Retiring to South East Coast - possibly NC or SC... (Raleigh: condominiums, townhouses)

[Charisse10]

I'm a divorced woman in her early sixties -no family with me (I'm a part time graphic designer and artist).

I'd like to purchase a home or townhouse close to nice amenities or cute downtown, health care, and within 45 min to a nice health food store. I'd love to be near a river, lake, or ocean. My price range is around 200K.

I lived in Cary NC for a short time a few years back and I liked it there, but it would be nice to be near the water somewhat if possible.

So far from reading these posts I will look into Brunswick County.

Anyone know anything about Winnabow NC? I saw a really cute house there on Zillow.

I would really appreciate any suggestions on nice areas in NC and SC.

Charisse

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Charisse10

So far from reading these posts I will look into Brunswick County.

Anyone know anything about Winnabow NC? I saw a really cute house there on Zillow.

Winnabow is a wide spot in the road on the way to Southport with nothing much but a Post Office. OTOH, there are cute low-rise townhouses in the Westport and Mallory Creek developments with a Winnabow address. They may really be in the city limits of Leland, so check the taxes. You would do your shopping in Leland or Southport. For bigger or specialized things like health food, you are close to Wilmington.

Southport itself is a great destination for an active retiree. It has a historic downtown with good restaurants and waterfront views. Most retirees are seeking a planned development (or plantation as they call them). Are you interested in a community where you have a pool, tennis, clubhouse to meet people and maybe golf? If so look into Brunswick Forest, Magnolia Greens, but you may be limited to condominiums in your price range.

You might also like Beaufort, further up the coast. It has the cute downtown, a health food store, etc. Waterfront places are more expensive, but you can find SFH ranches in your price range further out of town.

[Jkgourmet]

Goldenage knows the area better than we do, but our original plan was to relocate to the Wilmington area in 2012. ONE of the main reasons we moved to the triangle instead was because of concerns about availability of health care providers that accepted medicare and the very limited choices of specialists and surgeons and surgical facilities.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Jkgourmet

ONE of the main reasons we moved to the triangle instead was because of concerns about availability of health care providers that accepted medicare and the very limited choices of specialists and surgeons and surgical facilities.

I will admit that medical care is spread out thinly on the coast, although the new hospital in Brunswick is said to improve things. I find myself driving 40 miles into Wilmington for a specialist. Thankfully, i have not had any serious problems.

However, if the OP has any chronic health conditions, she should check the availability of specialists.

[le roi]

A story map presented by Esri

^this online map might be helpful for researching the number of doctors per capita, in the various counties of NC.


http://www.graham-center.org/online/...urces/npi.html

^this one is also very good, and has information about the number of specialists in different counties, if you can figure out how to use it.


Overall I would say new hanover county is very competitive in terms of the availability of doctors.

[Charisse10]

Thank you so much Goldenage1...I'll check it out

[Charisse10]

Thanks so much jkgourmet!

Health care is a concern for me...preferably some alternative doctor availability as well. I have an M.D. here is S.F. that is also trained in Ayurvedic Medicine - he was quite hard to find even in Bay Area. But just good docs and good hospitals. I will be on medicare in one year.

How do you like living in Raleigh?

Now I'm thinking checking out, Holly Springs, Pittsboro, or Raleigh....

[Charisse10]

Thank you very much Le roi

I'm just learning how to use this forum - it's a bit weird at first...but eventually I'll get the hang of it!