Aberdeen

“Forest Hills is your traditional neighborhood, and one of the more established neighborhoods in Aberdeen,” says David Sinclair, the marketing coordinator for the Martha Gentry Team at Re/Max Prime Properties of Pinehurst. He grew up in Forest Hills and says it’s “family-oriented,” the type of idyllic suburb where “kids are always going back and forth between the houses and playing in the yards.” Realtor Sarah O’Brien of Sandhills Realty agrees. “If you drive through the community at the end of the day, you’ll see people out walking dogs and pushing baby buggies. There are always kids out playing and older folks out walking. But it’s also located right off of US Route 1, so it’s very close to major shopping centers, medical facilities, even churches.” The church she attends, Bethesda Presbyterian, is right across Route 1 from the neighborhood. Aberdeen First Baptist Church is just a few blocks away. “It’s well-positioned within the community, so the location has always been part of my marketing strategy for homes here,” says O’Brien. Less than 2 miles north of Aberdeen’s vibrant and historic downtown, and within minutes of the neighboring towns of Pinehurst and Southern Pines, Forest Hills is certainly convenient. <br><br>“The homes, in general, tend to be moderately priced,” says Sinclair. “Pinehurst and Southern Pines tend to be a little bit pricier. Pinehurst and Southern Pines tend to be a little bit pricier. In neighborhoods like Pinewild, which is in Pinehurst, it’s rare for homes to sell for less than $600,000.” In Aberdeen, the median home price hovers at around $444,000, nearly $200,000 under the median for Pinehurst. And the Craftsman-inspired Traditional and ranch-style homes in Forest Hills, specifically, the median hovers around $375,000. But these homes can go for anywhere between $350,000 and $500,000. O’Brien notes that most homes were built between the ‘60s and ‘70s. “I sold a home there recently that was one of the first built in the neighborhood, and it had even been partially updated. The intention of the buyer was to completely update it. That’s what we’re seeing with these homes built in the ‘60s and mid-‘70s. Buyers are going in, totally updating them, and living happily ever after.”<br><br>Youngsters between preschool and fifth grade go to Aberdeen Elementary, which earns a B-minus from Niche. Older students go to Southern Middle, which earns a B, and Pinecrest High, which earns an A-minus. All three schools are within about 4 miles of home; Southern Middle is the closest, at about a mile and a half north. The elementary school is the farthest, about 4 miles west. Pinecrest High, in the neighboring town of Southern Pines, is a little more than 3 miles north. The high school is ranked No. 1 on Niche’s list of the best public high schools in the county and offers a robust array of Career & Technical Education (CTE) courses, in subjects ranging from animal sciences and biomedical technology to horticulture and drone technology. <br><br>Pages Lake sprawls across nearly 40 acres of shady land in Aberdeen Lake Park about 2 miles south of Forest Hills. “It’s a nice area,” says Sinclair. “There’s a walking trail around the lake with a big wooden bridge that goes from one side of the lake to the other.” The waterfront is fishable, and non-motorized boats are permitted, too. The park’s gazebo and picnic shelter can be reserved for parties and other private events. And the Aberdeen Lake Park Recreation Station hosts programs for adults and kids alike, from Tai Chi to spring break and summer day camps. In the middle of downtown, nearby, the fully fenced Main Street Park offers a classic playground and covered picnic area. <br><br>Sinclair says Town & Country Shopping Center, on US Route 1 just east of the neighborhood, is home to “lots of restaurants, furniture and variety stores.” The bustling strip mall is anchored by Big Lots and Badcock Home Furniture & More. It also has Harbor Freight Tools and Dollar General, among other everyday necessities-style stores. “There’s a Texas Roadhouse, even a Subway in there, just lots of stuff. The only thing that’s not in there is a grocery store,” says Sinclair. But that’s not too much of a problem for locals; Aldi, Harris Teeter and Food Lion are off of Route 1, too. All three grocery stores are less than a mile and a half away from Forest Hills. For retail and restaurants with more local flair, residents can head downtown. “Since the ‘80s, the town’s been making efforts to revitalize the area and get shops in there, and they’re succeeding,” Sinclair says. Two of his favorite somewhat recent additions to the district’s burgeoning food scene are Mason’s Restaurant & Grocery and Railhouse Brewery. Mason’s serves up scratch-made Southern fare; its market sells locally and regionally sourced goods. Railhouse is a veteran-owned pub known for its craft beer, live entertainment and lawn games. <br><br>Route 1, also known as North Sandhills Boulevard, bustles by the east side of Forest Hills. The main thoroughfare runs directly into downtown, about a 1.5-mile drive south. Heading northeast on Route 1 leads to Southern Pines; the nearly 4-mile drive takes about 10 minutes, depending on traffic. Pinehurst, about 7 miles northwest, isn’t much farther. “Aberdeen is right on the doorstep of Fort Liberty, what used to be Fort Bragg, too,” says Sinclair. With more than 50,000 personnel, it’s one of the largest military installations in the world and a big employer in the area.