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At some point in life, everyone thinks about living by the beach. It’s an attractive lifestyle with the sun and the waves literally at your doorstep. If you’re looking for homes for sale in North Carolina and you want to relocate to the coast, we recommend checking out Wilmington.
About Wilmington
Wilmington is a small city of about 120,000 on the southern part of North Carolina’s Atlantic coast. Though a tourist town at heart, Wilmington doesn’t get nearly as busy in the summer as the beaches on the Outer Banks farther to the North. For a long time, Wilmington was the largest city in North Carolina, and nowadays, most North Carolinians see it as a relaxing vacation destination or an enticing area for retirement or downsized living.
If you think this might be the city for you, we’ve compiled a quick list of 5 reasons to relocate to Wilmington.
1. Wilmington has great beaches
This should go without saying, but Wilmington’s beaches are a big reason why so many people choose to relocate here. Wilmington residents are well within an hour’s drive of some of the best beaches in North Carolina, including Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Topsail Beach, and Surf City. Head to the sea after work in the summer and take in the sun, or come for a private stroll in the winter when it’s just you, the cool air, and the waves.
2. Wilmington has great fishing opportunities
Fishing is a huge part of North Carolina culture, especially along the coast. If you’re an angler looking to relocate to Wilmington, you’ll soon fall in love. Whether you fish from the pier or putter around on a Jon boat in the intercoastal waterway, you’ll find enough wildlife variety to make every catch memorable. Some of the most common fish you’ll find around Wilmington are sheepshead, red drum, sea bass, and lizardfish.
3. Wilmington is surrounded by beautiful countryside
America’s coasts are just as enigmatic as the mountains and the rolling farmland. The countryside outside Wilmington is low and flat and generally wide open. You’ll get that “big sky feeling” of the Midwest while still being close to the sea. Plus, you’re far enough south to see plenty of palm trees and overwhelming amounts of greenery in general during the summer.
The areas around the Cape Fear River are especially beautiful. Whether you like to canoe or stand-up paddleboard, exploring this river and its mystifying marshlands is a treasure for any outdoor enthusiasts looking to relocate to Wilmington.
4. Wilmington has a strong real estate market
Just about every place in the United States can point to the most recent uptick in home sale prices and claim they have a strong market. While Wilmington home values have increased dramatically over the last two years, the real sign of its strength lies in the fact that Wilmington homes have appreciated at an average of 3.4% yearly since the year 2000.
The median price for a single-family home in Wilmington, NC is $334,829, about forty thousand less than the national average, which makes it an enticing city for new home buyers, and about fifty-thousand dollars more than the North Carolina average, which makes Wilmington a step up for many seasoned homeowners looking to relocate to a new location in the state.
Most of the homes in Wilmington are around 40-50 years old, giving the area a mature look. The majority of homes for sale in Wilmington are two to three-bedroom ranch-style homes with large lawns in well-shaded neighborhoods. You can also find townhomes and condos for sale near Wilmington’s downtown area.
About 60% of the population owns their home, while the remainder rent. If you’re looking to relocate to Wilmington and you’re thinking about investing in rental property, Wilmington is a great place to put your money.
5. Wilmington has a laid back atmosphere
If you’re tired of living in a high-energy city and want a slower-pace of life, Wilmington has you covered. Something about being close to the ocean dramatically changes how you prioritize life, and Wilmington residents widely cite how much they enjoy the relaxed-fit atmosphere that permeates the city, especially during the off-season from Fall to Spring.
6. Wilmington has a lot of history to explore
As we mentioned earlier, Wilmington used to be North Carolina’s largest city, for quite a long time. If you’re relocating to Wilmington and want to get in touch with its past, head downtown and check out all the old preserved houses that line the old city streets. You can learn about the prehistoric past at the Cape Fear Museum of History and Art, and stranger things at the waterfront Museum of the Bizarre.
If you cross the river, you can explore the USS North Carolina, a Second World War battleship beloved by Wilmington residents. This ship saw action in the Pacific and was nearly broken up in the ‘60s till it was saved from destruction and maintained as a museum ship.
These are just a few things that make Wilmington a great place to relocate to. We’re sure that you’ll find many more aspects to love about the city by the sea if you make the move. If you’re ready to start looking for homes for sale in Wilmington, get in touch with a real estate agent today and make living by the ocean a dream come true.
