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The journal

Market updates and local insight.

Terry posts what she actually tells buyers and sellers: Moore County market numbers, the school feeder pattern, Pinehurst's golf economy, and honest looks at what it is like to live in these towns.

A welcoming brick home among tall longleaf pines in Moore County, NC, on a warm autumn afternoon
A welcoming brick home among tall longleaf pines in Moore County, NC, on a warm autumn afternoon

Market Update · Featured

Higher Interest Rates and the Rent vs. Buy Question: What Moore County Residents Should Know

Higher mortgage rates near 7.3% have changed the rent-versus-buy math across Moore County. Fixed payments and equity still favor many buyers. Here is what to weigh before you decide.

Terry Nanney 4 min read

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More from the journal

Brick storefronts of a Southern main street aglow with string lights and jack-o'-lanterns at dusk on Halloween weekend

Local Life

What's Happening in Moore County This Weekend: October 30-November 1, 2026

Halloween lands on Saturday this year, and Moore County is celebrating all weekend: shag dancing and a Pink Floyd tribute show on Friday, the farmers market, the Monster Mash Dash and a haunted forest on Saturday, and Cars & Coffee plus one last Scarecrow Stroll on Sunday.

Terry Nanney 6 min read
Oktoberfest tents, pumpkins and string lights on the Village Green in Pinehurst at dusk

Local Life

What's Happening in Moore County This Weekend: October 23-25, 2026

Halloween comes early across The Pines: BooFest trick-or-treating and a Toy Story 5 movie under the stars on Friday, the Village of Pinehurst's Oktoberfest and Kinderfest on Saturday, and a family-friendly Jekyll & Hyde, the Musical at BPAC all weekend.

Terry Nanney 5 min read
Artisan craft tents and pumpkins filling a village park in Pinehurst on a golden October morning

Local Life

What's Happening in Moore County This Weekend: October 16-18, 2026

HollyFest fills the Village of Pinehurst on Saturday, the Moore County Agricultural Fair closes with two final nights in Carthage, and Friday brings family fun and live music. Plus a Sunday horse farm tour in the Sandhills.

Terry Nanney 5 min read
Blue-hour aerial view of a Southern town glowing among the longleaf pines

Market Update

The Sandhills Housing Market in 2026: What Buyers and Sellers Should Know

Moore County's median sale price sits around $425,000 to $445,000, and the range inside that number tells the real story. Here is what public reports show and what it means for your move.

Terry Nanney 5 min read
A Southern Carolina porch at dusk with rocking chairs and warm window light

Local Life

What It's Like to Live in Southern Pines, NC

Downtown coffee runs, porches in the pines, and arts and events on the calendar all year. A plain-language look at daily life in Southern Pines.

Terry Nanney 4 min read
Twilight fairway in the North Carolina sandhills with a flag against the dusk sky

Local Life

Pinehurst After the 2024 U.S. Open: What It Means for Residents

Bryson DeChambeau's one-stroke win made Pinehurst the center of the golf world for a week. For people who live here, the tournament confirmed a market that never really cooled.

Terry Nanney 4 min read
A red-brick school building glowing warmly at dusk among longleaf pines

Guides

Moore County Schools: A Plain-Language Guide for Families

One district, one destination high school for most of the Sandhills, and a feeder pattern worth understanding before you sign an offer.

Terry Nanney 4 min read
Late-summer afternoon light on a quiet residential street of brick and craftsman homes among longleaf pines in the North Carolina Sandhills

Market Update

Moore County NC Real Estate Market: More Homes for Sale Give Buyers More Choices in 2026

Moore County's active listings rose about 18% in a year, from 701 to 829 homes. What more inventory means for buyers and sellers in the Sandhills in 2026.

Terry Nanney 7 min read
The distressed Hoke County home at 609 Lufkin before its sale

Client Story

Selling a Distressed Property in Hoke County, NC: One Home's 13-Month Journey to Closing

A Hoke County home sat vacant while its owner lived half a world away. Getting it sold took locksmiths, attorneys, international paperwork, and 13 months of patience.

Terry Nanney 4 min read
The 3-bedroom condo at 10 Pine Tree Rd #125 in Pinehurst, NC

Client Story

🏡 SOLD in Pinehurst, NC!

A 3-bedroom condo at 10 Pine Tree Rd #125 was renovated by its owner and just sold. The new owners get golf course views and an easy walk or golf cart ride to the Village of Pinehurst.

Terry Nanney 3 min read
Autumn festival vendor tents and fall foliage in a downtown park on a crisp October morning

Local Life

AutumnFest Is Back in Downtown Southern Pines Today!

AutumnFest returns to Downtown Park in Southern Pines today, October 3, 2026: arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment, food, and kids' activities, free from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Terry Nanney 3 min read
Downtown Southern Pines brick storefronts with fall foliage and pumpkins on a golden October afternoon

Local Life

What's Happening in Moore County This Weekend: October 10-11, 2026

Fall events across the Sandhills: the United European Ballet's Cinderella at BPAC, the Scarecrow Stroll at the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens, downtown live music and fall dining, and the Moore County Agricultural Fair opening next week.

Terry Nanney 4 min read
A two-lane North Carolina highway widening project winding through longleaf pines, with construction cones and a forming raised median

Local Life

U.S. 15-501 Widening: What Moore County Residents Should Know

NCDOT is proposing to widen U.S. 15-501 from the traffic circle in Pinehurst to N.C. 73 in Moore County, and public comments are being accepted through October 23. Here is what the project involves, why it is happening now, and how to share your feedback.

Terry Nanney 4 min read

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