Licensed North Carolina Real Estate Broker — Affiliated with G Brokerage

Sell Your Commercial Property in Chapel Hill, NC

Chapel Hill is home to the University of North Carolina — the nation's first public university — creating a commercial real estate market unlike any other in the Triangle. UNC's 30,000+ students, 13,000+ employees, and world-class medical center generate demand that is both massive and remarkably stable, insulated from the economic cycles that affect most markets. For property owners, Chapel Hill's combination of university-driven demand, extremely limited land for new development, and one of the highest-educated populations in the Southeast creates a market where well-positioned commercial properties command premium values with minimal vacancy risk.

No upfront feesConfidential process$500K - $10M+ properties
2x
Dual Expertise
Business broker + CRE advisor. Most brokers only do one.
90
Day Avg. to Offer
Well-priced properties with strong financials attract fast offers.
$0
Upfront Cost
Success-based fees only. You pay nothing until your property sells.
Market Intelligence

Chapel Hill Commercial Real Estate Market

Chapel Hill's commercial real estate market is fundamentally shaped by the University of North Carolina. UNC's economic impact exceeds $13 billion annually, its 30,000 students and 13,000 employees constitute a captive customer base, and its medical center is one of the most prestigious in the Southeast. This institutional anchor creates demand characteristics that are unique even within the Triangle: unusually stable occupancy, a highly educated customer demographic, and a brand cachet that attracts investors who want exposure to a university town's recession-resistant economy.

Land scarcity amplifies Chapel Hill's property values. The town is surrounded by UNC's campus, Jordan Lake, preserved natural areas, and neighboring jurisdictions, leaving virtually no greenfield development opportunities within the core commercial areas. Franklin Street, Eastgate, and the 15-501 corridor contain most of the town's commercial inventory, and new supply additions are extremely rare. This structural scarcity creates a market where existing property owners hold assets that cannot be easily replicated — a fundamental advantage in any sale negotiation.

Chapel Hill's buyer pool is distinctive: university-affiliated investors, UNC alumni with emotional attachment to the town, healthcare-focused REITs attracted by the medical center, and high-net-worth individuals seeking lifestyle investments in a highly ranked community. These buyers are often willing to accept lower cap rates in exchange for Chapel Hill's stability and prestige — a dynamic that directly benefits sellers who understand how to market to this audience. Properties with UNC visibility, Franklin Street frontage, or medical center proximity command particular premiums.

64,000+
Population
1.2% annually
Annual Growth
65000
Median Income
0.027
Unemployment
Major Employers: UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Health, UNC Research, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools, Town of Chapel Hill
Economic Drivers: Higher Education, Healthcare & Research, Biotech, Professional Services, Retail
What's Selling

Top Property Types in Chapel Hill

01

Medical & Research

Franklin Street is Chapel Hill's commercial Main Street and one of the most iconic retail corridors in North Carolina. UNC student foot traffic, game day visitors (Kenan Memorial Stadium is blocks away), alumni tourists, and affluent residents create year-round demand for restaurants, bars, boutique retail, and entertainment venues. Franklin Street retail vacancy is among the lowest in the Triangle, and rents command premiums that reflect both the captive customer base and the street's cultural cachet. Properties here attract investors who value the combination of income stability and prestige.

02

Retail & Restaurant

UNC Hospitals — consistently ranked among America's top medical centers — generate extraordinary demand for medical office, research, and clinical space throughout Chapel Hill. Properties along Mason Farm Road, the 15-501 medical corridor, and within the Eastgate and Meadowmont areas serve physicians, researchers, and healthcare service providers who need UNC medical campus proximity. Multi-tenant medical buildings with university-affiliated tenants are among the most liquid and lowest-cap-rate investments in the entire Triangle market.

03

Office & Professional

UNC's research mission and the Triangle's innovation ecosystem create demand for office, lab, and flex space that serves university spinoffs, biotech companies, and professional firms serving the academic and healthcare sectors. Properties along the 15-501 corridor, in the Carrboro-Chapel Hill transition zone, and within the Carolina North development area attract technology and research tenants. Chapel Hill's educated workforce — the town has one of the highest PhD-per-capita rates in the country — supports professional service firms, consulting, and knowledge-economy businesses.

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Market Data

Chapel Hill Cap Rate Ranges

Property TypeTypical Cap Rate
Industrial6.0% - 7.5%
Retail5.0% - 7.0%
Office6.0% - 8.0%
Mixed-Use5.5% - 7.0%
NNN Lease4.5% - 6.0%

Cap rates in Chapel Hill are among the lowest in the Triangle, reflecting constrained supply and university-driven demand.

Your Advisor

Why Chapel Hill Property Owners Work With John Salony

Dual Expertise

Most CRE agents don't understand business valuations. Most business brokers don't do real estate. John does both, giving you a complete picture of your property's value.

No Wasted Time

Pre-qualified buyers. Realistic pricing from day one. Clean financials and marketing materials that attract serious offers, not tire-kickers.

Confidential Process

Your tenants, employees, and competitors won't know you're selling until you're ready. Every step is managed with discretion.

Success-Based Fee

You pay nothing upfront. John's fee is earned only when your property sells. Your interests are fully aligned.

Common Questions

Selling Commercial Property in Chapel Hill

Medical and research properties near UNC are strongest, followed by Franklin Street retail.
Most sales take 3 to 8 months. Limited inventory creates competitive buyer conditions.
Chapel Hill cap rates are among the most compressed in the Triangle, reflecting university-driven stability and land scarcity. Franklin Street retail trades at 4.5% to 6.5%, with prime university-adjacent locations at the tightest end. Medical office near UNC Hospitals ranges from 5.0% to 6.5%. General office along 15-501 trades at 6.0% to 8.0%. Mixed-use properties in Meadowmont and Southern Village trade at 5.0% to 7.0%. Buyers routinely accept lower returns in Chapel Hill in exchange for the town's stability premium.
Yes — Chapel Hill's university market creates strong combined transaction opportunities. Restaurant and retail businesses on Franklin Street, medical practices near UNC Hospitals, and professional service firms with established university relationships often achieve higher total value when sold together with their real estate. The Chapel Hill location premium — driven by UNC's presence and the town's limited commercial inventory — adds value to both components. John Salony structures these deals to capture the full Chapel Hill premium.
UNC isn't going anywhere — and neither is the demand it generates. The university continues expanding its research mission, UNC Hospitals is investing in campus growth, and the town's population remains affluent and growing. Land scarcity ensures that existing commercial properties will only become more valuable as demand grows against a fixed supply base. Whether you're on Franklin Street, the 15-501 corridor, or near the medical campus, your Chapel Hill property benefits from structural advantages that most markets can't replicate. A confidential consultation can quantify that advantage for your specific property.
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