Brunswick Forest vs Daniel Island - The Big Debate
For many retirees ready to move to the Southeast, it’s a tough choice. Move to North Carolina or South Carolina, which is best? Wilmington and Charleston are both highly sought after cities by because of the job opportunities, modern day conveniences and cultural venues. Brunswick Forest and Daniel Island lead the market as best selling master planned communities in their geographical area. Neither Low Country real estate development is gated. Here’s what makes them similar and different:
BRUNSWICK FOREST - WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA
2012 BLISS AWARD WINNER - NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
PUBLIC GOLF COURSE - Cape Fear National is Brunswick Forest’s public golf course. Designed by Tim Cate, this is Wilmington North Carolina’s newest golf course. Accolades have already starting rolling in. Golfweek named the course as one of the Top 10 Best Courses You Can Play in NC - 2012. Cape Fear National’s 7,000 square foot clubhouse offers a full-service golf shop, men's and women's locker rooms and a Grille and Bar with indoor/outdoor dining. The practice facilities include a driving range with target greens, an expansive putting green and a variety of short game practice areas. Dining is available daily from 7am - 6pm. The Forest Bar is open from 7 am to 8:00 pm
THE VILLAGES AT BRUNSWICK FOREST - Could they make shopping any more convenient? Built at the community’s entrance, a new 500,000 square foot retail shopping complex, home to Lowes Foods, New Hanover Medical Center, CVS Pharmacy, medical offices, boutiques and more. Knowing Baby Boomer’s like to walk and ride a bike, Brunswick Forest also built dedicated pathways to the center so residents never have to leave this coastal Carolina community for daily conveniences.
MORE AMENITIES - Brunswick Forest’s 18,000 square wellness center is impressive. Amenities include an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, 5 hard surface tennis courts, ball courts and a state-of-the-art fitness center staffed with trainers at this Wilmington NC golf community. Steam rooms, showers, personal trainers and a juice bar are additional attributes of the wellness center. Adjacent to the center is the Community Commons and outdoor event lawn. Social events include block parties, summer concerts on the lawn and the annual cardboard regatta on Brunswick Forest’s lakes. The River Club on Town Creek is planned, a community dock ideal for launching kayaks and canoes to explore the backcountry.
HOME PRICES - The average sold home price last year at this coastal Carolina community was in the low $300k’s. Sold lot prices averaged $95k. Approximately 750 homes have been built to date. Brunswick Forest HOA fees are $180 per month and include access to this Wilmington NC golf community’s comprehensive wellness center.
PROXIMITY TO PLACES OF INTEREST - Brunswick Forest is located on the mainland, on the south side of the Cape Fear River. Close to colleges, beautiful beaches and famous downtown Wilmington NC. You can be walking barefoot on Wrightsville Beach in about 30 minutes. Just over the Cape Fear bridge is where you’ll find a large variety of tasty restaurants, fascinating art galleries and outdoor markets along the Cape Fear riverfront. Wilmington International Airport is located approximately 12 miles from this Wilmington NC golf community.
DANIEL ISLAND - CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA
GOLF COURSE AND CLUB MEMBERSHIP - Daniel Island Club has two golf courses, one designed by Tom Fazio and one by Rees Jones. The club is private and is where member’s have access to two resort-style swimming pools, a tennis pavilion, fitness facility and a cabana bar in addition to the golf amenities. The golf clubhouse is elegant and overlooks velvet-like bocce ball courts. Initiation fees for full golf privileges run $85k with annual dues of $8,280. Daniel Island Club charges no social club initiation fees and dues of $1,800 per year
DANIEL ISLAND SHOPS - The Mark Clark Expressway or I-526 bridges bring you to Daniel Island, a peninsular land parcel that protrudes into the Charleston Harbor. This Charleston neighborhood is self supportive island with its own schools and Island Town Center, home to Publix Supermarket, excellent restaurants, interesting boutiques and daily conveniences. Daniel Island built an extensive walking trail system that weaves through 4,000 acre this coastal Carolina community leading to dozens of parks and scenic lookouts.
MORE AMENITIES - In addition to amenities offered at the Daniel Island Club, the island is home to the Family Circle Tennis Center. Built in 2001, the center has 17 tennis courts and 10,200 seat stadium. The tennis center hosts the internationally televised Family Circle Cup women’s tennis tournament.
HOME PRICES - The average sold home price last year at this Charleston neighborhood was in the low $400k’s. Daniel Island home styles include Lowcountry cottages, townhomes, golf course or waterfront homes and condominiums. Approximately 2,700 homes have been built to date. Daniel Island HOA fees are low at $66 a month depending on the home style. Real estate taxes are approximately $.0096 per $100 of assessed value.
PROXIMITY TO PLACES OF INTEREST - Daniel Island is located approximately 15 miles from downtown Charleston. Sullivan Island beaches are about 10 miles to the east. The Interstate 526 highway corridor makes access to the city and barrier islands fast crossing over scenic bridges such as the Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge.
In our opinion, both of these Low Country real estate developments are financially stable, limiting the risk to buyers. Both coastal communities have extensive social calendars providing plenty of opportunities to make new friends and have fun. Brunswick Forest is clearly the more affordable choice and is to be expected. Owning a home in Charleston is more expensive.
We’ve spent years searching for the most knowledgeable real estate brokers at these two best master planned communities. They’re happy to send you more information and share their secrets with you. Just ask us to introduce you by writing info@communityfinder.com or call us toll free at 866.384.1799. Let us know if you’d like to receive their Discovery Package information.
