School Starts Today In Wi mington NC and local BEACHEsS

Schools buses began their rounds today as schools in Wilmington, NC, New Hanover county started 2010-2011 season. With schools starting parents may be looking for after school activities for kids. Here are a few of them:

The Y Pool on S. College has 10 passes for $ 30.00. It is still warm enough to swim and if you don't want to hit the beach after school this is an alternative.

You could go to the Paint N Play Ceramic Studio for the artist in your family. On 1021 South Kerr Ave, you can paint your own pottery in the studio.

The Children's Museum of Wilmington has a Fetch Challenge today from 3:30 to 3:30. Check their website for more information and lots more activities for after school and toddler classes. http://www.playwilmington.org/.

WILMINGTON, NC - STATUS MARKET - JULY 2010

Strong buyers market continues...

Due to the First Time Home Buyer increase in sales, a lot of these sales were pushed up and people that might have been planning to buy in July moved up their purchase to coincide with the tax credit. In the month of July we saw a decrease of 125 homes in our listing inventory, we have 5,604 homes on the market as of August 1st. This continues to put us in a strong buyer’s market with a listing inventory of over a 16.0 month supply. With the low sales in July this affects our month supply with a change of 5 months from last month. Our average list price has stayed below the $400,000 range for eleven months; we are currently at $377,052. In July we saw a decrease in our seller concessions, it is now 21.7%. Our average days on the market are 121. This is the first monthly decline in the number of homes sold when compared to previous year. The number of sold homes is down 32.3% from last month and down 22.2% from July 2009. Last month we had 517 sold units and this month only 350 sold units, last year in July we had 450 sold units.

In July we saw our first decrease in listing inventory of 125 units. We are about 204 units over August 1, 2009. We have 5,604 single family homes for sale in our MLS. The average list price of $377,052 is down by $3,515 from last month. The average list price has decreased by 8.1% from August 1, 2009.

Market Absorption rate – The number of homes sold in July, 350 divided by the current listing inventory, 5,604 gives us an 16.0 month supply of single family homes. This increased by 5.0 months from last month. We need to get this inventory back under 12 months. With rates where they are and plenty of inventory; we can get this number down.

Mortgage rates are the historically lowest they have been. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.44% with an average 0.7 points for the week ending August 12, 2010. We are now hitting historic lows in mortgage rates. Call me so I can show you or your clients how they can get the benefit of these rates. Information supplied by David Flory of Cunningham Mortgage.

According to David:

Despite all the media comments about our markets we are still lending money for residential mortgages. If a client has income and credit and some sort of down payment; they can get a mortgage. It goes to the basic three C’s – Capacity, Collateral and Character.

David Flory NMLS #91592

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

Weird Happenings on Intracoastal Waterway and Masonboro Island, NC

Kinda crazy question if you don’t know what Masonboro Island is? It is a nature conservancy that is a series of islands in the middle of the Intracoastal waterway just south of Wrightsville Beach. People go to sun, go to surf on the ocean side of the island, relax with friends or swim in the Intracoastal.
I have a friend who sets out crab traps near Masonboro and if she is lucky dinner is waiting when she paddles out to see what is caught in her trap.

These guys on this boat travel all over the Intracoastal with their floating bar. You can get right on this boat and get a drink ( if you are of age – of course) and enjoy a little cruise while sipping your favorite drink. Yes they did have to show off and flash me (top only) when I snapped their picture one day while doing an open house at Wrightsville Beach. But this is one of the unique things you will find here- a floating drinking hole right in the middle of Intracoastal Waterway.

The REEF SWEETWATER SURF COMPETITION AT WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH

The Reef Sweetwater Surf Competition was held at Wrightsville Beach several weeks ago. Crowds love the high caliber of surfing at the show.
Surfers from many states and coasts attended and some of the best in the country and our best local competitors took part.
The neatest part was that the production of the event was a “green event”. The event was run on Solar Power – how cool.. Lots of people lounged on the beach while the best local and national surfers worked their magic. Even young kids 7 on up participated. The day was overcast so the sun did not beat down on the competitors and spectators. It was a great sporting event to watch.

What's Happening This Weekend in Wilmington, Nc and Local Beaches

Carolina Beach Boat basin is pictured on the left. This Weekend in CB you can attend the Friday Night Band concert at the Boardwalk. Also there is the Farmers Market on the Lake from 9 -1 pm.

On Sunday at the Boardwalk is the movie - " Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs". It is almost like going to a drive in movie in the old days. Kids love these outdoor movies.

The Wilmington Downtown Riverwalk is pictured on the right.

You can go to the Downtown Sundown Series Band - tonite there is the Breakfast Club tribute band at 7pm.

Downtown also has its usual Farmers Market on the Riverwalk on Saturday from 9 to 1 .

All kinds of farmers attend and bring everything from flowers to meat and fish for taste and purchase.

Don't forget the Beaches - Wrightsville , Carolina and Kure Beach... Great ways to spend your weekends and escape the summer heat.

TAKE A WALKING TOUR OF WILMINGTON NC

WHY NOT TAKE A WALKING TOUR OF WILMINGTON?? It is a chance to see firsthand the spectacular architecture and building styles of the town and hear about what made them so special. It is very interesting to get some background on some of these things and find out why they are here…. Take a walk….
GHOST WALK OF OLD WILMINGTON: Held 6:30 to 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday, the Ghost Walk departs from Water and Market streets. The cost is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, students and those in the military and free for children 6 and younger. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.hauntedwilmington.com/ or at The Black Cat Shoppe at 11 Market St. in downtown Wilmington. For more information, call (910) 794-1866. Website; http://www.hauntedwilmington.com/
LOWER CAPE FEAR HISTORICAL SOCIETY WALKING TOURS: These tours start at the Latimer House Museum, a Victorian family home and the headquarters of the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society, at 126 S. Third St. They begin at 10 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. The cost is $10 per person. Admission to the museum is an additional $10. For more information, call (910) 762-0492. Website: http://www.latimerhouse.org/
TOUR OLD WILMINGTON: A costumed guide leads participants on an exploration of Wilmington during the Victorian Era (1837-1901). Walking tours start at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the foot of Market and Water streets. Tours are also offered on Sunday by appointment. The cost is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and free for children 12 and under. For more information, call (910) 409-4300 or e-mail Lori.TourOldWilmington@gmail.com. Website: http://www.touroldwilmington.blogspot.com/
WILMINGTON ADVENTURE WALKING TOUR CO.: Explore Wilmington’s historic district with longtime Wilmington resident Bob Jenkins, the first to conduct historical walking tours downtown. Tours are $10 and begin at 10 a.m. daily, April through October, at the flagpole on the Cape Fear riverfront at the foot of Market and Water streets. For more information, call (910) 763 –1865.
Info about the tours provided by CECE NUNN OF STARNEWS.

What's Happening this Weekend in Wilmington, NC

Carolina Beach will have their normal Thursday night firework exhibition and band with Bibis Ellison and the Spare Change Band which play current and classic R& B and pop/rock favorites let by powerful female force Ellison. On Saturday CB will host An Independence Day fireworks with Castle Hayne's Soul Power Posse performing.

Downtown Sundown Series Concerts will take place on Friday night in Riverfront Park. The band this week is Girlz, Girlz, Girlz ( 80's hair band tribute).

Battleship Blast will take place downtown on the Riverfront across from the Battleship. This firework extraordinaire will start around 9 pm and draws huge crowds. There are some food vendors and street vendors too.

The Carolina Beach Farmers market is on Saturday and will have extra vendors it is 8a m to 1pm.

The Riverfront Farmers market will be Saturday in Riverfront Park from 9 am to 1 pm.

Enjoy the 4th and have a SAFE HOLIDAY!!!

Firework pic courtesy of freefoto.com