39 Roads

Well, readers, my recent travels took me to the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina where I was able to go through a number of developments.
 
Carriage Park is a community in Hendersonville, N.C.  It is as their literature says, a “community of quiet neighborhoods, beautiful hiking trails and spectacular panoramic views, that span sixty miles… just five minutes from all the conveniences and charm of downtown Hendersonville. And only 20 minutes from Asheville.”  The views were truly stunning, and the convenience of this development is difficult to match.  They are also planning for a mountaintop clubhouse which will also capitalize on the amazing scenery of the region.
 
I was also able to visit three of Vista’s communities in the Hendersonville and Lake Lure area.  They have a number of options for various mountain-living budgets including townhomes, lot and home packages, and lots for custom-built homes.  Blacksmith Mountain and Blacksmith Run have the easy access to Hendersonville.  Blacksmith Run will be particularly retiree-friendly with flatter terrain and craftsman-style homes on 1/4 to 1/3 acres.  Bill’s Mountain is closer to Lake Lure and has the higher elevation and incredible views.
 
Grey Rock of the 2006 HGTV Dream Home fame is also located near Lake Lure.  In fact Land Resource is the only developer to have twice been selected for this honor.  Grey Rock has approximately 900 homesites and covers nearly 4000 acres, much of which will be left in its natural state.  Its sister property, Wild Ridges, launched in the spring and provides another option for the region.
 
The last stop on the tour through the area was The Settings of Black Mountain.  Black Mountain is small town with quaint shops and more than its share of good restaurants.  For example, Veranda Cafe was packed for lunch on a Thursday, and I was told that this is typical.  Black Mountain is 15 minutes by interstate to Asheville and the resources of a larger city.  Much of this area east of Asheville will remain undeveloped as there are several retreat and conference centers who own large tracts of land.  The Settings has done a noteworthy job of creating a development around what feels almost like a national park with small touches that add to the community.
 
So, if the North Carolina mountains appeal to you, there is certainly a community to match your interests, lifestyle, and budget.
 
On a different note, I receive several magazine subscriptions, most of which seemingly have little to nothing to do with retirement or relocation.  I was intrigued recently to find two publications whose issues had some relevance.  One of these is the November edition of Business 2.0 which had an article, “The Best Places to (Still) Invest”, focused on real estate.  Ten locales were highlighted, including five in the Southeast.  Suprisingly, with its seemingly escalated real estate prices, three of these are in Florida: Panama City, Vero Beach, and Lakeland.  My hometown of Wilmington, N.C., which is quickly becoming a popular choice for those who are retiring or may otherwise be relocating for a better quality of life, was also cited.  A recent edition of Tennis magazine featured an article on the best places to retire- for a life filled with tennis, of course.  The southern region garnered three of the six communities highlighted with Charlottesville, Va.; Charleston, S.C.; and Hilton Head Island, S.C. receiving the distinction.

On Travels and Resources
“If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles.” Doug Larson

I was recently in Southeastern North Carolina. I visited several communities who are attracting retirees. Carolina Colours, while in its infant state, looks to be a special place near historic New Bern. The first-class developers are working to incorporate the natural landscape with Brice Creek and preserved wetlands. Their golf course is being built with this same consideration. Additionally, they want to make it an active community with a town centre, a pavilion, and open grounds. Call me before you visit the area. I have a few lodging dining recommendations in the area, including Marina Sweets where I had a shrimp omelet with a huge sweet potato biscuit and grits for breakfast and BearTown French Bakery & Bistro where they serve unique sandwiches and delicious soups, including a chilled soup du jour.

I also visited Brunswick County, NC which is becoming one of the fastest growing counties in the country. Sound familiar? From what I was told, they went from not being in the Top 100 to number 29 in one year and are still climbing. It seems that people are drawn by the small beach towns with easy access to the activities of Myrtle Beach and the historic city of Wilmington. Coastal Communities is a top-notch developer with five distinct communities for boating, golfing, beach going, etc. One prospective purchaser reportedly said that the area reminded them of Hilton Head in 1983. I think we all know how that turned out. Good restaurants are plentiful; two of my favorites are in downtown Wilmington: Caffe Phoenix on Front Street and Elijah’s on the riverfront.

In my work I review quite a number of web sites, publications, books, and promotional materials on retirement, relocation, and communities. As to be expected, many I like, a few I don’t, and some I could take or leave. Recently I discovered AARP Magazine Online’s Location Scout only to be greatly disappointed by it. I found some of the questions and multiple choice answers to be oddly worded. Furthermore, after answering I don’t know how many questions about my preferences, I was basically told that there are no matches for me for a place to retire and to go back through the survey and change some of my answers. In other words, there is no suitable place for my retirement- including where I live currently, Loudoun County, VA! I would have expected at least a few suggestions. If you’re from AARP and you’re reading this, contact me. I can help you improve this feature. Okay, enough griping…

On the positive side, I discovered a magazine called Living Southern Style. This publication is well-laid out and uncluttered; it has relevant, informative articles and useful, easily accessible information.