Why Harnett County is Such a Great Place to Call Home
Raleigh, NC, has been experiencing rapid growth in the past decade, currently the second fastest growing metro in the United States. The region encompasses several counties, each with its own benefits. New Home Inc. wants to share some of the reasons why Harnett County is such a great place to call home.
Where is Harnett County?
Harnett County is in the southern part of the Raleigh, NC, region. Wake County, where Raleigh is located, sits on the northern edge of Harnett County. Johnston County, also included in the Raleigh-Cary NC Metropolitan area, is northeast of Harnett County and home to many popular Raleigh suburbs, including Smithfield and Selma.
The current population of Harnett County is nearing 145,000 residents, and has experienced a growth of almost 25% since 2010—clearly, a testament to why Harnett County is such a great place to call home.
But WHY are people moving here?
Living in Harnett County, NC
The people who choose to live within the borders of Harnett County generally want convenient access to Raleigh and The Research Triangle region. Also known as just “The Triangle”, the area is bordered by three metropolitan points: Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. These cities are known for their strength in research and technology—which includes the 3 TIer 1 universities located here and the ever-growing number of businesses in the industries of technology and life sciences.
Harnett is one of many counties that make up The Triangle. Living in Harnett County is a good choice within this area because the major roadways connect to the large metros. But, as most residents tell you, it’s not just the accessibility that attracts them to live here.
The location also draws people who want an easy drive to Fayetteville, NC, home of Fort Liberty, a U.S. Army base that spans 172,000 acres. Fayetteville is a thriving city with lots to do, so living in
The cities and towns within Harnett County present a safe, healthy, and relaxed small-town atmosphere—because they ARE small. Lillington, NC, which is the county seat, has just 4,643 residents. With a population of just 8,632, Dunn, NC, is the largest city in Harnett County, followed by the town of Angier, NC, with 7,809 townspeople. Located 37 miles from Fayetteville, Angier is a great choice for people who want to easily be able to get to both Raleigh and Fayetteville.
So, if you’re looking for a quiet place in the country that’s close to the great metropolitan areas in The Triangle and Fayetteville, take a closer look at the benefits of living in Harnett County.
The benefits of living in Harnett County, NC
There are so many reasons why Harnett County is such a great place to call home, in addition to the close proximity to Raleigh. The Triangle, and Fayetteville. Here are some of them.
Enjoy the friendliness of small town living.
Whether you choose a small city or a small town, the lifestyle is friendly and relaxed. There are no crowds or traffic. You can walk into the small businesses and be greeted by name. This type of hometown hospitality adds a sense of security, knowing that your local friends and neighbors look out for one another. And when you take part in the special events, celebrations, and festivals—like the annual Crepe Myrtle Celebration and the North Carolina Cotton Festival—you’ll play a part in the cherished hometown traditions.
The great outdoors is all around you.
Harnett County is an outdoor lover’s paradise. Whatever you enjoy, you can indulge your passion without traveling far from home.
Raven Rock State Park in Lillington, NC, is a local treasure. The namesake Raven Rock is a 150-foot natural crystalline structure that overlooks the park and the Cape Fear River that winds through there. Whether you ride on a bike or horseback, walk or jog, you’ll have miles and miles of trails to explore at Raven Rock State Park. Hiking trails are suited for all levels, and you’ll want to plan to include Lanier Falls and Fish Traps Rapids for scenic views.
The many parks and recreational resources of Harnett County provide venues for a long list of opportunities to get outside and have fun. Take a leisurely walk, jog, or bike ride the trails at Jack Marley Park in Angier, NC. In neighboring Lillington, Anderson Creek County Park recently underwent expansion and renovation. The 1,014-acre park now offers equestrian trails, disc golf course, mountain biking trails, playgrounds, campsites, observation areas, picnic pavilion, and self-guided nature tours with interpretive signage. For sports fields and courts, take your pick of Harnett County’s wide network of parks.
If a day on the links is how you like to have your fun, Harnett County boasts private and public courses. Pine Burr Golf Course is a semi-private, 18-hole course in Lillington. Keith HIlls Golf Club at Campbell University in Lillington features 3 9-hole courses, a golf academy, and 32-acre practice facility.
Take advantage of a lower tax rate.
Taxes are one of life’s certainties. But if you decide to live in Harnett County, NC, your property taxes will be lower than for residents of nearby counties. Harnett County residents pay 5.91% for property tax, as compared to Wake County homeowners, who are subject to a 6.57% property tax rate, and Johnston County taxpayers, paying 6.9%.
You’ll never be bored.
The cities of Raleigh and Fayetteville—and the surrounding large suburbs—are filled with places to shop, dine, and be entertained. But you don’t have to travel there to enjoy yourself. The main streets and downtown districts of Harnett County’s cities and towns are lined with locally owned businesses. From creative boutiques, quaint bistros, and craft breweries to elegant culinary experiences, family-friendly entertainment, museums, and a vibrant cultural scene, you’ll never be bored—unless you choose to!
The Hawk Manor Falconry is a destination that’s truly unique. Visitors of all ages get a close-up view of stunning birds of prey: owls, falcons, hawks, and vultures. It’s a rare opportunity to learn about these powerful birds and see the art of falconry. Hawk Manor Falconry even hosts a 2-day camp for children to learn about handling, training, and working with falcons.
Living in Harnett County also puts you in the heart of agricultural space. The region is filled with a variety of farms, where you can pick your own fruits, vegetables, and flowers in every harvest season. For 15 years, Gregory Vineyards in Angier has been cultivating their vine-to-bottle business and welcomes people to enjoy scenic vistas and taste the wines. You might also want to stay for a picnic.
With all these reasons why Harnett County is such a great place to call home, take a look at what and where that new home could be.
A new approach to new homes
New Home Inc. specializes in building communities of new homes that are modern, feature-rich, in a great location, and yet very affordable! Our “Future-Proof” approach incorporates the design and features that fit with your lifestyle today while anticipating your way of life in the years ahead.
Electric vehicle-ready
You might already own an electric vehicle or are possibly considering one. When you buy one of our homes—including new construction townhomes—we include an electric vehicle charging station rough-in in your garage. The behind-the-wall work is done, making it easy to get it running.
A safe space for deliveries
Home deliveries have become a regular occurrence in the past few years. And the trend is only going to increase. So, New Home Inc. came up with the Smart Home Delivery Center. This enclosed, climate-controlled space sits between your exterior front door and interior door. It’s accessed by a smart lock, which you control. Give the one-time code to the delivery person to access the locked space. The smart lock automatically relocks and your package is safe.
The kitchen, reimagined
Next, we took a close look at how you use your kitchen. What’s missing? Where are the traffic jams? And how can we provide the right solution?
The kitchen island is a focal point—for everything from food preparation and dining to casual conversation. We made it bigger and better. New Home Inc.’s oversized kitchen island has seating on 3 sides, not just 1 or 2. We got rid of the elevated breakfast bar so your island has a larger surface for serving, dining, and workspace.
To tackle the bottlenecks in your kitchen, we added a second pantry, which we call the “messy kitchen” service pantry. This nook is situated next to your kitchen by a door (but not replacing the pantry). Use it for storage, setting up your serving pieces for entertaining, or as a coffee station and snack center. Outfit the messy pantry with cabinets, countertops, and the option of a sink, mini-fridge, dishwasher, wine chiller, and other features that reduce the traffic and messes in your kitchen.
A smarter new home
Smart home automation represents another mainstay for today’s homeowners and families. We make it easier to move into a home that recognizes the importance of this technology. New Home Inc.’s smart home automation package is a standard feature—not an upgrade—and includes a control panel, whole home network panel, smart door lock, smart thermostat, and video doorbell. You start with the right smart home technology and with our package, and it’s easy to add more!
Cut the clutter
Are you frustrated with the clutter coming into your home? Tired of the frantic searches for backpacks, jackets, boots, and school papers? We designed a clutter-free drop zone inside the family entrance, often near the garage entrance to the home. Use the hall bench and cubbies to maintain order.
Save energy without trying
We include healthy home and energy efficiency advances in every New Home Inc. home. Ensuring indoor air quality is effortless with the included whole-home air filtration system. Keep the allergens and pollutants so you breathe cleaner air.
To conserve energy, New Home Inc. uses the latest advances in construction techniques and materials that maximize energy efficiency. We hire a third-party, certified inspector to ensure our homes meet the high standards of the ecoSelect home efficiency program.
In addition to these features inside the home, we also offer large lots in many communities. Picture your new home on up to 2 acres of land!
New homes for sale in Harnett County, NC
Are you ready to start touring new homes for sale near Raleigh, NC? We’re building communities of new homes in Lillington NC, a hometown with so much to offer.
Just beyond Downtown Lillington, plan to explore Duncan’s Creek new homes. This New Home Inc. community offers large homesites and a variety of distinctive floor plans. We’re also including a mile-long, paved walking trail that wraps around the neighborhood.
Heritage at Neill's Creek new homes sit on the border of Angier and Lillington. Here, you can choose from spacious lots of 0.5 of an acre up to 2 acres! Then, build your home from our selection of versatile floor plans, Whichever floor plan you select among our new homes in Angier NC, we give you plenty of ways to personalize the look and layout.
In addition to these Lillington NC new homes, New Home Inc. is building in Fuquay-Varina, on the northern border of Harnett County. This Raleigh suburb ranks high on many “Best” lists, including “Best U.S. Suburbs to Move to in 2021” and “2024 Best Suburbs to Live in the Raleigh Area”. New Home Inc. is currently building new homes in Fuquay-Varina NC at two communities. Find your single-family home in Sippihaw Springs or a new construction townhome at Springwood Townes.
Right now, New Home Inc. is helping homebuyers get a more affordable interest rate through our rate buydown program. We pay the difference—at no cost to you!—to get you a lower rate, which reduces your monthly mortgage payment.
When you choose New Home Inc. as your homebuilder in Raleigh, you get more than a quality home. We provide personal attention for every step of the process. That includes financing, closing, home and design selection and the warranty program that delivers peace of mind.
We’re currently building new construction homes for sale in Raleigh, in the desirable Raleigh suburbs of Lillington, Fuquay-Varina, Smithfield, and Willow Spring. If you’re excited about making the move, take a look at New Home Inc.’s brand new quick move-in homes or townhomes for sale. They’re move-in ready right now or getting close to completion. Close quickly and get ready to make your move.
If you like the Raleigh area but want to live outside the city AND get more home for your money, contact us to learn more about our new homes for sale near Raleigh, in Harnett County.
