Local Attraction in Southeastern North Carolina Has Stellar Year

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Southeastern North Carolina continues to be a popular vacation, retirement, 2nd home and relocation area, and as a point of illustration, today we borrow some recent news from a local attraction. The USS North Carolina Battleship, which sits about 40 minutes north of Ocean Ridge, announced their attendance numbers were the best they have seen in 18 years. From their press release:

“We are honored by the number of people who continue to visit and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Battleship coming to Wilmington and assuming duties as the State of North Carolina’s Memorial to those who served during WWII,” states Captain Terry Bragg, Executive Director of the Battleship North Carolina. “As the growth trend continues, it is special to all that so many still care about the crew and the history of this magnificent vessel.

Brunswick County (Ocean Ridge Plantation) and New Hanover County (Wilmington) are separated by the Cape Fear River, the home of our beloved battleship. After many years of service, most notably during World War II, the USS North Carolina was moored along the river in 1961. In 1962 the ship was dedicated as the State’s memorial to its World War II veterans and the 10,000 North Carolinian’s who died during the war.

We here at Ocean Ridge are very proud of all service members that served on the USS North Carolina, and are thankful to all who serve in our armed forces.

Festival by the Sea this Weekend at Holden Beach

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On Saturday and Sunday, Holden Beach hosts a very popular local event, Festival by the Sea. This 2-day celebration is kicked off with a parade down the Holden Beach causeway on Saturday at 9am. This is the only day of the year that you can walk across the Holden Beach bridge, and each year several hundred people do so after the parade to get to the festivities.

Arts and Crafts vendors are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday. and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday. There are also a wide variety of food vendors serving fare from clam chowder to gyros and turkey drumsticks, and for dessert, you’re sure to find one of your favorites amongst the funnel cakes, cotton candy, and more.

For the competitive sort, there is a horseshoe tournament and a sandcastle building contest. Children enjoy face painting, huge kites flying overhead and the children’s rides and amusements. There is live musical entertainment both days at Holden Beach’s new Pavilion.

Come join us this weekend for this fun, free event!

North Carolina Oyster Festival is This Weekend

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Ocean Isle Beach will host the 31st annual North Carolina Oyster Festival this weekend. More than 30,000 people typically come to celebrate this popular mollusk. In addition to oysters cooked just about any way you could imagine the 2011 festival will include an oyster stew cook off, live music (headlined by country singer Josh Kelley), and plenty of activities for the kids.

Admission is $5, but free for kids under 8. The festival is centered around 2nd Street, beside the Museum of Coastal Carolina. For more info, check www.ncoysterfestival.com/

Wilmington, North Carolina… The Next Big Thing

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Wilmington, NC

Wilmington, NC - Downtown Historic Waterfront

Good news for southeastern North Carolina! Outside Magazine recently ranked Wilmington among its list of nineteen Best Towns. From the magazine, “These towns are the finest places you’d ever want to call home, from a Midwestern mountain-biking hub, to a Seattle-area hang-gliding mecca, to, um, Boulder.”

Here’s what they wrote about Wilmington:

“Similar to Charleston: southern charm, a 300-year-old harbor, ample seafood. But what sets Wilmington (pop. 106,500) apart from its genteel South Carolina neighbor is an economy in overdrive—not long ago, it was the second-fastest-growing economy in the U.S. Thanks to EUE Screen Gems, it’s also home to the largest motion-picture and television studio outside California. (The local film industry employs some 800 people.) Situated where the Cape Fear River meets the Atlantic, the former military port’s recreation options are mostly water-based—sea-kayaking, sailing, deap-sea fishing—and the biggest party of the year is, naturally, Riverfest, a frenzy of vendors, fireworks, music, athletic competitions, and invading pirates.”

Ocean Ridge Plantation is located just 45 minutes south of Wilmington and just across a bridge from Sunset Beach. Our community is in the perfect location, nestled in the Brunswick Islands coastal corridor. Have you planned a visit to our area yet? Call us at 800-556-6570 or fill out a contact form start planning a visit to Wilmington & Ocean Ridge Plantation.

Bring Back That Lovin’ Feeling

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The Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley will perform at the Odell Williamson Auditorium on Monday, September 19, 2011. Tickets are on sale now!

Bill Medley is a seminal figure in the history of American music. He is perhaps best known as half of the unmistakable duo, The Righteous Brothers. Their raw emotional rhythm and blues sound essentially created the genre “blue-eyed soul.”

New Hospital open in Brunswick County

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The new Brunswick Novant Medical Center opened July 31 at 6:00 a.m., the same time the old Brunswick Community Hospital closed its doors. By 9:30 am, 24 patients were transported to the new facility, with the new emergency room seeing 3 people within its first hour of opening.  The new replacement hospital received an exceptional response during opening events. Approximately 700 people purchased tickets to support the medical center’s new foundation and to preview the facility. Nearly 5,000 people toured the facility during the community open house, which also included a dedication ceremony highlighted by remarks given by U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre. Guests at opening events learned about the new hospital’s expanded emergency department, state-of-the-art operating rooms, maternity center and the facility’s all-private patient rooms. They also learned more about the new patient-focused amenities, including dining-on-call room service, wireless Internet through the facility and extended visiting hours. “The turnout for this event was tremendous,” said Denise Mihal, hospital president. “After more than four years of planning and community support, it was an honor to share this celebration with the community we serve.”

The opening of this state-of-the-art medical facility reinforces what those who call Brunswick County home know – that it is an exceptional place to live that both cherishes its relaxed and un-crowded lifestyle, while continuing to develop the technology and modern conveniences that you’d expect in a prosperous, growing community.


Ocean Ridge Plantation Named BEST by Where to Retire Magazine

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Where to Retire

Where to Retire names Ocean Ridge in best list

Ocean Ridge Plantation is named for the 7th time by Where to Retire magazine as one of the top places to retire in America. Ocean Ridge has been recognized as one of the top 100 Best Communities since the magazine launched its biennial list in 1999. This year’s inclusion in the magazine’s “Short List: 50 Best Master-Planned Communities in the United States” in the upcoming July/August 2011 issue (on newsstands June 21) marks the 7th time the magazine has compiled the honor roll of America’s best master-planned communities, naming Ocean Ridge Plantation each time.

The editorial group from the magazine researched communities in every state and narrowed their search to the final 50 in 17 states.  The magazine considered both active-adult and all age group communities in a variety of natural settings in popular retirement destinations, including near the ocean and in the mountains.

Where to Retire described the lure of the coastal community of Ocean Ridge Plantation being its ability to eventually boast 90 championship holes of Big CatsTM golf, with four distinctive courses in place and a fifth on the way.  Touting its three clubhouses, three restaurants and its location in the southeastern most part of Coastal North Carolina, the article recognizes Ocean Ridge’s appeal to a variety of interests in both North and South Carolina.  According to the article, Ocean Ridge’s “Plantation Club, overlooking a four-acre lake, has soft-surface tennis courts, heated pools and a fitness center, and its Beach Club is about five minutes away, providing convenient amenities on noted Sunset Beach.  Miles of walking and biking trails wind around the neighborhoods and nature preserves in woodlands, and a community garden flourishes with a variety of vegetables and colorful flowers.”

Ocean Ridge Entrance

The Entrance to Ocean Ridge Plantation

In addition to the amenities, homes, golf, beautiful landscaping and community, the article captures what residents seem to appreciate just as much – their neighbors.  The single-family homes in Ocean Ridge range from the low $300,000s to $1 million and up.  Of the 1,800+ homes planned on 3,000 acres, about 500 homes are built.

“What an honor to once again be selected for such a prestigious award by Where to Retire magazine.  Although there is no age restriction for living in Ocean Ridge, many are continuing to discover just what a special place Ocean Ridge is to retire, especially for active retirees,” commented Mark A. Saunders, CEO of The Coastal Companies, the parent company for Ocean Ridge.  “The lifestyle activities and enjoyment are unlimited.”

Fortune Magazine cover story: It’s time to buy real estate

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“Forget stocks. Don’t bet on gold. After four years of plunging home prices, the most attractive asset class in America is housing.”

A recent issue of Fortune Magazine featured an article on the real estate market that we thought was very interesting. The article pointed out a few observations to describe their assessment. Two important trends mentioned in the article were:

1 – The steady decline in prices which has been going on nationally since 2005 has finally hit the level where it costs less to own a house than to rent in many cities.
2 – Home builders have held back on building new homes for several years, creating the conditions for a shortage of new homes when demand goes up just a little bit.

If you would like to read the article, click here.

To get up-to-date information on real estate opportunities in Ocean Ridge Plantation including available waterfront homesites on the Atlantic Intracoastal, please email or call us at 800-556.6570.

Now is a great time to buy real estate!