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Hi all. I am planning to relocate from the NE to coastal North Carolina in about 2 years. I am a single woman receiving SS and pension. I need affordable housing without being in a high crime area. The areas I am looking at are Supply and Elizabeth City. I would prefer not to live in a very big city for safety reasons. Are there apartment complexes in either of these areas with rent at 650 or below that are in low crime areas, allow pets and don't have insect problems? I would also like to avoid college areas. Or should I look at privately owned rental properties? I would like to purchase (<65K), but am putting that on hold until I become familiar with the area. Any information that you could give me about either of these areas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I need affordable housing without being in a high crime area. The areas I am looking at are Supply and Elizabeth City.
Do you have particular reasons for looking at those two towns? (Elizabeth City has college students.) There are other areas like Newport and Cape Carteret which have very low crime rates, and reasonable rentals can be found nearby. With a $650 budget many of the rentals you would find are mobile homes. I don't mind a mobile home, which can offer more privacy than an apartment, and you can control the insects yourself. I was looking at Trulia to locate the rentals.
I was looking at these two areas because they are the only ones I found so far that are near the ocean and have affordable housing. I don't mind a mobile home either. I will look into the towns you mentioned also. I am doing quite a bit of research - it's just nice to get some perspective from someone who is more familiar with the area than I am. Thanks!
Elizabeth City has lots of affordable housing because its inland and has a lot of public housing. For perspective, Camden County next door has NO public housing at all...not even a senior living subsidized housing community. I'd be willing to bet there are limited subsidized communities in many coastal counties, Currituck, Dare, Brunswick or the Hampstead area of Pender...it was mostly rural land leading up to the beach communities and mobile homes were prevalent.
There are less and less mobile homes now, for awhile there Brunswick Co allocated $500,000 a year just to the removal of dilapidated mobile homes in an effort to clean up the county and preserve property values. It actually has had a positive effect on the rural landscape. For this reason, I would recommend the Supply area if you find something suitable for you. Its fairly easy access to Oak Island, Sunset Beach or even Ocean Isle Beach and just down the road from the new Novant Medical Center in Bolivia. You may also look into Shallotte which is more of a town with grocery and other options. I would not consider either of these options high crime, more rural landscape, small town feel.
You say you are looking to purchase for less than 65K? That's a tall order near the coast...you may consider Burgaw, which is a safe community. Castle Hayne might work, maybe Supply, Shallotte...maybe even Sneads Ferry or Holly Ridge. There are not a lot of rental options in these areas outside of mobile homes or older houses, because it was all rural until 15-20 years ago.
I knew it was a tall order. That's why I looked for advice. I am definitely not looking for public housing. I don't think I would qualify for it anyway. I just want someplace safe to live where I don't have to spend my entire income every month on bills. I really don't want too rural of a town. That makes it more difficult to meet people and make friends. I have to avoid big cities with my budget also because I know what kind of housing that would get me. Thanks for the suggestions - it really does help.
I knew it was a tall order. That's why I looked for advice. I am definitely not looking for public housing. I don't think I would qualify for it anyway. I just want someplace safe to live where I don't have to spend my entire income every month on bills. I really don't want too rural of a town. That makes it more difficult to meet people and make friends. I have to avoid big cities with my budget also because I know what kind of housing that would get me. Thanks for the suggestions - it really does help.
I am thinking Carteret co too...Newport is a nice little town. I have a good friend that lives there and I have spent a good amount of time there as well. Cape Carteret as mentioned is a good option too. it is only like 3 miles from the beach (emerald Isle) and just like 5 miles from Swansboro which is one of my favorite little towns. I am betting Newport would be cheaper though...further from the ocean.
I would also think about exploring Hampstead or Sneads Ferry...
Agreed, there are many mobile homes in either area. Sneads Ferry also has apartments, but they were recently built and are marketed as luxury apartments, starting around $900. If the OP qualified for a section 8 voucher, I heard that the Stillwater at Southbridge complex takes them.
The problem with Sneads Ferry is that there is a lot of noise from the Marine base firing artillery. Sometimes they fire late into the night and it is difficult to sleep. The other problem is that most of one's neighbors will be young Marines or Navy.
One complex I like in Hampstead is the Topsail Greens community. It is a mobile home park, but it is built around a nice golf course. I'm not sure whether the lots are rented, but it is certainly one of the more affordable places for retirees. Hampstead also has a Jensens MHP, which is age-qualified for over 55. Hampstead is also far enough from the Marine base, that all you hear is an occasional helicopter. Jensens has homes for sale under $60K, but you also have to consider what they charge for lot rental.
Last edited by goldenage1; 04-28-2013 at 09:57 AM..
Hi all. I am planning to relocate from the NE to coastal North Carolina in about 2 years. I am a single woman receiving SS and pension. I need affordable housing without being in a high crime area. The areas I am looking at are Supply and Elizabeth City. I would prefer not to live in a very big city for safety reasons. Are there apartment complexes in either of these areas with rent at 650 or below that are in low crime areas, allow pets and don't have insect problems? I would also like to avoid college areas. Or should I look at privately owned rental properties? I would like to purchase (<65K), but am putting that on hold until I become familiar with the area. Any information that you could give me about either of these areas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Hi SeaJae, Any luck in finding a place! I my self looking to retire on the coast of NC. any suggestion!
Thanks, Ike1
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