Lisa Ellis - Real Estate by Design

Lisa Ellis - Real Estate by Design Your Personal Key to the Triangle. that gives Lisa’s clients the advantage of something money can’t buy- her wisdom.

Serving Durham and the Triangle since 1996 with expert guidance for buyers and sellers. 30 years of local market knowledge, trusted advice, and professional representation through every step of your move. From Lisa’s first sacarry �restaurants, have given her a worldview adept at welcoming residents from all over the planet and making them feel at home here in North Carolina. Like her favorite Ein

stein quote, “not to be a success, but Ellis’s priorities are all substance, and a genuine passion for people as the keys to her success in keeping clients happy and coming back. See whEllis and her team at Real Estate by Design can do for you and thank your

Falls Lake is the place to be this Friday and Saturday. Two Sisters Adventure Company is running four different ways to ...
09/04/2026

Falls Lake is the place to be this Friday and Saturday. Two Sisters Adventure Company is running four different ways to get on the water: an illuminated Light the Night Paddle Friday evening, a guided Durham History Paddle Saturday morning, a hands-on Women's Kayaking 101 class, and guide-supported canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding at Hickory Hill all Saturday afternoon. Whether you want instruction, history, or just an easy afternoon on calm water, there's a way in. Reservations are required for all four, so book ahead.

Full weekend guide: LisaEllis.com/WeekendGuide

🔑 Your Personal Key to the Triangle

Just Listed323 Oxfordshire Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27517I'm so excited to introduce this beautifully updated home in South...
09/04/2026

Just Listed
323 Oxfordshire Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27517

I'm so excited to introduce this beautifully updated home in Southpoint Manor, set on a .42-acre homesite backing up to protected U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land!

This thoughtfully updated home pairs wooded privacy with a fenced, level backyard and access to the neighborhood pool and playground. A sweeping rocking-chair front porch and double wood entry doors set the tone, and hardwood floors flow through a formal dining room, a versatile living room or office, and a family room centered on a gas-log fireplace. The updated kitchen features new quartz countertops, a glass subway-tile backsplash, a Wolf four-burner cooktop and a generous island, plus a butler's pantry and sunlit breakfast area. A sunroom with walls of windows opens through new French doors to a Trex deck overlooking the wooded backyard. Upstairs, four bedrooms and three full baths include a primary suite with two walk-in closets and a spa-like bath with a jetted tub and oversized walk-in shower. A bonus room, third-floor walk-up attic and new carpet round out a long list of updates.

See more photos and a video tour at 323oxfordshirelane.com.

If you've been looking for wooded privacy and space to spread out, without giving up neighborhood amenities like the pool and playground, I'd love to show you around. Call, text or write.

🔑 Your Personal Key to the Triangle

Weekly Home Maintenance: Flip or Rotate Your MattressesMattresses wear unevenly if they're never moved, and most people ...
09/03/2026

Weekly Home Maintenance:
Flip or Rotate Your Mattresses

Mattresses wear unevenly if they're never moved, and most people don't notice until there's a dip right where they always sleep. I always tell people, flipping or rotating your mattress a couple times a year is one of the easiest maintenance tasks in the whole house, and it makes a real difference in how long the mattress actually lasts.

Here's what I look for:

Check what your mattress allows – Not every mattress is meant to be flipped. Some are one-sided and only need to be rotated head to foot, so check the tag or the manufacturer's site if you're not sure.

Rotate or flip every mattress in use – Don't stop at the primary bedroom, go through the kids' rooms and any bed that gets regular use. A guest room that rarely sees anyone can wait, but anything people actually sleep on should get done.

Vacuum before you flip it back – While the mattress is up, vacuum both the mattress and the box spring or frame underneath to clear out dust and debris.

Check for sagging or damage – While you're at it, look for lumps, sagging, or stains that might mean it's time to start thinking about a replacement.

Reset the sheets and mattress protector – Once it's flipped or rotated, wash the mattress protector and sheets while everything's already off the bed.

It's a small task, but it keeps your mattresses supportive and comfortable a lot longer, which means fewer surprise replacements down the road.

Just a heads up, if you ever want a full home maintenance walkthrough or a second set of eyes before you sell, call, text, or write. Happy to help.

🔑 Your Personal Key to the Triangle

Featured Listing123 Gregory's Grange Drive, Yanceyville, NC 27379I want to put a spotlight on this better-than-new home ...
09/03/2026

Featured Listing
123 Gregory's Grange Drive, Yanceyville, NC 27379

I want to put a spotlight on this better-than-new home in Gregory's Grange, ready for its next owners to move right in!

This one-level, split-bedroom home lives large and open, with low-maintenance LVP floors flowing throughout and a fenced, massive backyard for enjoying the outdoors. The kitchen offers a large center island, soft-close doors and drawers, a tile backsplash and quartz countertops, along with a refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and microwave. A huge walk-in pantry with wood shelving and an oversized laundry room with cabinets and a folding shelf add everyday convenience. The primary suite features a large walk-in closet and a luxury bath with a barn door, a frameless glass walk-in shower, double sinks and additional cabinet storage. The oversized 2-car garage leaves room for parking and a workshop.

See more photos and additional details at 123gregorysgrangedrive.com.

If you're looking for a move-in ready home with room to spread out inside and out, I'd love to show you around. Call, text or write.

🔑 Your Personal Key to the Triangle

Explore Durham:Ideal's Sandwich and Grocery2108 Angier AvenueDurham, NC 27703A really good deli sandwich doesn't need mu...
09/02/2026

Explore Durham:
Ideal's Sandwich and Grocery
2108 Angier Avenue
Durham, NC 27703

A really good deli sandwich doesn't need much dressing up, just fresh bread, real fillings, and the right condiments, and Ideal's Sandwich and Grocery has built a following in Durham on exactly that. Paul and Ian met years ago at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and after both landed in North Carolina, they opened Ideal's in a brick building on Angier Avenue in early 2020. This year, that following added up to a new local honor, Best Sandwich in Durham Magazine's 2026 Best of Durham awards.

The name isn't a pun on "the ideal sandwich." It's for Ian's grandfather, Ideal Thomas Saldi, who was born on April Fools Day alongside a twin sister named Idea, a detail their father spent the next day convincing skeptical friends was true. It's a fitting namesake for a shop built on getting a simple thing exactly right.

Thursday–Monday | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

🔑 Your Personal Key to the Triangle

Retirement planning conversations usually start with savings and investments. Housing often gets left out, even though f...
09/02/2026

Retirement planning conversations usually start with savings and investments. Housing often gets left out, even though for a lot of longtime homeowners, it's one of the biggest pieces of the picture.

In this week's RealGuide, I'm walking through how a home sale (or staying put) fits into retirement planning: what your equity actually looks like, what your next home might really cost, when to start the conversation, and why you don't need a moving date locked in before we talk.

Read the full guide at LisaEllis.com/RealGuide.

🔑 Your Personal Key to the Triangle

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."— Thomas EdisonEvery good outcome I've had in this busi...
09/01/2026

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
— Thomas Edison

Every good outcome I've had in this business came after a few wrong turns first. That's not a secret, it's just how the work goes.

Thirty years in, I've built my own long list of what doesn't work: the wrong paint color for a certain buyer pool, a price that tested the market instead of setting it, a "sure thing" that wasn't. Every one of them taught me something I still use.

That's really what you're paying for when you hire someone with this much time in Durham: not perfection, but a long memory of what to avoid. If you want someone who's already made the mistakes so you don't have to, call, text or write.

🔑 Your Personal Key to the Triangle

Just Listed901 South Bend Drive, Durham, NC 27713I'm so excited to introduce this spacious ranch-style home in The Hills...
09/01/2026

Just Listed
901 South Bend Drive, Durham, NC 27713

I'm so excited to introduce this spacious ranch-style home in The Hills at Southpoint, tucked against a wooded backdrop with a full basement and so much room to spread out!

The Hills at Southpoint puts you minutes from I-40, The Streets at Southpoint, Duke, UNC and RDU International Airport, with direct access to the American To***co Trail and neighborhood amenities that include an Olympic-size pool, clubhouse, tennis courts and a playground. Inside, wood floors flow through an open kitchen, breakfast area and family room with built-in bookcases and triple windows framing peaceful backyard views. The kitchen features granite countertops, a farmhouse-sink island, 42-inch cabinetry, a gas cooktop and stainless hood. The main-level primary suite offers hand-scraped wood floors, a double-tray ceiling and an updated bath with a soaking tub and glass-enclosed shower. Downstairs, the mostly finished basement adds a home theater, wine cellar and huge flexible space, plus upper and lower decks for entertaining. Fresh paint and new carpet throughout.

See more photos and a video tour at 901southbenddrive.com.

If you've been looking for space to spread out without giving up that peaceful, wooded feel, I'd love to show you around. Call, text or write.

🔑 Your Personal Key to the Triangle

Just a heads up, Alamance's July numbers show real cooling, not just a one-number blip. Homes averaged 30 days on market...
08/31/2026

Just a heads up, Alamance's July numbers show real cooling, not just a one-number blip. Homes averaged 30 days on market, a full week longer than this time last year. Closed sales dropped more than 15% from a year ago too.

Price came down as well, the median sales price fell to $315,000, down about 6% from last July. But price per square foot barely moved, down just 1%, which tells me the underlying value hasn't dropped nearly as much as the median suggests.

If you're thinking about selling in Alamance, this is a market where timing and pricing matter more than they did a year ago. Call me before you start the process, I'd rather help you get ahead of it than catch up to it.

Full breakdown here: LisaEllis.com/AlamanceUpdate

🔑 Your Personal Key to the Triangle

Every renovation conversation I have eventually splits into two timelines. There's the home you'll live in for the next ...
08/31/2026

Every renovation conversation I have eventually splits into two timelines. There's the home you'll live in for the next several years, and there's the home a buyer will eventually walk through when you're ready to sell.

Some owners plan around exactly how they use the space now: a kitchen that fits how they actually cook, a primary suite that works for them today. Others keep half an eye on resale the whole time, choosing finishes and layouts that will read well to whoever comes next.

Both are reasonable ways to plan a project. How do you weigh the two?

If you ever want to talk one through, I'm happy to, whether you're selling soon or just weighing the renovation decision.

🔑 Your Personal Key to the Triangle

Address

5003 Southpark Drive, Suite 110
Durham, NC
27713

Telephone

(919) 606-1754

Website

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