Crystal Coast, North Carolina Home Updates for Summer

This summer, you'll likely be spending a lot of time enjoying the great outdoors on the Crystal Coast   From returning home after a day trip to the beach to relaxing on your deck or patio, your home in Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Morehead City, Havelock, Newport should be updated to reflect the season. You may already have everything on hand to give your outdoor spaces a spruce— so take some time this weekend to make your Coastal Carolina home your personal oasis.

The Patio
The summer is a time for bright colors and coastal prints, like waves and nautical stripes. Incorporate these into your Crystal Coast condo or vacation property or on your patio with throw pillows, linens and cushions made from outdoor fabrics. With a home on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina, you can bring the beach back with you— try filling glass jars with sand or seashells to display on outdoor dining tables or on a covered porch.

Outdoor Dining
If you're thinking of selling this summer, be aware that many homebuyers are now looking for outdoor living space, especially those in which they can entertain. You likely already have outdoor furniture, but consider moving it around to give the space a fresh feel. "Moving furniture around makes a small (and free!) change with a big payoff," says Coastal Living. Pull from other rooms, give indoor chairs a coat of paint and move them outdoors. When you rearrange, you'll see the space in a new light.

The Deck
Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Morehead City, Havelock, Newport are all poised for relaxing coastal living, especially during the summer months. Bring the relaxed vibe to your deck by painting the railings a calming shade of blue, green or fresh white. Arrange your beach finds in glass jars to display on ledges, bring in mirrors and beach-inspired paintings to make the space feel cozy. You can even update your current furniture by getting creative— "a hole cut into the seat of an old rattan or wooden chair makes the perfect stage for a flowerpot," Coastal Living adds.

Gena Gilbert Real Estate is here to help make your house a home, from beginning your journey as a homebuyer to selling your current property and finding a new oasis. Contact us today!

Gena Gilbert

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What to Do This Weekend on North Carolina's Crystal Coast

Looking to fill your weekend with fun activities while there's still summer sun to enjoy? This weekend on North Carolina's Crystal Coast is going to be a great one! From outdoor movies in Emerald Isle to a Pirate Invasion in Beaufort— get out and experience all that the Coastal Carolina area has to offer before fall rolls around!

Friday Free Flicks
Friday, August 9, 2013, 7 PM
Emerald Isle Community Center
7500 Emerald Drive

This event is FREE, open to the public, and family-oriented. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to enjoy the show with popcorn and drinks available for purchase at $1.00. To inquire about the movie showing, please call 252.354.6350.

Beaufort Pirate Invasion
Saturday, August 10, 2013, 1:30 PM
Beaufort Historic Site, Downtown Beaufort

At the Beaufort Historic Site in the center of downtown, an authentic Pirate Encampment will be active Friday evening and all day Saturday with real Brethren of the Sea and wenches of a fascinating variety. Dinner and grog will be served Friday and Saturday night by ticket. Saturday beginning at 1:30 PM, the Beaufort Pirate Invasion will begin! Starting with the Pirates Procession along the downtown waterfront to Pollock Street where, in 1747, the town militia met the long boat of Spanish pirate invaders set on pillaging the town. At 1:30 PM, cannons will be firing on the town, muskets on land will be countering, and the melee will begin! Following the Invasion, there will be a public trial and other occurrences appropriate to a Pirate Invasion, exactly as it was in 1747. The Beaufort Pirate Invasion is an event brought to you by the Beaufort Business Association.

Ahoy, Pirates!
Saturday, August 10, 2013, 11 AM to 3 PM
NC Maritime Museum, Beaufort

Another pirate event happening in Beaufort on Saturday! This series held by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources will highlight history, heritage, arts, and fun.

Summer Concert Series
Saturday, August 10, 2013, 7 PM to 8:30 PM
Jaycee Park, Morehead City 
807 Shepard Street

FREE and open to the public, this even tis part of the summer long concert series beginning Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. This week the theme is "Seaside Band."

Stay tuned to the blog for more happenings in our great Crystal Coast, NC area!

Gena Gilbert

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Crystal Coast Real Estate— Home Sales Rise to Highest in Five Years

Rising mortgage rates may be pressuring more North Carolina homebuyers into purchasing their piece of real estate now before further increases and home sales are showing the signs. According to Realtor Magazine, new-home sales have not been affected by the rising rates, but instead have risen to a 5-year high.

Are you looking to purchase a home on North Carolina's Crystal Coast? Have the rising mortgage rates and housing prices as of late forced you to question if now is the time to buy? It seems other buyers have spoken for you as new-home sales have soared through the housing recovery.

"The recent increase in mortgage rates hasn't slowed demand as long as home affordability remains high," Bob Walters, Chief Economist at Quicken Loans told Reuters. "We are, however, seeing an increased urgency from potential new homebuyers as they move to secure today's historically low rates."

It turns out, more and more buyers are returning to local real estate markets as housing inventory is slowly beginning to rise— following a long period of record lows— and housing prices continue to increase. With more bidders to move inventory quickly, buyers are urged to act fast to ensure they will snag their dream home.

So, don't let the rates scare you from purchasing your Crystal Coast home! Let us find you the right property in Emerald Isle, Atlantic Beach, Morehead City, Harker's Island, and more!

Gena Gilbert

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Preparing to Sell Your Crystal Coast Home

With recent studies suggesting the housing market has returned, consumer confidence is higher than ever, and more and more mortgage applications being filed, it's a great time to think about placing your North Carolina Crystal Coast home up for sale. The following tips can help you determine if you're ready to sell your home and if so, how to ensure buyer's they are getting the best possible deal on the local real estate market.

Are you ready?
This is the first question to ask yourself in the home selling process. You'll want to think about what you would want to see in the home if you were making the purchase. The goal is to show that your home looks attractive, maximizes space, and attracts buyers by making any necessary repairs, painting, or adding updates to give your home an edge.

When to Sell
The weather has a lot to do with when buyers search for homes and when they are more apt to buy. The Crystal Coast real estate market may be hotter in the summer when families have more free time to look at potential properties with children out of school and more properties tend to be on the market at this time. Home prices also tend to have more to do with demand patterns rather than the time of year— so with inventory higher in the summer months, home prices will reflect that.

Improving Value
Buyers often choose the least expensive home in the best neighborhood they can afford. They want the best deal and improving the value in your Atlantic Beach home can help them make the right decision. You'll want to show your home as the best in the area, a great deal while not over-improved. Cosmetic improvements are a great place to start: replacing windows, adding new coats of paint, and putting your time and energy into landscaping. These improvements are good investments that you can earn back with the sale of the home. Mechanical repairs to make sure all appliances and systems are in good, working condition are also required to get a top price.

The goal of preparing your North Carolina home for sale is to ensure it is competitive with other homes on the local real estate market. As buyers tour numerous homes on their search, you'll want yours to stand out as both a great deal and ideal property.

Gena Gilbert

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WATER FRONT REAL ESTATE ON THE CRYSTAL COAST OF NC

Here is a chance to own a magnificent home on deep water with a dock large enough to accommodate an 80' vessel and sit by your pool or lounge in your hot tub on a sunny summer day. Want to head out to Atlantic City, NJ or the Bahamas? No problem! You are less than a half mile to the ICW. This home is great for entertaining too. Located in Spooner's Creek, Morehead City, NC' Premier Water Front Subdivision, it is close to shopping, medical facilities, restaurants and the Crystal Coast Beaches. Asking Price? $1,499,000. Call NC COASTAL PROPERTIES Gena Gilbert Real Estate, Inc. and ask for Gena at 252-659-2367 today for more details and a private showing! TIPS ON CREATIVE LIGHTING! Challenged by low ceiling lighting needs? Low voltage track lighting can be a great solution - whether you are looking for stylish, decorative pendants or for functional light fixtures to highlight artwork or special items in your room. With high quality halogen or LED bulbs, you can create a great, energy-efficient (and cost-effective) look. On the Crystal Coast, stop in at Creative Lighting-Kitchen-Bath in Morehead City or visit our website: www.creativelkb.com THIS WEEK'S RECIPE! DELICIOUS CRAB MEAT DIP Four 8oz Packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese Place in large bowl – soften in the microwave ADD TO CREAM CHEESE: ¼ cup Miracle Whip Dressing 1/8 cup milk Garlic salt to taste Dash of Worcestershire Sauce Green tips of spring onion (Optional – horseradish to taste) Mix together until creamy with electric mixer Stir in 3 cans of Fancy Lump Crab meat (drained) Place in baking dish and cook 30-40 Minutes @ 350 degrees until brown and bubbly *NOTE: Can be frozen before cooking and bake when needed; can also put into individual containers for smaller portions AROUND THE CRYSTAL COAST Warm weather has finally arrived! Boaters are getting their boats ready for the Spring and Summer seasons for fishing and going to various Islands like 'Shack', Cape Lookout and Carrot Island. Last week and this week have been sunny, warm and gorgeous. Local restaurants have been able to open seating outside on the water to enjoy the sun and warm weather. Beach lovers are out and roaming the beaches from Atlantic Beach to Emerald Isle, NC. It is WONDERFUL!!! And it will only get better and better as the days get longer and the sun shines and the waves crash in the next several months to come. BEACH FEVER HAS ARRIVED!!!

EXECUTIVE CUSTOM-BUILT HOME NEAR NC BEACHES

421 HILLCREST DR, MOREHEAD CITY, NC 28557

GORGEOUS, CUSTOM-BUILT GOLF COURSE HOME WITH TOO MANY UPGRADES TO MENTION ON THIS SHORT BLOG. PRIVACY, NO NEIGHBORS IN BACK, ON LARGE CUL-DE-SAC LOT IN WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOOD! LESS THAN MINUTES AWAY FROM EMERALD ISLE, ATLANTIC BEACH AND BEAUFORT, NC

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS!

http://www.yourcoastalsalesteam.com/property.asp?id_property=81367