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Guide to Best Places to Retire in North Carolina



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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 helpyou 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

Horizon Homes | Wilmington NC | Green Builder Community

Horizon Homes of Wilmington LLC

Wilmington, NC
Custom Homes starting in the $500k's

Horizon Homes of Wilmington is a family-owned custom home builder in Southeastern North Carolina. Every Horizon home starts with your “wish list”. Robin Hackney, a Green Certified Professional with the National Association of Home Builders, designs every home with energy efficiency and sustainability in mind. Providing quality, energy efficient, custom homes designed around the individual wants and needs of their customers is what sets Horizon Homes apart. Send your “wish list” directly to Robin at BuyHorizonNewHomes.com and begin your dream home journey today!

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Legacy Homes by Bill Clark

Wilmington, NC
Homes from the high $400s

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.

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Homes in Lake Lure NC | Rumbling Bald | Mountain Community

Rumbling Bald on Lake Lure

Lake Lure, NC
Homes starting at $400K • Condos from $130k • Homesites from $10k

Nestled amid dramatic bluffs and lush forests, the picturesque Lake Lure is a jewel in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. Here, you’ll find Rumbling Bald on Lake Lure, a premier golf community at heart offering a perfect blend of outdoor adventure, luxury living, and serene relaxation for all ages. Now, with high-speed fiber internet connectivity, you can enjoy all the comforts of modern living while surrounded by nature’s beauty.

Though just an hour from Asheville, NC, and Greenville, SC, Rumbling Bald on Lake Lure spans over 3,000 acres of pristine wilderness, making it easy to fully immerse yourself in the natural beauty and recreational opportunities available. The area features abundant hiking and biking trails, and the iconic Chimney Rock is just beyond the community. Enjoy exploring the 720-acre Lake Lure by kayak, canoe, SUP board, or your own boat. For golf enthusiasts, there are two uniquely different championship golf courses, Bald Mountain and Apple Valley, to challenge all skill levels. Families can also enjoy the community pool with a lazy river or relax on the private white sand beach complete with a children’s play area.

Indulge in relaxation at The Spa & Salon at Rumbling Bald, which offers a comprehensive spa menu alongside amenities like a dry sauna, steam room, indoor pool, and whirlpool. Also, enjoy our well-appointed Wellness Center, including Fitness Center with state-of-the-art equipment, featuring weekly classes and four lit racket courts for tennis and pickleball enthusiasts. As evening falls, savor unique dining options overlooking Lake Lure or the golf courses, or enjoy a Starbucks coffee at The Bear’s Cup Café Bar.

Rumbling Bald offers a diverse range of real estate options to match your lifestyle. Choose from charming mountain homes, spacious two-to-four-bedroom condos, cozy two-bedroom villas, or intimate studios perfect for couples. Seasonal “Stay & Play” golf packages allow you to experience the community firsthand before making a purchase. Additionally, a selection of undeveloped properties, including larger estate lots are available for sale.

The surrounding area of Rumbling Bald on Lake Lure is North Carolina’s take on a high Alpine lake village, complete with enchanting amenities, local attractions, and close proximity to surrounding entertainment and shopping.

To discover more about life at Rumbling Bald, sign up for their e-newsletter for the latest updates and information.

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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.
  • Tickets to ideal-LIVING Live Events
    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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