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Why Choose The Nine in Clayton, NC? A Local Buyer’s Guide

If you’re wondering why choose The Nine in Clayton, NC, this neighborhood deserves a closer look if you want a very small gated community, custom luxury homes, larger wooded homesites, three-car garage options, and convenient access to the broader Flowers Plantation lifestyle.

The Nine at Flowers Plantation is a private, gated neighborhood in Johnston County. Kirkwood Builders describes the community as being named for its nine luxury homesites, with homes built exclusively by Kirkwood and originally designed at a minimum of about 3,400 square feet.

Flowers Plantation currently lists CAMS as the HOA management company for The Nine.

I’m Brandy Nemergut, Realtor ~ eXp Realty Raleigh, NC, and I help buyers compare The Nine with luxury and custom-home neighborhoods throughout Flowers Plantation, Clayton, and the greater Raleigh area.

If you’ve spotted a home on Bella Casa Way and wondered what makes The Nine different, here’s what I’d want you to know.

Where Is The Nine in Clayton, NC?

The Nine is located within Flowers Plantation in the Clayton, NC 27527 area.

The homes are centered along Bella Casa Way, accessed from the Flowers Plantation road network near East Neuse River Parkway. A recent listing for 107 Bella Casa Way describes the property as being inside The Nine and confirms a private-road, gated setting.

This is very different from driving into a subdivision with several hundred houses.

The Nine was intentionally created as a small collection of luxury homesites.

That smaller footprint is one of the neighborhood’s defining characteristics.

It also means homes don’t come on the market very often.

What Are Homes Like in The Nine?

The Nine is a custom-home neighborhood, so buyers shouldn’t expect every house to have the same elevation, floor plan, or finishes.

Kirkwood Builders originally described the community as offering homes of at least approximately 3,400 square feet on heavily wooded lots.

Existing homes show an even wider range.

For example:

22 Bella Casa Way has four bedrooms, approximately 3,349 square feet, and a roughly 0.58-acre lot.

33 Bella Casa Way has four bedrooms, approximately 4,476 square feet, and a three-car garage.

48 Bella Casa Way has five bedrooms, approximately 4,970 square feet, and a 0.43-acre lot.

107 Bella Casa Way has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, approximately 3,616 square feet, a three-car garage, and a 1.01-acre lot.

Depending on the home, buyers may find:

• Four or five bedrooms

• Main-floor primary suites

• Guest bedrooms or offices downstairs

• Three-car garages

• Chef-style kitchens

• Large kitchen islands

• Custom cabinetry

• Built-ins

• Bonus or media rooms

• Screened or three-season rooms

• Fireplaces

• Large wooded lots

• Basements on certain properties

• Extensive outdoor living areas

This is one neighborhood where I’d evaluate each property individually rather than rely on a standard neighborhood description.

1. The Nine Is Truly Small

The name tells you a lot.

Kirkwood Builders describes The Nine as a private community named for nine luxury home lots.

That creates a completely different buying experience from a large master-planned subdivision.

There aren’t dozens of streets to learn.

There aren’t hundreds of similar houses.

And turnover can be limited.

For some buyers, that smaller neighborhood footprint is exactly what they want.

For others, limited inventory can make the search harder.

If The Nine is one of your preferred neighborhoods, it helps to know that before a listing appears rather than starting your research after the right house hits the market.

2. The Nine Is Gated

Flowers Plantation and current property records identify The Nine as a gated neighborhood. The most recent listing information for 107 Bella Casa Way also identifies the roads as privately maintained.

A gate alone shouldn’t determine where you buy.

What matters is understanding what comes with it.

Before purchasing, I’d want us to verify:

• Guest-entry procedures

• Gate maintenance

• Private-road responsibilities

• Parking rules

• Architectural restrictions

• Landscaping requirements

• Any limits on exterior changes

Those details become especially important in a smaller custom community.

3. The Homes Have a Custom Feel

This is probably the biggest visual difference between The Nine and many other Flowers Plantation neighborhoods.

Kirkwood Builders built the homes specifically as luxury custom properties rather than a large collection of repeated production floor plans.

Take 107 Bella Casa Way.

Its recent listing described a two-story foyer, formal dining room with built-ins, chef’s kitchen, large island, vaulted living room, first-floor primary suite, additional first-floor bedroom or office, bonus room, three-season room, deck, patio, fireplaces, and a three-car garage.

Then look at 48 Bella Casa Way.

That home has nearly 5,000 square feet, five bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, multiple fireplaces, a main-floor primary suite, media and bonus spaces, and a three-car garage.

You’re not simply comparing bedroom counts.

You're comparing individual homes.

4. Larger Homesites Are Part of the Appeal

The Nine also offers more space around the home than many newer high-density communities.

Documented properties include:

• 48 Bella Casa Way at approximately 0.43 acres

• 22 Bella Casa Way at approximately 0.58 acres

• 70 Bella Casa Way at approximately 0.63 acres

• 107 Bella Casa Way at approximately 1.01 acres

That variety matters.

One house may give you a more manageable landscaped lot.

Another may provide an acre of space with mature trees.

If outdoor privacy is one of the reasons you're considering The Nine, look closely at the exact homesite.

Acreage alone doesn't tell you everything.

I’d also look at tree coverage, slope, drainage, usable yard, outdoor living space, and how close the neighboring homes actually feel.

5. Three-Car Garages Are Available

Garage space is another feature that helps The Nine stand apart.

107 Bella Casa Way has an attached three-car garage, and 33 Bella Casa Way is also documented with three-car parking.

That can matter if you have:

• Multiple vehicles

• A golf cart

• Bikes

• Workshop equipment

• Sports gear

• Extra storage needs

When you’re comparing higher-end homes, garage configuration can be just as important as another bonus room.

6. Some Homes Offer Main-Level Living

Large luxury homes don’t always mean everything important is upstairs.

The recent 107 Bella Casa Way listing includes a main-floor primary suite plus another bedroom or office on the main level.

48 Bella Casa Way also has a first-floor primary suite and first-floor guest bedroom.

That gives buyers more flexibility.

You could have most of your everyday living downstairs while still keeping additional bedrooms, bonus rooms, or media spaces elsewhere in the house.

If first-floor living matters to you, I’d search for that specifically because not every custom home will be configured the same way.

7. What Do Homes Cost in The Nine?

This is one neighborhood where I would be cautious about giving you a simple current price range.

Inventory is extremely limited.

In the sources I reviewed on August 10, 2026, I did not find a clearly confirmed active listing inside The Nine. Several Bella Casa Way properties are currently shown as off-market, and the most recent major transaction I found was 107 Bella Casa Way.

That property sold for $869,000 on November 19, 2025 after having been listed as high as $982,000 earlier in the year.

Another useful example is 22 Bella Casa Way, which sold for $730,000 in April 2024.

And 33 Bella Casa Way sold for $934,000 in June 2022.

Those sales show why I wouldn’t tell you that every Nine property is worth one specific number.

The homes differ in:

• Square footage

• Lot size

• Updates

• Garage space

• Outdoor living

• Basement space

• Interior finishes

• Condition

• Architectural features

In a tiny custom-home neighborhood, finding the right comparable sales takes more work.

8. Limited Inventory Changes How You Search

This deserves its own section.

If you decide you only want to live in The Nine, you may wait a while for the next opportunity.

That isn't necessarily bad.

It just changes the strategy.

Instead of opening a home-search website and choosing from ten current listings, we may need to monitor Bella Casa Way closely and be ready when one comes to market.

That’s very different from buying in a large community with regular turnover.

I’d also encourage buyers to identify their backup neighborhoods.

If you like The Nine because of the custom homes, gates, larger lots, and Flowers Plantation location, we can compare it with neighborhoods such as Pineville West, Pineville East Estates, South Quarter, Poplar Woods, and other higher-end Flowers Plantation options.

Then you're not starting over if The Nine has nothing available.

9. What Does The Nine HOA Cost?

Flowers Plantation currently lists CAMS as the management company for The Nine.

The most recent detailed MLS record I found for 107 Bella Casa Way showed a $97 monthly association fee plus a $340 annual fee, with road maintenance included. That listing also identified CAMS as the association manager.

Older Nine properties show different figures. For example, historical records for 70 and 92 Bella Casa Way showed $129 monthly plus a separate annual association fee.

That’s exactly why I wouldn't hard-code one HOA number and assume it applies forever.

Before you make an offer, we should verify:

• Current monthly dues

• Any separate annual Flowers Plantation fee

• Private-road maintenance

• Gate maintenance

• Common-area maintenance

• Architectural standards

• Landscaping rules

• Fencing restrictions

• Parking

• Rental rules

• Any pending assessments

Current HOA documents should always be the final source.

10. You Still Get the Broader Flowers Plantation Convenience

The Nine feels small and private, but you aren't isolated from the rest of Flowers Plantation.

That’s an important combination.

Flowers Crossroads currently includes Harris Teeter, UNC Physicians Network, CVS, Petco, restaurants, retail, and other everyday services.

Flowers Plantation also says the larger commercial area has approximately 150,000 square feet already developed with another 350,000 square feet being developed, including Publix in the Market at Flowers Crossroads.

A recent Bella Casa Way listing specifically highlighted golf-cart access to Harris Teeter, Publix, CVS, Petco, restaurants, and healthcare.

So The Nine gives you a custom estate-style home while keeping everyday conveniences nearby.

11. More Than 35 Miles of Paved Trails Are Nearby

Flowers Plantation currently reports more than 35 miles of paved walking trails throughout the community.

Those trails connect neighborhoods with schools, commercial areas, and the East Triangle YMCA.

That can be a nice complement to having a larger private homesite.

You can enjoy your own yard and outdoor living space while still having a broader trail network nearby.

As always, I’d check the exact route from the specific house.

The larger community may have 35-plus miles of trails, but the path you actually want to use may be closer to one property than another.

12. What Schools Are Associated With The Nine?

The most recent MLS information for 107 Bella Casa Way identified:

• River Dell Elementary

• Archer Lodge Middle

• Corinth Holders High School

However, school assignments should be verified for the exact property.

Johnston County Public Schools has approved 2026-2027 student assignment maps and directs residents to use its address-based School Finder. The district also notes that School Finder information is subject to modification.

If a particular school matters to your purchase, we’ll verify the Bella Casa Way address directly through JCPS before you make an offer.

The Nine vs. New Construction in Clayton

This is an interesting comparison.

Brand-new construction may give you:

• Builder warranties

• Brand-new HVAC and mechanical systems

• Current design selections

• Lower immediate maintenance concerns

The Nine may give you:

• Custom construction

• A completed gated setting

• Larger wooded homesites

• Mature landscaping

• Three-car garage options

• High-end finishes already installed

• Extensive outdoor living

• A much smaller neighborhood footprint

The tradeoff is that most homes in The Nine are now resales.

That means inspection and maintenance history matter.

For example, a 2015 home may already have upgrades, renovations, and extensive landscaping that would cost substantially more to recreate today. But we still need to evaluate the roof, HVAC systems, water heaters, crawl space or basement, appliances, windows, drainage, and other major components.

The Nine vs. Pineville West

If you like The Nine, Pineville West is one Flowers Plantation neighborhood I’d also consider.

Both can offer gates, larger homes, wooded settings, and more custom architecture than many production neighborhoods.

The biggest distinction is scale.

The Nine was created around only nine luxury homesites.

That makes it much more limited.

Pineville West gives buyers a larger pool of properties and streets to consider.

If you're deciding between them, I’d focus on the individual house, lot, HOA, privacy, and how often homes actually become available.

The Nine vs. South Quarter

South Quarter is another useful comparison.

South Quarter also offers a smaller gated atmosphere, distinctive architecture, and larger homesite possibilities.

But The Nine leans more clearly into large custom luxury homes originally built by one custom builder.

If what you want is the combination of Kirkwood construction, Bella Casa Way, wooded homesites, and a tiny gated community, The Nine is difficult to duplicate exactly.

Buyer Scenario: You Want Privacy Without Leaving Flowers Plantation

Suppose you like the shopping, trails, and location of Flowers Plantation.

But you don’t want a home sitting on a small production lot.

You'd rather have a larger wooded property, custom finishes, a three-car garage, and a defined gated entrance.

A house such as 107 Bella Casa Way shows what The Nine can offer: more than 3,600 finished square feet, a one-acre lot, main-floor primary suite, three-car garage, bonus space, outdoor living, and a private-road setting.

For the right buyer, that combination makes The Nine stand out.

Buyer Scenario: Your Bigger Problem Is Finding Inventory

Maybe you already know you want The Nine.

Your issue isn't deciding whether you like it.

It's finding a house to buy.

That’s realistic in a community this small.

The answer may be to monitor the neighborhood closely while also identifying two or three nearby communities that give you similar features.

That way, you can wait for the right property without putting your entire move on hold indefinitely.

Common Mistakes Buyers Make in The Nine

One mistake is assuming a luxury neighborhood means every home is the same quality, size, or condition.

They aren't.

Custom homes need to be compared individually.

Another is relying on the neighborhood’s original builder pricing. Kirkwood still references historical starting prices on its website, but those numbers were tied to original construction and should not be treated as current resale pricing.

Another mistake is assuming an old HOA amount is current.

The HOA figures in older Bella Casa Way records differ from the most recent 2025 sale record, so verify CAMS documents before purchasing.

And finally, don't wait until you see a listing you love to learn the neighborhood.

With inventory this limited, you may need to move more quickly when the right property appears.

FAQ About The Nine in Clayton, NC

Is The Nine part of Flowers Plantation?

Yes. Flowers Plantation officially lists The Nine as one of its individual neighborhoods.

Why is it called The Nine?

Kirkwood Builders says the private gated neighborhood was named for its nine luxury home lots.

Is The Nine gated?

Yes. Both builder information and recent MLS records identify The Nine as a gated community.

Who built the homes in The Nine?

Kirkwood Builders says the homes were built exclusively by Kirkwood Builders, a local custom-home builder.

How large are homes in The Nine?

Kirkwood originally marketed homes at a minimum of approximately 3,400 square feet. Existing properties range from roughly 3,300 square feet to nearly 5,000 square feet among the documented Bella Casa Way homes reviewed for this guide.

Are there large lots in The Nine?

Yes. Documented homesites include approximately 0.43, 0.58, 0.63, and 1.01 acres.

Does The Nine have an HOA?

Yes. Flowers Plantation currently lists CAMS as the HOA management company. The latest detailed sale record reviewed for this article also identifies CAMS and private-road maintenance.

How much are homes in The Nine?

Turnover is limited, so recent sales are more useful than a broad price range. 107 Bella Casa Way sold for $869,000 in November 2025, while 22 Bella Casa Way sold for $730,000 in April 2024. Individual values vary significantly based on size, lot, condition, and custom features.

What schools serve The Nine?

Recent MLS data for 107 Bella Casa Way identified River Dell Elementary, Archer Lodge Middle, and Corinth Holders High School. Buyers should confirm current assignment through the official Johnston County Public Schools School Finder for the exact address.

Why choose The Nine in Clayton, NC?

The Nine may be a strong fit if you want a very small gated Flowers Plantation neighborhood with custom Kirkwood homes, larger wooded lots, spacious floor plans, three-car garage options, and convenient access to shopping and trails.

Thinking About Buying in The Nine?

If you’re considering The Nine in Clayton, NC, the biggest challenge may simply be finding the right home when it becomes available.

We can monitor Bella Casa Way, review past sales, compare individual custom features, evaluate the HOA and private-road responsibilities, verify school assignments, and compare The Nine with Pineville West, South Quarter, Pineville East Estates, Poplar Woods, and other Flowers Plantation neighborhoods.

The goal isn’t to tell you The Nine is right for everybody.

It’s to determine whether the custom homes, larger lots, gated setting, limited inventory, and Flowers Plantation location fit the way you want to live.

Brandy Nemergut, Realtor ~ eXp Realty Raleigh, NC helps buyers explore The Nine, Flowers Plantation, Clayton, and communities throughout the greater Raleigh area.

Brandy Nemergut, Realtor ~ eXp Realty Raleigh, NC
[email protected]
919-583-6895
LivingInRaleighNow.com