Winston-Salem, NC
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Take a Closer Look
There’s nothing we like more than introducing our clients to the ins-and-outs of the place we call home. The culture, character, and community of the city make it a great place to live. The deeper you dig, the more you find to love about Winston-Salem, NC (a.k.a. “Winston”) and the surrounding areas.
Winston-Salem, NC
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Take a Closer Look
There’s nothing we like more than introducing our clients to the ins-and-outs of the place we call home. The culture, character, and community of the city make it a great place to live. The deeper you dig, the more you find to love about Winston-Salem, NC (a.k.a. “Winston”) and the surrounding areas.
Why We Love Winston-Salem, NC
When you ask us why we live in Winston-Salem, you might get some of the answers that you would expect: amenities, lifestyle, and cost of living. But a good deal of what we love about this city is more intangible, rooted in its history and personality.
We love the grit and determination of Winston-Salem. With its roots in tobacco and textile, the city had some lean times when those industries diminished. For a while it was tough, but the community of Winston-Salem didn’t give in, transforming itself into a modern city with a unique left-brain, right-brain split. Today, we’re known for medical care and research, a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, and a robust arts scene.
While some cities can claim to be a college town, Winston-Salem is home to a whole host of diverse higher education institutions. You can find a top ranked national university (Wake Forest University), a historically black public university (Winston-Salem State University), a women’s liberal arts college (Salem College), a top-notch public community college (Forsyth Technical Community College), and the nation’s first public arts conservatory (UNC School of the Arts) all in Winston-Salem–not to mention several more in the area.
People who live here know that WInston-Salem is also a lot of fun. From experiencing culture to exploring the great outdoors, there are a lot of ways to kick back and have some fun. Throughout the year, the city has festivals of all kinds–art, music, cultural, and more–that draw from the diverse pockets of people who make up our community. Winston-Salem hasn’t forgotten its roots, either, and there are museums that pay tribute to various chapters of its story, and the city works hard to save and restore its historic architecture.
Team Favorite
The Snob Shop
“The Snob Shop consignment store is my favorite place to retreat from the world and search for treasures. Many of my favorite pieces of clothing and home decor have come from The Snob Shop. You never know what you will find!”
– Jill
Team Favorite
Cafe Gelato
““I always stop in to enjoy one of their unique gelato flavor combinations when browsing the consignment shops on Reynolda. They always have something different and special, and visiting has become a ritual with my oldest granddaughter.”
– Karen
Team Favorite
Kimpton Cardinal Hotel
“The hotel is located in the original Reynolds building and houses The Katharine, a fabulous restaurant and bar, but the other fun secret is that hotel guests have access to a fun indoor basketball court, bowling alley, ping pong tables, and cool adult-sized slide in the basement.”
– Abby
Team Favorite
Washington Park
“Known by the locals as the Dinosaur Park, the dino-themed playground equipment is a big hit with both my children because they are just a little obsessed with dinos.”
– Sarah
Team Favorite
West Salem Public House
“WSPH is my neighborhood coffee shop and pub rolled into one! Tucked just a few blocks from my house, it feels so good to walk to a place! The indoor space is cozy and inviting, and the outdoor space feels like an oasis in the heart of the city.”
– Bekah
Why We Love Winston-Salem, NC
When you ask us why we live in Winston-Salem, you might get some of the answers that you would expect: amenities, lifestyle, and cost of living. But a good deal of what we love about this city is more intangible, rooted in its history and personality.
We love the grit and determination of Winston-Salem. With its roots in tobacco and textile, the city had some lean times when those industries diminished. For a while it was tough, but the community of Winston-Salem didn’t give in, transforming itself into a modern city with a unique left-brain, right-brain split. Today, we’re known for medical care and research, a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, and a robust arts scene.
While some cities can claim to be a college town, Winston-Salem is home to a whole host of diverse higher education institutions. You can find a top ranked national university (Wake Forest University), a historically black public university (Winston-Salem State University), a women’s liberal arts college (Salem College), a top-notch public community college (Forsyth Technical Community College), and the nation’s first public arts conservatory (UNC School of the Arts) all in Winston-Salem–not to mention several more in the area.
Team Favorite
The Snob Shop
“The Snob Shop consignment store is my favorite place to retreat from the world and search for treasures. Many of my favorite pieces of clothing and home decor have come from The Snob Shop. You never know what you will find!”
– Jill
Team Favorite
Cafe Gelato
““I always stop in to enjoy one of their unique gelato flavor combinations when browsing the consignment shops on Reynolda. They always have something different and special, and visiting has become a ritual with my oldest granddaughter.”
– Karen
Team Favorite
Kimpton Cardinal Hotel
“The hotel is located in the original Reynolds building and houses The Katharine, a fabulous restaurant and bar, but the other fun secret is that hotel guests have access to a fun indoor basketball court, bowling alley, ping pong tables, and cool adult-sized slide in the basement.”
– Abby
Team Favorite
Washington Park
“Known by the locals as the Dinosaur Park, the dino-themed playground equipment is a big hit with both my children because they are just a little obsessed with dinos.”
– Sarah
Team Favorite
West Salem Public House
“WSPH is my neighborhood coffee shop and pub rolled into one! Tucked just a few blocks from my house, it feels so good to walk to a place! The indoor space is cozy and inviting, and the outdoor space feels like an oasis in the heart of the city.”
– Bekah
People who live here know that Winston is also a lot of fun. From experiencing culture to exploring the great outdoors, there are a lot of ways to kick back and have some fun. Throughout the year, the city has festivals of all kinds–art, music, cultural, and more–that draw from the diverse pockets of people who make up our community. Winston hasn’t forgotten its roots, either, and there are museums that pay tribute to various chapters of its story, and the city works hard to save and restore its historic architecture.
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But the best argument we can make for living in Winston-Salem is the fact that we live here ourselves. We’ve fallen in love with this place, choosing to root our families here and to help build up our community. If Winston sounds like your kind of city, too, we’d love to tell you more about it!
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If you prefer the great outdoors, you can explore the 25 miles of greenways and over 70 parks scattered around the city. And if you don’t mind going a little further afield, there’s terrific hiking and camping spots within a short distance (thank you, Blue Ridge Mountains!), not to mention all the Carolina beaches within a half a day’s drive. When you’re done in the sun, there are dozens of wineries, breweries, and distilleries to accompany a blossoming foodie scene expanding out from the downtown area.
Or, if you prefer living a little further out from the city, there are several cities, townships and villages in the greater Winston-Salem area that offer opportunities for more land, great family neighborhoods and that smaller town charm.
What did we tell you? There’s a lot to love about our city, including the fact that it has a pretty low cost of living. And it’s not just us. Lots of people have recognized that Winston-Salem, NC is a pretty great place to live. That’s why it’s been called “one of top 20 places to live in the South” (U.S. News & World Report), “one of the top 25 places to retire” (Forbes), and “one of the top places to start a business” (WalletHub).
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Photos by J. Sinclair
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If you prefer the great outdoors, you can explore the 25 miles of greenways and over 70 parks scattered around the city. And if you don’t mind going a little further afield, there’s terrific hiking and camping spots within a short distance (thank you, Blue Ridge Mountains!), not to mention all the Carolina beaches within a half a day’s drive. When you’re done in the sun, there are dozens of wineries, breweries, and distilleries to accompany a blossoming foodie scene expanding out from the downtown area.
Or, if you prefer living a little further out from the city, there are several cities, townships and villages in the greater Winston-Salem area that offer opportunities for more land, great family neighborhoods and that smaller town charm.
What did we tell you? There’s a lot to love about our city, including the fact that it has a pretty low cost of living. And it’s not just us. Lots of people have recognized that Winston-Salem, NC is a pretty great place to live. That’s why it’s been called “one of top 20 places to live in the South” (U.S. News & World Report), “one of the top 25 places to retire” (Forbes), and “one of the top places to start a business” (WalletHub).
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But the best argument we can make for living in Winston-Salem is the fact that we live here ourselves. We’ve fallen in love with this place, choosing to root our families here and to help build up our community. If Winston sounds like your kind of city, too, we’d love to tell you more about it!
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Photos by J. Sinclair
Have We Piqued Your Interest?
If you’re considering moving to the City of Arts and Innovation or if you just want to know more about buying or selling a home here, we’re all in!
Community Resources
If you want to explore more about Winston-Salem, NC, here are some of the resources that we find helpful–both for getting settled and for learning about all the fun things that happen here!
Community Resources
If you want to explore more about Winston-Salem, NC, here are some of the resources that we find helpful–both for getting settled and for learning about all the fun things that happen here!
Explore our Neighborhoods
Winston-Salem is home to a variety of vibrant neighborhoods and boroughs, each with their own personality and amenities. We’ve curated some of these spots in the area to give you a flavor of what you can find here. Click on any example below to view our featured list of great places to live in and around Winston.
About Us
Why We Live in the Winston-Salem Area
We’re not always showing houses. Our team loves to kick back and enjoy our city. Find out why some of us returned home, rooted after transplanting, or never left in the first place.
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“I had to travel the world to figure out that my hometown is the ideal place to live! It has the energy of a growing, thriving community driven by arts, innovation and medical fields; the natural beauty of mountains, lakes, rivers, and farms nearby; and the grounded sense of community, neighbors, and affordability that make people settle in and never want to leave!”
-Bekah
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“Winston-Salem has all the charm of a small town and the energy of a much larger city. What makes me want to call it home, though, is the sense of intentional community and love (not to mention it has all four seasons!).”
-Mark
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“I had to travel the world to figure out that my hometown is the ideal place to live! It has the energy of a growing, thriving community driven by arts, innovation and medical fields; the natural beauty of mountains, lakes, rivers, and farms nearby; and the grounded sense of community, neighbors, and affordability that make people settle in and never want to leave!”
-Bekah
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“Winston-Salem has all the charm of a small town and the energy of a much larger city. What makes me want to call it home, though, is the sense of intentional community and love (not to mention it has all four seasons!).”
-Mark
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“I love living in Winston-Salem because there is always something new to discover around the corner. It could be a new coffee shop, bakery, art gallery, florist, or activity. On a simple stroll downtown, you could discover a new alley, architecture, or building’s history. There’s always a new surprise!”
-Karen
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“Winston-Salem has a lot to offer. It’s a great place to live if you love independent coffee shops and restaurants. It has a strong entrepreneurial culture that supports small businesses, as well as a local arts scene and beautiful architecture. It’s relatively low cost of living is a plus, too!”
-Abby
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“I love living in Winston-Salem because there is always something new to discover around the corner. It could be a new coffee shop, bakery, art gallery, florist, or activity. On a simple stroll downtown, you could discover a new alley, architecture, or building’s history. There’s always a new surprise!”
-Karen
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“Winston-Salem has a lot to offer. It’s a great place to live if you love independent coffee shops and restaurants. It has a strong entrepreneurial culture that supports small businesses, as well as a local arts scene and beautiful architecture. It’s relatively low cost of living is a plus, too!”
-Abby
Weird in Winston-Salem You don’t really know a place until you’ve learned its quirks–and Winston has no shortage of them! We wanted to share with you some of our favorite surprising bits about the city. Hopefully, you’ll find Winston as endearingly quirky as we do!
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Where did that come from, you ask? Good question. In 1913, two cities joined forces to become what we know as Winston-Salem. The older city, Salem, and its younger neighbor, Winston, finally made it through a long process of uniting, but neither city wanted to give up its name. The new city was hyphenated, and Winston-Salem later became known as “The Dash,” despite the punctuation mark technically being a hyphen. But hey, our minor league baseball team would sound silly if they were “The Hyphen,” instead of “The Dash.”
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Ok, that actually happened only once in 1979, but the reason for that card is real. In 1929, the Reynolds Building in downtown Winston-Salem won the “Building of the Year Award” from the National Association of Architects. That award secured the Shreve and Lamb architect firm, which built the Reynolds Building, the job of building the Empire State Building, which they largely based on the Reynolds Building. Who’s your daddy, NYC?!
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In the 1930s, eight clamshell gas stations were built in Winston-Salem and nearby Kernersville by a local distributor of Shell Oil. Though they were used for decades, only one of the yellow oddities is still standing today, and you can see that on the corner of Peachtree St. and East Sprague St.
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Just outside Old Salem in downtown Winston-Salem, you can find a 7-foot tin coffee pot that can hold almost twelve thousand cups of coffee. It was made by Julius and Samuel Mickey, a pair of Moravian brothers in 1858. To our knowledge it has never held a single drip of coffee, but it’s fun to think of a community Moravian brothers and sisters sharing a “pot” together.
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Where did that come from, you ask? Good question. In 1913, two cities joined forces to become what we know as Winston-Salem. The older city, Salem, and its younger neighbor, Winston, finally made it through a long process of uniting, but neither city wanted to give up its name. The new city was hyphenated, and Winston-Salem later became known as “The Dash,” despite the punctuation mark technically being a hyphen. But hey, our minor league baseball team would sound silly if they were “The Hyphen,” instead of “The Dash.”
-
Ok, that actually happened only once in 1979, but the reason for that card is real. In 1929, the Reynolds Building in downtown Winston-Salem won the “Building of the Year Award” from the National Association of Architects. That award secured the Shreve and Lamb architect firm, which built the Reynolds Building, the job of building the Empire State Building, which they largely based on the Reynolds Building. Who’s your daddy, NYC?!
-
In the 1930s, eight clamshell gas stations were built in Winston-Salem and nearby Kernersville by a local distributor of Shell Oil. Though they were used for decades, only one of the yellow oddities is still standing today, and you can see that on the corner of Peachtree St. and East Sprague St.
-
Just outside Old Salem in downtown Winston-Salem, you can find a 7-foot tin coffee pot that can hold almost twelve thousand cups of coffee. It was made by Julius and Samuel Mickey, a pair of Moravian brothers in 1858. To our knowledge it has never held a single drip of coffee, but it’s fun to think of a community Moravian brothers and sisters sharing a “pot” together.
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Atwell Ford Real Estate confidently jumps into the trenches with clients, building trust by tackling all the variables of buying and selling homes to deliver results that transform people into neighbors and neighborhoods into communities that help grow our city.
Atwell Ford Real Estate confidently jumps into the trenches with clients, building trust by tackling all the variables of buying and selling homes to deliver results that transform people into neighbors and neighborhoods into communities that help grow our city.
Each office is independently owned and operated.
Each office is independently owned and operated.