Van Starling is a knowledgeable, thoughtful Global Real Estate Professional who truly cares about the people he serves. He is kind, responsive, and a wonderful communicator—qualities that make all the difference in real estate. If you’re buying or selling in Cary or the greater North Carolina market, you’ll be in excellent hands with Van.

If you're looking for a realtor in the Cary area, stop searching and call Van Starling.About a year ago, my family was only thinking about relocating from Michigan to Cary, NC. There was no guarantee we'd ever make the move, yet Van spent two full days driving us around different communities, educating us about the area, and helping us understand the unique character of each neighborhood. He genuinely cared about our family's story and wanted us to make the best decision—not just buy a house.Throughout the entire process, Van was incredibly responsive, patient, knowledgeable, and kind. He answered every question (and there were a lot!), and never made us feel rushed.Because we were relocating from out of state, Van completed countless virtual showings for us—even when we weren't sure a home would be the right fit. He took the time to understand exactly what we were looking for and helped us narrow our search to MacGregor Downs and Lochmere, two of the most competitive neighborhoods in Cary.Without Van's expertise in those communities and his lightning-fast response time to schedule showings, I honestly don't think we would have ended up in our dream neighborhood.What has impressed me just as much is that his support didn't end at closing. He continues to check in, send referrals for local contractors and services, answer questions, and help us get settled into the community. We genuinely look forward to seeing him around town and at community events.Van is everything you hope a realtor will be: knowledgeable, honest, patient, hardworking, and someone who truly puts his clients first. He went above and beyond in ways we never expected.I already plan to have him help my mom find her own home in North Carolina in a few years so she can join us here. Call Van!

If you're looking for a realtor in the Raleigh area, I can't recommend Van Starling highly enough.We relocated from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, and what could have been an incredibly stressful process turned into a smooth and enjoyable experience because of Van. Our home search wasn't straightforward—we had a long list of requirements, and one of our biggest challenges was finding a home that worked around our kids' sports practices and game locations. That meant carefully evaluating different communities, commute times, and future convenience, not just the homes themselves.Van went above and beyond every step of the way. He spent multiple days showing us neighborhoods and homes during several trips to North Carolina, always taking the time to educate us on the different areas and helping us understand the pros and cons of each location. He was incredibly patient, never rushed us, and genuinely cared about helping us find the right home rather than simply making a sale.When we finally found "the one," Van was an outstanding advocate during negotiations. His market knowledge, communication, and strategy helped us secure a great deal, and he guided us through every step of the process with confidence and professionalism.One of the things that impressed us most happened after we were already under contract. We unexpectedly ran into significant challenges with the sale of our home in Pennsylvania that threatened to delay our move. Rather than simply waiting to see what happened, Van immediately jumped in and worked seamlessly with our realtor in Pennsylvania. He helped us think through every option, communicated proactively with everyone involved, and adjusted plans for our final walkthrough and closing in North Carolina as circumstances changed. During what could have been an incredibly stressful time, he remained calm, solution-oriented, and reassuring, making us feel like we always had someone in our corner.Buying a home from another state can be overwhelming, but Van made it feel easy. He was always responsive, proactive, honest, and someone we knew we could trust completely. We never felt like just another transaction—we felt like he genuinely cared about helping our family make the right move and ensuring everything came together successfully.If you're buying or selling a home in the Triangle area, especially if you're relocating, do yourself a favor and call Van Starling. We couldn't be happier with our experience and are incredibly grateful for everything he did for our family.—Josh & Kate

Working with Van Starling was one of the best decisions we made during our move from Pennsylvania to North Carolina. Relocating to another state while trying to find the right home is challenging enough, but our search came with an extra layer of complexity. Our kids' sports schedules and practice locations heavily influenced where we could live, so finding the right community was just as important as finding the right house. Van took the time to truly understand our family's needs and never tried to steer us toward a quick decision. Instead, he helped us evaluate neighborhoods, commute times, schools, and long-term fit until we found the perfect home. Over multiple trips to North Carolina, Van was incredibly generous with his time, showing us homes and educating us about the Triangle area. His local knowledge, patience, and honest advice gave us confidence that we were making the right decisions, even while buying from another state. When we found the right home, Van was an exceptional negotiator. He understood the market, developed a smart strategy, and guided us through every step of the contract process with excellent communication. What really set Van apart, though, was how he handled unexpected challenges after we were under contract. We ran into significant issues with the sale of our Pennsylvania home that affected our moving timeline. Van worked seamlessly with our Pennsylvania realtor, helped us evaluate every option, coordinated changes to our final walkthrough and closing schedule, and kept everyone moving in the same direction. Throughout the process, he remained calm, proactive, and solution-focused, which gave us tremendous peace of mind during a stressful situation. Van never made us feel like just another client. He genuinely cared about helping our family find the right home and ensuring our move was successful from start to finish. If you're looking for a knowledgeable, trustworthy, responsive, and dedicated realtor in the Triangle area—especially if you're relocating—I wholeheartedly recommend Van Starling. We are incredibly grateful for everything he did for our family and wouldn't hesitate to work with him again. —Josh & Kate

Van was such a nice person to work with! We sold our home "by owner," and Van was the real estate agent for our buyers. He was so attentive with us as well and regularly checked in to make sure we didn't have any questions or concerns. We felt like he was also our agent! I highly recommend working with Van!

We have had an exceptional experience working with Van Starling II and cannot recommend him highly enough.Our relationship with Van began somewhat unexpectedly when he reached out to inquire whether we might be interested in selling our townhome in Cary, NC. While the initial solicitation caught us off guard, that conversation quickly revealed the kind of person and professional Van is, knowledgeable, genuine, respectful, and focused on creating value rather than simply closing a transaction.Although Van represented the buyers in our transaction, he treated us with the same level of care, professionalism, and attention that one would expect from their own agent. Throughout the process, he was responsive, transparent, and proactive in helping both parties navigate what ultimately became a successful For Sale by Owner (FSBO) transaction.His guidance, diligence, and commitment to ensuring a smooth experience for everyone involved made a significant difference. Van consistently demonstrated integrity and a collaborative approach that helped build trust and confidence from start to finish.If you are considering buying or selling a home, I would highly recommend Van and the team at Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty. It was truly a pleasure working with him, and we are grateful for the outstanding experience he provided.Terry/Jenn

Working with Van truly felt like working with a real estate superstar. We walked away from our initial meeting with him with the utmost confidence. He was extremely patient throughout our entire home buying process, especially as we slowly figured out what we were looking for in our first home at the beginning of our search. It felt as if Van was only an arm's length away with how quickly he responded to our questions, connected us and coordinated with contractors, and met us at showings. He went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable during every step of the process and made the overwhelming journey of being a first-time home buyer feel like a breeze. We would not hesitate to work with Van again!

What started as our home search two years ago, finally materialized into our first home purchase just this past month. We were set on a very specific area and looking for a turn-key property, which is a tough ask in our local market. If it wasn’t for Van’s guidance, I truly believe we would have missed out on a home that has already been a dream for us. It took a lot of patience, learning, and perseverance, but Van was right there with us every step of the way to answer questions and guide us through the process. We’re so appreciative to have worked with him and other colleagues of his at Hodge & Kittrell. If you’re lucky enough to work with Van, don’t pass on the opportunity!

2nd experience with Van, once as listing agent, and recently as buyer's agent. Van is a true professional, proactive, thorough, and so cordial in his personal demeanor. Demonstrates commitment as "our realtor". Will continue to assist in our future real estate needs.

Van Starling is an exceptional real estate professional.