Real Estate Information

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend. It was BEAUTIFUL here and we are finally seeing the warmer temperatures we've been waiting for!

We've gotten some really cool software that enables us to evaluate investment property to determine CAP rates, ROI (return on investment), and operating expenses. If you've considered getting into the rental market, it's still a great time to do so. With low interest rates, and prices still affordable it's a great time to consider investing in real estate. If you have any questions or would like to see some samples of the investment information we can provide, just let me know and we'll send it over.

Nationwide, consumer confidence seems to be improving which will hopefully continue to have a positive impact on our economy. We continue to see good activity in the market place here, especially in the $200,000 and under price range. So if you're considering buying or selling, please give us a call.

Have a great week and check in with The Cameron Team for all your real estate needs!

Melanie Cameron

8701 Champion Hills Dr.
Wilmington, NC 28411
Porters Neck Plantation

The Cameron Team has a new listing!

Situated on a lovely manicured lot on the 15th green of Porters Neck Plantation’s award winning golf course, this custom built home features 4 or 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, home office, and all the upgrades and amenities you’d expect in this community.  The great room features soaring ceilings, transom windows, built in shelving, and a gas log fireplace.  The open floor plan and easy flow design will make entertaining with friends a regular event both inside and on the covered porch and patio.  The spacious kitchen features ample storage, granite countertops, center island, and stainless steel appliances.   Surround sound is featured in the great room, kitchen, master suite, and bonus room.  You are just a 5 minute stroll to the community dock on the ICWW where you can launch your boat and kayak, or go fishing on the pier with the kids. Seller is willing to negotiate on the “Charter” golf & country club membership that includes access to golf, pool, tennis, fitness center, dining, and social functions.

Visit the listing page for a full description and more pictures – 8701 Champion Hills Drive.
Other homes for sale in the community of Porters Neck Plantation.

Meghan Riley

Tweet of the Week:

@TimGuinee   Sad to hear about #Revolution leaving NC. #iLM was a great place to shoot and live and a we had a great crew. Thanks for a great year.

In Case You Missed It

Wilmington restaurants that cater to certain diets are hard to come by, but there’s a new restaurant near Blue Moon Gift Shop called Clean Eatz that wants to offer diners healthier options. The menu includes gluten free, low-carb, and customizable options to fit your current diet needs. Trying to build muscle? They have options specifically for that. Plus, they have the calories displayed right on the menu, so you’re always informed. Learn more about Clean Eatz at their website.

The Battleship North Carolina has been a Wilmington icon since she arrived in her current berth across from the Wilmington Riverfront in 1961. Her preservation started out as a struggle. In 1958, it was announced she would be scrapped. That year, North Carolina residents started a campaign to save her. It was successful and she became the State’s memorial to its World War II veterans and victims in 1962. It became a popular family tourist destination and has even made its appearance in movies and television. However, a rise in operating costs and decrease in tourism across the nation has made it difficult for the battleship to continue offering events and tours. It does not receive state or national funding for day-to-day operations and instead relies on ticket sales and event sales. To help increase its funding, the Battleship North Carolina is now taking applications for a specialized North Carolina automobile license plate, but need 300 applications before it’ll be made. Learn more at WWAY.

A 250,000 square-foot shopping center could be going in the Porter’s Neck Area at 8000 and 8001 Market Street. The plan proposed by Paramount Development Corp. includes a brand new Walmart. In order for the project to move forward, the area will have to be rezoned. Paramount is in the process of viewing that. In the mean time, Paramount and Walmart have been holding public meetings to hear the concerns of surrounding residents. Learn more at Greater Wilmington Business Journal.

Nearly 100 Wilmington residents came together on Tuesday, May 15, to discuss what needs to be improved and preserved in the city. This is the first stage of designing the future of Wilmington for the next 15-20 years, a project that mimics others that have occurred in the city’s past and proved to be successful. As the city grows and technological progress occurs, resident’s needs change; so, the City of Wilmington aims to refocus its own efforts for maintaining the quality of life for its residents. See the results of the development meeting at Port City Daily.

Coming Up

The 21^st Annual St. Nicholas Greek Festival is happening this Friday-Sunday, May 17th-19^th, at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church across from UNCW on South College Road. The annual event is very popular and features authentic Greek food, live music, vendors, and church tours. There’s even a drive-thru if you’re just interested in getting some great food. But make sure you get there early if you want the Greek pastries. They go quick! Admission is $3. Kids 12 and under are free. Extra parking is at the Kmart parking lot down the road (free shuttle provided). To see the full schedule for the event, visit the Greek Fest website.

If you are looking for something a little smaller or new, check out the Inaugural Wilmington Wine and Food Festival on Sunday from 2-5 p.m. at the St. Thomas Preservation Hall on Dock Street in Downtown Wilmington. Area restaurant owners and wine owners will be providing food and teaching attendees about all the best pairings. Over 100 different wines will be available for tasting. Attendees will also have the option to order wine at discount. Tickets are $48 and proceeds will go toward supporting Cape Fear River Watch and 1000 People Who Care. For tickets and to learn about the raffle they will be hosting, visit the Wine and Food Festival website.

The Cameron Team

Melanie Cameron, Broker 910.233.2840

Sloan Reese, Buyer Specialist, 910.547.2038

Meghan Riley, Client Care Specialist, 910.202.2547

Diligently working to exceed real estate expectations in Wilmington, North Carolina, and surrounding areas including Ogden, Porters Neck, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Castle Hayne, Leland, Burgaw, Rocky Point

Meghan Riley

Many North Carolina homeowners ask, “Do we need to install a fence around our swimming pool?” The answer is YES!

The installation of a swimming pool should conform to North Carolina’s latest building codes. As of this post, those are the 2012 residential building codes. They regulate the dimensions of the fence or wall (referred to as a “barrier” in the codes), including height, gaps, protrusions, and gates. The state adopted these codes to prevent accidental or near-accidental drownings, especially where children are concerned.  

If you’re considering buying a Wilmington area home with a swimming pool or plan on installing one, there may be additional regulations as the New Hanover County Board of Health drew up their own regulations in 2000, but we recommend you do some research beforehand: it’s unclear if they’ve been updated since then. If you have any questions about the codes for installing swimming pools in New Hanover County, always contact the New Hanover County Planning & Inspections Department or speak with a licensed fence contractor.

Additionally, make sure that you check with your homeowners association if you are buying or live in a community that has one, because they too may have their own requirements for installing swimming pools or making home improvements in general.

For your convenience, here is Appendix G: Swimming Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs of the 2012 North Carolina Building Codes as a downloadable PDF.

Happy Monday and I hope all you MOM's had a wonderful Mother's Day! I certainly did and enjoyed the entire day with my family!

The #'s for April are in and we continue to see good signs for our local market as we head in to the Summer market. We have now gone 7 months with out list to sales price ratio above 95%. The average sales price in April was $225,618. That's a 1.8% increase from last month and a 2.8% increase from April 2012. Our year to date average sold price is currently $220,803, up about .3% from year end 2012.

As of May 1st, we have 3,765 homes on the market in our local MLS. That's a 55 unit increase since last month which equates to a 7 month supply of inventory. Our pending index is close to 1,300 and we haven't seen pendings that high since August 2007. In April, our days on the market (DOM) increased by 4 days to 136. The average list price is up by $9,318 from last month and currently stands at $367,136. The 30 year fixed rate averaged 3.42% which is extremely attractive.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns we are happy to assist any way that we can. Just call, email or text..... We're here to help!

Have a great week!

Melanie Cameron

The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners has approved the county tax department’s request to move the countywide property revaluation back one year. This was originally scheduled for 2016, but will now take place in 2017. This move is intended to give the county tax department enough time to visit all 95,000 parcels in the county, which hasn’t happened since 1991.

When the New Hanover County Tax Department approached the board of commissioners, they cited a slew of data errors, which have the potential to cost property owners money. With the cooperation of owners, they want to fix the majority of these errors and can only do so with a personal visit to each parcel. Here is what property owners need to know:

1. The appraisal process will begin THIS YEAR on July 1^st.
2. The county will be separated into areas. When the assessors are due to visit that area, they will post a press release.
3. Assessors will measure the outside of the home and will knock on doors to ask questions about the interior.
4. They will NOT enter homes unless specifically asked by the home owner.
5. If the owner is not present, they will leave a survey on the front door. It is the responsibility of the home owner to send it back to the county tax office.
6. The survey will include questions about the number of bedrooms, baths, improvements, etc.
7. Property visits will be conducted by New Hanover County staff and an outside contractor.

If you are unsure that a person visiting your home is a New Hanover County Tax Assessor, you can verify their information with New Hanover County by calling the county customer service at (910)798-7311. Remember, assessors have no reason to enter your home. You can always request them to leave the survey on the door if you feel uncomfortable.

Meghan Riley

6312 Sugar Pine Drive
Wilmington, NC 28412
Beau Rivage

The Cameron Team has a new listing!

Situated on the 8^th fairway of Beau Rivage Plantation is this meticulously maintained 4 bedroom, 3 bath home with over 2800 square-feet.  Plantation shutters, a built-in book case, sound system, hydrotherapy tub, and granite countertops in the kitchen are just a few of the many upgrades by the current owners.   Hardwood floors highlight the great room, formal dining room, and all the downstairs bedrooms in this split bedroom floor plan.  Full irrigation system covers the front and back yard, and functions off a separate well, so garden to your hearts delight in the azalea filled yard.  Wind down after a long day or entertain friends on the expansive deck overlooking the golf course.  The heat pump was replaced a few years ago, and there’s a termite bond and home warranty for added peace of mind. Beau Rivage offers optional memberships for pool and golf. Just minutes to area shopping and dining, and a short ride to area beaches, you’ll love the convenience and comfort Beau Rivage offers.  Welcome Home!

Visit the listing page for a full description and more pictures – 6312 Sugar Pine Drive.
Other homes for sale in the community of Beau Rivage Plantation.
 

Tweet of the Week:

@CodyRayBeck  Loved seeing some familiar sights in Iron Man III #Wilmington Pride! #Ilm

In Case You Missed It

Wilmington City Council voted to add a local contribution of $86,000 to a $175,000 state grant for building a boardwalk, public parking, and a kayak launch on Smith Creek near the McRae Street and Cornelius Harnett Drive intersection. Learn more at WWAYTV3.

‘The Perfect Summer’, a surfer flick about a nerd who learns to surf to impress a girl, has started filming in Wilmington. It stars Adam Horner, Eric Roberts and Sydney Penny, Katie Garfield, Chuck Carrington , and Jason Castro. Local surfer, Tony Silvagni, has also been cast as Horner’s surfer double. The casting team is also looking for local surfers for extras. Keep up with filming news at What’s Up in Wilmywood.

A locally filmed renovation show, “Home Again”, surprised a Wilmington Marine returning home from service Tuesday with a back yard makeover. Community members lined up along the street to welcome him home and the creators of “Home Again” hope that he will be just the first of many service members to receive a home makeover. That is dependent on if the show is picked up by a network. Learn more at WWAYTV3.

Coming Up

This Friday and Saturday, Wilmington is hosting the first annual Port City Pop Con featuring actors, personalities, artists, musicians, and other popular icons. Some of the guests include Ernie Hudson from ‘Ghostbusters’, Margot Kidder from ‘Superman’, James McCune from ‘The Walking Dead’, Michael Biehn from ‘Tombstone’, and Jennifer Blanc from “Dark Angel”. The Pop Con will be held at the Wilmington Convention Center on Nutt St. Tickets are $25 per person on Friday and $40 per person on Saturday, with $50 weekend passes available as well. See the full list and learn more at the Port City Pop Con website.

The Cameron Team

Melanie Cameron, Broker 910.233.2840

Susan Harkins, Buyer Specialist, 910.431.2362

Sloan Reese, Buyer Specialist, 910.547.2038

Meghan Riley, Client Care Specialist, 910.202.2547

Diligently working to exceed real estate expectations in Wilmington, North Carolina, and surrounding areas including Ogden, Porters Neck, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Castle Hayne, Leland, Burgaw, Rocky Point

Meghan Riley

Happy Monday!

I hope you had a great weekend! Still a bit cool around here but I think that's going to be changing by the weekend. I for one am READY for some warmer weather.

I've had a lot of buyers and sellers recently ask me if lenders are starting to loosen their standards of qualifying for loans. So, I did some research. The Federal Reserve's January survey of mortgage loan officers revealed the 9th straight month in which fewer than 10% of banks actually tightened their standards. Instead, the survey found that the standards were beginning to loosen slightly. We won't see any time soon (IF EVER), the extremely loose standards that we saw at the height of the market but a little bit of give, will continue to help the recovering housing market. With more buyer demand and prices starting to rise slightly in some areas, this is a good sign for the 2013 home purchase market.

Why are Lending Standards Easing? According to Keeping Current Matters blog, the FICO/PRMIA report revealed that 83.7% believe the level of mortgage delinquencies will decrease or at least not get any worse and 70.8% feel that home prices were increasing at a sustainable pace. The housing market is strongly connected to the country's economic recovery so these are all good signs.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please share them and I'll be happy to respond. Have a great week and remember The Cameron Team for all your real estate needs.

Melanie Cameron

1004 Upper Reach Drive
Wilmington, NC 28409
Upper Reach

The Cameron Team has a new listing!

Located in the desirable community of Upper Reach, this beautiful home is surrounded by a canopy of beautiful trees and a professionally landscaped yard.  With 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and an enormous bonus room over the 2 car garage, this home has all the amenities and upgrades you could want.  The kitchen has been updated with granite countertops and slate flooring.  Oak floors downstairs have been refinished and Brazilian cherry flooring is located upstairs.  The master suite features vaulted ceilings, and an incredible master bath with a whirlpool tub, separate shower, and updated vanity with granite countertop.   Enjoy the southern hospitality of the front porch or wind down with friends on the patio in the fenced back yard.  Located in the sought after Parsley School District, area shopping, dining and beaches are also just minutes away.  Come visit Upper Reach today, you’ll be glad you did! 

Visit the listing page for a full description and more pictures – 1004 Upper Reach Drive.
Other homes for sale in the community of Upper Reach.

Meghan Riley