Goldsboro, N.C. — The Goldsboro real estate market is bucking the state trend in home sales.

In North Carolina, sales of existing homes fell 22 percent in January, compared with a year earlier. The drop was sharper in the Triangle – 29 percent – and sales were even worse in Pinehurst, with a 38 percent decrease.

Goldsboro, however, is experiencing a surge in existing home sales, up by 173 percent. The number of existing units sold was up to 202 in January, compared with 74 for the same month last year.

Real estate agent Julie Stone said she was surprised to see that in January, Goldsboro posted the highest year-to-date sales growth in the state – an increase of 16 percent.

Goldsboro attributes its real estate success to steady growth at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

"My husband's in the Air Force, and this is actually the third time we've been to Seymour Johnson,” homeowner Debby Naughton said.

Naughton said her family is even thinking about building another, bigger house in Goldsboro.

"Everybody here is so welcoming and I think it's that Southern charm that we find makes us really feel at home," Naughton said.

Besides Seymour Johnson, another reason many people choose to live in Goldsboro is the new Interstate 795. It makes getting to Raleigh faster.

"We do have quite a few clients, especially with Seymour Johnson," Stone said. "You'll have somebody be here in town working with Seymour Johnson and the spouse will commute to Raleigh."

The speed limit is 70 mph on I-795, as opposed to 55 mph on the traditional Raleigh route, U.S. Highway 70.