Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I live on Topsail Island North Carolina and I would put in a word for this area and the beaches east and south of Wilmington. Wilmington is a short drive (45min) from here and has a fine university (UNCW) as well as Cape Fear Community College (where I have taken Art classes), museums, theatres, an excellent medical center, and many other resources. The beaches are beautiful and uncrowded and each has its own character. The water is much warmer than Delaware or Jersey because the Gulf stream is right off the coast. It takes off for England when it hits the outer banks.
Bada Bing to all you say. Wilmington area is great. We have a second home in Carolina Beach and are there right now. We like the area so much that we have affiliated with a CCRC in the area for future use.
You won't find a [Liberal, OBVS] town with all that which is low COL.
And on top of that, you added "popular tourist destination" LOL
ETA: MY county meets most of that criteria but it's remaining top secret. We've reached our saturation level of people who move here then start complaining that it's isn't "enough" or it's "boring" or it's not "like back home". Or people from OHIO, complaining the beach is "filthy" when the see the seaweed - which is INTENTIONALLY left in tact for breeding turtles, despite the fact that we clearly have beach patrol cleaning the beaches and cleaning schedule signs posted and there is not one SPECK of trash anywhere...etc etc etc. AND we just won a law suit against the govt who tried to allow people to rent out their homes to tourists with no parameters.
ONE recent relo LITERALLY complained because our library didn't offer enough copies of the latest book just RELEASED and she didn't think she should have to go on a waiting list. This was on a thread about the quality of life here.
Last edited by runswithscissors; 03-08-2018 at 06:34 AM..
I didn't specify "liberal." Just want/need stuff to do. I'll be a young and active retiree who's not ready to just stare at the waves all day. Not necessarily looking for a cheap property, but things like no taxation on private pensions or SS would be appealing to me. I'll want to travel part of the year, so the ability to rent out my property is important. Don't expect perfection in any one location, but am trying to decide which might best suit my needs.
OP you still haven't provided us with any idea of what your budget is. Right now it could be anything from a trailer to a multi million dollar house. Any reason why you cannot say what type of property and price range?
I'm actually torn on the type of property. "Livin' the dream" is an oceanfront condo with a balcony overlooking the beach, but the more practical choice would be a tiny cottage or bungalow several blocks (but still walkable/bikeable) away. Budget is up to $350-400k for a prime location, although the cheaper, the better. If I can get it for around $100-150k, that would allow me to buy a similar property on another part of the coast or perhaps on an inland lake and alternate between them. Not sure I could live happily with condo fees or restrictive HOA regulations.
Newport Rhode Island if just ok beaches will do. Less expensive are other beach neighborhoods in Rhode Island but Newport would be the most tourist preferred.
I live on Topsail Island North Carolina and I would put in a word for this area and the beaches east and south of Wilmington. Wilmington is a short drive (45min) from here and has a fine university (UNCW) as well as Cape Fear Community College (where I have taken Art classes), museums, theatres, an excellent medical center, and many other resources. The beaches are beautiful and uncrowded and each has its own character. The water is much warmer than Delaware or Jersey because the Gulf stream is right off the coast. It takes off for England when it hits the outer banks.
Agree Love this area, my goal is to get across the bridge to maybe Surf City
You won't find a [Liberal, OBVS] town with all that which is low COL.
And on top of that, you added "popular tourist destination" LOL
It depends on what you think is high COL vs low COL. My summer house is in the bluest of blue New England states. It's too far from the booming Boston job market to have high housing costs relative to the Boston 495 belt or NYC tri-state. I can walk to the beach or to the dinghy dock so I can get to my boat in the harbor. Not counting maintenance, my house costs about $6K per year between taxes, insurance, and utilities. Relative to where I've lived most of my high tech career, it's low COL.
I'm actually torn on the type of property. "Livin' the dream" is an oceanfront condo with a balcony overlooking the beach, but the more practical choice would be a tiny cottage or bungalow several blocks (but still walkable/bikeable) away. Budget is up to $350-400k for a prime location, although the cheaper, the better. If I can get it for around $100-150k, that would allow me to buy a similar property on another part of the coast or perhaps on an inland lake and alternate between them. Not sure I could live happily with condo fees or restrictive HOA regulations.
I love Oak Island. It gets tourists but still has a small beach town feel vs some of the others that are just for tourists. It is close to Southport and also a short drive to Wilmington for university and medical care.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Just want/need stuff to do. I'll be a young and active retiree who's not ready to just stare at the waves all day. Not necessarily looking for a cheap property, but things like no taxation on private pensions or SS would be appealing to me. I'll want to travel part of the year, so the ability to rent out my property is important. Don't expect perfection in any one location, but am trying to decide which might best suit my needs.
Love this area, my goal is to get across the bridge to maybe Surf City
