Landfall's Drysdale Sports Center members have a freshly remodeled complex to enjoy.  The renovations include upgrades to the sports center's central reception area, and covering and air conditioning many of the spaces that used to be breezeways.  The covered awnings and expanded patio at Drysdale's pool area, make this area attractive for family fun, with an enhanced cafe area around the pool.  There are new lounges with couches, televisions, and large windows for views across the complex, targeting various age groups.  The locker rooms have been upgraded as well.  The Sports Center Cafe provides Wi-Fi Internet access, and has expanded its menu.  This project was completed in April 2008.  The renovations at the Drysdale Sports Center are part of a larger $8 million upgrade across many ... 06/22/2008

The Week in Review .....your Wilmington Connection June 21, 2008 The first day of summer started with a thunderstorm. But plenty of sunshine for us to enjoy. The market has seen a steady increase in closings. Good to see that people are still buying, but perhaps just taking a little longer to make decisions and why not with so many wonderful homes on the market to choose from and all competing to get there home sold. This is what has been going on in the real estate market this week. Wilmington Market Overview.   Michigan utility chooses Castle Hayne based GE Hitachi reactor design A fourth U.S. utility has selected Castle Hayne-based GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's ESBWR advanced reactor design for a potential new unit at its existing Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating station, the GE venture... 06/21/2008

  In 2003, Julie returned to NC after many years out of state & in 2006, Camille and her family sold their property in Apex and relocated to Hampstead as well.  Thus, fulfilling a child hood dream to be together in our retirement years! Ha Ha!   We both love living on the coast in the Wilmington area of North Carolina.  In 2007, we decided to take the plunge and start a home staging business. We have been best friends for over 42 years and it is our greatest joy to have a business together. We wanted a career that would allow us to set our own hours and be flexible with our family time. Home staging is just perfect for us.  We love creating beautiful environments (sometimes in challenging situations!) for our clients and helping them get the most out of their real estate investment.  We... 06/18/2008

  The main difference between a realtor and a real estate agent is credentials. Often time's people use the works real estate agent and realtor interchangeably. However, there is a rather important difference between the two.  A realtor has more training and experience in the real estate market than does a real estate agent. Where both a realtor and real estate agent have licenses, the realtor has gone the extra mile in obtaining a further level of expertise in their professions.  Realtors are members of the National Association of Realtors. This means that a realtor follows the strict realtor code of ethics. You can read this code of ethics from a download at this site. http://www.realtor.org/mempolweb.nsf/pages/Code?OpenDocument  The standards and rules that are in the realtor code of... 06/14/2008

The Week in Review .....your Wilmington Connection June 14, 2008 Happy Fathers Day! Wilmington Makes the top 100 list for relocation again. Wilmington boasts a strong and growing economy, which has attracted many large companies to move to the area. The schools in Wilmington are some of the best in the nation. The primary schools consistently rate high on all national educational standards. For those interested in higher education there are plenty of options available as well.Home sales in our area are doing better, more and more people are planning for that summer move. For more info . Housing Slump Helps the Draw of Fixer-Upper TV The housing market is collapsing, but television shows about housing are booming. The audiences for HGTV and TLC, the two channels with the most so-called p... 06/14/2008

Smart real estate investors have made millions investing in Real Estate.  Investors know that real estate is cyclical.  Investors like to take ownership of troubled properties before they go into foreclosure.  Before you know it, the economy will recover and the mortgage companies will be more creative than ever in their lending practices. If you're interested in getting a list of properties the banks are wanting to sell in the Wilmington area, you can contact me at dianeparker@seacoastrealty.com Diane Parker, Broker/Realtor/e-PRO Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty 910-617-5244 www.DianeSParker.com www.TheKeytoWilmington.com         06/11/2008

The Week in Review .....your Wilmington Connection June 7, 2008 Just in case you wondering it has been a very hot week in Wilmington, The first of the summer temperatures dropping in at 92 degrees. Today we are expecting 96. Be sure to use your sunscreen, as the beach is calling you with lovely ocean breezes. The real estate market has seen a small surge this week here is a snapshot of whats been going on. Local contractors volunteer to build homes during 'blitz'   Construction activity may be slow across Wilmington these days, but this week the industry was bustling in one Port City neighborhood. In fact, six local contractors were so busy that they built three houses in less than a week. Volunteer crews are finishing work Friday on the latest additions to The Cottages at Cornerstone, ... 06/07/2008

SecureNet launches new website for Heather Peterson in Wilmington, NC. It is custom tailored to her needs and offers her clients an advantage when looking to buy or sell a home in this market. Please go and check it out and let us know your thoughts. http://www.leadingyouhomenc.com   For more information on what SecureNet can do for your Real Estate business please visit us @ http://www.securenet-it.com 06/03/2008

The Week in Review .....your Wilmington Connection May 31, 2008 Welcome to Summer weather in Wilmington, the temperatures are rising with today a high of 87 great weather for cooling off at the beach. Activity in the real estate market has improved all be it that if you are planning on putting your home on the market then now is the time to do it. Let me know if you would like a free home market analysis so you can see what your home is worth in todays market. Home Values steady, even rising in some markets   While residential real estate prices are declining as a whole on a national basis, new research from Forsythe Appraisals, an independent appraisal company, indicates that the national trends also show pockets of stability, and some with marginal increases in home values rising in s... 06/01/2008

The Week in Review .....your Wilmington Connection May 24, 2008 Memorial Day Weekend Greeting! For knowing that I have a place as I wake to a new day, For the right to speak my mind, or kneel quietly to pray...for the dreams I strive to reach, for the love I'm free to give. Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Lovely Weather in Wilmingotn take advantage of the memoria day weekend, here are a few things you can do. Various groups are holding events during the next several days related to Memorial Day. SUNDAY Shallotte Memorial Day Celebration: 3-4 p.m., Rourk Gardens, 4498 Main St., Shallotte. Representatives from the Marine Corps and the West Brunswick ROTC will lead a wreath-laying ceremony. A gun salute, patriotic music and a prop plane flyover are included in the activities. Free. Home Sales ... 05/25/2008

The Week in Review ....your Wilmington Connection May 17, 2008 North Carolina seems to always be on the top relocation lists. With Wilmington voted 7th best place to live last year by CNN its no wonder we are still at the top. Our housing market has slowed but has not experienced the downfall of many other markets you hear about. With areas like Florida and Michigan where some home prices have dropped almost 50%. Plenty of sunshine this week in the cape fear region. Many cars topped up with boats, jet skis, canoes and kayaks and why not with todays weather peaking 75 degrees who could resist. Wilmington-area home sales inch higher  April figures better than March, but are still nearly 30% below a year earlier Wilmington-area home sales rose in April from March levels, but remained much ... 05/17/2008

The Week in Review .....your Wilmington Connection May 11, 2008 We wish all the Mothers a Happy and Healthy Mother's Day From all of us  The big house What has the floor space of a shopping center, is more than twice as tall as the PPD building and costs nearly as much as the U.S.S. North CarolinaForbes. Mukesh Ambani, the fifth richest man in the world, his wife Nita and their three children will live in the 400,000-square-foot, 27-story home with nine elevators, a ballroom and an ice room where guests can escape the heat of Mumbai (once called Bombay) and "be dusted by man-made snow flurries," Matt Woolsey wrote in Forbes. Cost: $2 billion, with a B - which equals 2,000 $1 million houses nuclear submarine? Why, a house for a petrochemical mogul in Mumbai, India. The world's largest an... 05/11/2008

The Week in Review....your Wilmington ConnectionMay 3, 2008 The Fed's... aka Ben Bernanke, FOMC, whatever you want to call them, have dropped the Federal Funds Rate and the Discount Rate a 1/4 of a percent.This in turn has dropped the Prime Rate 1/4 percent.Remember, this effects the SHORT TERM Interest RatesLONG TERM Interest Rates rely on what is going on in the Mortgage Backed Securities.But you already knew that right?Wilmington this week felt like summer. It is close on our heels. Perfect time for moving house, a change of scenery. Now is a great time to buy with home prices having dropped and Wilmington is still considered a safe place to buy. Take at look at Wilmington Real Estate market. Carolina Beach to show off its New Board Walk After months of work, Carolina Beach is ready ... 05/04/2008

Real estate transactions come with risks, competition, and expenses. With your financial and family future on the line, there are five reasons to use a buyer's agent in order to give you a fighting chance.The buyer's agent is a realtor that has gone through special training with the National Board of Realtors. The training authorizes the realtor to use the specialized sub-title in addition to the realtor title they already carry. The realtor is a real estate specialist. Therefore when you attain the help of a buyer's agent, you are also getting the experience and training of a realtor.A buyer's agent does many things that decrease the risk of purchasing a home for their clients. They also increase the overall satisfaction of the sale, because they look for specific qualifications and am... 05/04/2008

The soon to be USS North Carolina Submarine arrived at the Wilmington State Ports on the Cape Fear River on Monday. The arrival of the 377 foot nuclear powered submarine kicked off a week of special events leading up to the commissioning on Saturday. On Friday night, a July Fourth fireworks display will commence at 9PM at Riverfront Park. The invitation- only event Saturday will attract between 5-6000 people at the Port. At a cost of $2.4 Billion, the 7800-ton vessel was built in Newport News, Va. It was christened in April 2007 and sent to sea in May 2007, undergoing extensive sea trials. 04/30/2008

A career in real estate is more than selling homes.  That is the easy part.  You learn alot about the family you are trying to help obtain their dream.  Our goal is to ask for a referral after the sale.  When you are in the business for a generation or two, a referral invokes a referral, invokes  a referral.  So the bottom line is to stay in touch with your clients and always be there for them.  We are able to help not only with finding a home, but also finding a good mortgage representative and competent legal representation.  Let's all strive to be the best agent anyone can find and do the most honest and ethical representation any client can expect. 04/29/2008

The Week in Review...your Wilmington Connection April 26th, 2008Relay for life this week in Wilmington and what a beautiful day for it, the sun was shining and and it was 84 degrees. Not bad for spring time.Today was the first day of the21st annual parade of homes in Wilmington,North Carolina area is one of the largest in the southeast, and this years event promises to be better than ever.It will be running this weekend and the following weekend on Saturday and Sunday, May 5th and 6th. This year's Parade of Homes covers a larger area - the four-county area of New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Onslow, and there is something for everyone and in every price range from $130,000 to 4 million Here is what has been happening in the real estate market this week in Wilmington Joseph A. LaVorgna... 04/26/2008

My New BlogSpringfest in Leland NC/Local News April 24th, 2008 10:17 PM Come join Brunswick County's Third Annual Springfest on Saturday April 26 from 10:00-4:00 at the Brunswick River in Beville NC on Hwy 133 off of Hwy 17S at Leland NC,The Springfest stage will feature outstanding bands and children's groups.Surrounding the stage will be vendors providing food,arts,crafts,local businesses. The Springfest is free and open to the public.Please stop by our Exit Realty table and register to win a $50. drawing.Vote early in New Hanover County at - 230 Government Center Dr - NHC Library 201 Chestnut St - Senior Center 2222 S College Rd Wilmington NC 9:00-4:00.Brunswick County - 10 Referendum Dr Boliva NC-North Brunswick High School 114 Scorpion Dr Leland  NC -Brunswick Community College Ann... 04/24/2008

The Week in Review....your Wilmington ConnectionApril 19, 2008 Spring has sprung and the real estate market has picked up. "Home sales decline and prices are falling" this is what the media would like you to think is happening nationally, however real estate is a local market. What may be happening in your area of the country can be completely different just 50 miles around the corner. The Wilmington real estate market has seen less homes selling but, House prices are still holding strong. Homes are still selling for 95% of their list price, homes listed at 1 million and over are seeing 90% of their list price. So this area is a great place to invest in. With more iventory on the market you may be able to get that deal of the century if the seller is looking to move fast and has been br... 04/20/2008

The Week in Review....your Wilmington ConnectionApril 19, 2008 Spring has sprung and the real estate market has picked up. "Home sales decline and prices are falling" this is what the media would like you to think is happening nationally, however real estate is a local market. What may be happening in your area of the country can be completely different just 50 miles around the corner. The Wilmington real estate market has seen less homes selling but, House prices are still holding strong. Homes are still selling for 95% of their list price, homes listed at 1 million and over are seeing 90% of their list price. So this area is a great place to invest in. With more iventory on the market you may be able to get that deal of the century if the seller is looking to move fast and has been br... 04/20/2008