Like the rest of the economy, the luxury home market in the Wilmington area has picked up speed in recent months.

For example, in the first quarter of 2015 in the zip code that covers Wrightsville Beach, the average selling price increased 28 percent, from $662,500 to $849,522, compared to the same period last year.

“Buyers are out there,” said Patrice Willetts, an agent with The Property Shop of the Carolina in Wilmington whose firm has luxury home listings.

“We’re looking at multiple offers where we haven’t seen multiple offers in quite a while.”

Although [mortgage] interest rates have increased somewhat, they’re still under 5 percent, she said.

“It’s still a great time to finance an investment, and this is your biggest investment,” Willetts said.

The following are some of the recent luxury home sales in Wilmington:

6432 Westport Drive, 28409
Sale price: $2.525 million
Listing agent: Jessica Edwards of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Year built: 1994
Square feet: 6,388
Lot acres: 0.36
FEATURES: Waterfront view of the Intracoastal Waterway, 30-foot boat slip, elevator, four bedrooms including a master suite with sitting room and dressing room and two others with private porches, ground-level entertainment suite with poolside access

403 Summer Rest Road, 28405
Sale price: $2.2 million
Listing agent: Vance Young of Intracoastal Realty
Year built: 2004
Square Feet: 5,022
Lot Acres: 0.39
FEATURES: Private pier able to hold up to a 60-foot yacht, front and rear porches with epay wood decking, gourmet kitchen, waterfront, four bedrooms, private water rights

837 Shinn Point Road, 28409
Sale price: $950,000
Listing agent: Tony Harrington of The Property Shop of the Carolinas
Year built: 1983
Square feet: 3,608
Lot acres: 0.53
FEATURES: Waterfront, contemporary design, three bedrooms, private dock with access to Intracoastal Waterway, library, media room, office/entertainment suite, butlers elevator, screened porch and deck, designed by architect Haywood Homen Newkirk