Quote of the Week:

“Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”-Thomas Jefferson

Featured Home for Sale

1921 Oakley Road, Castle Hayne

This home needs some TLC, but it’s this week’s featured home, because of the acreage, size of the shop, and recent upgrades to the roof, windows, and heating system…

Country living in Castle Hayne, NC, on two parcels totaling .90 acres. 1500 heated square feet, 3 bedroom/1 bath ranch house surrounded by pecan trees and azaleas. Large galley kitchen with eat in space and all appliances convey. The family room has a brick wood burning fireplace with the laundry room attached. Brand new windows and the roof is one year old. New Trane16 Seer 2-stage heat pump/gas dual package 2010. The 60 x 20 sqft Shoppe/Barn/Office has a Franklin Stove, 20 x 12 lean to for outdoor storage - Plenty of room for your hobby. The owner requests 120 days after settlement to rent back the Shoppe/Barn/Office to remove all of his equipment and personal effects. Sold AS IS.

Visit the listing page for a full description and more pictures – 1921 Oakley Road.
View other homes for sale in Castle Hayne.

Listing Info Courtesy of Gail Cowan, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

In Case You Missed It

Downtown Sundown has announced their 2012 summer concert lineup. Wilmington Downtown, Inc. has been organizing the series that plays in Riverfront Park for the past 7 years. It offers a mix of original and cover bands, and food is available for purchase. It costs $1 to enter and all funds earned go to Wilmington Downtown, Inc., a non-profit, and the organization’s goals to maintain and improve quality of life in Downtown Wilmington. The series usually attracts about 1,800 people per show. Concerts play Friday evenings at 6 p.m. starting May 4^th with the Coconut Groove Band. You can see the full Downtown Sundown schedule on their web site.

Coming Up

4/20/12: Drive By Truckers W/Megafaun – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
4/20/12: Rims On The River Vintage Car, Hot Rod & Motorcycle Show – Downtown Wilmington
4/20/12: Karrin Allyson, Celebrated Jazz Singer - UNCW – Kenan Auditorium
4/21/12: Coastal NC Run/Walk for Autism – Mayfaire Town Center
4/21/12: Riverfront Farmer’s Market – Front St. Downtown Wilmington
4/22/12: Cinderella, a fairy tale opera – UNCW – Kenan Auditorium
4/24/12: Cape Fear Blues Jam – Rusty Nail
4/25/12: Scottish Rite Annual Fish Fry – Scottish Rite Temple
4/25/12: Lend Me a Tenor - Opera House Theatre Company – Thalian Hall

The Cameron Team

Melanie Cameron, Broker 910.233.2840

Susan Harkins, Buyer Specialist, 910.431.2362

Gina Martin, Buyer Specialist, 910.619.1987

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

This year, The Cameron Team has the honor of sponsoring a t-ball team. Here are a few pictures of the team.

The experts are saying it’s the time to buy, interest rates are at an all time low, sales have increased, professionals are even reporting that it’s cheaper to buy than rent, but where do you start? We, The Cameron Team, can help you with that. Here are some steps to get you started with buying a new home…

FIRST… Figure out how much home you can afford. Mortgage lenders will calculate your debt-to-income ratio. That is, they compare all your current debt, not including a mortgage, to your ability to pay for that debt. Then, they decide how much you can afford. Not only does this give you a strong financial outlook, but helps trim down your home search, so you aren’t wasting any time looking at houses you can’t afford.

Don’t let debt or a low credit score deter you from talking to a mortgage lender. Many lenders will look at your current debt and income, and give you instruction on the best and quickest ways to improve your credit score. If yours doesn’t, let us know and we can refer you to someone who will.

You can also check out our report, 7 Secrets for Saving Thousands When Financing Your Home, for even more great pointers.

SECOND…Pinpoint your needs. You can do this by first determining your motivation for buying. Is your family expanding? Is your current home too far from work? Are you wanting an investment property? Sounds too easy, right? Actually, you’ll probably find there are a bunch of wants mixed in with your needs. If you’re married or have a partner, sit down with them and create a list of your must-haves. This will make your search SO MUCH EASIER! And will probably save you from a few spats too (haha)! Choosing a home can be stressful. Having a clear vision will make it easier.

THIRD…Choose a Realtor.

“But I was going to buy alone. I want to save money.”

Don’t do it. Yes, we’re a little biased. But here are the facts…

1. Commission in North Carolina is paid by the seller. That means, a buyer pays their Realtor nothing and the Realtor is motivated to find you a home you like, because that’s how they get paid - via the sale.
2. Realtors often have knowledge and access to homes that aren’t officially on the market or made public. These are called "pocket listings".
3. Your best interest is at stake. No one knows that better than you, but a Realtor has the training and knowledge to make sure all bases are covered.
4. Realtors know the market. They know what has sold and what the fair market price of a home should be. It’s also their job to remain aware of local projects, court cases, and legislation that could possibly affect your funding and where you want to buy.

So, you see, Realtors provide an important service.

Your Realtor will be helping you make a very important decision and we want to make it easy for you to find the best agent for your needs and personality. That’s why we created Questions to Ask Any Buyers Agent.

If you have any questions about buying a home or would like the name of a good lender, feel free to give us a call. We help guide people through the entire buying process from pre-qualification to beyond closing. So, don’t be shy! 910-202-2546

Happy Monday! If you were in Wilmington this weekend I certainly hope you were able to enjoy the fantastic weather and all the festivities surrounding the Azalea Festival.

Well, the numbers for March are in! The sold units for March are up 18.1% over February and pending sales stand at 986 units as of 4/12/12. Our current listing inventory is at 3,969 which is an increase of 2.1% over last month and equates to a 9 month supply of inventory in our market ( a decrease from the 10.8 month supply we saw in February). Our average list price decreased in March and is currently at $350,556 with an average days on the market of 159 days.

The average sold price in March decreased slightly to $205,086 and the list to sale price ratio for March was a 94.5%, an improvement over last month. With the exception of 1 week this year, 30 year fixed rate mortgages have stayed under 4%. The existing inventory and low interest rates continue to make conditions very favorable for home buyers.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please give us a call. Have a great week!

The Cameron Team has earned the International President's Circle Team designation for 2012. This prestigious award was presented to The Cameron Team as a result of their production during 2011.

“The Cameron Team’s extensive knowledge and understanding of the overall real estate industry and community in Wilmington personify the success embodied by the International President’s Circle Team award,” says Jim Gillespie, chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.  “It’s this type of attention to detail and dedication that have defined the Coldwell Banker brand for over 100 years, and with The Cameron Team, will continue for years to come.”

Melanie, Susan, and Gina thank all of their clients, friends, and family for their support. Without them, this would not be possible!

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The Cameron Team prides itself in giving all its current and future clients the service they deserve. We're always available for whatever real estate questions you may have. Just give us a call at (910) 202-2546 or visit our Contact page.

This post is for all our friends on Twitter. Wilmington's local hashtag is #ILM. If you aren't familiar with hashtags on Twitter, they allow Tweeters to find information about a specific topic as identified by other Tweeters. Anyone posting on Twitter who has a tweet about Wilmington types "#ILM" on the end of their message and other people looking for things happening in Wilmington will see it. This Infographic gives some stats on the use of the #ILM hashtag in the past month.

Note: You can click on it for a larger version.

Did you know The Cameron Team has a mobile app? We do! If you're out driving and find a neighborhood you really like, you can use our iPhone/iPad app to find nearby homes for sale. Click the appropriate button below to be taken to the Apple Store or search for the myAgent app.

The Cameron Team's Buyer Specialist, Susan Harkins, and her client were featured in the recent StarNews article, "Room to Grow", about one of Wilmington's newest communities, The Registry at Vineyard Plantation. Susan's client, Heather, shared her reasons for choosing The Registry and Susan spoke about what makes the community a great place to buy. It's a thorough write-up on the community's history and features. We highly suggest you read the article if you're interested in The Registry or buying affordable new construction outside of the Wilmington city limits. 

The article was printed in Saturday's Real Estate section and can be viewed by clicking here.

Quote of the Week:

“Sow an act, and you reap a habit; sow a habit, and you reap a character; sow a character, and you reap a destiny.” ~George Dana Boardman

Featured Home for Sale

6944 Running Brook Terrace, Demarest Landing

If you’re looking for a unique custom luxury home, check out this beautiful marsh front property in Demarest Landing…

Natural beauty abounds this exquisite custom built marsh front home. This home is 3,684 square feet plus 914 square feet of additional living space that can be used as a recreation room. The Key West style living room contains stacked windows which elude tons of natural light and adjoins the formal dining room. The open floor plan connects the kitchen, bay window breakfast nook, living room and library/office in which the custom built in fish tank and dual sided fireplace can be viewed. The large master bedroom contains an eyebrow window designed for stargazing. The spa-like master bath has a Jacuzzi tub and separate shower with six showerheads. There are landscaped marsh gardens and gorgeous outdoor living spaces with numerous decks and a personal balcony with views of the Intracoastal off the master. There is a mystical walkway to the marsh, with a bridge over a stream, and trails galore. Three car garage, hot tub, greenhouse, and way too many other features to list. A Must See to Appreciate!

Visit the listing page for a full description and more pictures – 6944 Running Brook.
View other homes for sale in Demarest Landing.

Listing Info Courtesy of Renatta Muse, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

In Case You Missed It

The local tourism market is showing a welcoming improvement. Like the housing industry, tourism took a significant hit from the recession. Due to an increased strain on household financials, people haven’t been able to take vacations like they once could. However, New Hanover County room taxes collected in January 2012 show a 17% increase over January 2011. That is a large increase! Was it due to the mild winter? Is this a trend we’ll continue to see? That isn’t exactly clear yet, but it’s a strong foundation for this tourist season.

On that note…It’s Azalea Festival!! But you probably haven’t missed that. It’s hard to miss an event that attracts more than 300,000 people to the area! Did you know that the Azalea Festival has a 50 million dollar impact on the Wilmington area? That’s a nice boost to our local economy! 70 cents of every dollar spent locally stays local, as compared to 30 cents spent with national companies. With that said, how about taking in one of the festival’s events? There is a lot going on. Check out the full schedule and highlights from past years on the official North Carolina Azalea Festival Web Site. Events run through Sunday, April 15.

Coming Up

4/13/12: Ghost Hunt Battleship NC - Ghost Hunters International – Battleship North Carolina
4/14/12-4/15/12: Azalea Festival Home Tour – Various Locations
4/14/12: 6^th Annual Bocce Ball Tournament – Courts and Sports
4/16/12: Tyler Hilton, musician from One Tree Hill – Soapbox
4/17/12: History Walking Tours – Wilmington Riverwalk
4/17/12: Firespinning and Drums – Juggling Gypsy Cafe
4/20/12: Drive By Truckers W/Megafaun – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
4/20/12: Rims On The River Vintage Car, Hot Rod & Motorcycle Show – Downtown Wilmington

The Cameron Team

Melanie Cameron, Broker 910.233.2840

Susan Harkins, Buyer Specialist, 910.431.2362

Gina Martin, Buyer Specialist, 910.619.1987

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

Our Room by Room series is all about getting the most out of your rooms when selling your home.

Work What You’ve Got!

1. Minimize. Remove as many personal items as you can, including photos and tokens. Don’t leave any clothes lying on the floor: hang up everything or conceal it in a drawer if you need it often. Only leave out the necessities, like your alarm clock, but don’t just stuff everything in the closet. Pack it in boxes, because buyers will likely look at the closet space. The bedroom can be a very personal room and buyers viewing your home want to imagine themselves living in the house. It’s difficult to do that if there are too many personal touches.
2. Clean. Wipe down everything. Really get into the crevices. If you have a ceiling fan and/or blinds, don’t forget to wipe them down. If you have curtains, wash them. Even wipe down the ceiling doors and molding. It’s little things like this that give rooms their sparkle, because they are details that are easily forgotten when you're used to seeing a room every day.
3. Highlight the best parts. Have a large master bedroom with a nice big window? Set up a sitting area. Have a private balcony? Make sure the door is accessible, the blinds open, and the glass clean. Do the same to the windows if you have a great view.
4. Add color. Take a look around the room. Are things looking a little dull? Add a colored candle to the nightstand or a colorful landscape to the wall. Adding color can really bring a room together. Just make sure you stick to a similar palette and make it generic (remember, nothing personal!).  
5. ALWAYS make the bed. Just get in the habit of doing it every morning, because you never know when you’ll need to show the home.

Upgrades That Pay

There aren’t many cost-effective upgrades that sellers can make to master bedrooms that will give a high return. It really depends on the age of the home, because the two biggest complaints for master bedrooms are 1) a lack of closet space and 2) no private bathroom. But these can be costly to add and can potentially be reconciled with the right listing price. However, if you’re looking for low-cost upgrades to catch a buyer’s eye, consider painting the walls with a neutral color and updating the light fixtures. If you have a ceiling fan and have hardwood flooring, try matching the fan to the flooring (see the picture). Otherwise, stick with plain white. If you have outdated flush mount fixtures (like the 90’s brass dome), upgrade them to an antique style finish or brushed nickel. Or, try something like this DIY project.

The next best choice in upgrades for a master bedroom is adding hardwood or wood style laminate flooring. Only do this if the rest of the home already has this style of flooring. Most buyers would like to have wood flooring throughout their home, but would rather have it in the main living room over the master bedroom. So, don’t waste your money on it if it hasn’t been installed elsewhere.  

Remember to always do your homework before completing any upgrades. You could potentially over-improve the home pricing it outside of the potential selling range. Melanie is always happy to stop by to take a look at your home and give you an idea on what improvements, if any, you should complete. Choosing which improvements to make before listing your home depends a lot on how other homes in the neighborhood are selling and she constantly has her eye on the market. Feel free to give Melanie a call at 910.202.2546 or send us an email at CameronTeam@seacoastrealty.com

Have tips to share? We welcome comments below.