North Carolina - Great Golf, Scenic Mountains & Blue Water

Magnificent mountain scenery, some of the most beautiful and challenging golf courses to be found anywhere and a historic, picturesque coastline with numerous barrier islands and river inlets are just some of the unique attributes that make North Carolina such an interesting and rewarding place to live. No wonder that so many of its towns and cities have been listed among the country's best places to live and retire.

Retirement in the Mountains

Asheville, the economic and cultural center of the western mountain region, has seen an influx of retirees drawn by its mild climate, great scenery and strong artistic element. Also, there are a number of smaller towns nestled in the mountains that are proving to be extremely appealing to retirees.

One favorite for retirees is Brevard, a picturesque village, sitting at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and just a short thirty minute drive from Asheville. Noted for its long-established summer music festival, which draws young musicians and noted performers from across the country each summer for a season of classes and public performances, Brevard offers a broad range of housing choices ranging from new master-planned communities to affordable cottages and smaller homes in older, established neighborhoods.

As more large-scale developments emerge across the region's mountain peaks, the pursuit of affordable retirement housing is presenting a real dilemma for many individuals as the price of mountain real estate is escalating at a rapid pace. In the last few months, several exclusive developments have acquired vast tracts of the North Carolina mountains and are now offering building sites for sale with prices starting at $400,000 plus. Unquestionably, many prospective retirees are being priced out of this market, unless they are prepared to spend $750,000 or more for a mountain residence.

However, some towns scattered across the area still offer bargains, and one can still find a home under $200,000. Other places to consider for a highly desirable place to retire in the mountains include Hendersonville, Boone and Waynesville.

A Great Place for Golfers

Anyone who equates retirement with spending a lot of time on the golf course will have a wealth of choices available throughout North Carolina. In fact, the quantity and quality of the State's golf courses are major contributors to its emergence as a retirement destination.

Great golf is not limited to any specific area, and today, new residential golf course communities reach across the state, continuing a trend that first began in the late 1890's in the storied resort village of Pinehurst. Along the coast from Brunswick County, north to the Outer Banks, retirees can find developments offering golf courses, marinas and a varied choice of housing styles and prices.

For golfers who prefer an upscale atmosphere and enjoy scenic fairways that caress the Blue Ridge Mountains, there are several new private and very exclusive communities now under development near Boone, Cashiers and and Waynesville.

Waterfront Living

North Carolina also has plenty to offer for retirees who want to live near the water. Whether one prefers a quiet lakefront cottage or an oceanfront condo, there are plenty of options from which to choose. Beaufort, a beautiful and historic fishing village with a number of older renovated Victorian homes, as well as a new golf community, is just one of several small towns along the coast witnessing unparalleled growth. Farther south, extending from Wilmington to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, retirees have flocked to a number of golf communities and ocean front developments.

This Month's Spotlight City: Clayton

For more information on the best places to retire in North Carolina, visit