Raleigh-Cary Real Estate Garner: Small-Town Scale, Big-Town Attractions
The town of Garner is home to 26,000 residents and lies about eight miles from the center of Raleigh, the North Carolina state capital and a growing cultural, business and educational hub for the entire Southeast. Garner offers newcomers a small-town atmosphere at a convenient distance to big-city amenities. The town’s steady growth has allowed city planners to prepare for the recent influx of new residents with a careful mix of commercial, residential and recreational amenities.
Garner Real Estate
Garner attracts newcomers with affordable housing in a convenient location. According to City Data, the median home value as of 2011 was $166,003, slightly higher than the statewide average of $153,700. The city features traditional two-story frame construction, but housing stock in Garner also includes attached townhomes, multi-unit apartments and condos. The thriving economy, educational opportunities and general quality of life in Garner and the surrounding area have kept home prices stable and the costs of home ownership reasonable.
A Superior School System
A part of the Wake County Public School system, Garner is home to eight elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. The outstanding schools in this district helped Garner and Wake County earn a number-one ranking from Forbes magazine in 2011 as the best place in the country for families with young children. A system of magnet schools offer specialized programs in the arts and sciences, a gifted-and-talented program, accelerated learning options and a Montessori school. In addition, the International Baccalaureate Program has accredited Smith Elementary, East Garner Middle School and Garner Magnet High as centers for foreign language and international studies.
Out and About in Garner
The Garner Performing Arts Center features the Towne Players, an widely recognized theatrical troupe, and welcomes big-city professional productions with the Broadway Voices series. Renowned entertainers make a stop for the It’s Showtime! series, and the Music Off Main concert series lights up the downtown during the summer months.
For shoppers, the White Oak Crossing offers a major retail center as well as a dozen convenient restaurants. White Oak is also the location of the Rex Wellness Center, featuring a full range of health facilities including an indoor pool, group exercise and individual weight-training and cardio-fitness equipment.
Garner opened the 96-acre White Deer Park and Nature Center in late 2009. A visit here includes a stroll through a wildflower meadow and a 1,100-square-foot overlook p[roviding a sweeping view of the surroundings. The center hosts educational classes for students and group activities for adults and families.
Pay Garner a Visit
Newcomers to Garner find a welcoming, family-friendly town that offers a full range of housing options as well as an excellent school system and plenty of green space. Straddling Interstate 40, Garner provides easy access to Raleigh and easy weekend escapes to the Great Smokey Mountains to the west or the barrier islands of the Outer Banks region to the east. The town is also business-friendly, providing tax incentives for relocating businesses and a moderate cost of living for employees. A temperate climate, moderate housing costs and updated infrastructure round out the long list of Garner’s attractions.