Happy Memorial Day from Carolina Beach: Honoring Our Heroes & What's Happening in Wilmington NC Real Estate Right Now

This is Buddy Blake, coming to you live from Carolina Beach on Memorial Day. Our family is down here enjoying the long weekend together — the kids just got out of school on Friday, which still feels surreal. I can't believe all of our kids are either in high school or have already moved on. Time flies faster than anyone warns you it will.

But before we talk about anything else — before we talk about real estate, before we talk about the market, before we talk about listings — I want to take a genuine moment to honor what this day is truly about.

What Memorial Day Really Means

Memorial Day is not just a long weekend. It is not just a day off from work, a cookout, or the unofficial start of summer. It is a day set aside specifically to remember — to truly remember — the men and women who gave their lives in service to this country. And I think that's something worth pausing on, even if just for a moment, before we fire up the grill or head to the beach.

Over the last 250 years, hundreds of thousands of American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines made the ultimate sacrifice. They left behind parents, spouses, children, and friends. They gave up their futures so that the rest of us could have ours. That is not a small thing. That is everything.

Memorial Day weekend at Carolina Beach, NC — a moment to pause, reflect, and be grateful.

Does our country have problems? Of course it does. We have differences of opinion. We have diversity in every direction — politically, culturally, socially. We have things we are still working through as a nation. But the one thing that every single American shares, regardless of where they stand on anything else, is the freedom to live, speak, worship, work, and pursue happiness the way they choose. And that freedom was purchased at a price that most of us will never fully comprehend.

I think about the families. The mom who got the knock on the door. The kids who grew up without their dad. The spouse who folded the flag at a graveside and had to figure out how to keep going. Those families gave something too. They gave someone they loved. And on this Memorial Day, I want to say clearly and sincerely: we see you. We honor you. We are grateful beyond words.

So wherever you are today — whether you're at the beach, at a backyard cookout, watching the parade, or just quietly reflecting — take a minute. Say a prayer. Thank a veteran's family. Fly your flag. This day matters, and the people we remember today deserve every bit of it.

Freedom is not free. It never has been. And the least we can do — the very least — is remember that on the one day a year set aside specifically for that purpose.

A Family Weekend at Carolina Beach

Now, I'll be honest — I'm sitting here at Carolina Beach with my family, and it is gorgeous. The kids just finished the school year on Friday, and there is something about that combination — the last day of school, Memorial Day weekend, and the coast of North Carolina — that just feels like everything is right in the world.

If you have little kids right now, I want to speak directly to you for a second. I know it's hard. I know the sleepless nights, the chaos, the constant noise and motion of raising young children can feel overwhelming. I get it. But I promise you — I am living proof — those seasons go by faster than you think. You blink, and they're in high school. You blink again, and they're gone. Enjoy every single moment of it, even the hard ones. You will look back on this time with more fondness than you can imagine right now.

Carolina Beach is one of those places that just has a way of slowing everything down. The salt air, the sound of the waves, the laid-back vibe of the island — it's a reminder of why so many people choose to buy a home in the Wilmington NC area. Whether you're here for a weekend or you're lucky enough to call it home year-round, there is something genuinely special about this stretch of the North Carolina coast.

And speaking of calling it home — the real estate market here and throughout the greater Wilmington area is absolutely moving right now. So while I'm enjoying the holiday with my family, I also want to make sure you have the information you need, because the spring market is not waiting for anyone.

The Wilmington NC Market Is Busy Right Now

Let me be direct with you: the Wilmington NC real estate market is busy — genuinely busy. We have been selling through our listings quickly, sometimes faster than we can replace them. Buyer activity is strong, showing requests are up, and well-priced homes in the right communities are moving with real urgency.

This is not a market where sellers can afford to be passive. And it is also not a market where buyers can afford to be slow. The combination of rising buyer demand and tightening inventory means that if you are on either side of a transaction, the decisions you make in the next 60 to 90 days could have a significant impact on your outcome.

I've been watching this market closely, and what we're seeing right now is consistent with what I described in my recent post about how the market is shifting faster than I've seen since COVID. Buyers are back in force. Inventory is tight. And the communities that have the right product for the right buyer are seeing multiple offers and quick sales.

Specifically, I have two very distinct buyer pools right now that are actively searching and cannot find what they need. These are real buyers — pre-qualified, motivated, and ready to move. What they need is inventory. And if you own a home that fits either of these profiles, I want to talk to you.

Buyer Pool #1: One-Level Living Communities in the $600K–$900K Range

The first buyer pool I need to talk about is one of the strongest I've seen in years. These are buyers — typically empty nesters, retirees, or people planning ahead for retirement — who are specifically looking for one-level living. No stairs. No second floor. A beautifully designed, high-quality home where everything they need is on a single floor, and the lifestyle matches where they are in life.

These buyers are not cutting corners. They are comfortable spending $600,000, $700,000, $800,000, even $900,000 for the right home. They know what they want, they have the financial resources to get it, and they are actively searching right now. The problem? There is simply not enough inventory to satisfy demand in this category.

Communities like Village at Motts Landing are exactly what these buyers are looking for. Motts Landing is a master-planned community on the south side of Wilmington that offers beautifully crafted one-level homes, a strong sense of community, and amenities that match the lifestyle these buyers are seeking. If you own a home there and have been thinking about selling, I can tell you with confidence that your timing could not be better.

Other communities in this category include Coble Crossing and Riverlights. Riverlights in particular has been one of the most talked-about communities in the Wilmington area — a waterfront master-planned development along the Cape Fear River that offers a mix of single-story homes, walkability, a marina village, and resort-style amenities. It is exactly the kind of community that appeals to buyers in this pool, and demand there continues to be strong. You can explore new construction options in the Wilmington area including communities like Riverlights if you're curious about what's being built.

If you own a one-level home in any of these communities — or in a similar community anywhere in the greater Wilmington area — and you've been on the fence about selling, this is the moment to have a conversation. We have buyers. We need your home. And I can tell you from experience that when supply is tight and demand is strong, sellers win. You can also read about why working with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage enhances your home selling experience when it comes to maximizing your outcome in a market like this one.

Buyer Pool #2: Large Homes in Amenity-Rich Neighborhoods

The second buyer pool is almost the mirror opposite of the first — and yet equally active and equally hungry for inventory. These are buyers who need space. Lots of bedrooms. Room for a big family, maybe multi-generational living, or simply the kind of square footage that a growing household demands. And they want that space to come wrapped in a community that feels like a resort.

We're talking pools, clubhouses, pickleball courts, tennis courts, walking trails, sidewalks throughout, playgrounds — the works. These buyers have done their research. They know what the best communities in Wilmington offer, and they are not willing to settle for less. Their budgets range from $500,000 to $800,000, and in some cases up to a million dollars or more, depending on the location and the specific home.

Tarin Woods is one of the communities that checks every single box for this buyer pool. Located on the south side of Wilmington near Monkey Junction, Tarin Woods is a newer neighborhood with high-quality construction, a beautiful pool and clubhouse, and the kind of community feel that families are specifically seeking. Homes there have been moving well, and buyer interest remains consistently high.

Congleton Farms is another community that fits this profile perfectly. Newer construction, larger floor plans, and the kind of neighborhood infrastructure that growing families want. If you own a home in Congleton Farms and haven't thought about what it's worth in today's market, you might be surprised. The new home sales data in New Hanover County tells a compelling story about how these types of communities are performing right now.

Marsh Oaks is a community that consistently attracts buyers who want newer construction with strong amenities in a well-established neighborhood setting. It has the combination of quality, community, and location that this buyer pool prioritizes. Similarly, Plantation Landing — which is actually the community where I personally live — is exactly the kind of neighborhood these buyers are drawn to. I can speak from personal experience: the sense of community, the amenities, the neighbors, the lifestyle — it's everything a family could want.

The north side of Wilmington, communities near Porters Neck and Ogden, and areas stretching up toward Hampstead are also seeing strong demand from this buyer pool. Families relocating to the Wilmington area — many of them coming from larger markets in the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic, or the Midwest — are specifically targeting these types of neighborhoods because they offer the lifestyle and the value that they simply cannot find where they're coming from. Our relocation services are designed specifically to help those families navigate the move and find the right community.

A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity: Waterfront Acreage Community

Now I want to share something that is genuinely rare — and I want to be upfront that this is not for everyone. This is for a very specific type of buyer, and there are only going to be about 10 to 12 of them in the entire world who get this opportunity. But if you are that buyer, or if you know that buyer, I want you to hear this.

There is a unique community coming together in the greater Wilmington area — and I mean the broader region, not just the city limits — where you will be able to own 10 or more acres, keep horses, and still have access to the waterway. This is not a subdivision. This is not a typical neighborhood. This is the kind of land opportunity that comes along once in a generation in a coastal market like ours.

We are talking about international buyers, buyers from California, buyers from the Northeast who have been looking for exactly this combination — acreage, equestrian capability, waterfront or waterway access, and the privacy and lifestyle that comes with it — and simply cannot find it in the markets they're coming from. In Wilmington's surrounding area, this kind of land is extraordinarily rare, and the fact that there are only 10 to 12 lots available makes it even more precious.

These lots are not on the open market yet. They are just getting started. But I have insight into what is happening with this community, and I can get the right buyer in to walk the land as it is being developed. If you have been dreaming about a property where you can truly spread out — where your horses can roam, your boat can be docked, and you can still be within reach of everything that Wilmington NC real estate and coastal North Carolina have to offer — please reach out to me directly.

The price point is significant. I want to be transparent about that. This is a big-ticket opportunity, and it is designed for a buyer who has the vision and the resources to match it. But for the right person, this is the kind of land that you pass down through generations. Contact me directly and let's have a private conversation about it.

Thinking About Selling? Here's What You Need to Know

If you own a home in the Wilmington area and you have been on the fence about selling, I want to give you the clearest picture I can of what the market looks like right now. We have active, motivated buyers. We have tight inventory. And we have two specific buyer pools — one-level living in the $600K–$900K range, and large family homes in amenity-rich communities — that are desperately searching for the right home.

When I work with sellers, my entire focus is on one thing: getting you the highest and best dollar possible for your home. That means pricing it right, presenting it beautifully, marketing it aggressively, and negotiating fiercely on your behalf. I personally work with sellers — this is not something I hand off. I am in the process with you from the first conversation to the closing table.

One thing I want to clear up, because I hear this question often: if a buyer calls on your listing and they don't have an agent, I am not making more money. I get the same compensation whether the buyer has their own agent or not. My job — my only job — is to get you as much money as possible for your home. That is the commitment I make to every seller I work with, and it is a commitment I take seriously. You can read more about how commission structures work in the current environment in our post on buyer agent commissions after the NAR settlement.

Before you sell, there are also some practical things to think about — things that sellers often overlook until it's too late. I highly recommend reading the moving insurance story every seller must hear before they pack a single box. It's the kind of insider knowledge that can save you real money and real headaches during the moving process. And if you're wondering whether you might be inadvertently limiting your buyer pool, check out our post on how sellers unknowingly eliminate hundreds of buyers every day — it's a must-read before you list.

You can also get a quick estimate of your potential net proceeds using our home sale calculator. It's a great starting point before we sit down together and go through the full picture. And if you want to see what's currently on the market — to understand what you'd be competing against as a seller, or what you might move into as a buyer — our property search and open house listings are always up to date.

Buying in Wilmington This Spring — What You Need to Know

If you are on the buying side of this equation, I want to make sure you have the right team in your corner. The Buddy Blake Team has buyer agents who are exceptional negotiators, who know this market deeply, and who are in hundreds of homes every year. They know the new inventory, the new neighborhoods, the builders, the communities — they know things that you simply cannot learn from browsing online listings.

Whether you are buying your first home in Wilmington, relocating from another state, or upgrading into a larger home as your family grows, having the right buyer's agent makes a material difference in your outcome. In a competitive market, the agent you choose determines whether you get the home — and what you pay for it.

Before you start seriously searching, it's worth understanding your budget clearly. Our affordability calculator and mortgage calculator are great tools to help you understand what you can realistically spend and what your monthly payment would look like at different price points. Getting pre-approved by a lender before you start touring homes is non-negotiable in this market — sellers will not take you seriously without it. You can also use our standalone mortgage payment estimator to run quick numbers on any home you're considering.

If you are relocating to the Wilmington area from out of state, our relocation services are specifically designed to help you navigate the move efficiently and confidently. We work with buyers coming from all over the country — the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, California, Florida — and we know how to make the process smooth even when you are doing it from a distance. You can also browse the full Wilmington area MLS listings to get a sense of what's available across every community and price range.

Enjoy the Season — And Let's Talk

I want to close this the same way I started it: with gratitude. Gratitude for the freedom we enjoy in this country. Gratitude for the men and women who made that freedom possible. Gratitude for the families who sacrificed alongside them. And gratitude for the ability to live, work, and raise our families in a place as beautiful as Wilmington, North Carolina.

If you've got little kids at home today, take them to the beach. Build a sandcastle. Watch the fireworks. Eat too much food. Be present. Because I promise you — speaking from personal experience, sitting here at Carolina Beach with my own kids who are almost grown — those moments are the ones you'll treasure most.

And when the holiday weekend is over and you're ready to talk about real estate — whether you're thinking about selling your one-level home in Motts Landing or Riverlights, your large family home in Tarin Woods or Congleton Farms, or you're ready to start your search for the perfect home in the Wilmington area — I'm here. My team is here. And we are ready to go to work for you.

You can also follow along on YouTube and Facebook where I share regular market updates, neighborhood insights, and the kind of real-talk real estate advice that I'd give to my own family. Because at the end of the day, that's exactly how I think about every client I work with.

Happy Memorial Day. God bless the fallen. God bless their families. And God bless this incredible country we get to call home.

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