Carve a Crystal Coast, North Carolina Pumpkin!

Happy Halloween from the Crystal Coast! Are you carving pumpkins today? Or simply want to decorate your Coastal Carolina home with seasonal decor? Below are some ideas for adding Halloween flair to homes in Atlantic Beach, Morehead City, Emerald Isle that you can keep around for the rest of fall— coastal pumpkins are the best!

When you're purchasing a home on the Crystal Coast, from the moment you begin your search for homes in North Carolina, your real estate agent will have the best insight into the area. Contact Gena Gilbert Real Estate today to discuss your options for buying your next Coastal Carolina home or selling your current home.

Gena Gilbert

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Latest Carteret County, NC Real Estate Market Stats

These  Crystal Coast real estate market stats from RealtyTrac should help give you an idea of the current conditions for buying homes in North Carolina.  Are you looking for more information on buying a home in Atlantic Beach, Morehead City, Emerald Isle or another community in our area? Contact Gena Gilbert Real Estate today to discuss your options for buying your next Coastal Carolina home or selling your current home.

Want more great real estate statistics, reports, and resources? Visit our website for free information on Crystal Coast real estate.

Gena Gilbert

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This Weekend on the Crystal Coast, NC

This weekend is a great time to enjoy our Coastal Carolina area! Be sure to get out to these events happening in Beaufort, Emerald Isle, Morehead City, Swansboro, and more. Where are you headed this weekend?

Friday Free Flicks
Friday, October 11, 2013; 7 PM
Emerald Isle Community Center, Emerald Isle NC
Movies are family oriented. Free and open to the public, with popcorn and drinks available for $1.00. Movie goers are encouraged to bring chairs and/or blankets.

Paint and Partake
Friday, October 11, 2013; 7 PM to 9:30 PM
Blu Sail Gallery, Morehead City NC
This fun-filled art and social experience will allow students to paint their own interpretation of the workshop inspiration painting. Students will follow easy step-by-step instruction and at the end of the evening, you will have your own original 16 x 20” painting read to hang on your wall! 

North Carolina Shrimp Tour
Through October 13, 2013; Tours last 3 to 3.25 hours
Beaufort NC
Taking place during "A Toast to the Coast Restaurant Week," this tour is limited to eight people and lasts approximately 3 to 3.25 hours. At the end of the tour, each couple will receive one pound of North Carolina Shrimp (8 oz. for individuals) packed for travel. The shrimp comes wrapped in authentic fish net from the original Net House in Beaufort. Known locally as the Seine House, the nets were made in Beaufort. So, participants get to take home a small piece of Beaufort’s maritime history. Cost for the Shrimp Tour is $65/per person.

A Toast to the Coast Restaurant Week
Through October 13, 2013
This exciting bi-annual event takes place all over beautiful Carteret County at over 20 fine dining establishments over a two week period. Last year's Restaurant Week was claimed a huge success with hundreds visiting the fine dining establishments on the Crystal Coast. 

Swansboro Mullet Festival
Saturday, October 12 through Sunday, October 13, 2013; 9 AM
Downtown Swansboro NC
This FREE event will feature over 100 craft vendors along with food vendors who will line the streets of downtown Swansboro, and of course the famous Rotary fish fry will give everyone something to enjoy. A number of activities will also take place throughout the weekend including the popular “Mullet Toss” and face painting.

Don't live in our great Coastal Carolina area yet? No problem! Contact Gena Gilbert Real Estate today to start your search for homes for sale in Emerald Isle, Atlantic Beach, Beaufort or another close community. 

Gena Gilbert

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Why You Need a Crystal Coast Real Estate Agent

If you've been contemplating putting your Coastal Carolina home on the market, now might be the time to enlist the help of your Crystal Coast real estate professional. A new season often brings new market changes and your agent will know how to navigate them for you— for instance, lower inventory, motivated sellers, and rising home values and prices. Below are some reasons you might like to hire a Crystal Coast real estate agent from Gena Gilbert Real Estate:

The Paperwork

According to KCM, "there are over 24 pages of contracts involved with buying or selling most homes" in North Carolina. The state does require most of this paperwork to be complete with or without a real estate agent. Don't want to handle this yourself? This is where your agent comes in.

The Process

There are policies, procedures, steps to take, research to do, and most of this is typically taken care of by a real estate company. Over 100 items to cross of your list when you're buying a home in Atlantic Beach, Morehead City, Emerald Isle or another area and you are in good hands when you choose Gena Gilbert Real Estate.

The Negotiations

Especially during this time of year, home sellers in North Carolina who didn't sell their homes during the busy summer buying season may be motivated and ready to move. Your real estate agent can help you negotiate the best deal on your dream home and in the shortest amount of time.

When you're purchasing a home on the Crystal Coast, from the moment you begin your search for homes in North Carolina, a real estate agent is a great person to have on your team. Contact Gena Gilbert Real Estate today to discuss your options for buying your next Coastal Carolina home or selling your current home.

Gena Gilbert

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Decorating Your Crystal Coast Home— Bring the Beach Indoors!

Living on the Crystal Coast, NC offers a great opportunity to bring that beloved beach style into your home. Jazz up your spaces by incorporating sandy elements, shells, summer beach photos and more to feel the sweet summer all year long— no matter the weather! Below are some great ideas for bring the beach indoors whether you're buying a home in Emerald Isle, Atlantic Beach, Beaufort or elsewhere— or simply sprucing up your beach properties before the new season rolls around.

Family Photo Op
Take a throw pillow and have a fun, family beach photo imprinted to remind you of the summer year round. How to? Just grab a photo, scan the image or map on transfer paper, and iron the image onto the fabric of your throw pillow. You can even have this done at a local copy center.

Bulletin Board Staples
Cover a bulletin board's cork with a map of your Crystal Coast area— attach a map of your neighborhood, city, or even state. Next up, attach photos from the beach, travel push pins, and other mementos from the summer or favorite places in the area. This creates a great focal point for Crystal Coast love!

In the Shower
On your shower curtain, attach sand dollars, shells, and starfish with cotton cording or rope. What better way to bring the beach indoors than in the shower?

Photo Boxes
Create a photo box by placing a photo inside a shadow box and fill the empty space with sand, shells, and trinkets from your favorite areas or summer specialities. This is a great way to peer into the summer, even if it is fall!

Coastal Carolina is a great place to live the good life and embrace the beach properties in the area— and Crystal Coast real estate, if you're ready to move! How do you bring the beach indoors to your homes in North Carolina?

Gena Gilbert

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What to Do This Weekend on the Crystal Coast, NC

It's almost fall and with a new season comes new events and new opportunities to explore the Crystal Coast, NC. Below are some events happening this weekend for you and your whole family to enjoy the areas of Beaufort, Morehead City, Emerald Isle, and more!

Paint and Partake
Friday, September 20, 2013; 7 PM to 9:30 PM
Blu Sail Gallery, 903 Arendell Street, Morehead City
Every Friday evening come join us for a fun filled art and social experience where students will paint their own interpretation of the workshop inspiration painting. Students will follow easy step-by-step instruction. At the end of the evening, you will have your own original 16 x 20” painting read to hang on your wall! BluSail provides the rest. Call 252-723-9516 to make a reservation.

Emerald Isle's 8th Annual Day4Kids
Saturday, September 21, 2013; 10 AM to 2 PM
Emerald Isle Community Center, Emerald Isle
This event, takes place on the 3rd Saturday of September and has been a huge success for the past 7 years. Day4Kids brings adults and children of all ages together for a FREE fun-filled day of vendors, activities, games, face painting and more!

Some of the attractions and activities this year include: An amazing basketball trick performance by Dexter “Loveboat” Williams, a book exchange with the Friends of Western Carteret Library, hotdogs and drinks, popcorn, cotton candy, inflatable rides, kids BINGO, face painting and balloon sculpting by Isabel the Clown. 

Cycling for the Coast at Bogue Beach
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach
NC Coastal Federation’s 3rd annual ride offers 20K, 40K, and 80K options.  For registration and details: visit nccoast.org.

Build a Boat in a Day
Saturday, September 21, 2013; 9 AM
Watercraft Center across from NC Maritime Museum; Beaufort
Each adult and child team uses the stitch-and-glue technique to assemble a prepared kit for a small flat-bottomed plywood boat suitable for rowing or paddling. The boat is 7’10” long, 32” wide and weighs about 40 pounds. By the end of the class each boat will be completed to a watertight condition and clear-coated with epoxy. Teams are limited to a maximum of 4 persons, at least one of whom must be an adult. The minimum age limit for this class is 8 years.

Oktoberfest on Middle Lane
Saturday, September 21, 2013; 2 PM to 6 PM
Middle Lane, Downtown Beaufort
Join the crew on Middle Lane in downtown Beaufort for a craft beer and street party. More than 40 breweries will be represented, with German food and wines, and live music! Limited tickets available for $40 at Clawson's Restaurant and Back Street Pub in Beaufort. All proceeds benefit Carteret General Hospital's new Cancer Center.

Gena Gilbert

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CyberStars Internatnional Summit XIII 9-9-2013

OH MY!  ALL THOSE "CYBERSTARS" IN ONE ROOM?

WHERE?  RESTON, VIRGINIA

WHEN?  SEPTEMBER, 2013

We began the day by celebrating as many of the lifetime achievements of our founder, Allen Hainge, as we could possibly squeeze into the limited time we were allowed.  God Bless you Allen.  You will always be with us in our hearts and wonderful memories.  "You Da Best!"

Our minds are now still whirling with SO much great information shared between our CyberStar family members about websites, social marketing, attracting business from websites, new world social media and creating the ultimate traffic web, using video powers, learning more about SEO and taking it to the next level and social media and online reputation and more and more and more terrific ideas and sharing with the top agents in the real estate business.  That is just a short summary of Day 1!  

No, Wynne did not just 'break out', she was given a huge honorable discharge!

September Checklist for Your Crystal Coast Home

It's now September! That means fall is coming, a new season, a new opportunity to spruce up your Crystal Coast home and perfect its appearance either for visitors, for curb appeal purposes, or to impress potential homebuyers looking to buy real estate in North Carolina. Here's what you can do this month to make sure your home on the Crystal Coast, NC is in tip top shape:

Proof and Weatherstrip Windows and Doors
The air does begin to smell and act differently in September— it's time you make sure your windows and doors are ready to take on the new season. Weatherstripping can be plastic, foam, felt, or metal and its job is to seal small gaps to lock moisture and cold air outside where they belong. "Lock around your doors and windows," advises MSN Real Estate. Is the weatherstripping torn or missing? This little flaw can end up costing you in the long run. If your windows and doors are older, replacing weatherstripping can really cut down on energy costs this fall.

Check Your Windows Again
Check your windows for weatherstripping, but also check them for cracks. If they are dirty or cracked, repair and clean them now in preparation for fall.

Check Gutters and Outdoor Collectors
Do a visual check to make sure your gutters are clear of debris. They may soon be doing double duty in the fall with extra rainstorms and falling leaves.

Keep Out Unwanted Pests
A great time to proof your home for pests is just before the fall begins. September is the time animals begin looking for new places to call home— make sure it's not your Crystal Coast home. Make sure there are no gaps under your garage door, outdoor vents and screens are sealed and in working order, and exterior doors are free of holes or cracks for little mice to slip through.

Clean Your Dryer Vent
This is one thing you should do every six months, but now is as great a time as ever. "Scoot your clothes dryer away from the wall, unplug it, and vacuum behind it," says MSN Real Estate. "Unhook the tube that leads to the vent and clear as much lint from the tube as you can. Grab a shop vacuum, go outside, and tackle the outside dryer vent as well."

Fall is a great time to update your Coastal Carolina home or begin your search for a new one, your dream home in our North Carolina area. Contact us today to discuss your options and plans for moving to a beach property or buying a house on the Crystal Coast— we're here to help!

Gena Gilbert

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LABOR DAY WEEKEND "AT THE BEACH" ON THE CRYSTAL COAST OF NC!

IT IS HERE!  LAST BIG HOLIDAY WEEKEND OF THE YEAR FOR THE BEACH GOERS!

The Seagulls are circling above!  They know those tidbits of food are coming their way!

But be careful!  They are know to drop a surprise or two on you also!

Lifeguards are getting in positions at Atlantic Beach ready to watch over and protect you!

PAY A VISIT TO THE NC AQUARIUM AT PINE KNOLL SHORES!

OPEN MONDAY 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.

LOGGERHEAD TURTLE HATCH-LINGS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THE WATER

Five miles west of Atlantic Beach on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. From NC 58, turn onto Pine Knoll Boulevard at the stoplight, Milepost 7; turn left onto Roosevelt Blvd. Signs along US 70 and NC 58 point the way.

GPS: 34°41’58″N, 76°49’46″W

Street address: 1 Roosevelt Blvd., Pine Knoll Shores, NC 28512

Phone: 252-247-4003; 800-832-3474

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

Murder Mystery Dinner @ N.C. Maritime Museum

Aug 30 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Ouch! @ Fort Macon State Park Visitor Center

Aug 30 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Cannon Firing at Fort Macon @ Fort Macon State Park

Aug 31 @ 10:30 am – 3:30 pm

Summer Concert Series – Carolina Beach Club (Beach, Top 40) @ Jaycee Park

Aug 31 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Ronnie McDowell in Concert @ The Morehead Center

Sep 1 @ 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm

MOST OF ALL HAVE FUN AND PLEASE LEAVE OUR BEAUTIFUL CRYSTAL COAST BEACHES CLEAN!