WILMINGTON AREA

Wilmington, NC is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country and continues to be a strong real estate investment in spite of the larger world economy. According to Business 2.0, in 2006, Wilmington landed 7th on the list of Top 10 Cities: Where to buy now. Its warm climate, beaches, historic but happening downtown, Cape Fear River, golfing, international airport, and UNC campus are among its assets. These assets have also attracted high quality health care professionals making New Hanover Regional Medical Center the top employer of the region. This fact is fortunate as Wilmington and its surrounding areas boast the third largest net migration of retirees in the country (see accompanying Star-News articles).

Based on U.S. Census Bureau data comparing metropolitan areas ranked by percent population change between 1990 and 2000, Wilmington, NC., metropolitan statistical area had the 14th largest increase in population from 171,269 population in 1990 to 233,450 in 2000, which represents a 36.3% increase during this ten-year period.

Also based on census data, Wilmington was one of only three communities in North Carolina to experience a growth rate that is more than 50% faster than the State growth rate.