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If it was vacation I would say Hatteras or Ocracoke Islands...Federal protection keeps them relatively undeveloped compared to northern Outer Banks like Kitty Hawk, Duck and Nags Head. No one really planned the development of the northern Outer Banks so it is terrible compared to what it was in 1975 my first trip as a teenager. However it is still an improvement over Ocean City MD or Va Beach.
Mu brother and his wife bought a very pretty little house one lot back from cean on Oak Island...it is lovely there...you are not that far from Wilmington either. However if hurricaines scare you I would suggest a home in an established mainland community like Washington, New Bern etc.though I have not been to New Bern yet.
Good for you making the move!. I grew up in Bergen County NJ and fortunately when I was 15 my family moved to Balto/DC area...unfortunately it now resembles NJ. Sometimes I think humans are a disease.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYCcya
Hello,
My wife and I finally closed on the sale of our condo in NYC and are now free to start part two of our life...in coastal NC. It took nearly 7 months to sell our condo but patience paid off when we landed an offer reasonably close to our asking price
After doing some research and talking to friends, we have narrowed our choices to either Wilmington or the Outer Banks area. We want to be on the ocean and have some privacy but we also want to have access to entertainment venues and restaurants .
It seems that you can get larger lots with more privacy on the Outer Banks but the entertainment options appear to be more limited. Wilmington appears to have a lot more activity but the water front homes generally seem to be on smaller lots. Nonetheless, we are definitely leaning towards the Wilmington area.
Is there any reason that we should be looking more at the Outer Banks as opposed to Wilmington? Is there something we are missing?
My wife and I finally closed on the sale of our condo in NYC and are now free to start part two of our life...in coastal NC. It took nearly 7 months to sell our condo but patience paid off when we landed an offer reasonably close to our asking price
After doing some research and talking to friends, we have narrowed our choices to either Wilmington or the Outer Banks area. We want to be on the ocean and have some privacy but we also want to have access to entertainment venues and restaurants .
It seems that you can get larger lots with more privacy on the Outer Banks but the entertainment options appear to be more limited. Wilmington appears to have a lot more activity but the water front homes generally seem to be on smaller lots. Nonetheless, we are definitely leaning towards the Wilmington area.
Is there any reason that we should be looking more at the Outer Banks as opposed to Wilmington? Is there something we are missing?
Thanks much!
Welcome to North Carolina. I'm a bit partial, but NC is truly beautiful and full of friendly people. Wilmington was my home for 30 years. After growing up there, I thought I would never leave. In 2000, work brought me here to the Raleigh, NC area, where I live now.
My mother and sister, and many friends still live in Wilmington, so my husband and I maintain our ties there. We bought a 2nd home in the Historic district in 2007 so we can visit often.
I have also been a Real Estate broker for 18 years. Ten of those years I sold property in the Wilmington area to many relocating singles/couples/families. Eight years doing the same here in the Raleigh area.
The number one lesson I've learned from the hundreds of families I've worked with is that it can be a very expensive mistake to buy a house right away in a town or county that you are new to.
PLEASE please consider renting first. Yes, its a double move for you should you decide to stay in the area. That is a very small sacrifice compared to trying to sell a property you've only owned for a year or two.
I can not tell you how many relocated people decide they either hate the entire town/county they've moved to, OR decide they like the area but detest the part of town they chose OR decide they bought the wrong house in their haste to get settled quickly....whatever.
If you have been prudent and rented at first, any of those above mentioned items aren't a problem. When the lease is up......you can move with minimum fuss and bother.
It takes actually living in an area to really know if you are going to like it for the long haul. So, come on down to NC. Take your time, and enjoy your new adventure.
DON'T DO IT!!!! wilmington sucks !!!! people have no class, everything closes early and even earlier on sunday!! your options are very limited as far as things to do. you will find yourself needing to goto raliegh or myrtle beach just to find real entertainment. job market is a joke. the weather is retarded, it is never steady, it gets just cold enough to be annoying but not cold enough to snow. the summers are hot and very humid.
my suggestion if you really want coastal area and warm weather goto Florida!!! you'll be WAYYYY better off!!
We have lived in North Carolina for over 30 years: New Bern and Emerald Isle. It is wonderful to be able to have beach property for the prices here compared to up North, but then it is really quiet. And if that is what you are looking for, you will probably like it. I think that folks who enjoy boating, fishing, and lots of outdoor sports seem to do best. It might be a good idea when moving into the area to rent a house for a year and check out the area before you buy being sure you can adjust to the life style. When we worked, we were busy, but now that we are retired, we enjoy having more to do and miss the opportunities of a large city. Fortunately, we spend the winters in Honolulu, and we enjoy the opportunities for classical music, first run movies, and lots of city things as well as a beach. The summers here are hot, so that is another consideration. Good luck! Marie
My wife and I finally closed on the sale of our condo in NYC and are now free to start part two of our life...in coastal NC. It took nearly 7 months to sell our condo but patience paid off when we landed an offer reasonably close to our asking price
After doing some research and talking to friends, we have narrowed our choices to either Wilmington or the Outer Banks area. We want to be on the ocean and have some privacy but we also want to have access to entertainment venues and restaurants .
It seems that you can get larger lots with more privacy on the Outer Banks but the entertainment options appear to be more limited. Wilmington appears to have a lot more activity but the water front homes generally seem to be on smaller lots. Nonetheless, we are definitely leaning towards the Wilmington area.
Is there any reason that we should be looking more at the Outer Banks as opposed to Wilmington? Is there something we are missing?
Thanks much!
Congraguations on your relocation!
I am a NC native who now lives in the Wilmington area. The Outer Banks are beautiful but there is not much to do.
The Wilmington area does have homes on large peices of land if you are interested in living on the Waterway. Living on the ocean here and in the Outer Banks can be difficult. Remember, we get many hurricanes here and Insurance is sky high for living on the ocean.
Wilmington has a very hip, historic downstown area, shopping malls and is 2 hours from Raliegh, our state capital. So here we enjoy a small city life, the Cape Fear River, and the many beaches in the area.
My husband and I just purchased a rental condo downtown, in a hip area called NOFO. It is a 1 BR, new construction loft syle condo within walking distance of shops, cafes, Thalian Hall and nightlife. If you are interested in short term rental let me know. We are trying to decide on whether or not to rent it short-term (for people like you, coming to look at the area) and furnished. It has about 900 square feet and pets may be OK depending on size/behavior.
Anyway, let me know if you have anymore questions. Moving from NY to the Outer Banks would definately be culture shock. I'd pick Wilmington, but of course I am biased.
My husband and I just purchased a rental condo downtown, in a hip area called NOFO. It is a 1 BR, new construction loft syle condo within walking distance of shops, cafes, Thalian Hall and nightlife.
A hip area called NOFO? Where are you talking about? I live downtown and have not heard of an area of Wilmington by that name.
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