Wilmington NC Worlds Largest Christmas Tree | Star News Photo

The Worlds Largest Christmas tree lighting ceremony which has  been held every year since 1928 (except the one year during World War II), unfortunately will not be held this year.  The tree will be lit, but there will not be a ceremony and access to the tree  will be limited.  The age and health of the tree has been a concern in prior years.  The City of  Wilmington is doing renovations at the Sweeney plant next to the tree, and these are safety concerns as well.  To upgrade and accommodate changes to make the area around the tree safe is not in the City budget.

So, we will have to view the tree from afar, and visit the new tree and Santa’s house on the downtown Wilmington NC riverfront.  This new tree will be lit at 5:45  – Friday November 26, 2010 at 5:45 Riverfront Park.  Maybe next year tree will make another grand appearance.  Until then, we can still say Wilmington NC has the “Worlds Largest Christmas tree” but with a quiet ceremony.

If you are in town and want to search Wilmington NC real estate – visit www.cbbaker.com/

The Cost of Living Index measure differences in costs of services and consumer goods for middle class standard of living.  314 urban areas in the US participated in the study.  The study is conducted over a 3 day period, covering 90,000 prices of 60 different items.   The Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce posted the following chart detailing the scores compared to other Southern cities.

Click on chart for larger view.

1.    The Economy is growing, but slowly.
2.    Jobs are being created by the private sector.
3.    Consumer confidence has bottomed out.
4.    Mortgage rates are at historical lows.
5.    The median home price seems to be stabilizing.
6.    Home prices in general also seem to be stabilizing.
7.    Price increases are expected in the coming years.
8.    Recent loan originations are doing well.
9.    Long term housing wealth gains still a desirable path.
10.    Affordability of homes is at all time high levels.

And the most important is that home prices are as low as we have  seen in several years in many areas of the country and you have a huge selection of homes.

Now is the time to make your real estate investment, start your search right here at www.cbbaker.com. Don’t miss out on one of those once in a lifetime opportunities. You can search all Wilmington NC homes, neighborhoods, schools, shopping and more..Please feel free to contact kaybaker@ec.rr.com or call 18004977325.

Purchase a participating home between May 1, 2010 and July 31, 2010 and the seller will refund 3% of the accepted offer price up to $8,000 to you as a credit at closing.  Look for the “Buyer Bonus Program” homes online or call us and we can help you with your search for a new home.  You don’t have to be a first time home buyer to enjoy the credit.  Read more here.

Search online at www.cbbaker.com or TEXT 14059 to 44133 to search on your mobile phone.

According to the National Association of Realtors, First time home buyers are driving the market to a rebound as home sales in September bounced back strongly. Home sales are at the highest level in 2 years! And, here in my home town, Wilmington NC real estate is on the move, as well.

$8000 Tax Credit

NAR chief economist, said favorable conditions matched with a tax credit are boosting home sales. “Much of the momentum is from people responding to the first-time buyer tax credit, which is freeing many sellers to make a trade and buy another home,” he said. “We are hopeful the tax credit will be extended and possibly expanded to more buyers, at least through the middle of next year, because the rising sales momentum needs to continue for a few additional quarters until we reach a point of a self-sustaining recovery.”

Adding to the real estate market recovery is that home affordability is the best it has been since 1970. And, with the added $8000 tax credit. Buyers are jumping in to take advantage of this once in a life time opportunity.

The market housing supply is the lowest it has been in over  two years nationwide and that in itself is a strong signal that the market is on the rebound.

Wilmington NC Real Estate

Don’t wait to take advantage of this great time to buy real estate, start your search today online at www.cbbaker.com. You can search homes in Wilmington, NC by price range, neighborhoods, zip code, schools, map and more. And, please contact us for a detailed list of foreclosures and short sales at kaybaker@ec.rr.com or 910 232-0363. You will receive a list right in your inbox or on your mobile phone.

2)   Sell your present home first – Contingency offers are not at all appealing to most sellers. The seller has to typically wait until your house sells before he gets his money. Therefore, the seller is not willing to negotiate with you. So, either wait for your home to sell or get preapproved for a bridge loan in the event your home does not sell. Chances are pretty good that you may sell your present home before your closing on the new home.
3)    Hire a top notch buyer’s agent – You need a knowledgeable Realtor with local expertise in the market place. You Realtor will work on your behalf and negotiate the best price and terms for you. In addition, your expert Realtor will assist with the home inspection, appraisal, and closing details.
4)    Decide where you want to live – Remember the old saying “location, location, location, well it still remains high on the home buying list. You really need to study the neighborhoods , schools , proximity to work etc before making the final decision on your favorite neighborhood. Again, your buyer’s agent is a valuable asset in gathering information for you.
5)    Search for homes online. There are many websites now that potential home buyers can search all homes on the market by price, neighborhood , schools , zip code, and maps. If you do your own preliminary searching it will save you a lot of time. You can actually ride by the homes that you like and take a look at the neighborhood to see if that is really where you would like to live.
6)    Look at vacant and distressed Properties – Vacant properties often signal a motivated seller. The seller has probably moved out of town and often times is carrying two mortgages. Often properties that are in need of repair are overlooked because most buyers can not appreciate the potential. Maybe all it needs is a little paint and carpet. We call these properties a “diamond in the rough”.
7)   Foreclosures and short sales – Have your buyer’s agent research all the foreclosures and short sales in your price range and location desired. Again, these can sometimes be bargain priced. Typically, they are bank owned and these days banks are pretty motivated to get them off the books.
8)    Do your research -Ask your buyer’s agent for detailed information on the properties that you are interested in. You want to request a history on each property to see how long they have been on the market, price reductions, sold data, tax data, survey, and covenants and restrictions for the neighborhood. And be sure to get sold information for all properties in each neighborhood that you have interest in.
9)    Don’t make your first offer the best one – Leave yourself some negotiating room in the event the seller counters your offer, which is typically what takes place. Determine the maximum amount that you are willing to pay to calculate your first offer. Again, your Realtor can advise you.
10)    Meet the Sellers closing date – Many sellers have various personal reasons for a particular closing date and if you are willing to work with them, you may get a better price.

To search for homes by price, schools, neighborhoods, maps and more, just log on to my comprehensive website at www.cbbaker.com.

1. Beautiful Beaches and Waterways

Wilmington NC is situated on the southeast coast of NC and is bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and the west by the Cape Fear River. The beauty and charm of Wilmington and the surrounding beaches equal or surpass any on the east coast. The many pristine beaches that we have to enjoy such as Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Topsail Beach, Oak Island and Ocean Isle Beach are sure to captivate your heart.

2. Boating

The area’s many miles of coastline, rivers and sounds offer a variety of  watersports, boating activities, and quite a few harbors, marinas, and yacht clubs.

3. Fishing

Being located within minutes of one of the most protected inlets on the east coast, Wilmington offers bountiful fishing opportunities within minutes. Masonboro Inlet is located between the Southern tip of Wrightsville Beach and Masonboro Island. Also, the many creeks and bays located off banks channel and the waterways are a fisherman’s dream. You will see them fishing for drum, trout, and  flounder in the fall of the year.

3. Masonboro Island

Masonboro Island is an 8 mile long uninhabited island on the southern North Carolina coast between Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach and is part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve. Masonboro Island, only accessible by boat, is enjoyed by campers, surfers, anglers, and bird-watchers alike. The reserve consists of about 5000 acres, which about 4400 acres are tidal marsh and mud flats. The most northern end at Masonboro Inlet is the most popular area with its sandy beaches and protected waters. Any summer weekend you will see many boaters and campers prepared for a few days on the beach with tents, grills and water toys in tow.

4. Historic Downtown Wilmington NC

Wilmington is blessed with a beautiful and extensive historic district with magnificent and stately oaks, azaleas and oleanders. 230 blocks of downtown are on the The National Register of Historic Districts. The city embraces a lot of history and is fortunate that so much has been preserved.

5. Wilmington NC Real Estate

I cannot speak highly enough about the real estate offered in and around Wilmington NC, from the River to the Sea! Wilmington offers many affordable neighborhoods such as Whitney Pines to move up neighborhoods like Covil Estates with amenities, to luxury gated communities such as Landfall, or golf course neighborhoods like Porters Neck, and waterfront neighborhoods with marinas and boatslips such as Turtle Hall or Shinn Point . The choices are all right here in our great port city of Wilmington NC.

6. Golf

You can truly enjoy golf year round at the many golf courses throughout the Cape Fear Region. Whatever your handicap, there are more than twenty courses in and around Wilmington that are a pleasure to walk. Some of the courses were designed by some of golf’s greatest names including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Fred Couples and P.B. Dye, among others.

7. NC Azalea Festival

For more than 50 years, Wilmingtonians have enjoyed the biggest celebration of the year, The NC Azalea Festival. From the parade, artwork, garden tours, street fair, and rich history, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy. This year the Azalea Festival will be held April 1-5th. Come have fun with us!

8. USS Battleship NC

For all the history or military buffs, the USS Battleship NC is located just across the Cape Fear River from downtown Wilmington. You can tour the ship, take a history lesson, visit the museum or the ship’s store.

9. Wilmington NC Attractions

You will certainly never be bored with all the attractions to our area including the Zoo, numerous Museums, Cape Fear Riverboats, Airlie Gardens, Poplar Grove Plantation, Art galleries, live music and performing arts.

10. Churches

Wilmington is known for its many churches and their unique architecture. You will find one on almost every corner from any denomination you prefer.

11. Bald Head Island

Escape to the tropics! That is exactly how a visit to Bald Head Island will make you feel. Bald Head is located right off the Cape Fear River across from Southport, NC and only accessible by ferry or boat. The island is only traveled by golf cart and offers some of the most beautiful beaches and creeks around.

12. Figure Eight Island

Figure Eight Island, NC is located just north of Wrightsville Beach, NC . It is a private island, only accessible by a swing-bridge with a gatehouse and is bordered by the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. The island consists of 1300 acres and approximately 441 homes.  Figure Eight Island today is a beautiful coastal community offering the ultimate in privacy and security and just minutes from the conveniences of Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, NC.

13. Thalian Hall Theater

Thalian Hall in Wilmington NC celebrated its grand opening October 12, 1858! 85 performances were presented that first year.  At the time, it was the largest Theater South of Richmond, Va. Thalian Hall was known by many names in its early days such as “The Wilmington Theater”, “The Opera House” and “The Academy of Music”. Thalian Hall today looks largely the same as it did in 1858, with its rambling ornate architecture.

14. Fort Fisher Aquarium

The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher not only displays an assortment of waterlife, but also focuses on conservation of aquatic environments. The Aquarium is open to the public and is available for private events.

15. Warm Climate

The mild climate of the Cape fear region is a big bonus for residents and visitors alike. Golfing, watersports and a multitude of outdoor activities can be enjoyed year round. However, there are four seasons and their transitions are usually spectacular.

16. Southern Hospitality

You will always be in amazement of the southern culture and hospitality of the Southeast region of North Carolina. It is commonplace for southerners to stop on the street and ask you “how you are doing”. And, the courtesy of drivers will pleasantly surprise you.

17. Vibrant and Diverse Economy

New Hanover county is a good location for comfortable living and a thriving business environment. In fact, the Wilmington area was just ranked in the 6th position for cities with job and economic growth by Milken Institute.

18. Shopping

Shopping is delightful with the many strip centers, Independence Mall, Cotton Exchange in downtown Wilmington and the new Mayfaire Town Center with all the name brand stores like William & Sonoma, J Crew, Pottery Barn, and more.

19. Schools

The schools in New Hanover county are some of the best in the country. The recent ABC scores and AYP results are indicative of our excellent schools.

20. UNCW Wilmington NC

UNCW has been named numerous times “Best in the Southeast” by the Princeton review and one of the top three ‘Best Values” by Kiplinger’s rankings. Wilmington College opened its doors in 1947 and was granted 4 year status in 1963 after moving to its present location on College Rd.  UNCW presently enrolls nearly 12000 students.

21. Museums

Wilmington, NC is blessed with many museums such as the Cape Fear Museum, Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington’s Children’s Museum, Wilmington Railroad Museum and many more.

22. Nightlife

When the sun goes down in Wilmington, the downtown area lights up with neighborhood bars, pubs and restaurants. Not to mention the many restaurants and the like that have opened at Mayfaire Town center near Wrightsville Beach.

23. Events

The Cape Fear region is rich in happenings around the area. You can choose from annual fishing tournaments, crafts shows, festivals like the Azalea Festival, Jazz Festival or Riverfest and at Christmas, the Holiday flotilla.

24. Film Industry

Wilmington or “Hollywood East” has hosted the production of more than 400 movies, miniseries and TV movies. In fact, more revenue has been generated from Wilmington NC productions than any other US city except Los Angeles and New York. Just to name a few One Tree Hill is filmed here, Sleeping With the Enemy, Divine Secrets of Ya Ya Sisterhood and Forest Gump.

25. Airlie Gardens

Gardens by the sea best describes the lush formal gardens, lakes and magnificent oaks draped with Spanish moss. Airlie Gardens is home to the Azalea Festival garden party with its collection of over 100,000 azaleas. Airlie is also a popular setting for weddings, Airlie concerts, Oyster roasts, and enchanted Airlie during Christmas starting in November.