“There is a difference between dining and eating. Dining is an art. When you eat to get the most out of your meal, to please the palate, just as well as to satiate the appetite, that,my friend, is dining.”― Yuan Mei

One of life’s greatest pleasures is savoring a delicious meal and Whether you consider yourself a foodie, a gourmet chef or just a food enthusiast, you will find more than enough options to satisfy and delight in Wilmington!  The area’s food scene is bursting with both flavor and a diverse range of offers a ranging from traditional Southern fare and coastal cuisine to international delights!  From fine dining to local dives, there is something for everyone in Coastal NC!

Craving Mexican, and maybe a little adventure?!  Us too!  Then the only place to go is K38!  Established in 1998, K38 has been bringing the flavors of Baja Mexico and infusing them with adventure for the most savory and delicious Mexican cuisine in town!  K38 boasts a full bar but their margaritas pair great with absolutely everything from fajitas to fish tacos.  Try the carne asada and we promise you won’t be disappointed!

Savorez is not only fun to say, but also lives up to its name!  The Spanish words for “flavors”, Savorez, is just that; flavorful!  Inspired by Latin American cuisine, all of the dishes and even the drinks are full of color and spice!  Just like we like them!    The atmosphere is also eclectic, fun and colorful.  Famous for their salsa, guacamole and empanadas, Savorez is the only place to go when you’re feeling spicy!  Even their Mojitos are full of flavor that you can’t have just one! Poe

Named after famous author Edgar Allan Poe, Poe’s Tavern, best known for an excellent craft brew selection and a menu full of burger options, is another local favorite!  Always tasty but often unexpected, choose to dine inside or outside on either the dog friendly covered patio or under the umbrellas. Many of Poe’s burgers and salads feature unusual ingredients, such as crab cakes, shrimp, pimento cheese and guacamole. The menu includes a changing special “Burger of the Day,” and highlights local NC craft brew varieties in a friendly and fun atmosphere.

 Don’t let the name fool you, The Basics is anything but!!  While The Basics does combine the basic components of any fine dining menu, along with the basics of southern cuisine; the traditional recipes have been improved to include flavors to satisfy the modern palate. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and use only fresh ingredients, locally sourced seafood and produce, and homemade everything!  What’s not to love?!

Want to try a restaurant that’s proven it’s worth?  Well, founded in 1976, Bridge Tender was the first restaurant to bring fine dining to the Wrightsville Beach, and it continues to impress us!  With spectacular waterfront views of the Intracoastal Waterway and even outdoor seating, the ambiance is only beat by the food!  The Bridge Tender’s menu feature fresh seafood, certified angus beef steaks, delicious appetizers, and mouth-watering desserts! The only struggle is deciding what to order!

“Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”- Vince Lombardi

Social distancing may have put a damper on our ability to get out and meet new people but, that doesn’t mean you can’t get to know the best team in Wilmington right here!    At McAdams Homes, we feel like our team is the foundation of our business.  We’ve put together a group of like-minded individuals that work well together and have a strong work ethic to get the job done with integrity and heart!  We are committed to providing each and every one of our customers with an easy and enjoyable home buying experience, and that starts with our staff.

We want everyone who walks through our doors to feel like they are getting the time and attention of a local business but also the experience and knowledge of renowned builders.  We are so fortunate to have assembled a team that makes that possible.  From our Principles to our Superintendents and Office Members, everyone plays a key part in making every McAdams Homes experience a pleasant one.  We have hand selected our staff members be ensure that  you have the best guides to help you every step of the way.

We know that a solid reputation is worth more than anything and we are so pleased to have assembled a group of people that share our vision of providing honest, reliable, quality service to our community.  This desire paired with their competence and ability, make the staff at McAdams Homes the best around!  But don’t just take our word for it, check them out yourself!

You already know that we love Wilmington for so many reasons, but we wanted to give you 5 reasons more to love it! We came up with a list of fun facts about our town that you might not know that will leave you feeling even more connected to the Port City!

Did you know…that just as you may have pet names for your sweetie, our beloved Wilmington has earned the nickname “Hollywood East”?  While the movie industry isn’t as big as it once was, it is still a big part of our community and our culture.  More than 300 movies and TV shows have been filmed in Wilmington, including “A Walk to Remember,” “Weekend at Bernie’s,” “Nights in Rodanthe,” “Cape Fear,” “Matlock,” “Dawson’s Creek” and “One Tree Hill.” Wilmington has been the home to many productions since the early 1980s, as EUE/Screen Gems Studios — the second largest TV and movie production studio located east of California — is located here.  And we couldn’t be more proud!

Did you know…that movie stars aren’t the only reason Wilmington is famous? Wilmington is ranked ‘One of the Top Cities for Foodies’!  It is not hard to see why either; food is the way to everyone’s heart if we are being honest, right?!  And the area’s food scene is bursting with both flavor and diversity.  You can find a wide range of options ranging from classic Southern fare and coastal cuisine, seafood feasts to farm to table, quick eats to award winning cuisine.  There is something for everyone’s palate!

Did you know…Wilmington is not just sweet and delicious; it is also smart? Wilmington is home to 3 colleges!  UNCW is the state’s coastal university and is home to about 17,500 students!  Offering a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees, UNCW is the perfect option for those looking to live in paradise while pursuing their dreams!  Not to be outdone, Cape Fear Community College has offered affordable accessible quality education to our community for over 60 years!   Not to mention Miller Motte College which offers career training and associates degrees in a number of exciting careers.  No matter where you are on your path, having opportunities to increase your knowledge is always important!

Did you know…that life near the beach is just better? Not to mention, our local beach, Wrightsville Beach, has been ranked as ‘One of the 30 Small Beach Towns that Should be on Your Radar’!  Known for its crystal blue water, spacious beach, and active island lifestyle, it is no surprise why!   Wrightsville Beach is an ideal place for watersports like surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayaking.  Great restaurants and a fun night life are just added perks!

Did you know…that beach isn’t the only thing that’s HOT HOT HOT in Wilmington right now?  Real Estate is sizzling too!  With interest rates and record lows, now is the perfect time to buy in our area and McAdams Homes is ready when you are!

We often use color to express ourselves—in our clothes, our decor, our art. Psychology has even linked color to certain personalities—the feelings they evoke and what they say about you. That means that your front entrance color says something, too! It’s one of the first things guests see when they visit your home, so it is important to choose a color that gives off the first impression you want to send.

White is the most common choice and is certainly flattering to the personality of the homeowner as well. This color represents purity and it reflects that the owners are serene, organized, and tend to be neat and clean.

A traditional red is always a good choice. This bright color represents a place that is welcoming and open to the world. Homeowners may be seen as being bold, confident, vibrant and full of life.

Don’t be green with envy if your neighbors paint their front door green. This earth-friendly color symbolizes peace, balance, growth, and renewal. It reflects that the owners are likely to be compassionate, harmonious and community-minded. So, if the front door of the house down the street is painted green, go ahead and knock!

You can’t be blue with a front door of azure! This color is considered to be symbolic of calm and peace, giving off vibes of positive energy, abundance and prosperity. And with so many shades to choose from, your home will always stand out from the rest.

Just like the perfect Little Black Dress, a black front door doesn’t have to be boring! When paired with the right accents, black is stylish and hip. It symbolizes order and control. People with black doors might value consistency and be reserved and elegant.

Yellow is the universal color of happiness and a front door will bring you just that! This color represents understanding and mental clarity. Owners may be viewed as confident, curious, fun-loving and having a good sense of humor.

Orange you glad to know that an orange front door lets your neighbors know where the party is?! This color may reflect that the homeowners are social people, like to entertain, and also thrive on meeting challenges.

You don’t have to be born into royalty to rock a purple front door. Purple represents big dreams and opportunities. Owners may enjoy taking big risks and are open to life opportunities.

So what will it be for your front door?

You have to make many choices when you build a new home, so it is the perfect time to make sure you are thinking about the future as well as your current preferences.  Even if you are building your “forever home,” things can change and you may decide to move or even build a different “forever home.” It does happen!  To avoid the stress that could come with worrying about resale value in the next few years, a great approach is to find out what buyers want that benefits the experience of living in your new home. That way you’ll be happy whether you stay or sell.  Here are our top 3 suggestions!

At McAdams Homes, we have found that the majority of buyers prefer a Master Bedroom on the first floor and we offer many floor plans to accommodate!  We can’t argue with their reasons for this preference either.  First of all, not everyone loves stairs!  Whether it’s a physical issue that makes walking up stairs difficult, or you just prefer the convenience of a quick trip to the kitchen in the middle of the night, having a direct path from the main living area to the Master Suite makes life simpler.

Also, having the Master on the first floor gives everyone a little more space and privacy.  Whether it’s a little separation from children, guests or live-in in-laws, Mom and Dad deserve a little space to themselves!  However you decide to use the Master Suite, it makes sense that since more people want a home with a first-floor master, that the law of supply and demand boosts the price of homes that are designed with them.

However, if you love a Master Suite upstairs, don’t you worry…we offer plenty of those floor plans too!

When you think about building your new home, you often dream about kitchen cabinets and bathroom lighting and all things interior.  But don’t underestimate the value of curb appeal!  Landscaping can great value to your property. In fact, it is one of the few home improvements you can make that not only adds value immediately, but also increases in value as the years go by. A plus with McAdams Homes is that your home comes fully landscaped with sod, irrigation and beautiful fencing! A well-landscaped home has a significant price advantage over a home with no landscaping.  Plus, who doesn’t love to enjoy the beauty of nature in their own backyard, especially in gorgeous Wilmington, NC?!

Speaking of making the most of our incredible climate and enjoying the outdoor space of your dream home, another tip for increasing your home’s resale values is adding a patio!  Patios are sought after amenities for most homes, making them a valuable addition when trying to sell your home.  Most of our floor plans include a patio or the option to add one on for that very reason.  So if enjoying cookouts with friends and neighbors and watching sunsets on your patio weren’t appealing enough, now there is even more reason to “deck” out your backyard! 

All of us at McAdams Homes have chosen to make Wilmington home for our own personal reasons.  But some common themes on all of our lists of things we love about the Port City are, its beaches, fine dining, culture and nightlife…need we say more?  Don’t worry, we will!

Whether you’re downsizing and looking forward to a coastal retirement or looking for room to grow your new family by the sea, Wilmington, NC has an undeniable appeal. Tucked away on the Cape Fear coast, our beloved city offers a unique mix of Southern charm and diverse culture. From our gorgeous beaches to the beautiful historic district, Wilmington has something for everyone. There are many reasons to live in Wilmington, so here are a few of our favorite features that make us proud to call the Port City home!

Life on the water is what draws many people to North Carolina’s coast; and it is obvious why Wilmington attracts retirees and college students alike to call it home!  Wilmington is surrounded by some of the best beaches. Within a few minutes of the city lie five of the most beautiful stretches of sand on the East Coast, each with its unique personality and charm.  Just minutes away from all of our McAdams Homes communities, Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach are perfect for family friendly fun.  Just a little further down the road in Topsail Beach and Figure 8 Island you’ll find private beaches and peaceful seaside havens worth driving for!  Located between the river and the sea, Wilmington is a boater’s paradise. Ready access to the ocean, the intercoastal waterway, and the Cape Fear River means that all manner of maritime recreation is readily available. Marinas, boat rentals, and charters are all readily available, letting you choose the best way to get on the water. From deep-sea fishing to water-skiing to casual boat rides with friends, there’s a nautical adventure waiting for you.

Wilmington was born on the banks of the Cape Fear River and much of the action still happens right there! Wilmington’s Downtown Riverwalk has been voted one of the best in America, and for a good reason! Running through the city’s Historic District, the Riverwalk showcases some of the city’s best attractions: waterfront dining, river cruises, concerts, and street fairs and of course some of the most stunning sunsets around!

Speaking of street fairs and the like, there are so many cultural and arts events around town, there is never a dull moment. Wilmington’s residents love to socialize, and the city’s many annual festivals are great excuses to do so. There are so many to choose from. From the annual Cucalorus Film Festival, to the weekly Riverfront Farmer’s Market, there is something for everyone. One of the biggest events of the year is the Azalea Festival.  So if live music, street fairs, balls, and garden parties are your thing, you won’t be disappointed!  There is no limit to our love for living life in Wilmington and we are sure you will agree!

The Landing at Lewis Creek is an amazing coastal living community located off of Gordon Rd in Wilmington!  Just minutes away from shopping, dining, downtown Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, there isn’t a better area to build your dream home!  The location ais only overshadowed by the incredible starting prices of $204,000!  And that includes standard granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, 9 foot ceilings, and a landscape package with sod and an irrigation system! And for a limited time, McAdams Homes is offering an incentive package which includes a $4000 design or closing credit and a free fridge of your choice up to $1400! 

The only struggle you may have when purchasing a home at The Landing at Lewis Creek is deciding which of their amazing floor plans to choose from!  All single family homes in The Landing at Lewis Creek are two stories and range from 1,873-2,381  square feet.  All of the floor plans are open concept with large great rooms, many with the option of a fireplace.   Depending on your family’s needs, you’ll have the option of 3-5 bedrooms and even a loft area in some plans and 2.5-3.5 bathrooms!  There are so many included features that it is almost too hard to list them all!  Front load garages are standard as are wood laminate flooring downstairs, stain resistant carpets throughout, brushed nickel hardware, and Moen plumbing fixtures, just to name a few.  There are many optional features as well including but not limited to screened porches, alternative kitchen and master bathroom layouts, bonus rooms, formal dining rooms and so much more!

Do you love the sound of living the coastal dream at The Landing at Lewis Creek but not need as much space?  Not a problem!  They also feature two story town homes ranging from 1,591-1,841 square feet.  All of the layouts have 3-4 bedrooms with an open concept with great rooms that feature fireplaces!  The floor plans leave plenty of room for variety with options of having a first-floor master suite or the master on the second floor and an optional bathroom upgrade.  Both plans feature a front porch with a view and a second-floor laundry room. All homes and townhomes come with a 1-year Builder Warranty and your satisfaction is always guaranteed!  There are so many reasons to make The Landing at Lewis Creek home!  Call us for more information today! 910-798-3006

“What is the most important thing in your company — is it trust or is it growth? If anything trumps trust, we are in trouble…You have to choose what is really important to you. We are in a new world… and trust better be number one.” — Marc Benioff

At McAdams Homes, we believe strongly that trust is crucial in having a successful business. Trust between team members and trust between everyone involved in the business transaction. We pride ourselves in the relationships we build with our clients and the positive dynamic we have at the office. How do we build that trust, you ask? We base our work ethic on the 5 key building blocks of trust.

No. 1. Honesty and Integrity: Having honesty and integrity in the workplace is one of the most important qualities of great leadership in business. Integrity means doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do, even if no one would know otherwise. We all know the importance of telling the truth and its effects on trust. Honesty is the most important aspect of trust in all relationships and it is much easier to be honest at all times, than to earn someone’s trust back.

No. 2. Reliability: Great leaders and trustworthy individuals keep their promises. They give promises carefully, but once they have given that promise, they follow through on that promise without fail. Being reliable is one of the most valued traits in a person. People who can be trusted to follow through in the little things are the people we trust with the bigger things. In business, reliability is measured in results. Our team works together cohesively because we all strive to be reliable and do our jobs to the best of our abilities.

No. 3. Motive: It is difficult to trust someone when you feel that their motives for having a relationship with you is selfish. At McAdams Homes our motive is always to satisfy our customers and help them build the home of their dreams. Your satisfaction is our biggest motivation. We genuinely care about your well-being and that is apparent in our interactions. We hope you feel it too!

No. 4. Ability and Competence: Competence is the ability to perform job responsibilities. Involving others, seeking input and helping people to learn new skills are behaviors that build trust in the workplace. We are fortunate to have built a team of professionals that are some of the best on the business; all with strengths and abilities that complement each other well so we are able to run an effective business you can trust.

No. 5. Authentic Connection: All relationships have an emotional component, even work relationships, and this is critical to building trust. Authentically connecting with others positively impacts trust in every possible way. Communication becomes easier and relationships flourish when connection is genuine. We encourage genuine connection by doing our best to be present in the moment with whomever we are with, listening with our full attention, maintaining honesty and openness in our sharing and being ourselves. These principles have made us many happy customers! Just ask them, they’ll tell you!

“My wife and I cannot begin to say how happy we are with our experience with McAdams. The McAdams staff has gone above and beyond with giving design guidance, answering questions, and just making the overall building process exciting.

We just wanted to thank you and everyone at McAdams for all the hard work everyone has put forward for us in our new home. We were always reassured that any issue or concern we had, would be corrected which made it a better experience. I think it is natural to have some anxiety as a customer to go thru the building process and you all always kept us informed and explained the process well.

We love our home and are happy with our experience with McAdams and are truly grateful we fell upon this development while house hunting!

We would highly recommend McAdams Homes to anyone looking to build a new home. You will be 100% satisfied with your decision!” — Andy & Nicki F.

April’s upon us and many of us now have some extra time to devote to working in our gardens this year.  But a lot of this will seem more like pleasure than work.  What better time than now to add some beauty into the world?  So, even though spring is still with us, it’s time to think about summer, especially when choosing plants for flower beds in sunny spots.

Lantana: For a long time, lantana has been a top choice for these hot spots. There are trailing types suited for pots and hanging baskets and upright ones that go well in both containers and beds. They come in a wide range of colors and are known for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden.

Zinnias: Zinnias, too, love hot, sunny positions, and grow in a range of heights that make them suited for edging or background plants. Zinnias are sold widely as bedding plants but they are also quite easy to grow from seeds sown in warm soil.

Pentas and angelonia:  These hot-spot plants are great choices because they stand up well to our high summer temperatures and humidity.   They are hearty and require little maintenance and thrive well into the fall.

Portulaca and periwinkle: Both portulaca and periwinkle make good choices for gardeners who don’t wish to do a lot of watering. And both come in lovely colors that appeal to many tastes. Large pots also suit them for a summer home.

For shady spots: While shade usually seems cooler, it can still be quite hot. That makes impatiens, begonias and torenia good choices. Torenia, also called wishbone flower, will bring lovely tones of blue and violet into a shade garden that could be dominated by the reds and pinks of impatiens and begonias. Torenia also makes an excellent pot plant and also comes in other colors such as rose pink and white. 

So, break out your gardening gloves and straw hats because the time to get started on your spring garden!

Hardy perennials and some of the hardier annuals such as alyssum can go in the ground starting now, and good selections are already showing up in garden centers. Choose for color and variety and try to stretch the season with perennials selected for early summer, mid summer and late summer bloom.

The tender annuals chosen for summer beauty go in during April and May. These include such popular and long-blooming plants as pentas, petunias, angelonia, heliotropes, lantanas and begonias. Use them for beds, pots and baskets. Choose the flowers based on the amount of sun or shade they’ll get. If you plant early, frost could threaten these tender plants, so plan to cover beds and containers with a sheet, anchored with a brick or small rocks.

Once you’ve done the heavy lifting of actually moving, it can feel just as overwhelming to figure out where to start when turning your new space into a home. However, it doesn’t have to be so daunting—moving into a new home can actually be a beautiful, exciting new chapter. By conceptualizing the atmosphere, you want in your new space, furnishing a new home can become a straightforward and positive experience.  And luckily for us, we have some amazing and unique local resources for outfitting your new home.  And, now more than ever, it is of the upmost importance to support our local economy!

Filling your new space with some statement pieces and furniture you can be proud of is the best place to start, and Custom Home Furniture Galleries is the perfect place to find everything you need.   They are family owned and operated and committed to providing their customers with the best service possible.  They have incredible furnishings to choose from in the store and online as well the option to design your own!  The on-staff designer will even come to your home for a consultation to get a feel for your space and understand exactly what you need!  This is followed up with an hour-long appointment in the store finding your dream furniture perfectly suited to your style!

Shopping on a budget but still want upscale and classy pieces in your new home?  Then Home Again is the shop for you!  Their inventory is unique and always fresh as they offer an assortment of new and gently used furnishings that are consigned from the most exquisite local Wilmington homes, showroom samples, manufacturers’ liquidations and model homes.  Their inventory is so ever changing and new items come in so frequently that they will even send you a weekly email with their new arrivals.  What better way to save money and find that special statement piece you’ve been dreaming of?

Once the rooms of your new home are filled with your favorite furnishings, it’s time to start thinking about the decorative details!  One of our favorite local spots for finding those special touches and unique pieces is The Fisherman’s Wife.  The Fisherman’s Wife is three shops in one and is anything but ordinary!  With its incredible assortment of fine china, home décor and accessories, creative gifts and even personalized stationery (you’ll need some change of address announcements after all!); you’ll have and amazing experience; guaranteed!

Another shop that stands out one of Wilmington’s best spots for home décor and fine goods is Blue Moon Gift Shops.  If you love supporting local talent and small businesses, then Blue Moon Gift Shops is the place to shop!  Over 100 artisans and small business owners fill the shop with their hand made creations and treasures.  They sell everything from home accessories, furniture, art, pottery, hand blown glass, apparel, hand crafted jewelry, baby gifts, coastal decor, lamps, photography, gourmet fudge and local NC products.  Your new McAdams home will not be complete until you are proudly displaying a locally made piece of art from Blue Moon Gift Shops!