business start-up in wilmington/carolina beach (Leland, Kure Beach: real estate, new home, tile)

[crshafer]

currently live in California, owner of tile and marble installation company. Want very much to leave California and move to the nc coast. Is there a market for flooring installation companys in the area? Carl

[WaltDowdy]

Carl I am no expert on the flooring installation biz here in Wilmington, but I do know the building sector has slowed down significantly here. At the same time, for coastal nc, Wilmington and the surrounding area (Brunswick and Pender County) has probably the most active housing market in comparison to the other coastal communities around. That of course is my opinion. I am sure another real estate agent who knows their area better than I will disagree. What kind of statistics are you looking for to guage whether there is a market for your business?

[crshafer]

Walt,
Thanks for your reply. Not sure about specific stats, just would like to know if a tile installer can keep busy enough to make a living there. I am not looking to get rich, just looking to make my bills and enjoy life a bit. California is too rough, too expensive and not a good place to live anymore.

[WaltDowdy]

I don't have expert knowledge on how a tile and marble installation business would do here in Southeastern NC, but here are some online resources you can check out to research the business climate in the area.

Business Directory: Click search business by category drop down menu and select flooring. This will give you a list of flooring businesses in the area.
Wilmington Business Resources
Wilmington Business Relocation
Wilmington Fast Facts
Wilmington Demographic Statistics
Wilmington Cost of Living
North Carolina State Statistics

I hope this helps. Also, you mentioned Carolina Beach. For now, building has slowed down dramatically in Carolina Beach. Only a handful of homes sell each month in Carolina and Kure Beach. In 2004 and 2005, Carolina Beach experienced an extreme sellers market with an over abundance of speculative flipping and building. There are many beautiful new homes that were built in 2005 that still have not sold. So, I would think this would be an area that would be a bit repressed for contract work. Leland and Brunswick county continues to see development.