20 October . 2025
A Beginner's Guide to Buying
Buying your first home is one of life’s biggest milestones, and it’s even more exciting when you can picture yourself in a brand-new home in an amenity-rich and community-oriented neighborhood like the one at Wendell Falls. Whether you’ve been saving for years or are just starting your search, a little preparation can make the process smoother (and more fun!).
Here are five tips to help you confidently move from “just looking” to “home sweet home.”
Get Pre-Approved First
Before you start scrolling listings or scheduling showings, talk to a lender. A pre-approval helps determine what kind of houses you can budget for, while showing sellers you’re serious about buying.
Starting your search with a price point in mind is also a key way to side-step the sadness of falling in love with a home before realizing it’s out of budget.
Anticipate Beyond the Down Payment
Be sure to factor in closing costs, moving expenses, and the furniture and other basic items you’ll need after move-in. The good news: Many of our Wendell Falls builders have enticing incentives and special offers that help with costs and are a big bonus for first-time buyers!
Consider the Value of New
A newly built home offers peace of mind that’s hard to find elsewhere. Everything, from the roof to the heating/cooling systems to the landscaping, are brand new and energy-efficient. That means fewer repairs, lower utility bills and more time enjoying your home instead of fixing it.
Plus, Wendell Falls is thoughtfully designed with a lineup of amenities to enjoy, from two community pools to a gym, multiple parks, Treelight Square, and 10+ miles of walking and biking trails to explore.
Live Into It
Buying a home isn’t just about square footage, it’s about your lifestyle and vision. Do you work remotely and need office space? Love to entertain and hoping for an open floor plan and plenty of kitchen space? Need a spare room for visiting loved ones or a little one on the way? Own a pup and have your eyes peeled for a big yard?
At Wendell Falls, we have an array of options from a lineup of award-winning builders showcasing flexible floor plans, top-tier designs and open-to-interpretation outdoor spaces that will perfectly adapt to your life now and later.
Tour Our Model Homes
Walking through one of our six fully furnished model homes, open daily, can help you imagine what your life could look like in a home here, from morning routines to backyard barbecues to picturing your interior design ideas in a physical space.
Plus, our on-site community representatives are on-call during business hours to help answer your questions and assist you on your journey to finding the home of your dreams here at Wendell Falls!
Come explore the variety of houses we have to offer via our Homefinder tool, and see how easy (and exciting) first-time homeownership can be.
Wendell Falls is located just 15 miles from downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S. Explore artfully crafted new homes and townhomes from the low $300,000s – $900,000s+.