Fayetteville isn’t known for its million dollar homes, but Moore neighbors have plenty. Why?

Lizmary Evans, Fayetteville Observer

While Fayetteville and Cumberland County may not boast many million-dollar homes, just a stone's throw away in Moore County lies a plethora of sprawling estates.

Currently, 41 homes listed for sale in Moore County range from $1.1 to $3.3 million compared to three sale listings in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Real estate agents in Moore County believe that the differences can be attributed to the population and the amenities available in the area.

“The reason why properties are more expensive here is because of golf and equine. That’s the driving force,” Bret Bevelacqua, a real estate agent with Carolina Property Sales, said Tuesday.

The median value of owner-occupied homes in Moore County is only slightly higher than Cumberland County, with Moore's median value at $284,000 compared to Cumberland's $281,900, according to the 2022 United States Census.

“When you look at all of the surrounding counties, and I think I’ll offend people by saying this, but we have better food options here, we have grocery stores every 5 miles,” Bevelacqua said. “You have your country club life here.”

Bevelacqua noted that the majority of expensive homes in Moore County are golf-front properties. He said that with the completion of the USGA headquarters in Pinehurst, the area seems to be attracting many wealthy individuals.

These are some of the unique features of 175 Linden Road in Pinehurst, listed for $1.6 million, which is only one of 41 homes for sale in Moore County pricetags of $1 million or more.
These are some of the unique features of 175 Linden Road in Pinehurst, listed for $1.6 million, which is only one of 41 homes for sale in Moore County pricetags of $1 million or more.

Moore County, more money?

According to the 2022 U.S. Census, the median household income in Moore County was $77,981 compared to Cumberland's median household income of $75,149.

Bevelacqua said that although there is a notable presence of military families purchasing properties in Moore County, the majority of the million-dollar homes are acquired by retirees. He said these retirees typically sell their out-of-state homes and purchase a home in Moore County, intending it to be their final residence.

Mike McKinney, the owner of Carolina Property Sales, also believes the area is appealing to homebuyers as it has a good school district and is a short drive to Fort Liberty.

"When I first got into this business ... most of my business was retirees and golf players," McKinney said. "Now, I see the trend with the USGA moving their headquarters here and I see more people coming back to golf looking for retirement or second homes."

Here are some million-dollar homes for sale in Moore County

  • 131 Vanore Road in West End — $1.3 million, four bedrooms, three bathrooms and 3,685 square feet. According to its Zillow listing, this house, built in 1998, is right on the water and boasts a deck, large patio and buyers will also gain a pontoon boat with the sale.

  • 175 Linden Road in Pinehurst — $1.6 million, seven bedrooms, 11 bathrooms and 8,217 square feet. According to its Zillow listing, this house, built in 1935, was once owned by James Stillman Rockefeller and his wife, Nancy Carnegie Rockefeller.

  • 693 Heritage Farm Road in Carthage — $1.7 million, five bedrooms, five bathrooms and 7,529 square feet. According to its Zillow listing, this house, built in 1996, has 12 acres with turret-style windows and is a short drive from several Pinehurst golf courses.

  • 1645 Midland Road in Southern Pines — $1.8 million, six bedrooms, four bathrooms and 4,340 square feet. According to its Zillow listing, this house, built in 1921, has a gourmet kitchen to rival any celebrity chef's and a spa-like suite bathroom with a walk-in shower.

  • 110 Brookhaven Road in Pinehurst — $2.6 million, five bedrooms, seven bathrooms and 5,839 square feet. According to its Zillow listing, this house, built in 1999, has a backyard with a direct view of the 4th hole of the World Famous U.S. Open Pinehurst No. 2 Golf Course.

  • 45 Chestertown Drive in Pinehurst — $3.1 million, five bedrooms, six bathrooms and 6,244 square feet. According to its Zillow listing, this house, built in 2000, overlooks the third green of Tom Fazio's south course and is in the prestigious gated community of Forest Creek Golf Club.

  • 222 Cross Country Lane in Southern Pines — $3.3 million, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and 2,886 square feet. According to its Zillow listing, this house, built in 1966, is a historic farm that was custom-designed by John Foster Faulk, a well-known architect in Pinehurst.

Reporter Lizmary Evans covers growth and development for The Fayetteville Observer. You can reach her at LEvans@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Why does Moore County, NC have more expensive houses than Cumberland?

Advertisement