Just Listed: 343 Dark Forest Drive

UPDATE: Jen put this home under contract in 21 days!

Jen just listed one of Homes By Dickerson's "Jacob" models for sale in Briar Chapel.

Located on a wooded homesite near the heart of the development, and just a short distance from the clubhouse and saltwater pools, this home features a number of upgraded features, including:

• stone fireplace
• beautiful 3.25" hardwood floors
• screened porch  & stone patio
• private study with French pocket doors
• Pro appliances, including 40" gas double-oven range, fridge, washer & dryer
• custom cabinetry throughout
• built-in desk & lockers in the owner's entry
• granite counters
• large master suite with two walk-in closets and rainshower
• and more! 

This home is priced to sell at only $419,900 - well below what it costs to build this plan today. The seller has also graciously included a $5000 allowance for the buyer to use towards lender-allowed HOA dues, closing costs, fencing and/or window treatments.

See more photos here, but you really have to see this home in person to appreciate the wooded views and quality of construction. To schedule a showing, please contact Jen Winkler at 919-593-3662.

Experience the Briar Chapel Lifestyle as a Resident for the Day

As we tell all of our clients, Briar Chapel isn't just a neighborhood... it's a lifestyle!

So, we don't just show homes to prospective buyers when visiting this unique community.We also spend time exploring all of the opportunities the community offers its residents to be active, explore nature, engage with family & friends, and participate in enriching activities.

If you are looking for a new home, and would like to experience the Briar Chapel lifestyle firsthand, please consider registering to become a "Resident for a Day."

In addition to receiving a full-day pass to explore the saltwater pools, fitness center, community gardens, 24 miles of hiking and biking trails, and 20 parks, you will also receive a scavenger hunt map and keepsakes, including a chair or tumbler cup for poolside relaxation. Registration also provides invitations to private events and notifications about new offerings as the community develops.

The pool will be closing soon, so please be sure to register by contacting Jen Winkler at Jen@TeamWinkler.com or 919-593-3662 by August 31st.

Bluegrass & Brews in Briar Chapel

Due to inclement weather, this event has been postponed. Stay tuned for the rain date.

What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than with bluegrass, cold brews, and Baguettaboutit?!?

Please join us from 4-6pm on Sunday, July 20th, at Briar Commons Park in Briar Chapel for Bluegrass & Brews!

The Hey Brothers Bluegrass Band will be providing live music, while folks enjoy beer from Steel String Brewery, great food from Baguettaboutit, and cool treats from Little Dippers Italian Ice.

This event is free, open to the public, and most importantly - FUN! So grab a chair or picnic blanket and a group of your friends, and come on out for a great afternoon!

For updated info, check out the Facebook page for this event.

Briar Chapel Celebrating National Trails Day - Saturday, June 7th

American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day is a celebration of America’s magnificent Trail System, occurring annually on the first Saturday in June. The event features a series of outdoor activities, designed to promote and celebrate the importance of trails in the United States.

Briar Chapel will be participating in the celebration with several guided tours of its trail system led by the Triangle Off-Road Cyclists (TORC) and residents. Activities include:

• 9:30 am - Mountain bike trail ride with Triangle Off-Road Cyclists (TORC) 
• 10:30 am - Kids trail walk 
• 11:30 am - Historical trail walk

If interested in any of the guided tours, please meet at the Briar Club (1600 Windy Knoll Circle). We hope to see you there!

Briar Chapel's Pool is Open!

Briar Chapel's pool facilities opened this week for its fifth season!

A number of residents and non-resident members enjoyed themselves under the watchful eye of the lifeguard staff. Meanwhile, the younger ones enjoyed the splash pad, water slides, diving well and zero-entry pool.

The water tends to be a bit "refreshing" this early in the season. We're referring to the temperature, of course, but we could just as easily be referring to the fact that Briar Chapel uses saltwater chlorination. The water is easier on your skin and has no chlorine odor, in addition to other benefits.

If you would like to see the pool, and experience what life is like at Briar Chapel, please schedule an appointment to take a private tour of the community with Peter or Jen. We would be happy to show you around!

Introducing the Briar Chapel Barracudas Swim Team

With over 550 families now living in Briar Chapel, the community can support a swim team!

For this inaugural 2014 season, over 130 residents and pool members registered to become Briar Chapel Barracudas. Corporate sponsorships and registration fees made it possible to purchase the necessary equipment and hire a great coach to create a safe and nurturing environment for the kids.

For those children who wanted to participate on the swim team, but couldn't quite swim a lap, there is also a Jr. Barracuda program. It will provide 5 weeks of consistent swim instruction in a supportive and fun environment in the hopes to prepare beginning swimmers for swim team.

Go Barracudas!!!

9th Annual Green Home Tour Starts Saturday, May 3rd

As I mentioned in a previous post, Briar Chapel has 8 homes entered in this year's Green Home Tour. You are also welcome to attend either (or both) FREE kickoff events.

Briar Chapel Makes Top 10 List for Green Communities

In celebration of Earth Day, Redfin recently released a list of 10 neighborhoods across the U.S. with the largest number of green homes. The ranking is based on the proportion of “green” listings out of total listings in the neighborhood over the past two years.

Although 100% of Briar Chapel's homes are green-certified, Redfin mistakenly attributed only 26% of the community's listings. Newland is working with Redfin to better understand how the data were compiled, and determine if any corrections to the manner in which homes are marketed is needed.

Regardless, Briar Chapel continues to be recognized as a top destination for buyers who appreciate the benefits of high performance homes and healthy living.

6th Annual Briar Chapel 5K & Earth Day Celebration Scheduled April 12th

I hope you will join us for the 6th Annual Briar Chapel 5K & Earth Day Celebration on April 12th from 9:30am to 1pm!

The 5K race and kids fun run will begin at 9:30am near the new Boulder Park and wind through Briar Chapel's roads and parks. Advanced registration is $20 and includes a locally-made organic t-shirt and goodie bag. If interested, you can register here.

Please consider joining the Homes By Dickerson builder team this year, even if you don't live in one of their homes (yet!). There is no extra charge to do so, and you'll receive a team shirt in addition to the race shirt. Simply select this option when registering. If you have already registered, just let Jenn Nowalk know you're interested.

After the race, Briar Chapel will be hosting an Earth Day Celebration from 10-1pm where you can enjoy beer and refuel with various food truck offerings! Other activities include live music, cornhole, yard Jenga, bocciball, horseshoes, and other fun activities for the young and young at heart. The post-race party is free and open to the public.

The chip-timed course is a USATF-certified course. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 male and top 3 female finishers, as well as age group winners.

Registration Open for "Swim For Smiles" Youth Triathlon in Briar Chapel

The 8th Annual "Swim For Smiles" Youth Triathlon, open to kids ages 5-23, will be held on Sunday, September 7th, 2014, in Briar Chapel.

It’s not unusual for this triathlon to draw at least 500 kids — sometimes more. The 2011 event drew over 800 participants making it the largest youth triathlon in the US. The 2014 race will serve as a catalyst to drive more youth into the sport of triathlon than any other event in the sport’s history, and the race organizers are working hard to make it the largest race in the world.

Course options are:

• Short course: 100-meter swim, 2.5 mile bike, 1K run
• Long Course: 300-meter swim, 5 mile bike, 3K run
• Sprint Distance: 400-meter swim, 10 mile bike, 5K run

To register or learn more about this exciting event, visit the Swim For Smiles website. 

9th Annual Triangle Green Home Tour May 3-4 & 10-11

The 9th Annual Triangle Green Home Tour is coming soon! This free, self-guided event will feature over 30 entries, and will be held on May 3-4 and 10-11, 2014 from Noon to 5pm.

As always, the tour will allow you to examine a number of green building features in a wide variety of homes in all styles and price points -- ranging from Habitat for Humanity and entry-level homes to custom luxury entries.

Briar Chapel will have eight homes on the tour this year, which are listed below. However, it is important to remember that ALL homes in Briar Chapel are required to be certified green upon completion. So, if there is a particular home for sale that you like that's not on the tour, Jennifer Winkler would be happy to arrange a private showing for you. Give her a call at 919-593-3662.

• 2413 Briar Chapel Parkway (Garman Homes)
• 206 Cliffdale Road (David Weekley Homes)
• 23 Sagebrush Road (ForeverHome)
• 23 Heatherwood Drive (M/I Homes)
• 293 Dark Forest Drive (Drees)
• 84 Owen Towne Road (Saussy Burbank)
• 561 N. Serenity Hill Circle (Saussy Burbank)
• 307 Dark Forest Drive (Homes By Dickerson)

To learn more about the tour, visit www.TriangleGreenHomeTour.com. Otherwise, Peter Winkler has some extra tour guides if you need one - just stop by his office at 649 Bennett Mountain Trace in Briar Chapel. You can also view a virtual list of homes on the tour by downloading the iPhone or Android app.

Garman Homes to Build 2015 Duke Children's Miracle Home in Briar Chapel

Earlier today, Garman Homes announced it would be building the next Miracle Home in Briar Chapel to benefit the MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center.

The builder is planning to have the home completed in time for October's Parade of Homes, and pledged to raise over $200,000 through partnerships and donations from the community.

MIX 101.5 has raised over $15 million dollars for the kids at Duke Children's over the past 19 years.

Congrats to the great folks at Garman Homes for their commitment to help raise funds to benefit children’s programs and further support the continuation of excellence within the medical and surgical programs housed at Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center.

Briar Chapel 2013 Year-End Review

The following is excerpted from Newland's recent Community Development Update:

Briar Chapel continues to grow leaps and bounds in 2013!

HERE ARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS…

• Briar Chapel celebrated its Five Year Anniversary in October with a hot air balloon media tour. A huge thank you to all the residents who came out in support, particularly the Green Thumb Club and our milestone residents!
• We are on the verge of having 450 residents call Briar Chapel home, with over 50 estimated home closings expected to occur in the next six months.
• The new section of villas, “Boulder Park Villas,” launched in April. Featuring homes built by ForeverHome, LLC and M/I Homes, lawn maintenance is standard. This area is also home to Boulder Park, which features an additional community garden, bocce ball courts, horseshoes, and a fire pit! [Homes By Dickerson has homesites available in this phase as well.] 
• This past quarter, three new builders were introduced to the community—Drees Homes, Garman Homes, and Beazer Homes. Alongside David Weekly Homes, they’re building a variety of home styles and sizes in our newest phase. Also located here is Discovery Park, which offers relaxing hammocks, a fossil dig area, outdoor art, and historical features.
• Briar Chapel has had some great events this year. HOA events, such as the July 4th Bash, Fall Festival and the Craft Fair, have had great resident involvement. Briar Chapel marketing events have been equally successful; the Swim for Smiles youth triathlon was a hit and helped raise money for NC Children’s Hospital, and the annual Pepper Festival brought out more than 1,000 folks who enjoyed local food and live music, all in support of The Abundance Foundation. Just a few weeks ago, our annual 6BC Mountain Bike Endurance Race brought out nearly 150 riders.
• Irrigated areas along the parkways as well in the Boulder Park villa section were integrated into a centralized irrigation system using recycled water in an effort to decrease the amount of potable water we utilize from Chatham County.
• Final asphalt paving was concluded on many of the parkways and secondary streets.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES...

• Briar Chapel is now the third best-selling community in the Triangle (as reported by Metrostudy based on 3Q13 annual starts)!
• In the 2013 HBA-Durham, Orange and Chatham Counties Parade of Homes, builder entries in Briar Chapel received two gold, two silver, and three bronze awards!
• Three Newland Communities have consistently ranked in the top 10 and 20 best-selling, master-planned communities in the U.S. (as ranked by RCLCo 2009-2013)

ON THE HORIZON...

• The next phase of development known as the Great Meadow is well underway. You have likely seen the construction activity for this new phase across from Margaret B. Pollard Middle School over the past several months. A multi-acre linear park programmed for activity will be the focal point of this area and will feature a unique and engaging mix of active and passive recreational amenities. More specific details about these amenities will be forthcoming in early 2014. With homes becoming available in this area in late 2014, you can expect to see a variety of homes similar to the current offerings in Briar Chapel, plus a few new and exciting additions.
• Several storm water ponds in the completed phases of the development are undergoing conversions from sediment control devices to permanent ponds. This process entails the removal of silt from the pond bottom and the re-establishment of the grading for the ponds, including the aquatic plant shelves around the perimeter. Unique plants will be installed along these “shelves” in order to perform the appropriate water quality functions.
• Some mountain biking trail extensions are underway; across from the clubhouse playground, a loop is almost completed. Also, towards the end of this year, a connection along the overhead power line out to 15-501 is planned to be completed.
• This summer, the reclaimed irrigation system began operating. While this irrigation will primarily be used in the highly maintained open spaces, some irrigation will occur throughout the property. During the non-traditional irrigation seasons, the reclaimed water will typically be irrigated in the wooded open spaces off the main parkway.
• 95% of the final lift of asphalt in Phases 4, 5S, and 5N is complete. Based on winter weather and asphalt plant schedules, the remaining work may not be completed until spring. Final punchlist items and encroachment agreements are being reviewed by NCDOT. Full maintenance responsibility by NCDOT will not occur until the punchwork is complete and the encroachment agreements are in place. These items are anticipated to happen by mid-2014.
• Interest by end-users for the commercial properties along the Hwy 15/501 corridor has increased in recent months. The project team is working with local and regional brokers and developers to plan and promote these properties, and the small interior retail site, in the hope of generating some retail and commercial activity soon.

LONG-TERM OUTLOOK...

• Briar Chapel’s plan for amenities is comprehensive and will continue to be phased in over time. In addition to the main pool and clubhouse area, the multitudes of neighborhood parks located throughout the community and the Great Meadow linear park which is planned to
  be introduced in 2014, the community will feature tennis and sport courts. The location
  and timing of these courts will be determined within the next several months. (All plans are subject to change.)

If you are interested in learning more about Briar Chapel, the quality amenties residents enjoy, or the high-performance homes being built here, please call Jen Winkler at 919-593-3662.

Year-End Sale on Move-In Ready Inventory Homes in Briar Chapel

As is often the case towards the end of a calendar year, homebuilders are hoping to sneak in a few extra sales before the ball drops in Times Square. We polled the builders in Briar Chapel, and here is a list of the move-in ready homes they're most ready to make deals on...

HOMES BY DICKERSON

• Lot 476 (1900 Briar Chapel Pkwy): "Riverton" with 3 beds, 3 baths, master down, 2054 sqft, $329,900 - Photos
• Lot 481 (2104 Briar Chapel Pkwy): "Castlebrooke" with 4 beds, 3.5 baths, master up, 2400 sqft, $349,900 - Photos
• Lot 92 (669 Bennett Mountain Trace): "St. James" with 5 beds, 4.5 baths, master down, 3559 sqft, $523,900 - Photos

GARMAN HOMES

• Lot 642 (2389 Briar Chapel Pkwy): "BCH 2: South Bound Train" with 3 beds, 2.5 baths, master up, 1950 sqft, $285,000 - Photos
• Lot 643 (2397 Briar Chapel Pkwy): "BCH 3: Classy Kind of Sassy"with 4 beds, 3 baths, master up, 2200 sqft, $295,000 - Photos

FOREVERHOME

• Lot 190 (502 Bennett Mountain Trace): "Sullivan" ranch with 4 beds, 3 baths, 2 half-baths, master on main, basement, 3937 sqft - $539,900

DAVID WEEKLEY HOMES

• Lot 252 (78 Harlow Bend): "Yarborough" with 3 beds, 2.5 baths, master up, 2348 sqft - $342,600 - Photos
• Lot 535 (139 N. Serenity Hill Circle): "Milliron" with 3 beds, 2.5 baths, master up, 2638 sqft - $389,700 - Photos

SAUSSY BURBANK

• Lot 510 (27 Winkler Way): "Palmer/Corner" townhome with 3 beds, 2.5 baths, master up, 1628 sqft - $214,900 - Photos

M/I HOMES

• Lot 731 (80 Heatherwood Drive): "Nandina A" villa with 3 beds, 3 baths, master down, 1959 sqft - $299,990

Of course, there are many other homes that are at or near completion for you to choose from. Call Jen today at 919-593-3662 to setup an appointment to see any of these!

Weather Forecast for Briar Chapel this Saturday: SNOW!

Briar Chapel is hosting a Winter Wonderland this Saturday from 1:30-4:00pm at Boulder Park, and you're invited!

At the event, children of all ages will get to enjoy:

• snow & sledding (!!!)
• greeting Santa
• decorating cookies
• hot chocolate and cider
• mingling with residents to learn what the Briar Chapel lifestyle is all about

Admission to this event is one unwrapped toy for Toys-for-Tots. Due to the weather forecast for Saturday, the festivities are being moved inside the Briar Club.

If you attend the event, be sure to stop by and see Peter at the Homes By Dickerson model home located at 669 Bennett Mountain Trace.