Tag Archives: real estate

Lawn and Garden Month: Planting a Low Maintenance Garden

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Via Coldwell Banker’s Blue Matter

The reward of a beautiful garden is well worth the work you put into it.

I know what some of you are thinking, “this woman is crazy, the words low maintenance and gardening go together like orange juice and toothpaste (not well)!” I have tried this before and wasted my money. I am not home enough and simply do not have the time to pay attention to a garden. Excuses Excuses, this time is different. Don’t miss out on the benefits of gardening!  Check out these tips and give it another go.

 

Face the Facts: There’s Good News & Bad News

Bad News: Maintaining a beautiful garden often takes hard work. From planning, to planting, to proper maintenance, gardens require one of the most valuable things you have…your time.

Good News: Well thought planning prior to planting can save both time and money and we have the tips to do it!

Do Your Homework

The first step to planning a garden is deciding how you plan to use it. Will you be growing your own vegetables (there is nothing like fresh basil, YUM) or do you simply want a flower garden that will add beauty to your yard? Keep in mind those who will be sharing in the beauty of your garden. Do you have kids or pets that may affect the area where your garden will grow?

After you decide what function your garden will serve it is important to study your yard prior to planting. Note the health of your yard, where do current plants thrive? Do certain areas receive more sunlight than others? Are there any weeds? Is there a place where water accumulates?

Once you assess the current status of your yard, jot down some notes and head to the store to seek professional advice on which low maintenance plants fit the following criteria:

  • Thrives in soil, sun and your climate
  • Looks good for more than one season
  • Perennial (A plant that has a life cycle that lasts more than two years)
  • Will not outgrow the space you plant it into

Keep in mind that native plants grow on their own and don’t require a lot of attention.

Make Smart Choices

Here are ten perennial plants that blogger Marie Ianotti from About.com Gardening suggests as smart choices for a low maintenance garden:

  1. Blazing Star: Blooms: Mid-summer through fall  Colors: Purples or white
  2. Coneflowers: Blooms: Summer  Colors: Purple, white, orange, yellow, pink & red
  3. Coral Bells: Blooms: Late spring / Early summer, but grown for its foliage. Colors: White, pink or red
  4. Foam Flower: Blooms: Late spring / Early summer Colors: White or pink
  5. Globe Thistle: Blooms: Early summer to Early Fall Colors: Blue or white
  6. Hosta: Blooms: Generally mid-Summer Colors: Purples or white
  7. Peony: Blooms: Late spring / Early summer Colors: Pinks, white, reds or yellow
  8. Russian Sage: Blooms: Mid-summer to Fall Colors: Blue
  9. Sea Thrift: Blooms: Spring to Early summer Colors: Pink, rose, lilac, red or white
  10. Siberian Iris Blooms: Late spring Colors: Blues, purples or white

Consider Container Gardening

A great solution for a “wannabe green thumb” that doesn’t have hours to spend on their garden is opting to use the container gardening method. Let your creative juices flow when selecting your container and think beyond planter boxes and hanging baskets. Some of the most beautiful container gardens are grown out of household items that you may look at as junk. A popular, “out of the box”, solution is growing a garden out of the basket of an old bicycle. Other fun ideas include cowboy boots, wheel barrows, bird feeders, dresser drawers and rain barrels.

One benefit of container gardening is that you don’t even need a yard. Decks, windows, balconies and front porches can all be used as a starting point for your garden. For more information on container gardening check out “What is container gardening?”  by TLC.

 

Avoid Common Garden Mistakes

Check out our blog post on avoiding common garden mistakes on tips. This post is packed with goodies and secrets that will guide you through common mistakes that may have tripped you up in the past.

Stick With It

Commit to giving your garden the TLC that it needs and deserves. Be patient and give your garden time to grow before giving up on it. If you see your garden going downhill don’t give up! Seek the help of fellow gardeners in your neighborhood, local nursery or go online and reach out to the garden community.  Share your passion for your garden with a family member or neighbor. Hobbies that are shared with loved ones are always more enjoyable.  The reward of a beautiful garden is well worth the work you put into it.

Good luck and happy planting! Enjoy the extra time you will have after planting your low maintenance garden!

March OBX Real Estate Update: The Seaside Report – 4.18.12

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Here is our third monthly installment of The Seaside Report, and it is great to have such positive information to share. 2012 is starting off great for the Outer Banks real estate market.

Before I dive into the report, here’s a quick recap of what The Seaside Report is and why we’re offering this monthly report about the Outer Banks real estate market.

The main economic driver on the Outer Banks is real estate, and to meet the need for a detailed analysis of the current OBX real estate market, including the often ignored, but incredibly important, vacation rental market, we have created the monthly “Seaside Report.”

We have combined the forces of both sides of our business – Outer Banks real estate sales with Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty & OBX vacation rentals with Seaside Vacations – to bring you the first report to offer a comprehensive view of the OBX real estate market – real estate sales & vacation rentals.

As investors, homeowners, and vacationers, we need to understand the full picture of the Outer Banks real estate market to ensure we are making educated decisions, and our hope is that The Seaside Report will help develop this full perspective.

As always, we appreciate your input, and we encourage you to leave your comments below. We are happy to address any questions you may have, and we are always interested in suggestions for improvement.

Outer Banks Real Estate Sales
(Data Source: OBAR)

As I mentioned, 2012 is off to a fantastic start for the OBX real estate market. In fact, the numbers for the Month of March are the best since October 2005! Overall sales are up 25% and listing being placed under contract are up 11%.

Year-to-Date Sales

  • Overall – up 25% (471 units vs 376 units)
  • Residential – Up 21% (363 units vs 300 units)
  • Land – Up 40% (98 units vs 70 units)
  • Commercial – up 67% (10 units vs 6 unit)

Year-to-Date Under Contract

  • Overall – up 11% (569 units vs 511 units)
  • Residential – up 1% (436 units vs 431 units)
  • Land – Up 32% (121 units vs 92 units)
  • Commercial – Up 100% (12 units vs 6 units)

Inventory:

  • Overall, inventory has declined by 3% when compared with inventory in March 2011.
  • Residential inventory declined by 7%.
  • Commercial inventory declined by 8%.
  • Land inventory increased by 4%.

Distressed Sales:  (Distressed = Bank Owned and Short Sales)

  • Distressed sales remain at 13% of the active inventory.
    • Distressed sales have maintained this approximately this level for the last 12 months.
  • However, distressed property sales only made up 25% of the total sales volume in March 2012, compared to 44% in February 2012 and 37% in March 2011.
  • The sale of properties listed as short sales declined to 11% of all sales, and the sale of bank owned properties declined to 14% of all sales; for a total of 25% of all sales.

Top 5 Outer Banks Real Estate Firms Year-to-Date

Rank

Firm

Volume

1

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty – KH

$32,688,690

2

RE/MAX Ocean Realty – KDH

$26,059,676

3

Sun Realty – KDH

$17,452,720

4

Twiddy & Co. – Duck

$16,789,950

5

Village Realty – NH

$16,652,700

Average Booking Window  Outer Banks Vacation Rental Market 
(Data Source: NAVIS GeoAnalytics)

Legend: 2011;  2012

This graph demonstrates the average number of days between booking and check-in date. This graph is summarized by month of booking, rather than month of stay.

For example, the reservations made at this time of year are about 105 days in advance of their check-in date. This booking window has dropped by 35 days from February. Considering that the summer is the busiest time of year on the Outer Banks, this decline in booking window makes sense. We should continue to see this booking window decline as we approach the summer months.

The takeaway message is that guests should book early for summer months in order to reserve the most desirable homes and weeks – at this point, about 105 days in advance, but that window is declining every day as we approach the summer months.

The Seaside Report: Average Booking Window - March 2012The Seaside Report: Average Booking Window – March 2012
Seaside Report: Average Booking Window - YoY Variance - March 2012Seaside Report: Average Booking Window – YoY Variance – March 2012

Average Length of Stay
Legend: 2011;  2012

The Length of Stay graph illustrates the average number of days between check-in date and check-out date of reservations, summarized by check-in month.

As would be expected for the Outer Banks, the average stay is about seven days for the summer months and varies in the shoulder season.

A strong takeaway here is that full weeks are a must for the summer months, but Spring and Fall offer great opportunities for shorter stays and discounted rates, while maintaining the great benefits of gorgeous weather, empty beaches, and ample attractions and activities.

Although, it is interesting to note that there is a small spike in September. September is usually considered the start of the “shoulder season,” with guests traditionally taking advantage of the flexibility to take mini-vacations shorter than 7 days. It is encouraging to see guests staying for 7+ days in September.

Seaside Report: Average Length of Stay - March 2012Seaside Report: Average Length of Stay – March 2012
Seaside Report: Average Length of Stay - YoY Variance - March 2012Seaside Report: Average Length of Stay – YoY Variance – March 2012

Average Stay Value
Legend: 2011;  2012

The Stay Value graph illustrates the average revenue actualized or projected for reservations, summarized by check-in month.

The clear message with this graph is that demand is high and supply is low during the summer months, and as a result, prices are driven higher during the summer months. As mentioned above, Spring and Fall offer great opportunities for shorter stays and discounted rates, while maintaining the great benefits of gorgeous weather, empty beaches, and ample attractions and activities.

July is the clear peak, and prices begin to fall towards the end of August – when kids go back to school.

It is interesting to note that the stay values are slightly higher for 2012 compared to 2011. This seems to signal that discounts are less likely for 2012.

Seaside Report: Average Stay Value - March 2012Seaside Report: Average Stay Value – March 2012
Seaside Report: Average Stay Value - YoY Variance - March 2012Seaside Report: Average Stay Value – YoY Variance – March 2012

Bookings
Legend: 2011;  2012

The Bookings graph illustrates the number of reservations actualized or on the books, summarized by check-in month.

This graph gives a good view of the “strength” of the reservations over the previous year. Reservations are up, which indicates that early reservations are wise and prices should remain constant.

A couple points of interest; June is very strong over last year (+29%), but July is slightly under-performing in comparison to 2011. This will be a trend to keep an eye on. August and September are also up slightly from 2011, and there are still a few months to go.

In general, bookings usually increase right up to the summer check-in days as last minute vacationers scramble to find available homes. July bookings should catch-up, and we should continue to see a strong growth in the remaining months ahead.

Seaside Report: Bookings - March 2012Seaside Report: Bookings – March 2012
Seaside Report: Bookings - YoY Variance - March 2012Seaside Report: Bookings – YoY Variance – March 2012
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Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Welcomes Eleanor Price

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Coldwell Banker is pleased to announce the addition of agent Eleanor Price to the Kitty Hawk office.

Eleanor is a veteran real estate agent who has worked in the Raleigh area for 14 years where she worked with builders working on new construction and rehabilitation projects, specialized in relocation buyers and listings, primary residences, and investment properties.  Prior to her real estate career, Eleanor worked in the banking industry processing mortgage loan documents and credit reports. She attests this work experience as a preamble to her real estate career having gained an understanding of mortgage lending procedures during that time span.

While in Raleigh, she was affiliated with Prudential and then Re/Max.  She’s looking forward to building her business here on the OBX with Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty.

Eleanor was born in England but lived in Raleigh for many years. She was an active member in the community and an avid participant and contributor to many charities including the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure events, Children’s Miracle Network, and Relay for Life events.  Eleanor is an avid cook, loves to shop, read, and is an exercise and nutrition enthusiast.

She vacationed on the Outer Banks last summer and fell in love with our area.  She now lives in Kill Devil Hills with her Pomeranian, Stella.  Eleanor can be reached at eleanor@seasiderealty.com or 252.255.6562.

Founded in Kitty Hawk, NC in 1990, Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty is a dynamic full service real estate company, servicing the entire Albemarle region. More than 50 licensed agents provide both residential and commercial buying/selling assistance in Northeast North Carolina. Offices located in Kitty Hawk and Elizabeth City, NC. More information can be found on the Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty website at www.ColdwellBankerOBX.com.


 

Finding the Best Agent to Sell Your House

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“There are a lot of fish in the sea.” Great words of wisdom to help us understand life is full of opportunities. But when you are searching for a real estate agent, the question becomes “how do I find the right fish.”

Finding the right real estate agent is crucial to the sale or purchase of real estate…and crucial to your sanity. Buying and selling real estate is a big transaction and can increase stress levels. Real estate agents should help alleviate this stress, not add to it.

It is imperative for you to find a Realtor that has a proven success record and is a good match for you and what you are looking for. This is no easy task, but it’s worth the effort. And we’d like to help.

Below is a list of 10 important questions that you should ask a potential real estate agent.

HouseLogic suggests 10 important detailed questions to ask about an agent’s experience and skills to help you find the right agent for your home sale. We’ve answered these questions for you about Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty.

1. How long have you been selling homes?

  • Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty has been selling Outer Banks real estate for more than 20 Years.
  • Mastering real estate requires on-the-job experience. The more experience agents have, the more likely they’ll be able to handle any curveballs thrown during your home sale.

2. What designations do you hold?

  • CRS (Certified Residential Specialist,) CNAS, GRI (Graduate REALTOR Institute,) ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative , ePro, RDCPro (REO Default Certified Professional.)
  • Designations like GRI (Graduate REALTOR® Institute) and CRS® (Certified Residential Specialist), which require that agents complete additional real estate training, show they’re constantly learning.

3. How many homes did you sell last year?

  • In 2011 Coldwell Banker Seaside real estate sold 331 homes throughout the Outer Banks and Northeast North Carolina.

4. How many days on average did it take you to sell homes?

  • In 2011 our average “days on market” was 225 days, and the median was 159 days.
  • Ask agents to show you this data along with stats from their local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) so you can see how many days, on average, their listings were on the market compared to the average for all properties in the MLS.

5. How close were the asking and sales prices of the homes you sold?

  • On average, the sales price for the homes we’ve sold is 93% of the asking price.
  • Sometimes sellers choose their agent because the agent’s suggested listing price is higher than those suggested by other agents. A better factor is the difference between listing prices and the amount homes actually sold for. That can help you judge agents’ skill at accurately pricing homes and marketing to the right buyers. It can also help you weed out agents trying to dazzle you with a lofty sales price just to get your listing.

6. How will you market my home?

  • Our Internet Marketing Guarantee includes enhancing your listings on all the websites, including cb.com and Realtor.com and Trulia along with a custom QR code for your home. In addition, your home will have a dedicated toll free number to capture all sign calls.
  • The days of agents putting a For Sale sign in the yard and hoping for the best are long gone. Look for an agent who does aggressive and innovative marketing, especially on the Internet.

7. Will you represent me exclusively?

  • If you wish to be represented exclusively, we will honor that request.
  • In most states, agents can represent the seller, the buyer, or both in a home sale. If your agent will also represent buyers, understand and consent to that dual representation.

8. How will you keep me informed?

  • Our agents will Keep you updated by the agreed upon method of communication and based upon time table that you agree to.
  • If you want weekly updates by email, don’t choose an agent who plans to contact you only if there’s an offer.

9. Can you provide references?

  • Absolutely! We love to share references.
  • Ask to talk to the last three customers the agent assisted. Call and ask if they’d work with the agent again and if the agent did anything that didn’t sit well with them.

10. Are you a REALTOR®?

  • Yes, we wear our REALTOR affiliation with pride.
  • Ask whether agents are REALTORS®, which means they’re members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR). NAR has been an advocate of agent professionalism and a champion of homeownership rights for more than a century.

Outer Banks Featured Property: Duck, NC

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123 Marlin Drive, Duck NC

Must see the elevation of “High Dune Hideaway” complete with spectacular ocean views!

Situated on a large 15000 sq. ft. lot this 7 bedroom home in Saltaire is centrally located within walking distance to nearby Duck shops and easy beach access.

Top floor features a large open airy floor plan with cathedral ceilings, large kitchen, two dishwashers, dining room, and spacious living room with 52” flat screen TV, gas fireplace, built in cabinetry, half bath, and wonderful master suite with Jacuzzi, access to deck from both master suite and living room and must see ocean views!

The middle level includes 4 bedrooms, 2 are Master Suites, covered decks with hot tub and main entry to the cottage. Lower level has 2 bedrooms, bath, and large game room with pool table and slider out to double shower and private heated pool area.

Easy walk to beach access only 400 yards away along with convenient parking near access. Plenty of room here and popular home for multiple family vacations. Home warranty included.

For more information about this property, contact Nicole Walsh with Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty 

Market Conditions Just Right for Vacation Rental Real Estate – Even MSNBC Says So!

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Magic 8 Ball - Signs Point to Yes

Magic 8 Ball - Signs Point to Yes

Over the past couple months we’ve been talking about the stellar real estate activity on the Outer Banks. The winter months are generally a slow period for the real estate market, but the winter of 2012 has been anything but slow.

The Outer Banks is currently experiencing market activity that we have not seen for quite a while…and we just ended the 1st quarter!

Here’s a link to the Seaside Report from March that gives a full overview of the OBX real estate market through February – including vacation rental activity. (Side note: April’s Seaside Report will be out next week.)

And here’s a quick overview from the March Seaside Report to give you a little taste of the great activity…

Year-to-Date Sales

  • Overall – up 24% (254 units vs 206 units)
  • Residential – Up 19% (202 units vs 170 units)
  • Land – Up 45% (48 units vs 33 units)
  • Commercial – up 33% (4 units vs 3 unit)

Year-to-Date Under Contract

  • Contract Overall – up 25% (381 units vs 306 units)
  • Residential – up 15% (283 units vs 247 units)
  • Land – Up 51% (89 units vs 59 units)
  • Commercial – Up 200% (9 units vs 3 units)

If these trends continue, 2012 will be a fantastic year for real estate on the Outer Banks. And according to MSNBC.com, the conditions ARE right for these conditions to hold up. In fact, MSNBC.com even calls it the “Perfect Storm.”

“According to a new survey by the National Association of Realtors and Home Away… sales of vacation homes pushed up 7 percent in 2011 over the previous year.”

Has the perfect storm arrived for the OBX real estate market? There are no certainties in life, but according to my Magic 8 Ball, “all signs point to yes.”

If you’re in the market for an Outer Banks vacation home, we’d love to help you find the home of your dreams. Please reach out to us at www.ColdwellBankerOBX.com.

And to help you feel confident about your OBX realty company choices, here are the top 5 Outer Banks realty companies in February 2012 ranked by volume:

Top 5 Outer Banks Real Estate Firms: February 2012

Rank

Firm

Volume
1 Coldwell Banker-Seaside – Kitty Hawk

$20,832,100
2 RE/MAX Ocean Realty – Kill Devil Hills

$14,057,176
3 Sun Realty – Kill Devil Hills

$11,218,720
4 Corolla Classic Vacations – Corolla

$7,935,708
5 Midgett Realty – Avon

$7,891,356

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty and Seaside Vacations Yard Sale

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Donate your unwanted items to the Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty and Seaside Vacations yard sale- and you’ll be helping two great charities!

What: CBSR and SSV Yard Sale

When: Saturday, May 5th, 7:00am-noon

Where: Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty parking lot

How: Bring your unwanted items to the CBSR office by Friday April 20th.

Why: All proceeds will benefit two local charities…

Food for Thought- a local non-profit organization that provides nutritious breakfasts and lunches for elementary children in Dare County, each weekend during the school year.

OBX Relief Foundation- An organization assisting citizens in our community who are burdened with financial difficulties due to a debilitating disease or illness, or a personal tragedy or crisis to themselves and/or their families.

Outer Banks Featured Property: Martin’s Point, Kitty Hawk

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6005 Martins Point Rd. Kitty Hawk, NC

Remarkable…One of a Kind…Irreplaceable! Words just don’t do this home justice and neither do the photos.

This property is the “crown jewel” of Martin’s Point and quite possible one of the finest homes on the east coast. This almost 14,000 sqare foot home sits on 400 feet (4 Lots) of elevated water front property. The home is nestled in along this private 3.85 acre estate. Trees and mature landscaping add to the privacy, security and appeal of this site.

Views of Jean Guite Creek

Views of Jean Guite Creek can be enjoyed from the rear patio and just about every room of the home. There is a private pier with boat dock and a large area (approximately 500 square feet) for gathering as you enjoy boating, fishing and everything else the water has to offer. Jean Guite Creek opens up to the Albemarle Sound and gives you quick immediate access to the sound by boat.

The home is stunning and not just due to its size. This home was built with care and attention to detail and it shows. List of rooms include but are not limited to: 4 master bedrooms (one with kitchenette), 2 offices, loft, huge kitchen with breakfast room, formal dining room, huge great room, huge den, indoor pool and pool living room, weight room and game room, raquetball court with a retractable basketball goal, 5 car attached garage and more!

Indoor Pool

This home was built with the family in mind. Rooms are large but the floor plan is very livable. This home has many features. A full list can be obtained from broker. Here are some of the many quality features: Elevator, Indoor Pool, Catwalk over the pool, Indoor Pool living area with wet bar, raquetball/basketball court, 3 gas fireplaces, 1 wood burning fireplace, steam room, sauna, weight room, game room, private offices, intercom system, security system, storage and storage rooms, 5 car attached garage, generator, huge attic, and much much more.

For the nature enthusiast, the property is covered in beautiful trees and vegetation and its rolling terrain is wonderful. There is even a 1K jogging trail that winds its way throughout the property!

For more information on the property, contact Brad Beacham at Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty.

Meet the NEW coldwellbanker.com pocket edition!

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House hunters are always on-the-go and coldwellbanker.com is too!  But now we are better than ever!

 
The coldwellbanker.com mobile websites have been completely revamped to enhance your mobile experience with easy navigation, integrated video and complete agent and office searches. Best of all, coldwellbanker.com websites are accessible on nearly every phone! Simply type in “coldwellbanker.com” into the mobile browser of ANY mobile device and you’ll be greeted with the best search experience for your phone.

To learn more about the new mobile experience: