Q.  I want to buy a home but the ones I look at keep selling before I can put in an offer.  What can I do to make an offer before other buyers? 

A.   When a home is priced well it can go on and off the market very quickly.  That is why it’s important to have the tools to compete with other buyers.

First, learn about new listings first.  If you are aware of the new listings immediately, you can move quickly to make an offer and get a great bargain.  You could check third-party websites daily and still not get the most accurate information about new listings.  Or, you can enroll in my exclusive “Preferred Buyer Program” where I’ll set you up with daily email notifications directly from the official MLS at no charge.

Second, get pre-approved.  This will give you an advantage over other buyers when a bargain comes on to the market.  Sellers usually take offers from someone with a proven ability to purchase more seriously.  You may get an offer in later than another buyer but the seller may go with your offer if it’s more likely to close.

To learn more about my “Preferred Buyer Program” ask about my Free Consumer Report called “8 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Finding, Buying and Financing Your Next Home.”

If you have any other real estate questions, or need capable and trustworthy representation, please call Coastwalk Real Estate at: 910-458-9119

Do medical bills make you feel sick?  Recent studies show health care can cost some families 10% of their household income, and 22% for individuals, even with employer-based coverage.  Here are four ways to feel better about the money you have to spend on health care:

• Compare procedure costs.  Ask your doctor for their CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code.  It will show you a number for each specific billable service.  You may find the same procedure can be done for a lower cost by searching www.pricedoc.com or http://healthcarebluebook.com.

• Know your insurance policy. In an emergency, it is important you know which hospital is covered by your policy.  Also, double-check your coverage before you start any treatment because the insurance terms often change.  Some policies cover extra benefits like therapy and alternative care, others make you pay the entire bill.

• Save on prescription medication.  Generic prescriptions are one money-saving solution, but sometimes there are over-the-counter versions for the medication you need.  Learn your options at: www.rxaminer.com.  A few other ways to save on prescriptions are to buy from mail-order pharmacies and stock up for several months, or to get a higher dose of your medicine and split pills yourself.

• Buy eyeglasses online.  The cost of glasses can run $150 to $500 at a local optical shop.  With online vendors, you can expect to pay $20 to $50.  Investigate these three options: www.eyebuydirect.com, www.zennioptical.com, or www.39dollarglasses.com.

When you need medical care, the last thing you want to worry about is money.  I hope you use these tips to take care of yourself for less and save even more money by preventing stress-related health issues!

Prices for single-family homes climbed in half of U.S. cities in the first quarter as real estate markets stabilized.

The median sales price increased from a year earlier in 74 of 146 metropolitan areas measured, the National Association of Realtors said in a report today. In the fourth quarter, only 29 areas had gains.

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A development in Oswego, Illinois. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

 

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May 7 (Bloomberg) -- Michelle Meyer, a senior economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, talks about the U.S. economy and real estate market. She speaks with Tom Keene on Bloomberg Television's "Surveillance Midday." (Source: Bloomberg)

The U.S. housing market is showing signs of bottoming as improving employment and record-low mortgage rates boost demand while inventories of available properties tighten. At the end of March, 2.37 million previously owned homes were available for sale, 22 percent fewer than a year earlier, the Realtors said.

“The housing market is still depressed but it had a good quarter,” Patrick Newport, an economist at IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Massachusetts, said in a telephone interview today. “We’re on the mend but it’s still something that will take two or three years before we’re back to normal.”

The national median existing single-family home price was $158,100 in the first quarter, down 0.4 percent from the first three months of 2011, according to the Realtors group.

The best-performing metro area was Cape Coral, Florida, where prices increased 28.1 percent from a year earlier. Prices rose 19 percent in Grand Rapids, Michigan; 16.9 percent in Palm Bay, Florida; and 16.6 percent in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Biggest Declines

Kingston, New York, had the biggest decline, with the median selling price tumbling 22 percent in the quarter. It was followed by Stamford, Connecticut, with an 18 percent decline; Mobile, Alabama, at 14.7 percent; and Atlanta at 12 percent.

The median selling price is influenced by the mix of homes on the market and probably was boosted by a smaller share of transactions involving distressed properties. Those homes, which sell at discounts, accounted for 32 percent of first-quarter sales, down from 38 percent a year earlier.

Prices are more volatile than normal because they are affected by the prevalence of distressed sales and “sudden upswings” in buyer interest in some areas, said Lawrence Yun, the group’s chief economist.

‘Broad Shortages’

“We have broad shortages of lower-priced homes in much of the country, with very tight supply in Western states for homes through the middle price ranges,” Yun said in the report. “This is good news for many sellers who wish to list now, or for those waiting for prices to improve.”

Sales of previously owned homes rose 5.3 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, according to the report. Purchases climbed 11.7 percent in the Midwest, 6.6 percent in the Northeast, 4.1 percent in the South, and 1.4 percent in the West.

Fannie Mae, the nation’s biggest mortgage-finance company, today reported a $2.7 billion first-quarter profit after a $6.5 billion loss a year earlier, citing smaller declines in home prices as one of the reasons for improvement. The Washington- based company said that it won’t need Treasury Department aid to balance its books for the first time since it was seized by federal regulators in 2008.

To contact the reporter on this story: Prashant Gopal in New York at pgopal2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Kara Wetzel at kwetzel@bloomberg.net

Did you know that Coastwalk Real Estate’s main office (Office ID 579500070) is the leading seller of beach homes in the area?  That’s right, this office has SOLD more homes this past year in Kure Beach, Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach combined than any other office in the area (source: Wilmington MLS 12/15/2011).

Coastwalk Real Estate’s main office is also the #1 seller of oceanfront homes in New Hanover County, with sales 26% higher than their closest competitor (source: Wilmington MLS 12/15/2011).

If you need a hardworking agent, please call Justin Donaton at 910-352-0998

• Over the past 12 months, Justin has SOLD twice the number of homes and land in Kure beach than his closest competitor.

• Since 3/22/08, Justin has SOLD nearly 50% more real estate on Pleasure Island than his closest competitor.  Justin’s sales volume on Pleasure Island during this time exceeds $51,000,000, the #2 agent is under $30,000,000.

Do you want an agent who works hard? Who stays in touch (and provides feedback) to you? Who will market your home to Buyers  and REALTORS across the country? Do you want results!

If so, please call Justin Donaton at Coastwalk Real Estate….cell: 910-352-0998. Available 7 days a week!

Here is a link to real estate sales statistics for the Wilmington area. This report and data is provided by the Wilmington Association of REALTORS, of which all Coastwalk Real Estate agents are memebers of.

Here are the sales statistics for Wilmington, NC:

http://www.wrar.com/pub_PDFs/MLSZipCodeReport-Q1-2012.pdf

For more information on area homes, please contact Coastwalk Real Estate.

To find homes online, we invite you to visit our website and these links:

Oceanfront Homes in Wilmington NC and Wrightsville Beach Ocean front:

http://www.coastwalkrealestate.com/oceanfront-homes/

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Wrightsville Beach Real Estate:

http://www.coastwalkrealestate.com/wrightsville-beach-real-estate/

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Carolina Beach Real Estate:

http://www.coastwalkrealestate.com/carolina-beach-homes-for-sale/

Do you like to surf, if so, here is a link to a local surf report for Wrightsville Beach:

http://www.swellinfo.com/surf-forecast/carolina-beach-north-carolina.html

We can be reacehd by phone at 910-458-9119, or

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coastwalk-Real-Estate/

KURE BEACH TOWN NEWS – May 3, 2012

· Go to the Town’s website www.townofkurebeach.org for meetings, info & news

· Also, don’t forget to join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kurebeachnc

· Visit our Business Corner at the bottom of this email for great deals from KB businesses

· For more events: Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce http://www.pleasureislandnc.org/calendar.asp

What can you get for your money?

This week I thought it would be fun to highlight what your  money can buy today….so here we go!

$50,000 – For $50,000, you can find a nice lot in Carolina Beach that is ready for building. You’re not going to have ocean views, but you likely will be walking distance to the beach. For Wilmington Beach area lots, you’ll have to remember there will be a future road assessment. There are some great land deals right now, so get on it!

$100,000 – For $100,000, you can buy a nice second row lot in Carolina Beach, or a lot in Kure Beach…perhaps just a few blocks off the beach. You can check out 303 E Ave in Kure Beach, this gorgeous home site was just listed for $140,000. There are also home sites in Live Oak Village that are sub $150,000.

$200,000 – For $200,000, you can purchase some really nice home sites such as second row lots in Kure Beach. There are also lots in Seawatch and other Kure Beach communities in the 200’s. For boaters, check out Oceana in Carolina Beach. $200,000 will also buy you a nice condo at the beach. 612 Carolina Beach Ave N, Unit 1-B is a nice 2BR / 2BA condo with great ocean views! 1411 S Lake Park Blvd is another example. It’s a top floor ocean view condo with a pool, asking $199,900!

$250,000 – For $250,000, there are a lot of options, depending on your requirements. One of the best investments may be the new homes on 8^th St in Carolina Beach. These 3BR / 2BA homes have a garage, they are on gorgeous lots (with mature Live Oak Trees), and have all the ‘bells and whistles’ inside including wood floors, granite counters, trey ceilings, bead board and more!

$300,000 - $400,000 – For this price range, we get into some really nice homes at the beach. 106 Spencer Farlow Dr is a waterfront townhome with an elevator. It has great water views, and is priced at $319,000.  1517 Bowfin Lane is a 6 bedroom duplex that’s just steps to the beach…asking $319,000. Another example is 1511 Searay Ln in Carolina Beach. This is a new home by Ocean Grove Cottages offering 4BRs / 3BAs..it’s so nice inside and the asking price is  $359,900. This is one of the best deals around (and its new)!

$500,000 – As we get closer to the $500’s, you have a lot of options. You can purchase a nice (and larger) oceanfront condo, or a really nice home in Seawatch, Kure Beach Village, Kure Estates and other beach communities. There are also options on the waterway, for example on Canal Drive and St Joseph St.  COMING SOON will be a super Brand New Home in Live Oak Village (Kure Beach), for about $469,000. There is also a pre-construction home in Seawatch for about $595,000.

$750,000 – At $750,000, you’ve got your choice of owning some of the nicest homes on the island, or choosing something ocean front. There are ocean front cottages that range in price from the 500’s to about $800,000. Or, you might be interested in 510 Seahorse Place in Seawatch. Custom built by local builder Alan Votta, this home is a “must see” at  $719,000 asking – stunning inside!

$1,000,000 -  For $1,000,000 you can get a really nice ocean front home. Inventory has dwindled, so the choices are a bit more limited these days, but there still are some good options. Check out 1003 Carolina Beach Ave South – tis is a 6 bedroom ocean front home on a nice one-way street…south of the lake for $995,000. For the real estate investor, you may also want to look at some commercial property, or perhaps a B&B or motel. Some super deals are out there…look around and you’ll find them!

If you want to look at some homes, or want to discuss real estate happenings in more detail, please give Coastwalk Real Estate a call today at 910-458-9119. We’re here to help, seven days a week!

Expect Results:

Your Real Estate Market Report is provided by Justin Donaton of Coastwalk Real Estate. Local data provided is courtesy of the Wilmington Association of REALTORS MLS. Justin does not just "list" properties, he sells them! To get your home SOLD for the highest possible price, call Justin at 910-352-0998. Justin has been the #1 Agent on Pleasure Island since 2006. He has the highest dollar volume of sales, and has had the most number of closings. His business is built on hard work and high-impact marketing. Please visit:  www.CoastwalkRealEstate.com for more info.

I hope you are having a great day!

In this week’s report, I wanted to share some recent sales information with you….so here we go!

Through April 25^th, 2012, there have been 828 homes (including condos) that have SOLD in New Hanover County this year, this compares to 689 for the sale period in 2011.

Of the  828 homes, 642 of these are single family houses. This compares to 525 in 2011.

The average selling price for these single family homes in 2012 is $252,013, compared to $259,472 in 2011.

The average selling “price per square foot” for houses in New Hanover County is $115 in 2012, compared to $124 for the same period in 2011.

The average  “days on market” for houses that SOLD in New Hanover County is 166 in 2012, compared to 140 days for the same period in 2011.

So what does this mean?

The activity is strong and the total number of sales have increases year over year. That said, prices have fallen a bit, and the “day on market” has increased.

From a less analytical perspective, I am noticing well priced homes (that are in good condition) are receiving lots of attention, and often are SOLD within 90 days of being listed. Homes that are not priced correctly will linger on the market.

With regards to the sale of home sites and land, in 2012 there have been 86 land sales, compared to 69 in 2011. Several of these have been ocean front and on the water way.

The most expensive home to have SOLD this year (so far) was in Wrightsville Beach at $3,150,000. Year-to-date. there have been 10 homes in New Hanover County that have SOLD for more  than $1,000,000.

Thanks for reading, and have a terrific week!

Expect Results:

Your Real Estate Market Report is provided by Justin Donaton of Coastwalk Real Estate. Local data provided is courtesy of the Wilmington Association of REALTORS MLS. Justin does not just "list" properties, he sells them! To get your home SOLD for the highest possible price, call Justin at 910-352-0998. Justin has been the #1 Agent on Pleasure Island since 2006. He has the highest dollar volume of sales, and has had the most number of closings. His business is built on hard work and high-impact marketing. Please visit:  www.CoastwalkRealEstate.com for more info.

Ocean front homes are some of the best investment around. You can find ocean front homes for sale, just click this link here: for Wrightsville Beach.

Just to the south there are two more beaches with great beach homes. These are Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. Find homes for these two towns here, just click this link!

For more info on beach homes in Wilmington contact Coastwalk Real Estate

910-458-9119

We are here to help you!