Is There Anywhere Else?

If you read Carolina Dreamin’ on a fairly regular basis, it is no surprise that I tout the many positive attributes of Coastal Southeastern North Carolina, which currently is a very popular option for those looking for a second home or area to retire to. Miles and miles of soft sandy beaches, great year round weather, affordable lifestyle, tons to do, yada, yada, yada!!

Last month I received a number of responses and comments from people about my article on eliminating areas on your search, as this is either a conscious or unconscious decision everyone partakes in during their journey to find paradise. In fact, the bulk of folks looking at this area are typically considering points as far north as Williamsburg, VA to southern Florida, so from my decades of travel up and down the east coast, here are some thoughts that you may wish to ponder when considering the following areas:

Southeastern Virginia

• Weather-wise you are still in the snow/ice zone and you have winters
• Norfolk and Newport News are quite industrial. VA Beach is very touristy
• Williamsburg offers some nice plantations but also exudes a very touristy feel to it

NC Outer Banks Region

• Other than the beach, there’s nothing to do on the OBX
• Albemarle Plantation and New Bern are nice but very, very remote.
• Morehead City and Beaufort, NC are quiet and next to Camp LeJeune Marine base

Myrtle Beach Region

• #2 family vacation destination (12+ million visitors) in the US behind Orlando
• You have to love 24/7 mega retail, traffic, golf, tourists and congestion to live in MB
• Pawley’s Island & Litchfield are nice resort/vacation-oriented communities

Charleston

• If you live in or near a large city now, why would you want to move to another one?
• Area offers very few attractive/new retirement type plantations
• Considerable urban sprawl occurring

Hilton Head Region

• Huge tourist destination. Traffic is a nightmare all summer long.
• Beach access is very minimal. No downtown – just strip shopping centers
• Bluffton is up-and-coming but you must rely on Hilton Head or Savannah for anything

Florida

• And it’s “Hot, Hot, Hot”!!! You are living in extreme weather, so why not escape it?
• Many Floridians flee the state from May till September. Where would you go?
• Very far from family and friends

Brunswick County offers a myriad of options with regards to real estate. The wide open barrier islands of Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, Oak Island and Bald Head Island are perfect for summer getaways and family fun. The Plantations that have sprung from the Live Oaks and Sugar Magnolias are home to thousands looking for a rich and rewarding retirement. We have new homes starting at $100,000 ranging to multi-million dollar beach front estates on our five islands, so in terms of housing, we have you covered.

They say that many places look good on paper however, you know that the only way to place merit in what “they” say is to get out and explore these areas on your own. For those of us already living here, heck, we know we’ve got it good!!
Best of luck on your journey!