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www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com WBM
Agreeing is another vet-eran,
Randall Williams of
Hardee Hunt and Williams.
“North Carolina as
a whole is enjoying an
influx of population mov-ing
in from other parts of
the nation. The Raleigh-
Durham area in specific,
which was not Wrightsville
Beach’s main demographic
prior to the completion of
I-40, is now our primary
market. That metropolitan
area, encompassing a robust
tech and pharmaceutical
sector, along with being the
seat of state government and
the home of multiple iconic
educational institutions,
continues to draw talent
from around the country, if
not the world.”
A new motivator created
a renewed source of buyers
from the Northeast: high
property taxes coupled with
the new tax laws that limit
federal property tax deduc-tion
to $10,000.
“Prior to the tax overhaul,
these folks in the Northeast
could write off all of their
property taxes on their feder-als.
If they had $50,000 to
$60,000 in property taxes,
they could write that off on
their returns. The new tax
laws limiting the deduction
to $10,000 are driving a new
wave of affluent buyers from
those areas into Southern
coastal markets like North
Carolina, because our prop-erty
taxes are so low. That is a
huge thing that is happening;
they are leaving the Northeast
states en masse right now,”
says Nick Phillips.
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH
THE hurricane’s eye passed directly over the two-island town. The weakened storm, and
the favorable timing of the tides and wind direction, miraculously left the town far better
than anyone could have imagined. Lack of power and water closed the island for one week.
Businesses were hard hit. The iconic Oceanic Restaurant, Blockade Runner, the Holiday
Inn and Shell Island, all oceanfront, were damaged. The beloved Causeway Café closed its doors.
“Experiencing the eye of a hurricane tests the fortitude of a community and its citizens,” says
Randall Williams.
At Wrightsville it wasn’t flooding from the ocean or sounds that caused damage but the huge
rain event.
PHOTOS COURTESY HARDEE HUNT AND WILLIAMS
The 12th top sale in New Hanover County was No. 3 at Wrightsville Beach at 7 North
Ridge Road on the north end, which sold for $2.86 million.