In Raleigh’s priciest ZIP code, a senior community now offers $1.8M cottages
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Liberty Senior Living acquired 13 cottages in Budleigh East priced at $1.8 million each.
- Hayes Barton Place added homeownership cottages while keeping rental options.
- Cottages offer concierge, salon/spa, library, fitness, pool, hot tub.
In Raleigh’s most expensive ZIP code, a senior living community is rolling out $1.8 million cottages.
Wilmington-based Liberty Senior Living confirmed this month that it had acquired 13 cottages in Budleigh East, the new upscale enclave developed by Williams Realty & Building in the historic Hayes Barton neighborhood, just northwest of downtown Raleigh. It’s now incorporating them into its 8-acre Hayes Barton Place campus at 2600 Yettington Drive, just inside the Beltline.
The move underscores just how far the region’s luxury housing market has climbed — and how developers are reshaping aging in place for the city’s wealthiest.
Formerly known as The Cottages at Budleigh East at 2652 Welham Alley, the development is now named the Welham Commons Cottages — and adds a homeownership option to the continuing care retirement community.
Until now, Hayes Barton Place offered only rental units.
“These beautifully designed homes expand our independent-living options and reflect our commitment to offering flexibility, choice, and exceptional living experiences,” said Sam Murray, its executive director, in a release.
Launched in 2025, Hayes Barton Place is the first new continuing care retirement community to come online in Raleigh in recent years, entering a market dominated by long‑established players, like The Cardinal at North Hills and Glenaire in Cary. Residents can start in independent living and, if needed, transition to assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation or skilled nursing care.
The three-bedroom cottages are designed around a shared green space and range from 2,025 to 2,158 square feet, featuring first-floor primary suites and brick-paved porches.
Other amenities include concierge services, salon and spa, library, fitness center, pool and hot tub.
But it doesn’t come cheap. In addition to the $1.8 million price tag, monthly service fees are around $5,000. That covers dining, utilities, amenities, transportation, wellness programming and basic services. Fees increase if a resident transitions into assisted living, memory care or skilled nursing.
The campus offers other independent living residences, including 169 condominiums, 24 garden flats, and 21 townhomes. Rents start around $2,290 per month and can run as high as about $8,700, depending on the residence type and level of care.
A growing trend
Between 2020 and 2023, the number of people age 65 and over jumped by 18.3% in the Raleigh-Cary metro area, census data shows, making it one of the fastest-growing areas for this demographic in the country.
That surge is reshaping the Triangle housing market.
At one end, it’s driving up demand for more affordable senior housing amid a chronic housing shortage and rising prices. At the other end, it’s spawning resort-style housing aimed at “active adults” ages 55 and updated continuing care communities.
Very few continuing care communities have actually opened in the Triangle in recent years. Most of the activity has been expansions and renovations. That includes The Cardinal at North Hills, which recently opened its East Tower as part of a two-year expansion, doubling its size and adding 191 apartments — 151 independent living and 40 assisted living.
And in Cary, SearStone added a four-story 152-unit independent living complex called The Highview.
This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 7:30 AM with the headline "In Raleigh’s priciest ZIP code, a senior community now offers $1.8M cottages."
