Pinehurst area VRS New Bern area? (Southern Pines: homeowners insurance, live, restaurants)

[marc515]

Wife and I were seriously considering retiring to the New Bern area, but are now considering the Pinehurst area again.

Main reasons: coastal storms, and higher cost of homeowners insurance due to proximity to coast.

We have visited both areas, but have only been to the PH area once.

My wife says if she can't have the ocean, she'll take a lake, and I understand there are a few in/around PH.

Looking for comments on PH area over NB area? Hopefully there are a couple of you folks who maybe lived in the NB area, and moved to the PH area?

All +/- comments will be greatly appreciated. Thank you,......marc

[mariaL717]

New Bern is a great town the only thing we are lacking is a mall. It is safe and friendly. We have great restaurants and a beautiful down town

[eadams2]

I grew up around New Bern and I've been to the Pinehurst/Southern Pines area. Both are great places with some beautiful scenery. I don't think you could go wrong at either location

[Beffrey2]

There probably is a couple major differences.

1. New Bern = river, lots of water and close to beach
2. New Bern = Slightly cooler summer due to sea breeze
3. New Bern = slightly larger town. This means more shopping and places to eat.
4. New Bern = Milder winter due to location near ocean and rivers

Southern Pines is really nice. But you can get just as much golf in New Bern. But most important is you can get more relief from the heat! Southern Pines is deadly hot during the summer time. Hot Hot Hot! The sand hills are probably the hottest location in the southeast U.S.

New Bern is my choice!