People find me at www.placesofvalue in many different ways. Some people click on an ad, others do a Google search, and yet others hear about me from friends. 

Based on how they found me, they all receive one valuable report or another  about retiring or relocating to the Carolinas.

So you can benefit from all I offer people about affordable places in North and South Carolina that haven't been discovered yet, lifestyle, retirement, and communities in the Carolinas, I am listing below the reports which are available to you just because you're one of my subscribers….and for that, I Thank You!

Just in case you don't know, Asheville, NC is one of my favorite places…

Asheville Best Place

I feel Anderson, SC has a lot to offer now and in the future…

Anderson Best Value

Knowing what to watch out for when you're picking your Dream Place can help you avoid a very costly mistake…

28 Secrets You Must Know

For those of you who aren't sure yet what places in North and South Carolina might fit what you're looking for, here are reviews of 10 places in North Carolina and 10 in South Carolina you'll want to consider…

Best Places

Take a look at the many Articles on this site for more great information about retiring or relocating to the Carolinas.

As the Carolinas grow, more and more towns and cities will experience traffic and congestion that makes people want to stay home at certain times of the day. City planners, architects, developers, and civic leaders have taken note of the growing (and slowing) problem, and have started to consider alternative methods of development.

One of the new development philosophies is New Urbanism, which strives to develop thriving livable communities with lots of open green space, neighbors who actually know and help each other, and less dependence on cars.

Different organizations have slightly different interpretations of what New Urbanism consists of, however the basic principles of New Urbanism include the following:

1. Overall, the housing in the development will be tightly clustered together fostering a sense of “community”, unlike the suburbs where the housing is spread out and most people don’t even know their neighbors. Large open green areas are therefore available to be left in their natural state for all to enjoy.
2. The neighborhood will have a distinct center and public green area. In this center, there will be spaces for gatherings, and possibly public art. Public spaces and green areas are provided to encourage a sense of “community”. There is an emphasis on streetscape planning consisting of more narrow roads lined by trees and landscaping, and other aesthetic features such as lighting and sitting areas. The housing in the center of the community will be the densest, with decreasing density as you move away from it.
3. There will be a range of housing options for old and young alike, as well as a mix of building types. The intergenerational mix of older people with young people supports today’s two income lifestyle. People who might be retired or working less have time to care for the children of young growing families, and most of them have already raised families of their own so they’re experienced and well trained in the art of taking care of kids. The exchange of ideas between generations keeps the older people young and allows the younger people the benefit of the wisdom gained through the aging process.
4. New Urbanism strives to reduce our dependency on automobiles. You will find different types of commercial activity developed as part of the community and mixed together. Businesses, offices, retail shops, and residential spaces will be located in the same development. By having retail shops and offices located right within the community, people can walk from home to shopping, or home to work, live healthier lives, spend more time with neighbors, and reduce their impact on the environment. Public transportation throughout the community further reduces resident’s reliance on automobiles.
5. In an effort to develop walkable Neighborhoods, New Urbanism communities provide a high level of connectivity between streets, public spaces, sidewalks, and developed areas.

These principles are part of a systematic approach to development with the final goal being the enhancement of the quality of life of its residents, and the creation of a sense of “community”. With a great regard for quality design in its streetscapes, public areas, commercial buildings, and residences, New Urbanism communities hope to create a thriving environment in which residents actually get to know and support each other. By creating a community where people spend less time in cars and traffic, the hope is they will have more free time to spend with friends, family and neighbors, less stress, and in the end be healthier and happier.

For more information about New Urbanism communities in the Carolinas, see my “North and South Carolina Community Directories”. Included are over 30 communities in North Carolina and South Carolina, which exemplify New Urbanism concepts.

There's no doubt about it, the Carolinas have a lot to offer!

The "Top 100 Places for 2008" was just published by Relocate America and can be found at  www.relocateamerica.com. Relocate America is a source of community information and real estate resources for people who are relocating or looking for a new community to retire to.

The places included on the list are determined by an analysis of statistics on education, employment, their economy, crime rates,  parks, recreation, and housing, as well as feedback from people who live and work in these places. 

There are 12 places from North and South Carolina in the Top 100. There are 3 places from the Carolinas in the Top 10! That's pretty good.

North Carolina had Charlotte and Asheville in the Top 10. South Carolina had Greenville.

In the Top 100, North Carolina had Cary, Raleigh, and Holly Springs, which are near each other. I also like Apex in that same general area! Indian Trail which is southeast of Charlotte in Union County, and Wilmington were also in the Top 100 in North Carolina. Union County has experienced substantial growth in the past 5 years.

In the Top 100, South Carolina had Columbia, Aiken which is southwest of Columbia and just east of Augusta (Georgia), Charleston and Rock Hill which is south of Charlotte, North Carolina. 

For detailed reviews on over 100 places in the Carolinas, take a look at my book  "The Ultimate Guide To Finding Your Dream Place In The Carolinas". 

With all the towns I research and people I meet doing it, these are the five things I'm really tired of when I'm out there visiting towns and communities in the Carolinas…

1)Real Estate Agents who only want to sell me something to earn a commission, have a "one-size-fits-all" mentality rather than caring about what I'm looking for, and don't know very much about their own area in the Carolinas.

2) The people at the Chambers of Commerce in North and South Carolina who are usually part-time workers and volunteers, and don't know very much about relocating to their Town, its retirement communities, or what's important to me, but know I'll love living in the Carolinas.

3) People who say they know about places in the Carolinas, but rarely go there to research the area and experience them first hand.

4) Ad salesman, magazine publishers, football stars and golf celebrities that recommend places in the Carolinas and retirement communities, but know nothing about the area or community.

5) Magazines that are supposed to be about the best places and communities to retire in North and South Carolina, but have 300 pages of ads and only 20 pages of any kind of information about towns, communities and retiring in the Carolinas.

Let me know what your frustrations are, so I can help you with them, in finding your Dream Place in North and South Carolina.

Whether you're looking for a retirement community, or just a special place to relocate to in the Carolinas, I've listed some great deals here!

As you can imagine, I get boat loads of mail from communities in both North and South Carolina.
I seek out those communities that offer special weekend visitation packages, so I can make you aware of them.
These are packages that include discounted lodging and meals, even golf, if you actually let a community representative show you their community, and possibly partake in some of their planned activities. Some communities even provide lodging and meals, at no cost to you. It's a really great way to get to know about the community whether you're looking to retire or just find your new Dream Place, in the Carolinas.

The other mail I get is from communities in the Carolinas offering substantial price reductions or special incentives, for buying in their community now!

I'll tell you about some great deals on communities in the Carolinas below, but there's not room enough to cover them all. I'll cover more of them in future posts to this blog.

Seawatch at Sunset Harbor is located in Southport, North Carolina, just south of Wilmington. For $199, you can stay in the South Harbor Village right on the water and get a good feel for what this community is all about.  They offer three days and two nights accommodations, a variety of local events, and a dinner certificate.  You should call (877) 732-9282, and speak to them directly about their weekend visitation packages. Their website is                    www.seawatch-nc.com. I spoke to Dennis Nepini who was very helpful.

Seabrook Plantation is located in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This is an oceanside community in the Tilghman Beach section of North Myrtle Beach.  In an email from Curtis Dukes, he said, at this time, they have a lender that's willing to lend 100% of the purchase price of their homesites, and if you qualify, you won't have to pay any payments on an interest only loan for the first 12 months.Their website is www.seabrookplantation.com, or you can write to  info@seabrookplantation.com.

Albemarle Plantation is located in Hertford, North Carolina.  It's in between two towns which I really like.  They are Edenton, North Carolina and Elizabeth City. This area of the Albemarle Sound is truly beautiful!  If you reserve by September 30, you can visit the community and take a tour with a sales representative, and pay only $99 for the three days and two nights accommodations in a condominium within the community.  This includes a round of golf for two. Their website is www.albemarleplantation.com. You can contact them at (800) 635-8389.

Brunswick Plantation is located in Calabash, North Carolina, which is southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina and northeast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It's a well located oceanside community. If you visit the community before August 15, they are offering a special visitation package of accommodations for just $10 per night, for up to four nights, in a one bedroom condominium. If you close on a condominium, townhouse, or homesite at Brunswick Plantation by August 15, you can get up to a $1000 rebate on closing costs. Their website is www.brunswickplantation.com, or you can contact them at (800) 835-4533 (X 6920).

Riverside is located in Georgetown, South Carolina. Georgetown is northeast of Charleston, South Carolina and right on the coast. It's a quaint historic town with its own waterfront area (Harborwalk) lined with shops, restaurants and galleries. If you purchase a homesite at the Riverside, you can get your own private boatslip as part of your purchase price, which is a valuable amenity. You can contact an agent at (843) 436-5263.

In light of the fact that the housing market is ever-changing, you must do your own due diligence in checking out any real estate before purchasing it and confirm present offerings.  The information found here is not meant to be investment advice.

I am not acting as a real estate agent.  I do not receive any commissions or fees for mentioning towns or communities in my blog. I am in no way a representative of any of these communities.

I'm here solely to bring you valuable information about the Carolinas, it's communities, and retirement choices. 

I've spent over 30 years finding the best real estate locations for major corporations. These companies have made hundreds of millions of dollars based on the locations I've selected.

I'm a professional real estate site locator and location analyst. During the last 5 years, I've been researching the growth of towns in North and South Carolina, for the relocation of my family.

I've studied hundreds of towns to find those areas which are still affordable, have a high quality lifestyle, and the potential for future growth.

My purpose is to share what I've found, and help you find your Dream Place in the Carolinas.