A Homebuyer’s Guide to Relocating to Wilmington
Everything You Need to Know about North Carolina’s Best-Kept Secret, Including the Location, Costs, and Culture
presented by: There are so many things you’ll love about living in Wilmington, but here are the essential things you should know.
THE LOCATION THE COSTS THE CULTURE The Location CLIMATE Temperature
Looking for warmer climes while still enjoying Average high and low temperatures in Wilmington, NC a change of season? In Wilmington, you’ll find the mild winters of the South with warm summer days tempered by proximity to the 84° ocean. Long spring and autumn seasons mean 83° plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors 82° year-round. 80° 76° 75° 74° 73° 72° 71°
68° 66° 64° 61° 61° 59° 57° 56° 54° 51° 49° 47°
43° 41°
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Average daily high Average daily low
Source: NOAA THE LOCATION | 4 CLIMATE Mild Winters
Trade in gloomy, frigid January days for crisp, Average January high and low temperatures sunny days. Wilmington’s winters are famously 54° mild, perfect for a brisk hike or walk along the beach. And you won’t find snow here; in the rare instance of snowfall in Wilmington, it’s gone by mid-day. 43° 41° 41° 40° 38° 37° 36° 36° 35° 34°
31° 29° 27° 26° 24° 24° 22° 22° 21° 21° 18° 17°
8° Boston Chicago Hartford New York Cleveland Baltimore Pittsburgh Providence Wilmington Minneapolis Philadelphia Washington DC Washington
Average daily high Average daily low
Source: NOAA THE LOCATION | 5 CLIMATE
Sunny Days 1 sun = 10 days
Embrace the sunshine year-round. Wilmington is one of the sunniest places Wilmington 111 days in the United States.
New York City 107 days
Baltimore 105 days
Boston 98 days
Washington DC 96 days
Chicago 84 days
Hartford 82 days
Columbus 72 days
Pittsburgh 59 days
Buffalo 54 days
Source: NOAA THE LOCATION | 6 BEACHES Wrightsville Beach
Just east of Wilmington along the Intracoastal Waterway lies the beachside community of Wrightsville Beach. In it, you’ll find a Venetian labyrinth of beach homes, yacht-lined waterways, charming shops, and ample restaurants brimming with locals and tourists alike.
Wrightsville Beach
Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier Wrightsville Beach Intracoastal Waterway
THE LOCATION | 7 BEACHES The Loop at Wrightsville Beach
The Loop at Wrightsville Beach is a great way to take in the local sights. Known locally as “the Loop,” this 2.5-mile walking trail winds through the main thoroughfares of Wrightsville Beach and around some of the most scenic views on the island.
Spend your day on foot or rent a bike. End your day taking in the sunset at one of the many beachside restaurants and bars.
THE LOCATION | 8 BEACHES Carolina Beach
Come to Carolina Beach for the sun and sand, stay for the local culture. Home to one of America’s best boardwalks, local eateries like Britt’s Donuts, and Carolina Beach State Park, you’ll love this ocean escape.
Carolina Beach
THE LOCATION | 9 BEACHES Kure Beach
Laid-back charm. Long days soaking in the sun. Kure Beach is a true beach town. Along its banks, you’ll also find historic sites like the Fort Fisher Civil War Museum and the North Carolina Aquarium. Visit for a day or a week; it’s just a short drive from Wilmington.
Fort Fisher State Historic Site and Civil War Museum Learn about the biggest land and sea battle of the Civil War
NC Aquarium
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area Fort Fisher State Recreation Area 6 miles of beach
Fishing Pier & Boardwalk
Oceanfront Park
Ferry to Southport
Fort Fisher Pier Fort Fisher State Historic Site
THE LOCATION | 10 The Costs HOME COSTS Interest Rate Outlook Average mortgage rate on 30-year home mortgage According to the 2020 Cape Fear Area Housing Report, the average mortgage rate on a conventional 30-year home 3.12% mortgage was 3.12% in 2020. 2020 3.9% 2019
4.5% 2018
3.99% 2017
3.65% 2016
3.85% 2015
4.17% 2014
3.98% 2013
Source: Cape Fear Housing Report THE COSTS | 12 HOME COSTS Cost of Homes
Wilmington Area Home Sales Wilmington Area Median Sales Price
5.5 5.5 5.5 308 5.3 5.3 298 5.1 289 4.9 4.7 276 266 4.3 255 246 4.2 220 225 214 5,439 5,544 7,056 7,056 8,080 8,188 9,422 10,140 11,382 11,907 $192,000 $180,000 $183,000 $189,525 $205,000 $210,000 $220,000 $233,900 $245,000 $256,500 Units Sold Sales Price 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
# of Wilmington # of National (millions) # of Wilmington # of National (millions)
Source: Cape Fear Housing Report THE COSTS | 13 HOME COSTS Home Construction Growth
Construction Activity Heat Maps of the Wilmington-Cape Fear Area by County
Pender County
New Hanover County
Brunswick County
Source: Cape Fear Housing Report THE COSTS | 14 COST OF LIVING Tax Breakdown According to SmartAsset.com, North Carolina is a “moderately tax-friendly” state. However, people relocating will find plentiful financial reasons to move here. Social Security income is not taxed in North Carolina. Low property taxes and sales taxes keep the overall cost of living low.
North Carolina 5.25%
Connecticut 3% 6.99% The highest rate applies to incomes over $500,000
Pennsylvania 3.07%
Ohio 1.98% 4.997% The highest rate applies to incomes over $217,400
New York 4% 8.82% The highest rate applies to incomes over $1,077,550
Florida No income tax
New Jersey 1.4% 10.75% The highest rate applies to incomes over $5,000,000
Massachusetts 5.05%
5.8% 7.15% The highest rate applies to Maine incomes over $51,700
Vermont 3.35% 8.95% The highest rate applies to incomes over $416,650
Source: Kiplinger Tax Map THE COSTS | 15 COST OF LIVING Real Value of $100
How far does $100 go in North Carolina in comparison to other states?
RANK
North Carolina 18 $109.05
Rhode Island 33 $101.32
Florida 35 $100.91
Vermont 37 $98.81
Virginia 40 $97.47
New Hampshire 42 $95.06
Massachusetts 44 $93.37
Connecticut 45 $91.91
New Jersey 48 $87.34
New York 49 $85.62
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis THE COSTS | 16 COST OF LIVING Annual Household Grocery Costs
1 grocery cart = $500
North Carolina $3,008
New York $3,117
Florida $3,219
New Jersey $3,472
Massachusetts $3,771
Maine $4,323
Vermont $4,694
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis THE COSTS | 17 The Culture SIGHTS Attractions
Wilmington Railroad Museum Image Credit: Mr.TinDC on Flickr
Riverwalk on Cape Fear River Battleship North Carolina The Riverwalk
THE CULTURE | 19 SIGHTS Attractions Battleship North Carolina
Riverwalk on Cape Fear River
Airlie Gardens
Bellamy Mansion
Thalian Hall
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Cape Fear Museum of History & Science
Battleship North Carolina Wilmington Railroad Museum
Bellamy Mansion
THE CULTURE | 20 SIGHTS Airlie Gardens Stroll 67 acres of foliage and historic structures in this garden. Airlie is home to rotating exhibits, a butterfly house, and numerous events, such as its Summer Concert Series.
THE CULTURE | 21 SIGHTS Thalian Hall In Wilmington, you’ll find endless examples of Southern charm blending seamlessly with today’s arts and culture.
Built in 1858, Thalian Hall is a beautiful performance hall that housed historic performances by the likes of Buffalo Bill Cody, Lillian Russell, and the Ziegfeld Follies. Today, Thalian Hall keeps its legacy alive with live theatre and music, as well as a rotating indie and foreign film series.
Image Credit: Pochacco20 on Flickr THE CULTURE | 22 DINING Local Dishes. National Recognition.
Manna AAA Four Diamond
Catch James Beard Award semifinalist Chef Keith Rhodes
Benny’s Big Time Pizza Chef Vivian Howard, a James Beard Award winner and star of the PBS program A Chef’s Life
THE CULTURE | 23 DINING Town Favorites
The Fork n Cork “This place offered one of the best burgers that I have had!” - Daniel R.
Indochine “Delicious high-quality Thai food that never disappoints.” - J.M.
Ceviche’s “Lovely Panamanian restaurant and bar. Their ceviche was bomb!” - Angelina W.
FEATURED ON
Copper Penny “Pub grub-check! Fast service-check! Quality draft list-check!” -Candi M.
Sweet n Savory “We stopped in at sweet n savory for brunch on Sunday and now have been coming back every Sunday since.” - Jennifer G.
Source: Yelp THE CULTURE | 24 CULTURE Downtown Shopping, Food, Bars, Riverwalk
Eat. Drink. Shop. Be Merry!
Explore the heart of our vibrant riverfront city. Historic downtown Wilmington is a scenic and thriving community of cafes, shops, waterfront hotels, restaurants, and a bustling nightlife.
Take a horse-drawn carriage tour to see the area’s landmarks. For the paranormal enthusiast, nightly ghost tours offer a thrilling take on Wilmington’s past. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely stroll along the boardwalk at sunset or want to dance the night away, downtown Wilmington offers something for everyone.
THE CULTURE | 25 CULTURE Events & Entertainment
Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park
Downtown Sundown Summer Concert Series
Thalian Hall
Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre
Fishing Tournaments
Cucalorus Film Fest
O’Neill Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Competition
NC Holiday Flotilla at Wrightsville Beach
Cape Fear Kite Festival
Downtown Riverfest
Lighthouse Beer & Wine Fest
Battleship Half Marathon
NC Iron Man 70.3
THE CULTURE | 26 EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT Azalea Festival
The North Carolina Azalea Festival is Wilmington’s premier event and draws attendance upwards of 200,000 festival-goers every April.
It features fairs, special events, and concerts from the likes of Carrie Underwood, Snoop Dogg, The Avett Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Duran Duran, Cole Swindell, Billy Currington, and more.
THE CULTURE | 27 EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College This state-of-the-art auditorium just steps from downtown is host to a variety of Broadway performances, classical concerts, and more. Recent shows include Tony Bennett, Jay Leno, Gladys Knight, and Earth, Wind, and Fire.
THE CULTURE | 28 Ready to plan your trip to Wilmington?
No number of photos, words, or stats can explain to you why Wilmington is a wonderful place to live. We encourage you to plan your trip to Wilmington to see what you’re missing.
PLAN YOUR TRIP Tour 40+ homes in the Wilmington-Cape Fear home market
The Parade of Homes is the ultimate opportunity to view a variety of new homes built by talented local builders.
For two full weekends, the Parade of Homes showcases the best and brightest that the building industry has to offer as we work to make your real estate dreams a reality. No matter what home style you are considering, we are sure you will find what you are looking for in this year’s Parade.
WHEN: WHERE: WHAT: Apil 24-25, 2021 Across the Tour more than 40 May 1-2, 2021 Wilmington-Cape Fear area homes in the area
To learn more, visit: WilmingtonParadeOfHomes.com
THE HBA IS HERE TO HELP!
The Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association is your lifeline to the Wilmington housing market. Call or email us with your questions and we’d be happy to assist you!
CALL: EMAIL: (910) 799-2611 [email protected]