Whats Happening this Weekend In Wilmington, NC

A Lot is happening this weekend in Wilmington and its area beaches.


Tonite is Fourth Friday Gallery Night downtown where a group of art galleries open their doors for tours, with refreshments to encourage art lovers and tourists to take in some culture. Galleries encourage people to attend and use this as an opportunity to expose new artists to the community.

Free Summer Concert Series At Fort Fisher Military Recoreation Area, Kure Beach tonight from 6- 8 pm. Bands to include classic blues and jazz band - Port City All Stars. Bring something to sit on - no pets or beverages...

The Chickenhead blues band will play blues at 6pm behind Ulta and World Market. They will be small rides for kids. Bring something to sit on , picnic baskets and coolers ok.

Tomorrow at Hanover Center on Oleander is the Capeside Markets Art and Crafts Fair. - the last Saturday of each month. It is 9 am to 4 pm. Check it out at www.Capesidemarkets.com

Nations Next Top Model Home coming to Conclusion

Nations Next Top Model Home - set in the Brunswick county's new subdivison - Compass Pointe is coming to a conclusion. Tomorrow night the 7 designers from all over the country will put down their paintbrushes to signal completion of their home designing competition. The designers were recruited to design a new model home at Compass Pointe. Each was given a budget of $ 5000. and had to paint, and purchase furniture and accessories to decorate their floorplan. The progress of the designers was videoed on a blog each Monday night. There were competitions for who was to pick their favorite house to design. Each designer also blogged about what kind of projects they were working on in the house.

These homes will be available on Saturday and Sunday at Compass Pointe for people to view. Then people will be allowed to vote on their favorite home and decorator. The winning decorator will win $ 25,000. The Compass Pointe subdivison is 10 miles south of Wilmington on 74/76 in Brunswick County. Can't wait to see their final designs. Hope to see you there...

Southport to host COASTAL LIVING 2009 IDEA HOUSE

Coastal Living magazine has chosen a home in Southport to be its 2009 Idea House. Public tours of the home will begin Sept. 3 and run through Nov. 29. The house is in Seawatch at Sunset Harbor, a 3,000-acre waterfront community 30 miles south of Wilmington. Tour hours are noon- 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Group appointments are available.
Tickets are $10 and proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina.
The original Cape-style house is built on a bluff overlooking the tidal waters of Mercer Mill Creek and nature preserve.
Coastal Living Idea Houses celebrate the best in coastal home innovation, decor, and construction and are built in coastal communities selected by the magazine for environmental consciousness and sensitivity to shoreline preservation.
The home will be featured in the November 2009 issue of Coastal Living magazine.

Series # 3 " Types of Beach Properties in SE NC : The Oceanfront Home

What could be better than owning your own private walkway to your own piece of the beach at Wrightsville Beach? Nothing... but you need to consider certain things if you do want to buy an oceanfront home. Of course you have your own piece of one of the priciest beaches on the Atlantic coast. Unsurpassed views of sparkling turquoise water and white sandy beaches...

They are pricey and ones in pristine condition are hard to find.

It will take $ 3-4 million to buy a good one...

Oceanfront properties require a lot of maintenance from the grates on the heat pump to the door handles which even if they are the finest nickel do weather - even in a year. The salt air is rough on an oceanfront property. Consider that you must paint a property much more frequently or within a shorter time span - 3-4 years instead of 7-8 years. Nail pops can show up quicker and if the builder did not use galvanized nails on the outside of the building they can crack the paint through and rust. The railings need painting more frequently; not to mention the wind damage possibility from storms...The wind and hail and flood insurance rates are going through the roof because of the massive insurance dollar outlay from the New Orleans hurricane.

These may not be optimistic views but they are realistic. The properties available on our local beaches are some of the finest beach properties on the coast but they all come at a price. The informed buyer must be aware of what is involved in purchase of their American dream...

Series: Part 2 - Types of Beach Properties for Sale in Southeastern NC - Timeshare

The appeal of the beach beckons in the summer as a good part of the nation hits the road to visit their favorite beach for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Their are many different types of properties to choose from and one is the Timeshare. The picture is of a timeshare currently on the market at Wrightsville Beach for $ 159,000, for 5 weeks per year use. This is generally a property that is shared between several members and the time for use is distributed among the owners during the year.

This is attractive to many people but like everything has its pros and cons:

Pros:

Share owner is assured of his or her weeks throughout the year.

Can probably switch with other members to get the weeks they want.

Costs can be low for high end beach properties since they are shared among several members.

Generally no work to do as the Homeowners association dues cover all maintenance issues.

Cons:

Dues are required and must be paid even if you do not use your weeks.

Not sure if everyone will respect the property as you do.

Could worry about deteriorating condition if the property is not adequately managed.

Dues could accelerate after first few years of ownership due to maintenance as beach properties close to the beach have high maintenance costs, along with high insurance rates.

May not be able to rent or lease out your property as you would a condo if that is specified in the HOA docs.

As you can see there are many properties that allow you to enjoy beach living. You just need to find the one that meets your comfort level...

Series " Types of Beach Properties in SE NC : The Condo

The appeal of Beaches are universal but there are many different ways that a buyer or investor can enjoy the beach. This blog is going to point out the pros and cons of the beach condo: PROS

This is for the weekend user or investor who wants to use the beach condo perhaps on vacation for a small part of the year and rent it out or keep it for family.

Generally the Homeowner association maintains the condo and the grounds and there is little for the owner to do. The picture is of a 2 bedroom condo for I have for sale at Carolina Beach in southeastern NC.

Dues cover insurance, pest inspection, yard and outside maintenance, sewer and water, garbage, common area taxes, pool, mgm't fee and basic cable. This is turnkey- owner can leave and not worry about any work left to be done on the condo.

Con:

To rent your condo you need to either rent it yourself or arrange for a management company to take it over during that period. This will cost you a % of the rent. You may be restricted as to when you can rent the condo and have to abide by the rules of the condo association.

You do take a chance when you rent it that your furnishings or the condo itself could be damaged...

Condo can be affected by area properties and what is happening with them. The above pictured condo is in the central business district and is subject to zoning in that area. It is a prime location but the business zoning may restrict the association from making changes to the property.

You are at the mercy of the HOA board which can act on its own and impose additional assessments and increase the dues for projects they deem necessary.

This is one of the typical property types available for purchase on the beach...

Wonderful Waterford Waterfront on Wood LILY fo $ 525K.

Impressive Waterford lakefront home with 4 BR, 3 ½ BA
home in 3900 sq ft. This Culdesac custom home with open
floor plan has eatin kitchen with granite, island with Dacor
gas cooktop, custom cabinets, GE Advantium Speedcook
oven, double drawer dishwasher, and walk in pantry. 1st
floor Master has plantation shutters, travertine tile, huge
shower with body sprays and double onyx sinks.
Hardwoods throughout downstairs. Double sided gas
fireplace with bar and wine cooler, builtin cabs, heavy
molding, elegant custom lighting, muted colors, surround
sound throughout the house, 50 inch HDTV plasma flat
screen TV. Huge frog with office area. Screened porch.
Oversized garage. Outdoor firepit, gas grill, oven, and
shower all with lake view. Neighborhood pool, tennis and
gated street. Kayak in your own backyard.

Monkey Junction Merchant - MODERN CLEANERS

This is my client and friend, Linda of Modern Cleaners. She was one of the 1st people I met when I started my real estate career 9 years ago. She had started and opened her 1st dry cleaners in the Monkey Junction area of Wilmington NC. It is called Monkey Junction since a gas station in the middle of a busy intersection had monkeys in cages to attract people and sales. It was very popular with kids and families who used to stop and pet the monkeys. The name has since stuck although the monkeys are long gone and there is now a Burger King in its place.
Linda however is still there. A former South Korean transplant she has most of her family in NYC which she generously supports and employs a large group of Hispanic people in her dry cleaners. She attracts business by offering very low prices for mens shirts - $.99/shirts and offers low prices to policemen for their uniforms among other specials.
She is physically challenged with very bad rheumatoid arthritis but this never stops her from showing up for work, being kind to her customers and employees and providing excellent customer service. She also employs about 20 people - some of whom may have found it very hard to find jobs. She really does care about her employees and sends them to doctors which she pays and helps them if they are in trouble and need money.
I have been her realtor also in the past as I sold a commercial food business that she had and she just wanted to move on from that venture.
She is never afraid to try something new and her courageous attitude is just amazing. She always is looking out to better her business. She opens branches all over the city to try certain areas - to see if they will succeed. When they do she keeps them - if they don't see closes them. She really is a great example of the great American entrepreneurial spirit - that I can do anything. Nothing will prevent my friend Linda from succeeding... She has made her own way...

Surfer Chicks Unite- What's Happening this Weekend in Wilmington, NC

East Coast Wahine Championships this weekend at Wrightsville Beach, NC Aug 8-9. Surf competitions for women in longboard, shortboard, bodyboard and novice divisions as well as an 18 and an under advanced shortboard division and an open shortboard division for all ages. Oceanic Pier at Wrightsville Beach - go to http://www.eastcoastwahines.com/ for more information.

Wilmington NC host to online - NATIONS NEXT TOP MODEL HOME

Nations Next Top Model Home, the first ever online reality show competition, has selected Wilmington, NC and the community of Compass Pointe as its 2009 host location. 7 Interior Designers will have 28 days to turn 7 empty model homes into beautiful interiors. Compass Pointe is a new subdivision being built in Brunswick County - on Rt 74/76 just south of Magnolia Greens. It will have a wide availability of amenities including a 27 hole golf course, pool and pool house. Price ranges start in the mid $200K's for townhouses.

There are all kinds of competitions involving this show with the final viewing for people to choose which one they like best at Compass Pointe. The designers are from NC, FLA, CA. There are some real divas in this competition. Shows are aired online on Mondays at 8 PM. Exciting - can't wait to see the final homes.....

Your votes decide which designer will win $25,000! Follow the entire competition at www.nationsnexttopmodelhome.com.