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When I was at KDH and drove along the sound (near Sunrise Rd) I saw a bunch of new homes going up. Is that considered Collington Harbour? They looked really nice and I am trying to find out how they are priced. Any information is appreciated.
I currently live in Charlotte but grew up on the Outer Banks. I left Dare County in the early 90s to find a career (finding one is still a challenge for locals not interested in the hospitality industry) but sooooo much has changed. I have family and friends in the area and visit regularly. The schools have always been much better than most in Eastern NC and that's still true. Regarding the off season, it's not bad and honestly, after a summer of vacationers, you'll likely love the relative peace that fall and winter bring. As for amenities, the Northern OB has pretty much anything a family needs (local hospital with quick life-flight access to Sentara Norfolk General if needed, good schools, great YMCA). There are even big box stores (e.g., Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart, Kmart, but no Target yet). Harris Teeter, Food Lion, and a recently opened Fresh Market are there. GREAT local restaurants but lots of national franchises (Outback Steakhouse, Sonic Drive-in, most of the typical fast food places). It's pretty much like any town except it's located on one of the best beaches on the East Coast.
As for kids and drugs, it is a resort area with lots of people looking for fun for a week then leaving. Given that a percentage of those folks will bring or will look to buy drugs locally, there are likely more hard drugs around the area than other towns around Eastern NC. Having said that, I would say that the risk is certainly no more than if you'd stay put in the Charlotte area. And the VAST majority of vacationers are families just looking to relax and hang out at the beach.
As for real honest to goodness locals they are getting harder to find and if you do, likely they will be your favorite people. Lots and lots of families have done what you are considering and moving there from somewhere else. That's what my parents did in the late 70s and we were welcomed then. That will not be a problem.
Growing up just over the bridge from the OBX, in Currituck. Collington was known as the slums of the beach. Down the road a ways, junky moble homes and the like. Building codes a little lax as compared to the beaches. Maybe this has changed. Some parts have been cleaned up. Lots of new houses and condos. Some people like living there years round. Myself, I liked living a few miles down the road, on the mainland, just over the bridge. Its cheaper, out of the resort area. Traffic in the summer, high prices. It was always nice to enjoy a day or two on the beaches, and then going home. Living there does have its issues. Yep, like most places, there are drugs and gangs on the Outer Banks. Look that up if you like. Leave something out in the yard overnight. Most likely the next morning it will be gone. Go to site OBXconnection for anything you want to know.
As for Collington, the drive into the development of Collington Harbour was and might still be a bit trashy. Once you get to the development it's much nicer. Last time I went down Collington Rd (about 3 or 4 years ago) a lot of the yard trash was gone and some really nice looking housing developments were being built. I would definitely check out Collington were I to move back. Especially Collington Harbour. Also consider Nags Head. It's just south of KDH and based on what I've seen, they have handled development better than KDH. There seems to be less residential density in Nags Head and it's a bit further from the traffic the gushes down from the northern bridge that most tourists use to access the beach .
As for Collington, the drive into the development of Collington Harbour was and might still be a bit trashy. Once you get to the development it's much nicer. Last time I went down Collington Rd (about 3 or 4 years ago) a lot of the yard trash was gone and some really nice looking housing developments were being built. I would definitely check out Collington were I to move back. Especially Collington Harbour. Also consider Nags Head. It's just south of KDH and based on what I've seen, they have handled development better than KDH. There seems to be less residential density in Nags Head and it's a bit further from the traffic the gushes down from the northern bridge that most tourists use to access the beach .
Thank you SO MUCH for both of your replies! You are so thoughtful and thorough. Yes, we're looking at Colington Harbour specifically as about 60% of residents are year around, 30% second homes, and 10% rentals. We were really happy to hear that as we don't want endless partying around us!
I already bookmarked a great family practice doctor, coffee shop, the school my daughter would attend, etc. We're just waiting for the perfect home to drop in our lap. The hurricanes scare me a bit, honestly, but look what Hugo did to Charlotte.... my husband's house came down around them. Stuff can happen anywhere, and I don't want to live in fear, but it's a little worrisome.
We have looked at Currituck as well, but haven't seen much beyond a possibility in Moyock. We've heard there's bad traffic there and a proposed bridge.
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