If you are moving to Wilmington in late 2025, you have almost certainly seen the ads for Riverlights.

It is the glossy, riverfront poster child of the "New Wilmington." With its boardwalk sunsets, golf-cart lifestyle, and colorful cottages, it promises a lifestyle that feels more like a permanent vacation than a subdivision.

But glossy brochures don't tell you about the traffic on River Road, the construction timelines for the new amenity center, or the reality of the HOA fees. As your boots-on-the-ground partners, we do.

Here is the honest, unfiltered guide to living in Riverlights right now.

1. The "Two Worlds" of Riverlights

The most common confusion we see is between "Riverlights" and "Del Webb." They are in the same zip code, but they are different planets.

The General Community (All Ages):

The Vibe: Young families, remote workers, and empty nesters who don't want an age-restricted environment. You’ll see strollers, teenagers on e-bikes, and dogs everywhere.

The Housing: A mix of townhomes, cottages, and custom riverfront estates. Builders like Trusst and Charter are active here.

The Amenities: You have access to The Lakehouse (pool and gym) and the Marina Village.

Del Webb (The Haven / Active Adult 55+):

The Vibe: This is a gated "enclave within an enclave." It is exclusive to residents 55+.

The "Velvet Rope": Del Webb residents have their own private amenity center (The Oasis) with its own pool, gym, and pickleball courts. They can also use the general Riverlights amenities, but general Riverlights residents cannot use the Del Webb amenities.

2025 Status: The Del Webb section is largely built out, meaning most inventory here is now resale, not new construction. This is great for buyers who don't want to live in a construction zone.

2. The 2025/2026 Amenity "Reality Check"

If you tour today, you will hear a lot about "what's coming." Here is the actual timeline.

"The Riverhouse" (Opening Winter 2025/Early 2026): This is the big news. The community outgrew the original Lakehouse pool years ago. The new Riverhouse amenity center—located near the southern end—is finally nearing completion.

The Win: It adds a second resort-style pool, a fitness center, and critically, 4 new pickleball courts. This should drastically reduce the overcrowding at the main pool next summer.

"7Bridge" Commercial Center: You might hear about a new shopping district called 7Bridge near the southern entrance.

The Reality: While hyped as the "new commercial core," as of late 2025, this is still largely in the leasing and early development phase. Do not buy here expecting a fully walkable grocery store tomorrow. For now, Marina Village (with Smoke on the Water and Girls with Dough) remains the only active social hub.

3. The "River Road" Commute

Riverlights is an island of calm, but getting to it requires patience.

The Bottleneck: River Road is the main artery in and out. With the massive growth of Riverlights and the neighboring apartments, traffic during school drop-off (7:30 AM) and rush hour (5:00 PM) can be heavy.

The Trade-Off: You are 15 minutes from Carolina Beach and 15 minutes from Downtown Wilmington. It is a central location, but you will drive for groceries (Harris Teeter is about a 2-mile drive; it's not quite golf-cartable for a full shop yet).

4. The HOA Fees (Late 2025 Update)

Riverlights is an amenity-heavy community, and you pay for it.

General Single Family: Approx. $145/month. This covers the pools, trails, and common areas. You maintain your own lawn.

Townhomes/Duplexes: Ranges from $300–$600/month. This typically includes exterior maintenance and landscaping, making it a true "lock-and-leave" option.

Del Webb (The Haven): Approx. $255/month. This includes lawn care and exclusive access to the private Oasis amenities.

New for 2025: North Carolina passed significant HOA reform laws (House Bill 444) this year, providing you with more transparency on budget increases and protection against unfair fines—a big win for buyers in large master-planned communities like this.

The Verdict

Buy Here If: You are a "social butterfly." You want a calendar full of food truck nights, running clubs, and pool parties. You want your social life to be inside your neighborhood.

Skip It If: You need a large, private backyard. Lot sizes here are "coastal compact" (often 0.15 to 0.2 acres). You are trading yard space for community space.

At Aspyre Realty Group, we know the specific streets where the construction noise is finished and the ones where it’s just beginning.