That figure excludes the Jefferson Landing section of Brunswick Forest that saw its entire 278-home inventory sell in 2006. In total, more than 380 homes and home sites have sold or are under contract.  Brunswick Forest development officials say the pace is accelerating.

"Despite everything you hear about the terrible housing market, we’ve had great sales," says Brenda Key, president of Brunswick Forest Realty, LLC. "No one else that we
know of seems to be having this kind of success."

Earlier this year Brunswick Forest introduced Dream Street at Parkview, one of the largest, all-new model-home showcases in the coastal South. With the opening of a
spectacular, 14,000-square-foot Welcome Center in September, visitors now have the opportunity to see a complete picture of a community already becoming recognized for its many world-class amenities and distinctive neighborhoods.

At the adjacent Parkview, more than half of the available home sites and home packages are under contract. Like Jefferson Landing, this popular neighborhood features street lights, ponds and sidewalks connecting to miles of leisure trails that will lead to the community amenities, parks, preserves and the shops and offices in The Villages, Brunswick Forest’s commercial center. The average home price at Parkview is $425,000.

Also setting an impressive pace is the recently released Gardenwood, a neighborhood of attractive, all-brick, low-maintenance garden homes starting at $259,500. Twenty-two homes have sold since their release—ten on the first day.

Along with Parkview and Gardenwood, visitors also may select from four Florida-style models at the newly introduced Villamar. These well-appointed homes, decked out with central sunlit kitchens, high ceilings and spacious lanais and porches, run from $398,000 to $498,000. Fifteen have already been sold, moving at a pace of about one home per week.

Just released is Evangeline, a charming neighborhood of 56 coastal Carolina homes and 60 townhomes offering high-end custom-home features, including elegant hardwood flooring, distinctive crown molding and granite countertops. Prices begin at $329,500 for the townhomes and from the high-$500,000s for the coastal home and home site package. Evangeline is a project of Kent Homes, one of the Wilmington area’s leading luxury home builders.

Belshaw was also introduced in the fall of 2007. These low-maintenance homes feature woodland views, fabulous outdoor living spaces and gourmet kitchens at prices from the mid-$300,000s.

Finally, home sites at Walden are moving briskly, with half the first phase under contract in the $165,000 to $225,000 range. These are destined for early buyers who plan to build a custom home at some point in the future and are interested in taking advantage of pre-construction pricing that is still in effect.

"Families are moving in every day," says Brunswick Forest Chief Operations Officer Jimmy Sloan. "We’re seeing people walking their dogs in the neighborhoods and kids riding their bikes on the sidewalks. It’s fast becoming a vibrant, well-established community."

Exactly why the community is doing so well in the early going is a matter of some discussion, although Brunswick Forest officials point to the heavy construction activity, an extensive amenities plan, word-of-mouth from satisfied homeowners, the quality of construction, the extensive depth of financing behind the project and a marketing program that brings in more than 100 visitors a week.

"Interest in Brunswick Forest just keeps building," Key says. "We’re averaging 100 visitors a week and now that the Welcome Center is open, we anticipate even greater numbers."

Designed in the classic Southern coastal architecture of all of Brunswick Forest’s amenity centers, the 14,000-square-foot Welcome Center offers buyers an overview of the community and its extraordinary country club lifestyle. A variety of attractive displays feature photographs, color graphics, site plans and renderings of the neighborhoods and amenities, including the River Club on Town Creek, Community Garden, the Ocean Club, the Wellness/Fitness Center and the 27-hole Cape Fear National now under construction.

The centerpiece of the community, the stunning private golf course is being built against a backdrop of woods, wetlands and creeks offering a game that is both visually rewarding and challenging. Designed by Tim Cate, the first 18 holes, along with the clubhouse, are expected to open in 2009.

More than seven miles of sidewalks have been laid to date. The weight of the concrete required for the job—4,473 tons—is equivalent to the displacement of the Battleship North Carolina when fully loaded. When completed, the community will include more than 100 miles of sidewalks that are part of a remarkable network of trails and pathways running throughout Brunswick Forest.