If you’ve been watching the real estate market lately, you know one thing is clear: smart investors are moving away from high-cost metros and into strategic secondary markets. And Wilmington, North Carolina, is at the top of that list.
💡 Why Wilmington?
Wilmington offers a rare blend of:
Steady appreciation: Over the past 40 years, Wilmington's housing market has experienced an average annual appreciation rate of approximately 4.5%. In the last 5 years, the average annual appreciation rate has been around 16.8%, reflecting the area's growing appeal to investors. (neighborhoodscout.com)
A strong rental market supported by military, healthcare, and university populations
A coastal lifestyle that draws both short-term renters and long-term tenants
Combine this with investor-friendly laws and a booming local economy, and you get a recipe for sustainable cash flow and long-term equity growth.
📉 Skipping the Hype of Bigger Cities
Investors are tired of:
Sky-high prices in cities like Austin, Denver, and Atlanta
Razor-thin margins
Strict landlord regulations and high property taxes
Wilmington is where returns meet reliability.
🏨 What Smart Investors Are Actually Doing
Our most successful clients:
Acquire 2–10 properties in Wilmington to diversify away from primary markets
Leverage 1031 exchanges or HELOCs to fund acquisitions
Use local management (that’s us) to stay hands-off and still grow monthly cash flow
This is portfolio building done right.
🔎 Key Metrics Investors Care About
Average home price: ~$350K (vs. $800K+ in top-tier metros)
Cap rates: 6–8% on well-positioned SFRs
Vacancy rates: Among the lowest in North Carolina’s coastal region
Tenant demand: Military families, UNCW students, and relocating retirees. Additionally, North Carolina has become a top destination for domestic migration, with a net gain of over 82,000 people between July 2023 and July 2024—ranking it third in the nation for net domestic migration.
🌟 Why Now?
Home prices are stabilizing. Rent demand is climbing. Institutional money hasn’t flooded Wilmington—yet. It’s the sweet spot before the wave.
Ready to Explore Wilmington?
We specialize in helping out-of-state investors get set up, find the right properties, and stay hands-off while still getting great returns.
