I am presently working in NYC but plan on retiring and moving to North Carolina in 4-5 years.?

It depends on where you are planning to move in North Carolina. The more urban areas, like Raleigh and Charlotte and most of Asheville, have real estate markets that have actually remained rather strong. Here, I would wait because prices are not wavering much. However, if you are hoping to purchase rural land, I would say buy now.