Cary broker says Triangle market splits above $700,000

The Triangle housing market is balanced overall, but Cary broker Yoana Nin says buyers above $700,000 are still arriving with cash, often from higher-cost states. Her agency also sees sellers changing how they choose representation, relying more on online research than referrals.

Why it matters: - The Triangle market may look calmer on the surface, but demand is still strong in the upper price tiers. - Cash-heavy relocation buyers can keep pressure on homes in Cary, Apex and West Raleigh even as inventory rises elsewhere. - Sellers are also changing behavior, which can reshape how local agents win business.

What happened: - The Triangle housing market has more homes for sale than at any point since 2020. - Median prices are holding near $425,000, based on local MLS reports. - Yoana Nin, broker-in-charge of The Prosperous Agency in Cary, says the market above $700,000 is still drawing buyers with cash. - Nin said those buyers are often relocating from California, New Jersey and New York. - Nin said the firm has seen that pattern in recent Triangle transactions. - The Prosperous Agency serves Raleigh, Cary, Apex and the greater Triangle.

The details: - Nin said upper-tier buyers are not casually browsing. - Those buyers often arrive after selling homes in higher-cost markets. - Many close without financing. - The National Association of Realtors named Raleigh one of 10 housing hot spots in the country, citing income and job growth. - Local brokers have described the market as split in two. - Desirable neighborhoods still attract multiple offers. - Some other homes are sitting longer on the market. - Nin said one recent listing client did not ask friends or neighbors for an agent recommendation. - That seller searched online, reviewed agents in Cary and then made a call. - Nin said that behavior reflects a new kind of referral, driven by public research. - The Prosperous Agency handles buyers and sellers from starter homes to properties above $1 million. - The firm focuses on relocation, new construction and residential real estate. - The team serves clients in English, Romanian and Hungarian. - The firm lists a 5.0 rating across more than 200 Zillow reviews. - The company website is theprosperousagency.com.

Between the lines: - The Triangle is no longer a single market moving in one direction. - Lower and mid-range segments appear closer to balance, while high-end homes can still behave like a competitive seller’s market. - Relocation from more expensive states may be cushioning demand in Cary and nearby suburbs. - Sellers are also becoming more selective about representation, which raises the value of visible expertise and online reputation.

What's next: - If relocation demand stays strong, the upper end of the Triangle market could remain more competitive than the broader region. - Agents serving move-up and out-of-state buyers may keep seeing faster decisions, more cash offers and less price sensitivity. - Sellers are likely to keep comparing agents publicly before choosing representation.

The bottom line: - The Triangle may be balanced overall, but above $700,000, cash buyers from out of state are still driving the market.