Coastwalk Real Estate #1 Firm in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, NC

Coastwalk Real Estate announced as #1 in sales for Carolina Beach and Kure Beach

Coastwalk Real Estate has once again been recognized as the top firm in Carolina and Kure Beach.

According to MLS data from 1/1/15 through 12/31/15, Coastwalk earned the top spot with 231 transactions. 120 of these on the listing side, and 111 on the buying side.

The equal distribution among buyer and seller transaction shows the company’s overall strength and consistency in the market place.

Coastwalk Real Estate was founded in 1996 by Annie Bowman. The company has three offices on Pleasure Island, and a Wilmington office at 4037 Masonboro Loop Rd. The firm first 38 Brokers, and is one of the leading independent real estate firms in New Hanover County. Visit them on-line at www.CoastwalkRealEstate.com or by phone at 910-458-9119.

Carolina Beach and Kure Beach Real Estate

#1 Real Estate Firm for 2015

According to MLS Stats as of 12/31/15, Coastwalk Real Estate is the #1 Firm for Sale in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach for this past year.

Coastwalk Real Estate is a family-owned, local real estate firm.

For 2015, they have sold 231 transactions on the Island. 120 of these were listings, and 111 buying side.

If you need a great real estate form to be on your side, please contact Coastwalk Real Estate at 910-458-9119, or online at www.CoastwalkRealEstate.com

Wilmington NC Waterfront House for sale

Located on the intracoastal waterway, and minutes to the Beach!

Waterfront living on the ICW! Enjoy views from almost every room in the house! Open floor plan with back deck and screened in porch makes for optimal entertaining! Kitchen boasts cherry cabinets, new granite counters and walk in pantry. Beautiful hardwood floors and gas fireplace in living area and first floor master bedroom. Plenty of storage throughout the home and the over-sized 2 car garage has extra room for boat or golf cart. Directly on the ICW you are minutes to Carolina Beach Inlet and Cape Fear River by boat or just over the bridge to downtown Carolina Beach with many shops, restaurants and the beach! This home comes with a deeded 30' boat slip and golf cart! Wonderful waterfront community with pool, dock, boat slip and gazebo. There is a shallow tidal creek along the side of the property with a dock to catch bait fish too!

Call Coastwalk Real Estate at 910-458-9119 for more info and to schedule a showing!

See more info on 7221 Grouper Ct here!

New House for Sale Wilmington North Carolina

929 Saltspray Lane, Minutes from the Beach

Brand new home, steps to the intracoastal waterway, and minutes to the beach! Lush neighborhood with great trees and mature vegetation. Fabulously designed home with all the bells and whistles. Upscale kitchen with granite and stainless appliances including a Jenn-aire glass top down draft stove. Spacious rooms with an open floor plan between the kitchen, breakfast, and great room. Large dining room with trey ceiling. Gas fireplace in the great room. Large master suite with additional trey ceiling. Over 700 sq. ft. of decks to enjoy the coastal breezes. Two car garage. Energy saving features which reduce monthly expenses include blown-in insulation, dual HVAC system, and florescent and LED lighting. User friendly features include flip-switch fireplace, custom cabinets with no slam doors and easy access to storage / attic areas. The community gazebo on the intracoastal waterway provides a beautiful setting to watch the sunrise, or enjoy a cocktail in the evening. Home sweet home!

Contact Coastwalk Real Estate for more info on 929 Saltspray Lane. Please call 910-458-9119, or see more pictures and info here!

If you would like to search for all new homes for sale in Wilmington, then check out our website here!

New House for sale in Carolina Beach

1422 Spot Lake, Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Super hip beach home with 4 Bedrooms and 3.5 Baths. Corner lot, outside of the flood zone, and beautiful inside. Tons of thought and research went into designing this floor plan. Please request a copy of the floor plan to see yourself, or even better, call for a showing! There are bedrooms on each level, including a main level master suite and a huge ground level guest area (or bonus room). Wide-open kitchen/living/dining areas, wrap around decks, a 3rd floor loft/playroom, a foyer for jackets and shoes, and much more. Lots of nice touches and accents. Wide plank scraped floors, tiled baths, granite counters and custom trim. Windows are perfectly positioned to capture natural light. Large garage for cars, golf cart or beach toys. Beautiful yard with irrigation, outdoor shower, covered areas and a fire pit. Low maintenance home & built with energy efficiency in mind. Builder Warranty provided!

If you would like more info, please call 910-45-9119, or visit the home online for pictures, just click here!

You may also search for all new homes for sale here!

Wilmington North Carolina safety tip

Real Estate info for Wilmington, North Carolina

With the winter months upon us, it's especially important to be on the lookout for gas leaks. Heaters which may not have been used recently, lines which may have been damaged in storms... they can all be the source of gas leaks.

I wanted to offer you these tips, shared by Pacific Gas & Electric in California. Did you know that an underground utility is damaged in America every eight minutes? Gas lines are among the most frequently damaged utilities.

Here’s how you can spot a natural gas leak:

1. Smell: Natural gas supply is mixed with a sulfuric "rotten egg" smell. This way, even small amounts of gas may be detected.

2. Sound: Hissing, whistling, or "roaring" coming from underground or a gas appliance may be an indication of a gas leak.

3. Sight: Though gas is invisible, its effects are not. Spraying dirt, constantly bubbling water in ponds and creeks, and vegetation which always dies in a certain spot may be an indication of escaping gas.

Here’s what to do in the event of a gas leak:

1. Alert others and move upwind from the location of the suspected leak.

2. Do not use anything that could be a source of ignition, such as vehicles, cell phones, matches, electric switches, doorbells, and garage door openers.

3. Call 911 to notify authorities, including the police and fire department.

If you’re planning any digging in an area where gas lines might be present, be sure to contact your utility company before you begin digging. Most companies have free services which will help you identify the location of gas lines and advise you on how to dig with those lines in mind.

Be a safe neighbor and share these tips!

Maybe you’re looking for a home with great natural gas features like an outdoor fireplace or kitchen? I would love to help you find that home today: 910-458-9119

See all homes for sale in Wilmington North Carolina here!

Wilmington North Carolina Charity Information

There are those in this world who do not enjoy the comforts of home. Those who lack the fundamentals of food, shelter, and safety. During the holiday season it can be easy to overlook the less fortunate, even when they’re right here in our own communities.

Like many in real estate, I support causes I believe in with donations of time and money. There is nothing quite as satisfying as giving back and knowing that what I give makes a difference in the lives of others.

If you’re new to supporting causes, you may have some doubts about whether or not your donations go to the people who are most in need. There are many organizations out there which claim to support a cause, but how can you be sure they devote most of their resources to the cause and not the pockets of their directors and offices? I have two resources which might help you evaluate organizations and feel secure about your donations.

First, Charity Watch (www.charitywatch.com) is a top-list of groups which “generally spend 75% or more of their budgets on programs, spend $25 or less to raise $100 in public support, do not hold excessive assets in reserve, have met CharityWatch's governance benchmarks, and receive "open-book" status for disclosure of basic financial information and documents to CharityWatch.” The website provides each group’s mission, contact information, and detailed information about governance and transparency.

Another resource for making sure your donations are effective is Giving What We Can (www.givingwhatwecan.org). This organization works to combat the effects of poverty worldwide. You can pledge up to 10% of your income here knowing the money is going directly to programs helping those suffering the most, or “Try Giving” which is a scaled-down pledge that allows you to participate at a different level.

Regardless of how you go about it, I hope this inspires you to give in any way you can. If you’re looking for other local causes to support, I’d be glad to give you a list of some worthy local organizations. Contact me today: 910-352-0998

Wilmington North Carolina Home Selling Tips

With big holidays come big meals, and despite our best efforts, we seldom finish all the amazing food. Ever found your fridge too stuffed with leftovers?

The truth is, many of us don’t manage our refrigerator space well. There’s actually a ton more room in your fridge if you make smart choices about how your organize what you need to store. Here are some surprising ways to make the most out of the cold space you have in your kitchen.

1. Ditch the round storage containers. Plastic storage bins are cheap enough now that you can probably afford to replace those old circular ones with stackable square ones. Square or rectangular shapes are far more efficient for the typical fridge.

2. Prioritize the shelves. Put what you want eaten soon on a middle rack, and don’t let it drift to the back. Items which fade into the back get forgotten, and typically don’t require the coldest temperatures. Put your milk and your meats in the rearward cold zones for freshness and storage efficiency.

3. Remove tomatoes, onions, potatoes. You’re doing these veggies a favor by keeping them out of the cold. Tomatoes will get mealy and soft, while the cold amps up the starch in potatoes. Onions and potatoes can survive just fine if separated into bags and placed in a drawer away from the light.

4. Check your condiments. Many of us keep condiments in the fridge that don’t need to be chilled and can be stored in the pantry or cabinets. This includes mustard (8 weeks), ketchup (4 weeks), fish sauce (2 years), hot sauce (3 years), and soy sauce (1 year). Keep them out of direct sunlight in a relatively cool room.

5. Supplement with a beverage fridge. Sodas, beers, and other beverages can take up a lot of room in your fridge. Consider investing in a smaller beverage fridge. Many can be found for under $300. A beverage fridge will also reduce the in-and-out traffic to the main fridge, ensuring greater energy efficiency and more stable food storage temperatures. Decluttering your fridge can also promote food safety. A packed fridge prevents air from circulating and keeping foods at their optimal temperature.   

If your fridge isn’t the problem, but your small kitchen is, maybe it’s time to start hunting for a bigger house! Get in touch with us, and we’ll help you find homes in your area with dream kitchens. Or shop for homes online here!

Carolina Beach Real Estate information

Coastwalk Real Estate was founded in 1996 by Eleanor Bowman. This coming year, we will be celebrating our 20^th birthday!

Coastwalk is a locally-owned, family-owned, non-franchised business. Approximately 50% of company sales are in Carolina / Kure Beach, and the balance in Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Leland, Southport and Hampstead areas.

Coastwalk Real Estate is comprised of 40 experienced REALTORS, who are spread out over 4 office locations. 

While not a mega firm, Coastwalk provides its clients with some of the most impactful advertising, most effective marketing, and most useful support services available!

 This includes professional photography, professional videography, extensive on-line marketing, social media strategies, agent-to-agent marketing, open houses and much more. We also actively market our homes to our in-house database of 35,000+ active real estate buyers!

 As a result of these efforts, Coastwalk Real Estate and its Agents are some of the most productive REALTORS on the beach and New Hanover County:

 And check this out….new for 2016 will be our professional staging and interior design services! That’s right, we now have a designer/stager on staff that will assist Coastwalk clients in preparing their home for market!

So what does this mean for you?

I predict our local real estate market will hit a pivotal inflection point in 2016 since, in many areas, home prices are getting near pre-bubble levels.

Don’t expect the “rebound” effect to keep driving your home value up.

Our federal reserve is confident on growth, and recently – in vague language of course – sent strong signals they will raise interest rates in 2016. High rates make it more expensive to buy your home, especially for millennials; a BIG market this year.

Based on what we’re seeing in our Wilmington / Carolina Beach / Kure Beach / Wrightsville Beach, 2016 may be the peak year in the short term to sell your home at the highest price.

We feel the pent up demand of homeowners itching to sell after getting back or close to their original purchase price.

We see more people getting mortgages now that Fannie and Freddie back 3% down payments.

We talk to people every day who are better employed, making more money; job growth is up.

All these forces will come together in 2016 and I see a lot of homeowners selling their homes this spring.

Which of course, if you’re thinking about selling your home in 2016, means there’s a lot of competition.

We are recommending to clients who wish to sell in 2016, to list their home sooner rather than later.

 If Coastwalk Real Estate can assist in this process, please call us at 910-458-9119, or visit us online at www.CoastrwalkReal Estate.com.

Wilmington utility bills

Lower utility bills Wilmington NC

The cold is coming, and in some places it is already here. If you haven’t done so yet, take advantage of some simple tune-ups you can make around the house to dramatically lower your heating bill.

The laws of thermodynamics can be expensive. When the big winter weather arrives, the heat can leach from your home through a variety of obvious and unexpected ways, resulting in high heating bills. Wouldn’t you rather put that money into holiday shopping or upgrades for your house?

The most obvious culprits are in plain sight: Doors and windows. The weatherstripping around doors shouldn’t admit any light, and when it comes to windows, you’ll want to look for holes in the caulking. You could even upgrade your windows to double-pane, or go with storm windows to improve insulation. But the less obvious and less dramatic options are available to you, too. Here are 5 tips you may not have thought of when it comes to heating leaks and your overall energy spend:

1. Cover up your water heater. For $20 - $40 you can secure a water heater blanket at most hardware stores. This will help keep your water heater insulated, which in turn means the water heater will use less energy to keep you in those warm showers. You might even consider dropping your water heater temperature from 140F/60C down to a safe but reasonable 120F/49C.

2. Swap out rugs and drapes. In the warmer months, you may enjoy sheer window coverings or go with bare floors, but in the winter laying in heavy drapes and thicker rugs will help trap heat. (Plus, it makes a room feel all the more cozy when it’s cold outside!)

3. Shutter your fireplace when it’s not in use. Is cold air whistling down your chimney? Does your flue close completely? Unless your fireplace is in constant use, remembering to seal it up when you’re not burning wood is a good place to save. Just remember to open the flue before you use it, or else you’ll end up with a smokey hazard!

4. Swap out your furnace filters. The harder you make your furnace work to exchange air, the more you’ll pay for it. Stay on top of filter changes in the winter. The money you spend on filters will lower your bill and help save on your furnace’s wear and tear.

5. Invest in a programmable thermostat. From your basic clock-based models to your fancy smart thermostats like Nest, programmable thermostats will help you turn down the heat when you’re not home and when you’re sleeping. A modest expense will pay for itself many times over as the winters add up.

Stay warm on the cheap this year! If you find yourself looking for a more energy efficient home, I’m also here to help: Justin Donaton, Coastwalk Real Estate 910-458-9119