Welcome to our first residents of Mulhollem in Clayton, NC
Building a home wasn’t a new experience for Shannon and Paul. However, building a new home near Raleigh while living in another state—more than 200 miles away—was definitely something new for the couple. We’re so glad they chose to build in our newest community. New Home Inc. is so pleased to give a big welcome to our first residents of Mulhollem in Clayton, NC.
The homebuilding process can be daunting to some people. They hear horror stories about delays, upcharges, and structural issues. But Shannon and Paul had a home built in 2004, near St. Louis, so they were comfortable with the procedures.
This time around, their move was a bit different.
Shannon and Paul, with their youngest son, Wyatt, were living in Rock Hill, South Carolina. A year ago, they decided to move to the Raleigh area. Another son, Dakota, and his family were already living here.
The couple started looking at new homes for sale near Raleigh, NC. They wanted a new construction home, and one that was in a neighborhood. Their Rock Hill residence was a historic home near downtown, which had become busy over the years since they first moved there.
The next step in building a new home near Raleigh was finding a location and community. Shannon says some were just too far away from their grandkids. Then, they came upon Clayton—a small town just 16 miles southeast of Raleigh. And the small town life is exactly what the couple was looking for.
”Clayton is community-oriented, with a vibrant little downtown that has cute restaurants and shops, and modern conveniences. The farmers' market is awesome,” says Shannon. “I love the small town feel, but with convenient amenities close by.”
They quickly realized the town of Clayton was the right place for their new home.
Still, the “right place” was more than 200 miles away from where they were living.
Long-distance homebuilding
Shannon and Paul found two builders with communities in Clayton. New Home Inc. was developing Mulhollem, a small neighborhood of new homes with large yards, and a short drive to the quaint downtown that they both loved. Mulhollem was in the beginning stages of development, but Paul and Shannon could envision their life here.
Shannon, a designer by trade, wanted her new home to fit her vision. She assumed that a new build would let her achieve that goal.
“We looked at two communities. The other builder wasn’t as accommodating as New Home Inc., and we really didn’t like those homes as much as the ones offered at Mulhollem,” Shannon explains. She knew what she wanted and had the skills to figure it out. Shannon just needed someone who was willing to work alongside her.
”The interactive floor plan on New Home Inc.’s website was great! I could design the home, change it, and because we weren’t in the area where we were moving, this feature was invaluable.”
They began working with Michelle, who showed them different floor plans and walked them through the various ways they could easily customize the plans.
“Michelle showed us The Raleigh and walked us through all the things we could do. Her influence really sealed the deal!”
Leslie also helped them with the process, and Mike, the project supervisor, kept them in the loop as well. Every step of the way, Shannon and Paul received emails with updates and photos, which kept them as close to the home as they could be at the time.
“We had no issues throughout the building process,” says Shannon. They contracted to purchase the home in November 2024, with a six-month estimate for completion.
They listed their Rock Hill home in March 2025, and it sold quickly. Construction of their Mulhollem home stayed on schedule. Paul and Shannon closed on the purchase on May 14, 2025, and moved in two days later.
Shannon had owned a boutique, Abide House of Design, near Rock Hill since 2021. She closed that location and reopened in Cary, NC, in January 2025, not far from her new hometown.
A floor plan that fit
The Raleigh’s two-story, 2,900-square-foot design fit perfectly with their lifestyle. They wanted an owner’s suite and a guest room on the first floor, plus a living space for their adult son. The Raleigh’s second floor has two bedrooms, each with a walk-in closet, and sharing a full bath. Wyatt, who commutes an hour to work, has plenty of privacy there when he’s home!
The first-floor owner’s suite is adjacent to another bedroom. They plan to use it as a guest room, which will be used frequently by visiting family, including a son living in California who is thinking of moving to the Raleigh area, too.
The other feature that sold Paul and Shannon on The Raleigh at Mulhollem was the flex room by the entry. Paul is a programmer and works from home. This space suits his home office needs, with plenty of space and natural light.
Many of today’s floor plans include an open concept design, where the main living area, living room, kitchen, dining room are not separated by walls, but rather, blend seamlessly. It’s a welcome layout, but it can also be challenging if not designed properly. Shannon’s design sense recognized that The Raleigh had been thoughtfully planned.
“I love the size of our house, and the square footage is where you want it. Sometimes, open concepts are cramped so they can give space to other areas. This plan is clearly a well-thought-out design.”
As a professional who creates visual merchandising at stores, she understands how to use space to create an experience.
Shannon also wanted a home with a side-loaded garage. That was a deal-breaker! But the Raleigh they chose easily accommodated this design, because New Home Inc.’s designers already allowed for options here.
From wish list to must have
As experienced homeowners, Shannon and Paul knew what they wanted and didn’t want in their new home. Still, some of the options that were included have turned into a pleasant surprise, and are now a must-have.
For starters, the low utility bills are a pleasant surprise. New Home Inc. builds to a high standard for energy efficiency. Each home is certified by ecoSelect’s stringent requirements. To qualify, the home must be assessed by an independent, third-party inspector.
“I’m still in shock at how low our utility bills are—25% less! The energy efficient features work exactly as they’re supposed to.” Shannon says they plan to convert to solar at the end of the year to experience ever more energy conservation.
The electric vehicle charging station that is already roughed into the garage wall has proven to be another unexpected bonus. This standard feature is then easy to activate for homeowners who need the charging source.
Shannon is also charged up about the “bug tube”. This tube is installed in the walls on the first floor, around the home’s foundation. The pest maintenance person then sprays repellent directly into the tube and never has to enter the home.
Paul and Shannon liked the idea of the home delivery space. The award-winning innovation of the Smart Home Delivery Center is an enclosed area between the exterior and interior front doors. It’s secured with a smart lock. By giving a code to a delivery person, the door can be unlocked and the package left inside, where it’s protected from the elements (and porch pirates). The door automatically relocks, and the owner can change the code as often as they want.
Shannon said it took a few tries for their delivery people to understand this system, because it’s so unique. “But we get so excited when they use it!”
The start of a neighborhood
New Home Inc. gave a hearty welcome to our first residents of Mulhollem in Clayton, NC. And it wasn’t long before they had neighbors. Mulhollem has been growing quickly as other families discover the convenience of the location and the value of having new homes with large yards.
Shannon says they gather outside on the driveways and visit with neighbors.
“We already took care of a neighbor’s rabbit while they were on vacation. And we’re getting to know the people who just moved in on either side of us. There’s some bramble and scrub brush and they’ve been talking about renting goats to get rid of it!”
Their first Christmas in the new home will be a special one. Shannon’s mother moved to neighboring Zebulon in August. And her third son is coming for Christmas from California, also considering a move to the Clayton area. The home will be festive, but Shannon is quick to add that, as a visual merchandiser, she has done more Christmas trees in stores than she cares to think about!
New homes for sale in Clayton at Mulhollem
As Mulhollem continues to grow, the homes are selling quickly. The community was designed for just 38 homes. Most lots have been sold, and several quick move-in homes are under construction. Buyers can still choose from a selection of homesites ranging from one-half to nearly two acres!
If the experience that Shannon and Paul enjoyed sounds appealing to you, there’s still time to join them. New Home Inc. is building several homes that are available for sale. These quick move-in homes represent a variety of architectural styles and floor plans, both single-level and two-story. Depending on when you buy a home, you might be able to choose certain details.
Each home reflects our higher standard of standard features, including:
Homes at Mulhollen start at $409,700, so you get all this quality at an affordable price.
Lower your interest with with our buydown
New Home Inc. is making it even more affordable to buy one of the new homes for sale in Clayton, NC, at Mulhollem. For a limited time, we’re offering a rate buydown option, at no cost to you. Get a rate as low as 4.75% on a 30-year fixed rate loan—up to $25,000 in interest rate reduction! With a minimum 660 credit score, you can apply this rate buydown to any of the New Home Inc. quick move-in homes. Contact one of our New Home Inc. specialists to get details.
When you’re looking at new construction homes in the Raleigh area, you have a lot to consider. Finding the right builder should be the top priority. Shannon and Paul put their trust in New Home Inc. to build their home while living in another state!
“New Home Inc. is a great company. We enjoyed the process immensely. They have done a really good job of creating a culture that’s based on integrity. They tell you the truth, whether you want to hear it or not. They’re good at communicating, and you can feel that from every member of the team.”
New Home Inc. was recently recognized as one of the fastest growing businesses in the Triangle Region. The Triangle Business Journal’s annual list of “Fast 50” honors 50 privately held companies that have attained the highest level of revenue growth over the past three years. Established in 2020, New Home Inc. has focused on building “Future Proof” homes that reflect modern lifestyles. The flexible floor plans allow buyers to easily make changes, like adding an extra bedroom, enlarging the kitchen, and even putting in a pet space under the stairs.
We are excited to extend a warm welcome to our first residents of Mulhollem in Clayton, NC, and to the families that continue to expand this unique community.
