In 2016, the real estate market has shifted once again, and sellers are finding more favorable conditions for listing their homes.
In this video Ken Kirkman, General Manager of Landfall Realty in Wilmington, NC, explains the ins and outs of the “seller’s market” in a speech to Landfall property owners. For tips on listing your home in 2016, check out the full speech. If you’re ready to list your home, contact Coastal Realty Connections and let us assist you in the process.
It’s no surprise that coastal North Carolina shines in the summer. Between our beautiful beaches, historic cities, and bustling downtowns there’s always something to do, see, or celebrate. At Coastal Realty Connections, we make it our personal mission to fit as much excitement into our summers as possible and enjoy all our area has to offer. To help you do the same, we’re rounded up some of our favorite local events, including Fourth of July celebrations. Check them out and let us know how much fun you had!
Southport and Oak Island
Southport 4th of July Festival
June 24—July 4, Southport Waterfront
The patriotic spirit of America is alive and well in the City of Southport. For over 200 years this small maritime community has celebrated our nation’s independence in a big way. Incorporated as the official North Carolina 4th of July Festival in 1972, this event focuses on honoring our nation’s birthday with a little fun thrown in. There are a number of events leading up to the main event, so check out their full schedule. The grand finale is a fireworks show on the 4th, followed by a live band on the Waterfront Stage. It’s a celebration you won’t want to miss!
Wilmington
Wilmington 4th of July Celebration
July 4, North Waterfront Park
Not to be outdone by Southport, Wilmington also hosts a fantastic festival for the Fourth. The party starts at 6pm and the fireworks begin lighting up the sky over the Cape Fear River at 9:05pm. For the best view, head to the North Waterfront Park, located at the foot of Harnett Street, and bring a lawn chair or a blanket so you can enjoy the show in comfort.
August 5—7, Corner of Cowan St & Nutt Street
In its inaugural year, the Port City Rib Fest drew a crowd of over 17,000 people from around the country to taste the nation’s best BBQ, and the fun has continued to grow! Held along the Wilmington riverfront, this three-day festival celebrates great BBQ and music. Enjoy not only ribs but beef brisket, chopped and sliced pork, chicken, sausages and a plethora of side items, desserts and drinks prepared Memphis-style, Chicago-style, Texas-style and more. You won’t find a more delicious festival in North Carolina!
New Bern
New Bern’s July 4th Celebration
July 4, Lawson Creek Park
Each year for the Fourth, the city of New Bern hosts an afternoon full of fun, followed by a spectacular fireworks show. The event begins at 3pm with food vendors, kids’ games, music, and dancing, all leading up to the fireworks show, which starts at 9:15pm. This event is free and open to the public—enjoy!
The Glorious Fourth at Tryon Palace
July 4, 10am—4pm, New Bern
If you like your Fourth of July celebrations with a dose of history, stop by The Glorious Fourth celebration at Tryon Palace. This free event includes historical interpreters, games and crafts for all ages, exhibitions, music, access to the gardens, and a live reading of the Declaration of Independence on the Palace steps.
For more ideas to help you make the most of life in southeastern North Carolina, check our blog regularly. If you’d like to make a permanent home for yourself in this area, contact us today. Our team will help you find and buy your dream house, making it easy to enjoy these fabulous festivals and events all year long
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Let the Coastal Realty Connections team help you find your next real estate purchase. Contact us today. 910-279-9398.
Whether you are buying or selling a home, it can be quite an adventurous journey. You need an experienced Real Estate Professional to lead you to your ultimate goal. In this world of instant gratification and internet searches, many sellers think that they can For Sale by Owner or FSBO.
The 5 Reasons You NEED a Real Estate Professional in your corner haven’t changed but have rather been strengthened due to the projections of higher mortgage interest rates & home prices as the market continues to recover.
Each state has different regulations regarding the contracts required for a successful sale, and these regulations are constantly changing. A true Real Estate Professional is an expert in their market and can guide you through the stacks of paperwork necessary to make your dream a reality.
According to the Orlando Regional REALTOR Association, there are over 230 possible actions that need to take place during every successful real estate transaction. Don’t you want someone who has been there before, someone who knows what these actions, are to make sure that you acquire your dream?
So maybe you’re not convinced that you need an agent to sell your home. However, after looking at the list of parties that you need to be prepared to negotiate with, you’ll realize the value in selecting a Real Estate Professional. From the buyer (who wants the best deal possible) to the home inspection companies, to the appraiser, there are at least 11 different people that you will have to be knowledgeable with and answer to, during the process.
It is important for your home to be priced correctly from the start to attract the right buyers and shorten the time that it’s on the market. You need someone who is not emotionally connected to your home to give you the truth as to your home’s value. According to the National Association of REALTORS, “the typical FSBO home sold for $208,700 compared to $235,000 among agent-assisted home sales.”
Get the most out of your transaction by hiring a professional.
There is so much information out there on the news and the internet about home sales, prices, and mortgage rates; how do you know what’s going on specifically in your area? Who do you turn to in order to competitively price your home correctly at the beginning of the selling process? How do you know what to offer on your dream home without paying too much, or offending the seller with a low-ball offer?
Dave Ramsey, the financial guru, advises:
“When getting help with money, whether it’s insurance, real estate or investments, you should always look for someone with the heart of a teacher, not the heart of a salesman.”
Hiring an agent who has their finger on the pulse of the market will make your buying/selling experience an educated one. You need someone who is going to tell you the truth, not just what they think you want to hear.
You wouldn’t replace the engine in your car without a trusted mechanic. Why would you make one of the most important financial decisions of your life without hiring a Real Estate Professional? Contact us today and let us help you buy or sell. 910-279-9398.
Take advantage of today’s market by contacting us. 910-279-9398.
You and your family have decided to sell your house. It is now time to choose a real estate professional to help with the process. One of the major attributes this agent must possess is trustworthiness. To what degree do you need to trust them?
You must have enough trust in them that you feel comfortable they will accomplish all four things below:
In many cases, a home is the largest asset a family has. Studies have shown that the equity many families have in their home is the largest percentage of that family’s overall wealth.
Pricing is crucial even in the best of markets. You want to get the best price for your home without putting your house at a value that buyers will have little interest in.
Your family probably has a certain timetable for the sale of your house and the move into your next home. Coordinating the home selling process to meet certain schedules can be tricky.
You will need to pay a commission to an agent for selling the home and coordinating all elements of the selling transaction, including possible future negotiations (ex. with a home inspector or appraiser).
That’s a lot of trust. Let’s get together to discuss the difference hiring a true professional can make in the sale of your home. Contact us today
With the overall economy just inching along, some experts are questioning whether the housing market can continue its momentum throughout the rest of the year. People are beginning to ask questions such as:
Freddie Mac, in their April Economic Outlook, addresses the disappointing economic news and what impact they think it will have on housing:
“Recent data darkened the growth outlook for the first quarter of 2016. However, despite the disappointing economic reports, we still forecast housing to maintain its momentum in 2016.
We’ve revised down our forecast for economic growth to reflect the recent data for the first quarter, but our outlook for the balance of the year remains modestly optimistic for the economy.”
Freddie Mac was much more optimistic about housing…
“We maintain our positive view on housing. In fact, the declines in long-term interest rates that accompanied much of the recent news should increase mortgage market activity.”
They went on to conclude:
“We expect housing to be an engine of growth. Construction activity will pick up as we enter the spring and summer months, and rising home values will bolster consumers and help support renewed confidence in the remaining months of this year.”
Let the team at Coastal Realty Connections assist you in determing your home’s market value and whether on not it is time to buy or sale. Contact us by email info@coastalrealtyconnections.com or 910-279-9398.
The latest report from Freddie Mac shows that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.61% last week, slightly down from the week before (3.66%), and nearly 20 points lower than a year ago (3.80%).
This is great news for homebuyers who are dealing with rising prices due to a low inventory of homes for sale in many areas of the country. Freddie Mac expressed their optimism for the rates to remain low throughout the spring in a recent blog post:
“We expect mortgage interest rates to stay well under 4% as we head into the heart of the spring homebuying season. We’re predicting it to be the best one in 10 years, which should provide even greater opportunities for first-time homebuyers.”
Below is a chart of the weekly average rates in 2016, according to Freddie Mac.
Rates have again fallen to historic lows yet many experts still expect them to increase in 2016. One thing we know for sure is that, according to Freddie Mac, current rates are the best they have been since last April.
Sean Becketti, Chief Economist for Freddie Mac recently explained:
“Since the start of February, mortgage rates have varied within a narrow range providing an extended period for house hunters to take advantage of historically low rates.”
If you are thinking of buying your first home or moving up to your ultimate dream home, now is a great time to get a sensational rate on your mortgage. Let Coastal Realty Connections put their expertise and excellent customer service to work for you. Contact us today. info@coastalrealtyconnections.com / 910-279-9398.
With home prices expected to appreciate by over 5% this year, some are beginning to worry about a new housing bubble forming. Warren Buffet addressed this issue last week in an article by Fortune Magazine. He simply explained:
“I don’t see a nationwide bubble in real estate right now at all.”
Later, when questioned whether real estate and/or mortgaging could present the same challenges for the economy as they did in 2008, Buffet said:
“I don’t think we will have a repeat of that.”
It is easily explained by the theory of supply and demand. There is a lack of housing inventory for sale while demand for that inventory is very strong. According to a recent survey of agents by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), buyer traffic was seen as either “strong” or “very strong” in 44 of the 50 states (the exceptions being: Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota, West Virginia, Connecticut and Delaware).
Also, in NAR’s latest Pending Home Sales Report, it was revealed that the index was the highest it has been in a year.
As prices rise, more families will have increased equity in their homes which will enable them to put their home on the market. As more listings come to market, price increases should slow to more normal levels.
Anand Nallathambi, President & CEO of CoreLogic, recently addressed the issue:
“Home price gains have clearly been a driving force in building positive equity for homeowners. Longer term, we anticipate a better balance of supply and demand in many markets which will help sustain healthy & affordable home values into the future.”
Let the agents at Coastal Realty Connections help you buy or sell. Contact us for a free valuation of your property’s worth or for assistance in finding just the right home for you. 910-279-9398.
