Real Estate News, North Carolina

Wilmington North Carolina - Top Places to Live in the South

Compass Pointe award winning swimming pool
Published on September 22, 2016

If you have recently been looking into coastal Carolina real estate, chances are that Wilmington is high up on your list. The city has been booming with new homes and new communities, with many calling it the best place to live in North Carolina. With its riverfront, pristine beaches, and delightful southern charm, Wilmington is a great place for people to retire. Residents are thrilled with the relaxed and active lifestyle, and all the nearby things to do for fun and entertainment. So its no wonder that so many people keep making their way to buy a piece of this fantastic little city by the water.

So why is Wilmington coastal Carolina real estate such a hot commodity? And what makes it the best place to live in North Carolina? According to CNN Money, Wilmington boasts:

  • an ideal climate
  • excellent nearby beaches and golf courses
  • a charming historic downtown area
  • a great business environment
  • top-notch educational facilities
  • a thriving arts scene
  • and a relatively cheap cost of living

CNN Money went on to say, "As the only city of any significant size on the North Carolina coast, Wilmington may be just at the beginning of its boom. It has a seaport, an international airport, and a UNC campus." And among other notable mentions, Wilmington was named one of the "100 Best Retirement Towns" by Where To Retire Magazine. And Golf Digest Magazine calls Wilmington one of America's "10 Best Places To Live And Golf".

As for beaches, Wrightsville Beach is one of the best in all of North Carolina. Stretching a mile along the local oceanfront, Wrightsville Beach offers clean white sands, spectacular ocean views, water sports, boating, delicious seafood, shopping and entertainment. While younger folks enjoy surfing and jetskiing, retirees can be seen strolling on the beach, fishing from piers, and venturing out on eco-tours and romantic sunset cruises. So whether you are 16 or 64, you'll have no trouble finding out why its the best place to live in North Carolina.

And in Wilmington, there is plenty of great NC coastal real estate to choose from. Whether you want to live by the beach, the river, or on a championship golf course, you can find a home within your price range. Current available listings include:

$200K-$300K

If you are looking for NC coastal real estate between $200k - $300k, there is a beautiful home at 413 Semmes Drive listed at $228,500, in the desirable Pine Valley neighborhood and school district. The home is built in a low maintenance brick ranch style, with a 2 car garage, custom trex style material deck, well irrigation, and lush landscaping. At 1,750 sq ft., the interior main level features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a formal dining room, family room w/ brick fireplace w/ electric logs, kitchen, morning room, and a laundry/mud room w/ built-in cabinetry.

$300K-$400K 

In the $300K-$400K range, there is a spacious 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 2,678 sq. ft. home at 7850 Champlain Drive, which is dubbed The Willow Oak. The home features two stories with double porches, and a nice screened in back porch, where you can sit and relax while looking out at a peaceful 8 acre lake. The master bedroom is on the first level, with a master bath including a Spa shower. The home has tile floors in the bathrooms and laundry, and hardwood throughout the main living areas. There are 14' vaulted ceilings in the living room, an open kitchen and living area, a nice large kitchen island for entertaining, and a nice open loft upstairs with access to the top balcony. Compass Pointe in Leland has an incredible selection of model homes to tour. The gated community is one of the few bliss award winners for Happiest Community of the Year.  Folks are choosing here because of the friendliness of the people, resort atmosphere and close proximity to downtown.

$400K-$750K 

If you are looking for NC coastal real estate between $400K-$750K, there is a wonderful house for $699k at 292 Whisper Park Drive. This home is brand new in Wilmington's award winning Demarest Village neighborhood off Middle Sound Loop. With 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, and 3,600 sq. ft., this is an open floor plan with a comfortable design featuring oversized front and rear porches. Features include high end stainless appliances, an induction cooktop, granite counters, coffered ceilings, a paver driveway, gorgeous ceramic tile baths, front and rear stairs, a first floor master suite, an oversized 2 car garage and a fenced rear yard. If you like privacy, this home is at the end of a private cul-de-sac on a .69 acre lot with a community park and pool.

Over $750K

If you are looking for coastal Carolina real estate over $750K, there is a magnificent 5 bedroom, 6bathroom mansion at 1902 Summer Sands Place, listed at $1,099,000. Located in the exclusive Highland Ridge section of Landfall, this is an executive home with large rooms and high ceilings that offers comfortable coastal living close to Wrightsville Beach. With 6,931 sq. ft., this home is perfect for a family, with plenty of room, a screened in porch and outer porch overlooking a fenced backyard, and spacious landscaping where you can add your own pool, spa and grill. There is a 3 car garage, and with one acre on a quiet cul de sac there is plenty of land to play and create the estate home of your dreams.  

And did we mention that Wilmington has a thriving local food, beer, and arts scene? In the downtown area, there are steakhouses, burger joints, seafood shacks, salad bars, and microbreweries galore. As for culture, on any night of the week you can go to the theatre, a film, a live music show, or visit the art galleries. If all this sounds to good to be true, then see it for yourself. Visit Wilmington this fall, when the weather warm and the beaches are delightful, and check out all the fun and wonderful things it has to offer. Ask us to send you our complimentary Wilmington relocation information, to help you learn more about the area.