Here is a picture of a water spout in Carolina Beach. Carolina Beach is a cute beach town located minutes from Wilmington, NC. It has shops, restaurants and great activities. Come visit Carolina Beach this summer!

Carolina Beach is a super place to own a home...even though we get had a water spout! Contact Coastwalk Real Estate for more info on area homes 910-458-9119

The Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation Department offers a variety of year-round activities. Fitness classes are suitable for all levels.  Locals and visitors are welcome!  No membership is required and all equipment is provided.  Instructors are experienced, certified professionals committed to providing participants with a fun-filled, challenging workout.  See detailed descriptions below regarding registration information and fees or token purchases needed prior to attending classes.  Call (910) 256-7925 with questions or email us at parksandrecreation@towb.org.

 Schedule of Fitness Classes

Pilates - The flowing movements of Pilates will help to strengthen the core muscles of your body as well as emphasize endurance, tone, flexibility, proper body alignment, balance, and control.  Classes are held in the Fran Russ Recreation Center next to the Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation office.  All ages and fitness levels are encouraged to attend.  Experienced instructor Donna Teed teaches this class which meets each Tuesday and Thursday, 7:30 - 8:15 a.m.  Tokens must be purchased from the Park Office prior to attending class.  One token per class.  **Token Fees:  Wrightsville Beach Residents $7.00 per token, (Wrightsville Beach Residents age 60+ $2.50 per token.)  Non-Residents $9.00 per token, (Non-Residents age 60+ $3.50 per token).  **A minimum purchase of 5 tokens is required for above prices, otherwise one token puchase is $10.00 for Wrightsville Beach Residents and $12.00 for Non-Residents.  Click here for registration/release form.

Pilates 50/50 - This class combines the stabilizing and strengthening benefits of pilates with the flexibility and postures of yoga.  This class targets the core muscles of the trunk, creating stability in the deep abdominal muscles, pelvic floor and lower back by moving in and out of poses with control.  Classes are held in the Fran Russ Recreation Center next to the Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation office.  Larry Hobbs instructs this class that meets each Monday and Wednesday from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.   Tokens must be purchased from the Park Office prior to attending class.  One token per class.**Token Fees:  Wrightsville Beach Residents $7.00 per token, (Wrightsville Beach Residents age 60+ $2.50 per token.)  Non-Residents $9.00 per token, (Non-Residents age 60+ $3.50 per token).  **A minimum purchase of 5 tokens is required for above prices, otherwise one token puchase is $10.00 for Wrightsville Beach Residents and $12.00 for Non-Residents.  Click here for registration/release form.

Tone and Stretch Classes - Tone and strengthen your muscles using hand weights, stretching, and resistance techniques.  Classes are held in the Fran Russ Recreation Center next to the Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation office.  Tone and Stretch classes meet each Tuesday and Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m.  Fees:  Wrightsville Beach Residents $4.50 per class, (Wrightsville Beach Residents age 60+ $2.50 per class).  Non-Residents $6.00 per class, (Non-Residents age 60+ $3.50 per class).  Click here for registration/release form.

Low Impact Aerobics - While these classes are particularly geared for Seniors, they are suitable for any adult and all fitness levels.  Classes feature age-appropriate music, as well as certified instructors that take the extra care necessary to protect sensitive backs and knees.  Classes are held in the Fran Russ Recreation Center next to the Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation office.  Low Impact Aerobics classes are held each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.  Fees:  Wrightsville Beach Residents $4.50 per class, (Wrightsville Beach Residents age 60+ $2.50 per class).  Non-Residents $6.00 per class, (Non-Residents age 60+ $3.50 per class).  Click here for registration/release form.

Yoga - Stretch, strengthen, relax, and smile, with HathaYoga led by Nancy Hayes. Nancy teaches Yoga classes in two levels. Gentle Yoga is for those people primarily interested in gentle movements and relaxation. Classes meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Continuing Yoga is an advanced class for people with 3 or more months of prior Yoga experience. Classes meet Tuesday evenings from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.  Yoga classes are held in the Fran Russ Recreation Center next to the Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation office and are usually held in 4-week to 6-week sessions.  Call the park office, 910-256-7925, for session dates and fees or see current flyer.

Boot Camp - Experience an effective way to get fit without having to go to the gym.  Boot Camp is a specialized program designed to offer a variety of exercise intensity levels to meet the needs of individuals.  You get the benefit of having a professional fitness trainer at a fraction of the cost.  Get in shape and stay in shape by participating in this year round class that meets outdoors in Wrightsville Beach Park to add variety and fresh air to your workout.  (Classes meet in the Fran Russ Recreation Center in the event of inclement weather.)  Boot Camp meets Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 6:00 - 7:00 a.m.  Tokens must be purchased from the Park Office prior to attending class.  One token per class.  **Token Fees:  Wrightsville Beach Residents $6.00 and Non-Residents $8.00.  **A minimum purchase of 5 tokens is required for above prices, otherwise one token purchase is $10.00 for Wrightsville Beach Resident and $12.00 for Non-Residents.  Click here for registration/release form.

Tennis Lessons - Tennis lessons are offered for Adults, Youth ages 9-12, and we now offer QuickStart for ages 6-8.  Group lessons meet on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Fees are for 6 one hour lessons, Wrightville Beach Residents, $55 and Non-Residents, $70.  The tennis pro also offers lessons on other days for your group of 6 or more.  Private and semi-private lessons are also available. Tennis Pro Jackie Jenkins has been a UKLTA registered coach since 1977.  She has established a strong reputation as an effective teacher who gets results.  Call the Wrightsville Beach Park office at (910) 256-7925 for more information.  Click here for registration form.

Bridge Lessons - Join us for bridge lessons.  We offer beginner and intermediate lessons year round.  Lessons are held in the Fran Russ Recreation Center located behind Town Hall.  Click here for flyer. Click here for Registration.

Shag Lessons - Instructors Ken and Sandy Jones can teach anyone to shag!  No partner is needed for these lessons held on Sunday afternoons in four-week sessions (year round). Our Beginner class starts at 5:00 p.m. followed by our Intermediate class at 6:00 p.m. Classes are held in the Fran Russ Recreation Center located behind Town Hall.  Wrightsville Beach Residents, $35 and Non-Residents, $45 (fee includes 4 one hour sessions).  Call the Wrightsville Beach Park office at (910) 256-7925 for the next scheduled class.  Pre-registration is recommended.  Check back for session dates. Click here for Registration

Line Dancing Lessons - Get ready for weddings, concerts in the park, birthday parties and other events with the knowledge of popular line dancing.  Instructor Inez Eason will teach the fundamentals of line dancing in a fun, yet effective manner.  Line Dancing classes are held in four-week sessions on Sunday afternoons from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm in the Fran Russ Recreation Center located behind Town Hall at Wrightsville Beach Park. Wrightsville Beach Residents, $35 and Non-Residents, $45 (fee includes 4 one hour sessions). Pre-registration is requested. Session 1: February 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2012. Session 2: March 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2012. Click here for Registration.

After School Program - Parks and Recreation offers an after school program for Wrightsville Beach Elementary School students weekdays until 6:00 p.m. in the Recreation Center. We transport the children from the school using our department mini-van.  Click here for registration information and brochure.

Traffic Skills 101 - Traffic Skills 101 is a two-day course created by the League of American Bicyclists, designed to give cyclists the confidence they need to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail.  The course covers bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques, and includes a student manual.  Recommended for adults & children above age 14, this fast-paced course prepares cyclists for a full understanding of vehicular cycling.  Date: Friday, March 23, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., Indoor Training & Saturday, March 24, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Practical Training Outdoors (Rain date for Saturday is Sunday, March 25, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.).  Fee: $15 Wrightsville Beach Residents, $20 Non-residents.  Pre-registration is required.  Click here for regisration.

Cotillion -  Cape Fear Cotillion and Pre-Cotillion sessions are now being offered at the Wrightsville Beach Recreation Center.  Cape Fear Cotillion is a fun, affordable Cotillion program for youth.  The sessions include lessons in ballroom and popular dance along with invaluable etiquette and social skills needed for all occasions. Click here for 2012 Winter/Spring Registration information and Brochure.

Town of Wrightsville Beach
Parks & Recreation
1 Bob Sawyer Drive, PO Box 626
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
(910)256-7925
parksandrecreation@towb.org

Hours:
Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm

·         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

There are some great streets in Wilmington (and at the beach) with some super homes. I wanted to post and share with you a few of my favorite streets around town!

I love N Lumina Drive in Wrightsville Beach. The homesites are large and the views are amazing. There are ocean front homes on Lumina Drive, along with creek and marshside homes. You often had a nice ocean breeze, and its generally nice and quiet. If you are interested in Wrightsville Beach homes, click here to see them all!

In Kure Beach, I love Atlantic Ave. Atlantic Ave is a one-way street that overlooks the ocean and is just a short walk to the pier. You can view homes for sale in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach homes here!

In Wilmington, I love Landfall Drive. Landfall is a popular community located minutes from  Wrightsville Beach and Mayfaire. You can search Landfall homes for sale here!

In downtown Wilmington I really like Water St. Downtown Wilmington provides an urban feel, with great shops and dining. You can find homes for sale in Wilmington and downtown homes for sale here.

For more info on Wilmington real estate and Wrightsville beach homes, and Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, please contact Coastwalk Real Estate 910-458-9119. We are here to help you and provide more information on the area and local real estate!

Here is a great quote:

"Seek to learn constantly while you live; do not wait in the faith that old age by itself will bring wisdom." - Solon

In Wilmington, there are lots of learning opportunities. From UNCW, Cape Fear Community College, to museums, to cultural activities.

For outdoor lovers, you can also learn to surf, learn about Sea Turtles, or native vegetation in area parks (I love the Parolina Beach State Park).

The Ft Fisher aquarium is also a terrific place to learn.

If you would like to lear about real estate, please contact Coastwalk Real Estate in Wilmington, NC. Coastwalk Real Estate is an expert in Wilmington homes for sale, Wrightsville Beach Homes, Carolina Beach Real Estate and Kure Beach Real Estate.

You can find Wilmington homes for sale here, just click this link!

Coastwalk Real Estate

910-458-9119

Short sales occur when a homeowner owes more on their property than it currently can be sold for. Short sales require more work, and more time than that of a normal real estate sale, however they can provide a nice buying opportunity for the patient buyer.

There are short sales in Wilmington, and short sales in Wrightsville Beach available for purchase.

Here is a list of short sales in Wilmington, click here to see pictures and prices.

If you would like to learn more about short sales, please contact Coastwalk Real Estate at 910-458-9119, you may also visit their website at www.CoastwalkRealEstate.com to search for short sales.

Weekly Real Estate Market Report

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and a safe, healthy and prosperous New Years!
I’d also like to thank everyone for reading this column. I’m appreciative of your comments, suggestions and feedback. Please continue to do this, it’s very helpful. You can even do so via our BLOG at http://www.coastwalkrealestate.com/blog/

In the coming weeks I’ll be gathering cumulative sales data for 2011, and I’m excited to share this with you.

This week I want to share some interesting information I came across on the Redfin Real Estate Blog… As we move through the holidays and into winter, many would-be sellers will be holding off on listing their home, waiting for the spring "selling season" to put their home on the market. But if you're ready to sell your home now, is waiting until spring the best strategy? Not according to the data, it isn't.

Redfin (www.redfin.com) pulled a year's worth of data on three quarters of a million homes listed across the country and analyzed sales statistics by season. Here's what they found:

• Homes listed in winter are more likely to sell: 59.2% sell in winter vs. 53.1% sell in summer

• Homes listed in winter sell closest to their original price: a 2.7% drop from the final price in winter vs. a 5.2% drop from the final price in summer, worth more than $7,000 on a $300,000 home

Yes, you read that right, homes listed in the winter sell best according to this study by Redfin. Overall, homes listed in winter sell best. 5.8% more homes listed in winter eventually sell (compared to the overall percentage of homes listed throughout the year), and they sell 1.4 percentage points closer to their original list price than the median ---that's $4,900 on a $350,000 home.

Spring wins in one category: Speed. Homes listed in spring sell the fastest, sitting on the market for 15% less time than the median. Winter comes in second in this category though, at six percent below the median, while homes listed in summer and fall both sell slower than the median (12% and 16%, respectively).

If you want to sell your home, then this information may be eye-opening. We’re talking about thousands of dollars potentially in your pocket!!! I believe “inventory” plays a large role in these stats. In the off season, inventory is low, and while fewer buyers are actively shopping for homes, dwindling inventory reduces options. Reduced inventory plays to a seller’s advantage.

So as the data shows, there’s no time like right now to list a property. If you want to sell your home in 2012, let’s talk. Please call me today at 910-352-0998.

Thanks a ton, and Happy New Year!

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.
The Weekly Real Estate Market Report is a Paid Advertisement Compliments of Coastwalk Real Estate.

Dining at Wrightsville Beach

Here is a list of restaurants in Wrightsville Beach, NC. A great place to live, visit...and eat!

22 North

(910) 509-0177
22 North Lumina Avenue
Hours: Summer Hours: 11am - 2pm & 5pm - 2am
Type of Restaurant - Casual Dining
Meals Served - L, D, LN
Seating - Indoor
Type of cuisine - American

Bluewater Grill

(910) 256-8500
4 Marina Street
Hours: Mon. - Sun. 11am - 11pm
Type of Restaurant - Casual Dining
Meals Served - L, D
Seating - Indoor, outdoor, Intracoastal Waterway, non - smoking
Type of cuisine - Seafood

Located on the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway, Bluewater is three stories high with outside decks, offering the region's freshest seafood with a touch of Caribbean flair. Local favorites include coconut shrimp, jerk chicken and homemade salsas. Huge desserts finish off your dining experience.

Buddy's Crabhouse & Oyster Bar

(910) 256-8966
13 East Salisbury Street
Summer Hours: Mon. - Sun. 12pm - 2am
Winter Hours: Mon - Thurs. 3pm - Until, Fri. - Sun.  12pm - 2am
Type of Restaurant - Casual Dining
Meals Served - L, D, LN
Seating - Indoor
Type of cuisine - Seafood

A laid back atmosphere with a great jukebox, food and friends, so throw on your flip - flops and head on down to Buddy's. Don't leave without stopping into this Wrightsville Beach staple.

Café Del Mar

(910) 256-1001
6 North Lumina Avenue
Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7am - 7pm, Fri. - Sat. 7am - until, Sun. 7am - 6pm
Type of Restaurant - Cafes & Coffee Shops
Meals Served - L
Seating - Indoor, non - smoking
Type of cuisine - Deli

Offering locally roasted gourmet coffee, coffee shakers, smoothies, free wireless internet and lite food. The walls are covered with local art and photography. Nightly events include: acoustic jam, poetry slam, documentary film night, Kung Foo theatre, chess night, and drink specials.

Causeway Café

(910) 256-3730
114 Causeway Drive
Type of Restaurant - Casual Dining
Meals Served - B, L, D
Seating - Indoor
Type of cuisine - Southern

East @ The Blockade Runner

(910) 256-2251
275 Waynick Boulevard
Hours: Mon. - Sun. 6:30am - 10pm
Type of Restaurant - Hotel Restaurant
Meals Served - L, D
Seating - Indoor
Type of cuisine - Seafood

Whether you’re craving a romantic ocean front dinner for two or a quick lunch with your family, EAST restaurant will be just what you’re looking for. Savor your lunch in the warm glow of the sun on our oceanfront dining deck. Delight your taste buds with local seafood specials while watching the moonrise over the tides. With award-winning cuisine and the breath taking view of the beach and our ocean front gardens, EAST is sure to please at any time and for any occasion