House to Home for Habitat - Buy Green & Help Habitat for Humanity

Several area groups and companies worked together to put on the House to Home for Habitat program that will run both weekends of the Parade of Homes in April and May. Stevens Fine Homes provided the model home, the nascent Wilmington Professional Stagers group did the staging and decorating, and Fast Signs provided signage for the event.

So here's the deal. During the weekends of April 25-26 and May 2-3, go the the fine new Stevens Fine Homes model home above in the neighborhood of South Brook in Mallory Creek in Winnabow. The actual address is 1206 South Brook Road, Winnabow. The house has been completely decorated with "found" items from six area shops (list below) that specialize in used or antique furniture and accessories. All the furniture and decorative items, including some great clothes in the humungous master bedroom closet, are for sale at appealing prices. Depending on the item, 10-15% of the sale price will be donated to the greater Wilmington area Habitat for Humanity. So how cool is that?

The house on South Brook Road is Green certified and Energy Star certified and by virtue of the "found" status of the decorations, the whole shootin' match is green.

If you are interested in the house itself, either of the fine ladies below, Charlotte Palmer on the left and Wendy Melville on the right will be happy to provide you with information about it. They'll also be delighted to tell you about other existing new homes or homes that can be built in the South Brook neighborhood or the adjacent Cove Landing. Please remember that Charlotte and Wendy both represent the builder and if you'd like a buyer's representative, I would be elated and honored to work with you.

The newly formed Wilmington Professional Stagers group did the work of staging and decorating the house. The WPS crew, below, consists of Melissa Prim, Barb Mihalik Pat McCartan, Shay Perryman, Cindy Jones, and Peggy Stone. Great job, folks, the house looks beautiful.

Remember that every piece in the house is "found". It's hard to believe that when you see how great it all looks. The living/great room is very inviting and looks out at a wooded back yard.

The dining room in particular looks right out of a design magazine.

Check out the headboard in the master bedroom. It's an old fireplace mantle! Neat, huh?

The upstairs playroom is huge and inviting, with lots of light and plenty of room to spread out and enjoy.

Even the mirror at bottom of the stairs was an unexpected delight. Ooops, and there's Wendy, too.

Here's a list of the stores and shops that provided furniture and decorations for House to Home for Habitat:

Habitat for Humanity

Fabulous Finds

The Seaside Cottage

Cape Fear Antiques

Primrose Cottage

Second Time Around

So check it out. And please call me at 910-297-8753 or e-mail me at brucebrown@seacoastrealty.com if you'd like buyer representation to see this or any other home in our area.

Bruce's Daily Wilmington Area Update January 18, 2009

Welcome. This daily update combines elements I've created, posted elsewhere, or found. This format is a work in progress, comments appreciated. So far comments good, but I'm open to suggestion. - TIA, Bruce

Good morning, Wilmington&Leland&Hampstead. Warming up somewhat; rainy today, high in lo 50s.

To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing." - Eva Young

Arts and Cultural Events Calendar: Culture and Arts Events in the Wilmington area today

A great day yesterday (got a lot done!):

- Great second meeting with great clients listing a great home at a great price in Magnolia Greens . Should be ready to actually list and put on MLS by next weekend! This one will go fast.

- Good negotiation progress for clients who are going to buy very soon in Leland, NC. Can't say much about it, of course, but sure looks good for all involved.

- Spent some time catching up on paperwork at Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty Leland office.

- Marge and I watched the movie Iron-Jawed Angels about the women who fought so hard to get the vote for women in the early 1900's. Powerful stuff, can't imagine what those folks who sacrificed so much would think of people, especially women, who don't exercise their right to vote.

Today I'm looking forward to:

- Research for listing clients and early prep work on marketing materials and campaigns.

- Successfully completing negotiation for some buyer clients.

- Already had some great conversations (online) via FaceBook and Twitter. Lots of people in and out of this country are enjoying success right now . . . not tomorrow or maybe next quarter, but right now!

- In office early to do some paperwork and I wasn't the only one. Other agents, too, hard at work early on a Sunday.

- completing and turning in two articles for Forest View the neighborhood magazine for the community we live in, Brunswick Forest (still gotta do this . . . but got great pics!).

Plus work on Leland, NC new home blog(s), including compilation of stats and pertinent information on the best new home neighborhoods in Leland, NC. My professional goal is to be the prime resource for objective information on the major new home communities in Leland. I'm looking to represent people who want to buy in our great town and area but want an advocate and advisor who can work for them in any of these fine neighborhoods. (Sorry for the sales pitch, but I'm really pumped and passionate about this. I'm nuts about our area and I LOVE helping buyers find new homes, whether it's their first home or their retirement home.)

Here's yesterday's photo from Daily Mugshot:

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Why I Think You Should Buy a New Home in Leland, NC

I'll admit right off that I'm passionately biased in favor of living in Leland, North Carolina. North Carolina, specifically the southeastern coastal area, is an increasingly popular U.S. destination address across diverse population segments for obvious reasons:

• year-round temperate climate
• outdoor sports and lifestyle
• 100s of miles of accessible beaches with warm water (especially compared to New England and California)
• incredibly rich marine life
• many historic sites and preserved residential historic districts
• strong higher education opportunities - university, colleges, and community colleges
• cultural depth and diversity
• a long tradition of support for music, theater, and the arts
• culinary delights in 1,100+ restaurants and delicious regional dishes
• a variety of shopping destinations
• many regional museums, parks, exhibits, and other attractions
• a growing job market with emphasis on technology-based industries
• an extensive hospital and health care system
• active environmental, ecological, historic, and preservation interests
• a responsible, foreward-thinking, "can-do" attitude toward future development
• strong citizen participation in local and regional government
• a multitude of local and regional festivals and celebrations
• a tradition of support and encouragement for entrepreneurs and small business owners
• courteous, friendly people

The greater Wilmington area has all the above and more. Residential and commercial development are proceeding regardless of the tempo and development cycles in other part of the United States. It's clear that people want to move here and are moving here in ever-greater numbers.

While our whole region is growing and developing, the northern section of Brunswick County centered around Leland, just across the Cape Fear River from Wilmington, is the fastest-growing and in many ways the most attractive area of southeastern North Carolina.

Why are so many people moving to Leland and adjacent towns in northern Brunswick County? The reasons are many, varied, and clear:

• Great new home selections in many fine new developments as well as super buys on existing homes
• New homes available in a wide range of prices, from the low $100s to over $600,000.
• Leland has a fast-growing commercial and retail corridor with shopping, dining, and entertainment facilities increasing monthly. Four new hotels are currently under construction.
• Close proximity to downtown Wilmington's historic riverfront, restaurants, shopping, theater, and clubs.
• Easy access to major highways
• An enthusiastic populace that welcomes others who want to participate in the excitement of growing a new community - it's a chance to be a pioneer (but with municipal water and sewer already installed, plus quick access to hospitals, shopping, beaches, and golf)
• Because until fairly land in Leland was much less expensive than on the eastern side of the Cape Fear River - your real estate dollar goes much further in Leland.

If you're interested in other areas in and around Wilmington I'm very happy to help you and point you in the right directions. In the five+ years my wife have been here I've developed close relationships with other professional REALTORs from Southport to Jacksonville and as far west as Burgaw - I've worked successfully with those folks to help people find their dream homes for primary residences or second homes in the Cape Fear area.

I have primary contact relationships with REALTORs in Southport, Bolivia, Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach, Hampstead, Holly Ridge, Surf City, Topsail Island, Jacksonville, Rocky Point, and Burgaw. I'd be delighted to introduce you to my colleagues and help you get started with them.

If you're interested in Leland and the immediately surrounding towns in northern Brunswick County, however, I'd be delighted and honored to work with you to find the very best property to meet your needs.

I realize not everyone looks for a home in the same way. Different people use different processes for making this very important decision. However you prefer to work, I'm ready and able to provide:

• Executive summary-level information so you can make your decision independently based on your parameters
• Hot points and market trend info so you can make the best investment in a home and also have the most fun
• Support and guided touring of local communities and homes, introducing you to people who live in all areas so you can see who your new friends and neighbors will be
• Extensive economic and regional background data for your careful and thorough analysis.

I'm ready, willing, and certainly able to help you find the best house to call your new home.

Ashton Place Grand Re-Opening in Leland - A Real Estate Success Story!!

Paige Robinson of Brookside Homes and good friend Landon Barker stood in the chilly air and welcomed visitors to Paige's Grand Re-Opening Event today. In less than a year after opening Ashton Place on Old Fayetteville Road in Leland, Paige held a Grand Re-Opening luncheon for REALTORS(tm) today. The old model home used to be right by the entrance but the new model home, a design called the Bradley Creek(see photo below), is halfway back in the community. REALTORs like to eat, a lot, and Middle of the Island caterers did their usual fine job, this time under a tent - it was a bit brisk to say the least today, temperatures were still in the low 50's at midday (yeah yeah, we know you Northeners are snickering - but hey, we expect and usually get GREAT WEATHER year round, so snicker at that!).

The three biggest factors in Ashton Place's success in this time when many are bewailing the real estate market? That's easy: price; design; and build quality. Oh yeah, and there are three more: location; location; and location. The convenient Ashton Place placement is pretty much smack in the middle of Leland, close to schools, post office, library, both the older and rapidly expanding newer retail areas, and don't forget its great access to major highways.

In all there are seven home plans at Ashton Place priced under $200,000! How cool is that? No wonder that in this time when mortgage money is still a bargain and plentifully available for folks who qualify Ashton Place is a poster community for success. The price is right. If you'd like to tour Ashton Place and would like a buyer's agent to represent you, I'd be honored to assist you - please call my cell phone at 910-297-8753 or e-mail me at brucebrown@seacoastrealty.com. You can also look for other homes via my website.

First Steel for New Hotel

This morning when I drove to the Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty office in Leland there were four trucks in a row lined up in the middle of the parking lot. I didn't pay much attention because I was in a hurry to get inside and fire up the Starbucks coffee machine in our office so I could moderate the blood level in my caffeine system. After I had a sip or two of Breakfast Blend (which is a bit light for my taste but we're out of Sumatra Dark till later today), I realized what those four trucks meant. First steel!!!

Yep, last week I posted a photo of the completed slab for the Comfort Suites hotel that's going up next to our office. These trucks are bringing the first structural steel components. Some time in 2009, by summer we're told, there's going to be a 106-room hotel close by our office, with two meeting rooms, an indoor pool and possibly an adjacent restaurant. Some of the agents in our office are having a great year this year (despite all the complaints in national media and by some local real estate companies, pundits, and pundit wannabes) and there's been talk that a few of us may want to get on the meal plan at the new hotel, not to mention the pool plan, the meeting room plan, and the place to recommend to our out-of-town clients plan.

Leland is truly on the rise. "Our" hotel will be the first of four going up within a half mile in the next two years, each with roughly 100 rooms. It's a lot of fun to be part of this growth.