All in Perfect Timing

Date Built

Autumn 2022

Build Type

Piedmont Collection at Riverlights

Plan Name

The Martin Plan

Ed knows a thing or two about buying homes. His pharmaceutical career has taken him all over the world and he’s purchased many houses.

Ed and his wife Marla started thinking about a new place to call home a few years ago. Somewhere they could enjoy the lifestyle they wanted. They found that place along the North Carolina coast. Wilmington drew them because of the golf course accessibility.

“Wilmington the city has come a long way since I first looked at it,” Ed said.

The growing town and availability of flights made moving to Wilmington even sweeter.

“Everything was aligned perfectly to enjoy our life here,” Ed said.

Marla and Ed looked at several Wilmington neighborhoods but hadn’t found the right fit. However, once they discovered Riverlights, they knew it was the place for them and decided to build a single-family home.

But the more they thought about it, they felt the timing wasn’t perfect.

Ed was still running a business in New Jersey and Marla liked being close to family. It was a place they had called home for 30 years. So, Ed and Marla decided to wait a bit longer before relocating.

When they revisited Riverlights, they decided to buy a townhome designed by another builder, sight unseen. Once they stepped inside, though, Marla knew they needed something different.

“While it was nice, it didn’t feel like the perfect fit for us,” she said.

It was a builder leaseback, so they had some flexibility to decide how to move forward. Amid a strong market, their realtor let them know the builder wanted to return the home to them at the 12-month mark.

Marla and Ed asked their realtor if the builder for single-family homes was still working in Riverlights. The other builder had moved on, but someone new had started working in the neighborhood: New Leaf Builders.

“The New Leaf team was right there with us every step of the way,” says Marla.

So, they contacted Tyler Henrikson Sales Consultant at New Leaf about available homes. There were only a few for sale, and Ed and Marla had their eye on The Martin plan, part of the new The Piedmont Collection in Riverlights.

When they found out The Martin plan was available, they went under contract on a Thursday and sold their townhome the next day.

Marla described the building process as very positive. She said New Leaf was there every step of the way. And while they didn’t customize very much because it was a spec home, they liked how it turned out.

“We loved just about every selection that was made,” Marla said.

Now that they’re settled in their new home, Marla and Ed reflect on what they enjoy most about The Martin and their New Leaf experience.

“Love the single-level open floor plan,” Marla said. She noted the 1,852 sq. ft. plan is not a huge home, but it’s very comfortable for them.

“I love to cook and entertain, so it serves me well in that way,” she said, describing the kitchen.

Ed said he was very impressed with the closing process and how New Leaf handled the final stages of construction.

“[They were] very responsive to any issues we might have had,” Ed said. “It was almost like, ‘if you have a problem, we’ll fix it now.’ Not that there were any real significant problems.”

Marla said the New Leaf team is still helping them, even after closing.

“I feel like really, they’re still with us today and will be for a long time,” Marla said

Although the move was a significant change, Ed and Marla feel at home.

“It felt right and it absolutely feels right today,” Marla said of their decision to move to Riverlights. “People are so warm, so welcoming.”

Now selling in Riverlights.

Interested in learning more about New Leaf’s offerings at Riverlights? Contact Tyler Henrikson at 843.568.4761 to schedule an appointment, or browse our Riverlights plans here.