http://jpeterken.seacoastrealty.com/blog/categoryname_coastal-nc/sort_entrydatetime-desc/ 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  If you have been following along on our family adventure, you already know that moving and buying our new home has faced some unique circumstances. My family and I are located in the US, the seller of our soon-to-be home is based in the United Arab Emirates. This meant that throughout the buying process our agent had to be knowledgeable on the longer than usual buying process. It meant that my family had to practice patience, because any communication with the seller resulted in a longer than usual response time. My family and I had succeeded. We had a closing date! We set up utilities, changed our mailing addresses, and contracted various businesses to begin renovations (all for a closing date start date).  We should have closed and been happily nestled into our new home within 3 weeks of close. There was a bubble of excitement bobbing over all of our heads.The night before the closing date, I carefully coordinated outfits for our family of five to pop against the purple front door of our new home. We would head from the attorney’s office and head straight to the house for a quick sweet family pic. As soon as the last sock was placed on the last set of clothing my husband and I received a text....a very disappointing text. Our agent needed to speak with us asap.BAM! The happy bubble had burst. Closing would be pushed back a week. The sellers had not properly signed the deed. We are a pretty "roll-with-it" family, so after a few muffled curse words (the kids were all in bed) we accepted that life would happen and we would go on.Cue closing date Number Two. This time I decided to save myself some laundry time and just go with our regular everyday clothes. Cue call Number Two. Again, the closing would be delayed. The deed, which we were now assured had been re-signed, had not arrived as promised. There was talk of the sellers being on holiday, taking a special trip to London because the legal process is smoother there, and long courier times. I really am not sure what the details were. All I knew was that once again I was going to have to call all of the contractors and reschedule. The I was going to have to tell three children under the age of 7 years that our day was not going to include going to the new house. I was crushed.My husband and I stayed up late that night. We went through every possible scenario, and decided that if the house did not close on the next scheduled date we would have to walk. We were both paranoid that there was something bad going wrong, despite the assurance from our agent that this was not terribly uncommon when dealing with overseas sellers. The Door looks red here, but I assure you it is a very interesting shade of purple...Closing date Three...YES! WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!!! And the kicker, our awesome agent was able to negotiate our first full month of bills paid by the seller due to the long delay! Our family skipped the matching outfits. We drove to the house and played in the yard. We walked around and guessed at where Santa might leave Christmas gifts. We introduced ourselves to neighbors through the fence posts. We were a family who was finally home. Memories multiplied, and all was right with the world.Tell us about your home-buying experiences! Did all go smoothly, or were there hurdles to jump along the way? You can join the conversation on our Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/seacoastrealtyReady to jump into the home-buying adventures? You’ll need a rockstar agent, like my own, and you can find one herehttp://www.seacoastrealty.com/ http://jpeterken.seacoastrealty.com/blog/1300/what-to-expect-when-buying-a-home:-please-please-just-give-us-the-keys!/ Fri, 25 Sep 2015 12:00:00 -0500