What does the perfect neighborhood look like to you? Is it stacked with all the amenities, such as a community pool, clubhouse, a golf course, or a nature trail? Perhaps you’d rather enjoy the opposite—a quiet community with no HOA that allows residents to store their boats adjacent to their homes.
In 2023, throughout the Cape Fear Region, a total of 10,837 homes were sold, spanning roughly 300 different neighborhoods. Doug Wahl, Just For Buyers Realty Social Media Director, meticulously combed through each sale. His work provides us with a better understanding of which areas are growing in popularity and which communities were favored by buyers.
For the third consecutive year, we are proud to present the JFBR Neighborhood Awards.
BIG MAN ON CAMPUS AWARD
It’s a clean sweep for Brunswick County. The fastest growing county in the state had all of the top five most popular neighborhoods, by the total number of sales. Leading the pack was Brunswick Forest.
Top Five most popular neighborhoods
| NEIGHBORHOOD | LOCATION | NUMBER OF SALES | AVERAGE PRICE |
| Brunswick Forest | Leland/
Brunswick County |
249 | $544,578 |
| St. James Plantation | Southport/
Brunswick County |
209 | $719,628 |
| Mallory Creek Plantation | Winnabow/
Brunswick County |
169 | $346,322 |
| Tranquil Harbor | Oak Island/
Brunswick County |
162 | $510,556 |
| Sea Trail Plantation | Sunset Beach/
Brunswick County |
144 | $468,822 |
TALK OF THE TOWN AWARD
Townhomes are gaining increasing popularity, drawing admiration from both builders and buyers alike. For builders, they present the opportunity to maximize smaller lots. While a plot of land might only accommodate a few single-family homes, constructing townhomes on the same plot can yield up to 20 units. Buyers are increasingly attracted to townhomes as they offer numerous amenities without the burden of outdoor maintenance. Here are the neighborhoods that spearheaded townhome sales in 2023.
| Townhome Community | LOCATION | NUMBER OF SALES | AVERAGE PRICE |
| Mallory Creek Plantation | Winnabow, Brunswick County | 59 | $324,558 |
| Sea Trail Plantation | Sunset Beach, Brunswick County | 59 | $518,673 |
| Grand Bay | Wilmington , 28412 | 53 | $347,031 |
| Bellamy Place Townhomes | Leland, Brunswick County | 42 | $270,264 |
| Ibis Landing | Leland, Brunswick County | 40 | $299,999 |
THE HURRY, HURRY, HURRY AWARD
This award recognizes communities where homes didn’t linger on the market for long.
In the previous year, the top five communities on the list all boasted an average of just two days on the market before properties were under contract. However, this year has seen a significant increase, with only one community finishing the year with a single-digit average.
Here are the top five neighborhoods with the shortest days on the market.
| Neighborhood | LOCATION | Average Days on the Market | AVERAGE PRICE |
| Northchase | Wilmington, New Hanover County | 8 Days | $347,663 |
| Pine Valley Estates | Wilmington, New Hanover County | 12 Days | $445,608 |
| Beach Walk | Calabash, Brunswick County | 14 Days | $346,585 |
| Bridgewater Landing | Hampstead, Pender County | 17 Days | $452,500 |
| Deer Crossing | Hampstead, Pender | 17 Days | $417,394 |
THE MORE THAN WE ASKED FOR AWARD
Once again in 2023, buyers were ready to reach into their wallets, paying more than sellers were asking for. However, unlike the past two years, all of the top five finishers in this category predominantly featured new construction. This suggests that prices likely exceeded asking prices due to various options and selections made by buyers during the building process.
Here are the top five neighborhoods where the average sale price exceeded the average asking price:
| Neighborhood | LOCATION | Homes Sold | Percentage of Asking Price |
| The Lakes at Brunswick Plantation | Calabash, Brunswick County | 85 | 106.88% |
| Olde Georgetown | Bolivia, Brunswick County | 104 | 106.56% |
| The Home Place of Southport | Southport, Brunswick County | 78 | 103.62% |
| Fisher Landing | Southport, Brunswick County | 78 | 102.23% |
| The Village of Motts Landing | Wilmington, New Hanover County | 39 | 100.89% |
THE LET’S MAKE A DEAL AWARD
While 2023 was certainly not a buyer’s market, the balance of leverage shifted more towards the buyer. They succeeded in getting offers accepted that were significantly below the asking price. In 2023, buyers with the most negotiation power were those seeking historic homes in downtown Wilmington.
Here are the top five neighborhoods where the average price was below the average asking price:
| Neighborhood | LOCATION | Homes Sold | Percentage of Asking Price |
| Historic District | Wilmington, New Hanover County | 65 | – 92.4% |
| Olde Pointe | Hampstead, Pender County | 52 | – 93.45% |
| Long Beach | Oak Island, Brunswick County | 33 | – 94.47% |
| Eagle Run | Calabash, Brunswick County | 52 | – 95.2% |
| Winding River Plantation | Bolvia, Brunswick County | 43 | – 95.41% |
THE KING OF THE CONDOS AWARD
The two most sought-after locations for condominiums in the Cape Fear Region were communities on golf courses in southern Brunswick County and neighborhoods in Wilmington’s midtown area. Topping the charts with the highest number of sales was Crow Creek in Calabash. This expansive, amenity-rich neighborhood features patio homes, single-family homes, large estates, and a section of condos that offer scenic views of the golf course. In 2023, a total of 36 units were sold in the community, with an average price of $269,339.
Here are the top five most popular condominium communities.
| Neighborhood | LOCATION | Homes Sold | AVERAGE PRICE |
| Crow Creek | Calabash, Brunswick County | 36 | $269,339 |
| Sea Trail Plantation | Sunset Beach, Brunswick County | 36 | $295,286 |
| St James Plantation | St James, Brunswick County | 30 | 372,660 |
| Breezewood | Wilmington, New Hanover County | 30 | $261,531 |
| Ocean Dunes | Kure Beach, New Hanover County | 24 | $444,068
|
THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK AWARD
Buyers seeking something new had abundant options in 2023. Numerous existing communities, some with a history spanning years, still offered empty lots for sale, awaiting the construction of new homes. For this award, we excluded those existing communities. To claim the coveted spot as the New Kid on the Block, the majority of homes in the communities had to come on the market in the last 12 months. Taking the lead as the most popular new community is Sidebury Farms in Castle Hayne.
Here are the top five most popular new communities:
| Neighborhood | LOCATION | Homes Sold | AVERAGE PRICE |
| Sidbury Farms | Castle Hayne, New Hanover County | 59 | $339,641 |
| Bridgewater Landing | Hampstead, Pender County | 57 | $339,641 |
| Seabroke | Leland, Brunswick County | 55 | $340,965 |
| Bella Point | Bolivia, Brunswick County | 54 | $293,880 |
| Beach Walk | Calabash, Brunswick County | 41 | $346,585 |