Horse Properties in the Raleigh, NC Area
Requirements and Guidelines for Finding Land for Horses in North Carolina
If you're considering a move to the Raleigh area, and have horses, you're probably wondering what the local requirements are and what you should look for.
Minimum Land Requirement
In the Raleigh area, you'll need to have at least 1 acre of grazing land for each horse.
In addition, you'll probably want to check with the county to make sure horses are allowed on your property, AND make sure that if you're in a neighborhood, the neighborhood covenants do allow horses.
Equestrian Communities
There are quite a few "horse communities" in the Triangle area, which includes Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Some of these neighborhoods have lots large enough for individual barns and stables, others have a shared area for horses.
There are also individual land and lots for sale that allow horses.
Here's a few examples of horse properties for sale in the Raleigh area:
7 acres in Bahama (north of Durham) - Horses Allowed - $100,000 - MLS #1003918
34 acres in Harnett County near Fort Bragg - Horses Allowed - $100,000 - MLS #967012
9 acres in Carthage (south of Sanford near Fort Bragg) - Equestrian and Riverfront Community (Glendon on the River) - $98,100
3 acres in Willow Springs (south of Garner near Fuquay-Varina) - Horses Allowed, Shared Pond - $79,900 - MLS #951107
6 acres in Pittsboro (just southwest of Chapel Hill) - Horses Allowed - $82,900 - MLS #923551
Again, these are just a few examples of the types of horse properties available in the area. Interested in finding others? Contact us, and we'll help you get started.
What Should I Think About When Looking at Horse Properties?
Grazing Land
Remember that you'll need at least an acre of grazing land per horse. Even if a property says "horses allowed", you may still need to clear enough trees from a heavily wooded lot for the horse to be able to graze.
Room for Sheds, Barns, and Your New Home
Make sure that the land you're considering will have enough room for a barn or shed, and that outbuildings are allowed. Also, think about the total capacity of the property and consider whether you might want to increase your number of horses later, or take in boarders. Your builder can work with you to show you the suggested site for your home, based on the septic permit on file.
Good Drainage
Watch out for marshy areas. You'll need enough dry ground, year-round, to keep the horse's hooves from getting wet. Think about feed and hay delivery, as well as how easy it will be for the vet and the farrier to get to your horse. In general, land on the eastern side of Raleigh is a little sandier, and land on the west side is more clay-based.
How Much Land Will Feed a Horse for a Year?
According to the North Carolina Horse Council, if grass is the only source of forage, each horse will need about 2 acres per year. The requirement is a minimum of 1 acre per horse, so on a smaller lot you'll need to supplement with other food sources.
How Much will it Cost to Build a New Home on my Horse Property?
The cost of construction can vary, depending on many different factors specific to your property. Building permit and impact fees vary depending on the location of the property and the size of the home. Most likely you'll need a well and septic. The cost of the septic will depend on the type of system required. And the foundation costs will depend on both the size of the home as well as the amount of p
reparation the land requires - a heavily wooded, rolling lot will be more costly than a flat meadow lot.
Beyond that, you'll want to decide how large your home will be, and what types of finishes you'd like to see.
Stanton Homes provides free building cost estimates. Just browse our Library of Favorite Floor Plans, or send us a plan from one of your favorite online guides like Houseplans.com, and we'll go over a complete estimate with you, along with any factors specific to your lot.
You may also be interested in:
Triangle Area Market Reports - How's The Real Estate Market in Raleigh?
Shopping in the Raleigh Area - What Kind of Shopping Is There?
Raleigh Relocation Package - All About the Raleigh Area!
Which Part of the Triangle is Cheapest to Live? Property Tax Guide
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Article copyright Stanton Homes 2010. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any statements. Please note: all listing information per MLS, and current as of posting date. Information subject to change. Stanton Homes does not make claims to ownership of above lot listings, but can work with homebuyers to purchase lots and build. Home plans to be approved on an individual basis, subject to neighborhood restrictive covenants and lot restrictions. Ask for further information regarding any community, lot or floor plan. Photos represent typical homes and details of each neighborhood, to help highlight different options available in the Raleigh/Triangle area. No claim of ownership is made to homes or land pictured.
Great info Penny! I know quite a few buyers that I would like to pass this on to. You do have to research to be sure that you can have your treasured horse and this post was PERFECT!
We've gotten a lot of calls lately from people looking for a horse property to build a home on. There are many great areas on all sides of the Triangle. These are some of the top questions that we hear, so hopefully this is helpful!
I can't believe I found this post today when I was just talking to someone yesterday about finding horse property. Thanks Penny! What a great place Active Rain is.
Well done Penny! There are lots of horse people out there and with your help finding them the right property just got easier! Thanks for doing the homework.
Linda and Craig - glad to help! Another area option is a horse boarding ranch, of which there are quite a few, particularly on the outskirts of Apex, in Chatham County, and north of Hillsborough and Durham.