Wilmington - home insurance, biking, and crime questions (homeowners insurance, high crime)

[Hiker-biker]

I noticed that City-Data lists 16 natural disasters as being hurricanes. What is the range one would pay for insurance if your house is valued between 200-400k? I see the elevation of the area is around 50 feet. If one is living in Wilmington and not at the beach, what is the chance of your house being flooded?

Is it safe to bike around town in this area? Google maps shows some bike lanes. Are there dedicated bike trails?

It appears there is a high crime rate. I imagine that it is very neighborhood dependent. What would be some good neighborhoods to live in within the city limits?

I'm researching whether it would be a potential retirement location. Thanks!

HB

[BC1960]

Originally Posted by Hiker-biker

I noticed that City-Data lists 16 natural disasters as being hurricanes. What is the range one would pay for insurance if your house is valued between 200-400k? I see the elevation of the area is around 50 feet. If one is living in Wilmington and not at the beach, what is the chance of your house being flooded?

The only way to answer that is to look at a specific property in relation the the flood zone. Lots of floods happen far from the coast and have nothing to do with hurricanes and lots of houses near the water never flood. I live a few blocks from the Cape Fear River and am not in a flood zone, and don't carry flood insurance.

Flood Risk Information System

Originally Posted by Hiker-biker

Is it safe to bike around town in this area? Google maps shows some bike lanes. Are there dedicated bike trails?

Some, but not a lot.

Originally Posted by Hiker-biker

It appears there is a high crime rate. I imagine that it is very neighborhood dependent. What would be some good neighborhoods to live in within the city limits?

The area south of Oleander Drive, east of S.College Road and north of Piner Road is nice and has some great neighborhoods. There are others, depends on you budget.

Originally Posted by Hiker-biker

I'm researching whether it would be a potential retirement location. Thanks!

Its a great retirement destination, along with many surrounding areas. Thousands of retirees moving to the area every year.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Hiker-biker

I noticed that City-Data lists 16 natural disasters as being hurricanes. What is the range one would pay for insurance if your house is valued between 200-400k? I see the elevation of the area is around 50 feet. If one is living in Wilmington and not at the beach, what is the chance of your house being flooded?

The homeowners insurance is going to be higher than you would expect. We just paid $2700 for a house valued about $325,000. The real problem from hurricanes is wind-blown damage, not flooding. The higher "wind and hail" rate applied to every home roughly east of I-95.

Federal flood insurance is a different matter. As the previous poster said, the cost depends on how close to a flood zone you are. To minimize cost, stay away from creeks, ponds and rivers.

[Hiker-biker]

thank you both for the information! Hopefully, we can visit the area in April to look and see.

HB