Thoughts on Retiring to Oak Island, Holden Beach, NC area

[Hugh R]

I'll be there next week for a TV Pilot, once again, I'll be looking at possible places to retire outside of Los Angeles.

Meeting with a realtor next Monday. Looks like you can get a place on/across from the beach that is nice for $500K-$750K. All are three story with the first floor being the garage which is on stilts for obvious reasons. Getting older, stairs could be an issue, but the climb could be good for me. Also you can put in small 3 stop elevators as a retrofit on the exterior of a house for about $20K or less. I'm aware many properties are not re-buildable in the event they are wiped out by storms (coastal commission nazis). So I would avoid those houses.

Taxes are reasonable, compared to Los Angeles, and my daughter/grandsons live in NYC and Eastern Pennsylvania, a few hours drive.

Any thoughts?

[john70t]

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[sammyg2]

Somewhere along that coast there is lots of sand disappearing, lots O'people scrambling trying to replace the sand that used to be beach in front of their home.
note sure if it's where you're looking er not.

[gamin]

I would like to live in that area too. Thought about it many times. Between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach. North Carolina is a good place to live and costs and taxes are not bad at all. Weather in general is pretty good. Very good hospitals within a few hours. The total package is very appealing. And Hurricane Region PCA is pretty active. Nothing like in LA but active. Good bunch of Porsche pushers. If you play golf, lots of golf courses from Pinehurst to Myrtle. The friendly folks in North Carolina would welcome you.

[Hugh R]

One attraction is when I was working on my BS from UMASS, Amherst, I spent a lot of time on the outerbanks of NC doing coastal engineering under Dr. Stephen Leatherman, (Mr. Beach). He really is one of the World's experts on barrier islands. So one attraction is that I really understand and appreciate the coastal dynamics of barrier islands.

[aigel]

I don't know Hugh - look at some of those links and you will see that CA wins on weather and Ventura even on safety. Are you really in dire need for the tax moneys you'd save by moving out of state? I can see wanting to be closer to family, but you would not move me to the East Coast. Gulf would be tops ...

G

[Hugh R]

Aigel, I understand, but this for $500K Protected view.

[Hugh R]

OTOH, I own this view now. 18 acres of oak trees and privacy a few miles outside of Los Angeles.

[pcardude]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

I'll be there next week for a TV Pilot, once again, I'll be looking at possible places to retire outside of Los Angeles.

Meeting with a realtor next Monday. Looks like you can get a place on/across from the beach that is nice for $500K-$750K. All are three story with the first floor being the garage which is on stilts for obvious reasons. Getting older, stairs could be an issue, but the climb could be good for me. Also you can put in small 3 stop elevators as a retrofit on the exterior of a house for about $20K or less. I'm aware many properties are not re-buildable in the event they are wiped out by storms (coastal commission nazis). So I would avoid those houses.

Taxes are reasonable, compared to Los Angeles, and my daughter/grandsons live in NYC and Eastern Pennsylvania, a few hours drive.

Any thoughts?

Damn, another treasure hunter show coming?

[pcardude]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

OTOH, I own this view now. 18 acres of oak trees and privacy a few miles outside of Los Angeles.

I'm so jealous. I have a cardboard box and an old 911. Nice place man. Can I come hangout sometime?

[Hugh R]

Actually a pilot about rum wars, intrigue, people effing each other literally and figuratively, set in modern day.

[pcardude]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Actually a pilot about rum wars, intrigue, people effing each other literally and figuratively, set in modern day.

I don't want to derail the thread but how did you get into your line of work. I know asking that especially online can come off as a dick move but I'm genuinely curious.

[Hugh R]

PM sent

[pete3799]

My sister moved to Southport, N.C last year and loves it there. I haven't been to visit yet so can't offer any more than that.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Aigel, I understand, but this for $500K Protected view.

That house and view in upper Newport or Laguna would cost you $3.5 mil minus the hurricanes, but with the land slides, brush fires, and earthquakes.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

PM sent

I think of the online persona pcardude as a troll. Hugh.

YMMV.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

I'll be there next week for a TV Pilot, once again, I'll be looking at possible places to retire outside of Los Angeles.

Meeting with a realtor next Monday. Looks like you can get a place on/across from the beach that is nice for $500K-$750K. All are three story with the first floor being the garage which is on stilts for obvious reasons. Getting older, stairs could be an issue, but the climb could be good for me. Also you can put in small 3 stop elevators as a retrofit on the exterior of a house for about $20K or less. I'm aware many properties are not re-buildable in the event they are wiped out by storms (coastal commission nazis). So I would avoid those houses.

Taxes are reasonable, compared to Los Angeles, and my daughter/grandsons live in NYC and Eastern Pennsylvania, a few hours drive.

Any thoughts?

I would if I could Hugh. I spend alot of my riding time in NC and have friends there. But I prefer the mountains to the shore. Everyone I know there is very happy, but they all live in the mountains.

[look 171]

Sure its pretty Hugh. I've grown to love my "Dry heat" we have here. The summers there is too much for me. Florida absolutely kicked my ass as I felt like I was in a wet T shirt contest all freaking day (including nights) long. I have some time to go to think about retiring but my wife and I talk about it often. For now, our plan is to say in socal. Only if we can move 30% of the transplants back home and we are golden. I loved this place back in the late 70s and 80s. I think once you moved, you will really miss your place in Santa C.

[VincentVega]

The closest I've been in Myrtle beach so I dont know the specific neighborhood but the area is very nice. Look closely at flood and property ins. and make sure you visit for a while in the summer, I've seen near perfect days with a slight breeze and stagnant days where I was dripping wet by 9am.

Good luck

[Jim Richards]

Retire to SoCal.