http://jpeterken.seacoastrealty.com/blog/archive_201602/sort_entrydatetime-desc/ With the spring real estate selling season quickly approaching, and summer following right on its heels, many real estate investors start thinking about the prospect of owning vacation rental properties. While these investments can be a way to add income and offer a fun vacation option for your own family, there are a few things that you should consider before you take the leap. 1. In most cases, an income-producing property is an investment in the future. You may want to kiss the summer season goodbye. In our area, we see an influx of visitors in the late spring until the early fall months. Southeastern North Carolina offers up warm summer months and milder temperatures the rest of the year making it a popular vacation destination. One way to ensure that your vacation property succeeds in making money is to give up the summer months to renters. Summer is by far the most lucrative time in terms of rental income. If you had the idea that you and your family would relax seaside in June, watch the fireworks over the waterway in July, and spend August afternoons licking ice-cream cones on the boardwalk, you may want to re-evaluate. It is likely that in the future, after your rental home has paid for itself you will do these things. But keep in mind that a vacation rental investment is just that: an investment for the future. You will most likely spend the first years of ownership giving up summer vacations for those in the less busy months of fall and winter. Don’t worry though, the beach can be fun year-round!2. You have a few things to line up! When renters have saved their money and booked your property they expect that the house will be clean, in working order, and have most of the comforts of home. You will most certainly need to create a network of people from property managers to cleaning crews and maintenance workers to ensure that your renters have a fantastic time in a fantastic house. By doing so, you are helping your rental property succeed and securing return renters. Most property management companies will guide you in the right direction (for a fee), allowing you to enjoy your own summer vacations without constantly dealing with rental issues. If you live out of state or more than an hour drive, a property management company is a must! At Coldwell Banker Seacoast Advantage we can help you manage your rental property through Sea Coast Rentals. You can find more about our property management here http://www.seacoastrentals.com/3. One of the most important steps in finding the right rental property, and the one that a qualified real estate professional can help you the most with, is to research the area! What kind of renters can you expect? How many weeks of the year is the property vacant? Your real estate broker should be able to fill you in on the area’s popularity with vacationers. They will also be able to find out the previous rental history of a home. You will want to know if there are rental dates already scheduled for the coming year. Ask your questions! The last thing that you want to do is to buy a home with the hopes of it making money for you and finding out that it is in an undesirable rental area. Location, location, location has never been more relevant than with a vacation rental property. Find the right property by using our property search tools here http://www.seacoastrealty.com/listings4. Taxes and insurance are very different, and you will need to do your homework before you buy! Many buyers try to jump right into the market. They visit homes, fall in love with a particular place, and immediately begin envisioning all of the family cook-outs and shell-finding expeditions that a particular house will host. This is great, but before you get your hopes too high, you will need to be informed of the tax, mortgage, and insurance situations that arise when purchasing an investment property. Oftentimes, loans are harder to secure and tax and insurance rates are higher. A real estate professional can recommend to you the people that you can talk to make sure that financially you are prepared to enter the exciting world of investment properties! 5. The time to buy is now! Enjoy this first year, and make your mark on the house. Do all of the things that you feel need done before renting (unless you are buying turn-key with an established rental calendar), and get ready to earn a little extra income next summer!If you are ready to explore the idea of purchasing an income producing property, please visit us. Due to our unique location, we have inventory in every price range and on all of North Carolina’s amazing coastline. http://www.seacoastrealty.com/ http://jpeterken.seacoastrealty.com/blog/1874/5-things-to-know-about-owning-a-vacation-rental-property/ Tue, 23 Feb 2016 12:00:00 -0500 Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage is pleased to announce our top producing agents & teams for January.Wilmington OfficeTop Listing Agent                             Holly OvertonTop Selling Agent                             Jennifer FarmerTop Listing Team                              The Fortunato TeamTop Selling Team                             Cynthia Strickland Team Carolina Beach OfficeTop Listing & Selling Agent           Cori McQueenTop Listing & Selling Team            The Moran Team Brunswick OfficeTop Listing & Selling Agent           Nolan FormalarieTop Listing & Selling Team           Hank Troscianiec & Associates Jacksonville OfficeTop Listing & Selling Agent           Jenna MortonTop Listing Team                          Castro Real Estate Group Leland OfficeTop Listing Agent                             Eden GilliamTop Selling Agent                             Sean SkutnikTop Listing & Selling Team                Shawn Horton – Trusst Marketing Group Onlsow/Pender OfficeTop Listing Agent                             Nora RuehleTop Selling Agent                             Loretta GreenoughTop Listing Team                              Collins Real Estate GroupTop Selling Team                              Christina Block & Associates South Brunswick OfficeTop Listing Agent                             Frances WarnerTop Selling Agent                             David EnzorTop Listing Team                              McNeely Real Estate GroupTop Selling Team                             The Kozel Team Top New Homes Sales Associate       Lisa HadgraftOverall Top ProducersShawn Horton – Trusst Marketing GroupCynthia Strickland TeamTerri Alphin Smith & Co.Hank Troscianiec & AssociatesRosado & AssociatesHarrison Peebles TeamJennifer Farmer40 SailsThe Cameron TeamShane Register Team http://jpeterken.seacoastrealty.com/blog/1867/congratulations!-top-agents-&-teams-january-2016/ Wed, 17 Feb 2016 12:00:00 -0500 For most people, the disconnect between their dream-life on a sunlit beach and reality is a common experience. The most favorable way to deal with this phenomenon is to make that move to live the life you’ve always imagined. Living in a waterfront property along the beautiful southeastern North Carolina coast offers numerous social benefits in addition to unforgettable ocean views and outdoor activities. Full-time residents also enjoy bonding with other residents and neighbors. Strong friendships developed in beach communities can often last a lifetime, which makes living in such a community more enjoyable. There is usually someone who will go fishing or to the beach with you, join you for cocktails or play a round or two of tennis.Those new to beach living learn fast to take full advantage of the area in the off-season by immersing themselves in the local history and culture, visiting entertainment venues and enjoying holiday celebrations. Tourist areas, particularly, are far less crowded during the off-season, which means that the popular shops and best restaurants will be less congested than during peak beach season. Living in a beach town year-round means truly becoming a local.Making an oceanfront property or quaint beach community home your permanent residence doesn’t just mean living in an incredible area – it usually means a permanently enjoyable lifestyle change. The only problem might be deciding on which of our area's unique beach areas to live. North Carolina's Cape Fear Coast includes historically rich Wilmington and the seacoast communities of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, the gorgeous Oak Island and Holden Beach.  All of the beautiful beaches feature very different personalities, but between them, they something for everyone!  The nearby estuarine reserves provide a truly delightful experience for sun-seekers, beachcombers and nature lovers. We offer a real sportsman's paradise for anglers, mariners and all sorts of water sports enthusiasts.WilmingtonWilmington, built on a peninsula between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, is the urban hub of the coastal region, featuring a wonderful combination of history, natural and architectural beauty and growth. Downtown Wilmington faces the river, which meanders further south to the Atlantic Ocean. The famed river was originally used as a vital shipping artery for the region, and now features beautiful historical and modern homes and areas for fishing and pleasure boating.Wilmington’s famed mile-long Riverwalk brings the city right to the edge of the river. It’s lined with fine restaurants, unique specialty shops, arts and entertainment venues and a lively social scene. Horse drawn carriages travel cobblestone streets under towering oaks.On the east side of Wilmington, the popular Wrightsville Beach is an easy drive over the Causeway and Intracoastal Waterway. Despite featuring long, white beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see, this area, which does host a healthy tourist trade during the summer, is primarily a quiet community with a wide variety of real estate options to choose from. Kure BeachIf you prefer a peaceful, small town atmosphere away from the bustle of a city, Kure Beach provides the perfect setting and a relaxed pace for you and your family to reconnect in this natural area. Home to the oldest fishing pier on the Atlantic coast, Kure Beach offers an oceanfront park, a nearby state aquarium and beautiful natural surroundings. If local history is of interest to you, the historic Fort Fisher, originally built in the 1700s, kept North Carolina's port of nearby Wilmington open to blockade-runners supplying necessary goods to Confederate armies inland.  The partially restored site offers tours and historical exhibits, as well as also housing the North Carolina Underwater Archaeology headquarters. At the southern end of Fort Fisher is the Fort Fisher-Southport Ferry and a public boat launch area, which offers opportunities for parasailing, windsurfing, kayaking and fishing.Kure Beach is primarily a residential area, with available homes ranging from impressive private estates to cozy, yet well-appointed oceanfront condominiums. The average number of year-round residents is slightly more than 2,000, many of whom volunteer to protect the nests of endangered loggerhead turtles from June until August, when the hatchlings emerge and make their way to the sea.Carolina BeachPristine and beautiful, Carolina Beach offers awe-inspiring ocean views and privacy, due in part to being bordered to the west by the Cape Fear River, to the north by the Snows Cut Bridge and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean.  This quaint, family-friendly town is said to embody coastal Americana. With slightly more than 6,000 permanent residents in the entire area, the miles of wide, clean beaches dotted with natural sand dunes means classic beach living. The atmosphere is relaxed, the weather is inviting and the range of leisurely, outdoor activities is plentiful. During the peak season, the population of the town itself often triples in size, but serenity remains constant on the beach – from the host of stately luxury homes to the quaint, yet charming cottages scattered along the coastline. Bald Head IslandIf you prefer almost total privacy, there’s a treasure located just two miles off North Carolina’s southern coast. Bald Head Island, one of the East Coast’s most immaculate and environmentally-conscious beach communities, is accessible only by private boat or the passenger ferry, which leaves every hour on the hour. The island offers more than 14 miles of pristine beaches facing both east and west, allowing you to experience breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. The island also features about 10,000 acres of tidal creeks and salt marshes, all of which offer a natural area for exploring, kayaking and fishing.Newer homes on the island capture the best of Southern architecture, including gracious porches, ample windows, high ceilings and even screened-in sleeping porches. For those who prefer to design and build their own homes, there are beachfront properties of varying sizes available. http://jpeterken.seacoastrealty.com/blog/1856/making-the-beach-your-permanent-home/ Mon, 08 Feb 2016 12:00:00 -0500 Coastal North Carolina has received its fair share of accolades throughout recent years for everything from the charming coastal towns, to the exploding craft beverage and food scene, to the recreational opportunities that are unique only to this region. We are big fans of our amazing area, and know that you will be too! We present you with 5 very good reasons to add coastal North Carolina to your next home search!North Carolina’s storied historyFrom tales of swashbuckling pirates (think Blackbeard!) to bustling port cities (Wilmington) coastal North Carolina is steeped in history. Seven National Lighthouses and 2 National Seashores call the coast home. Explorers and adventurers have been arriving on the coast of North Carolina since the 1700s. The Wright Brothers chose coastal NC as the place to take flight. Wilmington, Southport, Beaufort, and Newbern are among the oldest towns in the state. Those people with a passion for history and a desire to walk lands with stories to tell often find that the coast can answer their call!Geography, Weather, and Convenient LocationLocated in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Coastal North Carolina has more than just the beach going for it, though we will be the first to admit that it is by far the largest draw for most families relocating to the area. From the northernmost tip of the North Carolina coast to the southernmost tip, locals enjoy the many barrier islands dotting the coastline. These islands provide a buffer from the Atlantic Ocean. The city of Wilmington, NC has the unique position of being situated between a river (the Cape Fear) and the ocean! How is that for life on the water? North Carolina attracts many newcomers due to its location exactly between New York (for those looking to escape the cold) and Florida (for those looking to escape the heat). Temperatures are mild on the Carolina coasts allowing for residents to enjoy the outdoors for most of the year. Residents to North Carolina also enjoy the very unique situation of being only a 5 hour drive from the stunning NC mountains (some of the oldest in the United States). It really is possible to have the best of both worlds when residing in coastal NC!Outdoor Activities and RecreationDue to the mild weather and stunning surroundings North Carolinians enjoy a variety of outdoor activities unlike any other. The coast attracts surfers, boaters, fishermen, and most recently SUP (Stand Up Paddlers) in droves. It is not uncommon for locals in this region to leave the office at the end of the day and head on into the water. North Carolina beaches are far less crowded than many of the coastal regions located to the north or south or on the West Coast. Unspoiled sands stretch to form over 300 miles of beaches for local enjoyment. When the beach isn’t in the day’s plans, coastal residents enjoy some of the greatest golfing in the world. Most golf courses in our region are played year-round as the weather allows for play any month of the year. Recently newer neighborhoods are capitalizing on this unique environment by creating neighborhoods that creating extensive hiking and biking trails, canals with docks, and parks as the central shared area to the neighborhood. The Food of Coastal North CarolinaOne can not list the unique opportunities that are enjoyed by coastal North Carolinians without mentioning the food! Food is quite possibly the largest ingredient in spending time with family and friends. Coastal North Carolina adorns the tables of its inhabitants with some of the finest and freshest seafood in the world! Oyster roasts are enjoyed outdoors while attendees take in the sights and smells of the coasts. Seafood markets dot the Carolina coasts in numbers rivaling large chain grocers, and are better attended! With North Carolina’s long-standing agricultural history locals also enjoy an abundance of farmer's markets and fresh grown foods. When North Carolina cooks feel like taking the day off from the kitchen there is certainly no shortage of fine dining in this region of the state. Wilmington just celebrated its recent win as the best al fresco dining in the nation and the awarding of a Wilmington restaurant (Manna) with the prestigious AAA 4 Diamond rating. The area is also making huge waves on the craft beverage scene as breweries pop up along the eastern coast, making the area a huge attraction for foodies and beer connoisseurs alike.Arts and Entertainment in Coastal North CarolinaSince the beginning of time the sea has been a great source of inspiration of artists of all genres. This is just as true today as it was 300 years ago on the coast of North Carolina. The art scene is vibrant and growing by leaps and bounds in recent years. From small town potters, to writers attending the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s prestigious writing program, to musicians playing the well attended Greenfield Lake amphitheatre, the Atlantic ocean provides the perfect backdrop. Coastal North Carolina also provides the scenery for some of your favorite movies, as Screen Gems movie studio is located here. Wilmington, dubbed “Hollywood East,” is home to the largest soundstage on the east coast. Almost every local that you meet has an art that is celebrated and explored on weekends if they aren’t lucky enough to create as full-time endeavors. Those who prefer to soak in the art created on the coast are in luck, as Coastal NC hosts an abundance of festivals and events during each of the four seasons. Though they often have the charm of small town events they are often internationally known, attended, and celebrated. Coastal North Carolina even has a dance specific to the region, the Shag, which can be performed best in bare feet on a bed of sand. Music is a part of coastal North Carolina life, from beach music, to bluegrass the music scene in this area is a most popular source of entertainment.If a life on the edge of a continent with the view of the sea and the smell of warm sand sounds like a dream to you you might consider the affordable yet incredible Coastal North Carolina region. Opportunities present themselves at every turn for a life spent enjoying our unique environment. Inspiration and entertainment enrich the lives of everyone who decides to claim the salt air! To speak with one of our many agents or to explore the area in search of your dream home please visit us at http://www.seacoastrealty.com/ http://jpeterken.seacoastrealty.com/blog/1853/5-reasons-locals-love-to-call-coastal-north-carolina-home/ Thu, 04 Feb 2016 12:00:00 -0500