Brunswick County Blog

Spring Brings Buyers

In Brunswick County, NC we are seeing a jump in foks coming to line up their beach house- either buying or renting. Oak Island has over 70 access points to our southern-facing beaches. Watching the sun rise and set from the same beach house. AWESOME.

October in North Carolina

Just came back from a quick family and friends visit to New Jersey and had the best time. We came back to Southport just in time for our favorite time of year here- October. We spent the better part of the weekend at the beach on Oak Island and the ocean is still warm enough to go for a swim. Every day is crystal clear, with blasting sunshine and Carolina blue skies. If you aren't sure if you want to move here...come in October. It is intoxicatingly gorgeous. You really won't want to leave...not even to pack your furniture!

See you next time!

Allyn

 

Magic Number 760. Credit Score Tips

Credit Scores-everyone talks about them but in real estate they make a BIG difference. Did you know that the best mortgage rates go to scores of 740 or better. If you don't have a credit score of at least 620; you will most likely not be eligible for a mortgage. 

Experts advise that you check your score-and monitor it- to see what you need to do before you seriously look to purchase either your first or next home.  Here's the criteria that will be used to determine your credit scores: your payment history, the amounts owed, the types of credit, new credit, and length of credit history.

CREDIT SCORE MAKEOVER

Just a quick tip-you will be penalized for multiple balances, so limit the majority of your spending to one card. If you want to see what would be the best plan to improve your credit score before you plan to purchase property-go to the MYFICO.com website and work with their Free Score Simulator tool. It will help you target what actions will be the most effective to raise that  all important score.

Gardeners' Dilemma

Seven years ago, I would have described myself as a gardener...now that I live in coastal North Carolina...not so much...more like a survival gardener. My long lasting challenges can be best described in one word..DEER.  Here's what I have learned about deer and my plants and hopefully this will help you. I have found that these plants will be unattractive to all but the most hungry deer. Buy and plant- any herbs with a scent like basil, lavender, rosemary and thyme. These flowering plants defy most deer so concentrate on planting Lantana,  Black-eyed Susans, Purple Cone Flower, Butterfly bush, Bee Balm, Verbena and Blanket flower. Zinnias seem to be deer-tolerant but then the rabbits came and ate those! Stay away from Indian Hawthorne, roses, azaleas, day lilies and hostas. Those plants in my yard have fed many a happy deer. Geraniums and begonias are also being assaulted, I just can't tell yet if the vandals are deer or rabbits. Either way...they are gone too!

See you next time!

Allyn

CAPE FEAR RIVER REAL ESTATE

I did these stats for our agents at Three Rivers Realty in Southport, NC and wanted to share with you. This is the best quick glance summary of our market right now.

In Southport- a little over one home sells per week; in St. James  just under one home a week sells, in Boiling Spring Lakes just under one home per week sells and on Oak Island right now- 3.5 homes sell per week. Doesn't take much to see where our market is hot!

Dogs Love Oak Island Beaches

Our world in Southport is summer-filled and delicious right now. Beaches are welcoming and the ocean is warm. I learned how unique our beaches on Oak Island are-from a different perspective over the last few days. Our son and his fabulous dog, Bernie, have come to visit and have fallen in love with beaches on the island. For the first time, from a dog-owners' perspective, I see how well the balance between two and four legged beach goers works here. Walking with Bernie on the beach, I noticed how people we passed smiled more as they passed us. I also noticed that we have very responsible dog owners because I NEVER see evidence of any dogs-other than paw prints. What a great place to live!

Where Did April Go?

Hello Friends,

A quick glance at the calendar this morning gave me a real shock. It is already May- Derby Day actually and I have no idea what happened to April. Seriously. There are months not just moments that fly by so quickly that you just have to laugh.  Today is a glorious day with everyone that can go to the beach, fish, golf or garden are doing just that. Everything is in bloom and the pollen is just about over (no official word just my observations from the condition of my porch).  Another sign of spring? we have a new litter of kittens appear under the porch in our office today.  All agents are busy- good busy- helping wonderful folks to find the perfect home or having strategic conversations with sellers to re-position their home or land. It is a great time to be here in Southport, NC. Happy May!

Be Well,

Allyn

Signs of Spring Activity

When our children were younger, we would take walks and point out "signs of spring". The typical observations were daffodils, birds building nests, the snow pile at the end of the driveway finally gone and so on. On my way to work, I saw many new homes under construction, and a few moving trucks unloading furniture. That's the sign we have all been waiting for...the market is back just in time for spring!

Speaking of Spring, when did we stop buying Easter outfits?

The Southport Stroll

The tourist guidebooks often use the phrase "historic fishing village" and "quaint" to describe Southport. It is both those things, but it is really so much more. The main street of North Howe ends at the mouth of Cape Fear River, a glorious vista of sparkling blue from nearly anywhere on the street. Here you can see the Atlantic Ocean beyond, the big ships making their way upriver to Wilmington, and the shores of Bald Head Island and Caswell Beach in the distance. The best way to see Southport is on foot by doing The Southport Stroll. Make your way up North Howe, browsing in the antique shops, the amazing Christmas shop and the sea captains' homes. Stop in the art galleries, the artisan shops. And EAT! Everything from good hot dogs to amazing crab cakes in phyllo to the best fried green tomatoes on the east coast. The side streets are filled with beautiful homes in the southern style, designed for front porch living. Stop and stroll in Southport. You may not leave!

How Did You Get Here?

This part of North Carolina's coast is not one of the major beach destinations. Sure, folks from Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, Atlanta and Winston-Salem have known for generations that the beaches here are among the best on the east coast. Oak Island, Ocean Isle, Sunset Beach, Holden Beach -- fabulous sand and sea with long stretches that are uncrowded even in mid-July. So a topic of conversation in these parts is often "how did you get here?" People are interested in how we found this amazing piece of heaven. The stories are varied. Some people started in Savannah and Charleston and choked on the beach prices, so they drove up the coast. Others spent many summers in the Outer Banks and choked on the crowds (and the deserted island with snow in the winter) and drove down the coast. Some had heard of Bald Head Island and then discoverd the charming fishing village of Southport. Some ventured out of the Myrtle Beach strips and found Calabash and Ocean Isle. The end result, though, is no matter how we got here, we are darn glad we did!