Real Stories: Why People Moved to Wilmington, NC

The short answer: Most of these neighbors came for the same few things: the water, a milder climate, and a city with real culture that still feels easy to get around. Almost all of them took their time, looked at more than one part of town, and leaned on a local agent to learn the areas. What surprised them most was how friendly it is here, how much there is to do, and how good the beach feels in winter.

These are real people our team helped move to the Wilmington area, telling it in their own words. Some came from New Jersey, Ohio, New York and Connecticut. One came from Canada, one from the Virgin Islands, and one grew up right here and just moved closer to the sand. I've trimmed their answers for length, but the words are theirs. Read them and you'll hear the same lessons come up again and again.

Marcia and Conrad Roncati — from Fort Lee, NJ to Wilmington

The Roncatis wanted to go south, where the weather was nicer, and they wanted to be near the ocean. They knew they didn't want Florida. They hadn't heard much about Wilmington, but something about it caught their eye. They visited on a rainy, cloudy stretch and loved it anyway. "It was near the ocean, it was a university town and there was so much to do," they said.

They compared Charleston and Savannah, but Wilmington "really felt like a homey place." They also didn't want to be too rural or too far from major medical care. "We wanted the whole enchilada."

Here's the part we love: they chose Wilmington twice. First they lived north toward Hampstead so her husband could have a boat slip. Then they moved away to be near family. When they asked each other where they had been happiest, the answer was Wilmington. The second time they picked a spot about two miles from the ocean, still close to everything downtown. What surprised them? "It is the friendliest place," and "you don't have to go on highways to get any place here."

• "Pick a reputable real estate agent before you even visit… You'd miss so much without a real estate agent to show you around."
• Join the Newcomers Club early. "It's a great way of meeting people."
• In peak summer, go out on weeknights instead of Friday and Saturday.

See the area: Living in Wilmington · Wilmington homes for sale

Gretchen Lane — from Newfoundland, Canada to Ogden

Gretchen's husband took a teaching job at UNCW, so the move came with the job. Their budget helped decide where they landed. Their agent warned them Ogden has "neighborhood after neighborhood," and they'd either love it or not. "We didn't find that that was that big of a deal." They first wanted to live closer to campus, but found the drive across town wasn't long. "It's totally do-able."

She grew up landlocked in Oklahoma, so living about ten minutes from the beach is still a treat. "We like to walk our dog on the beach, even if just for an hour." She noticed the people are "incredibly friendly," and she was surprised by how much house they got for the money. "We have a nice house and we didn't break the bank to do it." After mild summers and very cold winters in Canada, she knew the weather here would be "kind of the opposite."

She also liked having sidewalks, people out walking, and a big park with ball fields and dog parks nearby. Next time, she said, they'd look at the Masonboro Loop area too, and her husband would like to be closer to work.

• "Take your time a little bit when house hunting, if you can."
• Doing it all in one long weekend "can be a bit overwhelming."
• Lean on your agent to "narrow things down and not get too crazy or confusing."

See the area: Living in Ogden · Homes in 28411

Karen Jennings — from Lewisville, NC to Cypress Island

Karen fell for Wilmington on a trip downtown with her husband: the shops, a carriage ride, the river. "I just couldn't get enough." When her daughter wanted to move to the beach after nursing school, Karen pointed her here.

Cypress Island sits right on the Cape Fear River in south Wilmington, off River Road. That was the draw. "I had a dream of being able to walk and take a book to sit on the edge of the river bank. And now I can." She wanted to be close to the beach, not on it. The neighborhood's par 3 golf course suited her husband, and they live across from the pool.

They almost bought in Breezewood, farther up River Road, until that house went under contract mid-showing. "I'm glad it did or we wouldn't have found this place." What surprised her: "The people are so nice," and "everything I would want is within a few miles." Her agent showed her the back roads, and in beach season she just gives herself extra time.

• "If they like the water and they like people, they'd be crazy not to."
• "Wear sunscreen and enjoy the beautiful area."
• Learn the back roads, and leave extra time in beach season.

See the area: Living in Monkey Junction & South Wilmington · Homes in 28412

Chris Newsome — from Cleveland, OH to South Wilmington and Carolina Beach

Chris and his family vacationed here for years. He runs a small business from home and could work anywhere, and they wanted out of Ohio winters. "The beach and the weather" brought them.

At first they wanted to live at the beach but couldn't swing it, so they bought in south Wilmington. They chose the nicest neighborhood at the top of their price range, with "older homes with a lot of character. It wasn't just cookie cutter style." Later they added an oceanfront condo in Carolina Beach. "Now we have the best of both worlds!"

The surprises: the quaint downtown, the fact that "it's a port city," and how spread out the area is. "You can drive 30 minutes and still be in Wilmington." And the people: "You can say hello to people and they'll actually respond back."

He's honest about trade-offs. Beach living means higher insurance, and there are a few months a year he keeps an eye on hurricanes. "Do we have a good plan to get out of the way? Yes." His favorite part of winter: "You can still walk on the beach. There's no snow."

• "There are many different areas to fit each person's needs and you really need to take some time to assess what they are."
• "If you want to live near the beach, there are cost effective options for that."
• Have a hurricane plan before the season starts.

See the area: Living in Carolina Beach & Kure Beach · Carolina Beach homes for sale

Harrison Barger — from Wallingford, CT to South Wilmington

Harrison and his wife are both North Carolina natives whose careers took them to Colorado, Connecticut and California. He wanted to retire, and she wanted to be closer to her parents. They knew it would be coastal North Carolina. They looked at New Bern, Elizabeth City and other towns, but "Wilmington was the only one that really fit the bill." The variety of things to do won out.

"We looked and we looked and we looked and then we looked some more." It took about three years of side trips. Their agent "was really patient and stayed with us through the whole process." They kept coming back to one of the first neighborhoods he showed them: a quiet spot, good value for the money, near River Road so they "can zip north or south very quick."

His surprise was a slow one. "The longer I live here the more I like it." He loves the Intracoastal Waterway and the boat traffic on it, and in winter "you go to the beach and no one's there and it's spectacular." Compared with San Diego and Connecticut, he called it "probably the most economical" place they'd lived.

• "Pick a good REALTOR®. And I'm not being patronizing."
• Learn "the pluses and minuses of the different areas" before you choose one.
• Skip the beach on a sunny Saturday afternoon in summer, or "go where they don't know where to go."

See the area: Living in Monkey Junction & South Wilmington · Homes in 28412

Dan Tranter — from Rochester, NY to Myrtle Grove

Dan visited a friend who had moved here, came back several times, and decided he liked it. He works from home, so traffic wasn't a factor. He did most of his early research online from out of town, looking at Pine Valley, areas near downtown, and Monkey Junction.

He wanted a nice area close to everything and a house he could fix up himself. He found one in Myrtle Grove, in a neighborhood that "seemed very well kept," that needed some repairs, which helped him get a good price. "Price was the number one thing for me." It's not in the middle of town, "but it's real close to the beaches."

His surprises were practical: lots of sunshine, and utility bills "a lot less than what I was paying up north." After five-month winters, he spends weekends outside, walking the beach, heading downtown, and running with a local group. He'd only change one thing about his house: "a little bit bigger driveway in case I ever have a boat." He also pointed out that wind and hail coverage adds to housing costs here, so plan for it.

• "Take your time looking and don't buy a house fast. There's a lot of choices out there."
• If you'll need a job here, find one first.
• Budget for wind and hail insurance when you compare costs.

See the area: Living in Monkey Junction & South Wilmington · Homes in 28409

Wendy Hall — from St. Thomas, USVI to Hampstead

After ten years in the Virgin Islands, Wendy's family wanted something "between big city and island beach." Her husband had worked for EUE Screen Gems in New York, and a position with them here put Wilmington on the map. Wendy's mother came down to scout it, fell in love, and bought a place herself.

Then came the search. "God bless Buddy Blake and his team. Because this search literally took 4 years." Two years of listings sent to her online, then two years of looking in person while living with her mom. "I must have gone to probably about 900 houses. I'm not exaggerating." She wanted water access, so it came down to Carolina Beach or Hampstead. She ruled out Leland because "I prefer the Intracoastal to the river."

Hampstead won, and she found the drive easier there than when she lived in the Ogden area. What surprised her: how artsy it is, and how polite people are. "Yes ma'am, no ma'am, how are you?" Weekends mean festivals, or the boat on the Intracoastal with a stop for lunch. And her favorite thing in the world? "Walking on the beach in the winter."

• "If you have the opportunity to move here and have something in place before you do, that's a good move."
• Look "from one corner all the way to the other corner" before you decide.
• "Every day I walk around saying, 'I'm so happy.'"

See the area: Living in Hampstead · Hampstead homes for sale

Mirabel Seymour — from New Jersey to Ogden

Mirabel moved here after she got married. Her husband was already working in Wilmington, and she loved the area, so they stayed. They picked Ogden because "it's a little removed from the direct middle of Wilmington but you're still not really remote." Their part of Ogden has more trees and feels established rather than brand new, and their neighborhood has a dock for boating, kayaking and fishing.

They also liked Hampstead for its nature, but it felt "a little too far out" for them. If she started over, she'd also look around the Masonboro Loop area on the south side.

What surprised her was spring. "It's like a rain forest here once spring hits. Everything grows so fast and it's so beautiful." She walks the Loop at Wrightsville Beach and spends time at Ogden Park. Coming from New Jersey highways, traffic here "never really poses a problem," though in summer you add a few minutes. On hurricanes, she keeps perspective: "Everywhere you live has a certain risk… Up north it's bridge freezing and snowplow routes, out west it's earthquakes."

• "Take a vacation or an extended stay of like a week or so here so you can get the feel for the town."
• "There's a northern side, there's a southern side, there's the beach and there's downtown." Find the one that fits you.
• "Most days you can smell the ocean and some days you can hear it."

See the area: Living in Ogden · Homes in 28411

Pam Baker — from Toms River, NJ to Downtown Wilmington

Pam and her husband have family here, and Wilmington felt a lot like home on the Jersey Shore, "that casual, beachy feel." They bought a downtown condo as a second home and plan to make Wilmington their full-time home when they retire. "Wilmington is like our hometown but with the added benefit of a wonderful downtown. It's charming and quaint and historic."

They didn't look anywhere else. They like the parks, people walking their dogs, the laid-back pace, and that it isn't "all built up like Myrtle Beach." Their favorite months to visit are September through November. One evening they met Buddy and Erin at Carolina Beach and Pam told her husband, "If this is beach traffic, this is a breeze." Airlie Gardens impressed them so much in the off-season that they joined on the spot.

Her view: "If they are drawn to the Jersey Shore, they would like Wilmington as well." Taxes are lower than New Jersey, and "there are no 25-inch snows in Wilmington."

• "Definitely buy a townhome or condo if you are not going to be here full time."
• "If you could find someone to check on your place while you are absent, that would be a good thing."
• Keep clothes and basics at your second home so you can travel with no luggage.

See the area: Living in Wilmington · Homes in 28401

Jeremy Johnson — from Wilmington to Carolina Beach

Jeremy is the only Wilmington native in this group. He and his wife both surf, and their son loves the water. "We're very much beach people." When they sold their house in Wilmington, they moved to Carolina Beach. They had always lived midtown or on the south side, partly because his wife works at the hospital. Now they're building another house there.

He chose Carolina Beach for the easier beach access and parking, and a place where you can drive a 4x4 on the sand. "It just fit our lifestyle." He's honest that it isn't for everyone, since the commute downtown can be long. "If you want a laid back beach community where you can bike or skate, Carolina Beach is probably the place for you."

The surprise: "I love how you can bike everywhere," and how tight-knit it is. "Everyone knows each other." His perfect weekend is "parking the car on Friday afternoon and not getting back in until Monday": surf, nap, back to the beach, grill out, then the porch. He calls it "the closest thing I've ever been to the Caribbean. It's almost on island time." In winter, "the days are a little bit clearer, because there's no haze."

• "Wilmington is the type of place that has something for everyone."
• "Find the place for you and you'll never be unhappy."
• Summer traffic on the main drag is real. "It's better to bike."

See the area: Living in Carolina Beach & Kure Beach · Carolina Beach homes for sale

What they all said

• Take your time. Harrison looked for about three years and Wendy for four. Gretchen, Dan and Mirabel all said not to rush.
• See every side of town. North, south, downtown and the beaches each feel different. Chris, Mirabel and Jeremy all said to find the one that fits you.
• Get a local guide early. The Roncatis, Harrison and Gretchen all said a good agent was how they learned what each area was about.
• The water decides a lot. Karen wanted the river, Wendy the Intracoastal, Jeremy the surf, Mirabel a neighborhood dock.
• People are friendlier than expected. Nearly every person brought it up without being asked.
• Winter at the beach is a hidden perk. Chris, Harrison, Dan, Wendy, Mirabel and Jeremy all named it as a favorite.
• Plan for the trade-offs. Summer traffic, wind and hail insurance, hurricane season, and, if you'll need a job, lining one up first.

One of my favorite relocation memories is the Roncottis from New Jersey.

They came down to visit Wilmington, just to see what the area was like. He was a retired federal judge, and they were staying at a local bed and breakfast. I picked them up there to show them around, and we hit it off right away. My wife Erin is from New Jersey too, so there was plenty to talk about. We spent a couple of lovely days together, driving around, talking about the area, and getting to know each other.

Then they went home. I honestly thought I might never see them again. A lot of visits end that way, and that’s okay.

Well, I was wrong. Not only did the Roncottis come back, they made Wilmington home. Over the years, they bought and sold several homes with me. And they’ve referred more friends and family to us than I can count.

What it taught me:

It taught me that you never really know where a simple conversation will lead. Those couple of days weren’t about making a sale. They were about getting to know two wonderful people and showing them the place I love.

That’s still how I want to do business. Treat every person like a friend, not a transaction. Be generous with your time, even when you don’t know if anything will come of it. The relationships matter far more than any one deal, and the good ones last for years.

To this day, the Roncottis are a big reason I believe relocation isn’t really about houses. It’s about helping people find a place where they feel at home, and sometimes gaining lifelong friends along the way.

Keep looking

• Moving to Wilmington, NC, the full relocation guide
• Living in Wilmington, Ogden, Monkey Junction & South Wilmington
• Carolina Beach & Kure Beach and Hampstead
• Wilmington homes, Carolina Beach homes, Hampstead homes
• Wilmington condos and townhomes for a second home
• All guides, Meet the team, Contact us

Questions people ask

Why do people move to Wilmington, NC?

In these stories, the reasons were the water, milder winters, and a city with culture, a university and plenty to do, without big-city traffic. Several also had family or a job here.

How long should I take to choose a neighborhood?

Longer than one weekend if you can. Gretchen found a one-weekend search overwhelming. Mirabel suggests staying a week. Harrison took about three years of visits and Wendy four, and both are glad they did.

What surprises people after they move here?

Friendliness came up most. Others named how spread out the area is, the spring colors, lower utility bills than up north, and how quiet and pretty the beaches are in winter.

Should I buy a condo for a part-time home?

Pam Baker recommends a townhome or condo if you won't be here full time, plus someone to check on the place while you're away. Call or text the Buddy Blake Team at (910) 395-1000 to talk it through.