Azalea Festival - April 1- April 5 Wilmington NC

April 1
Riverfront Park, Water Street Join us as we officially crown the 62nd Azalea Queen and introduce our celebrity guests.

Queen's Coronation Trask Coliseum Past American Idol contestant Kellie Pickler at Trask Coliseum, UNC-Wilmington on Wednesday...'Kellie Pickler Concert
April 2
Trask Coliseum Reigning American Idol

David Cook will be performing Thursday, April 2, 2009 at Trask Coli...David Cook
April 3
Self-guided tour through various gardens throughout Wilmington. Presale tickets at Festival office Garden Tour "Something Old, Something New"

St. James Perry Hall Over 100 North Carolina artists present fine paintings at the Annual Juried Spring Art Show... Juried Art Show Water and Princess Street

Christian Concerts at the Street Fair- downtown Wilmington. High Flight Society: ...'>Street Fair Main Stage
April 4
Self-guided tour through various gardens throughout Wilmington. ;>Garden Tour "Something Old, Something New" Come see the floats, the bands, and Queens, and Celebrities of the 2009 NC Azalea Festival ...');"

Azalea Festival Parade

St. James Perry Hall Over 100 North Carolina artists present fine paintings at the Annual Juried Spring Art Show...');"Juried Art Show

American Legion Lower Cape Fear Coin Club Show at American Legion- 702 Pine Grove Drive. Showcase..'Coin Show

Self-guided tour of various homes throughout Wilmington. Tickets are $25 each.&am...');

Historic Home Tour

Hilton Wilmington Riverside Watch as shaggers of all ages compete to the groovin\' music of the beach. Shag Contest

Legion Field FREE entertainment from 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Bring the family out; food concessions...'Variety Show

Williston Middle School Boxing event. Held at Williston Middle School. Boxing
5
Self-guided tour through various gardens throughout Wilmington. Presale tickets a...')Garden Tour "Something Old, Something New"

American Legion Lower Cape Fear Coin Club Show at American Legion- 702 Pine Grove Drive. >Coin Show

St. James Perry Hall Over 100 North Carolina artists present fine paintings at the Annual Juried Spring Art Show>Juried Art Show

Self-guided tour of various homes throughout Wilmington. Tickets are $25 each.Historic Home Tour

Williston Middle School Boxing event. Held at Williston Middle School. FREE EVENT.Boxing

For tickets please check out the Festival's website.http://www.ncazaleafestival.org/

One Tree Hill Gets Season Seven in Wilmington NC

The gang of One Tree Hill on the CW network will return for season seven. That is good news for Wilmington NC film crews and location support teams. It takes a lot of people to produce TV shows and this show is no different. You can at times see film crews filming all over town.

River Road was recently closed due to filming. THis is good news for the studio employment picture as many people will now know that they will have a job next year during the shooting of this series. That will keep food preparer, stage people, wardrobe people employed. Good news for our area.

Conscience Fair - A huge success in Wilmington, NC

The Wilmington Star News sponsored a fair at the Cape Fear Community College. This was a volunteer fair for people to attend and find out about volunteer opportunities in the area. It was a unique opportunity to find out what communities groups do and what kinds of volunteer they need - all in one location, at one time. Some of the participants included the Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Habitat for Humanity, Wrightsville Beach Museum, Dreamz - Art for the Young. If you were thinking about volunteering in the community over 50 groups were represented here and you could find out what would be a good fit for you. Over 200 people attended. The Star News wants to make this huge next year and wants to attract over 500 people. Every community could use volunteers and this is a good way to find out who's looking for who!!

233rd Anniversary of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge Pender County NC

Lots to see this weekend Saturday and Sunday February 21 and 22 at 10 am both days at the Morres Creek National Battlefield, Currie North Carolina - free. There will be live must and guest speakers including Dr. Allen Watson who will be lecturing on Col. Benjamin Smith. There is a visitor cetner and museum with troop movement maps and other descriptive material relating to the American Revolution. The Atkinson Volunteer Fire Dept will serve food. There will be a book signing on Sunday of the book "Women of the Revolution" by Robert M. Dunkerly. Lots of family fun...

Picture of Extreme North End of FIGURE 8 ISLAND

POLAR BEAR PLUNGE TO BENEFIT SPECIAL OLYMPICS AT CAROLINA BEACH, NC

My co-worker Linda Mehner will brave the Carolina Beach chilllly Atlantic for a little Polar Bear Plunge to benefit the Special Olympics. Linda generously volunteers for this little dip yearly to raise money. The weather will be cool and water temp around 50 degrees. What a kind bear you are Linda. Here is the schedule of events for the Polar Bear Plunge. Give Linda the thumbs up if you see her shivering afterwards....

Saturday, February 21, 2009

11:00 Gates Open - Live music, silent auction, costume contest, DJ, food, friends, art and more

11:00 - 2:00 Silent Auction

1:00 Costume Contest Judging

3:00 Line Up for Plunge

3:05 Athletes & Small Children Plunge (last year the mayors plunged with this group)

3:10 All Others Plunge

Hope to see you there!!

Wordless Wed. - Spring has Sprung in Wilmington, NC

Punxatawny Phil has nothing on Wilmington NC - Spring has sprung!!!

Wilmington,NC BUYERS - Now is the TIME!!!

Hello Wilmington Buyers:

If you've been looking for a house in Wilmington - don't wait - you will never find lower interest rates and those prices--- WOW!!

Prices have dropped - but this much inventory won't be on the market forever... With spring comes shoppers, beach folks and they want homes. Contact me today to look. See the statistics on Wilmington Real Estate - don't be left at the DOCK!!!!

Average Sold Price Year to Date

Year over year our year to date numbers have dipped a little.
2003 year end average sale price $ 186,137
2004 year end average sale price $ 210,048
2005 year end average sale price $ 254,080
2006 year end average sale price $ 264,498
2007 year end average sale price $ 273,408
2008 year end average sale price $256,498
January 2009 – average sold price of $229,940 is 10.4% behind year end 2008. This is one of the lowest average sold prices we have had to start a new year with.

There is no better time to buy and with great inventory don't wait -c all today!!!

www.WELCOMETotheBEACH.com

Waiting to buy BEACH Property at Carolina or Kure Beach, NC?

If you've been thinking about buying Beach property - condo, home or townhouse - at Carolina or Kure Beach - now is the time. The following statistics speak for themselves.... Call me and I will help you find your dream home....

Carolina & Kure Beach

There are currently 592 single family homes for sale and this represents a 33 unit increase over January and 11% of our total WRAR inventory. The average list price is $482,643 a decrease of 4.1% over January 09’. In January there were 17 homes sold, divide that by the homes available and you have a very large monthly supply of homes in Carolina and Kure Beach (over 34 months). This is the same as last month. The average sold price for the month of January was $336,200 and down from last month. In January 2008 we only had 12 home sales but at an average $512,896. When we look at our rolling 12 months we see that we are ahead in units by 2 and our average sold price has dipped from $425,562 to a current $360,748 a decrease of 15.2%.

This data was pulled on February 14, 2009. Based on information from the Wilmington Regional Association of REALTORS Incorporated, for the period Jan. 1, 2005 through January 31, 2009.

This is from a regular update provided by David Flory

Mortgage Consultant
Cunningham & Company Mortgage Bankers
910-352-8273 cell
910-313-0045 office

Tax Credit Cut to $ 8000.00

In the haste to past the Stimulus Bill through Congress, the 1st time homeowners tax credit was not increased to $ 15,000. as expected.

It was previously $ 7500. and was due to expire this summer. Instead the number has been increased to $ 8000. and this will be available until August, 2009. It is unfortunate that amount was not increased as lots of realtors expected this to be an incredible boost to our spring and summer sales. This was reported this morning on CNBC.

WILMINGTON NC WEEKEND Adventures

Lots of happenings this weekend in the Port City:

Celebrating black history month there will be a narriative about a slave that lived in the Bellamy Mansion, 503 Market Street. A total of 9 slaves lived and worked at this house, Hear about their lives and the lives of free blacks this weekend at the house. This will take place between 10 am to 1:30.

Summer Camp Fair - will be held at the UNCW Warwick center. Will have displays of area camps for kids including day and residential camps.\

Chocolate Festival - Senior center - 30 different booth with all kinds of candy and chocolates.

Sat and Sunday. Will be delicious.

PET EXPO This Weekend at Cape Fear Community College

Do you have one of these? This is our friends dog Wedge! He is curious and a good guy. He is excited cuz this weekend is the PET EXPO at the Cape Fear Community College Center downtown. There will be all kinds of pet stuff to see - demonstrations by trainers, pet accessories, pet foods and all kinds of goodies for your favorite animal.

Burgaw Establishing Historical District in Downtown

Burgaw is taking the first steps to establishing a Historical District in its downtown. A meeting was held to discuss in the fall of 2008 what living in a historical district can mean to homeowners. The city staff organized this and had members of the Wilmington Historical committee provide information about historical districts. The group stated the area can be as controlled as little or as much as the inhabitants can agree to. They shared that a committee could be formed to determine acceptable standards and review any changes owners would be interested in making to existing homes. This is what is currently done in Wilmington. Such changes as paint color or additions are approved by the Historical building committee. There were no conclusions drawn about how tightly the area would be controlled however the zoning of the area is controlled by the city and it is doubtful that any changes to zoning in this area would be approved. It is just an approach by the city to recognize the area for what it is - a historical district and attempt to keep the integrity of the area intact. The home pictured was built in 1900 and is the trainmasters former home. The train station is just down the street and has just been restored with a federal grant. Lots of area events are held there. Burgaw wants to maintain its rural town quaintness. The town wants owners to buy plaques for the houses. The pictured house was the Kornegay house built in 1900.

I think this will encourage homeowners to take care of their homes for future generations but preserve the area as properties that will contribute to the overall success and prosperity of its city.

Cape Fear Jazz Festival - Feb 5-7 Hilton Riverside dowtown

The North Carolina Jazz Festival is a three-day traditional jazz festival, which features world-renowned jazz musicians of the highest caliber. For 2009, the performances will be held in the Wilmington Hilton Riverside ballroom during the first weekend in February. Festivities will begin on Thursday, February 5 at 7:30 p.m. and include some of our excellent local jazz musicians. NCJF is a non-profit organization, formed to preserve, promote and present America’s truly original art form – JAZZ!
More Information check out the schedule and specifics at

http://www.capefearjazz.com/