News, tips, and information pertaining to the advantages and options for planning retirement in North Carolina.

North Carolina named Top U.S. Growth State

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Top U.S. Growth State

Many north easterners and transplants from all across the country are moving to beautiful neighborhoods like Belmont Lake Preserve NC golf community and others across the “Tar Heel State,” as evidenced is the annual report done by U-Haul naming North Carolina as the “Top U.S. Growth State.”

Although the state only ranks ninth over all in actual population, which according to a July 2015 U.S. Census estimate for North Carolina is a little more than 10 million people, there has been a consistent growth, with a 4.3 percent increase between 2010-14. This is over one percent higher than the national average during this same time frame.

U-Haul bases its ranking of North Carolina as the Top U.S. Growth State on its posting the biggest net gain of of one-way U-Haul truck rentals entering a state versus the number which have left the same state during the past calendar year. This data was compiled for this years listing of the Top U.S. Growth State from a total of over 1.7 million one-way U-Haul truck rentals that occurred between January and December of 2015.

Several U-Haul representatives did not seem surprised in the least with North Carolina being named ad the Top U.S. Growth State for 2015, as the President of the company’s Central North Carolina operation, Jason Grider noted. “I am not surprised to hear North Carolina is the number one top growing state,” he said. “North Carolina is a great state to live and work. I think people are drawn to the state because of the strong economy and job opportunities, the climate, and the diversity of the people and state as a whole.” He concluded, “From the Atlantic Coast to the lakes and Appalachian Mountains, we have much to offer and opportunities for everyone. The growth is not limited to certain areas. We have seen tremendous growth all over the state.”

Echoing his sentiments was the President of U-Haul’s Raleigh base, Paul Smedberg, who added, “The temperate climate and overall quality of life that North Carolina offers is contagious. All the metro areas, including Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Greensboro and Winston-Salem have experienced steady growth. It doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon.”

For the complete listing of the Top U.S. Growth States, visit myuhaulstory.com.

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3 Ways to Achieve your Active Lifestyle in Rocky Mount NC

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Active Lifestyle in Rocky Mount NC

One of the biggest attractions in the decision making process to relocate and retire among today’s baby boomers is the access to an active lifestyle they desire. “Lifestyle Redefined” at Belmont Lake Preserve NC retirement community is more than your new, beautiful custom home and our 18 hole championship NC golf course. It is also more than just staying fir and leading a healthy life, as at Belmont Lake, “Lifestyle Redefined” is also making it easy for you to achieve the Active Lifestyle in Rocky Mount NC that you desire through a variety of on and off site amenities in addition to the great stuff going on socially around the area.

Tar River Walking and Paddle Trail

The scenic and historic Tar River Trail runs directly along its namesake river, stretching through the city of Rocky Mount from Sunset Park in the West, to Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in the East. Perfect for a refreshing hike, an invigorating bike ride, or just a leisurely stroll to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, the Tar River Trail gives you countless options for Active Lifestyle in Rocky Mount NC. In addition, with over 20 miles of waterways connecting the Tar River and Stony Creek and ten canoe and kayak access locations, the Tar River Trail also offers a chance to enjoy outdoor living on the water as well.

Rocky Mount Senior Center

Right in the heart of downtown, the Rocky Mount Senior Center is the perfect spot for whatever route you may choose in achieving an Active Lifestyle in Rocky Mount NC. With a state of the art fitnesss center, an indoor pool, gymnasium, and an outdoor 1/5 mile walking track, staying fit is fmade easy and un at the Senior Center. Also boasted a game room with billiards, a card room and computer lab featuring 8 computers all with internet access and outdoor space for horseshoes, bocce, and shuffleboard, whatever your choice in recreation, you are covered here. The Senior Center also offers a variety of programs for 55 and older visitors to find their Active Lifestyle in Rocky Mount NC, including day and overnight trips, educational classes, workshops, and clubs.

Outdoor Events

The feeling of community that is synonymous with “Lifestyle Redefined” goes above and beyond the options to stay fit and healthy and also includes the undeniable community feel that is undeniable Rocky Mount and the surrounding area. With a wide variety of outdoor events throughout the calendar year, there is a little something for everyone offered socially with in minutes of Belmont Lake Preserve. With Rocky Mounts’ “Downtown Live” or “Lawn Chair Theatre” concert series’ throughout the Spring and Summer months, the family friendly holiday events held year round or the highly anticipated annual Eastern Carolina BBQ Throwdown held each Fall, having a good time with familiar faces and new acquaintances is always just minutes from your front door. For the full city of Rocky Mount events calendar visit there website at rockymountnc.gov.

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Rocky Mount Makes Top 50 Most Affordable Cities in North Carolina

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Most Affordable Cities in North Carolina

Most Affordable Cities in North CarolinaIn addition to recently being named by nerdwallet.com as one of the Cities on the Rise in North Carolina, the accolades continue to pour in for the city of Rocky Mount NC, as not only are you discovering “lifestyle redefined” with your decision to move to the Belmont Lake Preserve NC golf community, but your move will prove to be smart financially as well with Rocky Mount being included among the top 50 Most Affordable Cities in North Carolina.

The Most Affordable Cities in North Carolina study was conducted by the renowned real estate website, movoto.com, who looked at nearly 100 different North Carolina municipalities that have a population of 10,000 people or greater. To come up with their definitive list of the Most Affordable Cities in North Carolina, they analyzed the following categories: median home price, adjusted median income, unemployment rank, food costs, utility costs, and other miscellaneous costs.

In calculating the adjusted median income for each municipality in the study, first, the median household income was divided by overall cost of living. Then to accurately reflect the actual earned income of each household that number was multiplied by one hundred. In the area of miscellaneous costs, each of the area’s costs of restaurants, clothing, and entertainment was analyzed.

Listed at number 41 statewide among the Most Affordable Cities in North Carolina, the city ranked much higher in several of the categories regarding affordability, including a top ten placement in the area of “Median Home Price Rank.” Rocky Mount also was ranked in the top 15 for affordability in food/ restaurant affordability and the miscellaneous costs detailed above. The city’s income compared against cost of living ranking also placed 32nd statewide, and certainly factored into their inclusion in the top fifty.

To see the entire listing of the Most Affordable Cities in North Carolina visit movoto.com.

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Belmont Lake Preserve Honored Among the 50 Best Master Planned Communities in the U.S.

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Retire in NC

where-to-retire-50-marron“The Authority on Retirement Relocation,” Where to Retire Magazine has named Rocky Mount NC’s Belmont Lake Preserve as one of the 50 Best Master Planned Communities in the U.S.

In a letter from Karen Northridge, the Publisher of “Where to Retire,” Warren Halle, President of the Halle Companies who developed Belmont Lake Preserve, was informed of the NC golf and retirement community being honored among the 50 Best Master Planned Communities in the U.S. following a nine month selection process. After a thorough analysis of several hundred master planned communities, Northridge explained the Rocky Mount community’s inclusion to the list in her congratulatory letter, stating that Belmont Lake Preserve “is among an elite group of developments that offer today’s retirees a well-rounded, active lifestyle.”

Best Master Planned Communities in the U.S.In further complimenting Belmont Lake Preserve and the positive growth to Rocky Mount and the surrounding area that the golf and retirement community has brought about Northridge concluded, “Where to Retire applauds the positive impact that each of our 50 Best is making on the economic health of the towns and cities in which they are located.” She added, “all of the communities are leaders in providing a high quality of life to those who are embarking on new adventures in retirement.”

Since the Halle Companies purchased Belmont Lake Preserve in late 2011, they have embarked on a complete renovation process, starting with the preservation and upkeep of the championship 18-hole David Johnson Golf Design Belmont Lake Golf Club. The spectacular Community Clubhouse finished construction in 2014 and features both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a state of the art gym and training facility, full catering and dining facilities, and a billiards room. The Belmont Lake Golf Clubhouse also opened in 2014, with a full golf pro shop and availability for one on one instruction from PGA professional, Tim Wilke. In addition, the “Main Course at Belmont” restaurant opened its doors in the Golf Clubhouse facility and in under a year has rose to the number one ranked and reviewed Rocky Mount restaurant on tripadvisor.com.

To see the model homes and floor plans available at Belmont Lake Preserve and all of the great amenities at the Rocky Mount neighborhood honored among the 50 Best Master Planned Communities in the U.S., visit here.”

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Great Summer Events and All New Amenities at Belmont Lake Preserve North Carolina golf community

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North Carolina golf community

With the fairways greening up beautifully and the crisp summer air already having you itching to get out on the course, now is the perfect time to look for your new home in Rocky Mount at Belmont Lake Preserve and take advantage of the membership perks at the North Carolina golf community.

North Carolina golf community

The Belmont Lake Preserve Golf Clubhouse

Offering many home sites either right on the course, or with in walking distance, looking for your dream house at Belmont Lake Preserve will not only bring you into a friendly new community, but also will have you ready to “tee off” as a member of the championship North Carolina golf community as well. With several club events already scheduled for the upcoming months, your membership is a great way to interact and meet new friends at the course as well. On June 26 at 1 p.m., Belmont Lake Golf Club will play host to a “Four Man Captain’s Choice Tournament,” while on July 18 and 19, their will be a “Member Handicap Tournament” with an 8:00 a.m. shotgun start. The prestigious “Club Championship” tournament is scheduled to take place over the weekend of August 15 and 16.

North Carolina golf community

The bar at the Main Course at Belmont

In addition to “hitting the links,” moving into the Belmont Lake Preserve North Carolina golf community also gives you full access to their resort-style amenities. The new Golf Clubhouse finished construction in 2014 and in addition to a full pro golf shop and availability for personal one-on-one instruction with onsite PGA pro, Tim Wilke, there also is the “Main Course at Belmont” restaurant, which serves a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu daily in addition to offering refreshments and spirits at the bar.

To take a closer look at some of the fantastic amenities offered up at the Belmont Lake Preserve North Carolina golf community visit their website at belmont lakepreserve.com. To see a full schedule of golf course events or book a tee time at Belmont Lake Golf Club, see the course’s site at belmontlakegolfclub.com

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Rocky Mount named among Best U.S. Cities for Retirement for Pet Owners

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Best U.S. Cities for Retirement for Pet Owners

In addition to the luxurious amenities and the championship caliber 18 hole golf course at the premier North Carolina retirement community, Belmont Lake Preserve, a recent article published by the Huffington Post has added one more reason to for animal lovers to relocate to Eastern North Carolina for their retirement years, naming Rocky Mount among the top ten Best U.S. Cities for Retirement for Pet Owners.

The article was written by Moria McGarvey, the founder of GangsAway.com, which is the Huffington Post’s website dedicated strictly to helping plan one’s retirement. In ranking the top ten Best U.S. Cities for Retirement for Pet Owners, McGarvey noted looking at communities that were “tailor-made” for those with dogs and other pets. She explained the many benefits of having a dog especially as one nears their retirement years, saying, “They can be especially beneficial as we age, for all the reasons you might surmise: companionship, protection, and exercise. Exercise is a big one,” she continued, “and let’s face it, dogs walk us. Getting out for a good walk, socializing at the dog park, chatting with another dog family at the coffee shop — these are all good things, but especially helpful if your inclinations might otherwise be solitary and sedentary.”

In the survey’s ranking of Rocky Mount among the Best U.S. Cities for Retirement for pet owners, it went further to explain the process in naming these communities to the list, saying, “We’ve looked at all the top lists and selected the best dog friendly towns that are also good retirement towns.” Speaking more specifically to Rocky Mount’s inclusion to the list of the Best U.S. Cities for Retirement for Pet Owners, the piece detailed three main points.

First, it spoke of Sisters Two Pet Crew Inc., which is highly acclaimed for its “Pet boarding,” in-home pet sitting, and their training or exercise programs for animals. Also noted were Rocky Mount’s three top-notch veterinary hospitals and the selection of adoptive pets that are available through both the Edgecombe-Nash Humane Society and Rocky Mount Animal Control.

To read the entire Huffington Post article on the Best U.S. Cities for Retirement for Pet Owners, visit their website at www.huffingtonpost.com

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Escape from the Cold at the premier North Carolina Golf Community

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North Carolina Golf Community

With temperatures in the Northeast reaching record breaking low levels on the thermometer and snow continuing to fall and accumulate consistently throughout the winter months, Belmont Lake Preserve North Carolina Golf Community makes for the perfect “relocation destination,” to leave those winter blues behind for good as you enjoy the milder, four season climate and beauty that awaits you in building your new, dream home in Rocky Mount NC.

North Carolina Golf Community

As those frigid temperatures up North, dip again far below freezing and even below zero, the average daily high temperature of 58 degrees in Rocky Mount NC during the cold season between November 30- February 27 makes for a much more enjoyable winter. Likewise, as you stare out the window at the mountainous piles of snow, you can rest assured that according to weatherspark.com, “snow rarely accumulates at this location” and only sees a ten percent chance of light snowfall even during this cold season at our championship North Carolina Golf Community.

North Carolina Golf Community

 

On top of getting you away from the snow and cold, Belmont Lake Preserve North Carolina Golf Community boasts one of the top 18-hole NC Golf Courses state wide. In addition to being named among the Top 100 Courses You Can Play by the North Carolina Golf Panel, the spectacular David Johnson designed Belmont Lake Golf Course has been ranked in the Top Ten for Course Design in Eastern North Carolina as well.

With the recent addition of a 3,800 square foot Golf Clubhouse hosting state of the art facilities that include a pro shop and the recently opened “Main Course at Belmont” restaurant, and its incredible Community Clubhouse featuring indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fitness room, and dining areas, the Belmont Lake North Carolina Golf Community has all bases covered in helping you to “thaw out” and enjoy a warmer way of life in Rocky Mount NC.

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Northerners Retiring to North Carolina help Growth Spurt Continue

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Northerners Retiring to North Carolina

The upward trend of Northerners Retiring to North Carolina continues, with people from across the United States opting to make the move, just as you have to the Belmont Lake Preserve new home golf course community in Rocky Mount, as proven in a recent study conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau has shown that the state has overtaken Michigan as the ninth largest state in the country, seeing a population increase of over 95,000 people between July 2013 and July 2014.

Explaining the continuing growth state wide in North Carolina, especially among retirement aged transplants, North Carolina State University economics professor, Michael Walden noted that “the new numbers bear out the decades-long trend of high growth in Sun Belt states benefiting from northern retirees seeking warmer climates and businesses seeking weaker government regulations and a cheaper workforce. Further speaking on his expectations to see this upward swing in population continue moving forward, Walden added that he “expects the growth to continue, with North Carolina’s population approaching 14 million by mid-century. The newcomers will intensify urban development along the interstate corridor running from the Triangle through the Triad down to Charlotte.”

“People want to live in a place where they can fulfill their potential, and for an increasing number of Americans and people throughout the world, that place is North Carolina.”

In the widely published report circulated by the Associated Press, it was also reported that with the spike in population over the course of the past year, North Carolina’s total estimated population now sits just shy of 10 million. Governor Pat McCrory commented on the report, saying, “People want to live in a place where they can fulfill their potential, and for an increasing number of Americans and people throughout the world, that place is North Carolina.”

To read the entire Associated Press piece on the U.S Census release, which was printed in the December 23 edition of the Washington Times, and details how Northerners Retiring to North Carolina have helped the growth in population, go to http://www.washingtontimes.com/

 

 

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Retiring in North Carolina

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Retire in North Carolina

Offering up a little something for people with all tastes, the Belmont Lakes Preserve new homes community in Rocky Mount boasts all of the amenities and luxuries that has made our home state one of the most popular senior living destinations and a major factor in why people from across the Northeast have been opting to retire in North Carolina.

North Carolina offers both a great geographical and cultural location to retirees, with close proximity to many bodies of water, beaches, or mountains if you desire to visit. Additionally, being roughly half way between the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland and Florida, it also keeps you with in driving distance of family and friends you may have from anywhere across the East Coast.

If continuing your education is something you have always dreamed of doing, once again, “The Tar Heel State” is the perfect spot, with its countless universities and colleges having many class or degree options for adult students returning to class.

An article published by MarketWatch.com this summer also detailed how it also make sense financially to Retire in North Carolina, stating, “for anyone on a fixed budget, living costs in North Carolina can be fairly friendly. Overall, the state is 3.7% cheaper than the national average, and home prices are lower than those in many other states. State income taxes also just dropped from a relatively high range of 6% to 7.75% down to a 5.8% flat tax for 2014.”

With its friendly climate, countless senior activities, affordability, and scenic location that includes an on site championship golf course and both and indoor and outdoor swimming pool, Belmont Lakes Preserve new home neighborhood in the Eastern NC town of Rocky Mount is the perfect destination for you to settle down at and Retire in North Carolina.

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Lower Taxes are Another Reason to Retire in NC

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Lower Taxes are Another Reason to Retire in NC

With all of the wonderful amenities, a spectacular on site, 18 hole professional golf course, and countless programs and activities aimed for those in their retirement years right in town, Rocky Mount’s Belmont Lake Preserve new home community is the perfect spot to settle into your new home. As if all of that isn’t enough, the state of North Carolina has introduced a reform deal over the course of the past year and a half that has had an immediate positive impact on the rates for retirees and will continue to benefit them for years to come, thus, Lower Taxes are Another Reason to Retire in NC.

Forbes.com detailed the state’s tax reform deal, which has already began paying major dividends, noting three major ways in which Lower Taxes are another Reason to Retire in NC. The site explained the first beneficial change, saying, “The plan will lower income tax rates to a flat rate of 5.8 percent in 2014 and 5.75 percent in 2015. In the current three-tiered system, the top rate of 7.75% kicks in on earnings over $60,000 for a single and $100,000 for a couple, and the second tier, seven percent rate starts at with earnings of just $12,750 for a single and $21,250 for a couple. Further rate reductions could be triggered by revenue growth in 2016 and 2017.”

Detailing the other ways in which the reform will help retirees, Forbes reported, “The plan will abolish the state estate tax retroactive to January 1, 2013. Currently, North Carolina has a generous exemption of $5.25 million per person that matches the federal estate tax exemption…The plan will continue to exempt Social Security income from state taxation. That was one point of contention during the months of wrangling over competing tax reform bills, with the AARP and other groups lobbying to keep Social Security payouts state income-tax free.”

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