land release: who qualifies and how to apply

The City of Raleigh released details on July 7 for its latest round of land parcels available for development along South Saunders Street and in the Warehouse District.

Global supply pressures and recent federal spending shifts have pushed local officials to move faster on housing sites that sat idle for years. Raleigh added 8,200 residents between 2024 and 2025, according to Wake County estimates, and builders now compete for fewer lots inside the Beltline.

Two neighborhoods stand to gain first. The 12-acre site near the intersection of South Saunders Street and West Cabarrus Street will go to projects that include at least 25 percent workforce housing. A second 7-acre parcel behind the Dillon Supply building in the Warehouse District will accept bids from firms that partner with the Raleigh Housing Authority on mixed-income units.

Median sale prices for new single-family homes in Raleigh reached $428,000 in the second quarter of 2026, up 6 percent from the same period last year. The city set a minimum 15 percent affordability target on every released acre to keep pace with that climb.

Who qualifies

Developers must hold current North Carolina general contractor licenses and show at least three completed projects inside Wake County in the past five years. Nonprofits and certified community development corporations receive a scoring bonus if they commit to 30 percent of units priced for households earning 60 percent or less of area median income. Individual buyers do not apply directly; only entities that will build and manage the sites can submit.

How to apply

Applications open through the city’s planning portal on July 15 and close at 5 p.m. on August 22. Required materials include site plans, financing letters, and a signed agreement to begin vertical construction within 24 months of closing. Staff at the City of Raleigh Planning Department will hold a virtual information session on July 18 at 10 a.m. for any firm that registers by July 16. Winners will be notified by September 30, with closings scheduled before the end of the year.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.