For the second consecutive week, fixed-rate mortgages reached new all-time records lows, offering another big boost to home buyer affordability.  The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.83 percent for the week ending May 10, posting a new record low from last week’s 3.84 percent average. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage also posted a new record, averaging 3.05 percent this week.  Network Real Estate in Wilmington NC is a full service real estate firm.  Let one of thier agents help you find the home of your dreams.  With low rates now is the time to make the move.  Wilmington NC real estate is one of fastest growing markets.  With it’s close proximity to Carolina Beach NC , Kure Beach NC  and Wrightsville Beach NC it brings the beach closer to you.

Look for more potential home buyers to take the plunge this spring as urgency to buy will build in the face of home prices and mortgage rates rising in the days ahead!  More and more housing surveys are coming back with Americans seeing this time as a great opportunity to buy property.  The latest Fannie Mae Housing Survey had 73% of those polled in agreement that now is the time and that figure was up 3% from the previous month.   33% of those polled say they expect to see higher home prices and 40%
look for higher mortgage interest rates.  Let your Network Real Estate Agent find you that perfect property in Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and the surrounding counties of Brunswick and Pender.  We know Real Estate!  Primary Residence, Second Homes and
Investment Property …we have it all and can make your coastal Carolina dreams a reality.  We are “Your Wilmington Connection”!  Wilmington NC Real Estate is a hot market.

TO STAGE OR NOT TO STAGE

Ask a dozen people about home staging and you are likely to
get just as many opinions.

As a Realtor I would be asked by my Sellers (usually
clutching pictures of their babies to their chest) if it really was necessary
to part with family photos.  Feeling
their pain I would tell them to leave them out.
Then one day we went on an office property tour of a new listing and I
watched 5 fellow Realtors oow and ahh over baby pictures in the foyer.

I knew then that staging a home if you want it to sell
quickly is an absolute must.

Here are some tips for every budget that can help when you
put your home on the market:

1. Get rid of clutter. Clear bookshelves, kitchen and bathroom counters.  Organize your pantry, kitchen and bath cabinets and your closets.  Buyers
   will open them and look!
2. If you are repainting, use neutral colors.
3. Raid the yard and bring in some fresh flowers. Keep in mind that yellow evokes
   a buying emotion and use the color both outside and in!
4. A bedroom staging trick is fresh linens in soft colors.
5. If you can’t afford new kitchen cabinets think about re-facing the doors and
   drawers or painting and new knobs as an economical alternative.
6. Unfinished projects scare off buyers so finish that household “To Do” list.
7. Remove and replace those precious items you don’t want to convey. If your buyer
   sees that antique mirror in the bathroom that you plan on taking with you
   it could become a sticking point in negotiations.
8. Less is more.  Consider renting a storage unit for excess furnishings, etc.
9. Check your curb appeal.  Take the walk outside or invite a friend to take an honest look around for you.
10. Keep it clean. It should look clean and smell clean.  Many a potential buyer has walked away over pet and smoke odors as well as just that “not so fresh” smell.

Network Real Estate has three offices in the Wilmington NC area to serve
you and we can provide you with staging advice when selling your home!  Summer season is here so if you are looking to list your beach property to sell or looking for top-notch short and long term property rental management look no further than your Network Real Estate office in Carolina Beach.  Wilmington North Carolina has become one of
the most popular destinations on the East Coast.  From our local festivals to our award wining schools, Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Historic Downtown offer our residents the very best of lifestyles.  Talk to a Network Real Estate professional on
how to make this delightful destination your next move!  Buying, Selling or Renting, we are “Your Wilmington Connection”!

Having done your outside Spring Maintenance now it is time
to complete the task and take it indoors! Any property you have invested in
should be looked at seasonally Take a look at the suggested items below. In many cases
regular maintenance of your indoor systems can help you avoid costly repair
bills and lower utility costs.  On the Inside  Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Take the simple test to see if they are in working order one step further and once a year replace the old batteries with a fresh one.  Does someone in your home have a Springtime Birthday? Use the occasion as a reminder to change those
batteries out. Take a few minutes and go over your fire exit family plan at the
same time. Go that extra mile and take a walk around the house and check all
your electrical outlets and plugged in items.  Look for loose wall outlets and frayed cords and make needed repairs to both.  An ounce of prevention in some cases can save lives.  Check the A/C Filters  You have tuned up and checked the outside of the system now
check your filters.  A dirty filter can cause your system to ultimately fail and
certainly will result in it not working as efficiently as it can.  Keep your utility bills down by changing all filters at least once a month.  Buying your filters in bulk will eliminate forgetting to pick them up and having a good supply on had may just be the reminder you need to change them out.  The Water Heater  The average life span of a water heater is 8 to 12 years.  Look around the base of the heater for any signs of leakage.  If your water heater
is more than 5 years old you will want to check monthly for rust around the
base or moisture which may indicate a need to replace what you have.  If you live in an area where the water is hard you may need to drain your water heater on an annual basis because of the sediment build up in the pan.  Looking to cut your energy costs even further? Look into a timer that will heat your water during the hours you need it and not when the entire house is off to work.  Attic and Basement Do either of these areas smell musty?  If it is the attic be sure you check for leaks from the roof. Look at the underside of the roof and the insulation for any discoloration, deterioration or dirt stains as you may have a leak where the water seepage has dried up.  If you have a basement it should be checked along the floor, walls and trim for water stains and moisture.  Network Real Estate and our professional and knowledgeable staff of agents can make your dreams of
living on the coast a reality.  Network Real Estate is your one-stop shop for everything real estate related in Wilmington, NC and the surrounding areas to include Pender and Brunswick counties.  Network Real Estate manages vacation rentals in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach as well as long term rental property management both at the beach and in town.  Buying, selling, investing, vacationing or renting we have what you are looking for as well as offering the best property and HOA management available.

Primary residence or rental property you have invested in
should be looked at seasonally should have a maintenance check up along with your
spring-cleaning.  Follow the check list below and you can help your home or investment property operate more efficiently.  On the Outside Check the A/C.  Don’t wait for you’re a/c unit to actually fail.  Just like your car it will run much better with an annual tune up!  If the system is running at the manufacturer’s rated efficiency it will keep your energy bills
where they should be.  In our humid climate it is also a good idea to inspect the system’s condensate drain hose.  A qualified HVAC contractor can look over your entire system and make recommendations that may just save you large repair bills down the road.  Roofs and Gutters  The hot summer sun can be brutal on your roof shingles; you
may want to consider having a contractor inspect your roof.  Make sure your gutters are free of debris, leaves and pine straw and that they are firmly attached to the house.  Check for any leaks and make sure your downspouts direct the water away from the foundation of the house.  Foundation ABC’s  Inspect your foundation before spring rains and our
hurricane season.  You are looking for imperfections, cracks and any low areas where the rain might pool next to the house.  Look for tree root systems close to the house as these can do some damage if they are allowed to get up into your foundation.  Seal the cracks yourself or call a contractor if you suspect there may be some damage.  Seal Your Deck Inspect your wood decks for warping, stains and discolorations.  You may want to consider
resealing them.  Not sure? Pour some water on the deck and see if it beads up. Look for sharp edges, rusting nails and splintered wood. Make sure to check your handrails and stairs for stability.  Ready the Soil  This is the season to prepare for new growth in your
garden!  Rake those beds and get rid of the leftover winter debris.  Loosen up
your soil and mix in your compost for nutrients.  Now you are ready to plant!  Next Week:  Spring Maintenance Inside the House  Regardless of the season Network Real Estate and our outstanding staff of agents can make your dreams of living on the coast a
reality.  Network Real Estate is your one-stop shop for everything real estate related in Wilmington, NC and the surrounding areas to include Pender and Brunswick counties.  Network Real Estate manages vacation rentals in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach as well as long term rental property management both at the beach and in town.
Buying, selling, investing, vacationing or renting we have what you are
looking for as well as offering the best property and HOA management available.

Like so many others here at Network Real Estate the warm weather conjures up images of beach days, working in and enjoying the garden at the house and just sitting outdoors visiting with friends.  I found myself wondering what the season change was going to have in store for the sales and rentals.  It didn’t take long to figure out the big push this year is your outdoor area!  The American Society of Landscape Architects conducts a
Residential Trends Survey each year letting us know what potential Buyers and
Renters are looking for.  The top rated items were exterior lighting (96.2%), fire pits and fireplaces (94.2%), seating/dining areas (94.1%), grills (93.8%), installed seating areas (89.5%) and weatherized outdoor furniture (83.5%). Following those items the interest
seems to be on technology such as stereo systems, internet access and televisions with more emphasis on low-maintenance landscaping, water efficient irrigation systems and rainwater harvesting.  Don’t have a big budget? Don’t stress!  There are some quick and inexpensive ways to Brighten up your outside space and make it more appealing
without breaking the bank.  Invest in colorful containers large and small and landscape
by container gardening. This is an economical alternative to a costly major landscaping project as well as bringing the green to an outdoor space that has little or no yard like your vacation condo/home in Carolina Beach or Kure Beach.  Try glass jar candle lighting you can do yourself or inexpensive in-ground up lighting on trees.  Invest in seating or take the areas you already have and make them more appealing by adding some new outdoor cushions and colorful accent pillows. It doesn’t take much to make your outdoor area as
inviting as the interior of your home and a good visual first impression when buying, selling or renting a home is priceless!  Network Real Estate looks forward to helping you with all your real estate needs no matter what season it is.  Wilmington, NC is a wonderful place to live and remains a popular market for primary, vacation investment and second homes. Want to know more about Carolina Beach real estate, Kure Beach real estate, Wilmington and our beautiful surrounding areas of Brunswick County and Pender County?  Give us a call!  Our knowledgeable agents in sales, vacation and long term rentals are standing by to make your coastal dreams a reality.

Knowledge and skill count in our industry as well as any
other!  I was reminded of that just the other day when reading the following article from Realtor.com.  Buying, selling or investing a real estate purchase is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make in your lifetime. Use a Realtor! What you don’t know can hurt you in a real estate transaction and your Network Real Estate Agent has been educated to keep that from happening.  At Network Real Estate we pride ourselves on
staying current with the many changes that take place within our industry.  All agents take a mandatory 8 hours of continuing education each year but we go that extra step bringing in professionals to further educate our staff.  Recently we held an in-house seminar on the legal ramifications of short sales in our Wilmington NC market.  Our Agents know Wilmington NC real estate like no other.  Thinking of buying or investing in
Carolina Beach real estate or Kure Beach real estate? We can educate you on Carolina Beach rentals as well as the rental market in Kure Beach and in the city. Look to an Industry Leader for your next real estate needs…look to Network Real Estate!

Why Consumers Need Proper
Representation from Real Estate Professionals

by Amit on Feb 15, 2012 • 6:00 am

Our belief
– one of our CORE beliefs –
is that consumers are best served through proper representation from a licensed
professional.

For most,
buying or selling a home is an infrequent transaction with enormous financial
and emotional considerations.

It’s
stressful, emotionally-charged and high-stakes. Having a real estate
professional central to the process of pricing, listing, selling and purchasing
a home is important; real estate is not entertainment, and it’s not a game –
bad data, inaccurate “value estimates,” and inflating inventory levels on
websites creates
confusion about what’s really happening in a market.

We
understand that serious consumers want the real facts about a market.
And we understand that these consumers also want to find a professional who can
clearly articulate what these facts mean to their personal situation.

That’s why
REALTOR.com® works tirelessly to be the most accurate site with the largest
database of homes for sale. And that’s why we update most listings every 15
minutes.

Consumers
know they can trust the data; the quality and accuracy of the listing content
is second to none.

But
searching for homes and researching the market is just the beginning. Market
conditions vary from city-to-city and neighborhood-to-neighborhood. So when
consumers move forward and take their search from online to real-life, we help
them with the next step:

Connecting
with a local real estate professional that can help.

A
professional that’s immersed in local trends. Well versed in neighborhood
nuances. Someone who can take the science of real data and apply it to the art
of local real estate.

For
sellers, this professional is someone who can navigate changing markets deftly
and help price a home appropriately. Someone that helps ensure a smooth ride
all the way from contract acceptance to settlement.

For
buyers, this professional is a sounding board during their search, and their
advocate during contract negotiations all the way to the first day in a new
home.

Ultimately,
there is a lot more than search to consider throughout the course of a
transaction.

Pricing.
Negotiations. Offers. Counter-Offers. Contracts the size of novellas. Addenda.
Financing. Contingencies. Walkthroughs. Punch Lists. The list goes on and on
and on. Navigating all of this takes skill and determination, and licensed real
estate professionals are just the folks that can help.

After all,
it’s what they do for a living, 24-7, 365.

Since January, five local residential properties have sold for $1 million or more, according to the Wilmington Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Only one property sold for over $1 million during this period last year.  The recent increase in the sale of high-end properties could by an indicator for a recovering real estate market. A three-story house, located at 14 Southridge Road on Wrightsville Beach, sold for $3.15 million recently.  The last $3 million-plus home sold in the area was a Piper’s Neck Road listing on Figure Eight Island, which sold for $3,495,000 on October 25, 2010 and the last sale above $3 million on Wrightsville Beach was a Parmele Blvd. listing, which was sold for $3.2 million on September 15, 2009.  Call Network Real Estate today for all your Wilmington NC real estate needs.  (910) 395-4100 Info from Greater Wilmington Business Journal