http://irenakohler.com/blog/archive_201808/sort_entrydatetime-desc/ Wilmington OfficeTop Listing Agent:   Jennifer FarmerTop Selling Agent:   Bob HestikindTop Listing Team (2-4 agents):   Michelle Gurrera & AssociatesTop Selling Team (2-4 agents):   The Carolinas Finest – Jessica Edwards & AssociatesTop Listing & Selling Team (5+ agents):   The Cameron Team Carolina Beach OfficeTop Listing Agent:   Ajay SinghTop Selling Agent:   Alison KellerTop Listing & Selling Team (2-4 agents):   Cori McQueen & Associates Brunswick OfficesTop Listing & Selling Agent:   Margaret BowenTop Listing & Selling Team (2-4 agents):   The Krueger TeamTop Listing Team (5+ agents):   Cronick & AssociatesTop Selling Team (5+ agents):   Hank Troscianiec & Associates Jacksonville OfficeTop Listing & Selling Agent:   Jenna MortonTop Listing Team (2-4 agents):   Frost Real Estate TeamTop Selling Team (2-4 agents):   40 SailsTop Listing & Selling Team (5+ agents):   Castro Real Estate Team Leland OfficeTop Listing & Selling Agent:   James DiazTop Listing & Selling Team (2-4 agents):   Karen Schwartz TeamTop Listing & Selling Team (5+ agents):   Shawn Horton – Trusst Marketing Group Onlsow/Pender OfficesTop Listing Agent:   Christina AsburyTop Selling Agent:   Tad ScottTop Listing Team (2-4 agents):   The Fortunato TeamTop Selling Team (2-4 agents):   Matt Jones TeamTop Listing Team (5+ agents):   Lori Smith’s Hometown TeamTop Selling Team (5+ agents):   North Carolina Home Group South Brunswick OfficesTop Listing Agent:   David EnzorTop Selling Agent:   Denise YoungTop Listing Team (2-4 agents):   The Kozel TeamTop Selling Team (2-4 agents):   Frances Warner Real Estate Group Midtown OfficeTop Listing Agent:   Alison DonovanTop Selling Agent:   Don SpiersTop Listing & Selling Team (2-4 agents):   Costin Real Estate GroupTop Listing & Selling Team (5+ agents):   Shane Register Team  Overall Top ProducersCastro Real Estate TeamThe Cameron TeamTeam GaleThe Carolinas Finest – Jessica Edwards & AssociatesHank Troscianiec & AssociatesTerri Alphin Smith & Co.Cronick & AssociatesShawn Horton – Trusst Marketing GroupFrances Warner Real Estate Group40 Sails  http://irenakohler.com/blog/2471/congratulations-top-agents-and-teams-july-2018/ Thu, 30 Aug 2018 04:13:59 -0500 One of the really fun and special aspects of living in the Cape Fear Region is the proximity of bustling urban settings to country living. If you want acres, we’ve got acres, but if you’re more of a walk-to-work, bike-to-the-beach, stroll-downtown-for-dinner-and-drinks type, we have plenty of spots right in the thick of things too. If you’d rather spend your time soaking in all the urbane wonders of center-of-town living than mowing the lawn, a condo or townhouse might be just the thing for you! And you’re in luck! We have some incredible townhome and condo offerings all over Southeastern North Carolina: 332 Causeway Drive, Wrightsville Beach. Listed by Jill & Eric Sabourin.305 Carolina Beach Avenue S 2, Carolina Beach. Listed by Cori McQueen & Nicole Chalmers106 N Water Street 810, Wilmington. Listed by Julie Chappell. 242 Seashore Drive, North Topsail Beach. Listed by Matt Jones. 706 Canal Drive 200, Carolina Beach. Listed by Sherwood Strickland. 1506 Mackrel Lane 1, Carolina Beach. Listed by Lisa Heglar & Kathy Marcinowski.1518 S Lake Park Boulevard S 4D, Carolina Beach. Listed by Chris Santucci. 298 Island Drive, North Topsail Beach. Listed by Renee Clark & Jason Gruner.434 Newcastleton Drive, Wilmington. Listed by Chris Luther & Virginia Yang. 4425 Arendell Street 702, Morehead City. Listed by Amber Raynor. 491 River Bluff Drive 1, Shallotte. Listed by Lisa Damico. 502 Main Street Ext 105, Swansboro. Listed by Cynthia LaCorte. 105 SE 58th Street 9301, Oak Island. Listed by Marsha Lovin Ferrell. 1313 Suncrest Way, Leland. Listed by Karen Schwartz. http://irenakohler.com/blog/2469/featured-townhomes-and-condos/ Tue, 28 Aug 2018 02:45:14 -0500 Have you been reading about the national real estate market? Don’t! It has nothing to do with the Cape Fear Region!As we continue to point out, real estate is ultra-local and all of us at Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage work hard to make certain our clients and potential buyers and sellers, are well versed in local housing market conditions.You may be hearing about the West Coast where prices have really skyrocketed and created affordability challenges. In a nutshell, the lack of homes for sale allows sellers to command higher prices and buyers are forced to choose from limited supply and compete aggressively against each other.But several economists are pointing out that such frenzied markets are always unsustainable and do eventually calm down. This may be starting to occur at a national level now as one CBS Money Watch article pointed out that about 14% of sellers in June cut their listing prices at a median rate of 3%. The West Coast, in places like San Diego, saw 20% or more of listings reducing prices in June.But we are a long way from San Diego!Here in Southeast North Carolina, we are not seeing any sign of a slowdown.  New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Onslow counties combined for 1,610 July homes sales with a median price of $219,900, up 13.8% and 7.3%, respectively, from last July.  These homes sold briskly at an average of 71 days, down 15.5% from last year.New Hanover County saw 545 homes sold in July, up 20% from a year ago, with a median price of $260,000, up 6.5%.  Onslow County was the second most active with 477 homes sold, a 23.9% increase, with prices rising 12.2% to $175,088.Brunswick County saw nearly a 14% increase in prices to $234,800 with sales jumping in July over last year by 6.2%.Pender County was the only one in the region to show a sales and price decrease. The county saw only 123 homes sold in July with a median price of $249,900, down 10.9% and 1.8%, respectively.And since none of us are completely satisfied with knowing what is occurring at the county level, we wanted to zoom in even closer to some of the larger communities in our region.Wilmington had almost double the amount of July homes sold compared with Jacksonville, the region’s next most active city.  There were 455 homes sold in our Port City, which was 17.9% higher than a year ago, and prices rose 7.2% to $249,500.  Jacksonville saw 228 homes sold, 13.4% higher than last July, with a median price of $157,000, a 16.4% increase, while remaining the most affordable large community in our market.Interestingly Leland, which has seen its population rise 17.1% since 2014 according to the U.S. Census, mimicked national trends.  Fewer buyers brought sales down 1.7% to 116 homes sold in July. These homes sold quickly – 55 days on average – as the seller’s market saw prices rise 7.7% year-over-year to $231.637. The National Association of Realtors reported that July national sales dropped 1.5% over a year ago while prices increased by 4.5%.Much of Pender County’s slowdown was caused by only 61 Hampstead homes selling in July, a decrease of 28.2%. The median price of these homes also came down 3.1% to $263,000.The following is a detailed look at home sales activity in July according to North Carolina Regional MLS: CountyHomes Sold/% + or -Days on Market/% + or -Median Sold Price/% + or -NEW HANOVER (Total)545/20%57/-5.0%$260,000/+6.5%Wilmington455/17.9%51/-8.9%$249,500/+7.2%BRUNSWICK (Total)465/+6.2%87/-20%$234,800/+13.8%Leland116/-1.7%55/-17.9%$237,637/+7.7%Southport60/+1.7%100/-6.5%$230,000/+2.2%PENDER (Total)123/-10.9%64/-14.7%$249,900/-1.8%Hampstead61/-28.2%49/-31%$263,000/-3.1%Burgaw14/+27.3%90/+3.5%$184,450/+31.6%ONSLOW (Total)477/+23.9%71/-17.4%$175,088/+12.2%Jacksonville228/+13.4%64/-22.9%$157,000/+16.4% http://irenakohler.com/blog/2468/local-home-sales-buck-national-trends/ Wed, 22 Aug 2018 01:32:21 -0500 Our friend Pam Hurt, with 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty has given us some great information in past months on what a home warranty actually is, and how it helps get a home sold. This month she’s back to let us pick her brain with more questions about the true value of a Home Warranty.  Why are home warranties valuable to those listing their home for sale? A home warranty service agreement gives peace of mind to the buyer, which makes your home more attractive than others they may be considering. According to the Service Contract Industry Council, having a home warranty service agreement in place helps a home sell 11 days faster and for $2,300 more. Another great stat, which comes from the National Association of Home Builders, is that 8 out of 10 home buyers prefer buying a home with a warranty. If I didn’t have a warranty and something broke in my home, how much would it cost to replace my major appliances? Of course, there is a wide range since you can go with anything from bargain-basement to top-of-the line when you purchase your major appliances. But, on average, the replacement costs for your most common home appliances and systems are as follows: ·         Water heater: $1650·         Oven/cooktop: $1250·         Refrigerator: $1910·         Central Air Conditioning: $3698·         Heating System: $3881 How long should my appliances and systems last? According to Digital Trends, the general rule is about 10 years, but sometimes it’s only 3-4 years. Some brands last longer than others. The more expensive the appliance doesn’t always mean longer lasting. The more bells and whistles there are on the appliance, the more parts there are to break down. Are home warranties different for condos than for single-family homes? The available coverage is the same. We offer a standard package and a supreme package, either of which is available whether you’re in a single-family home, a condo, or a townhome. The supreme package provides the same great value as the standard but adds coverage for 40+ additional items. The only real difference is that the cost is $20 less for a condo or townhome. If you are interested in contributing to your peace of mind with a home warranty, Pam would love to hear from you. You can email, or give her a call at 910-524-1842. http://irenakohler.com/blog/2467/q&a-with-2-10-home-buyers-warranty/ Thu, 16 Aug 2018 04:41:52 -0500 This is the busiest time of year in the real estate industry, and that means lots and lots of people are on the move. They’re moving out, moving in, moving on and taking their lives along for the ride, tucked snuggly into packing paper, cardboard boxes and an only-slightly-begrudging friend’s pickup truck. When it comes to buying or selling a home, we are here to make that process as simple and stress-free as it can possibly be. We want your move to be that easy too--that’s why we asked our agents for their best tips for making the whole moving part go more smoothly: If you're long-distance moving, make sure you pack a take-along box of all your necessities for move-in day. These are all things that you don't want to have to dig out and locate amidst boxes and boxes of belongings i.e. toilet paper, disposable dishware, trash bags, etc. That way you don't need to search them out and life won't be so miserable if your moving truck gets delayed.--Meghan Riley (The Cameron Team), Autumn Hall OfficeBe organized. Start by packing all personal photos before your home is listed. This allows buyers to see the home as theirs. Pack a few boxes every day so it doesn't become overwhelming.--Lyn Yablonski, Autumn Hall OfficeHave a backup plan, if things don't go exactly as planned. There are always lots of moving pieces (no pun intended) with multiple parties involved in any real estate move. Flexibility is sometimes needed when something unexpected occurs.--Tim Howard, Autumn Hall Office Pack the essentials last. Start with art, sentimentals, decor, etc. first, then move through the office, entertainment, tools, etc. Finally pack the kitchen, bathroom, and clothing last. Unpacking goes in the opposite order so you can set yourself up in your new home the fastest and most comfortably.--Sherwood Strickland, Autumn Hall OfficeBest advice I ever got was from one of our movers. When you are packing your kitchen everything from one cabinet goes in one box and then it is closed. When you get to your new home, you know everything in that box goes into the same cabinet. I always wanted to fill every box. It just takes longer on the unpacking to find places for the random items. This works for every room.--Jill Sabourin, Autumn Hall Office Prior to packing and prior to the arrival of movers, collect all items that remain in the house. Label one box/tote/cabinet that doesn't get touched. Movers could accidentally pack the book/warranty for appliances and remote control for a ceiling fan.  Also, always double check the crawl space and attic before the movers leave. Most moving companies won't pack items in the attic or crawl space. It's the occupants’ responsibility to move items from the attic and crawl space into livable space for packing.--James Hill, Hampstead OfficeTreat yourself to a professional house cleaner when you move! You will be too exhausted and /or stressed and the new buyers will greatly appreciate it!--Maggie Smith, Topsail OfficeIf you are renting your own truck, hire day laborers from a temp agency to help load and unload. And label boxes by new rooms they will go in.--Danielle Landers (Team Gale), Autumn Hall OfficeStart discarding unwanted things early, then pack rarely used items. Next comes things not used in the present season, and items you won't need to use in daily living. Mark all boxes, and keep the sizes small to medium. The final packing will be easy, and will be the things you use everyday, these will also be the first things to unpack when you move in! Happy moving!--Lynne Shaw, Autumn Hall OfficeMark your boxes by room clearly so anyone can read it, even the children. And while you are checking out the area rent a storage bin move your stuff in there a little bit at a time if you want, that way move day isn't so stressful and you won't run out of room in the truck. Also, if you have the ability, rent an apartment for a month or two first so you can get to know the area first, that way you will know the area before you move in and you will be comfortable with the area you pick.--Lisa Damico, South Brunswick OfficeIt’s the perfect time to purge. If you are keeping things you don’t use or really don’t have room for in hopes your kids will want and appreciate them one day, realize chances are very slim they will. Instead write a note of why it is meaningful to you and take a pic of the note and the item. Store it on a mobile drive and give them the drive. If you have 3 kids make 3 copies. Then you don’t have to decide who to give it to. They might never have room (or the taste) for great-grandma’s buffet, but if they have a pic accompanied by something personal to remember about her, they will probably love to look and read it someday. This is also a good practice for paper items that may not be taking tons of space but will deteriorate to dust boxed up in the attic.--Edie Caudill Lindsey, Calabash OfficeLabel the SIDES of your boxes, not the tops! When you stack boxes, you can’t see labels on the tops. When you label the sides, it takes only a quick glance to know the contents and thus their desired destination in your new home! Call me crazy, but I like to label all four sides, because then however someone is holding the box, you can tell what’s in it and direct the teenagers you paid to move your stuff accordingly. --Honor Rudd, Marketing Trainer http://irenakohler.com/blog/2466/make-moving-easier/ Tue, 14 Aug 2018 01:17:40 -0500