Retirement Around the South - North Carolina

■ Five of the top 10 housing markets, based on September 2007 building permits, were in North Carolina, according to Reed Construction Data. They are Wilmington, ranked 3rd; Raleigh/Cary, 4th; Jacksonville, 5th; Greenville, 6th; and Charlotte- Gastonia-Concord, 7th.

■ Reports on inventories and prices by regional realtors indicate that North Carolina mountain communities such as Blowing Rock, Boone, Asheville, Brevard and Murphy continue to show strong sales with high prices. However, coastal property sales in some selected markets are somewhat flat from 2005 and 2006 levels. Prices have leveled off and even fallen somewhat, and the inventory of available properties has risen.

■ Erickson Retirement Communities has received approval from the Matthews Town Council to build a 1,100-unit continuing care retirement community in this suburb of Charlotte.