Friday, May 29, 2009

Surfing the web on the Intracoastal Waterway

From WWAY:

A Wilmington company called icwifi.net provides high-speed wireless internet access to boaters. Now checking the forecast on the water is just a click away.

Year round, boats stroll up and down the Intracoastal Waterway in Wrightsville Beach. Many have laptops on board, but couldn't get a connection…until icwifi.net came along.

"If you're out in the water and you don't have a good radar and you've got a storm coming and you're deciding do you go in for the night, or do you stay out hooked up for the rest of the night, you have to be able to see that and with icwifi, we'll allow you to do that,” said marketing manager Anna Hoggard.

If you're in the Motts or Banks channels of the ICW, you're in the coverage zone. When you click on the internet, a screen will pop up prompting you to sign up for icwifi.

The service costs $3 per day, $10 per week, or $30 per month.

You'll get a code you'll punch in to surf the web. "You can be in your house with the same code, and get on your boat with your laptop and go over to Masonboro Island and get on the internet there, so you can sit on the beach, sit on the dock, or sit on the porch," Hoggard explained.

People on shore can use the connection too, as icwifi.net has several antennas along the ICW like on top of Mott's Channel Seafood.

"It's good reliable high speed internet, we use it everyday,” said Motts’ manager Tom Franz who uses the connection to check the weather so he knows when to expect boats coming in with fresh seafood.

The company just started in March. In the coming months, icwifi.net hopes to expand their service to the Cape Fear River in downtown Wilmington, as far south as Myrtle Beach, and north to Morehead City.


Contact Jessica at 910-352-1043 or email JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Having A License Doesn't Make You An Agent



Having a real estate license doesn't make you a real estate agent. Actively working in the market, keeping up with statistics, the latest trends and information is what truly makes a good agent!

Contact Jessica at 910-352-1043 or email JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Who brought the buyer, who brought the offer? Real Estate in Wilmington, NC


This is my response to a FSBO seller that was wondering about the buyer's agent that brought them an acceptable offer on their 400,000 home which is now under contract! Pay that agent for doing their job and be happy and thankful you are selling your home!!!

For more information on Wilmington NC real estate and Wilmington Luxury Homes, click here!
Contact Jessica at 910-352-1043 or email JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Rates On 30 Year Mortgages Fall Near Record Low

U.S. mortgage rates fell in the latest week, trekking closer to a record low set last month.

Interest rates on U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell to 4.82 percent for the week ending May 21, down from the previous week's 4.86 percent, according to a survey released on Thursday by home funding company Freddie Mac.
Three weeks earlier, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage equaled the record low of 4.78 percent set in the week ending April 2, which was the lowest since Freddie Mac started the Primary Mortgage Market Survey in 1971.

"Long-term fixed-rate mortgage rates have remained below 5.0 percent for the past 10 weeks as the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve act to keep interest rates low through security purchases," Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist, said in a statement.

Contact Jessica at 910-352-1043 or email JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com.

No Amount of Marketing can Sell an Overpriced House


I have been talking a lot about how awesome the real estate market is right now in the Wilmington, NC area and how much activity and sales we have been seeing
over the last 6 months. However, we are still in a buyer's market. Which basically means more people are selling than buying.

So, when selling your home in a buyers market you have to be top notch in 4 areas: Price, Condition, Incentives, and Marketing. There is a flow in the market right now and there is also a stagnant spot. Too many people have overpriced in the beginnning, not gotten their home in the best condition, not offered incentives, or not partnered with an excellent agent and company. Any one of these things can pull a house into the "stagnant zone" where it will sit. Once you become stagnant, you will probably sit and sit even when the price is reduced.

Remember, "No amount of marketing can sell an overpriced home."

Then there are those houses that price well, get their home "show ready" and in the best condition, they offer incentives, and they pair with a Realtor that will market their home effectively.

They get in the market, get an offer soon, and get out. Ultimately, they make more money than they guy waiting and waiting and now holding his hands in the air going "How did they do that?!?"

Contact Jessica at 910-352-1043 or email JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com.

Click here for more Wilmington, NC Real Estate Tips and Information!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

8000 Tax Credit as Down Payment...Maybe, Maybe Not


It seems the announcement from HUD of the possibility the government allowing using the current 8000 tax credit as a down payment on a home purchase was a bit premature. They have now removed it from the website and it looks like it was more of a thought or an idea that comething concrete. Surprise, surprise....

For more information on Wilmington, NC Real Estate or Luxury Homes, click here!

Contact Jessica at 910-352-1043 or email JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Down Payment Assitance

The included information is from my friend Chris Hutchens at Alpha Mortgage...

HUD recently announced that qualified First-Time Home Buyers who want to take advantage of the available tax credit of up to $8,000 now have another option available to them to help them become homeowners.

It's clear that first-time home buyers have been having a major impact on the housing market this year. The National Association of Realtors announced that first-time buyers, who typically account for less than 40% of home sales each year, have been especially busy…in March, homes that were purchased by first-timers accounted for 53% of all sales, and this percentage is expected to hold true for all of 2009.

With home affordability higher than ever, available tax credits and some of the lowest interest rates ever recorded for home loans, who can blame them? Particularly as a first-time buyer, there may never be a better time to buy a home than right now.

However, the availability of a tax credit, while a great incentive, does not put the money in the hands of a buyer right away. HUD's announcement now allows for prospective and qualified home buyers to borrow the money from approved agencies and lenders.

While details of participating lenders and HUD-approved agencies are not yet available, this should turn up the heat on prospective buyers to get busy searching for their next home. As further details become available, I will get them to you.

In the meantime, alert your database that one more barrier to homeownership is being removed and the time to start shopping is now!

You may contact Chris Hutchens at Alpha Mortgage by emailing chris.hutchens@alphamortgage.com. Please tell him I sent you!

Contact Jessica at 910-352-1043 or email JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com.

For more information on Wilmington, NC real estate and Luxury Homes, click here!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Wilmington, NC Real Estate April 08-09 Stats


The numbers are in for April 2008 to April 2009 for the regional Wilmington, NC real estate market....and they are looking good. Inventory is down, new homes coming on the market are down, sales are up, contracts are up, and prices are still low! All good signs to buy now and not wait until prices pick up as well. Usually inventory shrinks first, then sales pick up, and then prices start to pick up. There is only one thing left and if you are a buyer it is not what you want to wait on.

For more information on Wilmington, NC real estate and Luxury Homes, click here!

Contact Jessica at 910-352-1043 or email JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Relationships Among Realtors Just Like a Playground, Wilmington, NC


It is so important for Realtors to have awesome reputations and relationships in order to best serve their buyer and seller clients. I think it is just like the playground...no one wants to play with the kid that pushes and shoves and is mean to everyone. If you are not easy to work with and not well respected then other agents won't want to show and sell your listings. Also, it will be harder for you to get the deal your buyer wants if you can't communicate nicely and work with the other agent.

Contact Jessica at 910-352-1043 or email JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com.

For more Wilmington NC real estate info and Wilmington Luxury Home Info, click here!

Wilmington: Coastal Dream Town!

Wilmington has been named as one of eighteen coastal dream towns. In Coastal Living Magazine's May issue of Best Places to Live in the Region for Every Budget, the Port City came in 18th.

Allure factors include a revitalized downtown, Riverwalk, and a lively performing arts scene.

The region's film industry also received a big nod with film festivals and Screen Gem Studios' new soundstage that's in the works.

Contact Jessica at 910-352-1043 or email JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Selling your house? Know your competition.


As a home seller and depending on the neighborhood, it can sometimes be extremely valuable to you to view all the other homes currently for sale in your neighborhood. This way, you will know exactly what your competition is and how you compare in price and condition. If you disagree or would like to voice your opinion, please feel free to email me at JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com

For more information on Wilmington, NC Real Estate and Wilmington Luxury Homes, click here!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

First Offer Sets Tone, Don't Sell Yourself Short


If you are a buyer purchasing real estate it is important to keep in mind that your original offer is often the most important. Make sure it is realistic and appealing to you and the seller. Sometimes dates and loan conditions are just as important as price.

If you have any questions or comments or disagree with what I have to say, please email me at JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com.

Click here for more info on Wilmington, NC real estate and luxury homes!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Increased Market Activity

Just wanted to share with all of you the great news in regards to Contract Activity for Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty. Last week's Contracts were 19.8 Million with 78 Contracts!

That makes over 62 Million in the last 3 weeks alone!!

Also, for the month of April, we placed over 82.8 Million Under Contract with 327 Contracts! This marks our SIXTH CONSECUTIVE MONTH with INCREASED SALES! That is awesome and certainly, shows a trend that is happening right now in the Wilmington area real estate market.

We are seeing increased market activity and NOW is the time to take advantage of the market.

Call me today!

For more information on Wilmington, NC real estate and Wilmington Luxury Homes, Click Here!

Contact Jessica at 910-352-1043 or email JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com.