Wilmington NC Real Estate Guide

The survey is in and there are some low cost renovations that you can do to your home that will bring you more money back at the closing table.  Before you start,  go around your house and your yard and take pictures that you think would look good when the house is listed.  Take a good look at these pictures and you can pick out the things that need to be changed.  Like they say: a picture is worth a 1000 words.  You will see things that you walk by everyday and do not even catch your eye…. but they will catch a potential buyers eye.  The results are interesting and can help you prepare your home for sale.  We can help you with each of these steps.

The marketing company surveyed nearly 600 real estate professionals to discover which DIY home improvement projects give sellers the biggest return for their buck. Here are six projects under $1,000 (amounts are estimated) that made the list.

1. Cleaning and decluttering.Remove any personal items, unclutter countertops, organize closets and shelves, and make the home sparkling clean.
   • $290 Cost
   • $1,990 Return
2. Brightening.Clean all windows inside and out, replace old curtains, update lighting fixtures, and remove anything that blocks light from the windows.
   • $375 Cost
   •  $1,550 Return
3. Smart staging.Rearrange furniture, bring in new accessories and furnishings to enhance rooms, incorporate artwork, and play soft music in the background.
   • $550 Cost
   • $2,194 Return
4. Landscaping enhancements.Punch up the home’s curb appeal in the front and back yards by adding bark mulch, bushes, and flowers and ensuring current plants and grass are well-cared for and manicured.
   • $540 Cost
   • $1,932 return
5. Repairing electrical or plumbing.Fix leaks under the sinks, remove any mildew stains, and ensure all plumbing is in good working condition. Update the home’s electrical with new wiring for modern appliances, fix any lights or outlets that don’t work, and replace old plug points with new safety fixtures.
   • $535 Cost
   • $1,505 Return
6. Replacing or shampooing dirty carpets.Steam-clean carpets, replace any worn carpets, and repair any floor creaks.
   • $647 Cost
   • $1,739 Return

Realtor Magazine : Excerpted from HomeGain’s 2011 Home Sale Maximizer Survey: www.homesalemaximizer.com.

Let us know if you would like help getting your home ready for the market.  That is our expertise and we love “before and after” photos!  www.cbbaker.com for all your Wilmington NC real estate needs.

Studebaker John

The 16th annual Blues Festival is this weekend.  Everywhere around town, the Blues shall be heard… The kick off party is on the Henrietta III at 7:30pm Friday July 29.  There will be music on the dock by Rick Toby.  Catered heavy appetizer buffet, cash bar and a 2-hour sunset cruise along the historic Cape Fear River.  Tickets are available at Wilmingtontickets. Three different Blues Bands will perform on the cruise.  Post Cruise party at Rusty Nail.   For a full list of events and bands please visit www. capefearblues.org.  The weekend will be fun and eventful. Talent everywhere.

Studebaker John and the Hawks… listen here….

While you are in town, if you see real estate that interests you, let us know.  On your phone text 14059 to 44133 to search Wilmington NC real estate or go to www.cbbaker.com.  Have fun!

Safe At Home For The Summer

The song says that living is easy in the summertime, but don’t let the lazy days of summer lead to accidents. Keeping you and your family safe is just a matter of following simple precautions. Here are some tips for ensuring your family’s good times and good heath:

• Beware of the cutting edge. Lawnmowers and other power tools can cause serious injuries. When you’re mowing your lawn, keep children out of the area, and don’t allow children to ride on a mower.

• Before mowing, take the time to move outdoor furniture, toys, sticks or other obstacles out of the way. Especially if you have children or pets, you don’t want to turn your back on an idling mower to move objects.

• If your older child will be helping you out this summer by mowing the lawn, make sure he or she understands how to safely operate the equipment. Read all instructions and warning information together.

• Always turn a mower off before attempting to unclog debris from the blade.

• Tend to the fire. Grilling food outside is a wonderful way to escape the heat of the kitchen. Keep children away from grills or open fires. You should always have water on hand in case a fire gets out of control.

• Lighter fluid should be off-limits for children.

• Be safe about food handling. Never return cooked meat to a container that has held raw meat. Keep coolers in the shade and add ice to them as needed. Keeping drinks and food in separate coolers will cut down on the number of times the food cooler is opened.

• Watch out for other living things. Insect bites and bee stings can be reduced by dressing children in shoes and clothing that is light in color. Make sure you know what is growing in your yard. Teach children about poisonous plants and berries so they know what plants not to touch, pick or eat.

• Beat the heat. The dog days can be deadly. When the temperature tops 90 degrees, fans alone will not be able to cool a home. If you don’t have air conditioning, get out of the house and head for air-conditioned public places, such as libraries or shopping malls. Taking a bath or shower in tepid water will help you keep your cool. Stay well-hydrated, and make a point to check on elderly friends or neighbors who may be especially susceptible to heat-related illness.

Best wishes for a safe and happy summer!

Nobody wants to carry two mortgages on two homes at the same time. Sometimes, however, an overlap between buying a new home and selling the old one occurs. A bridge loan (also, “gap” or “swing” loan) can defeat the blockade, take the pressure off the monthly budget and provide down payment money that will make everything move along more smoothly.

• Know what to expect.

A bridge loan is a short-term loan for which the equity in your old home (and sometimes in your new one) serves as collateral. Various lenders charge different interest rates – often 1 or 2 percentage points above the current prime rate, or a bit higher than the current regular mortgage rate. Depending on lender’s requirements (appraisal, title search, etc.), closing costs can be anywhere from 0.5% to 1.5% of the loan amount.

• Pay off when you sell.

You may pay the loan off when you sell your home, or in monthly or quarterly installments. If your home does not sell within the specified term (often 6 months or a year), the loan is usually renewable.

Bridge loans are only one of the many tricks in our bag to help you smooth your move. If you’re planning to move soon, contact us by e-mail or phone. We’ll be happy to help.

Wrightsville Beach is a hidden gem that we treasure for it’s clear crystal clear waters, quaint atmosphere and wonderful people.  With Banks Channel, ICWW and the Altlantic ocean at our fingertips what is there not to like.  Great restaurants, a couple of shops and fishing piers provide entertainment for all.  We are pleased to  share with you our newest waterfront listing just in case you are interested in Wrightsville Beach.

www.WrightsvilleBeachWaterfront.com

Spectacular dream home on Banks Channel with over 4100 sq. ft. of gorgeous living area. 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths in a well thought out open, floorplan with ELEVATOR. Incredible views await you from most every room including large decks from the owners suite and main living area. Vintage inspired kitchen w/bead board cabinets, Champaign and cream granite counters, kitchen island with built-in gas, downdraft cook top, and 2 raised breakfast bars. And a breakfast room with uninterrupted views of the channel and your private pier with floating dock and 2 boat lifts. One is a 13000 lb. lift for your fishing machine and the other a 3000 lb. lift for smaller pleasure craft. A recently new bulkhead was installed along the beautiful backyard with sod, knockout roses and other indigenous shrubs and bushes. The large owners suite has beautiful Brazilian Cherry floors and a fireplace that is shared with the spa like master bath offering unsurpassed views from the 2 man whirlpool and separate walk shower.

Over 4100 sq. ft. 5 BR, 4.5 bath dream home on Banks Channel with private pier, floating dock/gazebo and 2 boat lifts. Incredible Views. Prepare to stay awhile, because you have just found your new home.

Enjoy.

May and June are usually some of our biggest months when it comes to home sales. Our pending index is climbing; you can see our mountain tops when you look at the sold units, now go and look at the chart you will see the mountain peaks during the summer season.

Economically – Our congress will be working on our current debt ceiling? Do they raise it? Other areas are slow to come around, inflation is trying to work its way back in while employment numbers are looking better each month. Unemployment rose back up to 9.0%. Hopefully we will come out of this economic funk real soon; this current economic crisis has affected so many lives and financial interests of individuals as well as companies.

April just stole all our gains for March with a decrease in sold homes and average sales price.  The average sold price dropped to $206,698 a 14.9% loss over last month. Our sold units hit 383 a large decrease from last month. Sold units are down 33 units from last month and up 52 from April 2009. One point to keep in mind is that last year this time we were still dealing with the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit. In the month of April we saw an increase of 40 homes in our listing inventory, we have 4,887 homes on the market as of May 1^st. This adjusted our month’s supply with just over 12.7 months a slight increase from last months 11.8. With the low sales in April this affects our month supply. Our average list price has started the year under $350,000 range; we are currently at $349,067. In April sellers paid concessions in about 30.0% of all the month’s transactions about the same as last month. Our average days on the market decreased to 148 days – we are now talking 5 months on the market. The list to sold ratio has increased a little to 93.8% this number needs to continue to get better. The number of homes that sold in 15 days or less continues to remain very low, 8.6% of April sold homes. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.63% with an average 0.7 points for the week ending May 12, 2011. We have seen decreases the last 5 weeks. Call me so I can show you or your clients how they can get the benefit of these rates. Have a great week and let me know what I can do to help you and your clients.

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.

For the complete Inventory update and graphs read more here…

Source – David Flory Cunningham Mortgage

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.

Good news for Wilmington NC real estate – Total units sold from Feb 11 to March 11 showed a 52% increase.  The average sales price showed a 22 % increase.  Total dollars showed an 86% increase.  Hopefully this upward trend will continue.  The market has showed an increase this past month and the number of people looking at real estate on our website has showed an increase as well.  We are looking forward to an active spring and summer.  The rates have held steady which has helped spur the interest in the area.  To search all of Wilmington NC real estate 24/7 please visit www.cbbaker.com

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

There is talk of a minor league baseball stadium being built on the riverfront in downtown Wilmington NC.  There has not been a baseball team in Wilmington NC since the Port City Roosters, a Southern League minor team which was a Double A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners Major Club in 1995.  Some of the players that wore the Roosters Uniform you might recognize : Red Sox captain Jason Varitek, pitchers Derek Lowe and Ryan Franklin, infielder Desi Relaford and outfielders José Cruz, Jr. and Raul Ibanez.

Chuck Schoninger, the CEO of USA InvestCo owns property on the riverfront, 35 acres which he hopes to develop into a marina, a hotel,  condos, restaurants and to top it  off a Minor League Baseball Stadium.  Schoninger will travel to China to present his plan to Chinese investors with a Federal Program called Employment Based Program Number 5, or EB5, that was started by George Bush in 1990 to entice foreign investment.  With the opening of the Wilmington NC Convention Center, this will make an addition to the growing and thriving downtown area. For a complete story from the Greater Wilmington Business Journal, read more here….

To search all Wilmington NC downtown properties, please visit www.cbbaker.com