For the past twenty years or so, our area has been on many Baby Boomers’ radars as a retirement destination. In fact, Brunswick and Pender Counties have experienced two of the highest growth rates in the state in recent years, and Brunswick County remains one of the fastest growing counties in the USA!
Southeastern North Carolina is particularly attractive to our northeastern friends. States like NY, NJ, PA, VA and MD look to the Wilmington-area as one hot retirement destination. And, why is that?
Well, we at the Keith Beatty Team have five reasons to share…
#1 Lower Taxes. Our northeastern friends just can’t compete with the property tax savings found here. The average effective property tax rate in NC is 0.86%, well under the national average of 1.08%. And, our tri-county, Wilmington-area is even lower! In Brunswick County (home to popular master-planned communities like Brunswick Forest, Compass Pointe and St. James Plantation,) the tax rate is .63%. New Hanover County is .713% and Pender County’s is .768%.
For example: a home with an assessed value of $400,000 would incur annual property taxes of around $2,520/Brunswick County, $2,850/New Hanover and $3,070/Pender County.
#2 Great Weather. Our mild weather means you can get outside and enjoy the things you love doing year-round! Golf, tennis, boating, biking and beach walks can be enjoyed 12 months of the year with four distinct seasons.
Our coldest month is January, with an average high of 56 degrees, and our warmest month is July, with an average of 90. What’s especially great about southeastern NC’s weather are the late afternoon coastal breezes that help to keep things cool in the summer AND keep temps up in the winter (READ: snow is a novelty here. And, if we actually see the white stuff – it doesn’t stick around for long!)
#3 Quality of Life. Our area offers a ton to do and opportunities to explore. Besides the great weather and the chance to get outside and enjoy all the activities you love, our area is loaded with fantastic restaurants and bars, shopping and antiquing, music and theatre and volunteering opportunities.
You’ll find rich history in downtown Wilmington, featuring a 200-block district bordering the Cape Fear River. And, if a college town is what you’re after — the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Cape Fear Community College can answer that call. These award-winning institutions offer opportunities for continuing education, live performances and visual art exhibitions throughout the year.
#4 Less Traffic. Traffic does happen here, we’d be remiss if we said it doesn’t, but those long commutes to the office are gone with our ocean breezes! Commuting around the Wilmington area is a breeze because everything you need for daily life can be found right around the corner. Shopping and groceries, dining, medical and more are all convenient and easy to locate.
#5 Southern Hospitality. Southern Living magazine defined “Southern Hospitality” in a recent article as offering six qualities: politeness, good home cooking, kindness, helpfulness, charm and charity. And, here in southeastern North Carolina, well – we’d like to think that we fit that mold pretty well! We invite you to come down and see for yourself!
Those are just a few of the reasons folks are finding southeastern North Carolina a wonderful place to call home, and the Keith Beatty Team would love to introduce you to our slice of paradise. Whether you’re thinking of purchasing a home, a condominium or finding a homesite and building your dream home, our team of buyer specialists will work closely with you to find your ideal neighborhood. It’s what we do best!
Learn even more about our area and search for fantastic real estate opportunities HERE or call 910.509.1924.
