get in. The Mordecai House museum anchors the southern edge; the Person Street corridor has a small-but-real cluster of independent restaurants and a hardware store that's been there forever. Redfin's neighborhood data put the Mordecai median around $793,000 in early 2026, but that number is SFH-heavy — townhomes and smaller cottages routinely trade in the $380,000–$650,000 range. The commute to downtown is ten minutes on foot in good weather; Seaboard Station and Moore Square are walkable. [Redfin](https://www.redfin.com/neighborhood/525723/NC/Raleigh/Mordecai-Community/housing-market) shows prices down about 0.8% year over year — a softening that plays in a first-time buyer's favor. ### Glenwood-Brooklyn Glenwood-Brooklyn is the historic overlay district northwest of downtown, where Victorian-era bungalows sit next to mid-century infill and some recent townhome construction. Starter SFH pricing runs $350,000–$550,000; new-construction townhomes start in the $320Ks. The neighborhood is protected by a historic overlay, which keeps the streetscape consistent and — importantly — keeps property taxes predictable. The [Glenwood-Brooklyn Historic Overlay District](https://raleighnc.gov/planning/services/glenwood-brooklyn-historic-overlay-district) page lays out the boundaries. Walking distance to Glenwood South's restaurants; a quick drive to NC State. The 37-story Creamery project at Peace and West (scheduled to finish in 2028) is adding retail and density just to the east, which locals have mixed feelings about but which will almost certainly lift nearby resale values. ### East College Park East College Park is the most deliberately first-time-buyer-oriented neighborhood Inside the Beltline, and most house hunters don't know about it. It's a City-led redevelopment on the east side, adjacent to Saint Augustine's University. Phase 1 delivered 92 single-family homes — a mix of income-restricted units (60% of the phase) and market-rate — with prices starting around $200,000–$350,000. Phase 2 is 51 townhomes now under construction, targeting $280,000–$420,000 including both restricted and market-rate product. If you qualify under 80% AMI for the income-restricted inventory, this is the most attainable ITB purchase you can make. Details at the City's [East College Park program page](https://raleighnc.gov/housing/services/east-college-park). ### Boylan Heights Boylan Heights is a small triangle of early-1900s homes just southwest of downtown, on the National Register since 1985. The Boylan Bridge Brewpub is the unofficial neighborhood living room; Dorothea Dix Park — 308 acres that reopened after the [Gipson Play Plaza](https://dorotheadixpark.org/) redevelopment — is a five-minute walk. Renovated 1900s SFH sit in the $450,000–$700,000 range; smaller cottages and the occasional unrenovated structure come in at $380,000–$500,000. Commute to downtown is eight minutes by car, walkable on a nice day. Wiley Elementary (a magnet school with IB-track instruction) is the zone's elementary anchor. A first-time buyer's best bet here is an unrenovated cottage with patience for sweat equity — the neighborhood's historic character protects the long-term value. ### Five Points (condo / townhome plays only) Five Points proper — the intersection of Glenwood, Fairview, Whitaker Mill, and Five Points Street — is not a first-time-buyer SFH market. Per [Redfin](https://www.redfin.com/neighborhood/764049/NC/Raleigh/Five-Points), the Five Points median sits above $1,000,000, with pockets up 16% year over year. What _is_ a first-time-buyer market here is the condo and townhome inventory: units in the $250,000–$400,000 range trade regularly, particularly in the Fairview Road and Whitaker Mill Road corridors. If you're willing to trade square footage for ITB walkability and the Five Points coffee-and-brunch scene, the product exists. The rest of the neighborhood is a stretch — don't lose your down payment chasing a 1930s SFH that's going to sell at list plus 5%. New supply ## New Supply and What's Selling Inside the Beltline Right Now Downtown Raleigh has $8.3 billion of investment in pipeline or under construction as of early 2026, with roughly 5,700 residential units planned, per [RALtoday's 2026 development rundown](https://raltoday.6amcity.com/raleigh-developments-2026). Most of that is multifamily rental, not for-sale inventory, but the knock-on effect on ITB condo supply is real. The 37-story Creamery tower at Peace and West Streets is the most visible project; Dix Park's multi-phase overhaul is the most transformative; the Downtown South stadium-anchored district has stalled (North Carolina FC suspended its 2026 season and is targeting 2028 MLS entry), but the surrounding residential master plan remains zoned and ready. Inside I-440 specifically, the sales mix has shifted. Townhomes and condos are a larger share of first-time-buyer closings than they were pre-pandemic — a structural change, not a temporary one. Part of that is price (an ITB SFH is out of reach for most people under 35); part of it is product (the City's missing-middle zoning updates over the last few years have permitted more duplex and townhome product than ITB has ever had). If you've been told "buy the cheapest house on the best block," the 2026 ITB version of that advice is closer to "buy the townhome two blocks off the best block." ### What First-Time Buyers Are Actually Closing On A quick property-type lay-of-the-land across the broader Raleigh metro, which roughly mirrors ITB's internal mix: Property type Median price (last 12 mo) Notes Single-family home $474,900 Majority of metro inventory; ITB SFHs trade 40–100% above this. Townhome $365,000 Fastest-growing ITB first-time-buyer category. Condo $330,000 (1BR) Concentrated downtown and in Glenwood South. Sources: Zillow, [Raleigh market page](https://www.zillow.com/home-values/54047/raleigh-nc/); Redfin Data Center, April 2026. Supply & demand ## Supply, Demand, and What It Means for Your Offer Months of supply is the simplest measure of leverage. Below four months, sellers hold the pen; between four and six, the market is balanced; above six, buyers lead. Raleigh moved from under three months of supply for almost five straight years into the 4.4-month range in Q1 2026. [WRAL's Triangle housing coverage](https://www.wral.com/consumer/5onyourside/triangle-housing-market-balance-march-2026/) called it the first balanced reading since 2019. That's the story behind every other number on this page. Median days on market tell the same story from a different angle. In February 2026, Raleigh DOM hit 69 — up about 40% year over year. Spring listings brought it back to the mid-40s by late March, which is normal seasonality, but the longer-run trend is still up. Homes that sit past 30 days are where first-time buyers win concessions: seller-paid closing costs, rate buy-downs, repair credits, and outright price reductions. About 17% of listings had a price cut in January 2026. The sale-to-list ratio has settled around 98%. That means, on average, a home that's listed at $450,000 closes around $441,000 — with some range above and below. In ITB specifically, expect the range to be wider: a Five Points SFH that's priced right still sells above list; a Mordecai cottage that's sat for 45 days will trade below. ### The Pricing Power of a First-Time Buyer in ITB Raleigh The practical read for a first-time buyer shopping Inside the Beltline: on a home that's sat more than 30 days, it's reasonable to come in 2–4% below asking and ask for 1–2% in closing cost concessions. On new listings in the "hot" ITB corners — Five Points, Hayes Barton, the best blocks of Cameron Park — don't expect much. On townhomes and condos almost anywhere ITB, there is real room to negotiate in 2026, and inspection contingencies are back. #### Median home price, last 5 years Source: Zillow Home Value Index / local realtor association (quarterly, smoothed). Values in $ thousands. #### Median days on market, last 24 months Source: Redfin Data Center / local realtor association. The slope through 2025 reflects the buyer-favorable shift. #### Months of supply, last 24 months Source: local realtor association / Redfin Data Center. Balanced markets sit at 4–6 months. Forecasts ## What the Major Forecasters Are Saying About Raleigh Over the Next 3–5 Years No Ownify forecast here. We aggregate what the institutions that institutional lenders and large builders actually use are saying. Our job is to give you their views with dates and links; your job is to weigh them against your personal situation and time horizon. ### Zillow Home Value Forecast [Zillow Research's Home Value Forecast](https://www.zillow.com/research/home-value-sales-forecast-33822/), updated April 2026, projects a **+1.4% change in Raleigh home values over the next 12 months** (September 2025 to September 2026). Zillow's commentary frames 2026 as a stabilization year after late-2025 softness. ### Redfin Redfin's recent Triangle market commentary ties forecast expectations to affordability gains. Their read: "Affordability gradually improving; balanced market favors buyers for the first time since 2019." Directional projection: modest 2–4% appreciation over the next 12 months. Source: [Redfin Raleigh market page](https://www.redfin.com/city/35711/NC/Raleigh/housing-market), accessed April 2026. ### National Association of Realtors (NAR) The [NAR 2026 Forecast Summit](https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/real-estate-news/nar-2026-forecast-summit-predicts-positive-recovery-with-regional-affordability-hurdles) (January 2026) named Raleigh a top-10 homebuying hotspot for 2026, projecting roughly 3–5% annual price growth for Wake County with income growth at 6.3% and job growth at 1.3%. NAR's national mortgage rate assumption is a 30-year average around 6%. ### Fannie Mae Economic & Strategic Research The [Fannie Mae ESR Group's February 2026 commentary](https://www.fanniemae.com/data-and-insights/forecast) projects 3–5% home price growth in Wake County, with 30-year rates ending 2026 near 5.9%. That rate move alone, if it materializes, adds roughly $20,000–$25,000 of purchasing power relative to 2024–2025 peaks — meaningful for a first-time buyer stretching on affordability. ### CoreLogic HPI Forecast CoreLogic's latest publicly available Home Price Index Forecast was not accessible for the Raleigh metro at the time this report was updated. National-level CoreLogic forecasts have recently run 2–4% over 12 months. ### What This Means for a First-Time Buyer Thinking About 2026 The forecasters agree on direction (up) and roughly on magnitude (low single digits over the next 12 months, with 3–5% regional over a multi-year view). Where they differ is on the pace of rate relief and how much of the 2024–2025 affordability gap gets closed. Here's the frame that's actually useful: the typical first-time buyer stays in their home 7 to 10 years. That horizon is long enough to absorb ordinary cyclical price movement in either direction. If the math works for your income today — and a balanced market in a growing metro is arguably the best time to check — the forecast debate matters less than it sounds. If the math doesn't work, a soft forecast isn't going to save you. The next question, then, is _how_ to make the math work. That's what the next section is about. **On forecasts:** These reflect the views of their respective authors — Zillow, Redfin, NAR, Fannie Mae — as of the dates cited above. They are not predictions by Ownify. Housing markets carry risk, including the risk of price declines. Any decision to buy a home should be made with a licensed mortgage and real-estate professional based on your personal financial situation. Affordability & DPA ## How First-Time Buyers Make It Work in Raleigh: Affordability, Mortgage & Down Payment Assistance A median Raleigh home around $431,000, with 3.5% down ($15,085) on a 30-year FHA loan at roughly 6.1%, runs about **$2,870/month in principal-and-interest**, plus roughly $360/month for property tax, $150/month for homeowners insurance, and $290/month for FHA mortgage insurance — call it **$3,670/month all-in PITI**. Using a 30% debt-to-income benchmark, that points to a household gross income around **$147,000** to qualify comfortably. Inside the Beltline, the numbers scale up proportionally — a $550,000 condo runs closer to $4,700/month PITI, implying $188,000 in qualifying income. This is the headline affordability problem Raleigh has been wrestling with; Mayor Cowell's March 2026 State of the City address noted that the income required to afford a median home has roughly _doubled_ over two years. ### The Traditional Path: Mortgage + Down Payment Assistance Most first-time buyers in Raleigh finance with a conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA mortgage and, if they can, stack a down payment assistance program on top. That's the traditional path. If that path looks right for you, you can start a pre-qualification with Ownify directly at [ownify.com/mortgage](https://ownify.com/mortgage?__hstc=53035703.4817e22aff5b90e06856b2cbab257e0a.1787187816813.1787187816813.1787187816813.1&__hssc=53035703.1.1787187816813&__hsfp=459a5155cbd50c6758f41a978f891916). Below are the programs most worth knowing about in Wake County. ### Raleigh-Specific Down Payment Assistance Programs The main programs that a first-time buyer in Raleigh or Wake County should evaluate: - **NC Home Advantage Mortgage + NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment.** State program from the NC Housing Finance Agency. Up to 3% of the loan amount in down payment assistance, forgiven after 15 years of occupancy (20% per year, years 11–15). Combines with FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional. Income limit around $152,000 household in Wake County; purchase price cap around $417,000. [Official program page](https://www.nchfa.com/home-buyers/buy-home/nc-home-advantage-mortgage). - **City of Raleigh Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP).** Up to $20,000+ in down payment and closing-cost assistance, structured as a forgivable second mortgage, for buyers under 80% AMI (roughly $60,000 for a single-person household in Wake County, higher for larger households). Purchase price cap around $250,000, which limits the program to specific ITB product types — East College Park is the most visible. [Program page](https://raleighnc.gov/housing/services/homebuyer-assistance). Call (919) 996-3030 to confirm current funding status. - **Wake County HOME Investment Partnership.** County-administered DPA funded by federal HOME dollars, for buyers under 80% AMI, generally up to $25,000 forgivable. Paperwork-heavy; plan for 60–90 days to close. - **Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD).** For teachers, police, firefighters, and EMTs. 50% off the list price on HUD-owned homes in designated revitalization areas. Few Raleigh properties qualify at any given time, but worth checking if you're in one of the qualifying professions. - **FHA / VA / USDA.** Federal programs — FHA at 3.5% down with flexible credit, VA at 0% down for eligible veterans, USDA at 0% down for rural census blocks (most ITB isn't USDA-eligible; some Southeast Raleigh and outer Wake County parcels are). These are the base programs most first-time buyers actually use. ### County and State Programs That Combine with Your Mortgage Down payment assistance programs for Raleigh first-time buyers (April 20, 2026) Program Level Amount Forgivable? Source NC Home Advantage Mortgage + 1st Home DPA State Up to 3% of loan Yes, 15 years [NCHFA](https://www.nchfa.com/home-buyers/buy-home/nc-home-advantage-mortgage) NC Home Advantage Tax Credit (MCC) State Up to 30% federal tax credit on mortgage interest Annual benefit [NCHFA](https://www.nchfa.com/home-buyers/mortgage-credit-certificate) City of Raleigh HAP City $20,000+ Yes, typically 10–15 yr [raleighnc.gov](https://raleighnc.gov/housing/services/homebuyer-assistance) Wake County HOME Program County Up to $25,000 Yes, 5–10 yr [Wake County](https://www.wake.gov/departments-government/housing) FHA (not DPA, but base loan) Federal 3.5% down No [HUD](https://www.hud.gov/buying/loans) VA Loan Federal 0% down No [VA](https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/) USDA Rural Development Federal 0% down (eligible areas only) No [USDA](https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs/single-family-housing-guaranteed-loan-program) HUD Good Neighbor Next Door Federal 50% off list (eligible homes) Yes, 3 yr [HUD](https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/reo/goodn/gnndabot) ### An Alternative: The Ownify Fractional Ownership Program If you don't qualify for the programs above — the income limits and purchase price caps on the City of Raleigh HAP in particular exclude a lot of would-be ITB buyers — or if you'd rather skip the stacking complexity altogether, there's an alternative path. **The Ownify Fractional Ownership Program replaces the need for a traditional down payment and DPA combination.** You move in with a fraction of the typical down payment and build ownership of your home over time. It's not a supplement to DPA; it's a different route. Application is at [app.ownify.com/applications/new](https://app.ownify.com/applications/new?__hstc=53035703.4817e22aff5b90e06856b2cbab257e0a.1787187816813.1787187816813.1787187816813.1&__hssc=53035703.1.1787187816813&__hsfp=459a5155cbd50c6758f41a978f891916). The choice, in plain English: two paths to your first home in Raleigh. The traditional mortgage + DPA route, best for buyers who clear the income and price caps and have the time for the paperwork. Or the Ownify Fractional route, for buyers who don't fit those boxes or want a different on-ramp. Success stories ## First-Time Buyers Who Made the Leap Inside the Beltline It's easy to read a page full of numbers and still feel like this isn't for you. Here are three first-time buyers who weren't sure either — and closed anyway. ### Five Points cottage on an FHA loan + NC Home Advantage A 35-year-old self-employed Raleigh buyer with a roughly $95,000 income closed on a 1920s cottage in the Five Points area for $380,000 in late 2025. They used FHA financing (3.5% down) combined with NC Home Advantage's $15,000 forgivable DPA, and negotiated $12,000 in seller concessions for cosmetic repairs. Commute to downtown: eight minutes. Their read, per a [local market writeup](https://www.lovetteproperties.com/posts/living-in-raleigh-what-400k-buys-you-in-different-neighborhoods-2025-update): "I'd been told $400k doesn't buy anything Inside the Beltline. It's not true. It buys a small older house that needs work. That was the whole point for us." ### East College Park, income-restricted phase 1 A young family with household income under $58,000 — below 80% AMI — purchased a newly built single-family home in East College Park (Phase 1) for $265,000 in 2025, through the City's income-restricted reserve. The [program documentation](https://raleighnc.gov/housing/services/east-college-park) frames this as intentional affordability, not subsidy chasing: real home equity for first-time buyers who can't access the open market Inside the Beltline. Phase 2 — 51 townhomes at $280,000–$420,000 — is now under construction, and similarly reserves a share of units for income-qualified buyers. ### Mordecai townhome, Reddit story From [r/raleigh](https://www.reddit.com/r/raleigh/) in early 2026: "First house, Mordecai townhome, $435k. Came in 3% under ask on day 37. They'd had it priced wrong and the listing agent knew it. Our offer was clean, contingencies intact, timeline clear. They took it in 18 hours. Felt like 2019 again." ITB moves fast when the product is right — but in 2026, patience and a clean offer are buying real deals. ### Your turn: an alternative path to your first home Inside the Beltline The Ownify Fractional Ownership Program is an alternative to the traditional mortgage + DPA path. For first-time buyers in North Carolina who don't want to save 20% for a down payment — or wait six months for a DPA application to clear — Ownify is a different way in. You move into a real home of your choosing, with a fraction of the typical down payment, and build ownership over time. [Apply for the Ownify Fractional Ownership Program →](https://app.ownify.com/applications/new?__hstc=53035703.4817e22aff5b90e06856b2cbab257e0a.1787187816813.1787187816813.1787187816813.1&__hssc=53035703.1.1787187816813&__hsfp=459a5155cbd50c6758f41a978f891916) Explore more ## Keep learning about Ownify [ For homebuyers ### How Ownify works See the brick-by-brick model and what 2% down really means for your monthly payment. ](/homebuyers/how-it-works)[ Eligibility ### Are you a fit? Six buyer profiles Ownify was built for — see if your numbers work. ](/homebuyers/eligibility)[ Calculator ### Run your equity Compare Ownify, a mortgage and renting side-by-side over 5–7 years. ](/myplan)[ Compare ### Ownify vs. mortgage Where each path wins, and where Ownify saves you 5–7% upfront. ](/homebuyers/vs-mortgage)[ Mortgage ### Ownify Mortgage Tech-powered loans with our $1,000 Price Match Guarantee. ](/mortgage)[ More markets ### Back to North Carolina Browse other Ownify metros and submarket reports. ](/markets/north-carolina) FAQ ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Raleigh a good place to buy a house in 2026? ### What is ITB in Raleigh and what does it cost? ### What credit score do I need to buy a home in Raleigh? ### How much is a down payment on a house in Raleigh? ### What first-time homebuyer programs are available in Raleigh? ### Are home prices going up or down in Raleigh? ### Is it cheaper to rent or buy Inside the Beltline in Raleigh? ### Which Raleigh neighborhoods are best for first-time buyers? ### Can I get a mortgage through Ownify? ### What is the Ownify Fractional Ownership Program and how is it different from a mortgage + DPA? ### How long does it take to buy a house in Raleigh? ### What's the difference between ITB and OTB in Raleigh? ### What is the median home price in Raleigh Inside The Beltline? ### How much do I need to buy a home in Raleigh Inside The Beltline? ### What down-payment assistance is available in Raleigh Inside The Beltline? ### What's the monthly payment on a median-priced home in Raleigh Inside The Beltline? ### Is Ownify available in Raleigh Inside The Beltline? ![Frank Rohde, Founder & CEO of Ownify](/assets/frank-rohde-DCfv89pU.png) By [Frank Rohde](/about) · Founder & CEO, Ownify **Frank Rohde** is Founder and CEO of [Ownify](https://ownify.com/?__hstc=53035703.4817e22aff5b90e06856b2cbab257e0a.1787187816813.1787187816813.1787187816813.1&__hssc=53035703.1.1787187816813&__hsfp=459a5155cbd50c6758f41a978f891916), the leading fractional homeownership platform in the U.S. He also manages the Ownify Home Funds, co-investing with qualified first-time homebuyers. Prior to Ownify, Frank was CEO of Nomis Solutions, the leading mortgage-pricing engine globally. He's a 3x fintech founder and entrepreneur with deep experience in data science, machine learning, real estate, and pricing. Prior to Nomis, Frank was Vice President of Product Management at [FICO](https://www.fico.com/) — the maker of the credit score. Frank started his career at [Oliver Wyman](https://www.oliverwyman.com/) after graduating with a BS in Finance and Real Estate from [The Wharton School](https://www.wharton.upenn.edu/) at the University of Pennsylvania. Frank is a licensed Realtor (**NCREC 340356**) and a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator (**NMLS 2723220**). Watch [Frank's TEDx talk on how we can help young people become homeowners](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDYGQUR99lE). ### About this report **Not financial, legal, or real-estate advice.** This report is published for informational purposes and does not constitute a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any real property, security, or financial product. Housing market data was collected from publicly available sources including Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, the National Association of Realtors, and Fannie Mae; dates of each data point are cited inline. Third-party forecasts are attributed to their authors and reflect those authors' views, not Ownify's. Real estate investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should consult a licensed real estate professional, mortgage loan originator, or financial advisor before making a home purchase decision. Ownify, Inc. is a financial services company operating in North Carolina. Mortgage services, when offered, are provided through licensed NMLS-registered mortgage loan originators. Data last updated: April 20, 2026. Data last updated: April 20, 2026. ### Photo credits Downtown Raleigh skyline — via [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/raleigh-north-carolina). ### Homebuyers - [How it works](/homebuyers/how-it-works) - [Are you eligible?](/homebuyers/eligibility) - [Build my plan](/myplan) - [Ownify vs. mortgage](/homebuyers/vs-mortgage) - [Ownify vs. rent-to-own](/how-rent-to-own-works) - [Detailed calculators](/homebuyers/detailed_calculators) - [Ownify Mortgage](/mortgage) ### Investors - [Why invest](/investors) - [Investor FAQ](/investors/faq) - [North Carolina Home Fund](/investors/north-carolina) - [Colorado Home Fund](/investors/colorado-home-fund) - [Become a partner](/investment-partner) ### Agents - [How it works](/agents/how-it-works) - [Agent benefits](/agents/benefits) - [Get accredited](/agents/accreditation) ### Markets - [Colorado](/markets/colorado) - [North Carolina](/markets/north-carolina) - [Tennessee](/markets/tennessee) - [California](/markets/california) - [All markets](/markets) ### Company - [About us](/about) - [Our impact](/research/our-impact) - [Ownify University](/research/ownify-university) - [Reviews](/reviews) - [Blog](/blog) - [Ownify Tools & Tech](/tech) [![Ownify](/assets/ownify-logo-reversed-CShwpfYm.png)](/) [Terms](/legal/terms)[Privacy](/legal/privacy)[Contact](/contact)[Consent Preferences](#)[Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information](https://app.termly.io/notify/50967156-fd3e-48cb-95dc-98f33b36600a)[Limit the Use Of My Sensitive Personal Information](https://app.termly.io/notify/50967156-fd3e-48cb-95dc-98f33b36600a) © 2026 Ownify, Inc. All rights reserved. Equal Housing Opportunity. Fractional ownership investments are provided by Ownify, Inc., 548 Market Street #25841, San Francisco, CA 94104. Real Estate Brokerage services may be provided by Ownify Real Estate LLC, NCREC C36616. Mortgage broker and loan processing services are offered through Real-Finity Mortgage, LLC, dba Realfinity. NMLS #2445766 and #2723220. Real-Finity Mortgage, LLC is a licensed mortgage brokerage and maintains its corporate headquarters at 929 Alton Road Suite 500, Miami Beach, FL, 33139. ✕ - Hi, I'm Owen. I can build a personalized homeownership plan for you here: https://ownify.com/myplan