The March Wilmington NC real estate statistical report has been released and all the numbers are up, except “Days On Market”.  That is good news.  We are getting into multiple offer situations which has not happened for years.  If you are thinking about selling your home but have some concerns or questions about the market, give us a call.  We would be happy to go over what has been selling in your neighborhood and in Wilmington NC in general.  Thinking about moving up? Perfect time to do this.  Here are the Statistics, just click on photo for full report.

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Please feel free to visit our website for seller and buyer advice, as well as search the local Wilmington NC real estate market.  You can search by map, schools, street, county, price and more.  www.cbbaker.com

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Waterfront Townhomes and Condo’s from $200.000 -  $400,000 – Find Here

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 To live by the water is devine…

What do real estate agents mean when they say the three most important factors in selecting a house are “location, location, location”?

The house is wonderful! But before you buy, carefully check the location to be sure this is the house you want to buy.

• Consider destinations

Where will family members go most often from this new location? How easy is it to reach those places from here? How accessible are schools, churches, grocery stores, medical care, public transportation, shopping malls, and neighborhood services?

• Be sure rooms have a view

What is the view from the house and yard? Is the yard right for your anticipated activities? What uses are possible for nearby undeveloped land? Is a new road planned?

• Check around the clock

Is rush hour traffic a problem? What will be the impact of special events like local high school games or church picnics?

• Crash test the driveway

How easy is it to get into and out of the driveway?

• Be service conscious

What utilities serve this property? Are the rates competitive? Do you want an all-electric house, or do you want gas or oil heat? Where will you get your mail? Where are the easements?

• Dig below the surface

Is the soil stable? Is part of the property on a flood plain — if so, what is the history of floods on the property?

• Visit the neighbors

How will you fit in with the neighbors? Do people seem to be friendly? Are houses well-maintained?

• Read the fine print

If the community has special by-laws or architectural controls over changes to a house, what are the pros and cons?

Make a list of the positive and negative aspects of each property as you tour it. Assign priorities to important elements of the house’s location.

Do you have home questions about a specific location? We can help. Call or e-mail us now. Kay Baker 910-202-3607 or kaybaker@seacoastrealty.com

To search all Wilmington NC real estate please visit www.cbbaker.com

January 2011 Wilmington NC MLS Report

Based on the winter weather we have had it is obvious that our real estate market still has the Winter Blues. Our average sales price has dropped 17% from December 2010; that is quite a fall. Most of the transactions that closed in January we put under contract in December. When you break down the sales that took place in January 2011 there is only 1 transaction that closed above $700,000. While in December 2010 there were 14 sold transactions over $700,000 and January 2010 there were 5 sold transactions over $700,000. This greatly affects our monthly average sales price, our current monthly average sold price is $194,425 for the month of January. This is the first time that the monthly average sold price has dipped under $200,000 in a looooong time.

January’s average sales price has managed to show a decrease of 17% from December. Sold units are down 119 units over last month (about 31%) and even with last January. In the month of January we saw a increase of 71 homes in our listing inventory, we have 4,718 homes on the market as of February 1^st. This continues to put us in a strong buyer’s market with a listing inventory of just over a 17.8 month supply. With the low sales in January this affects our month supply with an increase of 5 months from last month with 12.6. Our average list price has started the year under $350,000 range; we are currently at $343,053. In January sellers paid concessions in about 30.6% of all the month’s transactions.  Our average days on the market are at 132 days. The list to sold ratio has improved some to 94.4% this number needs to continue to get better. The number of homes that sold in 15 days or less continues to remain very low, 11.3% of January sold homes. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.05% with an average 0.7 points for the week ending February 10, 2011. We have already hit the historic lows in mortgage rates and they are now on the rebound. 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.

Listing Inventory

In January we saw a increase in listing inventory of 71 units. We are about 496 units under February 1, 2010 and 687 units under February 1, 2009. We have 4,718 single family homes for sale in our MLS. The average list price of $343,053 is down by $5,950 from last month. Please note the consistent winter dip in listings – see chart below.

Monthly Average Sold Price – this is not a pretty section

Our monthly average sold price is down by 17% from last month and down 9.7% from January 2010. Our average sold price is down by $39,939 from last month. January average sold price ($194,425) shows a decrease of 15.9% from year end 2010.

Monthly Sold Units

We are 2 units shy of matching January 2010 sold homes of 267, while this January we have sold 265 homes. I am sure as January gets closed out we will see the numbers increase over last year’s production. The number of sold homes is up 68 homes from January 2010.

Average Sold Price Year to Date

Year over year our year to date numbers have dipped a little.

2003 year end average sale price $ 186,137

2004 year end average sale price $ 210,048

2005 year end average sale price $ 254,080

2006 year end average sale price $ 264,498

2007 year end average sale price $ 273,408

2008 year end average sale price $256,498

2009 year end average sale price $234,379

2010 year to date average sale price $231,141

While our 2010 year end numbers are lower than year end 2009 they do show promising signs that our sales are on the upswing. Looks like we have a setback with January’s average sold price – $194,425

Rolling 12 months

Our rolling 12 months gives us a better look at our production. It helps to smooth out a month that jumps up and down. When we look at February 1^st, 2010 to January 31^st, 2011 we have 4,526 sold units and when we compare the year prior February 1^st, 2009 to January 31^st, 2010 we have a 87 unit gain (4,439 sold units). When we look at the same rolling 12 months for average sold price we see that we are only down by 2.0%. So the dates of 2/1/2010 to 1/31/2011 we have an average sold price of $229,930 while from 2/1/2009 to 1/31/2010 we had an average sold price $233,436.

Median Sold Price

Our Median sold price decreased this month by 12.5% from last month. Our national numbers lag by one month. Our median sales price continues its jagged path – up then down then up and now down. I am hoping that our January dip in median sold price is a onetime event. I am hoping we can see the national median sales price reverse its downward trend as well as WRAR’s.

Pending

Pending Sales – A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not yet closed. Sales are typically finalized within one to two months from signing. With the new sales contract I am also counting Active Due Diligence and pending contracts. I look at the total pending units on a regular basis and this is how they chart out. Our pending index is dropping to our winter lows. In December we bottomed out about 575 units, we have since rebounded and have over 663 units that are pending – this is a 15% increase since the end of 2010.  With the new contract in place this is a good start to 2011.

Market Absorption rate – The number of homes sold in January, 265 divided by the current listing inventory, 4,718 gives us a 17.8 month supply of single family homes. This increased by 5 months from last month. We need to get this inventory back under 12 months supply. With a large inventory and the low sales in January this affects our market absorption. With rates where they are and plenty of inventory; we can get this number down.

List to Sold price ratio – the average list price of the sold properties is $206,188 and the average sold price is $194,425 for January which gives us a 94.4% list to sold price ratio – a good increase from last month. We have now managed to stay under 95% for over a year and several months. I want to quit counting the number of months and get this trend reversed.

Seller Concessions – We had 30.6% of sold properties report a sales concession for January, a increase of 4.2%. We want this number to go lower.

Days on Market – The average days on market for the sold properties is now at 132 for January. That is about 4.5 months to keep a property on the market. Only 11.3% of the properties were placed under contract in less than 15 days for the month of January.

Carolina & Kure Beach

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.

This data was pulled on February 12, 2011, based on information from the Wilmington Regional Association of REALTORS Incorporated, for the period Jan. 1, 2005 through January 31, 2011.

The Market

Primary Mortgage Market Survey Press Release

30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Rates Rise to 5.05 Percent Highest Level since April 2010

Freddie Mac released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey®  which shows long- and short-term rates rising this week.

News Facts

30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.05 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending February 10, 2011, up from last week when it averaged 4.81 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.97 percent.

15-year FRM this week averaged 4.29 percent with an average 0.7 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.08 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.34 percent.

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.

Quotes

Attributed to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac.

“Long-term bond yields jumped on positive economic data reports, which placed upward pressure on mortgage rates this week.

“For all of 2010, nonfarm productivity rose 3.6 percent, the most since 2002, while January’s unemployment rate unexpectedly fell from 9.4 percent to 9.0 percent. Moreover, the service industry expanded in January at the fastest pace since August 2005.

“As a result, interest rates on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to the highest level since the last week in April 2010.”

Freddie Mac

Source:  Wilmington MLS and David Flory Cunningham Mortgage

view Wilmington NC real estate on www.cbbaker.com

Google Maps is getting out of the real estate business starting Feb 10, 2011.  In July 2009 Google added “search for real estate” on their Google Maps.  Due to the increase in excellent real estate search features on real estate websites, like Coldwell Banker, and an change to API on how listings are submitted Google decided that the real estate search on maps were not being utilized.  Coldwell Banker embraces Google products such as YouTube and Google Maps on their website.  Google is already working on new features that will enhance websites and searching for consumers.  Search all real estate on 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)

So where are you going? Do you know how to get there? Where is our economy going? Does the Federal Reserve know how to get there? In the last week the Federal Reserve announced that it plans to purchase up to $600 billion in government securities. Treasury bond yields initially fell and then gradually rose again. This allowed mortgage rates to fall to record levels this past week. Will this action succeed and improve our housing recovery. Our housing recovery is key to the current economic situation.

Octobers average sales price has managed to exceed last month as well as 2009 year end average sales price. While the numbers of sales were down from last month and as well as down from a year ago. Our average sales price is up 5.8% over last month and up 1.1% from Year End 2009. When we look at our year to date average sold price we are only down 2.1% from Year End 2009. Our median sold price is up from last month by 4.8% and down by 2.4% from last year this time. Our median sold price has rebounded and has risen and is only 1.2% behind 2009 year end median. In our rolling 12 months we are up 10.8% in sold units and our average sold price is only down by 3.7%. Sold units are only 85 units down from last month and down 153 from last October.

In the month of October we saw a decrease of 241 homes in our listing inventory, we have 5,150 homes on the market as of November 1st.  This continues to put us in a strong buyer’s market with a listing inventory of over a 16.8 month supply. With the low sales in October this affects our month supply with a change of 2.6 months from last month. Our average list price has stayed below the $400,000 range for the last year; we are currently at $364,097. In October we saw an increase in our seller concessions, it is now 25.6%. Our average days on the market are 121. The list to sold ratio is 93.0% and there is no change from last month; this number needs to continue to get better. The number of homes that sold in 15 days or less continues to remain very low, 18.0% of October sold homes. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.17% with an average 0.8 points for the week ending November 11, 2010. We have hit historic lows in mortgage rates. 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.

Listing Inventory

In October we saw a decrease in listing inventory of 241 units. We are about 146 units under November 1, 2009. We have 5,150 single family homes for sale in our MLS. The average list price of $364,097 is down by $801 from last month. The average list price has decreased by 4.8% from November 1, 2009.

Monthly Average Sold Price

Our monthly average sold price is up by 5.8% from last month and down .01% from October 2009. Our average sold price is up by $12,898.00 from last month. October average sold price ($236,985) shows an increase of 1.1% from year end 2009. Our average sold price is up by $321.00 from last October.

Monthly Sold Units

This month’s decline in the number of homes sold when compared to previous year is down 153 units. The number of sold homes is down 21.8% from last month and down 33.4% from October 2009. Last month we had 390 sold units and this month 305 sold units, last year in October we had 458 sold units.

While our current year to date numbers are lower than Year End 2009 they do show promising signs that our sales are on the upswing. The first ten months of 2010 has a 211 sold unit gain over first ten months of 2009. The average sales price is down 2.9% for the first ten months of 2010 than the first ten months of 2009. Our median sales price is just 1.2% behind 2009.

Median Sold Price

Our Median sold price rebounded this month an increase of 4.8% from last month, up to $181,500. Our national numbers lag by one month. Our median sales price dip from last month matches up with the national median for September. I am hoping we can see the national median sales price reverse its downward trend.

Pending

Pending Sales – A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not yet closed. Sales are typically finalized within one to two months from signing. I look at the total pending units on a regular basis and this is how they chart out. We saw our peak pending numbers about May 3^rd. We are actually up 2.3% from last month and we are down just 16.9% from November 2, 2009. With the tax credit benefits expired it will be interesting to see if our sales can improve going into early fall.

Market Absorption rate – The number of homes sold in October, 305 divided by the current listing inventory, 5,150 gives us a 16.8 month supply of single family homes. This increased by 2.6 months from last month. We need to get this inventory back under 12 months. With a large inventory and the few sales in October this affects our market absorption. With rates where they are and plenty of inventory; we can get this number down.

List to Sold price ratio – the average list price of the sold properties is $254,799 and the average sold price is $236,984 for October which gives us a 93.0% list to sold price ratio – a zero change from last month. We have now managed to stay under 95% for over a year and several months.

Seller Concessions – We had 25.6% of sold properties report a sales concession for October, an increase of 2.1%. We want this number to go lower.

Days on Market – The average days on market for the sold properties is now at 121 for October. That is about 4 months to keep a property on the market. Only 18.0% of the properties were placed under contract in less than 15 days for the month of October.

Carolina & Kure Beach

There are currently 405 single family homes for sale and this represents a 40 unit decrease over October 1, 2010 and 7.9% of our total WRAR inventory. The average list price is $412,359 a decrease of about $3,484 from October. In October there were 28 homes sold, divide that by the homes available and you have a 14.4 monthly supply of homes in Carolina and Kure Beach. The average sold price for the month of October was $263,439 and is up $11,864 from last month. When we look at our rolling 12 months November 1, 2009 to October 31, 2010 we have 327 homes sold at an average price of $284,291. While November 1, 2008 to October 31, 2009 we had 266 homes sold at an average price of $301,186.

This data was pulled on November 13, 2010, based on information from the Wilmington Regional Association of REALTORS Incorporated, for the period Jan. 1, 2005 through October 31, 2010. David Flory

Search all Wilmington NC real estate on www.cbbaker.com

The Wilmington- Cape Fear Homebuilders announced yesterday that the “housing affordability” in the Wilmington NC area remained near the highest level nationwide for the 6 consectutive month.  The Wilmington NC real estate prices have been lowered and the interest rates are favorable.   

This quote is from WWAY 3 from the president of Homebuilders “The possibility of homeownership is more obtainable for buyers in our market now than it has been for years,” said WCFHBA President John Lancaster of Venture Homes of the Carolinas. “More buyers are beginning to enter the market again thanks to renewed confidence as housing prices stabilize while the fed maintains all time low interest rates.”

Syracuse NY held the top spot on most affordable homes, with some smaller housing markets following close by Mansfield, Ohio; Bay City, Mich.; Monroe, Mich.; and Lansing-East Lansing, Mich.  Lancaster says “Our market is greatly influenced by what happens up north, so the numbers out of places like New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio are encouraging,”. 

That is encouraging news when the news lately has not been so positive.

Please take a minute to tour our website and search the Wilmington NC real estate area to find the house, neighborhood and price that you are looking for.  We have an inhouse Lender – Alpha Mortgage and an inhouse Insurance Agency – Real Mark Insurance and would be happy to give you contact information so that you have a “One Stop” Shop to buy real estate.   We make it easy for you.  Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty and Kay Baker and Associates.  Search all Wilmington NC real estate on www.cbbaker.com