Wilmington NC Real Estate Blog

For a growing number of people, dogs are part of the family----I know mine are. They are treated like my own flesh and blood children. Just take a walk around our town on any given day (especially on a sunny day) and you'll see more dogs than you may have expected. Wilmington dog owners are very responsible, taking them for daily walks, keeping their pets on a leash and cleaning up after them. But what about the times you want to let your dog’s run around off of the leash and burn up some excess energy? Here are some places to go with your dog:

Empie Park Dog Park

3405 Park Ave

Completely fenced in with large and small dog areas, water and pet waste areas plus lots of shaded areas. It's free.

Hugh McRae Dog Park

314 Pine Grove Drive

Shaded with picnic tables, not fenced in. Free and open dawn to dusk.

Ogden Dog Park

615 Ogden Park Drive (off Gordon Rd)

Fenced in area, mostly sand, plenty of shade. Water faucets for water bowls. Free.

Rules to follow when going to the park with your dog(s).....

A. Always clean up after your dog.

B. Children under 12 not allowed without adult.

C. Dogs must have current license and vaccinations.

D. Persistent mounting or other dominate behavior not permitted.

E. Food and toys not allowed in park.

F. Active supervision required.

G. Do not leave dogs unattended.

H. Female dogs in heat prohibited.

I. Puppies less than 4 months prohibited.

I have several recipes I use to make my own doggie treats but this is my dogs' favorite one.

Sweet Potato Doggie Treats

1 Sweet Potato (1 Cup)

2 1/2 C Whole Wheat Flour

1/4 C Applesauce

2 Eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Prick sweet potato, put in microwave about 6 minutes. Cut in half, scoop out flesh & put in bowl with flour, applesauce and eggs. Turn out on floured surface and roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with bone shaped cookie cutter. Bake 35 to 45 minutes. I store in frig if they don't eat them up in a few days.

Watch for my blog next time for more information on pet sitters, pet walkers, dog friendly beaches in the area, groomers, and local Vets.  If you'd like to contribute your favorite doggie treat recipe or tell me of your favorite vet and why, or anything similar, I'll put it in my next blog.

Thank you for taking the time to ready this........

Janeise Collins, Realtor/Broker

BlueCoast Realty Corporation

910-520-0142 mobile

910-920-9062 e-fax

910-319-0306 home

JCollins@BlueCoastRealEstate.com

JANSHASA@aol.com

Step 1 – plan a yard sale!

Go through your furniture and possessions on paper and figure out what you’re going to want to move and what you’re going to need at your new place. You might be planning on making some new purchases to fit your new place, so you’re not going to want or need to take that old stuff with you, so why pay someone to move it?

Also – don’t forget to get rid of things that you don’t use or won’t plan to use anymore. For instance; planning to move from Boston to Wilmington? You’re not going to need that snow shovel here!

Step 2 – get estimates from movers

Once you’ve planned your yard sale and know approximately how much you’re going to be moving, you’ll want to get started on hiring a mover. On that note – they may be expensive, but this is something that is totally worth the cost. Moving (the planning, the closing, the coordinating) is enough to deal with on its own; you’re not going to want that extra stress of physical exhaustion on top of that. If your friends and family want to help – by all means, put them to work! Just have them help box up personal belongings and/or help you unpack and decorate. That’s the fun part! Movers know what they’re doing and they do it quickly and efficiently. While looking for a mover, be sure to not only compare multiple companies, but also look for movers that are licensed and bonded and insured. This will give you some assurance that these guys are able to safely move your belongings, but also legally drive them to your destination!

Step 3 – Boxes!

This is something that you don’t want to skimp on. Your well-meaning family and friends may suggest that you get some boxes at the grocery store or use some old boxes they have in their basement. Don’t. You can try to find a good deal on used moving boxes on your local Craigslist page or something, just make sure they’ve only been used once or twice (they’ll start to lose their sturdiness) and that they’re true “moving boxes.” You wouldn’t want to put your grandmother’s china in a distressed, broken box, would you? The right moving boxes can be expensive, but not as expensive as replacing your valuables. Also – you’ll see different types of boxes (small, medium, large, dish packs and wardrobes notably). Use these boxes accordingly! They’ll make packing, moving and unpacking MUCH easier. Wardrobe boxes are exactly as they sound – for your clothes. They are tall and have a metal bar that you can hang your clothes on, with room below to throw in socks, t-shirts and such. Dish packs, like wardrobe boxes are also very sturdy and like their name suggests, they’re for dishes. And when you’re packing your dishes and other valuables – be sure to use packing paper. Don’t use newspaper!!! I repeat – do NOT use newspaper! You might find that the print will rub off on your plates, glasses and whatever else it touches. Not to mention, your hands will be black by the time you’ve finished packing/unpacking the box. You can find packing paper at Lowe’s, Home Depot and any moving supply company. It’s not expensive and completely worth the cost.

Step 4 – Start packing

Start with the items that you will not need to use in the coming weeks. I.e. – décor and frames and any off season clothing. As the weeks go by, you’ll start to recognize other things you may not need until you unpack at your new place. And those suitcases – you’ll need to save those for the move. Think of the week leading up to and the week following your move as a vacation (haha – not really, right?). You’ll pack your bags with clothes and items needed only for those weeks.

Step 5 – Notify

Notify neighbors, friends, family and the post office of your new address so that you will not lose any correspondence. On this note – be sure that your bank and any other important accounts are notified of your new address because your mail will only be forwarded temporarily.

Step 6 – Utilities

No later than two weeks prior to your move – notify your old utility accounts that you will either be stopping or transferring service. If you have to set up a new account at your new home, be sure to know what you need to provide to do this. They may require your HUD statement to prove that you do, in fact live at the location provided (they will understand that you may not be able to provide this until the day of closing). And be sure to set this up in plenty of time. Some power companies require a few days’ notice and you’re not going to be a happy camper if you’re… well, camping out in your new house after a long day of moving.

Step 7 - Food

What to do with all of the food in your fridge and pantry? In the last weeks preceding your move, be sure to plan your meals around the food you have. Depending on where you’re moving (in town – cross country), you may not be able to take much with you, but try not to waste it! Then, the day of or before your move, you can ask neighbors if they need that dozen of eggs or carton of milk.

Tips

When packing boxes – be sure to not only label what is in the box (you’ll be happy you did this when you’re looking for little Sam’s teddy bear with the blankie attached at midnight at your new house), but also make note (in a very large way) of what room the box belongs in. You’re not going to want to be hauling boxes up and down the stairs when you just paid movers to do that because the boxes were not put in the proper location. Many moving boxes have a label on them within which you can mark which room they belong. Use it!

Get more boxes than you think you need. You can actually sell them back to the moving store or you can always sell them on Craigslist for a good amount. You won’t want to have loose items when moving day arrives. You’re going to have more than just a bag’s worth of those items and you’ll be happy that you have the extra boxes. And your movers will thank you!

Be sure to stand at the front door of your new home when the movers arrive. You’ll be able to give notes as to where furniture and any unmarked boxes belong.

Good luck to you on your move!  If you have any questions about anything, please feel free to contact me.    Carrie@CoastalCarolinaProperties.com

Carrie Upchurch

910.833.4947

I know you are tired of hearing about Short Sales in Wilmington NC with my blog post so I am going to change it up a little this time (not to mention I don't know if I anything else to say about them- Ha). What I want to talk about today is one of my favorite topics ever - Where is a good place to eat while visiting Wilmington? This is a question I get asked just about as much as "How much is this house" when visitors are trying to decide on whether or not Wilmington will be the place for them to live. Luckily, we have some great spots here in Wilmington to make your belly feel good.

If you are visiting for the first time, you have to go out to Wrightsville Beach and sit on the water and enjoy the views of boats passing by. There are a few good spots. If you are looking to sit down and have a good semi-formal dinner or lunch, the place to go is BlueWater. They have a great selection of food including fresh seafood specials. I have yet to have one that I didn't like. Here is their website - http://www.bluewaterdining.com/ . Across the Intracoastal, there are 3 great spots as well. The Fish House, Bridgetender  and Dockside. You honestly can't go wrong with any of these places. Life seems to always slow down when I am at any one of these places.

If you are visiting the Wilmington area and you are a looking for good Asian food, here are my recommendations. If you are looking at siting down and enjoying a hibachi style meal, Okami near UNCW is the place to go. Always fun and the food is great. If you are looking for just Sushi, there are 2 places that I really like - Nikki's and Yosake (Yosake has a great atmosphere!). For Chinese, it has to be Double Happiness. Thai / Vietnamese, you have to go experience Indochine - this is a MUST.

I could go on forever about food in this town, however, blogging doesn't pay the bills. So here are a few more places that I would recommend going:

Sports Bar - Hells Kitchen (downtown) or Captain Bills.

Sandwich Shop - Chop's Deli or Sweet and Savory.

Best Hamburgers - Parchies BBQ

Best Pizza - Slice of Life

Oyster Bar - Shuckin Shack or Dock Street Oyster Bar

Wilmington is a great place to live. I moved here back in 2005 and I call it home now. I hope this helps.

Written By:  BlueCoast agent Kirby Keene

It’s the start of another year, a perfect time to make positive changes that will benefit you for the rest of 2013 and beyond. You may have already made some changes when it comes to your health, your family or your work. Want to make a change in 2013 and sell your home in 2013? Or has your home been on the market and the listing has gotten stale? Why not make some real resolutions when it comes to marketing your property? 

 1. First, and you probably know this is coming, clean out your stuff. If you haven’t taken down your holiday decorations, that is an excellent place to start. Then clean up all the pine needles and get cracking on focusing on what you really need in your home. The number one rule is don’t keep what you don’t need and are not likely to need in years to come. A cluttered house is one of the biggest negatives for potential buyers when they view your home. This is really hard for some people, but be realistic and tough on the packrat in you. Make 3 piles: a toss pile, a give away pile and a keep pile. The keep pile is the only one that should stay in the house. If you are just TOO much of a packrat to part with the other 2 piles, then it might make sense to get a storage room temporarily for extra furniture, boxes, out of season clothes, that you will need in the next house but those items are making your current home too cluttered.

2. Now organize and clean it up! Take those items that you are keeping and really organize your cabinets, closets, etc. The very best way to organize your storage areas is to remove all the contents, organize them and put them back. Baskets, bins, and other handy storage helpers are readily available at the big box stores, office supply stores, and other retailers. There are even stores and websites dedicated exclusively to “storage stuff”! Treat yourself to a deep professional cleaning to start the year off right.

3. A fresh coat of paint. The number one way to freshen up a property is with a paint brush. It is one of the least expensive too! Brighten up a dark room with a light, neutral tone. At once, smudged dirty walls are gone and it’s a brand new room. At one time, painting every room a different bright color was all the rage. Now, neutral colors used throughout the home create a soothing flow so buyers can see themselves living in the space. Not handy with a roller? There are many many reasonable painters that would jump at the chance to do the job. Ask your neighbors or real estate agent to make some suggestions.

 4. The price is right. Finally, there is the price. Have you tried all these things and your home is still on the market? If you have eliminated any negatives, cleaned out, organized, even painted or make other changes that enhance the property, but no one has make an offer... the price is probably just too high. Why chase the market down in price? Go ahead and make that price adjustment early in the year, get a contract and move on. Even if you feel you are “losing too much money”, the next home you buy is likely to be an incredible deal.

Written By:  BlueCoast Agent Shannon Andrews

At BlueCoast Realty Corporation, we provide the best customer service available. We understand that real estate can be a complicated and sometimes frustrating and that many times when thinking of buying or selling a home, you can get easily overwhelmed trying to figure out how and with whom you want to start the process. That's why we're here to make it easy for you.

BlueCoast Realty Corporation is one of Wilmington's top producing real estate firms with a team of knowledgeable and professional brokers, many whom specialize on a particular area or region. With one main office on Military Cutoff  Road, BlueCoast is able to represent the entire Southeastern Coastal Carolina region.

We have specialists that can help you through any part of the sales process. If you are belly up and trying to figure out how to get out from underneath your mortgage, we have specialists that can help. If you are heading towards foreclosure process and think you can short sale your house first, we have specialists that can  heIp.  If you have any questions about the loan process or need to get pre-qualified, BlueCoast has an in house lender, Troy Williamson. Troy, who works with PrimeLending, is very helpful in assisting buyers with any of their financial concerns. If you need to contact him go to http://www.troyismylender.com/.

If you're interested in property in the Carolina Beach area, Jeff  Humphrey is the BlueCoast Specialist to use. Since 2007,Jeff has been heIping buyers and sellers with their real estate needs along the coastal sands of Carolina Beach.   With a state of the art website and BlueCoast technology, Jeff can help you to easily find the ideal home or sell your property in Carolina Beach. A seasoned broker, Jeff has listed and sold numerous properties in Carolina Beach and welcomed many new buyers to the area in properties that he helped them purchase. He "thinks the process of buying and selling your home should be an enjoyable experience that you will never forget.

If you live in Carolina Beach and are interested in trying to sell your home contact Jeff today. He will be able to provide you with a current market analysis ,a broker's price opinion and a strategic plan to help you sell your home. Schedule a meeting or on-site visit today jeff.humphrey@bluecoastrealestate.com.

If interested in learning more about what's on the market in Carolina Beach or surrounding coastal communities, call Jeff at 910-443-7558. With access to every home on the market, Jeff can provide a tour at any time. Call today.

Now that you (seller) have decided to sell your home you will want to get it ready for buyer viewings. The objective is to get your home looking as close to a model home as possible. Homes that are staged well sell faster than ones that ones are personalized, cluttered and not well maintained. If you follow my Staging tips, you will have great response in selling your home!

1. Commit yourself to understanding that your home is now a house. I always suggest that the seller walks through the house like you are seeing it for the first time, just as a buyer would when they come to look at your house. This way you pretend to be someone else in your own home and it helps you get an idea of what someone else might like or dislike about the house.
2. Now with your new set of eyes, remove all the family photos and memorabilia, pack them up and store them in the attic or garage. It is easier for a buyer to view the home without the distraction of family photos. You want them to imagine themselves in the house, and not think about the family that lives there now.
3. Make sure the rooms are not too crowded with furniture. As the seller you will always want to make the home look as large and clutter free as possible by removing some larger pieces of furniture, which might over power rooms in size. Don’t block outside doors with furniture as you want buyers to be able to access the back yard or patio easily. Though not ideal, you may have to find alternative storage outside your home during the selling process.
4. De-cluttering is the name of the game! Clear and tidy all surfaces including kitchen counters, bathroom vanities, occasional tables in the living room, and bedside tables in all bedrooms. The less personalized ‘stuff’ on surfaces the larger the rooms look, and the more buyers can envision themselves in the house. A few strategically placed items on tables can enhance the room rather than making it look cluttered and give a buyer the ability to visualize their own things in place.
5. Everyone loves closets. Closet space is really important to most buyers so don’t just stuff things in closets or pile boxes on the floors. Instead tidy the closets to make them look spacious. And like extra or oversized furniture - if there is not enough space, it may better to pack things away and store off site – so the closets look spacious.
6. If a seller wants to go a little further to getting the home sold quickly and look more like a model home, I highly recommend changing some walls colors if needed. If the walls are too bright, too dark or very scuffed, it is better to spend a little money on fresh paint in more neutral tones than to scare away potential buyers who may not appreciate the colors in the home.
7. Make sure you have enough good lighting in your home. If the home is dark think about adding some floor lamps and table lamps. Make sure all light bulbs are working and replace any that are burned out. Keep curtains and blinds open and always leave lights on for REALTOR showings. This helps the home look cheerful, bright and welcoming.
8. Lastly, right before you begin to show your house - make sure everything is as clean and sparkling as possible. From the windows, carpets, floors, kitchen cabinets, bathrooms etc. make sure everything is clean and smells good. If you have pets make sure that furniture is hair/fur free and litter areas are always clean. Crate or remove your animals for showings.
9. Now you are ready to sell!

Written By:  BlueCoast agent Lorna Boa

Imagine standing quietly in the shaded depth of forest.   Towering Longleaf Pines, 150 feet tall with trunks 4 feet thick, and foot-long sage green needles sway gently with the warm breeze over your head.

That would only have been possible over 200 years ago.  With this in mind, North Carolina Land Trust is envisioning Brunswick Nature Park as a restoration site for the Longleaf Pine as well as the wildlife that depends on the forests for their natural habitat.

The Longleaf Pine was prolific in the southern region and it characterized the North Carolina Coastal Plain.  But early colonists and businessmen discovered that it provided a strong wood which was perfect for expansive construction of buildings, bridges and factories.  Its sap was tapped for turpentine, tar and rosin.  Tall, straight, durable tree trunks were also used for sail masts for ships.  More than 97% of the natural Longleaf Pines have been destroyed and the indigenous wildlife that calls the forests home, threatened.

The North Carolina Land Trust, assisted by The NC Clean Water Management Trust purchased 912 acres of land in Brunswick County from International Paper Company specifically with the intent of protecting the water quality of Town Creek and establishing a restoration site for the Longleaf Pine.  Ownership was transferred to Brunswick County in 2005 and Brunswick Nature Park was born. 

In August, 6300 Longleaf Pine seedlings were planted on 25 acres at the entrance of the park and logging is continuing in order to facilitate a manageable ecosystem.

Under the conservancy of the land trust, Brunswick Nature Park is developing as a passive recreation area with a kayak and canoe launch, hiking, biking and equestrian trails.  It is located in Winnabow, on Hwy 133 almost halfway between Leland and Southport.  It is open daily from dawn to dusk.

To find your dream home close to Brunswick Nature Park, please call Cindi Palazzi, (336) 263-2232!

Most of my friends in Wilmington enjoy eating out and with the number of restaurants

growing daily, we are a busy group. Of course, our very own downtown Wilmington

offers so many options- I could go out to dinner every night for a month and still not

enjoy all of them!

Let’s become acquainted with the variety of eateries available by picking up the Official

Visitor’s Guide and go straight to pages 32 and 33 to peruse the long list of restaurant

names, address and contact information. Also included is a list of meal costs and

cuisine type.

Since Wilmington has become such a cosmopolitan place with a million places to eat, I

am going to let you in on the restaurants that my crew frequents. Let’s start with dinner.

Aubriana’s Restaurant is the first one on my list, and boy do I have great memories of

that meal. Ambiance, service, food quality and location is all found in this beautiful

eatery. Situated in an historic building in the heart of downtown, my friend and I supped

on a wonderful pear and goat cheese salad, lamb lollipops and a decadent chocolate

cake. I put Aubriana’s in my top five list of downtown restaurants.

Next up is Manna Restaurant, a truly divine place with a new menu every week. Manna

is the essential farm to table dining experience which I always begin with their infamous

beet box salad. I recently attended a private event and dined on fresh oysters, shrimp,

and a variety of exquisite cheeses. Now with Manna, you will experience the best

“specialty drink list” in the area. The bartenders mix up magical potions that are always

new and different. Check it out on Princess Street-you’ll feel like you’ve just walked into

a cool upper west spot in Manhattan!

During the summer months, I frequent a riverside french cafe and wine bar, Le Catalan.

Besides being the most charming bistro reminiscent of my trips to Paris, it has delicious

quiches and mini deserts. The wine list is a perfect compliment to the “small eats” at Le

Catalan.. during the winter months, I get my french fix at Caprice Bistro. Since I love a

good Gibson martini and Caprice happens to have one of the coolest martini bars

upstairs, I cozy up on one of their couches and immediately order up a plate of pommes

frites and a Gibson. Caprice has the best of both!

Lunch spots galore downtown and for a quick run down, let’s start with The Basic, one

of my favorite lunch spots with fresh salads, delicious sandwiches and homemade

soups. And prices for the freshest food in town is reasonable at The Basic, located in

the Cotton Exchange. For a killer brunch and an eyeful of local art, check out The

Deluxe..great bloody mary’s to go with wonderful eggs benedict! Bon Appetit!

Written By:  BlueCoast Agent Dee Pearce

Welcome to Pelican Reef.  Home to over 250 families. Developed by Don & Rebecca Rhine in 1995. Private roads named after birds, like Royal Tern, Canvasback, Daffy, Loon, Whimbrel, Duck and Caspian Tern to name a few. Trees have been preserved. No two houses are alike. And any builder can buy a lot and build a minimum heated square foot house of 2000 ft. except the waterfront houses must be 2500 hsf. All plans must be approved by the Architectural Review Committee. Located halfway between Wilmington and Jacksonville in Pender County where there are no city taxes and award winning Topsail Schools. Two swimming pools, a kiddie pool and an adult pool, two tennis courts, a fitness center with state of the art exercise equipment, a boat corral, and a waterfront clubhouse with pier for everyone's enjoyment. Approximately 10 minutes to Topsail Island beaches or less than 30 minutes to drive into Wilmington. Smaller cottage style homes at the entrance, larger homes interior and all brick 2 & 3 bedroom patio homes in the Heron Pond section of Pelican Reef. Please let us know if you'd like more information on lots or houses currently listed for sale.

Janeise Collins, Realtor/Broker

BlueCoast Realty Corporation

910-520-0142 mobile

910-920-9062 e-fax

910-319-0306 home

JCollins@BlueCoastRealEstate.com

JANSHASA@aol.com

Enjoy Condo Living in Downtown Wilmington

Downtown Wilmington offers an array of amenities for the sophisticated buyer.

This condo in The Mercantile is close to shopping, dining and a short stroll to Wilmington’s River walk.

The airport is 5 minutes away and the beaches a 10 to 15 minute drive.

The Mercantile is a secure building with private code for access.  It has recently been painted and new carpet installed in the common areas.

Unit   302 offers 2 bedrooms and 2 baths,   dark hardwood floors, very tall ceilings and big windows, overlooking the downtown area of Brooklyn Heights.  Extras include new modern light fixtures, refrigerator and washer /dryer.

This downtown gem is priced at $149,900, and 2 years HOA dues will be paid by seller with acceptable offer.

Call me today for a viewing.  Barbara Katlen

Broker/REALTOR

Blue Coast Real Estate

910-352-6852