Brunswick County, the number one place to move
BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY)–Whether it be the waves in Ocean Isle Beach, shopping in Leland, or even snow in Southport, Michael Shaeffer who is a New Jersey transplant, says Brunswick County has it all.
“It’s a great retirement place, and I get to walk my dog. There’s a lot of places to walk my dogs. I love the forests, and I love the trails,” said Shaeffer.
Shaeffer’s sentiment is one reason why U.S. News World Report says it’s the number one county people are thinking to move in. The magazine says it’s because of low taxes, great attractions, and a temperate climate.
Zach Bryant, real estate broker with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Carolina Premier Properties, says it’s also because of great work opportunities.
“You’re seeing an increase in families because of remote work, there’s manufacturing jobs, retail jobs, and more health care jobs,” said Bryant. “With the industries coming here, it’s opening it up to more families.”
More new families mean higher prices for homes. The median price for a home increased almost 8 percent to almost 400 hundred five thousand dollars.
Along with that comes an increase in population, traffic, and development.
“A lot of the local residents, and I get it, they don’t want all this construction, they don’t want all this development,” said Bryant. “It’s pulling resources in different directions. It’s reallocating things. I am a little concerned about infrastructure.”
“We are preparing as much as we can,” said Barnes Sutton, Leland County’s Economic and Community Developer. Sutton said the town is trying to keep up with the population boom, by redoing intersections like in Ocean Gate Plaza.
“We are looking at other ways to get people around town to other commerce centers to do their shopping, or their entertainment,” said Sutton. “Whether that be parallel roads to 17, additional bike lanes, or different commuters, we want to get people to point A to B without getting into a car.”
Sutton says the area’s growing pains don’t come with expense of its exceptional culture.
“People have transferred from all over the county to live here, but you still get that same feeling as your small town back home, so I just want to know that’s still here,” said Sutton.
