North Carolina is a popular place for retirees and has been for years thanks to its breathtaking landscape, diverse cityscapes, and vibrant culture. Though states like Florida are still popular for their warm climate and ocean views, North Carolina has grown to be the state of choice for the 55+ crowd who are looking to experience a more active lifestyle and mild, four-season climate.
And many people who retire to North Carolina find themselves discovering second careers and continuing their education because of the state’s tech industry, an abundance of research laboratories, and high-ranking colleges and universities.
North Carolina also offers homebuyers a wide selection of active adult communities spread across thriving metropolitan areas such as Raleigh, Asheville, Charlotte, and Wilmington.
Interested in moving to the Tar Heel State but aren’t sure where to look? We’ve compiled a list of the best-selling communities on 55places.com in the state from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 to bring you the 10 best-selling active adult communities in North Carolina.
1. Brunswick Forest
Homes for Sale
Located in Leland, North Carolina, Brunswick Forest is a lovely 4,500-acre coastal community surrounded by trees and nestled ten minutes away from historic Wilmington and 30 minutes away from several popular beaches. This retreat has about 8,000 homes available in a variety of sizes, styles and price ranges.
Residents enjoy a host of amenities, including a huge fitness center, five tennis courts, more than 40 miles of walking and hiking trails, a championship golf course, and plenty of water activities. But what truly makes this community special is a 160-acre town center called The Villages at Brunswick Forest, made up of more than 500,000 square feet of retail, dining, medical, and professional establishments located within the community.
2. Carolina Arbors
Homes for Sale
An intimate 55+ community located in Durham, Carolina Arbors has around 1,256 low-maintenance homes, with a variety of floor plans available in three model collections. Residents have exclusive access to a state-of-the-art fitness center, library and lounge, ballroom, billiards, arts and crafts room, indoor and outdoor pools, and a demonstration kitchen.
Walking trails, pickleball and tennis courts, and a bocce ball court are also available, along with a community garden. And since Carolina Arbors is located in the center of the Triangle area, Raleigh and Chapel Hill are nearby, where all sorts of entertainment, dining, shopping, and educational options are a short drive away.
3. Creekside at Bethpage
Homes for Sale
Creekside at Bethpage is another 55+ community located in Durham, which means there’s plenty to do in the area. It’s a small, thoughtfully laid out retreat with 650 single-family homes and townhomes available in a variety of sizes and styles. And if you like spending time outside, this scenic neighborhood is right up your alley.
A swimming pool, tennis, pickleball, and bocce ball courts, gardening plots, and lawn bowling are all available for residents. The 13,000 square-foot Hemingway Hall has everything residents need to stay healthy and active, with social and hobby rooms, a game room, an arts and crafts studio, amphitheater, computer lab, and a fully-equipped fitness center with an aerobics and dance studio.
4. Carolina Preserve
Homes for Sale
Carolina Preserve is located in the small town of Cary. Nestled between Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Residents here are never too far from high-quality medical and education institutions, great culture, world-class entertainment, and dining options. This active adult community contains more than 1,200 homes spread across acres of towering trees and beautiful rolling hills.
If you’re looking to fill your social calendar Carolina Preserve has more than 100 clubs and interest groups, a fun-filled activity calendar, and nearly every amenity you could imagine. Amenities include a resort-style pool and spa, tennis and bocce ball courts, a putting green, and a 15-acre lake. Bradford Hall, the 34,000 square-foot clubhouse, is the community hub and has a fitness center, lap pool, ballroom, library, sundeck, and more. The low-maintenance homes range from 1,217 to 3,500 square feet, two to four bedrooms, two to three-and-a-half bathrooms, and attached garages.
5. Compass Pointe
Homes for Sale
Another age-restricted community in Leland, Compass Pointe offers 2,000 new and resale homes in various neighborhoods that range in size from 1,600 to just over 3,000 square feet in many different floor plans. Most homes have two to four bedrooms, two to four bathrooms, and an attached, two-car garage. Homeowners enjoy access to a dog park, a lake and parks, and walking and biking trails.
A Rick Robbins-designed 18-hole championship golf course with a pro shop and practice facilities is also available for golf lovers. The Grand Lanai Amenities Center is a 10,000 square-foot clubhouse where residents can use the catering kitchen, multi-purpose rooms, TV area, a resort-style pool and patio, and two lighted tennis courts. A separate wellness facility offers a state-of-the-art fitness center equipped with spin bikes, cardiovascular and strength-training machines, group exercise rooms, sauna and steam rooms, as well as spa services.
6. Trilogy Lake Norman
Homes for Sale
Named for nearby Lake Norman, where residents have easy access to miles of scenic walking and biking trails, Trilogy Lake Norman is located in Denver, just outside of Charlotte.
This resort-style community sits on more than 600 acres of sprawling land, has a pool and patio for relaxing on sunny days, tennis and pickleball courts, and a 30,000 square-foot clubhouse where residents can work out in the fitness center, swim in the indoor lap pool and eat at the on-campus restaurant. It also has a demonstration and catering kitchen and classrooms. Nine floor plans ranging from 1,364 to 2,550 square feet with loft options boast a variety of options like attached two-car garages, a courtyard, and a covered patio.
7. St. James Plantation
Homes for Sale
St. James Plantation is located in Southport, 30 minutes outside of Wilmington, where exciting nightlife, unique shopping, and museums are just a short drive away. Myrtle Beach — a golfer’s paradise with more than 100 golf courses — is just 45 minutes away. This gated, coastal community really has it all, with around 5,000 homes dispersed throughout a number of neighborhoods, and the choice of new construction or resale homes.
It’s got its own 18-hole championship golf course, miles of walking trails, and a full-service marina with 151 boat slips and 100 dry stacks. Harborside Market, located near the marina, offers on-site shopping and dining. Residents can enjoy live music at the Woodland Park Amphitheater or quiet time at the Regency Reflection Garden. St. James Plantation even holds its own festivals. Within the community, there are four clubhouses where residents can enjoy any of the clubs they choose. There are multiple fitness centers with a full-time fitness instructor, indoor and outdoor pools, and classes such as yoga, Pilates, and tai chi.
8. Sunset Ridge
Homes for Sale
Located in Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Ridge features both single-family and attached homes, new and resale. This quaint, 258-home community offers a spacious clubhouse with a catering kitchen, an outdoor pool and patio area, as well as a picnic and BBQ area. Bike and jogging trails meander throughout, passing the scenic lakes and parks scattered across the grounds. Homes are available in a variety of model types, ranging from 1,201 to 2,050 square feet and include attached garages. Wrap-around front porches are also available in some homes, allowing residents to enjoy the scenic beauty around them.
9. 3 Cherry Way
Homes for Sale
Another 55+ community in Denver, 3 Cherry Way offers a low-maintenance way of life consisting of 202 attached homes with two distinct floorplans, ranging in size from 1,788 to 2,638 square feet. These all brick townhomes have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached two-car garage. Homes can be personalized by adding an optional second floor for extra space
. Residents living in 3 Cherry Way have plenty of indoor and outdoor amenities to keep them social and active. The clubhouse has, among other things, a gym, library, an arts and crafts studio, and billiards. Outdoors, there’s a pool and patio, walking trails surrounding the community, an onsite R.V., and a boat storage facility.
10. Evergreen at Flowers Plantation
Homes for Sale
Evergreen at Flowers Plantation is an active adult community located in the quaint town of Clayton. This charming area has everything you need for everyday living, including a Harris Teeter market, a CVS pharmacy and, for those who simply can’t live without golf, the Neuse Golf Club is a 10-minute drive away. Part of the master-planned Flowers Plantation community, Evergreen gives neighbors the intimate feel of a smaller, active neighborhood while still enjoying the amenities of a larger community.
Amenities include a fitness center, multiple indoor pools, and a cafe bar. There’s also an outdoor pool with patio, a spa, and a picnic area for socializing. A basketball court, softball field, and tennis courts help motivate residents to stay active. A number of different home styles are available in this 130 single-family-home community, ranging in price and size. And there’s no yard maintenance, so residents can spend their time enjoying themselves in all that Evergreen at Flowers Plantation has to offer.
