Brunswick County Blog

No Fear!

Fear will become a self-fulfilling prophesy and that more than anything is immobilizing our real estate market. Forget what the "talking heads" tell you and listen to your own sense of things. Wouldn't you agree that with buyer-friendly prices, low mortgage rates and an ample inventory that this should be a bull market in real estate?

Consider Brunswick County, NC where you will find a temperate year 'round  climate with golf, beaches and fishing within minutes of everywhere.  The perfect place to live like you are on vacation every day.

So stop sweating your portfolio and start living your life. Come see us you, you will be so glad you did.

One Man's Castle...and all that

With apologies for the non-gender-neutral wording...
What is your dream castle? In Brunswick County, North Carolina, it can be an easy-to-care-for house a few blocks from the beach that allows you to park the car, with rental income on the weeks you aren't there. It can be a furnished walk-away condo in an established golf community or on a marina, always there when you have to leave the rat race. It can be a piece of heaven on one of the many rivers, where you launch your canoe or just dangle the fishing line from the end of the dock. It can be a home backing onto championship golf in an established community with new friends and a slower, softer lifestyle.
It depends on who you are and what you want, and it depends on where in your life you might be. If the kids are still at home, you want a place that not only fills summer vacation with family time memories that last forever, but maybe a place they can use one day to build memories with their own. If you are reaching retirement, it might be the easier winters and long warm season in a place where everyone else is here for the same reason. The best part about this place is that anyone can find a castle, no matter what it is, and the prices work. This is not the Jersey Shore, not the Outer Banks, not the Cape...it's still a mostly undiscovered jewel on a warm Carolina ocean with prices the Shore, Banks and Cape haven't seen in 30 years.
Come see us. Your castle is waiting.

Thanks for listening!
Pam Quinn, Broker

What's in a name?

Meet you at the shore. We're going to the beach. We've rented a house on the coast. You can often tell where someone is from by the words they use to describe the sand and sea. The descriptions may be different, but I bet we all feel the same the minute we hear the words -- bright sun, blue sky, the waves and instant peace at the first whiff of salt air. I grew up landlocked in western Pennsylvania, where the nearest body of water was Lake Erie (and in those days there were more dead fish than water). I remember the physical sensation of excitement as soon as I got a glimpse of the ocean sky in the distance after a long drive. It wasn't until I moved here and met people who had been lucky enough to grow up on the shore (or the beach or the coast) that I found out it wasn't because I lived in a landlocked place...it's a universal feeling.
The best part of working in real estate in southeastern North Carolina is that we can help you get here, too. These are not Outer Banks property prices, not even close. This is a dream you can afford.
So come to the shore. Or the beach. Or the coast. We understand how you feel!
Thanks for listening!
Pam Quinn, Broker

Sweet Carolina Spring

While real estate market trends occupy us on a daily basis, and while there is good news to report in the number of pending sales going up in the south and northeast where baby boomer buyers are getting ready to retire, we have to take a few minutes to appreciate the sweet signs of spring in North Carolina. Count among these the opening of the Wilmington Azalea Festival, outdoor pools uncovered to heat up under the spring sun and the fine yellow dust of pine pollen everywhere. The gentle rainy days seem to turn the entire landscape green before our eyes.

For me, the greatest gift of a Carolina spring is a sunny day when the sky turns the most amazing color of blue and getting into the garden to plant, mulch and watch the summer bulbs start to push through the dirt. Having given too many years to April snowstorms and slush, the charm of working in the garden this time of year will never be gone.

So yes, there is very good news about sales picking up here while prices continue to drop and interest rates continue to be the best in 30 years. Combine all that with being here for a North Carolina spring in Brunswick County.

Thanks for listening!

Pam Quinn, Broker

RETIREMENT FRIENDLY

North Carolina is known as a retirement friendly state. Much as we do roll out the welcome mat for retirees in so many different ways, this term actually refers to taxes. Former state and federal government employees, including teachers, can deduct retirement benefits from federal taxable income, and Social Security is exempt. All military pay is exempt from taxes with five creditable years of service prior to 1989.* It's always a good idea to talk to an expert, but if you are looking for somewhere to make your retirement dollar go further, consider the southeastern coast of North Carolina.

Of course money is important, but here's the rest of it. Mostly, the worst thing that happens in winter is a frost delay on the golf course. The prices for homes are fabulous and property taxes are very reasonable. There's excellent medical service in the area, and it's a great destination for children and grandchildren to come and visit, with long stretches of gentle ocean and uncrowded beaches.

Life is softer here. Haven't you earned it?

We're happy to be part of your planning, whether retirement is around the corner, or down the road.

Thanks for listening!

Pam Quinn, Broker

*Source: RetirementLiving.com

 

BEING SENSIBLE

You may have seen a television ad from the National Association of Realtors. It shows a family of four sitting on the fence in front of a home for sale, asking themselves why they are sitting there. "Because they told us to," says the father. While they sit on the fence, people go into the front door of the home. The message, of course, is that those who only see the negative headlines losing an opportunity. It's a good message, though I do sympathize with the people on the fence. We get a comprehensive stiumulus package designed to make it easier to buy homes and the markets respond by saying it's not enough, so the Dow Jones loses yet another 200 points. It's hard to know who to believe and what to do.

Here's what we can believe, though. If you are in a position to do it, buying right now is the best move you can make. And yes, there are cautionary notes, but they are like all that stuff your mother used to say about sensible shoes and zipping your coat. It's what you know already. The deal should involve a good property located in a place with good future growth potential, it should include a realistic down payment and be locked in at the low interest rates available today with payments that fit inside the family income. We all know that sitting on the fence is easier, but if you keep it real, this is the time. That's just being sensible.

Thanks for listening!

Pam Quinn, Broker

MINDING THE SCORE

There is so much information being thrown at us about credit and mortgages right now that it can be hard to get through it all. Here’s what I can tell you -- mortgages are available in coastal Brunswick County for people who qualify. A key part of qualification is a good credit score. The FICO® credit score is one of the top ones used by lenders, and minding your score helps a lot when it comes to borrowing of any kind, especially for a mortgage. FICO® has great tips for minding and improving your score, including: pay your bills on time, keep balances low on credit cards, apply for and open credit accounts only as needed and don’t try to raise your score by opening credit cards you don’t need. The Credit Education Center section of the FICO website at www.myfico.com is a good tool.

Thanks for listening!

Allyn Heck, Broker/Owner

Sweet Carolinas

With all due respect to Neil Diamond, we were not at all surprised to see a survey this week from Relocation.com, with a section titled "Sweet Carolinas." The survey showed that there are 80% more moving requests to come to North Carolina than to leave the state.

There are few things sweeter than seeing the daffodils start to poke up this month, knowing the geraniums will be ready for outdoor show next month, that the golf courses are open for play and that even in January we get a sunny warm beach day that makes us drop everything to stroll the shore.

People are finding us here in southeastern North Carolina along the coast -- people who are taking advantage of low prices, great mortgage rates and a buyer's inventory. We call it the affordable legacy, meaning today's market conditions may never be seen again, and an investment now means a great place near the ocean to share with generations to come.

Thanks for listening!

Pam Quinn, Broker

Tick, Tick, Tick

The state of the real estate market in Brunswick County is a topic of constant discussion here. In the grocery store, at social gatherings, in the bank, at the gas station and at the hardware store -- everyone wants to talk about it. The reasons vary from business considerations to just wondering if our local market fits into the screaming national headlines.

So how do we answer the question? The answer is not an easy one to put into a few words. Prices are lower and inventory is high, but there's activity on North Carolina's southeast coast. And yes, there are buyers.

The short answer is what people want to hear from us, though. So here's what we know...

The market is ticking along. The phone still rings, there are still people searching the website and customers who were sitting on the sidelines during the fall are now starting to ask more questions. Properties are selling, deals are being made.

These are not the heady days of 2005-06, but ticking along is just fine. Tougher on sellers, without a doubt, but amazing days for buyers who are finding properties on the beach, golf course and beautiful Brunswick County rivers.

Thanks for listening!

Pam Quinn, Broker

Random Gifts

Getting ready for the holidays is always a mixture of joy and some serious time management. Making sure the packages get to the post office on time, getting the decorations up, making travel arrangements, shopping and fitting in the social whirl. In the midst of all that, I couldn't help but be struck by the random gifts the season brings to coastal Brunswick County. The morning frost on brightly colored marsh grasses at dawn that quickly turns to a glistening vista as the sun heats up the landscape. Exiting stores into a Carolina blue day where the sun still warms your face. The look of a deep blue winter ocean while walking the beach, feeling the delightful contrast of cool wind and warm sun on your face. The amazing sunsets that seem to have their own array of winter colors in purple and gold. This past week, the night sky has had a combination of the moon, Venus and Mars that looks as if the three were pasted beside each other on deep blue velvet by a child. These are the random gifts of the season here. Com join us! It's worth whatever you have to do it get here.

--Pam Quinn, Realtor