INVENTORY:

How Do You Prove You Had It………

When You Don’t Have It Anymore?

Have you counted your silverware lately? Cataloged your coin collection? Inventoried your attic treasures? If you lost them, would you be able to prove to your insurance company you actually possessed what you say you owned? Could you prove how much those lost items were worth? There are lots of ways you could lose some or all of your possessions–flood, fire or other natural disaster, moving, burglary. In attempting to recover your losses, having a comprehensive inventory on hand could be worth many thousands of dollars.

Here are some suggestions for compiling and storing a household inventory.

• Ask your insurance company for a room-by-room form to help you make your inventory or use a computer software program designed for the same purpose.
• Do your counting while you’re in the process of spring or fall cleaning–or as you move from one home to another.
• Work in small doses, one room at a time.
• Be as specific as possible in your listing. Note the date of purchase and the purchase price. Describe the item in detail, including serial number.
• Some items increase in value over time. Be sure to get updated appraisals on antiques, jewelry and other valuables periodically.
• If you’ve kept purchase receipts–always a good idea, especially for big-ticket items–keep them with your inventory.
• To supplement your description, make photographs or a video of your things.
• Update your inventory at least annually and when you purchase more-expensive items.
• Make a copy of your inventory, keeping one at home and placing the other one in a safe place elsewhere–perhaps in a safe deposit box or with a relative.

TIPS
Check with your insurance company about getting replacement-cost coverage if you don’t already have it. Rather than giving you the depreciated value of a lost or damaged item, for a slightly higher premium replacement-cost coverage will give you the full amount necessary to buy a similar new item at current prices.

Also, note the limits on your policy for various types of items. If, for example, you own jewelry worth in excess of the policy’s limit for jewelry, talk with your agent about picking up a rider policy to cover the full worth.

You have spent your lifetime making your home a home.  Keep it that way.  For all the latest Wilmington NC real estate trends, please visit www.cbbaker.com

jimrlong.us

September 11, 2001 will stay in our minds and hearts forever.  We have not forgotten.  Take time this weekend to reflect on the 10 year anniversary, either quietly by yourself or with others in your community.   Reach out to those that were directly affected by the events.  Keep in your thoughts the first responders who help keep us safe, and the service men and women who are continuing to fight to keep our freedom.  If you would like to know where events are in our area these are some of the memorial services in Wilmington NC on Saturday September 11, 2011 to recognize the 10th anniversary of 9/11/01.

9/11 “We Remember” Commemorative Service

 Sun, September 11th 2011 – Candlelight Vigil    7 pm – 8pm
Wilmington Convention Center

9/11 Memorial  Service

- Cape Fear Community College - \ Safety Training Center at the North Campus in Castle Hayne beginning at 8:30 a.m

http://cfcc.edu/blogs/news/

9/11 Rememberance Ceremony

UNCW Kenan Auditorium – 6: 00 pm – Mayor Bill Saffo and other speakers.  Music by UNCW Dept. of Music

Theater Performance: Remembrance Monologues, 7:30 p.m., Kenan Auditorium

9/11 10th Anniversary Memorial Sunday

9 a.m. near the POW Memorial at 30 Government Center Dr., Bolivia

9/11 Memorial Cruise

Wilmington Water Tours – Downtown Wilmington (910)338-3134

1:30pm – Live music featuring Lindsay Bennet and a complimentary toast to remember those we have lost.

4:00pm – Live music featuring Jamie Michelle and a memorial Wreath laying to Honor those we have lost.

Pray for peace.

We’ve all thought about it while lying on the beach or inhaling the fresh mountain air: “Why don’t we buy a vacation home?” Owning a vacation home can be a good decision if you buy smart.

They provide another investment that includes a mortgage-interest tax deduction.

Whether you rent it out or not, you can deduct the mortgage interest as long as you use the home more than 14 days or more than 10% of the number of days the home is rented annually at a fair rental, whichever is longer.

Qualified second homes include houses, condominiums, cooperatives, mobile homes, house trailers, boats or similar properties that have sleeping, cooking and toilet facilities.

Here’s an interesting twist on the mortgage interest deduction: If you take out a home equity loan on your first home and use the funds to acquire your second home, the interest on the home equity loan is also deductible. That’s three mortgage interest deductions off your tax return!

Consult IRS Publication 936 for a complete discussion of how mortgage interest for a second home is deductible.

You can purchase your future retirement home in Wilmington NC now, at today’s prices.

Though your second home may be a vacation home now, if you buy right you can convert it into your principal residence later.

They can produce their own income.

Renting out a second home occasionally or often can help you pay for the property with OPM (other people’s money). Check with your tax advisor about how much of the upkeep and management expenses are deductible against your income.

Buying Tips From The Experts

Buy something within a reasonable distance.

Be sure you can get to your vacation home in a short amount of time. Before you make a final decision, travel the distance on a typical Friday afternoon to see whether the drive will be too much to deal with after a long work week.

Rent in the area several times before you buy.

If you really like a particular area, check it out during different seasons. This way you get to know the climate, people, pests, traffic patterns and other regional particulars first-hand.

Consult other owners.

Check with owners of nearby properties about public and private facilities, special maintenance required due to location or weather, the social climate, local development plans and prevalence of crime. Learning about the lifestyle of the area may help you narrow down your choices.

Think home first, investment second.

Although you may be able to generate rental income from your vacation home, it may not cover your ownership costs. (If you want to try real estate investments, give us a call to look at properties in the Wilmington NC  local area.)

Consider different styles of properties in a vacation area.

To minimize upkeep and have a more secure environment, a condo may be preferable to a single-family home. If you plan on converting it to a retirement home, consider what type of home you’ll want as a full-time residence.

Here are some of the current Wilmington NC real waterfront/waterview real estate  in our area.

Priced from 100,000 – 200,000  Click here

Priced from 200,000- 400,000  Click here

Priced from 400,00 -600,000  Click here

Priced from 600,000 – Click here

To search all properties please visit www.cbbaker.com

With the beautiful weather, scenery and talent here in Wilmington NC, what do you think one of  our favorite things to do in the summer is?  Listen to music outdoors of course.  The venues have just started and will continue throughout the summer months.  The Star News compiled the list so we just have to look in one place.  Please bookmark this post so that you can look at the schedule weekly.  Take time to enjoy and relax.  You deserve it. 

Airlie Concert Series

Location:Airlie Gardens, 300 Airlie Road, Wilmington

Times: 6-8 p.m. every other Friday, May 20-Sept. 16

Details:$8 adults, $2 children, free for Airlie members. General admission parking is off-site. Free parking and shuttles provided from the old Cinema 6, 5335 Oleander Drive. Picnics welcome.

Contact: 798-7700

SCHEDULE

June 3: Grenoldo Frazier (jazz, showtunes)

June 17: Da Howlies (Hawaiian)

July 1: The Imitations

July 15: The Dynamic Thermotones (blues)

Aug. 5: Stardust

Aug. 19: L Shape Lot (folk, country)

Sept. 2: Stephanie Nakasian and the Hod O’Brien Trio (jazz)

Sept. 16: 360 Degrees

Carolina Beach Boardwalk

Location: Carolina Beach Boardwalk

Times: 6:30-9 p.m. Thursdays, followed by fireworks

Details: Free, adjacent to amusement park.

Contact: 458-8434

SCHEDULE

Still waiting for these guys to get back to us on their schedule. Feel free to post below if you know it.

Carolina Beach Free Summer Concert Series

Location:Air Force Recreation Area, Kure Beach

Times: 6:30-9:30 p.m. every other Friday, June 10-Aug. 26

Details: Free. Bring blankets, chairs and picnics but no pets or beverages. Beverages will be for sale.

Contact: 458-8434

SCHEDULE

June 10: Live Bait (classic rock, blues)

June 24: BLP (classic rock and dance)

July 8: South of K (bluegrass)

July 22: Cowboy Chrome (country rock, blues)

Aug. 18: Spare Change (beach, classic roc, country)

Aug. 26: The Mako Band (beach, boogie and blues)

Concerts on the Coast

Location: Leland Municipal Complex Park, 102 Town Hall Drive

Times: 6:30-8 p.m.

Details: Free. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic baskets.

Contact: 332-4818

Schedule

June 30: UBU (party band with three female vocalists)

July 14: The Main Event (party band with horn section)

July 28: Central Park Band (dance)

Concert in the Park

Location:Soundside Park, next to the swing bridge in Surf City

Times: 6-8 p.m.

Details: Free. Snacks and drinks available. Parking is limited. No alcohol. July 3 concert is 6-9 p.m., followed by fireworks.

Contact: 329-4446

SCHEDULE

May 20: Dixon Middle School Jazz Band

May 27: The Mako Band

June 10: Lucia & Levi

June 13: Langley Winds

June 24: Stump Sound Ramblers

July 2: Longo & Co.

July 3: Mark Roberts & Breeze

July 8: Highway 17 Band

July 22: Sea Pans

Aug. 5: Camouflage

Aug. 19: Pamlico Joe & Clean Water Flow

Sept. 2: James Rimes and Friends

Downtown Sundown

Location: Riverfront Park, Water Street between Front and Princess streets in downtown Wilmington

Times: 6-10 p.m. Fridays, May 27-Sept. 2

Details: Free. Beer, wine and food available. Rain or shine.

SCHEDULE

May 27: Appetite for Destruction (GnR tribute)

June 3: The Breakfast Club (80′s tribute)

June 10: Frontiers (Journey tribute

June 17: Funky Monks (Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute)

June 24: SRVT (Stevie Ray Vaughan Tribute)

July 1: ZOSO (Led Zeppelin tribute)

July 8: UV (U2 tribute)

July 15: Girlz Girlz Girlz (80′s hair metal tribute)

July 22: Slippery When Wet (Bon Jovi tribute)

July 29: Cosmic Charlie (Grateful Dead tribute)

Aug. 5: Dave Matthews Tribute Band

Aug. 12: Satisfaction (Rolling Stones tribute)

Aug. 19: Onward, Soldiers (rock, Americana)

Aug. 26: Machine Gun (rock covers)

Sept. 2: Tuesday’s Gone (Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute)

Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

Location: 1941 Amphitheater Drive, Wilmington

Times and details: Vary

SCHEDULE

July 3: JJ Grey & Mofro

July 7: Dark Star Orchestra

July 10: Jack’s Mannequin

July 24: Donovan Frankenreiter

Aug. 14: Bela Fleck and The Flecktones

Jazz at the Mansion

Location: Bellamy Mansion, 503 Market St., downtown Wilmington

Times: 6:30-8 p.m., the second Friday of each month through September

Details: Bring a picnic and blanket and enjoy the show. $12 non-members/$8 members of CF Jazz Society or Bellamy Mansion. Wine and beer for sale.

Contact: 251-3700

SCHEDULE

June 10: Mike Waddell & Bob Russell

July 8: Melodious Thunk (feat. Susan Savia)

August 12: Jack Krupicka & Julie Rehyder

Sept. 9: Liz Pina & Kevin Kolb

Mayfaire Music on the Town

Location:Mayfaire event field behind Ulta and World Market

Times: 6-9 p.m. Fridays

Details: Free. Bring a blanket or chair. Food, beverages and kids’ activities available.

Contact: 256-5131

SCHEDULE

May 20: Jam SandWich (Southern/classic rock)

May 27: Beach Billy Brothers (country rock and blues)

June 3: BLP (classic and modern rock)

June 10: Selah Dub (reggae, surf and rock)

June 17: Mako (variety)

June 24: Live Bait (acoustic rock)

July 1: Jim Quick & the Coastline Band (blues, soul, R&B)

July 8: The Other Guys (acoustic rock)

July 15: The M-80′s (‘80s covers)

July 22: Phantom Playboys (rockabilly)

July 29: Painted Man (funk, R&B, rock)

Aug. 5: Soul Power Posse (funk, soul)

Sept. 2: Blivet (eclectic rock)

Music in the Courtyard

Location: Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S. 17th St., Wilmington

Times: 7-8 p.m.

Details: $8, $5 for museum members. Concert held indoors in the event of inclement weather. Beverages available.

Contact: 395-5999

SCHEDULE

June 2: The Workshop (jazz, R&B)

July 7: El Jaye Johnson & The Port City All-Stars (jazz, blues, funk and more)

Aufg. 4: Lisa & Galen (acoustic)

Ocean Isle Beach Concert Series

Location:Parking lot of the Museum of Coastal Carolinas, 21 E. Second St., Ocean Isle Beach

Times: 6:30-8 p.m. Fridays, May 27-Sept. 2

Details: Free

SCHEDULE

May 27: The Entertainers

June 3: Northern Borders

June 10: The Imitations

June 17: Mark Roberts & the Breeze

June 24: Gold Rush

July 1: Holiday Band

July 8: Craig Woolard Band

July 15: Continental Divide

July 22: Band of OZ

July 29: Tim Clark Band

Aug. 5: The Imitations

Aug. 12: Legends of the Beach

Aug. 19: Sea Cruz

Aug. 26: Carolina Breakers

Sept. 2: Craig Woolard Band

WECT’s Sounds of Summer

Location:Wrightsville Beach Park

Times: 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. June 23, July 7 and 21, and Aug. 4

Details: Free. Bring blankets, chairs, picnics. Concerts cancelled due to weather will be rescheduled for the following Thursday

Contact: 791-8070

SCHEDULE

June 23: Key Lime Pie (tropical rock)

July 7: The M-80s

July 21: Selah Dubb (rock, reggae)

Aug. 4: The Imitations (beach, Motown)

Details: Free. Bring blankets, chairs, picnics. Concerts cancelled due to weather will be rescheduled for the following Thursday.

Please come visit our great town and enjoy what it has to offer.  If you would like to look at Wilmington NC real estate, please visit www.cbbaker.com and search by map, neighborhood, street and more.  Happy Summer.

If you find that you are in need of help with your own home financial situation, or you would like to help someone out of their financial situation by purchasing a short sale,  rely on us to help.  Certified Distressed Property Expert can guide you through the selling and the buying process in a far more knowledgeable and timely process than doing it yourself.  Contact us NOW, by signing in below and we will contact you immediately to start the process of selling your home as a short sale or  looking for short sales to purchase. A free list of current short sales and foreclosures will be emailed to you.  Please sign in here.  http://www.cbbaker.com/shortsales.php

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty has come out strong for the start of 2011 in real estate sales.  We have sold 243 homes since January 1, 2011, with the closet competitor having sold 108 homes at 9.38% of the market.  Sea Coast holds 21.09 % of the market out of 57 of the top firms in the area.  Currently we have 168 properties under contract at  23.66% of the market.  The next competitor has 83 properties under contract with 11.69% of the market.  Pretty impressive numbers. Extensive training and courses are offered at Coldwell Banker Sea Coast, thus giving us an edge to sell your home, or purchase a new one.  Knowledge and experience makes the difference.  Call us today. Kay Baker & Associates

Photo from DariusRucker.com

The party is getting started…. The 64th annual Azalea Festival will be held April 6- 10, 2011 in Wilmington NC.  Darius Rucker has been announced as the the headliner for the concert on April 6 at Trask Coliseum to open up the festivities.  Rucker was previously with Hootie and the Blowfish, before he set out on his own.  Deep voiced country music is what you will enjoy at the concert.  The other celebrities are Wilmington’s own  Tampa Bay Buccaneers place kicker and John T. Hoggard High School graduate Connor Barth; Miss North Carolina 2010 Adrienne Leigh Core; Emmy Award-winning actress and soap opera star Leann Hunley, who played the cougar-ish Tamara Jacobs on filmed-in-Wilmington TV series “Dawson’s Creek”; USS Gravely Commander Douglas Kunzman, making his second festival appearance; and Chris Lambton, who appeared on the ABC reality show “The Bachelorette.” The Avett Brothers are headlining a concert on April 8, and that show is sold out.

To listen to a hit “Come Back” song from Darius, click here.

The Azalea Festival is one of the biggest festivals in Wilmington NC and has for 64 years drawn many celebrities including headmaster Ronald Reagan.  Please join us in a great tradition.  Tickets for the concert are avaliable starting Saturday Feb. 12 at http://www.ncazaleafestival.org

While you are in town text 14059 to 44133 to search Wilmington NC real estate, or visit www.cbbaker.com.

One of the treasures of Wilmington NC is the Screen Gems Movie Studio.  It is not a rare site to see a movie star or two while you are going about your daily business in Wilmington NC.  A new movie has started filming in the area, 3D Journey 2 Mysterious Island starring Michael Caine, Dwayne Johnson (The Rock), Josh Hucherson, and Vanessa Hudgens.  Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D was the first film ever shot in HD 3D, so the sequel should be equally filled with amazing digital shots.  It is the largest film being filmed at Screen Gems.  Another new special water tank was built just for the production.  This week they were filming on Colonial Drive in Forest Hills.  Wilmington NC welcomes the production and all the people who have come to our great city.  Enjoy….

If you would like to look at real estate, we invite you visit www.cbbaker.com to learn about our town and what we have to offer.  From your phone you can text 14059 to 44133 and search there.

Click here for Screen Gems Brochure

Facing a budget deficit, the city of Wilmington NC would like to have your input on the 2011 budget with a little challenge.  To take the challenge you can visit www.cityofwilmingtonbudgetchallenge.com

This time of year everyone is in a hurry trying to get all the shopping done, homes decorated and cards in the mail.  Take a minute to slow down.  Think of others and ask yourselves what you could do for someone else that might help them out at this time of year.  There are many organizations that need help, especially during the holidays. The feeling you get when you help someone else is the best present you could ever receive. So, here are just a few of the organizations that would love to hear from you.

Get involved in Wilmington volunteering!

• North Carolina Food pantries and Soup kitchens Wilmington Groups and Organizations
• Angel Food Ministries
• American Legion post locator
• American Red Cross – Local Chapter
• Chambers of Commerce in North Carolina
• Habitat for Humanity – Local Affiliates
• Jaycees
• Kiwanis clubs in North Carolina
• Lions clubs in North Carolina
• Meals-on-Wheels Volunteer
• Rotary clubs in North Carolina
• VA Facilities in North Carolina
• Veterans of Foreign Wars post locator
• Volunteer Opportunities for Wilmington, North Carolina
  • VolunteerMatch.org
  • ServeNet.org
• Non-profit Groups in Wilmington and North Carolina
  • MelissaData – Wilmington Nonprofit Organizations Lookup
  • GuideStar.org Search
  • Foundations in North Carolina
  • Community foundations (by state)