Wilmington, NC Real Estate Blog

Funny how the name "Porters Neck" just outside of Wilmington, North Carolina, conjures up different images, thoughts or an area to different people. 

There is the "Porters Neck" area, Porters Neck Road, various small buisnesses ...Porters Neck Hardware, Porters Neck Post Office, Porters Neck Golf Course, and of course the "Porters Neck Plantation and Country Club" 

As a Realtor in this beautiful area of southeastern North Carolina, I have come to appreciate, notice and understand the true life style consumers and homeowners are looking for in this unique community of Porters Neck.  Whether the climate, a job transfer, change of pace, retirement, or the beckoning call of some of the most beautiful beaches on the east coast, Porters Neck Plantation is a wonderous place to call home!

I recently had the pleasure of representing a retiring couple from the Cincinnati, Ohio area in the purchase of their new dream home.  They had reshearched numerous areas, looked at many homes throughout the south, and had thought that this area would be the perfect spot.  A multitude of reasons why they chose Porters Neck and the Wilmington area is....well, it's Porters Neck Plantation.

A little history is in order, Porters Neck Plantation was founded in 1989, and is tucked away in the northern section of New Hanover county in Wilmington, NC, along the Intracoastal Waterway.  It offers it's residents  650 plus acres of lush beauty, soft ocean breezes, thousands upon thousands of wild azaleas bursting with vibrant colors.  AND, and some of the most beautiful homes and home sites in North Carolina, many of which have won numerous medals and awards for their excellence of design and construction.

Many of the residents came for the security of a planned gated community, or the highly rated Tom Fazio designed Par 72 golf course, or the private community boat ramp with access to the Atlantic Ocean, or walking trails with picnic areas, or for the tennis programs, or the exclusive equity membership features Porters Neck offers including sports, dining, golf, and swimming in the larger than life pools.  All sorts of indivualized membership programs are available....pick and choose just what suits your fancy.

Social events abound... you would be hard-pressed to find an activity that did not meet with your life style...that's it!!  Life style!....Want a perfect life style, a mild climate, amenties second to none, and a dream home to appreciate for years to come?  Well then it is all here in Porters Neck Plantation.

Dick Beals

I received this tip from Jack Peckham from The Cyberspace Society:

Want to know who's behind that blocked call? If you are an AT&T, T-Mobile,
or Verizon user you're in luck (other services will follow soon). This
system is based on military-level counterintelligence technology - but it's
easy as pie to use.

Once you set up your account, whenever you get a blocked call on your cell
phone just click the magic button and your called ID will light up with the
caller's information. Then you can make the decision to take the call or
trash it if you wish.

There is no software to install. The basic service is on the house and
there are some other interesting counter intelligence features available at
a modest cost. 

I like it.... and I don't like it.  I want to know, yet I think it is scary that folks can find this stuff out.  I usually do not answer blocked caller Id's, yet if I knew, I probably wouldn't answer anyway.  I'm amazed at what we are up to....kind of like the Jetsons, Dick Tracy, and The Twilight Zone all rolled into one.

What do you think?  Does the average person know too much, or spend too much time thinking up this stuff?

Dick Beals

A gorilla walks into a bar and says, "A scotch on the rocks, please." The gorilla hands the bartender a $10 bill.

The bartender thinks to himself, "This gorilla doesn't know the prices of drinks," and gives him 15 cents change.

The bartender says, "You know, we don't get too many gorillas in here."



The gorilla replies, "Well, at $9.85 a drink, I ain't coming back, either.

(This happens to me all the time)

Dick Beals

My sister-in-law, who was here for a weeks visit over spring break, liked our life style here in this part of Wilmington North Carolina.  So much they purchased a small second home just outside of Shallote in Brunswick County. 

Terri and her husband loved our southern life-style, and you can't blame them....cook outs, nice weather, nicer people, margaritas on the deck.  After a long day of searching for the perfect home, margaritas on the deck just seemed liked the perfect ending to our day. 

Terri enjoyed them so much, she thought that it should be considered a prescription for living here in the South....so here is to you Terri, and the rest of you ladies might want to jump on this band wagon as well.  She sent me this today after her first full day back at work.....

Important Women's Health Issue

Do you have feelings of inadequacy?

Do you suffer from shyness?

Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your

doctor or pharmacist about Margaritas.

Margaritas are the safe, natural way to feel better and

more confident about yourself and your actions.

Margaritas can help ease you out of your shyness and let

you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything

You will notice the benefits of Margaritas almost

immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles

that prevent you from living the life you want to live.

Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you

will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding

and start living, with Margaritas.

Margaritas may not be right for everyone. Women who are

pregnant or nursing should not use Margaritas. However, women who

wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side effects may include:

- Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration

- Erotic lustfulness

- Loss of motor control

- Loss of clothing

- Loss of money

- Loss of virginity

- Table dancing

- Headache

- Dehydration

- Dry mouth

- And a desire to sing Karaoke

Please share this with other women who may need Margaritas. Thank you.

Guys you may want to have a couple of beers while your honey is busy with her prescription!

Dick Beals

The title gives this new neighborhood away....Palm trees!  Plenty of them, from the richly appointed entrance way, continuing past the pool and clubhouse, to the entrance of the neighborhood "The Palms" 

Palms everywhere! 

 Now I'm not a great tree affectionate, or a lover of trees....but palm trees...yes!  There is something about palm trees that gives one a sense of calmness, warmth, and serenity of a far away tropical island.

Tropical island?  Think tropical colors, think warm tropical breezes, think gentle winds.  Sounds perfect doesn't it??  Well this neighborhood at "The Palms" may just be your answer to help gently ease those winter doldrums away, or for that matter,  many of life's uncertainties and problems.

Mallory Creek Plantation is just a short jaunt from downtown Wilmington, NC....about 5 miles over the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge on Route 74/76/17 to Leland, NC, then a left on to Route 133 heading towards Southport, NC.   Mallory Creek Plantation is another one of those communities that grew from the boon years of 2004 to 2005 here in the Wilmington market.  In fact"The Palms" helped, assisted and gave a hand to Leland becoming one of the fastest growing towns in the state, and Brunswick County becoming one of the 40th largest growing counties in the whole United States.   

The developers and builders definitely had  a unique vision with the homes in "The Palms"  Every home here has multiple palm trees in the yards.  

The builder of these fine homes is Craig Stevens of Wilmington, NC.

  Craig's many accomplishments, along with building great homes, is his sterling reputation,and he is a third generation builder.  It really does run in the family! 

Craig has held many positions in the community, and was a past president of the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association.  His credentials did not come easy....they were earned by building the best home for the money. 

One of those homes is our new listing at 104 Havana Court, and we are proud to present it, as it has been lovingly maintained by the original owner.  A military transfer dictates this move, and the sellers will surely miss this wonderful home and neighborhood.   

As you can see...palm trees, peaceful yellow pastel color, and when the lawn greens up....you will think your new home is in paradise. 

This wonderful home on a  cul de sac lot, features a large fenced yard and open floor plan!

Laminate and ceramic tile flooring's with carpet in bedrooms.

Eat in kitchen and formal dining room.

Cozy breakfast nook makes catching a snack fast and easy.

Over-sized terraced yard with pergola, full irrigation system, a relaxing screened porch to enjoy the warmer evenings, they are just a few of the nice features.  The house is bright and cheery, and has a walk in pantry and laundry area. 

The large attic is floored the full-width of house. Large master bedroom with walk in closet.  Garden tub in master with block glass and bead board surround, double sinks. Large living room with fireplace. Designer colors throughout the home, ready to move into. A new refrigerator is also included.  Low HOA monthly dues of $40 per month, pool, clubhouse, and side-walked community. Nice landscaping and of course many palms! 

All this for less than 190 thousand dollars!!  First time home-buyers would do well to check this out, use your $8000.00 tax credit, and start enjoying vacationing right here in your new home at Mallory Creek.

The Palms at Mallory Creek offers the smart, savvy buyer many reasons to choose this area....find out for yourself why so many homeowners are calling Mallory Creek in Leland, North Carolina home.

Dick Beals

LOOKING TO HIRE BUYER'S AGENT FOR REAL ESTATE TEAM IN WILMINGTON, NC

We receive more quality leads daily than we can handle and are looking for an aggressive buyer's agent to join our team. These buyers are looking to purchase in Wilmington, at the beaches and in Pender and Brunswick Counties.  This is a great problem to have wouldn't you say?    Many of these buyer's are ready to purchase, many need nurturing and constant communication.  Many require us to do research.

So why are we running this ad?  We need a NC Licensed, experienced REALTOR to work with us.   There are a lot of responsibilities that come with this position. 

First, you only get paid when you have a closing and that would be at a high split.  

You have to work  some long hours,  some weekends, and evenings many times. 

 You can't be afraid to call someone on the phone and you need to know how to take rejection and move on to the next prospect.  

You need to be friendly in managing your incoming and outgoing calls.

Computer experience is a MUST.

You need to know how to enter information into a data base and follow-up with people on a regular basis.   We are not looking to train a "newbie" unfortunately, although we have done that in the past and they have gone on to make  6 figure salaries.    

Real Estate today requires hard work.   Sales are not easy this year and probably won't be easy next year, but our lead generation system has thousands of clients needing your nurturing along with ours.  

Some of the other things we need assistance with are marketing,  prospecting, listing  and closing support and website maintenance.  We are looking for an energetic, positive individual to work with us, not for us. 

If you are interested and feel you are up to the task at hand, give us a call at 910-431-2572 or email us at rbeals2@ec.rr.com and oh by the way if you are wondering who we are, we are Dick and Sandy Beals of Wilmington Real Estate 4U.....

Dick Beals

Inflation, by its definition in "Websters Handy College Dictionary" is a noun, a condition in which the money in circulation is excessive for the commodities on sale or being used. 

Now I'm no scholar, or have an economic degree, or even understand the amount of money 787 billion dollars is.(are?)   Inflation probably was derived from the word inflate...I don't know....but maybe, and probably.  Inflate means to fill with air, swell, raise or expand, and it also means to exaggerate!  It also means overblown, grandiose, ostentatious, pompous, pretentious, verbose.  My favorite of those definitions is overblown....no wait, it's grandiose, I mean it's pompous, no I think it is definitely filled with air.  Hot air most likely!  Did anybody read or understand the 1200 pages of "The Plan"? 

I had to go to Websters to look up those meanings....where do politicians go to look up how to spend money?  They go back in history, and see what they did before them (I think) and if history proves them right, we will see.....

So now we have too much money, that we don't know what to do with (lets spend it)  So inflation will be coming at 'ya.    Hang on, it will be a wild ride for years to come!  You think this recession or depression is bad....Wait... this 787 billion will seem like chump change in a few years.  You know what they say...."Pay backs are a Bitch"  can I say that?

Dick Beals

Welcome to a  new listing that is a perfect fit for the parent and student (or students)  View the virtual tour here.  Perfect for the student, as it is in the sub-division of  Stones Throw (catchy name uh?) and a stones throw from the campus of UNCW, and within walking distance to shopping, coffee shops and pizza joints (college students live on pizza...trust me on that one)

904 Dolphin Court is also perfect for the parent.  Why? Do the numbers.  A student living on campus cost dear old Mom and Dad about $600 per month, along with food, entertainment, dates, and mad money.  Probably a conservative $1000 per month, plus the tuition...it is a huge expense to put a student through college these days.  Why not purchase this nice town-home, get 2 of your son's or daughter's friends to move in with them at $500 per month each, and share utilities and expenses? 

The cost of owning this town-home will be under $1000 per month, the kids students will be happier living off campus by themselves, and you will have a rental property in four years or a nice place to use while you are at the beach. Or maybe sell it at a profit when the son and daughter graduate.  Yes a profit!  Talk to your tax person or accountant to understand the tax benefits of owning this investment tax write-off.

Need financing?  Ever hear the term Kiddie-Condo-Loans? These are perfect for this!  AND if the stimulus package goes through, as expected, the time is NOW.  Don't wait!! homes will be selling, and in two or three years you do not want to be heard saying....

"I should have bought when the market was down"  "I should have listened to Dick and Sandy Beals from Wilmington Real Estate 4u!"

Dick Beals