Real Estate Information Archive

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

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

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

Tweet of the Week:

‏@sheila_brothers : @RachelleLefevre Thank you for calling out by name the awesome restaurants in #ILM. I know the locals really appreciate it! You da best! (One reason we follow the #ILM feed – restaurant suggestions!)

In Case You Missed It

The Hoggard High School Vikings won the Mideastern Conference baseball title Tuesday night. They beat Ashley High School’s Screaming Eagles 10-0 to grab the title. This is their third conference title in four years.

Meghan Riley

Filming for Melissa McCarthy’s Tammy is starting and they are gearing up to hire 2,000 extras. This is a great opportunity to make some extra dollars and learn what filming a movie is like. In addition to Melissa, the movie’s cast includes Kathy Bates, Dan Aykroyd, and Toni Collette. Learn more at What’s Up in Wilmywood.

Speaking of movies…Iron Man 3, which was primarily filmed in Wilmington, is coming to theaters in a few days. This week, the Motion Picture Association of America released a report that the movie’s film production brought $180 million and 2,000+ jobs in North Carolina. This is music to the ears of those against House Bill 994, which would significantly reduce filming incentives in North Carolina. To see the breakdown of these numbers, visit Port City Daily.

The new Veterans Affairs Wilmington Health Care Center has opened in Wilmington. For over a decade, veterans anxiously anticipated a new, upgraded facility and now they have it at 1705 Gardner Drive. Previously, veterans had to drive to Fayetteville for specialty care. Now, they have access to audiology, cardiology, podiatry, radiology and dental care. The facility spans 85,000 square-feet, an extensive floor plan purposely chosen in anticipation of the growing number of veterans in Southeastern North Carolina. Learn more at Port City Daily.

Coming Up

The Airlie Summer Concert Series kicks off this weekend with folk and country rock group L Shape Lot. The concert starts at 6 p.m and admission is $2-$8 (Airlie members get in free). Attendees are encouraged to bring their own food, chairs, blankets, and coolers. To learn more, visit the Airlie Gardens 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

Tweet of the Week:

@dalm8ton Took some time tonight to remember why I live in #ilm - it's beautiful! http://ow.ly/i/1XqFg

In Case You Missed It

Cape Fear Community College is launching The Veterans Summer Institute, a program to help veterans enroll and transition into college. The schedule and demands of college life can take some adjusting and CFCC hopes to provide veterans with the tools they need to succeed. The program is free and runs mid-May. For more information, please visit WWAY TV 3.

The local police have announced that violent crime in downtown Wilmington (the river to 5th street) was down 58% in March 2013 from March 2012. This was the 10^th consecutive month it decreased and their attributing a large part of it to the new WPD/New Hanover County police task force. Read more at WECT Channel 6.

This year, Cape Fear Community College discovered one of their main campus buildings, the McLeod Building, had a major mold and mildew issues on its first floor. This week, the New Hanover Board of Commissioners decided to give the college $600,000 to replace walls, doors, floors, and the ceiling of the first floor. Read more at WECT Channel 6.

Coming Up

Interested in body art or looking for a new tattoo artist? Check out this weekend’s 3^rd Annual Cape Fear Tattoo and Arts Expo at the Wilmington Convention Center. Tattoo artists from many local shops will be onsite to speak with visitors and provide demonstrations. There will also be showcases, workshops, contests, and vendors. Admission is $20 per day with discounts for multiple days and the event runs Friday-Sunday. Learn more at the Cape Fear Tattoo and Arts Expo 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!

First and foremost, our continued thoughts and prayers go out to the city of Boston and all those effected by the horrific tragedy at the Boston Marathon last week. I still can't comprehend how some people can be so cruel and in the same breath, I'm amazed by the generosity and kindness of so many people helping complete strangers in the face of such tragedy. God bless them all!

Our market continues to show signs of improvements. Nationally, housing starts jumped by 7% in March. This was the largest jump since June 2008. New construction starts are a strong sign of the economy rebounding. We are seeing a lot of that locally here too so a good sign across the board. The Labor Department reported that the Consumer Price Index declined by .2% in March, showing that inflation at the consumer level remains tame. Weekly Initial Jobless Claims rose by 4,000 to 352,000, with no clear signs of any significant move lower as the labor market continues to muddle along with no significant growth. We'll be keeping an eye on these reports and reporting back.

As always, please call or email with any questions, comments or needs. We look forward to helping you with all your real estate needs. Have a great week!

Melanie Cameron

Tweet of the Week:

@Eryn_Alexandra 23h Crispy Thai chicken lollipops with sesame seeds, peanuts, and cilantro #ilm #foodtruck #yumm… http://instagram.com/p/YK8XipHuCu/ (Food from The Catch Food Truck = Amazing!)

In Case You Missed It

Earlier this year, it was announced that two sponsors had pulled out of the 4^th of July Battleship Blast creating a $15,000 deficit for this year’s event. Wilmington City Council approved $25,000, $15k more than they usually contribute, to make up for the loss. However, realizing the benefit of the event, downtown business owners have stepped forward and are now raising funds to help make it possible. Read more at Port City Daily.

The New Hanover County Board of Education is now proposing to share 11 sheriff’s deputies between the 25 elementary schools. The original plan involved keeping on the 24 deputies that were instated in the schools after the shooting at Newton, Connecticut. However, that would cost over a million annually. Sharing 11 deputies would be a significant decrease manually. Learn more at the StarNews.

The N.C. Department of Transportation will be holding a public forum about the potential closing of Third Street for multiple months next year to replace a culvert at Greenfield Lake. The project would affect the intersection at South Front Street, Carolina Beach Road and Burnett Boulevard, but would include additional improvements to pedestrian and bike access. NC-DOT is holding the meeting to fully inform the public and get feedback. Learn more at Port City Daily.

Coming Up

The 2013 North Carolina Open Foosball Championships will be happening at Break Time Billiards in Wilmington starting this Friday at 6 p.m. until Saturday at 2 a.m. Part of the Bonzini U.S.A. Tour, some of the hottest players from the East Coast will be there. A portion of all proceeds will go to support Wilmington's Brigade Boys & Girls Club.

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

We are seeing this question pop up a lot lately and it’s not a surprise. Interest rates are still low and, even though inventory in the Wilmington area is dropping, there are still some really good deals out there. So, this is the perfect time to assess your current living situation. If you desire more space, you have two choices – move up or renovate – but how do you decide? Here are a few things you need to consider.

1. Finances.

If your budget is very limited – depending on where you live, your current mortgage balance, your credit score, the value of your home, and where you want to move – you could pay the same or less monthly for a larger home, because that’s how much home values have changed in the past 5 years. However, there are a lot of factors to consider and you should start by determining how much you can afford. Even if you decide to renovate, which could be the cheapest and smartest decision based on your situation, you will be paying a certain amount of money. If you pay cash, it’s the cost of the project. If you finance, you have to factor in an extra percentage for the bank and consider what the monthly fee will be. If you refinance to get the money, there will be refinancing fees, including appraisal fees, title fees, lending fees, insurance, etc. So make sure to research your choices thoroughly before making a decision. You don’t want to be surprised with unexpected fees later on.

2. Needs vs. Wants.

Decide exactly what you need and what you want, and compare homes that have those features to those that do not. You’ll see that the extra square-footage and features will affect how much you will be paying. If you find it’s more than you expected, compare what you need now to what you want for the future. Suppose you NEED an extra bedroom, but also WANT a large gourmet kitchen. Can you get by with purchasing a home with an extra bedroom and a larger outdated kitchen (the kitchen can always be updated later) or would you rather just add on to your current home and splurge for a home with a gourmet kitchen later on? This could save you money now while still allowing you to get what you want in the future.

3. Location.

The neighborhood a home is located in can greatly affect its selling price. Its age, amenities (water access, swimming pool, tennis courts, club house, etc.), and closeness to conveniences can lower or raise demand for homes inside. For example, a home in a water access community will likely have a higher selling price than a home with the same square-footage and features in a neighborhood with no amenities located closer inland.

4. Market Changes.

The Wilmington housing market continues to improve overall, but that improvement varies depending on location and price range. Prices in some neighborhoods are continuing to dip while others are rising. If prices are still going down in your neighborhood, now may be the best time to sell or, if you really want to be located in a specific neighborhood where prices are going up, you may want to hurry up and buy before they rise too high. On the other hand, if you want to be located in a neighborhood where home prices are dipping, you may want to wait until they level out to avoid losing equity a few months down the road.

As Wilmington Realtors®, who watch the market constantly, we can help you determine if a home is a sound and viable purchase. If you decide renovating is your best choice, keep in mind that any renovations you do to your current home should remain in line with other homes in your neighborhood. If you over-renovate, you’re likely to not get back what you put in. If you plan on staying in your home long-term, this might not matter to you as much, but if this is a short-term fix you should consider the quality of upgrades you put into the home.

If you have any questions about a specific home or neighborhood, please give us a call at 910.202.2546 or send us a message through out Contact page. We’d be happy to do a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to help you decide the best route to take.

Meghan Riley

FamilyFun Magazine recently did a survey of 2,000 moms, who take their children aged 3 to 12 years-old on vacations, to find out what they thought of 360 popular family destinations in the United States. Each destination was categorized per region and voted on by moms in that region reasoning they’d know what was best in their “own back yard”. From that, they weighed the results and made a list of the top destinations for families.

Wilmington made their Top 10 Tourist Towns list!

You can see the full Top 10 and their other top family destination lists at their website. If you already subscribe, you can also see their digital version, which has an interactive list setup by region, in case you want to plan your next family trip.

Meghan Riley