SHACKLEFORD ISLAND ON THE SOUTHERN OUTER BANKS OF NC

SHACKLEFORD ISLAND ON THE SOUTHERN OUTER BANKS OF NC
WALKING WITH WILD MUSTANGS ON THE CRYSTAL COAST OF NC

Saturday, January 30, 2010

TOTALLY RENOVATED SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HOME LISTED BELOW MARKET PRICE!

LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!
Totally renovated inside & out in 2006. Large Family Room Addition with Fireplace and Wet Bar. Family Room is Spacious and Comfortable with beautiful view of back yard and pool. 3 Large Bedrooms, 2 Full baths & 2 half baths, 2 car garage, Patios, In-Ground Pool.
Lot Front: 90; Lot Left: 226; Lot Back: 185; Lot Right: 203
Beautifully Landscaped Yard. Large area to store Boat or RV that is adjacent to Pool House. Close to shopping, restaurants, medical facilities, hospital, parks, Crystal Coast Beaches, boat ramps, water access, schools MCAS Cherry Point, NC and Camp LeJeune . WALK IN WITH EQUITY ALREADY ESTABLISHED!
Short Sale which offers the buyer lots of House at TREMENDOUS value. Sales Price subject to bank approval!
For more details click on: http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/mainmenu.cgi or Call Harold or Gena at 252-659-2368.

WHEN IT SNOWS AT THE BEACH

VERY STRANGE!
Further north of Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle, NC the east coast sees snow on the Atlantic Ocean beaches but here in North Carolina it is an oddity. These are photos I took of last year's snow. It was "here today and gone tomorrow". That is just the way we like it too. Everything pretty much closes down during the rare occurrence. Kids are out of school, businesses close and a day of rest for some and fun for others is announced.
CARTERET COUNTY REAL ESTATE REPORT:
Per the Carteret County Association of REALTOR MLS:
There are currently 1,503 single family residential and condominium properties on the market in Carteret County.
Prices range from $29,900 to $12,000,000.
Follow this link to see the page:Click to view listing(s)
This link will no longer be available after 3/1/2010.
RECIPE:
PINEAPPLE CHEESE BALL
2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese (softened)1 sm. can crushed pineapple (drained)1/4 c. bell pepper (chopped small)2 tbsp. chopped green onion1 tbsp. seasoned salt (Lawry's)Dash of tabascoDash of Worcestershire2 c. chopped pecans (save 1 to 1/2 c. for the rolling the ball in) Mix all ingredients and form into a ball, then roll in the remaining pecans and wrap in saran wrap and place in refrigerator over night before serving. Then ENJOY!

Friday, January 29, 2010

INDOOR YARD SALE BENEFITS BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

IT IS GREAT TO KNOW PEOPLE CARE & SHOW IT!
INDOOR YARD SALE! FEB 6, 8 A.M. - 12 P.M. BOYS & GIRLS CLUB, 3321 BRIDGES ST, MHC VENDOR SPACES ARE AVAILABLE FOR DETAILS CALL 726-6584 *** SPACES LIMITED! HURRY! All Proceeds Benefit The Sunshine Lady Boys & Girls Club
There are so many 'things' we don't need just lying around the house. Why not donate them to an organization like the Boys & Girls Club where you know the proceeds will be used for a good cause. I know, there are many, many organizations who can use your money and time but the Boys & Girls Clubs are volunteering valuable time and efforts to make positive changes in childrens' lives every day. It also cleans out spaces in and around your house and makes your 'space' free and less cluttered and attractive. Carteret and Craven Counties are fortunate to have staff and volunteers who give their time, money, sweat and tears to make the difference in the children who call Carteret County 'Home'. WEATHER: It looks like Carteret County and the Crystal Coast of NC are in for more cold weather. YUK! OMG! The weatherman is even talking about the 'S' WORD! However, every winter day that passes is another day closer to Spring and Summer and all there is to enjoy in the area. If it does snow, get your cameras out and hurry over to the beach. If you are very lucky, you might capture a picture before it melts! RECIPE: It is a shame NOT to share this delicious family recipe.
Grandmother Seymour’s Home-made Chocolate 8 layer cake & frosting FROSTING: Cook On Double Boiler 2 Cups of Sugar 1 Small can of Pet milk ¼ Cup Hershey Cocoa 1 Stick of Butter Pecans (chopped) CAKE: Regular Duncan Himes Butter Cake mix Flour Eggs Water DO NOT add vegetable oil as directed on box!!! Instead - Add: 1 stick melted butter 2 Tablespoons of real vanilla
It may or may not make the 'prettiest' cake (depending on the maker) but it sure make a delicious one!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

MEMORIES SO CHERISHED

ATLANTIC BEACH BRIDGE
If you are lucky aging is inevitable! One great thing about growing older is developing memories of our own that nobody can take away from us. The photo to the right is the old bridge that connected us from the main land in Morehead City, NC to the Island we so cherish today, Bogue Island. The lure of the ocean has been a fascination among people for centuries. I pray it will remain the same for centuries to come.
Riding across this bridge as a child created excitement for the pleasures waiting once we touched on the other side. The Atlantic ocean with its white, frothy waves rushing on to the beach meant jumping the waves and the challenge of catching the tiny little bait fish that evaded my waiting hands. I remember building my incredible sand castles with my shovel and bucket only to see it disappear without warning as the ocean reclaimed it treasure of sand. Finding a shell, especially in one piece, a shark's tooth or skate's abandoned egg sack (a mermaid's purse as it is commonly called locally) was a rewarding prize to take back home and share with friends and family. Little did I know then it was a fascination that would last an entire lifetime.
The first sounds and visions of the rides as we came over the bridge and got our first peek at 'The Circle' in Atlantic Beach was enough to make a kid go nuts with the sheer joy! Just thinking about the rides that lay ahead once we could finally talk our parents into just throwing the suitcases in the house and take us to enjoy them was over whelming.
And don't even mention the fishing piers! It mattered not what you caught. Pulling whatever it was up on your fishing line for what seemed to be 'miles' was awesome!
Now my children and grandchildren are creating their memories of 'The Beach' but theirs will be full of the view from the newer high rise bridge with the view of the Atlantic Ocean at the very top of the bridge enticing them even more to get to the Ocean. My memories live on and are still developing and will continue I hope for many years to come. Bogue Island consists of Atlantic Beach on the far East end, Pine Knoll Shores, Indian Beach, Salter Path and ending up with Emerald Isle on the West end. Once you see it and enjoy the many pleasures of nature and camaraderie from locals and returning visitors the Island offers it is difficult not to return.
REAL ESTATE REPORT:
Per the Carteret County Association of REALTORS MLS:
57 Residential Properties have 'SOLD*' since January 1, 2010 through January 24, 2010 at the time of the writing of this blog.
871 Residential Properties are currently on the market offered FOR SALE (number changes daily)
Prices range from a low of $57,000 to a high of $1,000.000 *SOLD = ACTUAL SALES PRICE
As of Janury 22, 2010 some Mortgage lenders are still quoting FIXED rates as low as 4.75%/ 30 years/0 points with good credit. Take advantage of these and other great programs while they last!
THE 8th ANNUAL CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL IN MOREHEAD CITY, NC
COMING SOON! February 5-9, 2010 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center!
The time is growing closer to welcome and enjoy the delightful indulgence of CHOCOLATE! CREAMY, SWEET, WHITE, DARK, SEMI-SWEET, DELICIOUS CHOCOLATE! Taste, devour and experience all kinds of decadent chocolates from around the world ALL in one area -Carteret County, NC! Treat yourself to a 'Chocolate Facial', 'Chocolate Mini-Massage' or 'Hand Massage' while being pampered to the hilt and served sparkling champagne and gourmet chocolates! Make your reservations now and enjoy a fabulous time at the beach before it is too late.
VIEW DETAILS GO TO: http://www.carolinachocolatefestival.com/
REMINDERS!
Feb 5th seems to be a popular date this year. The Fund Raising Event for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Crystal Coast, 'An Evening Wrapped in Chocolate' the night before the Annual Chocolate Festival starts the weekend of the CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL in Morehead City, Carteret County, NC 28557.
February 5th this year is also NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY FOR WOMEN! Go to the American Heart Association's link at http://www.goredforwomen.org/ for more details!
AND, February 5th is 'MY' birthday! It becomes more special to me each year as I grow older.
RECIPE:
The Secret is Out!
CRACKER BARREL’S HASHBROWN CASSEROLE 2 LBS FROZEN HASHBROWNS ½ CUP MELTED BUTTER 1 CAN CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP 1 PT. SOUR CREAM 1/2 CUP CHOPPED ONION 2 CUPS GRATED CHEDDER CHEESE 1 TSP SALT ¼ TSP PEPPER 2 CUPS CRUSHED CORN FLAKES ¼ CUP MELTED BUTTER DEFROST HASHBROWNS COMBINE NEXT 7 INGREDIENTS AND COMBINE WITH HASHBROWN PUT IN 3 QT CASSEROLE DISH SAUTEE’ CORNFLAKES IN BUTTER AND SPRINKLE ON TOP COVER AND BAKE AT 350 FOR 40 MINUTES

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE CRYSTAL COAST BEACHES OF NC

JANUARY WEATHER Like much of the rest of our country Carteret County has been dealing with very unusually cold temps. The normal average temperature for this area in January is in the mid 50's. Dealing with the 20's and wind chill factors in the teens is not something we are accustomed to and most of us don't like it! The attire is maybe a heavy sweater or light jacket for this time of year. Many individuals have been out purchasing hats, wool scarves, heavier gloves and toboggans which are items hopefully will not be used again for a very, very long time. TIP: It is a great time to go shell hunting while the beaches are so empty with sunbathers.

REAL ESTATE REPORT:

Carteret County Real Estate Update Year End 2009 For the 12 months rolling average ending in December 2009 vs. the previous 12 months, the average price in Carteret County area is down 13.0% according to MLS. The average price declined from $318,895 to $276,679, . At the end of December there were 1,753 active listings listed in the MLS representing a 18.8 month supply of homes based on 2009 sales. The good news is that for the first time since 2005, 3 of the last 4 months sales were ahead of the prior year sales for the same month. This allow us to have 7% fewer sales for 2009 as compared to 2008 which is a great improvement from the 20-25% reductions we have experienced since 2005.

How does North Carolina compare to foreclosure rates? Better than most!

http://ncrealtors1.blogspot.com/2010/01/nc-fares-better-than-most-in-year-end.html

LOCAL OFFER FOR FREE WEBSITE: Swann Island Signs and Graphics is offering two free websites or overhauls for nonprofit organizations 501 (c) (3) in Carteret, Craven, and Onslow counties. Applications are due March 1 and can be located at http://www.swannislandgraphics.com/ or 252-247-7446. RECIPE! If you live or have lived in the Southern States you are undoubtedly familiar with Grits. Some love Grits and some do not (they're not right). Grits are a wonderful item, made from stone ground corn and oh so warm to the tummy on a cold winter morning or night. One can eat Grits any time of the day. Many restaurants have Grits on the menu all during the day. BTW, if you were born and raised in the South you may have been fortunate enough to be served Grits from a very, very, very young age. For those of you who may not know a favorite way to fix Grits - ENJOY! GOOD OL' SOUTHERN STYLE GRITS: Boil 1.5 cups of water with salt and a little butter. (Use .5 cups milk and 1 cup of water and they are creamier!) Add 5 TBS of Grits. Reduce to a simmer; allow the Grits to soak up all the water and they are done. That's it. Want some RED EYE GRAVY to go with them? Fry salt cured country ham in cast iron pan, (you don't have to have the cast iron pan but there is just something about using your Grandmother's passed down cast iron pan that sure does make the gravy really, really good). Remove the ham when it's done then add coffee to the drippings and and simmer for several minutes. Whalah! RED EYE GRAVY! Great on grits and biscuits too. YUM YUM! ALLEN HAINGE CYBERSTAR(TM) SUMMIT IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA

I just returned from the most incredible learning and sharing real estate technology gathering I have ever attended!

I was very fortunate and honored to be invited by Allen Hainge to join the Allen Hainge CyberStars(TM) in 1997. This is the only group of ALL 'TECH' savy REALTORs(R) and vendors brought together by the vision of one man I have ever known. I have enjoyed the pleasure of receiving and sharing outstanding information about the use of technology. I stay on the cutting edge in my business such as multiple Internet uses and the ways to utilize my SEO in my profession as a licensed Real Estate Broker since 1994. My first and still primary website at http://www.genagilbertrealestate.com/ has been a work in progress since 1995. As we move into the world of marketing technology I enjoy the knowledge of fellow CyberStars 2.0(TM) while advancing my advertising and marketing tools such as this Blog, Cameras, Drip Programs, Stealth Sites, VA's and much more.

The following video was created by 'That Interview Guy', Michael Krisa:

http://realestateunplugged.com/exciting-news-about-cyberstars/

THIS IS A GREAT VIDEO AND HELPS TO EXPLAIN WHAT CYBERSTARS ARE ALL ABOUT! SHARING AND FAMILY!!!