Orange County NC Real Estate

Orange County real estate is home to one of the most history rich areas in North Carolina and is one of the main counties that makes up the Triangle area. Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, Carrboro and outlying areas offer residents a combination of mild climate, rich history, and a wide array of amenities shopping and entertainment. Orange County real estate has more than 250 restaurants, eating places, bars, nightclubs and taverns.

Community options range from the cosmopolitan, yet small-town, lifestyle of Chapel Hill and Carrboro to many rural communities in the country-side. Almost anywhere in Orange County offers a reasonable commute to just about any part of the Triangle area of North Carolina.

Orange County Real Estate's Climate

It's hard not to like the mild climate of Central North Carolina. Although mild, residents still receive a taste of every season. Winter brings the occasional snow and ice but it never lasts long, usually melting within a few hours (or sometimes days). If you're looking for more snow, the mountains in the western part of the state offer plenty of opportunities for snow sports and luckily are only a few short hours from Orange County.

Orange County Real Estate and Public Schools

Orange County real estate is serviced by two districts, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City district and the Orange County district. East Chapel Hill High School and Chapel Hill High School have been ranked as two of the best schools in the nation by Newsweek and have been ranked as the best in the state.

Colleges and Universities in Orange County Real Estate

Orange County real estate is the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. UNC Chapel Hill is the nation's first state-supported university. UNC has been highly ranked by publications such as U.S. News, World Report and BusinessWeek as a top research and teaching institution.

Orange County Real Estate and Sports

College sports dominate the area especially due to the fact that the area is home to only one professional team, the Carolina Hurricanes (Raleigh). With 3 major universities in the area (Duke, UNC and NC State) college rivalries are strong. UNC Chapel Hill has a strong athletic program and is noted particularly for their basketball and soccer programs, winning a number of championships and awards over the years.

Transportation

Interstate highways I-40 and I-85 run through and converge in Orange County real estate. Due to easy access from the majority of the county, many parts of the region are an easy commute. Due to Orange County real estate's central location in the state, combined with the East-West highways, Atlantic Coast beaches are only a few short hours away. If sand between your toes isn't your cup of tea, hiking, fishing or even winter snow skiing are just a few hours to the West in the Blue Ridge mountains, part of the larger Appalachian Mountain range.

Plane

If you have out-of-town business or looking for a long distance getaway, the Raleigh-Durham International airport (RDU) provides daily flights for Orange County real estate owners.

Mass Transit

Orange County real estate is serviced by Chapel Hill Transit and is connected to other area mass transit systems by Triangle Transit.

Orange County Real Estate Commerce

Employment

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the largest employer of Orange County real estate owners, followed by the UNC Hospitals. Many Orange County real estate residents commute to Raleigh, Durham or the Research Triangle Park and are employed by one of the major employers like IBM, GlaxoSmithKline or Cisco Systems.

Shopping

You can find UNC memorabilia on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill or browse the shops in downtown Hillsborough or Carrboro for arts, crafts and antiques. If you're looking for something bigger, you can visit Chapel Hill's University Mall for over 60 stores, including the famous Southern Season. Started as a coffee shop, Southern Season is now a 60,000 square foot retailer of culinary equipment and gourmet food.

Orange County Real Estate and Recreation

If you enjoy hiking, take a walk on the Western trails of the Eno River State Park in the Eastern part of the county. If you prefer a bit of NASCAR history with your walk or run, head over to the Occoneechee Speedway just outside of Hillsborough. The speedway was one of the two original NASCAR tracks in the country. The lights are gone and the track is no longer in service but many joggers and walkers enjoy circling the track and viewing what remains of the concrete stands that once held bystanders. You can even catch the occasional car show or special event at the track. Don't forget to stop by the Southeast's largest natural botanical garden at the North Carolina Botanical garden in Chapel Hill. The nearly 800 acres of preserved land, nature trails, plants and gardens will amaze you.

Arts and Entertainment in Orange County Real Estate

Despite the small size of Orange County real estate compared to other areas, Orange County still sports a number of museums and theatrical attractions. If you're interested in the performing arts, check out Memorial Hall in the heart of UNC Chapel Hill's historic campus. The permanent exhibits at the Ackland Art Museum (Chapel Hill) houses over 15,000 objects from across the globe from ancient times to the present. If you're up for a laugh, head over to the DSI Comedy Theater. The Carrboro comedy theater is known particularly for their improvisational comedy.

Orange County real estate owners can also take advantage of one of the many other cultural opportunities in the greater Triangle. Catch a broadway show at Durham's newly constructed Peforming Arts Center or head to the RBC Center to watch a Carolina Hurricane's (hockey) game. Most of these venues are less than an hour from most parts of Orange County real estate.