HOUSING

Photo by T.J. Drechsel

Located between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, the charming port city of Wilmington, NC, is found. Southeastern North Carolina has so much to offer, from the mild climate to the beautiful beaches, the area has been a hot spot for tourism and new residents alike. Whether you are seeking an engaging and active lifestyle or a more relaxed get away after retirement, the greater Wilmington area provides many options to choose from – all enhancing the quality of your life.

LOCAL AREAS

Wilmington, situated in the heart of New Hanover County, is surrounded by and made up of a variety of smaller communites, each with their own unique quality. Historic downtown Wilmington features restaurants, retail, hotels, condos, event venues, and plenty of sightseeing. Visitors and locals can enjoy a stroll along the Riverwalk after sampling local cuisine or taking it easy on a guided horse and carriage ride along the exposed cobblestone roads through antebellum neighborhoods. Mid-town Wilmington offers more mainstream retail, restaurants, the bustling college campus of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and the expansive greenspace and recreation offered at Long Leaf Park. Just outside of Wilmington, New Hanover County also offers three beaches that each promote its own local flair. Wrightsville Beach is located close to mid-town Wilmington, making it a convenient spot for locals to enjoy dinner at one of the popular waterfront restaurants or use the town’s walking path, known as “the loop” that circles the main part of the island. Aside from the gorgeous turquoise waters of the beach itself, boat ramps, kayak rentals, and yacht clubs are popular amenities at Wrightsville Beach as many folks enjoy boating on the waterways adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. Carolina Beach is home to many hotels, restaurants, and a beach-front boardwalk. This familyfriendly beach has a small town, country feel that promotes care-free relaxation. A bit farther south than Carolina Beach is Kure Beach, home to a pallet of oceanfront homes and condos, the Fort Fisher State Historic Site, the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, and a drive-on ferry that crosses the Cape Fear River to Southport. Neighboring New Hanover County are two counties boasting their own coastal appeal, Brunswick to the west and Pender to the north. Brunswick County is the fastest growing county in the state of North Carolina for good reason. From the suburban small-but-growing Town of Leland in the north to the coastal charm of Calabash in the south to the quaint, made-for-film riverside town of Southport, each town features its own appealing qualities. No less than six beautiful beaches line the coast of Brunswick County – Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, Oak Island, Caswell Beach, and Bald Head Island. These Brunswick County beaches are some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, a fact not lost on the throngs of new residents. With activities and recreation inland and on the coast, the Pender county communities of Burgaw, Topsail Beach, Hampstead, and Surf City are among the most popular. From fresh seafood markets, unique retail, and strawberry and blueberry farms, the small towns in Pender County keep visitors coming back and locals happy to have such a wonderful place to call home. Fishing, golf, and annual festivals keep things fun and active in Pender County. The beach towns of Surf City and Topsail Beach share an island along Pender County’s coast making these beach communities even more tight knit.

HOUSING CHOICES

After retirement, some individuals prefer to “age in place,” meaning to stay in their current home and area as they transition into their retirement years. Alternatively, a growing trend for retirees is to stay active and, above all else, genuinely enjoy where you live. For most, this means considering where adult children and grandchildren are located and situating close to them – or better yet, moving to a destination location where family can come and visit you during these years of enjoyment. For those in search of such a place to relocate, climate is often high on their list of priorities. Most folks will agree that mild year-round weather will influence their decision when planning a move after retirement. You won’t deal with snow, ice, and constant

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cloud cover here in Wilmington. Our mild, yet seasonal, climate allows for most outdoor activities to be enjoyed every day of the year. Active lifestyle communities, retirement communities, and assisted living are all offered here in Wilmington. Communities like Landfall in Wilmington, Brunswick Forest in northern Brunswick County, and Saint James in southern Brunswick County are all active lifestyle communities that don’t exclude young professionals and families from living in the communities. However, these communities are particularly appealing for independent retirement age adults who have formed groups within these neighborhoods over the years. Typically, these neighborhoods are managed by a Homeowners Association (HOA) or Condo Owners Association (COA), provide several onsite amenities such as pools, fitness centers, spas, restaurants, community gardens, and more. Community association groups, made up of neighbors volunteering their time and lending their expertise, will often form committees to plan neighborhood social events. The Village at River Landing is located in the Pender County town of Wallace and features newly constructed homes for folks of any age. This community features a golf course, miles of wooded trails, and the River Landing Clubhouse, which offers fine dining for residents. An experienced local Wilmington realtor is a great place to turn to learn more about these independent active lifestyle communities and consider which one might suit you best. Retirement communities cater specifically to mature adults who are seeking a neighborhood that will focus on promoting the wonderful years of retirement and typically will only allow folks 55 and up to reside in the community. These neighborhoods are wonderful places to make connections and socialize as most everyone has one thing in common – living the dream of retirement. Arbor Landing at Compass Pointe is a resort lifestyle retirement community located in Belville, just minutes outside of Leland in Brunswick County. Devon Parish, Executive Director of Arbor Landing at Compass Pointe, explains, “At Arbor Landing at Compass Pointe, you can still live independently. You can still drive. You can still play golf. You can still cook. However, if your needs change, we can accommodate that too.” The community offers one- and twobedroom apartments with screened in balconies, restaurant style meals served daily, weekly housekeeping services, and more. Close to downtown Wilmington and Brunswick County beaches, this community has everything within reach. Living the best years of your life on the Carolina coast doesn’t get much better than when you’re living at Cambridge Village in Wilmington. Just two miles away from beautiful Wrightsville Beach and conveniently located next to Mayfaire Town Center, Cambridge Village offers luxurious apartments, a salon, café and smoothie bar, the Village Restaurant, and more. While the amenities and convenient location speak for themselves, 55

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retiring at Cambridge Village takes away the hassles of housework, utility bills, and repairs while still allowing you to maintain your independence in an upscale community. Liberty Senior Living specializes in creating state-of-the-art communities for mature adults. Carolina Bay at Autumn Hall is one of their top-notch communities located in Wilmington. The community offers independent and assisted living with customized plans. One feature that is most convenient about Carolina Bay is the Bradley Creek Health Center, which is located on campus so residents don’t even have to leave the community for certain healthcare procedures. Carolina Bay at Autumn Hall has created an extensive social network where residents take part in community gatherings, celebrations, wellness classes and study groups. Liberty Senior Living also features Brightmore of Wilmington as one of their independent or assisted living communities. Whether you are looking for minimal assisted living or need more support, the folks at Brightmore have the perfect place for you. With an onsite library, gift and essentials shop, billiard room, and aquatics and fitness center, your needs will always be met here. Located in the northern portion of New Hanover County is Plantation Village, a non-profit retirement community that spans across 56 landscaped acres. This community has several built-in amenities making it hard for residents to find a reason to leave campus. According to Anna Cook, Marketing Coordinator for Plantation Village, “Plantation Village makes it possible to enjoy life to the fullest while we take care of the everyday hassles of homeownership. From weekly housekeeping services to landscape and home maintenance, we strive to help you make more time for the things that bring you joy.” Taking the burden out of everyday living so residents can enjoy more of what they love is important to the team at Plantation Village. The community also offers a variety of wellness classes. Cook shares, “Our heated indoor saltwater pool is one of the most beautiful spaces on our campus. It’s popular for those looking to swim laps or take our water aerobics classes. We have a lovely gym with air-based strength training equipment, cardio rowers, treadmills and bikes and we host a variety of classes in our exercise studio. You’ll find everything from tai chi and Zumba to Pilates and chair yoga at Plantation Village.” Health and wellness aren’t the only things that Planation Village concentrates on. They are known for their on-campus dining services which host a variety of options. When discussing the dining services offered at Plantation Village, Cook mentions, “The Magnolia Dining room at Plantation Village features a gorgeous view of the Blue Heron Pond and matching delicious fare created by Executive Chef John Balderson. Our menu changes weekly and there is an everyday option of filet, crab cakes or Atlantic salmon. We also have a pastry chef and partner with Feast Down East to procure meats and locally grown produce. Our upcoming expansion project includes an exciting renovation of our existing dining room and the addition of a second bistro to expand options even further. Our culinary team delights in making new creations, playing off family recipes and providing a unique dining experience for life.” No matter what type of housing you’re looking for, the Cape Fear region is ready for you to make your home here. Choosing the community that’s best for you is easy with the vast selection of housing. Which community will reflect your unique style and living preferences? Take a look at some of these featured communities today and start planning for the good life.