Harwood-Argusville, ND Real Estate 2026: The $3 Billion Data Center Story
Applied Digital's Polaris Forge 2 AI data center was approved Sept 10, 2025 — 280MW, 700 construction jobs, and a live annexation fight between Harwood and Fargo. Here's the honest picture for buyers and sellers on the north edge of the metro.
— Jim Christl, Modern Market REALTORS®
What's Happening Right Now
Applied Digital's $3B Polaris Forge 2 data center — approved and breaking ground
Harwood City Council unanimously approved the rezone from agricultural to light industrial on September 10, 2025, clearing the way for Applied Digital's $3 billion Polaris Forge 2 AI data center. The site delivers 280MW of initial capacity, roughly 700 construction jobs during the build, and 200+ full-time operators once online. Groundbreaking was September 2025, with full capacity targeted for early 2027. For north-metro real estate, this is the single largest capital project in the county — it changes commute patterns, contractor demand, and rental absorption for the next 24 months.
The Fargo–Harwood annexation fight isn't over
Fargo has been pushing to annex the data center site itself, which would move tax revenue and jurisdictional control from Harwood to Fargo. The dispute is still active as of early 2026. For buyers, that means the political future of the site's tax base is unsettled — worth understanding if you're looking at newer construction close to the Harwood boundary or considering land within the disputed footprint.
The Harwood-Argusville resale market is tiny — expect thin inventory
Combined finished-home inventory across Harwood and Argusville is often just one or two homes at any given moment (the snapshot above counts homes; raw land, when it's listed, is separate). Argusville is the smaller of the two (part of Northern Cass District 7-9, no 2025-2026 development news of note). Harwood proper is where nearly all the activity clusters, and even there the resale market runs on a home or two at a time. If you're set on Harwood-Argusville specifically, expect to move quickly when the right home surfaces and plan to expand your search into north Fargo or West Fargo if you need more choice.
What This Means for Buyers
This is a small, thin market with an outsized economic story next door. Buyers should think in terms of two horizons: the current inventory (often just a home or two on any given day, so patience and fast decision-making both matter) and the 24-month horizon as data center construction ramps up. If you're relocating for a Polaris Forge role, look at Harwood proper, north Fargo, and Argusville — and let us set up an alert so you're notified the moment new inventory hits NorthstarMLS.
What This Means for Sellers
If you own in Harwood right now, you're selling into a market where demand fundamentals just got stronger — but the buyer pool is still small and price bands are wide. The right move is disciplined pricing against live comps (not neighbor gossip), pristine presentation because every showing counts, and marketing that reaches the data center's contractor and operator pipeline. We'll build the pricing case from live NorthstarMLS data and target the right buyer channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Applied Digital data center actually being built?
Yes. Harwood City Council approved the rezone September 10, 2025 and Applied Digital broke ground the same month. Polaris Forge 2 is a $3 billion project delivering 280MW of initial AI compute capacity, with roughly 700 construction jobs during the build and 200+ full-time operators once online. Full capacity is targeted for early 2027.
Will Fargo annex the Harwood data center site?
That's the open question. Fargo has continued pushing to annex the site itself. The dispute affects who collects the property tax revenue and who has jurisdiction over the parcel, but does not change whether the project gets built. If you're buying near the boundary, ask your agent about the current status of the annexation before writing an offer.
How many homes are for sale in Harwood and Argusville right now?
Combined finished-home inventory across Harwood and Argusville is very small — often just one or two homes at any given time. The live count and median list price are shown at the top of this post and refresh every 5 minutes from NorthstarMLS. If you want to be notified when new inventory hits the MLS, we can set up a saved search.
What school district serves Harwood, ND?
Harwood is served by West Fargo Public Schools (WF 6). Argusville is served by Northern Cass District 7-9 (7-9 in Argusville, 10-12 in nearby Arthur; roughly 690 students district-wide).
Is Harwood-Argusville a good place to buy a home in 2026?
It makes sense if you want to be near the north-metro data center economic activity, in the WF 6 school district (Harwood) or the Northern Cass district (Argusville), and you're comfortable with a small resale pool. It doesn't make sense if you need immediate move-in choice — thin inventory means you may wait weeks or months for the right home. As always, it depends on your priorities.