Wrightsville Beach is highly residentially developed. For the most part, houses are close together, and a person who craves the mythical remote island life is not going to find it here. Development has been largely controlled, thanks to vigilance on the part of local residents and the high cost of land, so the relative density of development is palatable. In 1998 the community put building ordinances into effect that limit the size of new houses based on square footage relative to lot size.

This is a pretty beach town with a year-round population of slightly less than 3,000 residents. It's clean, there is little in the way of garishness, and the local constable does a fine job keeping order in the face of huge crowds of visitors. A person who appreciates small-town living in a beach atmosphere with the convenience of a nearby city will adore this place. There are 5 miles of clean beach on which to jog or simply stroll. On just about any day of the year, you'll see surfers waiting for the big one to roll in.

The Wrightsville Beach real estate market is stable. If a property comes onto the market, it will often sell quickly. Many of the existing homes stay in families generation after generation. Quite a few of these properties are used only as summer homes. When homes do go on the market, the price tag is large. Expect to pay between $800,000 and $3 million for any single-family home, and don't be surprised by much higher prices for oceanfront property. Those homes begin at about $1 million.

Since the available land is all but exhausted in terms of development on the island and high-rises are limited to 96 feet, most of the opportunities for purchase are either replacement of older houses with new ones or, more likely, in condominiums. You could easily spend $400,000 to $1.5 million for a two-bedroom condominium on Wrightsville Beach, with those on the lower end of the range far from the beach. Condos built at the present time are typically three-bedroom, two-bath floor plans and range from $600,000 to $950,000. Custom three- to four-bedroom condominiums with 3,000 to 4,000 square feet start at $1,000,000 and up.

There are however, a few residential developments springing up near Wrightsville Beach, and these developments offer patio and single-family homes in an affordable price range.

One of the newest developments near Wrightsville Beach is The Village at Mayfaire, a 31-acre, 208-unit residential development on Military Cutoff Road. Developed by the Charlotte-based State Street Companies, this community offers a fresh, engaging and luxurious condominium experience. Here, homeowners find private estate comforts beautifully composed within a strikingly handsome architectural style. Each building in The Village at Mayfaire comprises six graciously appointed floor plans. Two- and three-bedroom floor plans range in size from 1,260 to 2,037 square feet and include large outdoor terraces, a private garage and assigned courtyard parking.

With prices starting in the upper $300s, The Village at Mayfaire offers coastal living for a fraction of what homeowners pay for a comparable condominium at Wrightsville Beach, located 2.5 miles from the property. Amenities include a 5,525-square-foot clubhouse, 24-hour cardio center and weight-lifting area, 25-seat movie theatre and multi-media room, billiards room, conference and gaming room, junior Olympic size pool with 75-foot lap lanes, expansive 18,000-square-foot sunning deck, outdoor heated spa, gas barbecue grill area, lighted tennis courts and residents' picnic pavilion.

Perhaps The Village at Mayfaire's most distinctive amenity is the half-mile link to The Mayfaire Town Center. This inviting "new urbanism" community brings a vital and enchanting living, shopping and working environment, the first of its kind, to the Wilmington area. Here, residents can walk, browse and shop all day among national and local restaurants and merchants along a traditional "main street," with storefronts facing bustling sidewalks and public squares. For more information about The Village at Mayfaire, contact the sales center at (910) 509-9771 or toll free at (877) 971-9771.