StarnewsMedia is hosting the 2012 Concience Fair again this year at the Cape Fear Community College North Campus.  If you have not selected a New Years resolution, may you find one here at the fair.  Over 100 Non- Profits will be there with a whole list of needs.  A great time to scratch that “Volunteer” itch you have been having.  Wilmington NC is an awesome city and it is mainly because of it’s great people and giving attitude.  Join in, you will not be sorry.

The 2012 StarNews Media Conscience Fair is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, in the McKeithan Center at Cape Fear Community College’s North Campus, 4500 Blue Clay Road.

Nonprofit organizations present information about volunteer opportunities. To reserve a space – it’s free – visit StarNewsOnline.com/ConscienceFairand fill out the signup form.
The following nonprofits have signed up as of 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20.

ORGANIZATION NAME:   CONTACT PERSON   PHONE NUMBER   E-MAIL ADDRESS

International Seamen’s Center Ron Casterline 910-681-1603 rgcasterline@yahoo.com
St. Mary Health Center Laura Vinson-Garvey (910) 279-0643 lvinsongarvey@yahoo.com
Armor of God Ministries Debi Tucker 910-259-5062 debineedstime@yahoo.com
Love Is Bald Kelli N. Russell 910-264-6097 kellineese@hotmail.com
CUE Center for Missing Persons Melissa Neu 910.541.1626 cmneu@marketingflotsam.com
Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry, Inc. JC Skane 910.399.7563 info@warmnc.org
disAbility Resource Center Gloria Garton 910-815-6618 gloria.garton@drcwilmington.org
Moores Creek Conservation Alliance Nancy Keith 910-540-0179 moorescreekconservation@gmail.com
Cameron Art Museum Bo Dean 910-599-3995 ext 1010 bodean@cameronartmuseum.com
WHQR Public Radio Laura Hunsberger (910) 343-1640 laura@whqr.org
Church World Service/ CROP Walk Janet Magelli 910-616-1342 jmagelli@gmail.com
Arts Council of Wilmington and N.H.Co. Owen Wexler 910.790.3989 mowexler@aol.com
Foreign Exchange Student Program -PAX /STEP Tracy Bickel 910-632-4293 hostexchangestudent@gmail.com
PILOT CLUB OF WILMINGTON RAMONA ANDREWS, PRESIDENT 791-2733 – BUSINESS  612-0834  – CELL randrews@biz.ec.rr.com
Greater Porters Neck Area Foundation Yona Bar-Zeev 910n 686-5191 pnccyona@yahoo.com
The Arc of NC-Benefit Bank/ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site Brian Moeller (9100 538-9421 bmoeller@arcnc.org
The Full Belly Project Daniel Ling (910) 452-0975 fullbellyproject@gmail.com
WINGS MINISTRY Missy Settlemyre 910-512-7643 missy@wingsministriesinc.com
Religion News Wilmington Amanda Greene, local editor and community manager 910-471-9152 or 910-520-3958 Amanda.Greene@ReligionNews.com
Wilmington Health Access for Teens Emily Henley 910-202-4605 emilyhenley@whatswhat.org
Lifeguide  ( We will be sharing a booth with Guardian ad LItem as in the past two years.) Denny Smith 793-3472 densmi@bellsouth.net
ACCESS of Wilmington Inc. Dan Johnson, Chair  AND/OR  David Morrison, Vice Chair 910-962-3659 Johnsonde@uncw.edu  david.morrison87@yahoo.com
League of Women Voters of Lower Cape Fear Carole Ellis 910-791-0922 cellis13@ec.rr.com
OLD BRIDGE PRESERVATION SOCIETY Karen Dombrowski 910.579.9021 Rkd389@hotmail.com
First Book – New Hanover Co. Carol Barre 910-200-1441 cbarre1250@ec.rr.com
First Book New Hanover County John Osinski 910-962-4271 osinskij@uncw.edu
The Affordable Housing Coalition ofSoutheastern NC Toni Melvin Whitaker  Acting Executive Director (910) 599-0348 toniwhit@ec.rr.com
Buy Local ILM Gayle Tabor 910.471.7627 hello@buylocalilm.com
S.H.A.R.E. Briana Kelly 910-431-6418 Brianamkelly@hotmail.com
Trinity Grove Ms. Noel Schuler 910-442-3016 nschuler@trinitygrove.net
MADGRL  Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League Arlene Hubner 910-845-5143 ahubner@ec.rr.com
The Warrior Ride Debra/Bob Racine 910-278-4612 teamracine@thewarriorride.org
Elderhaus PACE Amy Derck (910) 338-2757 amy.derck@elderhaus.com
KAIROS Prison Ministries Intl. Gordon Keifer 256-5781 gordonkeifer@hotmail.com
Wilmington Prostate Cancer Support Group, Us TOO George Gardner 792-9953 wproscasupportgp@aol.com
Bellamy Mansion Museum Gareth Evans 910.251.3700 gareth@bellamymansion.org
Oceana Zachary Keith 321-356-6603 zkeith@oceana.org
Junior Achievement of the Cape Fear Region Courtney Hickman 910-462-3690 chickman@jacarolinas.org
Project Linus Sharon Black 910-681-0452 slhblack@bellsouth.net
Guardian ad Litem Program of the 5th Judicial District Lynne Fender or Liz Kachris-Jones 910-616-8960 or 910-520-4035 lfender@ec.rr.com or  liz.k.jones@nccourts.org
Wilmington Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group Burt Masters, Co-Leader, Wilmington MS Spt Gp (910) 383-1368 happyheim@peoplepc.com
Interfaith Refugee Ministry Sarah Kingsley 910-538-0714 skingsley@helpingrefugees.org
Carolina Vocal Arts Ensemble Beverly Cree 910.799.9977 bjcree@gmail.com
Occupy Wilmington NC Roxanne Kirtright 910 380 1690 araweggandastorm@gmail.com
The Friends of the New Hanover County Public Library Ruth M. Brown 910-256-5482 ruthbrown@bellsouth.net
Cape Fear Coalition for a Drug-Free Tomorrow Diane Edwards 962-7432 edwardsd@uncw.edu
The Carousel Center Tira Hanrahan (910) 254 – 9898 ext. 218 tira.hanrahan@carouselcenter.org
Monty’s Home Barb Raab 910-259-7911 info@montyshome.org
Cape Fear Clinic, Inc.  (Formerly Tileston Health Clinic) John Devaney, Executive Director 910-343-8736 jdevaney@capefearclinic.org
American Red Cross- Cape Fear Chapter Wendy Flynn (910) 762-2683 ext 328 flynnw@usa.redcross.org
Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina at Wilmington Jeff Rose 910-251-1465 ext 2205 jrose@foodbankcenc.org
(WRAAP) Wilmington’s Residential Adolescent Achievement Place, Inc. Daryl Dockery 910.392.6007 daryldock@aol.com
Airlie Gardens Flo Berry 910-798-7566 Fberry@nhcgov.com
NC Coastal Federation Ted Wilgis 910-509-2838 tedw@nccoast.org
Phoenix Employment Ministry Don Skinner 910-343-8469 phoenixesw@bellsouth.net
Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter Tracy Register / Jason Clamme 910-512-7559 or 910-796-7981 tracy.register@lcfh.org or jason.clamme@lcfh.org
Domestic Violence Shelter and Services, Inc. Andrea Stough 910-343-0703 dvoutreach@earthlink.net
Wrightsville Beach Museum of History Madeline Flagler 910-256-2569 wbmuseum@bizec.rr.com
Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Melissa Clary 910-763-3114 mclary@mdausa.org
Wilmington SCORE Sara Raleigh 910-409-9865 sraleigh@ec.rr.com
Coastal Horizons Center, Inc.  Crisis Intervention Services Julie Ozier, LCSW or   Celine Adair, LMFT (910) 392-6936 jozier@coastalhorizons.org
American Red Cross – Cape Fear Chapter Wendy Flynn 910-762-2683 ext.328 flynnw@usa.redcross.org
Brunswick County Volunteer Center Jayne W. Mathews 910-253-2574 jmathews@brunswickes.com
YWCA Lower Cape Fear Katie Nelson 910-799-6820 ext 104 volunteers@ywca-lowercapefear.org
New Hanover High School Army JROTC LTC James M. Chaffins (910) 520 – 7244 james.chaffins@nhcs.net
Comfort Socks Theresa Tese 9102698577 theresa@comfortsocksonline.org
CHILD ADVOCACY & PARENTING PLACE (CAPP CENTER) ELIZABETH K. MANDEL 910-791-1057 MANDELL@CAPPCENTER.ORG
SEACC (Southeastern Alliance for Community Change) Steve Lee 910-791-4877 seacc1@gmail.com
Brunswick Christian Recovery Center Ouida Hewett 910-842-6017 ouida@atmc.net
OPTIMIST CLUB OF WINTER PARK CHUCK KUEBLER 910-392-7760 charleskuebler@gmail.com
Elderhaus Adult Day Care Trudy Tann (910)251-0660 trudy.tann@elderhaus.com
Brunswick Family Assistance Agency Lora Moree 910-754-4777x 103 lorabfa@gmail.com
Amercan Radio Relay League Glenn Cox 910 431 3875 ke4bmy@hotmail.com
“Bread for Life….” Ministry Claudette Fiskin, MSW 910-343-5276 Bread4life.ministry@gmail.com
Cape Fear Literacy Council Rachel LaCoe 910-251-0911 rlacoe@cfliteracy.org
Canines for Service (formerly Carolina Canines for Service) Laura Kranchalk 910-362-8181 lkranchalk@caninesforservice.org
Pretty In Pink Foundation Joy Wade 910-620-9871 jwade@prettyinpinkfoundation.org
Paws Place Inc.  3701 E. Boiling Spring Rd.  Winnabow, NC 28479 Peggy Durso 910-253-9258 peggydurso@ec.rr.com
New Hanover Regional Medical Center Eileen McConville 815.5317 eileen.mcconville@nhrmc.org
A.R.R.L. The Amercican Radio Relay League Glenn Cox 910 431 3875 ke4bmy@hotmail.com
Cape Fear Volunteer Center Annie Anthony 910-392-8180 cfvcdirector@gmail.com

Wilmington NC is getting  a Miracle Field for the new Miracle League.  Accessible Coastal Carolina Events Sports and Services (ACCESS) was started to bring the field to the area. “The overall mission of ACCESS is to not only provide an opportunity for those who have not yet had the chance to experience the power of play and the joy of sports but to also show the importance of inclusion within a community. Creating a place where people of all ages, races, and abilities can actively participate together, will naturally allow relationships to develop as people share interest. More importantly it is opening the door to a better world for everyone.” The Miracle League was started in the late 1990′s in Rockdale Youth Baseball program in Atlanta.  They recognized the need to include all children in a sport regardless of their abilities.  Hence the Miracle Field was started.  People of all abilities and ages could play baseball.  Eventually the fields were made to  have a rubber, non-latex surface that is helpful and safe for persons with any mobility difficulties.  The Wilmington area is excited to participate in such a wonderful project.  The fields will be built at Olson Fields off Murrayville Road. There will be playgrounds for all abilities and restrooms.  The project has raised 87.5% of it’s goal of 1.2 million dollars.  If you would like to donate in someones name as a gift for Christmas, what a great way to honor them.  The Miracle Field is truly a “miracle”  Please watch this video of the Wilmington Miracle Field.  For more information or to donate online, please visit www.miracleleaguewilm.org/

PRICING:

Beat Your Competition To The Contract

To sell your home quickly for top dollar in today’s market, the best move you can make is to price the property at its current market value. When you set the right price on your home, you have an edge on your competition.

Here’s how setting the right price helps you:

You tap the pent-up demand of buyers who have already seen everything on the market and are waiting for new home listings.

You target the right group of prospects — the ones who can afford your home and are looking at similar properties.

Your home will compare favorably with other homes potential buyers see because yours will look better than overpriced homes in your category.

Perils Of Overpricing

Overpricing your home gives the advantage to your competition — the other homes on the market. The buyers you want to attract won’t see your home because they are only looking at homes listed in their price range.

Prospective buyers who do see your home realize they can get a better deal elsewhere. If it’s your home they want, they may choose to wait until you lower the price. And if you do reduce the price, other potential buyers wonder why the home has been on the market so long.

The right price is determined by the size, condition and location of your home, what comparable homes are selling for at the time you list yours, and the balance of supply and demand in your area.

Strategic Pricing

Setting the best price to list your home is part science, part art. There are several aspects of the home’s value we consider when making pricing recommendations.

1. Comparison. Where does your home fit in the Wilmington NC marketplace? It should be priced to be competitive with comparable homes in the same area.

2. Negotiation. The price should allow some space to make concessions in order to close the deal.

3. Return. The listing price should be set so you net the most money possible from the sale.

4. Target. Ideally, the price is adjusted to the top of a multiple listing category, so the home’s features compare favorably with lower-priced homes in the range. (If it is placed at the bottom of the next higher price grouping, the higher-priced homes will look better and sell more quickly.)

Other Factors

Unfortunately, what you paid for your home is not a factor in determining its market value. Neither is what you would like to get out of the home. Some home improvements you’ve made may add to the market value, however. Having the home in picture-perfect condition from the first day of the listing may also increase the value of your home. But mostly, these will help you sell faster, and that could mean a sale price close to your asking price.

Call us to find out more about how you can price your Wilmington NC real estate to sell it quickly. We’ll be happy to conduct a FREE market analysis to find the best price for listing your home.

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.

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

Masonboro Island NC on July 4th

The efforts of Masonboro.org in educating people who visited Masonboro Island on the weekend of the 4th was successful.  The volunteers went around in red shirts and handed out trash bags so the people could take their trash with them.  Richard Johnson the founder of Masonboro.org says “that we do not need any more rules.”  The crowds and the trash from prior years celebrations caught the eyes of lawyers looking to make rules for the Island Reserve.  The Masonboro.org group stepped up and helped police the island.  The crowds were smaller and well behaved this year, so their efforts seemed to have worked.  Thank you for your dedication.

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 to  Masonboro Island, normally calm and peaceful, has recently seen a little too much partying and alchohol consumption on big Holiday weekends such as July 4th and Labor Day. Boaters from all over the Southeast join in on a big party weekend.  So, if you plan to visit the island, be sure to keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum and take your garbage with you.

Masonboro Island is also located only minutes from the mainland where you will see prestigious waterfront communities with private docks, marinas, and boat ramps for homeowners. One of the most conveniently located communities to Masonboro Island is Shinn Point, located straight across from Masonboro Inlet, which is one of the most protected inlets on the East coast. From Shinn Point, you can be in the ocean in just minutes for a day of deep sea fishing or just cruise over to Masonboro Island and relax in the sun.

For complete details on all waterfront communities in Wilmington, NC or Wilmington, NC real estate, please feel free to contact me or go to my website at www.cbbaker.com.

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.

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

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)

The latest costs of living results have come out for Wilmington NC.  The 2nd quarter cost of living index dipped slightly below average according to the national ACCRA cost of living survey.  The results put Wilmington at 98.6, based on the national average index of 100.  The first quarter average was right at 100.0. 

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.