This area contains a wide variety of residential options, with homes built from about 1700 to the present, from $20,000 to $750,000, from downtown to rural, to golfing and boating communities. Any one of these areas may have just the home you are looking for. The following comments are intended to give the reader some food for thought - but there's no substitute for seeing for yourself when you visit. Tax rates are modest by national standards, and run from $.66 per $100 of assessed market value in unincorporated areas of Craven County, to $1.13 per $100 in The City of New Bern.
The entire downtown area of New Bern, located at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers, is going through a major revitalization. Old buildings are being renovated into shops, offices and nice apartments. Roads and sidewalks are being redone to provide an old-time, small-town ambiance. Much of the Historic District has been renovated, with many more projects in progress under the authority of the Historical District Commission. The renovation effort is working outward into areas with big old homes built in the 1920 to 1940 era, such as DeGraffenreid Park, Ghent, and Riverside. Many old homes are being used as Bed & Breakfasts, catering to the growing number of tourists attracted to historic areas. As I write this, a bagpiper in kilts and an Aussie hat is playing in the square across the street. Both Union Point Park and Lawson Creek Park have excellent public boat ramps. This would be an excellent area for those who want to be in the midst of all this exciting activity. This area is served by the New Bern city water and sewer system, and piped natural gas. Real Estate Taxes are about $1.13 per $100 of assessed value ($.66 County, $.47 City).
This small town borders the New Bern city limits along the north shore of the Trent River out to US Routes 17 and 70, and contains many riverfront estates. The New Bern Golf and Country Club, the Eastern Carolina Yacht Club and the Trent River provide the centers of activity for this community. This is the area where the native professionals and business leaders live, and in which many of the most expensive homes are located. In addition, there are many affordable communities for families and retirees, with homes on mostly wooded lots and pretty winding roads in the range of $70,000 to $400,000. New residents and retirees in this area are easily assimilated into the New Bern community. This area has community water, and septic tanks which function very well in this sandy soil. Taxes run $.75 per $100 of value ($.66 County, $.09 City).
This is also a small town between the north shore of the Trent River and US Route 17.
Just west of Trent Woods, River Bend has a variety of homes ranging from townhouses and condominiums, to single family homes and some large waterfront homes.
Much of the area is heavily wooded, and homes run from $50,000 to $375,000.
The town has a small shopping center, a country club with golf, tennis and a pool, and a community marina.
River Bend is about 5 minutes from major shopping areas, and 10 minutes from downtown.
River Bend has a larger percentage of retirees from other areas, but it's residents are still active in New Bern organizations and society.
This town has community water and sewer. Taxes are about $.82 per $100 ($.66 County, $.16 City).
GREENBRIER
This Weyerhauser-developed country club community features lovely winding streets and wooded lots, many right on the Rees Jones-designed championship-caliber golf course. This development is located off Glenburnie Road, near the intersection with US Route 70, and offers a wide variety of homes from inexpensive Patio Homes to medium and large sized single family homes, ranging from about $100,000 to $350,000, with most well under $200,000. The development adjoins the Craven County Community College campus, which offers students the first two years of education in the University of North Carolina system, as well as a wide variety of continuing-education courses. Greenbrier is inside the New Bern city limits, and enjoys all of the city services. Prices are slightly higher, but everything is relatively new, and property restrictions guarantee that property values will continue to grow. Residents are a mixture of retirees and local business and professional people. Major shopping is only a short hop from Greenbrier. And, if you must commute along US 70, you are right at the on-ramp. Greenbrier has New Bern city water and sewer. Since this is part of the City of New Bern, taxes are $1.13 per $100.
This security-gated golf and boating community is located on the east side of the Neuse River, about 10 minutes from downtown. Fairfield offers everything from time-shares to townhomes and condos, and a wide range of single-family homes from $100,000 to $350,000, with many located on the Country Club Golf Course, The Harbour Golf Course, various canals, the Inner Harbor, Northwest Creek, Broad Creek or the Neuse River. There is a large clubhouse with pool, a second outdoor pool, a year-round indoor pool, a well-equipped marina with small store and restaurant, tennis courts and many other amenities. The channel into the inner harbor residential area will accommodate boats with a draft up to about 6 feet, while the marina can accommodate somewhat deeper drafts. Fairfield is only a few miles from the Intracoastal Waterway, for easy cruising north or south, and is an easy day's cruising to Ocracoke on the Outer Banks, or several inlets to the Atlantic. The Owner's Association is very active, with many special interest activity groups. Residents are mostly retirees from other areas of the country, who spend most of their time at Fairfield, using New Bern for shopping, medical, religious and cultural needs. The Harbour has more of a resort/vacation atmosphere, with it's own sense of community. Residents are often less assimilated into New Bern society than in the areas noted previously. Fairfield has community water and sewer. Taxes are $.66 per $100 (County only), plus mandatory Owners Association dues of $180 to cover security and road improvements, and mandatory $207 amenities fee, which covers access to the club and pools, plus several alternative fees for various golfing plans. Fees are very reasonable for the facilities provided, especially in the absence of any city taxes.
This excellent non-incorporated residential area is comprised of several developed communities located along the south shore of the Trent River, and includes riverfront homes along Madam Moore's Lane and Brice's Creek Road, plus developments such as Lake Clermont, Oakview, River Trace, Deer Run, Rock Creek Farms and Hunter's Ridge. Residents are a mixture of local business people and retirees. Many pre-owned homes are usually available, as well as a selection of new homes under construction and reasonably-priced building lots ($15,000 to $35,000, except waterfront). The typical new-construction home in this area is about 1800 square feet, 3 bedrooms, with heat pump, double-car garage, on 1/2 acre lot, in the range of $100,000 to $150,000. A boat launching ramp is available without charge, courtesy of Merchant's Store at Brice's Creek, just off Brice's Creek Road (Dwight will appreciate you buying your gas and snacks at his store when you use the ramp). The area has county water, with some sewer service and septic tanks. Taxes are limited to $.66 county tax per $100 value.
This fast-growing area along the west shore of the Neuse River and US Route 70 East includes a wide range of properties, from luxurious riverfront estates to very inexpensive older homes. The area includes the Rivershore Drive area, with very affordable homes for young families and retirees, Neuse Harbor and River Bluffs with newer, larger homes in the range of $125,000 to $450,000, with some building lots available. Further down the road is the area of Carolina Pines, a nice riverfront golfing community, with townhomes and single-family homes in the range of $100,000 to $200,000. Stately Pines is adjacent, with similar homes, but no golf course. Currently in the early construction stage is Taberna, a major 1000-lot Weyerhauser development similar to Greenbrier, located between Brice's Creek and US 70 just below Grantham Road, and featuring a championship golf course and many other amenities. Pre-sales began Fall 1995. This area pays county taxes only ($.66 per $100) except for Taberna which is part of the City of New Bern, and pays $1.13 per $100.
Havelock is primarily a military town, and is home to the Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, and the Cherry Point Naval Aviation Depot, which employs about 4,000 civilians, plus the military contingent. This general area is heavily favored by retired military people, many of whom served at Cherry Point during their active duty years. The Cherry Branch community along the Neuse River offers many amenities, including boating and horseback riding facilities. Further "down east" are several beautiful waterfront communities along the Neuse River and various large tributaries including the Intra-Coastal Waterway. Waterfront lots range from $50,000 to $150,000, with many homes available from $125,000 on up. This is a beautiful area for those who like the water and relative isolation, and don't mind the distance from shopping, medical facilities and other amenities. Taxes are $.66 per $100 in unincorporated areas, and $1.05 in the Havelock city limits.
Oriental bills itself as "the Sailing Capital of North Carolina" as a result of it's location at the mouth of the Neuse River, where the Pamlico Sound begins. Pamlico County itself is a peninsula formed by the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers, with the tip pointing at the Pamlico Sound. The county has many deep water creeks suitable for sheltered boat dockage and excellent home sites. Much of the county is very rural, with very limited shopping. The Pamlico Community College offers a variety of courses, including an excellent course on Wooden Boat Building. This area is being selected by many new residents and retirees to whom the natural beauty, scenic home sites and wonderful boating more than offset the relative inconvenience of coming to New Bern for shopping, medical resources, church, employment or other facilities. County taxes are about $.72 per $100, with modest additional taxes in incorporated areas (Oriental $.27, Bayboro $.35, Vandemere $.20, Arapahoe $.03).
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