Field notes from
the coast.
Market updates, neighborhood guides, buyer and seller tips, and everything you need to navigate the Wilmington, NC real estate market — written by Tabetha.
Hi, I’m Tabetha. We moved here in 2021 with two kids and a lot of boxes, and I’ve been taking notes ever since. This is everything I wish someone had told us, written from the Riverwalk, the beach and our own kitchen table. More about me
Start here.
The four guides most people read first
01 · Moving here
Is Wilmington, NC a good place to live? An honest guide
02 · The numbers
Cost of living in Wilmington: what you actually need to earn
04 · Storm season
The Wilmington hurricane guide: calm and complete
Moving to Wilmington.
Deciding whether to move, and what to line up before you do
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Moving from Chicago to Wilmington, NC: Costs, Commutes & What Changes (2026)
Moving from Chicago to Wilmington, NC? Home prices, property, income and sales taxes, insurance, seasonal O’Hare nonstops, the drive, and the paperwork,…
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Can You Commute From Wilmington NC? Direct Flights From ILM Make It Work
Keeping a job in New York, DC, or Charlotte while living on the Cape Fear coast? Here’s how the direct flights from…
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Wilmington NC Airport Guide: What to Know Before You Fly ILM
Everything to know about Wilmington International Airport (ILM): the airlines, the 25 nonstop destinations, what parking costs, how early to arrive, and…
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ILM Airport Expansion: What’s Coming to Wilmington International (2026–2032)
A new parking garage opening November 2026, a new entrance and curbfront in 2027, and four more gates on the drawing board…
Costs, taxes & insurance.
What it really costs to own a home on the coast
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Moving from Chicago to Wilmington, NC: Costs, Commutes & What Changes (2026)
Moving from Chicago to Wilmington, NC? Home prices, property, income and sales taxes, insurance, seasonal O’Hare nonstops, the drive, and the paperwork,…
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Hurricane Risk in Wilmington, NC: An Honest Guide for Buyers (2026)
Should you be scared to buy in Wilmington, NC because of hurricanes? How often storms hit, why flooding matters more than category,…
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How Much Is Homeowners Insurance in Wilmington, NC? (2026 Guide)
What homeowners insurance really costs in Wilmington, NC in 2026, why estimates disagree, how the 2025–2026 rate increases hit different ZIP codes,…
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Cost of Living in Wilmington, NC: What You Actually Need to Earn (2026)
Is it expensive to live in Wilmington, NC? Here are the real 2026 numbers — income needed, rent, home prices, property taxes,…
Neighborhoods & beaches.
Where to live between the river and the sea
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New Construction Homes Near Wilmington, NC: Communities, Builders & What to Know (2026)
Where new homes are being built around Wilmington in 2026, builders’ starting prices, the Brunswick County sewer capacity hold, NC warranty and…
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Best Neighborhoods in Wilmington, NC: An Amenity-by-Amenity Guide (2026)
Instead of ranking Wilmington neighborhoods, this guide maps what’s actually near each one: parks, trails, libraries, hospitals and beach access, with official…
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Is Hampstead, NC a Good Place to Live? Costs, Taxes, the Bypass & More (2026)
Hampstead, NC, explained for buyers: 2026 home values, Pender County taxes and the revaluation, the US 17 bypass timeline, schools planning, water…
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Best Places to Live Near Wilmington, NC: A Guide to the Surrounding Towns (2026)
Leland, Hampstead, Rocky Point, Castle Hayne, Carolina and Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach: what each town near Wilmington offers, what to watch…
Buying a home.
The process, from pre-approval to closing day
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HOA Boat Parking Rules in Wilmington NC: 13 Communities Checked
HOA boat parking rules in Wilmington NC are stricter than almost every buyer expects — and nobody finds out until they’re forty…
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What a “Deeded Boat Slip” Actually Means in North Carolina
The listing says “deeded boat slip.” You picture the boat tied up behind the house, and you move on to the photos.…
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Pre-Approved vs. Pre-Qualified: A Wilmington NC Buyer’s Guide
Pre-qualified vs. pre-approved in Wilmington, NC: what each one actually means, how they change your offer, and the exact steps to take…
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Beach Investment Property NC: Primary Home, Second Home, or Investment?
A beach place near Wilmington can be your everyday home, a weekend escape, or a rental investment — and how you’ll use…
Home & renovation.
Our own houses, room by room, with the real numbers
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Building a New Home? 10 Things I Tell Every Buyer (From Our Own Build)
What I wish someone had told me before we built: bring your own agent, plan for selections, never skip the pre-drywall walk,…
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What Building a New Construction Home Actually Looks Like, Stage by Stage (Our Photos)
From a pencil sketch to a finished craftsman home: every stage of our new construction build in real photos, from the snowy…
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How Long Does It Take to Build a House? Our Real Timeline, Date by Date
The national average is about nine months from permit to completion. Here is our own build, date by date from our photos,…
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How to Live Without a Kitchen During a Remodel (We’ve Done It 3 Ways)
We’ve lived through a kitchen remodel, camped in a basement kitchen, and rented during a new build. Here’s what worked, what didn’t,…
Life in Wilmington.
Where to eat, what to do, and the drives worth taking
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24 Hours in Wilmington, NC: The River-to-Sea Itinerary (With Map)
Thinking about moving here? Spend 24 hours in Wilmington getting a real feel for living here: 7 stops from Leland to a…
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A Weekend in Wilmington, NC: The 2-Day Itinerary to See It All (With Map)
Seriously thinking about a move? Spend a weekend in Wilmington getting a real feel for living here: Saturday runs river to sea,…
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Brunswick County Beaches, Instagram Spots & Historic Southport
Find all the local Instagram accounts to save in Brunswick County! Here’s the locals’ guide to the beaches, events, and who to…
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Things to Do in Wilmington NC: An Instagram Cheat Sheet for New Locals
The follow list every new resident needs — Wilmington plus Pender and Brunswick counties — so you never miss a road closure,…
Water quality.
PFAS, GenX and tap water, county by county
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Brunswick County Water Quality in 2026: PFAS History & the Switch to Reverse Osmosis
Brunswick County once had the highest PFAS levels of 44 U.S. water systems tested. Now it’s investing in reverse osmosis treatment. Here’s…
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New Hanover County Tap Water: What’s in It, PFAS Testing & How to Check (2026)
Buying in Wilmington and wondering about GenX and PFAS in the tap water? Here’s what the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA)…
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Wilmington Water Quality: What Every Buyer Asks About PFAS, GenX & Tap Water (2026 Guide)
Moving to the Cape Fear region and worried about the tap water? Here’s the plain-English overview of PFAS, GenX, and Chemours —…
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Pender County Water Quality: Does It Actually Filter Out PFAS? A Straight Answer for Buyers
If you’re moving to Pender County and you’ve Googled “Cape Fear River PFAS” at 11pm, this one’s for you. Here’s what the…
Market updates.
What the numbers show, reported as data, not prediction
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Wilmington NC Housing Market Update: October 2026
Wilmington’s median sale price was $464,779 in September 2026, homes took 55 days to sell (Redfin), and mortgage rates climbed to 7.40%…
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Wilmington NC Housing Market Update: September 2026
Wilmington’s median sale price hit $469,689 in August 2026 with homes taking 56 days to sell (Redfin). Here’s what the latest numbers…
Everything, newest first.
The full archive
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Wilmington, NC vs. Raleigh, NC: Home Prices, Taxes & Lifestyle Compared (2026)
Wilmington or Raleigh? A local REALTOR® compares 2026 home prices, property taxes, insurance, jobs, airports, hurricanes and water, with dated sources.
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New Construction Homes Near Wilmington, NC: Communities, Builders & What to Know (2026)
Where new homes are being built around Wilmington in 2026, builders’ starting prices, the Brunswick County sewer capacity hold, NC warranty and disclosure rules, and how to protect yourself as a new-construction buyer.
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Retiring in Wilmington NC: What to Know Before You Move
Thinking about retiring to Wilmington, NC? NC tax treatment of Social Security and pensions, senior property tax relief, hospitals and new beds, age-restricted 55+ vs. regular communities, and the real costs to plan for.
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Best Neighborhoods in Wilmington, NC: An Amenity-by-Amenity Guide (2026)
Instead of ranking Wilmington neighborhoods, this guide maps what’s actually near each one: parks, trails, libraries, hospitals and beach access, with official sources, plus how to check schools, flood risk and taxes.
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Is Hampstead, NC a Good Place to Live? Costs, Taxes, the Bypass & More (2026)
Hampstead, NC, explained for buyers: 2026 home values, Pender County taxes and the revaluation, the US 17 bypass timeline, schools planning, water and sewer, flood risk and things to do.
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Wilmington NC Crime Data: Where to Find It & How to Read It (2026)
Official, city-wide crime data for Wilmington, NC: the NC SBI’s 2024 numbers, WPD’s 2025 trend, how to compare them fairly, and where to look up any address yourself.
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Wilmington, NC vs. Myrtle Beach, SC: Home Prices, Taxes & Lifestyle Compared (2026)
Wilmington or Myrtle Beach? A local REALTOR® compares 2026 home prices, SC’s 4% vs 6% property tax rule, income and sales tax, insurance and lifestyle so you can pick the right coastal town.
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Wilmington, NC vs. Charleston, SC: Home Prices, Taxes & Lifestyle Compared (2026)
Wilmington or Charleston? A local REALTOR® compares 2026 home prices, property and income taxes, insurance, flood risk and lifestyle so you can decide which coastal city fits your budget.
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Moving to Wilmington NC: School Enrollment, Registration & Assignment Guide (2026)
How school assignment works in the Wilmington area, what New Hanover County Schools requires to enroll (a purchase contract isn’t proof of residency), and the choice, scholarship, and calendar dates to plan your move around.
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Best Places to Live Near Wilmington, NC: A Guide to the Surrounding Towns (2026)
Leland, Hampstead, Rocky Point, Castle Hayne, Carolina and Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach: what each town near Wilmington offers, what to watch for, and how to choose.
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Leland vs. Wilmington, NC: Which Side of the River Should You Buy On? (2026)
Leland or Wilmington? A side-by-side look at 2026 home prices, property taxes, insurance territories, the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge toll question, growth, and water, from a local REALTOR®.
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Hurricane Risk in Wilmington, NC: An Honest Guide for Buyers (2026)
Should you be scared to buy in Wilmington, NC because of hurricanes? How often storms hit, why flooding matters more than category, what 2026 has looked like, and a due diligence checklist for buyers.