Wilmington NC Real Estate Blog

Are you one of those people that anxiously wait for midnight following a hefty Thanksgiving dinner?  Do you spend most of your Thanksgiving Day resting, eating, and preparing for that middle of the night trip to knock out your holiday gift list and take advantage of those door buster savings? I know of some people that create a gift/wish list for an entire year with the ambition of collecting it all on Black Friday with discounted prices and the spirit of spending in the air.

Let me tell you, Wilmington can hold its’ own when it comes to stores and great shopping!! There are many stores and malls to provide you with endless shopping options.  Personally I like to shop locally just to support the local economy.  Sure it’s also just as easy to enjoy shopping from the comfort of your own home online instead of dealing with all those other “Black Fridayholics” but I think it’s important to support where you live so that it builds sustainability.  When it comes to shopping in Wilmington there is a lot of diversity offered.  There are fantastic boutiques and pretty much a bit of everything else.

In addition to the great shops, and already great local markets Wilmington recently welcomed Whole Foods and Trader Joes.  Independence Mall and that entire area is flourishing with new stores.  Mayfaire and Landfall are incredible and fun to spend the day just walking around, eating your hearts delight and getting all the retail therapy you need. There’s Lumina Station and the exquisite boutiques and exceptional fine dining.  Downtown Wilmington you can always find something for everyone! For the surfers and beach lovers, don’t forget about the Wrightsville Beach surf shops to find what they love!

As far as shopping goes, real estate is truly a great way to invest.  I have access to every home and property on the market in Wilmington and surrounding coastal communities.  If it’s an ocean front or marsh vies that you love or having access to a dock and the IntraCoastal WaterWay, I can help you find it. CLICK HERE to find out what might be on the market or feel free to contact Steve Gaconnier at 910-431-1181 or email sg4868@bluecoastrealestate.com.

‘Tis the season to break out the boots, scarfs, and mittens….the holidays and cold temperatures are upon us once again! One great way to kick off the holiday season is to attend the 29th annual Wrightsville Beach Holiday Flotilla on Saturday November 24th, 2012.

The flotilla takes place every year at Wrightsville Beach the weekend after Thanksgiving. It is a magical holiday display of yachts, sail boats and little johns all decked out with Christmas lights and holiday cheer. The night before the event there will be a tree-lighting ceremony November 23rd at Wrightsville Beach town hall and also the “Anchors Away Launch Party” . The party is a get together for all the captains of the vessels and who over else would like to come part take in the fun. It is hosted at the Blockade Runner and begins at 7:00pm on 11/23. The tickets to the party are $25.00 per person and can be purchased on the website: http://www.ncholidayflotilla.org. This year’s entertainment is provided by the popular party band BrickHouse.

On the day of the Flotilla the fun begins with the festival in the park that starts at 10:00am and goes until 4:00pm. There will be delicious food, inflatable houses for the kiddies and varies booths with local artsand crafts to purchase as well as an antique car show. To register your antique car to display click here:                                                                                                http://www.ncholidayflotilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Car-Show-Registration-Form1.pdf.

The Boat Parade will kick off with a small fireworks display lasting about 20 minutes, then you will see the beautiful lit up boats as they float down the channel. There will be $7,500 in cash and prizes for the winning boats, and let’s not forget the four night stay at the oh so beautiful Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas!! The boats will be judged on lights, creativity, decorations and costumes. To enter your boat in the flotilla click here: http://www.ncholidayflotilla.org/enter-a-boat/.

Don’t miss out on the family fun event!

Written By:  BlueCoast agent Carly Gravely

This late model craftsman style home with a rocking chair front porch is quite a unique offering in the most desirable community of Laurel Lea. The neighborhood offers amenities such as community swimming pool, large lake for canoeing and rowing with a boathouse and dock plus picnic and activity field. Purchase of this home also includes your new 15 ft. Row boat!
This spacious and open floor plan has 3bedrooms, 2 baths located on the second floor, while the main level includes a formal dining room, living room, large kitchen, breakfast area all opening into the great family room under wonderful vaulted ceilings. There are 2 screened in porches on this fist level, and a wonderful balcony porch on the master suite. All porch areas are accessed through wonderful french doors. The back patio takes you to a lovely yard that has a new childs play gym station, built in dog run, 2 car garage, all enclosed by decorative white picket fencing.
This nearly 2300 sq.ft. offers room for a growing young family, or plenty of room for entertaining friends and family. The best fact is that this. 35 acre lot is between two green zones and situated on a quiet cul-de-sac. Plenty of parking in the adjacent back entrance driveway, to facilitate many guests who will want to visit your beautiful new home. Minutes from Porters Neck shopping, Portersneck Country Club, Figure Eight Island, and Wilmington makes this location and home highly desirable offered at $379,000.

Contact Listing Agent Elaine DeLise at 910-470-0379 for a personal showing.

Holiday activities abound here in the Port City! The holidays are such a special time of year. With a chill in the air, we still get the warm and fuzzies while celebrating with our friends and families!

Kicking the holidays off, Wrightsville Beach does it up each year with The Flotilla. An amazing display of boats decorated and decked out in lights and holiday décor! The events kick off the Friday following Thanksgiving with the tree lighting ceremony and a visit from Santa at the Wrightsville Beach Town Hall. Then, on Saturday, the Festival in the Park starts at 10am and goes until 4pm with the boat parade starting at 6pm, followed up by fireworks at 7:30pm.

If you happen to miss the Wrightsville Beach Flotilla, no worries! Pleasure Island holds the Pleasure Island Parade and Flotilla the very next weekend (November 30^th / December 1^st).  The Parade will be held on Friday, November 30^th with the Flotilla being held on Saturday, December 1^st.

If you have children or feel like a child any time you’re around trains – this time of year is the time to get out and check out the Wilmington Railroad Museum. They have a Polar Express show that includes a reading of the story, a visit from Santa, receive a special “first gift” and more! Readings are held Saturday and Sunday afternoons/evenings during the month of December. You might also catch a glimpse of the Railroad Museum’s handy work at Enchanted Airlie, as they typically have their holiday train on display there!

Speaking of Airlie – it just wouldn’t be the holidays if you didn’t take a stroll through Enchanted Airlie at least once while the stunning gardens are dressed up in a twinkling display of lights. The gardens have two showings each Friday and Saturday night through the month of December.

The 10^th annual Wilmington Holiday Parade will be held on December 2^nd in Historic Downtown Wilmington. The parade begins at North Front Street and Walnut at 6:10pm. If you get there in time, grab a seat on the court house steps for the best views of the parade.

And lastly, if you’re looking for a low key event to take your children (big or small) to, you might consider stopping by the Polar Express Train Ride after some shopping or dining at Mayfaire Town Center. If the kids haven’t had a chat with Santa, stop in for a visit and a great photo op. Mayfaire begins the holiday season with a lighting ceremony that will be held Friday, November 23^rd at 6:30pm in front of the cinemas. After Santa makes his appearance at the ceremony, he’ll head over to Santa’s Village to visit with the children until Christmas Eve! Visit Mayfaire’s website for more details on Santa’s hours.

Please have a safe and happy holiday season and hold your loved ones close!

If you need any information about any of the events listed, please feel free to contact me at Carrie@CoastalCarolinaProperties.com.

Carrie Upchurch

910.833.4947

Porters Neck as it is more commonly known is actually Kirkland, NC which is part of New Hanover County and Wilmington NC. Over the past 6 years this area has seen much growth with wonderful upscale neighborhoods with great ammenties, grocery stores, specialty shops, medical facilities, vet offices, upscale dog grooming/boarding, gym facilities and much more.

Porters Neck predominantly runs on the Intracoastal Waterway. By car you are quick ride to Wrightsville Beach at around 20 minutes and approximately the same to Topsail Beach. Both beaches are extremely popular vacation spots during our spring and summer months. Boating to either beach is great, as well. You will find that there are boat friendly Intracoastal Restaurants where you can dock up and dine.

In the center of Porters Neck you will find Popular Grove Plantation they offer many events throughout the year from special tours, weddings and Halloween events etc. The Farmer’s Market takes place from April 4th- November 21st yearly, opening every Wednesday from 8-10. You can visit and shop w/ large variety of vendors that offer fresh flowers, seafood, beef, poultry, arts/crafts, wine, cheese and much more. There is also an annual car show held at the Plantation and Easter Egg Hunt.

If you have an interest in the Porters Neck give me a call at 910-297-9086. I will be happy to show you why I have been so proud to be a resident of this area for the past 7 years.

-BlueCoast Agent Cami Marley

We all know that Wilmington is full of history and charm as our city was settled by English and European immigrants in the early 1700’s.  Much of the downtown area is accompanied by cobble stone streets and old buildings, serving as a reminder of the history of this quaint coastal community.  As you travel away from the downtown Historic area, however, it is easy to forget that you are in a city that was inhabited by settlers nearly three hundred years ago.  Poplar Grove Plantation is situated on highway 17 N.   Among all of the new strip malls and restaurants sit a little piece of history.

The mansion which sat on over 600 acres of land that was purchased in 1795 and was built in 1849 by the Foy family.  The home which stayed in the Foy family for six generations was bought in 1980 and turned into a museum that boasts over 4,200 square feet and twelve fireplaces.  The crops at Poplar Grove produced peas, corn and beans but the primary cash crop at Poplar Grove was peanuts.  Poplar Grove has been added to National Register of Historic Homes, and should be added to your list of must see’s if you are a history buff. 

Aside from the historical value that this home site brings to the area, it offers several miles of hiking trails in the wooded acreage around the old plantation home.   The trails known as the "Abbey Nature Preserve" are dog friendly and full of beautiful trees, plants, flowers and wildlife.  Depending on which trail you travel you can look forward to a walk over and along beautiful wetlands, a pond, and a large grassy open field.  Beware of snakes!  While the field looks like a great place to let the dogs run free, it has been said that snakes are frequently spotted in the fields, so enter at your own risk. 

For more information visit: Poplar Grove Plantation 10200 US Highway 17 N., Wilmington, NC  28411 (910) 686-9518.  www.poplargrove.com

Written By:  BlueCoast Agent Kathryn Jeffries

Wilmington is such an incredible coastal city that offers a bit of everything from a historic downtown to a fantastic coastal region including several area beaches and a state university.  When purchasing a property, some are investing in a new permanent address while others are simply coming here to vacation. 

When buying an investment property in Wilmington it is helpful to have a local resource to care for your home and protect you as a homeowner.  Did you know that BlueCoast has an in-house property management specialist to help assist with your needs?

Since 2008, David Dougherty Homes has been providing quality, affordable service to many second homeowners.  What sets DDH apart from other property managers in Wilmington, NC are three things: PRICE, SERVICE and ACCESSIBILITY.   He prides himself on providing the best and affordable services to both his tenants and homeowners alike.  Homeowners can reach David to talk to him about a particular need even outside of regular business hours.  If you are interested in renting your home in Wilmington, contact David to discuss how he can help. 

His services include:

• Markets and Advertises your Property
• Handles Tenant Background Checks
• Collects Monthly Rent
• Assists with Tenant Utility Account set up
• Schedules and Manages various Service Providers (if necessary)
• Oversees Tenant Eviction Process (if necessary)
• Follows up with Credit Bureau and other outside agencies

David maintains relationships with licensed insured contractors throughout the region.  Should you run into problems with your home, David is available to outsource and provide professional estimates for various services that may be needed for the upkeep of your property.

David works with other Realtors to help with their client’s needs.  He respects broker relationships and is here to offer a great service to a great clientele.  He has a great track record for finding tenants and getting your investment rented.  For more information on David Dougherty and DDH Realty Corporation, visit http://www.daviddoughertyhomes.com today. 

The trend is downsizing and making a home more relaxing, organized and clean:  A house that is move in ready.  Much of the focus can be on the inside but the outside is equally important.  As we know, the first thing a potential buyer sees is the front of the yard.   Walking past a bed of weeds and overgrown bushes takes the excitement out of the visit. Buyers do not want to vision themselves weeding and pruning every weekend.  Some helpful hints what and what not to do:

A strip of flowers:  Color goes a long way but not always necessary.  Flowers are short lived and the timing of a showing during their peak bloom is a long shot.  It is more important to have space available for those annuals then crowd the canvas.

Trees:  Everyone loves a big oak but sometimes too many is a turn off to some buyers.  Large trees near a home can be a potential insurance claim.  Many trees can provide too much shade to the house that may cause a mildew or moisture problem to the siding.

Weeds:  Spray or pull every weed in the flower beds to the cracks in the drive.  This can be a daily chore but it gives the impression that the home well cared for.  If the home is vacant, insist on your lawn person to care for the weeds weekly.

Bushes:  Don't be afraid to mix up the shapes.  Rounded and square bushes will give a better dimension.  Some bushes actually look better with the wild look.

Grass:  Soil across Coastal Carolina's can vary in texture.  The mix of sand, dirt and clay are the main components of soil and grass will do better here than others.  Zoysia and Bermuda grass seems to be the most popular.  Regardless of the type, grass should be treated for weeds regularly.

Mulch or Pine straw:  Fresh mulch or pine straw can help in preventing weeds and also make all the plants stand out.  For mulch, pick an appropriate color that suits your house paint. 

Edging:  Keep the edging along the flower beds and along the pavement clean and straight.  Buyers will notice.

The well maintained lawn and garden are an integral part of the selling process.   The outside appearance can set the tone for the viewing and it can make or the deal.   And don’t forget about the backyard.   

Written by:  BlueCoast agent Dan Betz

I have visited many of the beaches of Southeastern North Carolina and hands down, Wrightsville Beach is my absolute favorite!  The water is clear, the beaches are clean and laden with white sand, and the people are a beautiful addition to the scenery. There is the spacious and beautiful North end of the barrier island which is home to Shell Island Resort where Mason’s Inlet cuts in towards the Intracoastal Waterway along Figure Eight and Topsail Island.  Then there is the South end of Wrightsville Beach where boats can come in and out of the waterway in between two jetties between Masonboro Island and Harbor Island where the kite surfing is off the hook and the fishing is out of this world.

As far as access is concerned, the city bike path provides easy access to the beach from Mayfaire, Landfall, Autumn Hall and other communities off of Eastwood Road and Military Cutoff.  Unless it’s a holiday, when driving, traffic is never too much of a bear bringing beach lovers in from I-40, NC Hwy 74 or NC Hwy 76.  Once you get to the beach, there is always the challenge of how to lug your gear to the shore. There are several public parking lots, two equipped with bathroom facilities that are ideal when you need to shower off before hopping back into the car.  For those who have the luxury of living ocean front, well there is really nothing better!  The calming sounds of the breaking waves, the tranquil breezes that constantly blow, the serenity of the never-ending view – seriously, could life be any better?

When talking about the people, being totally fit is a lifestyle that most Wrightsville Beach residents adhere. In fact, Wilmington has been voted one of America’s Fittest Cities twice in past years.  Each day, rain or shine, you find people running or walking around the 2 mile loop that travels over both bridges to Wrightsville Beach.  The Wrightsville Beach Town Park also provides ample space to play including children’s park, splash pad, and covered picnic facilities, open air stage for concerts, tennis courts and more.  There’s always something fun to see or do in Wrightsville Beach!

Why Wilmington, NC – Reasons to Love Being a Local

Shortly after relocating to Wilmington, NC, I noticed how many locals would ask me “So what made you choose Wilmington?”  It struck me as kind-of funny almost, because in my mind, all I could come up with was “Why not Wilmington, NC?”  It’s such a beautiful place to live.  It’s the place I’d always imagined growing old.

Wilmington is basically a lifestyle choice.  It’s a place that allows you to center your life around the ocean and living the southern coastal lifestyle. With a growing family, we knew we wanted to live in a thriving community that would offer the best of everything - outdoor recreation, fantastic people, cultural activities, good schools, rich history and more!  Turns out we found it right here in Wilmington, NC!

As a local, it’s great to know you can go the beach anytime to dip your toes in the ocean blue; to know you can grab your rod and catch a fish at a whim; to know you can load up the Jeep spontaneously for a quick trip to Freeman Park for dinner on Carolina Beach when your schedule allows.  From a local’s point of view, here are some of our favorite things to do:

-          Visit the beach!  There are so many right here and all within a short driving distance!

-          Take a trip to the Fort Fisher Aquarium and see the aquatic life!

-          Spend the day boating with friends to Masonboro Island or just to hang in Mason’s Inlet

-          On days when it’s raining or yucky outside it’s great to visit a museum downtown.  There’s the Children’s Museum of Wilmington, the Serpentarium, the Cape Fear Science Museum, the Wilmington Railroad Museum and of course the infamous USS NC Battleship.

-          There are multiple local farmers markets to visit during summer months in Poplar Grove, along the Riverwalk in downtown Wilmington, and in Wrightsville Beach.

-          Visit the turtle rescue center in Hampstead, NC

-          Grab your paddle board and enjoy the day on the ICWW.

-          Watch the sun or the moon rise over the ocean.

It’s always a great time to become a Wilmington local! If you would like more information on the local coastal lifestyle or on real estate in Wilmington and surrounding coastal communities, contact BlueCoast agent, Steve Gaconnier  910-431-1181 (direct) or email him at sg4868@bluecoastrealestate.com .  A long-time resident, Steve can help you truly discover Wilmington!