As agents working in the Wilmington NC Real Estate market, we are fortunate to enjoy what is probably the nicest and best equipped office in the area in which we meet clients and work hard to ensure success for those who have hired us.  Being surrounded by the great attitudes of the agents and support from staff and management, is the icing on the cake. 

Our team recently had the opportunity to move our office to another part of the building and I had to consider whether this would be a worthwhile move.  It is a bit of a hassle to move files, computers, printers, etc.  As a Team, we all agreed-a little change is always good.  So, we made the move and it turns out it was indeed a good decision. A little change always brings about some level of creativity and awareness.  Keep that in mind when you find your self getting used to a routine.  Just because it works, it does not mean you can't change it up for some  poitive benefits.  With that, I will leave you with a with a wish for success this week and your morning coffee:

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"There isn't a person anywhere who isn't capable of doing more than he thinks he can."

~ Henry Ford

LISTEN!

Ever notice how difficult it is to break out of your routine to take time just for you? Yet, when you do, you experience a sense of refreshment. You're more observant, more aware of your surroundings - if only for a short time.

Those brief periods are when the mind is most receptive to creative thinking. The sub-conscious, with its defensive barriers temporarily lowered, is more likely to receive and accept new ideas. Use that time wisely by letting go, giving yourself permission to dream new dreams, to reach for the "brass ring."

You don't have to analyze or give form to those dreams - just allow them to occur. When an idea begins to grab you and arouses inner excitement, pay attention. Avoid letting your conscious mind scoff at the value of your idea or throw roadblocks in your way. Listen to your quiet inner voice. Allow what Napoleon Hill describes as "infinite intelligence" to speak to you.

Read Henry Ford's quote again and concentrate on the last seven words, "doing more than he thinks he can." It's what your conscious self "thinks you can do" that is so limiting. Remember the expression "Think you can, think you can't - either way you're right"? Whatever your conscious self thinks is the limit to your doing - IS the limit. To exceed the limits you have placed upon yourself requires expanded thinking.

To get started, find your own quiet place - and go there for just fifteen minutes each day. In good weather, sit outside at dawn with a fresh cup of coffee. If you're a night person, find a quiet corner after the house is settled for the evening. Let the family know you want 15 uninterrupted minutes - just for you. Close your eyes and begin by clearing your mind of trivia - like wiping off a blackboard - then just let go. You'll be amazed at the results.

 

Wilmington NC Real Estate Sales - Chris Baynes REALTOR Chris Baynes and Associates is one of the areas most successful Realtor Teams.  We specialize in helping buyers and sellers with real estate services in the greater Wilmington NC area including Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Castle Hayne, Hampstead, Leland, Belville, New Hanover County, Brunswick County and Pender County, and all Wilmington NC Real Estate.  (910) 470-4408

I try to use daily opportunities to educate my 6 year old daughter on the ways of the lessons of life.  It's pretty easy to find a lot of good examples of lessons almost everywhere we go.  What I find amazing though,  is how much she is teaching me! 

Please enjoy this week's Morning Coffee!

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

A Native American elder once described his own inner struggles in this manner: "Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time." When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment and replied, "The one I feed the most."

HAS THE DOG BEEN FED?

When was the last time you had a vivid, golly-gee-wow, gotta-do-it-now type of dream - a dream that made you come alive at the very thought of it? Did you put a plan in motion to achieve that dream?

OK - forget about the dream for a moment. What about the rest of your life? Do you know where you're going and which principles you've adopted to get you there?

Sometimes dreams and plans fail to mature into reality by neglect. The good dog isn't fed properly, becomes weak and tentative, and eventually loses out to the mean dog - the one that is all too happy to fill our life with meaningless trivia.

The good dog we're discussing here is your personal constitution, that quiet inner voice that directs your life in the right direction. It's the part of you that thrives on hope, knowledge, service to others, perseverance, honesty, commitment and many other worthy principles. It's the "you" that knows you can make the world a better place for all, and sets out to accomplish the task.

The mean dog thrives on fear, deceit, worry, irresponsibility, and ignorance. This ugly dog can flourish and take over by simply filling the void left when the good dog is too weak to eat. Surely you've seen this dog face-to-face. He sometimes appears as a "friend" who douses your latest brainstorm with cold water, or encourages you to shade the truth a bit to make the deal work.

So how do you feed and encourage the good dog? Inspiration and knowledge are excellent ingredients to build strong hopes and sound dreams. Inspiration is available in many forms ranging from personal relationships with those we admire and trust to biographies of others who have succeeded in spite of the odds. Incidentally, you can easily starve the mean dog by avoiding negative relationships altogether.

Increased knowledge builds skill levels and ultimately confidence and self-esteem. It is difficult to feel vulnerable and defensive when you have all the facts. Knowledge combined with inspiration strengthens principles already adopted, and may introduce you to new ones. Remember, the mean dog thrives on ignorance and fear, both of which can rob your constitution blind.

 

Wilmington NC Real Estate Sales - Chris Baynes REALTOR Chris Baynes and Associates is one of the areas most successful Realtor Teams.  We specialize in helping buyers and sellers with real estate services in the greater Wilmington NC area including Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Castle Hayne, Hampstead, Leland, Belville, New Hanover County, Brunswick County and Pender County, and all Wilmington NC Real Estate.  (910) 470-4408

Often I am helping or advising folks here in the Wilmington NC Real Estate market area.  A surprising number of them are upside down in their homes and are facing the need to sell due to hardships.  It is very difficult for these folks and though "short sales" or "Deeds In Lieu" of Foreclosure are usually better than foreclosures, credit wise, it is still quite a hit to their credit and ability to purchase a home in the future.  I saw this article and thought I would share it.  Looks like Fannie Mae also realizes bad things happens to good people and is making some policy changes to keep the wait to buying a new home more reasonable and less of a credit "prison".  Here's the story:

Daily Real Estate News  |  April 26, 2010  |   Share Fannie Adds Incentive to Avoid Foreclosure
Beginning in July, Fannie Mae will allow financially troubled home owners to complete a “deed in lieu of foreclosure” or a short sale and be eligible to apply for a new Fannie-backed mortgage in two years.

Currently, borrowers who have completed a deed-in-lieu must wait four years to apply for a loan that Fannie will purchase. Home buyers who go through foreclosure must wait five years.

All these waiting periods can be reduced further, if the potential buyer can show extenuating circumstances. "We are beginning to think about post-recession, how you address borrowers who became unemployed through no fault of their own ... and now deserve the right to re-enter the housing-finance system," said Federal Housing Association Commissioner David Stevens.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Nick Timiraos (04/26/2010)

 Wilmington NC Real Estate Sales - Chris Baynes REALTOR Chris Baynes and Associates is one of the areas most successful Realtor Teams.  We specialize in helping buyers and sellers with real estate services in the greater Wilmington NC area including Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Castle Hayne, Hampstead, Leland, Belville, New Hanover County, Brunswick County and Pender County, and all Wilmington NC Real Estate.  (910) 470-4408

One of the things I enjoy about being involved in real estate, in Wilmington NC, is the exposure to so many different people and the lifestyles and interests they enjoy.  I have always been open to learning about the thoughts, ideas and actions that make people the complex creatures we are.  One of the great neighborhoods we have here is Landfall.  I have outlined the exclusive community below along with some interesting facts! 

Landfall - Wilmington NC

Landfall is a sprawling 2200 acre limited access community located along the coast in Wilmington NC.  Just across the intracoastal waterway from beautiful Wrightsville Beach, Landfall features over 2000 exclusive homes and homesites, 2 championship (Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus designed) golf courses with pro shops, 2 clubhouses, 14 tennis courts, executive fitness center, olympic swimming pool, 30 lakes, 300 acres of conservation area, walking trails, private security, 4.5 miles of waterway, and much more.

Landfall residents and families come from all over the world to enjoy the peace and pleasures of Wilmington NC and coastal North Carolina.  The diverse backgrounds and interests of the residents add to the richness of the community. 

Wilmington NC is rich in history and and culture.  The Cape Fear riverfront is one of the nation's oldest and best known ports and the local white sand beaches are some of the finest in the country.  Contact us for complete Landfall information!

Landfall Homes For Sale

Wilmington NC Homes For Sale

Wilmington NC Real Estate Sales - Chris Baynes REALTOR Chris Baynes and Associates is one of the areas most successful Realtor Teams.  We specialize in helping buyers and sellers with real estate services in the greater Wilmington NC area including Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Castle Hayne, Hampstead, Leland, Belville, New Hanover County, Brunswick County and Pender County, and all Wilmington NC Real Estate.  (910) 470-4408

3052 Weatherby Court in Wilmington NC is an outstanding example of easy and low maintenance living.  With large bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, its features are noteworthy.

This wonderful home is move-in ready & offers a blend of desirable features. Enjoy easy living with the open & inviting floor plan and gorgeous water front view. You'll love the new carpet, vaulted ceilings, huge great room, cozy fireplace & solid red oak flooring. Relax on the peaceful screened porch overlooking the pond, fountain and beautifully landscaped backyard including Azaleas, Camellias & flowering perennials. Upgrades galore include new roof, HVAC system, windows, kitchen appliances, water softener, lighting, ceiling fans, bathroom fixtures & countertops. Other highlights are the extra-large bedrooms, walk-in closet, oversized 2-car garage with utility sink, washer/dryer & front yard irrigation.

Neighborhood walking trails provide access to the NorthChase pool & tennis courts. Winchester II is a well-maintained community that provides complete lawn care. This home is pre-inspected, wired for a generator & backed by an AHS One-Year Home Warranty & transferable Termite Bond.

A short drive to Wrightsville Beach and historic downtown Wilmington make this property a first class consideration.

Wilmington NC Real Estate Sales - Chris Baynes REALTOR Chris Baynes and Associates is one of the areas most successful Realtor Teams.  We specialize in helping buyers and sellers with real estate services in the greater Wilmington NC area including Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Castle Hayne, Hampstead, Leland, Belville, New Hanover County, Brunswick County and Pender County, and all Wilmington NC Real Estate.  (910) 470-4408

Many folks (myself included) like to start a new endeavor by gathering information.  I will usually start with the internet.  This allows me to get enough of my facts together so I don't sound like an idiot when I actually speak to people about the subject!   

Eventually, armed with my "internet education" on the subject, I will consult with friends or aquaintences and then eventually professionals that can steer me in the right direction.  Perhaps I will even need to hire someone to assist me in getting (whatever it is I am hoping to accomplish) started and/ or completed.

The problem is, often I find the information is not quite right nor is it always the same in various parts of the country from which the information was originated.  National statistics or data can skew my perception of what the trends are in my area. This holds especially true for Wilmington NC Real Estate. 

All real estate markets are local in nature.  We can see that here in Wilmington NC where value trends, client needs, employment opportunities, and recreation are very different than nearby markets like Jacksonville, NC or Charlotte, NC.

Hiring a good local agent is the best advice when it comes to finding the right property for you.  When shopping for real estate, we all want to find the property we are looking for, greatly shorten the learning curve about the area, reduce risk, whatch out for pitfalls, and save money.  Driving around in a car, wasting gas and calling every listing agent on the signs can help you get familiar with the area, but it is not an efficient use of time or money.

If you commit to hiring an experienced Buyer's Agent, that agent will commit thier time and valuable resources to you so that you find the right area and home while working efficently, safely, economically, and with a greatly reduced risk of purchasing a problem home. Most of the time, you need not compensate that agent as the listing agents generally provide a commission to the Buyers Agent. That is pretty much a no brainer.

Now, if I could just find an auto mechanic that does not directly charge me for the work he does...

Wilmington NC Real Estate Sales - Chris Baynes REALTOR Chris Baynes and Associates is one of the areas most successful Realtor Teams.  We specialize in helping buyers and sellers with real estate services in the greater Wilmington NC area including Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Castle Hayne, Hampstead, Leland, Belville, New Hanover County, Brunswick County and Pender County.  (910) 470-4408

The Wilmington NC Real Estate market is picking up due to many reasons--one of which is the tax credit(s) being offered. I found a good article on some facts concerning the home buyer tax credit and thought I would share. This is from www.Realtor.org ...

Daily Real Estate News  |  January 22, 2010  | 

6 Surprising Facts About the Buyer Tax Credit
The homebuyer tax credit is not as simple or straightforward as you might think. Here are some nuances that will affect homebuyers who plan to use it.

• To qualify for the move-up tax credit, a home owner must have occupied the same principal residence for five of the last eight years consecutively.
• Buyers can elect to claim the credit on either their 2009 or their 2010 tax return, whichever is best for them.
• Buyers who claim the credit in 2009 can’t file electronically because the Internal Revenue Service hasn’t put the required forms on line. The wait for a refund is three or four months.
• The home can be a mobile home or travel trailer that is fixed to land owned or leased by the home owner. A mobile home or travel trailer that is actually mobile doesn’t qualify.
• The home can’t be purchased from a close relative, including a parent, spouse, child, grandparent or grandchild.
• A buyer who earns no taxable income or doesn’t owe any federal income tax can qualify for the tax credit and file a tax return just to claim it.

Source: Bankrate.com, Marcie Geffner (01/21/2010)

The spring buying season in Wilmington, NC is coming early this year.  Buyers are already hitting the streets and websites looking for homes as the deadline for the two Home Buyer Tax Credits looms on the horizon.

"I expect the buying season will be moved up," says Jim Gillespie, CEO of Coldwell Banker. Sales "are going to take off in February and March and really take off in April. ... My concern is that the move-up buyer hasn't thought what they need to do. Their window is really short. They have to coordinate closing dates."

There is risk in waiting until the last minute to contract on a property.  Inspections may turn up problems that cannot be overcome resulting in a terminated contract and then they buyer is past the tax credit deadline.  Additionally, the average time needed to close is now 45 days though some lenders can close it faster.  A good local lender like Alpha Mortage can speed up the process if the buyers have thier documents in order.

Many websites like www.HomeSearchWilmington.com offer home buyers acces to the Wilmington MLS system to search for properties.  Once they set up the search criteria, they will be notified of any new properties that hit the market right away.  This helps them locate the very best properties first.  Other websites like www.WilmingtonAreaProperties.com can provide additional local Wilmington NC information.

Existing home sales were up 7.4% and are due in large part to the rush last year of home buyers wanting to take advantage of the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.

Here is a link to the National Association of Realtors' chief economist Lawrence Yun and his thoughts on this:

Although there may be some more slight adjustments in pricing before appreciation is evident, the excellent interest rates and affordability of homes will greatly offset any minor adjustments down in pricing.  We are very conservative when it comes to advising our clients but we feel this is truly a great time to purchase residential properties in the Wilmington NC area for personal use or investments. Wilmington NC real estate information is available on this website or feel free to call us for more specific data.