1445 South Moorings Drive

Beautiful, brick villa located in the Fairhaven community of Landfall now available.  With over $80,000 in upgrades, this courtyard home has all you could want and then some…mahogany built-in cabinets & coffered ceiling, stacked stone fireplace, natural gas heating, Wolf gas cooktop, floored walk-in attic space, and speakers throughout.  Located on the Nicklaus golf course, the exterior features fenced-in back yard, Koi pond, waterfalls, courtyard entrance with fountain, and outdoor gas grill. Three or four bedrooms, 3.5 baths of luxury and ready to live in.  For more information on this home click on the photo above or contact Landfall Realty at 800-227-8208.

Tags: listings, sales

Cape Fear Museum in Wilmington, NC

The museum, located in the heart of the historic district, is the oldest in North Carolina, and through interpretive displays, connects the history dots from local prehistoric archeological finds to the Civil War to the present.  In addition to the ongoing exhibits, ones that are running currently include the following:

CONSERVATION MATTERS  - Explore the art and science of artifact conservation. Discover what it is, who does it, and why it matters to museums. A selection of beautifully conserved furniture and other objects from the Museum’s permanent collection will be on display.  Running through September 6, 2010.
GOING TO THE MOVIES - Experience the history of a century of movie-going in the Lower Cape Fear region. Explore where people went to the movies. Discover how the theater experience has changed over the years. Watch some of the first films local residents may have seen. Running through September 6, 2010.
CAPE FEAR TREASURES : DRINK – Glimpse a selection of drinking vessels, as you explore treasures from Cape Fear Museum’s permanent collection. From 18th-century bottles to fancy teapots to modern-day souvenir mugs, discover objects that help tell the stories of liquid consumption through time.  Runs through March 31, 2010.

The museum also has lots going on for the younger folks so you probably want to check out their website and calendar for opportunities to keep the kids entertained and interested!  Call 910.798.4350 for more information.  Cape Fear Museum is located at 814 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28401 and you can log onto their website at www.capefearmuseum.com for details on these and many other exhibits and programs.  The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 5.  Have fun!

Tags: events

Whether you like your feet on dry land or enjoy dancing on the water during a ride down the river, the  celebrations in and around Landfall, NC abound for ringing in the New Year! 

Happy New Year!!

Island of Lights New Year’s Eve Countdown

A New Year’s Celebration will be held on December 31 beginning at 9PM at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Don’t miss the giant lighted beach ball being dropped at midnight followed by a spectacular fireworks demonstration.  This free family-friendly event will feature a DJ and dancing with refreshments available for purchase.  In an Island of Lights tradition, there will be a raffle, with the winner taking home the original artwork for the Christmas card and ornament.  Bring the family to the Boardwalk to join the festivities. For more information please visit the web site at www.islandoflights.org/newyears.html

 New Year’s Eve Celebration Cruise
Cruise into the new year aboard the Henrietta III Riverboat. The cruise along the Cape Fear River (which gets under way at 9PM on Thursday, December 31, 2009 and returns to dock at 12:30AM New Year’s Day) includes a heavy hors d’oeuvre buffet, entertainment, party favors and a champagne toast. Pre-paid Reservations Required. All ABC Permits. $80 per person. For more information call 910.343.1611 or 800.676.0162 or long onto their website at www.cfrboats.com.

Country Club of Landfall has a variety of festivities for members to attend including a Family Party (5-8PM), Formal Dining (6-10PM with reservations  required), and Fun in the Tavern with dancing to The Party Nuts (9PM-1AM). 

However, and wherever, you spend your New Year’s Eve , the Landfall Realty Team would like wish you a very Happy New Year and all the very best in 2010!

Tags: events, social

Wilmington, NC World's Largest Living Christmas Tree

The following list is but a smidgen of what’s happening in and around Landfall, NC. 

Winter Wonderland @ Mayfaire - a one-of-a-kind outdoor Winter Wonderland with realistic nightly snow cascading from the sky (every weekend til Christmas). Holiday Music and characters, drummers, Santa, carolers, snow fairies, snow wands and real Snow until Christmas Eve.

14h Annual Cape Fear Holiday Men’s Chorus
Cape Fear Chordsmen Barbershop Chorus augmented by men of good will and good voice join in this holiday concert benefiting The Salvation Army Christmas Fund. Email dharmasdad@msn.com or call 910.329.1512 for more information. 

Holiday Lighting of the Battleship
Part of historic downtown Wilmington’s annual holiday light celebration, the Battleship will be dressed in lights strung from the bow up to the masts and down to the stern. Enjoy nightly from dusk to 11:00pm. Free viewing from downtown Wilmington.

Breakfast with Santa
Parents, bring your kids to have breakfast with Santa at the Independence Mall, 3500  Oleander Drive.  Advanced tickets required.  Call 910.392.1776 for more information.

 Holiday Lights Tour
Take a festive tour through some of Wilmington’s best decorated neighborhoods on an authentically reproduced trolley. Music and narration included. $10 adults, $5 children, $25 for family 2 kids 2 adults. Departs at 6pm 7:30pm. Call 910.763.4483 for more information.

Kure Beach Christmas Fantasy Show
Come join the fun of singing, dancing and Characters Galore as we celebrate the holidays with the Christmas Fantasy Show. This event is free and open to the public but remember to dress warmly as it always snows at the show! Call 910.458.8216 for more information.

For all the details on these and many, many more, please go to www.cape-fear.nc.us/events and join us in Wilmington, NC  for all the fun and festivities of this holiday season!

Tags: events, social

Tags: events

In Landfall Realty’s recent community forum, I related the points made by Bob Seelert (outlined in Part 3 of this series) to the relationship between a good real estate sales agent and a client.  At Landfall Realty, we teach and recommend the following, which we believe leads to a successful relationship.

1) As an agent, be truthful.  Don’t tell a prospective customer what they want to hear  to get a listing.  Give a fair and objective evaluation of value based on what is occuring in the marketplace.

2) Set standards based on the new reality.  This can be painful, as the real estate economy is very different than it was 24 or 36 months ago.  Both agent and client must recognize this.  What a property was worth 3 years ago has no bearing on what it is worth today, nor does what one paid for it.   The new reality is that buyers (and there are buyers) are seeking the best value in the category of property being sought and there are a number of properties available in each cateogory.  Value, not emotion, governs.

3) Think long term, act short term.  This is key for a seller.  A seller should know what the bottom line acceptable sales price is before an offer is received.  Many offers expire or are withdrawn quickly.  No decision is in fact a decision.  The best time to debate an offer is not when you have 24 hours to make a decision.  If an offer does not meet one’s bottom line, counter at or near the bottom line.  If it meets or exceeds the bottom line, the decision, made after consulting your agent, is to accept or counter.  We have seen many deals fall through over a few thousannd dollars.  If the seller had thought long term, in many instances that difference in price would have had little if any lifestyle impact, and when property ultimately sold for less, the seller was unhappy.

4) Communicate within your team.  This means  to be certain that your agency’s team talks among themselves about your property, and that there is communication between you and your contact at the agency on a regular basis.  At Landfall Realty, each agent is a team member; we don’t advertise individually, as do most general agencies, and we readily show all company listings, not just those of the agent meeting with a customer.  We feel this best suits the customer needs.

5) Listen and learn from customers and peers.  We at Landfall Realty try to constantly learn from what our customers tell us.  I personally also use my extensive network of contacts through planned communities throughout the southeast to see what is selling, and what issues are important in the market place.  Our team meets weekly to discuss these trends, and to tweak our sales presentation.

We value what we  learn from our friends and customers, as we know continual improvement is critical to success in these difficult market conditions.   I encourage you to talk with us at any time with any ideas you may have as to how we can better serve the Landfall NC community.

Kenneth M. Kirkman, general manager

There are a multitude of reasons to love living the Landfall, NC life, and being so close to Wrightsville Beach is right up there, espcially this time of year!  November 27^th is the date for the start of the 26^th Annual Holiday Flotilla, a three day event that includes a myriad of events.  There’s a Tree Lighting Ceremony, Captain’s Meeting, and Flotilla Holiday Party hosted by the Blockade Runner and featuring Jim Quick & Coastline (a Wilmington, NC Blues, Soul, and R&B group).  On Saturday there’s the Festival in the Park with food, crafts, and entertainment for kids, along with celebrity guest Trot Nixon, long time major league baseball player.  The famous Parade of Boats is a vision of holiday excitement in their sometimes over-the-top decorations, and the fireworks that follow once the last ship has made it to safety are spectacular.  Sunday morning the Blockade Runner once again hosts the Awards Ceremony when one super creative and lucky entrant will win the grand prize of a 4-night stay at The Reefs Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. 

 The Flotilla truly is a “Spectacular  Light Show” on the waters of the Wrightsville Beach area and a once a year tradition you really have to see!  For more information on the schedule of events and associated costs for participation in the party and the parade, please visit their website at ncholidayflotilla.org and join the rest of us in Wilmington, NC for the season’s kick off event!!

Tags: events, festivals, social

Continuing my summary recap of Landfall Realty’s recent Real Estate Forum held at Landfall Country Club, I called attention to some of the points made by Bob Seelert in his book  “Start With the Answer.”  Loosely stated, some of those points are:

1) Get the truth on the table, don’t pretend.

2) Establish standards and expectations based on a new reality.

3) Think long term; act short term.

4) Communicate with members of your own team.

5) Listen to and learn from your customers and peers.

These points are,  I believe, valuable in running any business.  However, they have particular validity in establishing a relationship between a real estate agent and a real estate customer.  In my next blog, I will expand upon these point in the context of selling and buying property in Landfall, NC.

Kenneth M. Kirkman, general manager, Landfall Realty

Tags: sales

You don’t have to be a film buff , but, if you enjoy watching thought provoking material,  you do not want to miss this fabulous event  kicking off  on Wednesday, November 11.   Landfall, NC property owners and our friends and neighbors, as well as visitors from around the world, will get the chance to participate in a 4 day viewing of over 130 documentaries, features and shorts. Included in this mix is the recently released and Oscar buzz creating Precious.  Along with a  Hal Holbrook piece, some horror, and a few risqué movies you’ll find plenty of  films to choose from and all  worth your time and attention!  This creative exploration of independent films, held annually in our historic port city, has been named one of the “Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals” by Moviemaker Magazine.   Wilmington, NC, for those who might not be aware, is also one of the leading film production locations in the country and home to EUE Screen Gems Studios.  The Cucalorus Film Festival runs through Saturday November 14, 2009.  You can get updates on festival planning from director Dan Brawley by calling 910.343.5995 or log onto cucalorus.org for more information on events and ticket sales.

You and your children can also be a part of the festivities at the Children’s Museum of Wilmington, NC when the Cucalorus Film Festival presents KIDS-A-LORUS where there will be films for kids, by kids on Saturday, November 14.  Please call 910.254.3534 for more information.

Tags: events, festivals, social

We at Landfall Realty are excited about the creation of the Homebuyer Tax Credit enacted into law earlier this month.  The fact that the bill has been expanded to include other than first home purchasers is a huge bonus and may present a real opportunity for qualified purchasers! Now, existing homeowners are eligible for a $6,500 tax CREDIT upon purchase of a qualifying home if they have occupied their current home for 5 of the previous 8 years, and if their combined income is less than $225,000.  This credit is available in the year of closing (2009 or 2010).  The qualifying purchase contract must be executed prior to April 30, 2010, and  go to closing prior to July 1, 2010.  The maximum purchase price for the new home purchased is $800,000 with no exceptions.  For more information and a summary chart of the new tax credit (and the extented first home buyer credit as well)  please contact Landfall Realty at 910-256-6111.   Remember, a tax credit is far more valuable than a deduction, as it offsets tax dollars owed on a dollar for dollar basis.

Tags: sales