What's Happening in Wilmington NC and Beaches this Weekend

Until 12/31: Teacher’s Fund Raffle Tickets for sale - Intracoastal Realty Corp raffle to benefit the Teachers Fund.



Buy a ticket for $ 10.00 and win a chance to receive an Ipad 2.



Until 1/2: Downtown Holiday Tree Lighting. Riverfront Park, Downtown Wilmington



Until 1/4: Holiday Lighting of the Battleship. Downtown Wilmington



12/31: New Year’s Eve Cruise aboard Henrietta III Riverboat, Downtown Wilmington



12/31: New Year's Noon Countdown. The Children's Museum, Downtown Wilmington

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Oh So Holly Holiday

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What's Happening THis Weekend in Wilmington NC and local beaches

What's Happening this Weekend in Wilmington NC

Wrightsville Beach Kite Festival is this Saturday and Sunday at Wrightsville Beach.. Enjoy all kinds of flying creatures at the beach. It is cool to see fish fly.... and huge kits flying over the beach houses.

Wanna be a star or at least an extra?  You can tryout downtown on Saturday and Sunday at the USO Center on 2nd Street. Fincannon will have extras sign up for background work for the last show to be filmed of One Tree Hill.. But don't worry there will be plenty of extra filming to come... You never know...

FUNDRAISER: 4th Annual Horseback Ride-A-Thon - Free Saturday...

Coastal Therapeutic Riding Program (CTRP)

3507 North Kerr Avenue

Wilmington, NC 28405

Website: http://www.coastalriding.org

The 4th Annual Horseback Ride-A-Thon at CTRP in Wilmington, NC, is a family-friendly event featuring music, a petting zoo, carnival games, face painting, food, and silent auction & raffle prizes from local businesses. Funds raised from this event provide riding lesson scholarships for special needs children and adults.
More Info:
Contact: Sarah Quinlan

Phone: (978) 609-3972

Email: coastalriding@gmail.com

Halloween Happenings this Weekend in Wilmington NC and local Beaches

If you are looking for something Spooky Halloween Happenings in Wilmington NC to do check out the following:

Panic Attack - with Holly wood style effects and makeup Panic attack has earned a reputation as a nightmare come to life. There are 2 haunnted house at 1290 S. 15th St with scary rooms such as Temple of Terror, Freak Farm and Sewer Escape. Tickets are $ 23 or $ 30 for a fast passs. Check it out at www.Panicattackhaunt.com

Carnival of Carnage - At New Hanover High Schools Luceum Academy - their annual haunted house fundraiser. My daughter went to this one last weekend and thought it was fun. ( She was too scared to go to Panic attack..)

This is behind the Steinmart in Hanover Center, across Oleander Drive from Independence Mall. Admissiion is $ 10. It is open all weekend.

The Ghost Ship... Haunted Battleship NC - tickets go onsale Friday and Sat nights at 6:30 and are only at the door at $10. each. The only haunted battleship on the east coast...www.battleshipnc.com

Wilmington #1 on the list of 10 cities where homes are on the market for the longest time..

The number of homes listed for sale in the largest cities in the country has fallen 20 percent in the past year, according to a report released last week by Realtor.com. While the number of homes on the market has dropped around the country, the average number of days that listed homes have been on the market has remained the same: 107 days.24/7 Wall St. has identified the 10 cities where homes are on the market for the longest time.
Cities Where Homes Will Not Sell- But think about it - there is not better time to buy.....When it comes to the housing crisis, foreclosures and home prices often dominate the headlines. Other information, however, is just as important to a complete understanding of the crisis. Chief among these is the amount of time that homes are on the market and whether the total inventory of available homes has changed. These are better indications of supply and demand than any other data.
#1 Wilmington, N.C., tops the list, with houses remaining on the market for 164 days. Compare that to a city in bad shape, like Detroit, where the number is only 65 days. Wilmington's figure is not necessarily a bad sign. A city where listed homes have been on the market for a long period may be one where many homeowners still believe there is a chance that they can make a sale. Detroit's figure is probably low because people are no longer listing their homes for sale due to a lengthy and depressed housing market.

Wilmington Neighborhoods: Whisper Creek

Whisper Creek currently is one of Wilmington's most desired family neighborhoods. It is leafy, low key, with spacious large tree lined yards. Each house has generally 1/3 to 1/2 acre lots. The houses are not new but are a combination of brick and newer siding treatments. There are a lot of kids in the neighborhood as the areas selected schools - Holly Tree, Roland Grise and Hoggard High school enjoy good school ratings. The houses range from $ 200K - 400K - just a little above the current average New Hanover County price ranges. Currently there are 7 houses for sale in the Whisper Creek subdivison ranging in price from $ 209K to $ 369K.

3 houses sold in the last year here selling for $ 95% of their listed value.

The subdivision has a lot going for it. It is :

15 minutes to Carolina Beach, 20 minutes to Wrightsville Beach

less than one mile to shopping and many take out restaurants

Very close to the area schools which are within 3 miles

has a nice city park right next to the neighborhood. The basic reason for this park was to create a pond that would be used to filter all the water from area properties before they enter Whisper Creek and then into Bradley Creek for eventual flow into the Intracoastal Waterway. This man made park has proved to be very useful to naturally cleanse the water of fertilizer and the like before it continues to the ICCW. The park has a large pond, walkway around its perimeter and 2 bridges, a covered eating area, playground and rest rooms. This hidden jewel is picturesque and very enjoyable for local residents. Let me show you some of the houses in this family friendly area!

What's Happening in Wilmington NC and local Beaches this Month

Looking for something to do this weekend - look NO further - Its Festival Time!!

All kinds of Festivals this weekend:

OCTOBERFEST: Wilmington's 10 annyal Oktoberfest -at the Racine Commons Shopping Center, 250 Racken Drive, Wilmington Admission 4 5.oo for more information check out

http://www.wilmingtonoktoberfest.com/ German food, beer and wiener dog races among other stuff.

Lighthouse Beer Festival - 3400 Randal Parkway. VIP passes - $ 45.00 with general damission for ages 21 and older is $ 35.oo./Designated drivers $ 13 but must be 21 years older also. Chance to sample feers from than 90 breweries. Live music included. http://www.lighthousebeerfestival.com/

NC OYSTER FESTIVAL - on Ocean Isle beach on 2nd street beside the Museum of Coastal Carolina. $5.00 http://www.ncoysterfestival.com/ Oysternshucking contest and Oyster Stew Cookoff.

50th Anniversity this weekend of Battleship NC

Battleship North Carolina documentary premiers Sunday on UNC-TV

Battleship North Carolina documentary premiers Sunday on UNC-TV

Where Have All the FORECLOSURES GONE??

Where Have All the Foreclosures Gone? by The KCM Crew on April 6, 2011

The inventory of foreclosed homes for sale has been dwindling for almost six months. Everyone is wondering if the worst of our challenges with distressed properties are behind us. We are sorry to report that isn’t the case. We must realize that the problems banks have experienced with their paperwork on these properties has done nothing but delay them from coming onto the market. The robo-signing blunders and then the MERS mess have caused the banks to slow down the foreclosure process dramatically. Just last week, the Office of Thrift Supervision released their Mortgage Metrics Report covering the 4th Quarter of 2010. In that report, they showed how foreclosure completions fell sharply because of these paperwork complications. Here are the numbers: Foreclosures are not disappearing. They are just being delayed. Bottom Line If you think that waiting to sell your home makes sense, you may not be correct. Check with a local real estate professional to see how this will impact your market.

Rental Costs are About to Takeoff

From KCM Bloggers: We are often asked whether it is better to rent or buy in the current housing market. The answer to that question is: “It all depends”. There are certain situations where renting short term probably makes sense. It may make sense if you are retiring to a different region of the country and are not yet sure where you want to set down roots for the next 25 years. It may make sense if you have a one year employment contract which will probably require a move to another place upon termination. However, in most other cases, renting right now makes little sense for several reasons. Even though prices may still soften, waiting to buy makes no sense as the cost of owning a home may still increase. Mortgages may soon become much more expensive than they are right now. Owning a home is less expensive than renting a home in 72% of major U.S. cities. Rental costs are about to explode.

Kure Beach NC - Beach views - you could be here..

This was a last Sunday morning at Kure Beach... What a place... serene, quiet, gorgous views - just fisherman and seagulls on the beach. The Kure Beach pier is in the distance where folks fish all day for a $ 5.00 fee. You could have these views too.

Where you are looking for a 2nd home or to relocate you should consider Kure Beach. It is not just a rental beach town there are permanent residents here that enjoy this beach community all year long. It is great for fishing, surfing, sunny, swimming and exploring. Let me know if you are interested...

Wilmington NC 64th Azalea Festival - Top 5 Events

The Azalea Festival has been named one of the top 20 events in the South. The weather is usually warm, the flowers are usually showy and the belles are beautiful. But you must know which are the best events to attend. As a 10 year attendee (this formerly Yankee) has taken the guess work out of the best of the Azalea Festival. Yes the Top 5 Azalea Festival Events to take place during this weeks 64th annual Azalea Festival are:

The Gardens - A must see they are the some of the most gorgeous gardens you will see. Water gardens and fountains, little rooms, walking paths - it all here.

This is the best of the best. For $ 20 you can get a whole day of gorgeous views out of this event.

The Parade - is a very fun event as it is very long and everyone in the area is in it - marching bands, floats with millions of princesses, clowns and even Queens.

The Street Fair is huge with music, great food and lots of vendors. Lots of greasy fried fattening food you might not eat all year long is here. Great fun...

The Circus - takes place at the airport but is a great 2 hour show with animals including elephants, aerial shows and all kinds of stunts.

The Historical House tour - here you can see why people want to live in the Historical District with its shady walks, big porches and close walk to the river and the downtown venues.

Its all waiting for you this weekend in Wilmington NC.. Don't miss out on this great event...

UPCOMING EVENTS - WILMINGTON NC AND LOCAL BEACHES

4/6-10: NC Azalea Festival *There are so many events this weekend, be sure to see the Azalea Festival website! 4/8-10: 29th Annual Wilmington Art Association Art Show & Sale, St. James Episcopal 4/9: Southport Easter Egg Hunt, Franklin Square Park Southport 4/16: 15th Annual Chowder Cookoff, Pleasure Island 4/16: Work on Wilmington, various locations 4/16: Oak Island Lighthouse 5K , 10K & 1 Mile Fun Run, Oak Island 4/19: Coastal Classic Celebrity Golf Tournament, Landfall 4/22: Battleship Easter Egg Hunt & Spring Carnival, Battleship NORTH CAROLINA 4/22-23: Southport Spring Festival, Franklin Square Park E. West Street, Southport 5/6: Airlie Concert Series Begins and lasts through October, Airlie Gardens 5/7: The Aquatic Safari Hunt, Wrightsville Beach 5/13-14: Relay For Life of Brunswick County, West Brunswick High School Shallotte, NC 5/15: Food & Wine Festival: Taste of Wilmington, various locations 5/20-22: 19th Annual Greek Festival, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church,Wilmington 6/3-6/4: Fisherman's Post Spring Inshore Challenge, Wrightsville Beach 6/4: 26th Annual Carolina Beach Music Festival, Pleasure Island 6/26: Kure Beach Double Sprint Triathlon, Kure Beach

NC AZALEA FESTIVAL GARDEN TOUR

The NC Azalea Garden Tour this year showcases a variety of styles and sizes -- truly picture perfect gardens. Bring your cameras!” The Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour© opens Friday, April 8 with the colorful Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Queen's Garden Party at Greenfield Lake where the idea of the NC Azalea Festival began. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony opening the 12-garden tour will take place in our "special garden" on the stage at the 900-seat Greenfield Lake Amphitheater at 1941 Amphitheater Drive. Greenfield Lake offers the perfect backdrop for Queen Azalea LXIV and her court to preside over the ceremony. Summerall Guards, the Citadel's elite senior drill team, escort 125 Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Belles© dressed in authentic antebellum gowns. Local and national celebrities are also present to celebrate the event. Following the ceremony, the Queen's Garden Party will occur at the world's largest Rotary Wheel across Amphitheater Drive from the Amphitheater. Cape Fear Garden Club members will serve refreshments and hundreds of homemade cookies. The UNCW Brass Ensemble will present musical entertainment from the gazebo at the Wheel's center. All Wilmington Rotary Clubs have worked tirelessly beautifying the Rotary Wheel area for this event and for the community. Cape Fear Garden Club participated in the beautification work, including a grant for the irrigation of new plantings. The 234 Encore Azaleas planted inside the cogs of the wheel are a gift from Buddy Lee, the developer of Encore Azaleas. Garden 1 on the tour is the Fragrance Garden adjacent to the Amphitheater. The Fragrance Garden was established by the Cape Fear Garden Club during the 1960's and is maintained by the City of Wilmington. In this and in the private gardens on tour, Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Belles© will add color and beauty for your tour of the "Picture Perfect Gardens." Tickets are available beginning January 25, 2011 through the Cape Fear Garden Club’s web site at www.azaleagardentour.org and at the NC Azalea Festival Office, 5725 Oleander Drive, 910-794-4650. Tickets also will be available at Belk, local garden centers and other local businesses. Group discounts are available. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Good all three days, the ticket includes a map for a self-guided tour with descriptions of each garden. Gardens are open 10 am to 6 pm daily. Tickets include free admission to the exquisite Airlie Gardens on Saturday, April 9.

Wilmington NC - Love Fresh Veggies - Farmers Markets to Open

Who doesn't love fresh baked breads, freshly grown veggies and flowers? Here 's your chance to get them right in your own town - Wilmington NC!! Area chefs and foodies have an abundance of riches with the choice of three different farmers markets for their gastronomic pleasure during the year. And it starts this weekend. Saturday brings April showers but also the start of Farmers Market season to Wilmington. The grandaddy of area farmers markets opens on the Riverfront for a “Preview Day” this April 2 It takes the next weekend off for Azalea Festival but will then be open April 16, thru December 17, with the best of area farmers products. Here’s how Wilmington describes its famers market: “The Riverfront Market was developed to provide a place for local growers, producers, artisans and crafters to sell their goods directly to consumers, to educate consumers about local farming and seasonal eating, to encourage and promote the use of locally grown farm products and to enhance quality of life in Greater Wilmington by providing a community activity that fosters social gathering and interaction.” It’s more than just food! Wrightsville Beach opens its market the following month on Monday May 2. It will run thru September 5. You can find it across from the Old Post Office. Carolina Beach will open its market May 14, and will be there thru the end of the year. Look for it near the Boardwalk. All three markets are open from 8 am to 1 pm. Carolina Beach and Wilmington are on Saturday. But note, Wrightsville is open on Monday. Come on down and get some fresh produce, fruits, breads, meats and more!!

Azalea Festival Wilmington NC - Historical Home Tour

A Historic Home Tour put on by the Historic Wilmington Foundation. will take place during the Azalea Festival. Self-guided tour throughout some of Wilmington's finest homes. Saturday, April 9 from 1 pm - 6 pm and Sunday, April 10 from 1 pm to 5 pm. Tickets are $25 each. Groups of 10 are available for $22 each. Children 12 and under are free with a ticketed adult. Come and see Wilmington's finest historical homes on tour...

historical homes wilmington nc

Condo 1 block to WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH - $ 179900.

Want a beach condo? Here is a super deal - foreclosure -1 bedroom, 1 block over the bridge to Wrightsville Beach.
And what a location - walk to all the good stuff on the beach - Kohls for ice cream, the WB boat slips, restaurants everything anyone could want at the beach.. Sun, sand and surf.. waiting for you... Good price, good deal.

Market Update: CAROLINA BEACH AND KURE BEACH

Lots of deals right now at Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. IRC just had a price drop of $ 50 K on an oceanfront home. It is now priced at $ 525K for oceanfront. These are 2003 or earlier prices. In 2005 this would've have been closer to a 1 million dollar asking price.

Buy now for investment and future enjoyment - prices will never be this low again.

Carolina & Kure Beaches - There are currently 395 single family homes for sale and this represents little change from February 1, 2011 and 8.4% of our total WRAR inventory. The average list price is $381,410 and decrease of about $8,596 from February. In February there were 18 homes sold, divide that by the homes available and you have a 21.9 monthly supply of homes in Carolina and Kure Beach. The average sold price for the month of February was $266,633 and is up $35,680 from last month. When we look at a rolling 12 months for Carolina & Kure Beach we are up by 66 units and our sold prices are down 7.2% from the previous rolling 12 months.

Info provided by David Flory of Cunningham Mort in Wilmington

For listings and more see www.welcometothebeach.com and www.wilmingtonbeachhomes.com

NC Azalea Festival - April 6-10 2011

The 64 th NC Azalea Festival is scheduled to take place during April 6 - 10,2010. Set the time aside to take in the Wilmington sights during this spectacular spring festival. There will be a huge parade with all kinds of queens and princesses, horses, bands and floats. Among the events are a huge street fair with 200 vendors, lots of food vendors, fireworks, art show, garden tour and historical house tour. There really is something for everyone so put this on your calendar and be prepared to come to Wilmington for a great time. More details to follow about this event among the 20 in the south according to Southern Living magazine. For more information about the schedule you can see www.ncazealfestival.org. www.welcometothebeach.com will also have more details coming about the events.

What's Happening In WIlmington NC and Beaches - ST. Patricks Day Parade

There is always something to do in Wilmington NC and local beaches. See list here for Saturday and don't forget the St Patricks Day Parade in Downtown Wilmington and don't forget to wear your green..

Brewery Tour, Fun, Front Street Brewery, Downtown Wilmington, 3 pm, FREE

Mulligan's Wake Comedy Dinner Theater, Theater, Front Street Brewery, Downtown Wilmington, 6:30 pm, $40/$20 Kids

Featured Exhibit: Photography in Focus, Arts, Cape Fear Museum, Downtown Wilmington, Admission

Book Club, Kids, Children's Museum, Downtown Wilmington, 3:30 pm, Admission

African-American Quilts, Arts, Cameron Art Museum, Midtown Wilmington, 11 to 5 pm, Admission

Colour Culture, Big Hop and Poe Mack, Music, 16 Taps, Downtown Wilmington

DJ Dane Britt, Music, Hell's Kitchen, Downtown Wilmington, 10 pm, No Cover

Biutiful, Film, Thalian Hall, Downtown Wilmington, 7:30 to 10 pm, $7

Firedancers & Drum Circle, Music, Juggling Gypsy, Midtown Wilmington

Gallery Conversations, Arts, Cameron Art Museum, Midtown Wilmington, 3 to 4 pm, Admission

Ghost Walk, Tour, Riverfront Park, Downtown Wilmington, 6:30 to 8 pm, $12/$10

Hollywood Location Walk, Tour, Riverfront Park, Downtown Wilmington, 2 pm, $12/$10

Karaoke, Music, YoSake Sushi Lounge, Downtown Wilmington, 10:30 pm

Kids Cooking Club: Storybook Series, Kids, Children's Museum, Downtown Wilmington, 11 am, Admission

Little Dog Laughed (opening week), Theater, City Stage Theatre, Downtown Wilmington, 8 pm, $18/$14

Bertha Todd Book Reading, Books, Two Sisters Bookery, Downtown Wilmington, 5 to 6 pm, Free

Remembering BIG, Arts, Cameron Art Museum, Midtown Wilmington, 11 am to 5 pm, $8

Songwriters Showcase, Music, Live on Grace, Downtown Wilmington, 7:30 to 11, No Cover

Sourvein, Music, Soapbox, Downtown Wilmington, 8 pm Doors/ 9 pm Show, $8/$10

Wilmington Writers Forum, Literary, Bottega, Downtown Wilmington, 9 pm

Wine Tasting, Fun, Wine Sampler, Midtown Wilmington, Noon to 8 pm, Free

Wine Tasting, Fun, Treehouse Bistro, Carolina Beach, 6 to 8 pm, $12/$10
Friday, March 11, 2011

Brewery Tour, Fun, Front Street Brewery, Downtown Wilmington, 3 pm, FREE

Featured Exhibit: Photography in Focus, Arts, Cape Fear Museum, Downtown Wilmington, Admission

Art of the Table, Arts, Bellamy Mansion Museum , Downtown Wilmington, 10 am to 5 pm, $15/$25/$75

Belly Dancing, Dance, Arabian Nights Hookah Cafe, Midtown Wilmington, 10 pm

Bellydance Showcase Vatra Gitana, Dance, Juggling Gypsy, Midtown Wilmington

Boulevard of Dreams, Theater, Hannah Block Historic USO, Downtown Wilmington, 7 pm

Adventures in Art, Kids, Children's Museum, Downtown Wilmington, 3:30 pm, Pre Register

D&D Sluggers, Music, Soapbox, Downtown Wilmington, 9 Doors/10 Show, $3/$6 Under 21

DJ Dane Britt, Music, Beach House Bar & Grill, Ogden & Porters Neck, 10 pm til, No Cover

Dueling Pianos, Music, Hell's Kitchen, Downtown Wilmington, 9 pm, No Cover

Extended Behind the Scenes Tour, Kids, NC Aquarium, Kure Beach, 2 to 4 pm, $20/$18/$12

African-American Quilts, Arts, Cameron Art Museum, Midtown Wilmington, 11 to 5 pm, Admission

Galumpha, Dance, Thalian Hall, Downtown Wilmington, 8 pm, $25/$20/$14

Ghost Walk, Tour, Riverfront Park, Downtown Wilmington, 6:30 to 8 pm, $12/$10

Gibson Brothers (bluegrass), Music, Soapbox, Downtown Wilmington, 6 pm Doors/7 pm Show, $12/$14

Haunted Pub Crawl, Tour, Black Cat Shoppe, Downtown Wilmington, 7:30 pm, $15+Grog

Little Dog Laughed (opening week), Theater, City Stage Theatre, Downtown Wilmington, 8 pm, $18/$14

Live Music, Music, Treehouse Bistro, Carolina Beach, 8 to 10 pm

Nathan K, Music, Projekte artistic studio, Downtown Wilmington

Parent's Night Out, Kids, Carolina Gymnastics, Midtown Wilmington, 6 to 10 pm, $6.25

Remembering BIG, Arts, Cameron Art Museum, Midtown Wilmington, 11 am to 5 pm, $8

The Noseriders, Music, Goat & Compass, Downtown Wilmington, 9:30 pm, No Cover

Toddler Time, Kids, Children's Museum, Downtown Wilmington, 10:30 am, Admission

UNCW vs Northeastern (baseball), Sports, Brooks Field, University Area, 4 pm

Velvet Jane, Music, Remedies Bar, Ogden & Porters Neck, 9 pm Doors

Wine Tasting, Fun, Divine Wines, County South, 4 to 7 pm, Free

Wine Tasting, Fun, Wilmington Wine, Downtown Wilmington, 4 t 8 pm, Free

Wine Tasting, Fun, Wine Sampler, Midtown Wilmington, Noon to 9 pm, Free
Saturday, March 12, 2011

Brewery Tour, Fun, Front Street Brewery, Downtown Wilmington, 3 pm, FREE

Featured Exhibit: Photography in Focus, Arts, Cape Fear Museum, Downtown Wilmington, Admission

Learning Center: Picture the Past, Kids, Cape Fear Museum, Downtown Wilmington, 1 to 4 pm, Admission

Asylum Gothic Nite, Music, Juggling Gypsy, Midtown Wilmington

Ballroom Dancing, Dance, New Hanover County Senior Center, Midtown Wilmington, Lesson 6:45/Dance 7:30 to 10, $10/$8/$5/$3

Belly Dancing, Dance, Arabian Nights Hookah Cafe, Midtown Wilmington, 10 pm

Boulevard of Dreams, Theater, Hannah Block Historic USO, Downtown Wilmington, 7 pm

African-American Quilts, Arts, Cameron Art Museum, Midtown Wilmington, 11 to 5 pm, Admission

Contra Dance, Dance, Fifth Ave. United Methodist Church, Downtown Wilmington, 7:30 to 11 pm, $7/$10/$5

Daddy and Me, Kids, NC Aquarium, Kure Beach, 9 to 10 am, $13/$4.50

Dueling Pianos, Music, Hell's Kitchen, Downtown Wilmington, 9 pm, No Cover

Aquarist Apprentice, Kids, NC Aquarium, Kure Beach, 2 to 4:30 pm, $25/$23/$17

Ghost Walk, Tour, Riverfront Park, Downtown Wilmington, 6:30 to 8 pm, $12/$10

Green Day as tribute to Minnie Evans, Arts, Airlie Gardens, Lumina & Mayfaire, 9 am to 5 pm, Free

Greenhouse Tour, Nature, Arboretum of New Hanover, Midtown Wilmington, All Day, Free

Harpist Suzanne Cook, Music, Pomegranate Books, Midtown Wilmington, 2 to 4 pm, Free

Haunted Pub Crawl, Tour, Black Cat Shoppe, Downtown Wilmington, 7:30 pm, $15+Grog

Hollywood Location Walk, Tour, Riverfront Park, Downtown Wilmington, 2 pm, $12/$10

L Shape Lot, Music, Crow Hill, Downtown Wilmington, 9 to midnite, No Cover

Art of the Table, Arts, Bellamy Mansion Museum , Downtown Wilmington, 10 am to 5 pm, $15/$25/$75

Little Dog Laughed (opening week), Theater, City Stage Theatre, Downtown Wilmington, 8 pm, $18/$14

Live Music, Music, Treehouse Bistro, Carolina Beach, 8 to 10 pm

Movie Studio Tour, Tour, EUE Screen Gems Studios, Midtown Wilmington, Noon & 2 pm, $12/$10/$8/$5

Music Club, Kids, Children's Museum, Downtown Wilmington, 10 am, Pre Register

Parent's Night Out, Kids, Carolina Gymnastics, Midtown Wilmington, 6 to 10 pm, $6.25

Perry Smith & Transtrum, Music, Goat & Compass, Downtown Wilmington, 9 pm til, No Cover

Remembering BIG, Arts, Cameron Art Museum, Midtown Wilmington, 11 am to 5 pm, $8

Rio Bravo (indie rock), Music, Soapbox, Downtown Wilmington, 8 pm Doors/ 9 pm Show, 8 pm Doors/ 9 pm Show

St Patricks Day Festival & Parade, Fun, Riverfront Park, Downtown Wilmington, 12:00 noon to 7:00 pm, Free

The Dielectrics, Music, Soapbox, Downtown Wilmington, 9 pm Doors/ 10 pm Show, $5/$8

UNCW vs Northeastern (baseball), Sports, Brooks Field, University Area, 2 pm

Wine Tasting, Fun, Wine Sampler, Midtown Wilmington, Noon to 5 pm, Free

Wilmington NC Named to BUILDER MAGAZINE TOP 20 Housing Markets

Wilmington, NC named to Builder Magazine Top 20 Real Estate Markets-#16
Market Health Indicator: 65.0
2011 Building Permit Forecast: 2,578
Percent Change in Building Permits: 41%
Economic conditions in Wilmington, a coastal town with low-paying jobs and above-average unemployment, may not seem that great to locals. But the town's stabilizing economy and inexpensive housing for a beach town (the median price of a home is only $171,000) make it look pretty good to outsiders. Wilmington continues to enjoy some of the strongest population growth in the country--2% annually for the last several years.
The good news for locals is that business is picking up; it helped drive a slight increase in non-farm employment last year. Business analysts believe the region's low business costs, diverse industrial base, and desirable living environment, augur well for strong growth in years ahead.
Unfortunately, Wilmington's unemployment rate is expected to recede slowly, due in part to the influx of new people looking for work. Median home prices, which peaked at $221,000 in 2006, had fallen only 27% to $171,000 through last year. They are expected to remain at about that level for the next two years. Building permit activity rose 22% last year, and it's expected to rise twice as fast this year.

What Happening in WIlmington NC this Month

3/5: A Bark in the Park Leland Municipal Complex Park, 102 Town Hall Drive Leland
3/5: 18th Annual Wilmington Garden Show, CFCC Schwartz Center
3/5: 4th Annual Scales & Tails, Fort Fisher
3/6: Taste of Southport, Southport Community Building 910/457-7927 or 910/279-4616
3/12: 11th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, Downtown Wilmington
3/17-3/20: " Around the World in 80 Days" Thalian Hall Main Stage
3/18-3/20: 3rd Annual Cape Fear Wildlife Expo, Wilmington Convention Center
3/19: “ Sea Leland” Two hour cruise around area waterways with discussion of the area Rice Culture, Liberty Ships and other historical points.
3/19: 6th Annual Steve Haydu St. Patricks Lo-Tide Run, Downtown Carolina Beach
3/19-3/20: 32nd Annual Coastal Living Show, CFCC Schwartz Center
3/20: Quintiles Wrightsville Beach Marathon, Wrightsville Beach
3/23-3/30: Encore Restaurant Week 2011
2/27: 8th Annual Antique Appraisal Fair, Southport

SELLERS FARE BETTER WITH AGENTS....

Survey: Sellers Fare Better With Agents
Sellers have a better chance at getting their house sold by using a REALTOR® than opting for the do-it-yourself approach, according to a survey of 1,000 homeowners by HomeGain.com, an online real estate resource. In the survey, -Nearly 60 percent of homeowners who used a REALTOR® to sell their home were successful compared to 39 percent of FSBOs. -83 percent of homeowners said they used a REALTOR® to sell their home, whereas 17 percent said they tried to sell it themselves. “It is especially striking that homeowners fare significantly better in selling their homes using a REALTOR® than selling on their own,” says Louis Cammarosano, general manager at HomeGain. “Due to that relative success, the level of satisfaction in the home selling process is also higher for home sellers utilizing the services of a REALTOR® than those who try to sell their homes on their own.” Among the findings in its For Sale by Owner vs. REALTOR® survey: -88 percent of homeowners who sold their homes using a REALTOR® said they would use a REALTOR® again. -24 percent of FSBOs eventually contacted a REALTOR® to help sell their home. Source: NAR

Spring has Sprung in Wilmington NC

Check out these gorgeous spring blooms right down the block from me.... This home always has dozens of daffodils to see. It is such a welcome sight after a long and chilly winter.

Wilmington Neighborhoods: Woodberry Forest

Are you looking for that perfect family friendly neighborhood? Well here it is in Woodberry Forest. It is located in mid town Wilmington and is a great location whether you are considering shopping, schools, access to roads, or the beach. It is just 20 minutes to everywhere. 20 minutes to shopping, schools and the beaches. It is a large subdivision with well built roomy homes great for families. You can find the rambling large 4-5 bedroom home with frogs(finished rooms over the garage) here or small one floor brick ranchers. There is a great selection of homes for sale here. The schools are very good - Hoggard, Roland Grise and Holly Tree. Most children in the neighborhood can walk or bike to Holly tree which is rare today.

There is a tennis club very close with a pool and many courts for people to join.

The wide streets support the many walkers and dog walkers who enjoy the Carolina Blue skies... You can too. Let me know and I will help you find your dream home..

What's Happening this Saturday in Wilmington NC

Lots Happening this Weekend in Wilmington, NC: Check it out and come to town....


Saturday, February 19, 2011

Brewery Tour, Fun, Front Street Brewery, Downtown Wilmington, 3 pm, FREE

Featured Exhibit: Photography in Focus, Fun, Cape Fear Museum, Downtown Wilmington, Admission

Learning Center: Astronomy Adventures, Kids, Cape Fear Museum, Downtown Wilmington, 1 to 4 pm, Admission

African-American Quilts from Montgomery FA, Arts, Cameron Art Museum, Midtown Wilmington, 11 to 5 pm, Admission

Crackers Comedy Tour, Comedy, Nutt St. Comedy Room, Downtown Wilmington, 7 pm Doors/8 pm Show, $7

Dueling Pianos, Music, Hell's Kitchen, Downtown Wilmington, 9 pm, No Cover

Aquarist Apprentice, Kids, NC Aquarium, Kure Beach, 2 pm, Preregister

Firepower Program (in depth), History, Battleship North Carolina, Downtown Wilmington, 9 am to 4 pm, $95/85

Foodies Tour with Liz Biro, Tour, Liz Biro Foodies Walk, Downtown Wilmington, 2:30 to 5:30 pm, $38

Fraktured Faery Tales for a Mid-Winters Eve, Theater, Thalian Hall, Downtown Wilmington, 3 pm & 8 pm, $11

Full Moon Goddess Gala, Fun, Projekte artistic studio, Downtown Wilmington, 2 to 5 pm, $5

Ghost Walk, Tour, Riverfront Park, Downtown Wilmington, 6:30 pm, $12/$10

Haunted Pub Crawl, Tour, Black Cat Shoppe, Downtown Wilmington, 7:30 pm, $15+Grog

His Girl Friday, Theater, Brown Coat Theater, Downtown Wilmington, 8 pm, $10

Hollywood Location walk, Tour, Riverfront Park, Downtown Wilmington, 2 pm, $12/$10

Hospital Dancing, Music, Soapbox, Downtown Wilmington, 9 pm Doors, No Cover

Jazz with Joe Tese, Music, Costellos, Downtown Wilmington, 10 pm, No Cover

Kids@CAM, Kids, Cameron Art Museum, Midtown Wilmington, Noon to 3 pm, $3/$5

Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (opening weekend), Theater, Thalian Hall, Downtown Wilmington, 8 pm, $25

Live Music, Music, Treehouse Bistro, Carolina Beach, 8 to 10 pm, No Cover

Lobby Hero, Theater, Red Barn Theater, Downtown Wilmington, 8 pm, $27/$25

Mommy and Me, Kids, NC Aquarium, Kure Beach, 9 am, Preregister

Movie Studio Tour, Tour, EUE Screen Gems Studios, Midtown Wilmington, Noon & 2 pm, $12/$10/$8/$5

NC Jazz Festival concert, Music, Hilton Riverside Inn, Downtown Wilmington, 7:30 to 11:30 pm, $50/$25/$15

Parent's Night Out, Kids, Carolina Gymnastics, Midtown Wilmington, 6 to 10 pm, $6.25

Polar Plunge (for Special Olympics), celebration, Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Carolina Beach, 11 am Doors/3:05 plunge, Donation

Remembering BIG, Arts, Cameron Art Museum, Midtown Wilmington, 11 am to 5 pm, $8

Shinobi Ninja, Music, Soapbox, Downtown Wilmington, 8 pm Doors, $8 Adv/$10 Day Of

Story Tellers Open Mic, Literary, Old Books on Front, Downtown Wilmington, 7 to 9 pm, Free

Susan Werner, Music, Thalian Hall, Downtown Wilmington, varied, $25

The Sound Down Shore, Music, Juggling Gypsy, Midtown Wilmington

Threepenny Opera, Theater, City Stage Theatre, Downtown Wilmington, 8 pm, $24/16

UNCW basketball ESPN Bracket Buster, Sports, Trask Coliseum, University Area, TBA

UNCW vs Jacksonville (baseball), Sports, Brooks Field, University Area, 2 pm

Wine Tasting, Fun, Wine Sampler, Midtown Wilmington, Noon to 5 pm, Free

Carolina Beach, NC and Kure Beach, NC - Market Update

Looking for a beach house, 2nd home or investment property?

This could be your view year round but you need to know a little about our market here before you buy. Consider the following:

There are currently 387 single family homes for sale and this represents little change from January 1, 2011 and 8.2% of our total WRAR inventory. The average list price is $390,006 and decrease of about $12,624 from January. In January there were 21 homes sold, divide that by the homes available and you have a 18.4 monthly supply of homes in Carolina and Kure Beach. The average sold price for the month of January was $230,953 and is down $37,893 from last month. When we look at a rolling 12 months for Carolina & Kure Beach we are up by 61 units and our sold prices are down 7.1% from the previous rolling 12 months.
Information collected by David Flory of Cunningham Mortgage Company.

Wilmington NC: Hollywood Production Buzzing in Town

With gorgeous locations such as these including the beaches why would Wilmington be left out by the film community? They haven't been especially since the NC legislature increased the incentives for films. Wilmington is booming with Hollywood film production teams. Of course we have One Tree Hill in town for filming their 8 th season. We do hope they will be back for their #9th season. They bring lots of money to town in terms of purchasing and spending power not to mention the number of people they employ in the general area and the " Star power" to boot including the Rock among other stars in town for the work.

We do have a number of films starting up in the area. At EUE/Screen Gems Studios the 3D feature " Journey 2: THe Mysterious Island" is in full production. The Warner Brothers Studios/ABC Family Movie titled "Cinderella Story" is filming in town this month. Also a new television show "playing with Guns" will have its trucks moving cameras and other equipment around town.

I did get calls from one production assistant to help with location shots for some filming. They scout locations all over Wilmington for shots. This is an exciting time for our area...

WILMINGTON NEIGHBORHOODS - HISTORIC WILMINGTON

These gorgeous old specimens are part of a downtown Wilmington area known as the Historic area. This area comprises many city square blocks with old historic homes. Many are very well maintained and have been lovingly cared for and updated through the years. The yellow house pictured was the scene of the movie CAPE FEAR which was almost entirely filmed on its porch. These grand ole dames are well sought after for filming and tv shows as they have great film potential. One of the B& B's on 7 th street had a room where Oprah picked the wall paper. Kinda of an odd bit of nostalgia but true according to these owners. If you interested in the purchase of these older homes you be aware of old construction, electrical wiring, etc. You need to conform to guidelines established for any renovation on these old beauties set forth by the Wilmington Historical Society. You must adhere to their rules for house color selection, window design and almost any kind of renovation that you plan to make to houses in this designated area. These houses tend to beautiful but are very costly to maintain. They are well recognized in the community by their use in the Azalean Historical home tour, Historical Wilmington candlelight home tour, secret garden tourand Kitchen tour. These old ladies are very grand but are very large by todays standards and many represent craftsmanship rarely available today.

WILMINGTON NC REAL ESTATE UPDATE: FORECLOSED PROPERTIES TO HIT MARKET THIS SPRING

Get ready for a burst of foreclosed homes hitting the market this spring.
After holding back for a while, the big banks and Fannie Mae "will take their fingers out of the dam" that's holding back the huge volume of foreclosed homes, national real estate guru and speaker Steve Harney said this week.
It's a way that, from time to time, the enormous supply of bank-owned real estate can be brought to market without destroying the market, he said.
It's a view shared by Intracoastal Realty President Jim Wallace.
Prices will fall here in the quarter beginning in April as those foreclosed homes hit an already weak market, he said, and they won't make it back to present levels until this time next year.
Harney, who was in town to speak to Intracoastal agents, and Wallace sat down this week at the real estate firm's corporate offices to discuss the struggling housing market in terms both sobering and hopeful.
For example, "A house that was priced on the water for over $1 million sold for $500,000," Wallace said, though he wouldn't give the location.
Both men repeated the old real estate saw, "It's never been a better time to buy a home," but this time the agents and their bosses really mean it.
Why? Selection, price and interest rates, both Wallace and Harney said.
At the height of the boom in 2005, there were 900 homes on the market here, Wallace said. Today there are 3,000. And, the ones that are selling now have 2003 prices, he said.
If buyers are waiting on the fence, they should consider rising interest rates.
"If interest rates go from 4.5 to 6 percent, (buyers) have lost 20 percent of their buying power," Wallace continued.
Also, lenders have loosened up on requirements to qualify for a mortgage, Harney said.
Wallace said that homeowners who lose on the selling side will make it up on the buying side.
One of the reason that sales and prices in the Wilmington area have slid is "because people in the Northeast have been historically one of our main buying elements," Wallace said. "They haven't been able to sell their homes."
But he said that the latest measure of consumer confidence was the highest since May. "That's because other areas of the economy are improving and that will translate into letting them sell their houses," he said.
When they sell, however, they'll get less for their homes than they once thought, and when they come here they'll be buying less expensive houses than they once would have, Wallace said.
Houses priced above $300,000 have been hit the hardest here, he said. "The lower priced houses have really been the strongest market in the last several years." There are, however, "some encouraging signs in the upper end now," he continued.
"The fastest growing segment of the real estate market in the U.S. is homes that are selling for more than $1 million. People are more confident that the market is turning," Wallace said. "And they are really savvy buyers, so they realize that we are at or very near the bottom."
Though prices are weak, Harney said we are in a run-up in sales across the country, and he foresees eight straight quarters of increases that began in the fourth quarter of 2010.
"There is no question that there's a lot of cash on the sideline, and while the sales are not as brisk as we'd like," Wallace said, "last year we sold 2,662 houses in New Hanover County. That's a lot of homes.
It's still less than half of what it was in 2005, "but some people think it's a good time to buy."
Wallace admitted that some attribute his optimism to his position as a head of a major brokerage here.
But then he cited John Paulson, the hedge fund trader who scored hugely when he bet against real estate in 2006. "He said it was a bubble," Wallace said.
About a month ago, however, Paulson was giving a speech at New York University" and Wallace quoted him. "He said ?this the best time to buy a house in 50 years. If you don't own a home, buy; if you own a home, buy another one; and, if you can, buy a third. Loan money to your relatives so they can buy a house.'
"A guy who is that savvy is telling you that it's the bottom," Wallace continued, "It's pretty believable because he had it right the first time when it was going down."
Wayne Faulkner: 343-2329

Where are HOUSING PRICES HEADED???

Where Are Housing Prices Headed?
by The KCM Crew on January 28, 2011 · 1 comment
in For Buyers,For Sellers,Pricing


The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has been reporting great news recently. Last week’s Existing Home Sales Report and yesterday’s Pending Sales Report both showed consecutive months of increases in the number of homes sold. Finally, buyers are jumping off the fence and taking advantage of one of the most opportune times to purchase a home in America’s real estate history. With an increase in demand, price appreciation can’t be far behind, can it?
Actually, the answer is NO! Prices are not determined by demand alone but in the relationship of demand to available supply. The inventory of homes for sale is still too high and about to surge higher. Along with the news of increased demand yesterday, RealtyTrac released their 2010 Year-End Metropolitan Foreclosure Market Report. The report showed that distressed properties across the country are on the rise:
… foreclosure levels remained five to 10 times higher than historic norms in most hard-hit markets, where deep fault lines of risk remain and could potentially trigger more waves of foreclosure activity in 2011 and beyond.
The report also explained that the foreclosure epidemic is spreading to more and more of our communities:
… foreclosures became more widespread in 2010 as high unemployment drove activity up in 72 percent of the nation’s metro areas — many of which were relatively insulated from the initial foreclosure tsunami.
(Attention KCM Subscribers: The January issue of Keeping Current Matters has the ‘shadow inventory’ of homes coming to the market broken down by state. Use the chart when talking to sellers about future prices in your region. Click here to login.)
What does this mean for prices?
Here are a few quotes from this week.
Washington Post:
The closely watched S&P/Case-Shiller report shows that housing prices, compared year-over-year, have declined nationally for six consecutive months. The downward path suggests that housing prices could, by spring, hit their lowest level since April 2009, said David Blitzer, the index committee’s chairman.
New York Times:
A new slide in housing prices has begun in earnest, with averages in major cities across the country falling to their lowest point in many years.
CNN Money:
Barclay’s Bank analyst Theresa Chen doesn’t expect a reversal in housing market trends any time soon, since there is no end in sight to the foreclosure crisis.
“We expect softness to persist,” she said, “as home prices continue to face headwinds from the large pipeline of foreclosures entering the market.”
Housing Wire:
“… we believe that home prices will continue to weaken on a month-over-month basis until spring, and a year-over-year basis through the end of 2011,” the Radar Logic said.
Bottom Line
Prices will continue to soften in the first half of 2011 in most regions of the country. This information should be taken into consideration if you plan on selling your house in the next twelve months.
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