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Guide to Best Places to Retire in North Carolina
Best Places to Live & Retire in North Carolina
Beaches, Mountains, History and Great Weather
Ideal-Living offers a free comprehensive service that begins with helping you find your Ideal Lifestyle. Until you know how you want to live, you can’t know where you want to live. We offer a wide array of tools to help
you get answers to the questions that are keeping you from moving to your ideal destination. That includes finding the best place to retire in North Carolina.
Our resources can help you find best retirement communities in North Carolina in the best retirement locations. We can help you gain all this information as well as talk with representatives from the top retirement and resort communities in North Carolina, this includes communities in Wilmington, Southport, Raleigh, even the North Carolina high country areas like Boone and Asheville.
In addition to its natural beauty, great climate, and combination of mountain, lake and coastal communities, North Carolina also offers numerous tax benefits for residents and retirees.
No tax on social security benefits
Property tax deferment program for qualifying seniors
Prescription drugs are exempt from state sales tax
No inheritance tax
Those over 65 may qualify for Homeowners Exemption
Our free Digital Retirement Guide and Ideal-Living Magazine offer an abundance of information on which states, towns and cities are the best for retirees, vacationers and second-home buyers.
Because we can give you first-hand information on so many communities, virtually any type of community or neighborhood is available for you to consider, such as:
Coastal Communities
Golf Communities
Active Adult Communities
Mountain Communities
Lake Communities
Gated Communities
Inland Communities
Green Communities
Vacation Homes
Luxury Homes
University Towns
Small Towns
Affordable Homes for Retirement
Ideal-Living provides you the resources to not only compare North Carolina against other states, but also compare communities within North Carolina. And not just a few communities, but over 20 of the most popular communities in North Carolina. From the beaches to the mountains, all that North Carolina has to offer is at your fingertips.
Sample Communities to Discover
Retire NC
North Carolina has always been recognized for its natural diversity and gracious hospitality, which now has made it into an extremely popular retirement destination. Choices abound for a healthy, happy retirement setting, whether you want to relax on the beach or enjoy the great outdoors in our mountains or stay busy in a bustling city. The North Carolina Certified Retirement Community designation means a city has completed a comprehensive evaluation process with requirements outlined by the North Carolina General Assembly. These Certified Retirement Communities are recognized for providing the amenities, services and opportunities retirees need to enjoy active and productive lives.
 City of ReidsvilleLIVE SIMPLY, THINK BIG isn’t just our tagline, it’s our way of life. We aren’t limited by |
 Johnston CountyJohnston County (JoCo) offers you more than you expect in retirement! Discover a blend of history, entertainment, dining, lodging, and outlet shopping, along with a generous helping of true southern hospitality. With a growing culinary and craft beverage scene, as well as revitalized downtowns, you don’t have to travel far from home to find what you are looking for. The unique communities that make up JoCo have one thing in common–a relaxed atmosphere and friendly people. |
 Rumbling Bald on Lake LureIf you are looking to build or purchase in an exceptional mountain golf community, it’s time to look closer at Rumbling Bald on Lake Lure. You will find a few choice, undeveloped properties within our community at pleasantly affordable prices along with several spectacular homes in a variety of settings. You can come today; enjoy our lake and golf, and choose the opportunity to live in a remarkable community. |
 Person CountyNestled in the northern piedmont of North Carolina, a short commute from the Triangle and southern Virgina, Person County is home to rolling hills, farmers markets, lakes, and trails. With two beautiful wineries, live music venues, historic general stores, and Uptown Roxboro, Person County values its history and community while embracing the new. No matter what you choose, life in Person County is homegrown, just for you. |
Legacy Homes by Bill Clark
Legacy Homes by Bill Clark is the crown jewel in a long line of North Carolina home building history. As one of the Nation’s “Top 100 Builders” for over a decade, the Legacy Homes division is a trusted partner in the Wilmington, NC region that spans four counties, and is a featured builder in many of the South’s premier planned communities, such as Brunswick Forest, Bluffs on the Cape Fear, Compass Pointe, River Bluffs, Riverlights, St. James, Summerhouse, with more to come. The Legacy Homes’ mission is to walk alongside each client as the dream of their new home becomes a reality… Best known for thoughtful floor plans, maximized living spaces, attention to detail, and custom trim work, any Legacy Home is destined to be a showstopper.
The goal at Legacy Homes is to make the homebuilding process as seamless for each client as possible. Whether choosing from one of the professionally designed available model homes or building from the ground up, a Legacy team member will be with you each step of the way. As a semi-custom builder, you will have the opportunity to create the dream home that fits perfectly with your lifestyle.
The Home Place of Southport
Models Open Daily!
The Home Place of Southport is located in coastal North Carolina, just between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach. The community features 52 charming, brick low-maintenance homes with highly desired retirement smart features. At the Home Place of Southport, you’ll enjoy a low monthly HOA which includes lawn maintenance as well as Homeowners’ Insurance.
This new gated neighborhood offers single-family Villas and Garden Home Duplex designs, featuring the Beach Boca floorplan consisting of 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a two-car garage, and a screened lanai with an optional bonus and bath. Prices begin in the $400s. The Beach Boca floorplan was recently awarded the Gold Award by the Wilmington/Cape Fear Home Builders Association in the 2023 Parade of Homes.
The community is located just a few minutes from the seaside town of Southport, North Carolina which is home to the North Carolina State 4th of July Festival, a historic waterfront, and dozens of restaurants and eclectic shops. The Home Place of Southport is an ideal community to enjoy an active, yet relaxed lifestyle. Call us today to schedule a visit.
Get Started
Finding and choosing the right active adult community can be a daunting task. This is where ideal-LIVING can help. Sign up below to receive our complimentary relocation package, which offers tips on how to find a community that suits your needs. In this guide, you’ll discover the top communities in North Carolina, as well as what you can do to get started. Sign up for this free package to take the first step in your exciting journey.
Free Package includes:
- ideal-LIVING Relocation Guide
The ultimate guide to find your ideal destination, life and home. This annual guide contains more than 15 state maps, a location-based cost of living and climate comparison chart and discovery travel packages.
- ideal-LIVING Magazine
Quarterly print magazine features the best places to retire and/or purchase your ideal second home.
- ideal-LIVING E-Newsletter
Receive our digital newsletter, two to three times a month, highlighting communities around the country and abroad.
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The ideal-LIVING Resort & Retirement Show has helped retirees and second-home buyers find their ideal community and home for more than 30 years.
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