Best In North Carolina Real Estate™: Wilmington

Wilmington’s housing market is undergoing a fundamental shift: one-unit home permits dropped 12.2% in 2025, the steepest decline in North Carolina. This data, drawn directly from ALEX Intelligence’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, shows New Hanover County leading the state in construction contraction—outpacing even Brunswick and Pender counties. The real story isn’t just a slowdown; it’s a strategic pivot toward urban infill and redevelopment, especially in light of two new Opportunity Zones announced in New Hanover County. What does a 12.2% drop in permits mean when demand remains strong? It means scarcity is now the new normal. https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-14-wilmington-permits-market-change One-Year Change in One-Unit Homes Permitted (2025), top 3 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Census Bureau 2025) #1 Brunswick County — 4,454 #2 New Hanover County — 1,208 #3 Pender County — 716 Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: Tnewman39 (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=48456376; Slide 2: Donald Lee Pardue (CC BY 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=138736840; Slide 3: DiscoA340 (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=125047474; Slide 4: Farragutful (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=86132306 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-14-wilmington-permits-market-change View and join any or all of our communities — AI, quantum, and real estate: https://alex-companies.com/reports/linkedin-groups If there's an AI, quantum, or real estate community you'd like to see us convene, tell us — this portfolio grows by request. Real Estate Strategy & Intelligence Leader. Democratized Blue Ocean Strategist & Operator. Diane Hart Alexander, MBA, MHA Chair & CEO, ALEX Companies Designated Broker, Alexander Tiffany Southwest, LLC dba ALEX.realestate, et.al. Texas License #574877-B · Broker License #565194-BB [email protected] · +1 713.591.9902