Con: salaries do not match the COL. We lived in Wilmington for many years and people are underpaid. Wilmington prior to 2015 was such a wonderful place to live and raise a family. It’s sad to see all the trees and green space being taken away for cookie cutter homes.
I went to UNCW in the early 2000s and have always been surprised how many of my friends stayed in the area, wondering what they all do for work... Most are in real estate, which probably works out great given the growth!
Very good review. For this former New Yorker native and Nebraskan resident for 17 years, Wilmington is a Utopia. Yes, NC hurricanes are a menace but they do come with advance notice...Not so with the Tronados in Nebraska. Nebraska's warning system is very good. As for the snow here in "Wilmiwood," no big deal!! Does anyone recall the deep, wet snow in lower New York State or the huge snow drifts in Omaha???
@@stevenhooper1593 Agreed, I moved from Newport and everything is double plus here, for way less. I also want to note that using the beach as a plus to move to Wilmington is almost a lie. It's not very easy to get too, the price to park is way high, and that is if you even get a spot. If you have a boat, it's even more difficult, and then you have to pay for yearly storage. Traffic is just too much, infrastructure is not being worked on, and those in charge are builders and realtors who only are in it for the money. I would like to know what events they claim to be going on, especially for families. Too many transplants has made everyone throw out the road rules. Maybe make a video actually in Wilmington and not in Wrightsville Beach.
#1 the lack of paved sidewalks in neighborhoods for walking and running. I’m going to loose my mind from running the loop over and over and over- I can drive 30 minutes and get a park that is a 3 mile loop- which is insane.
The area is way over crowded now and is too expensive for what you get. Bumper to bumper traffic everywhere you go. When I am able to move, I certainly will.
I like the area, I live just outside of Wilmington. The issues I have are: traffic, irresponsible development, difficulty getting to see a medical specialist due to crazy population growth, getting a tee time.
Wilmington is way overdeveloped without any infrastructure to support it. It is also full of addicts-as there is a thriving "recovery" industry here-practicing catch and release once the insurance runs out. Forget going to the beach anymore-70k people trying to get on a beach with parking for 3k. Prices are skyrocketing for rentals as well as new homes. Insurance , both home and auto, prices are insane-every hurricane the rates rise to pay for all the claims from the Mcmansions on the beaches (which you cant get to) and auto accidents due to terrible road planning, and uninsured illegals that flock here to do landscaping and building high density rat traps.. Speaking of high density-that is a priority for the zoning commission and city council-so, the home you buy in a quiet area with some trees-WILL be clear cut and infilled with apartments. 35 years ago-it was a paradise....now-it is the equivalent of a more humid Newark NJ.
Do you think the price of homes will stabilize when they build more housing (4500 new homes were just approved in Brunswick County), or that the prices will jump up in the next two years?
We currently have such a housing stock deficit locally and increasing demand with inbound moves that 4500 homes will be a big help but in my opinion several years away from catching up on housing stock. That being said we are seeing the beginning of a more sustainable healthy rate of appreciation around 4-5% annually which will most likely continue for the next couple yrs.
Thanks so much for these videos. My husband and I live on the outer banks. We love it, BUT as we age, there are lots of concerns for us. We are seriously thinking of looking into Wilmington in the near future.
@@deborahk7134 If you are older and you have health concerns, do not move to OBX. My husband was extremely lucky to survive a heart attack being airlifted out to another medical center. We love it here, but the older we get, the less practical it is becoming due to the massive lack of health care providers
Great area yes, but boating is challenging unless you have the cash. Good luck trying to find slip space for your boat. We have 5 public boat ramps for the entire county. WB, Trails End, Carolina Beach, Surry St and Castle Hayne for river access.
I live in Raleigh. I can not drive is there any cheap fast transportation I can take from Raleigh to Wilmington? I have been there years ago. I want to see the battleship, seaport, the riverwalk, the train museum, and go to the beach. My grandmother told me when she was a teenager she rode the rain to Wilmington but it does not run to Wilmington anymore. I know Greyhound can take me there but it is like a two-day trip. You should make a video of where the good neighborhoods to live are.
I am also in Socal, Ventura, to be exact. We have experienced a ton of LA and SF city people moving here after Covid, and it has become unaffordable with the median home at 904K- and that is really just your basic house. We have thought about Wilmington because we must be coastal and love NC. We looked at Mount Pleasant a few years ago, but it felt extremely crowded. Here in Ventura ( which used to also be a sleepy beach town), there is a huge homeless population, with tent city encampments popping up everywhere. Crime has increased, and I don't feel safe taking my daughter out and around town. She has witnessed this population doing drugs on the street, exposing themselves, and a lot of other mature situations. It's very sad, and I wish these people could get the help they need and deserve, but it's not what you envision your child growing up around. Is this a problem in Wilmington? Is the crime rate low? Are there any unsafe areas? Do you feel safe walking downtown at night along the Riverwalk?
Im very familiar with Ventura, its a shame what has happened with that whole area. Regarding Wilmington it is by no means perfect it does have crime but the vast majority of issues are in certain pockets in the downtown area. The main tourist parts such as the riverwalk and that area of downtown are safe clean and pretty heavily patrolled. One of our daughters favorite places is going for sunset walks on the riverwalk with an ice cream.
I'm in Raleigh,-Cary, NC. Love it. Big job market. No major homeless issue (no sidewalk tents, etc) in Wilmington or Raleigh-Cary. Two hour interstate drive from Raleigh puts you at the beach in Wilmington. Sunny most days. It's sad what happened to California.
Road infrastructure and maintenance has been ignored by local leadership in the interest of focusing solely on residential development. Traffic could be improved so much if those in local government would actually focus on it.
One more con, there is no where to be alone with nature. I certainly miss the forests and metroparks in my home area. Constant intrusions to your personal space here here, due to overcrowding. So many complexes and INFESTED with roaches of all kinds.
@@barbaracalcagno5468 you are right there insurance rates keep going up, it’s getting. Ridiculous! We came from CA I suppose it’s all relative… median price of housing in Wilmington, NC is roughly 1/2 compared to San Diego, CA
Thanks for responding. We changed companies and saved $3,000 but it is still high. We came from Vhicago 24 years ago. The real estate taxes are crazy in Illinois. I huess we traded one for the other. The traffic is bad here now and apsrtments are going up everywhere. We do love the weather. I wish there was a direct flight to Chicago to visit family.
Greatschools.org is an amazing resource. Some of the best rated high schools in the area I. Most sites would be Hoggard High in Wilmington and Topsail High in Hampstead
@LivingInWilmington2783 You guys are realtors? You keep to your code of ethics and I'll keep to mine. The public schools here are not very good. To the point that doesn't a documentary about a scandal at a New Hanover County school exist? Open Secret on IMDB About racism and sexual abuse in the New Hanover County School District. Open Secret - Kerry David
I have three kids, there are many elementary schools here, all about the same, nothing note worthy. One goes to Hoggard, again, nothing noteworthy unless you play football.
Neither is Topsail, it also is a completely different county, Pender, I grew up at Topsail, it's not a skip hop to get from Wilmington, you need a car. Would have been better to title this, eastern NC.
My opinion there will always be conflict of interest as long as politicians and private business are allowed to be intermingle. Our federal system all the way to the top is ripe with it.
Another con, the healthcare, is lacking. One huge conglomerate owns it all. The local hospital had an 8 month old new grad RN training me. I had many years hospital experience prior besides my other nursing experience, and she had me canned. Wow. I’d moved here for that position.
I am a PA student looking into moving here after graduation! I keep seeing this type of comment, and it is worrying me! When you say healthcare is lacking, what do you mean by that?
@@lomartin42 My experience is as an RN. And my opinion is vast and cannot be an easy answer. For one, one company owns or is affiliated with majority and so that’s very limiting, even to the surrounding areas.
Lots of homeless people on the Riverwalk in downtown. One black man seemed rather aggressive. I wouldn’t let my wife or child walk around alone there. Wrightsville Beach is nice.
@@Greenstar-dg9txyeah it was necessary. If you were victimized by said person you wouldn’t describe his/her race for the police report? Demographics are important and stereotypes are true. If it’s aggressive white homeless people I want to know. Go back to your safe space. You’re too soft.
One of the big concerns I have here in North Carolina is the influx of Northeast liberals coming here. They’re leaving states that they destroyed with their liberal politics, and they will come here and vote for those same stupid liberal politicians and policies.
Con: salaries do not match the COL. We lived in Wilmington for many years and people are underpaid. Wilmington prior to 2015 was such a wonderful place to live and raise a family. It’s sad to see all the trees and green space being taken away for cookie cutter homes.
Butnaked truth....
HOA’s and complexes. Who wants to live institutionalized, because that’s what it is.
I went to UNCW in the early 2000s and have always been surprised how many of my friends stayed in the area, wondering what they all do for work... Most are in real estate, which probably works out great given the growth!
Very good review.
For this former New Yorker native and Nebraskan resident for 17 years, Wilmington is a Utopia.
Yes, NC hurricanes are a menace but they do come with advance notice...Not so with the Tronados in Nebraska. Nebraska's warning system is very good. As for the snow here in "Wilmiwood," no big deal!! Does anyone recall the deep, wet snow in lower New York State or the huge snow drifts in Omaha???
What about the cost of living? It's nice, yes but I moved out of Wilmington 2 years ago because rentals and homes are too expensive
Cost of living is very relative, we moved from San Diego where median home prices are just shy of $1 million. Wilmington NC is approximately $400k.
For locals, this area the cost of living is high as hell.......... though out of state transplants are gonna say the cost is cheap......
@@stevenhooper1593 Agreed, I moved from Newport and everything is double plus here, for way less. I also want to note that using the beach as a plus to move to Wilmington is almost a lie. It's not very easy to get too, the price to park is way high, and that is if you even get a spot. If you have a boat, it's even more difficult, and then you have to pay for yearly storage. Traffic is just too much, infrastructure is not being worked on, and those in charge are builders and realtors who only are in it for the money. I would like to know what events they claim to be going on, especially for families. Too many transplants has made everyone throw out the road rules. Maybe make a video actually in Wilmington and not in Wrightsville Beach.
@@Cmermaid , well said!!!
#1 the lack of paved sidewalks in neighborhoods for walking and running. I’m going to loose my mind from running the loop over and over and over- I can drive 30 minutes and get a park that is a 3 mile loop- which is insane.
The area is way over crowded now and is too expensive for what you get. Bumper to bumper traffic everywhere you go. When I am able to move, I certainly will.
Thanks for watching! It is growing fast... Let us know when you make a move we would love to be of assistance!
I like the area, I live just outside of Wilmington. The issues I have are: traffic, irresponsible development, difficulty getting to see a medical specialist due to crazy population growth, getting a tee time.
Thanks for watching...the area is growing like crazy!
@@livinginwilmington2783 Too much in my opinion. I could see myself moving if things don’t change.
Other pluses: 3 live theaters, movie theaters, historic homes and buildings, gardens and parks, great shopping, and fun things for families to do. 😊
We truely do live in an amazing area!
Wilmington is way overdeveloped without any infrastructure to support it. It is also full of addicts-as there is a thriving "recovery" industry here-practicing catch and release once the insurance runs out.
Forget going to the beach anymore-70k people trying to get on a beach with parking for 3k. Prices are skyrocketing for rentals as well as new homes.
Insurance , both home and auto, prices are insane-every hurricane the rates rise to pay for all the claims from the Mcmansions on the beaches (which you cant get to) and auto accidents due to terrible road planning, and uninsured illegals that flock here to do landscaping and building high density rat traps..
Speaking of high density-that is a priority for the zoning commission and city council-so, the home you buy in a quiet area with some trees-WILL be clear cut and infilled with apartments.
35 years ago-it was a paradise....now-it is the equivalent of a more humid Newark NJ.
and NO careers.
Do you think the price of homes will stabilize when they build more housing (4500 new homes were just approved in Brunswick County), or that the prices will jump up in the next two years?
We currently have such a housing stock deficit locally and increasing demand with inbound moves that 4500 homes will be a big help but in my opinion several years away from catching up on housing stock. That being said we are seeing the beginning of a more sustainable healthy rate of appreciation around 4-5% annually which will most likely continue for the next couple yrs.
Thanks so much for these videos. My husband and I live on the outer banks. We love it, BUT as we age, there are lots of concerns for us. We are seriously thinking of looking into Wilmington in the near future.
Why would you move from the Outer Banks? I am so torn to move to either?
@@deborahk7134 If you are older and you have health concerns, do not move to OBX. My husband was extremely lucky to survive a heart attack being airlifted out to another medical center. We love it here, but the older we get, the less practical it is becoming due to the massive lack of health care providers
Great area yes, but boating is challenging unless you have the cash. Good luck trying to find slip space for your boat. We have 5 public boat ramps for the entire county. WB, Trails End, Carolina Beach, Surry St and Castle Hayne for river access.
It’s actually shocking how little public access to recreational spaces there is.
I love the beautiful stroads and urban sprawl here 🥳
Thanks for watching!
"Urban sprawl". Lol. I'm from Raleigh.
That's 95% of America, sadly
@@GUITARTIME2024 , absolutely!!!
My hometown! Miss so much 😢
Where do you call home now?
@@livinginwilmington2783 Arlington, Texas
ARLINGTON, TX@@livinginwilmington2783
@@livinginwilmington2783Arlington, Tx
Thinking of buying my first home in that area. My family lives in Charlotte but I need to be closer to the ocean. This is best option
Dont do it. It is truly a trash hole. Because of over population. If you like waiting an hour to go 2 miles in city traffic
I live in Raleigh. I can not drive is there any cheap fast transportation I can take from Raleigh to Wilmington? I have been there years ago. I want to see the battleship, seaport, the riverwalk, the train museum, and go to the beach. My grandmother told me when she was a teenager she rode the rain to Wilmington but it does not run to Wilmington anymore. I know Greyhound can take me there but it is like a two-day trip.
You should make a video of where the good neighborhoods to live are.
Greyhound
@@GUITARTIME2024 I said I know the greyhound can take me there but it is like a two-day trip.
@26snoopy82 well I'm in raleigh but I ain't driving ya. Lol
@@GUITARTIME2024 lol I wish the train went there like it use to
I am also in Socal, Ventura, to be exact. We have experienced a ton of LA and SF city people moving here after Covid, and it has become unaffordable with the median home at 904K- and that is really just your basic house. We have thought about Wilmington because we must be coastal and love NC. We looked at Mount Pleasant a few years ago, but it felt extremely crowded. Here in Ventura ( which used to also be a sleepy beach town), there is a huge homeless population, with tent city encampments popping up everywhere. Crime has increased, and I don't feel safe taking my daughter out and around town. She has witnessed this population doing drugs on the street, exposing themselves, and a lot of other mature situations. It's very sad, and I wish these people could get the help they need and deserve, but it's not what you envision your child growing up around. Is this a problem in Wilmington? Is the crime rate low? Are there any unsafe areas? Do you feel safe walking downtown at night along the Riverwalk?
Im very familiar with Ventura, its a shame what has happened with that whole area. Regarding Wilmington it is by no means perfect it does have crime but the vast majority of issues are in certain pockets in the downtown area. The main tourist parts such as the riverwalk and that area of downtown are safe clean and pretty heavily patrolled. One of our daughters favorite places is going for sunset walks on the riverwalk with an ice cream.
I'm in Raleigh,-Cary, NC. Love it. Big job market. No major homeless issue (no sidewalk tents, etc) in Wilmington or Raleigh-Cary. Two hour interstate drive from Raleigh puts you at the beach in Wilmington. Sunny most days. It's sad what happened to California.
Road infrastructure and maintenance has been ignored by local leadership in the interest of focusing solely on residential development.
Traffic could be improved so much if those in local government would actually focus on it.
One more con, there is no where to be alone with nature.
I certainly miss the forests and metroparks in my home area.
Constant intrusions to your personal space here here, due to overcrowding.
So many complexes and INFESTED with roaches of all kinds.
It sounds like from your comments you have had a pretty bad experience ....there is forest all around the area.... our home back up to a forest.
I’m from Utah as well. I’m thinking about moving that way if I can get hired on out there. 🤞
You will love it! let us know if you need some pointers about the area!
Please don't we don't need more tourists
Lol @@TreyDavis-du6zh
Stay in Utah. There are mad street gangs here, and the bridges are collapsing. Plus storms.
“Mad street gangs”?
With the growth, are there any one and ones being built?
What do you mean by one and ones ?
@@livinginwilmington2783 one bed one bath?
1 bedroom 1 bath, minihome
@@eminemstrash2021 yes are any out there??
Great video!
Thank you!
The place is overrun with Yankees and traffic sucks.
Traffic is so bad because people keep moving here. I heard wilmington is closed... please stop coming.
Thanks just bought my House. Welcome to North Carolina Nations most Military Friendly State. Gulf War Veteran, what did you do? 🇺🇸
Summer traffic is notorious bad......
Traffic hasn’t been an issue
@@BIGTinfamousThat’s a lie.
How about you leave and give someone else a turn.
It is not cheap to live here. The homeowner's insurace is ridiculous.
@@barbaracalcagno5468 you are right there insurance rates keep going up, it’s getting. Ridiculous!
We came from CA I suppose it’s all relative… median price of housing in Wilmington, NC is roughly 1/2 compared to San Diego, CA
Thanks for responding. We changed companies and saved $3,000 but it is still high. We came from Vhicago 24 years ago. The real estate taxes are crazy in Illinois. I huess we traded one for the other. The traffic is bad here now and apsrtments are going up everywhere. We do love the weather. I wish there was a direct flight to Chicago to visit family.
Sorry about the spelling!
My question is quality of high schools.
Schools here in Brunswick county are awful. I am so glad I was raised and went to college elsewhere. Otherwise I'm a big fan of the ILM area.
Greatschools.org is an amazing resource. Some of the best rated high schools in the area I. Most sites would be Hoggard High in Wilmington and Topsail High in Hampstead
@LivingInWilmington2783 You guys are realtors? You keep to your code of ethics and I'll keep to mine. The public schools here are not very good. To the point that doesn't a documentary about a scandal at a New Hanover County school exist?
Open Secret on IMDB
About racism and sexual abuse in the New Hanover County School District.
Open Secret - Kerry David
Don’t do it. Lame.
I have three kids, there are many elementary schools here, all about the same, nothing note worthy. One goes to Hoggard, again, nothing noteworthy unless you play football.
Western NC just got destroyed from Hurricane Helene.
Holden Beach is not Wilmington
Neither is Topsail, it also is a completely different county, Pender, I grew up at Topsail, it's not a skip hop to get from Wilmington, you need a car. Would have been better to title this, eastern NC.
Dont move here, our mayor of nearly 20 years is a realtor, big conflict of interest
My opinion there will always be conflict of interest as long as politicians and private business are allowed to be intermingle. Our federal system all the way to the top is ripe with it.
Another con, the healthcare, is lacking.
One huge conglomerate owns it all.
The local hospital had an 8 month old new grad RN training me. I had many years hospital experience prior besides my other nursing experience, and she had me canned.
Wow.
I’d moved here for that position.
I am a PA student looking into moving here after graduation! I keep seeing this type of comment, and it is worrying me! When you say healthcare is lacking, what do you mean by that?
@@lomartin42 My experience is as an RN. And my opinion is vast and cannot be an easy answer.
For one, one company owns or is affiliated with majority and so that’s very limiting, even to the surrounding areas.
I give it 4 years and it will be gridlocked.
I’ve lived in LA … I would say this area is a long ways from gridlocked
Keep in mind the apartments and the build outs that are about to go online is another 5500 units . I 40 dumps into a dead end .
Lots of homeless people on the Riverwalk in downtown. One black man seemed rather aggressive. I wouldn’t let my wife or child walk around alone there. Wrightsville Beach is nice.
Thank you for watching! We spend a good amount of time along the river walk with our 8 yr old and 3 yr old.....never had any problems.
Was it necessary to give the race of the individual? Like what if he was Asian, of Hawaiian, Jewish, does it make a difference?
@@Greenstar-dg9txyeah it was necessary. If you were victimized by said person you wouldn’t describe his/her race for the police report? Demographics are important and stereotypes are true. If it’s aggressive white homeless people I want to know. Go back to your safe space. You’re too soft.
On every corner, coming to your car. Can’t enjoy the wind thru your hairs because of it.
@@Greenstar-dg9tx Yes, it's important to know what you're dealing with.
One of the big concerns I have here in North Carolina is the influx of Northeast liberals coming here. They’re leaving states that they destroyed with their liberal politics, and they will come here and vote for those same stupid liberal politicians and policies.