Coastal North Carolina Real Estate News

The Holidays are here, whether we like them or not. Sometimes it is  filled with friends, family , and get_togethers, and sometimes it is filled with anxiety and stress. This is a hurried time of year, and that can add to the stress. Everyone is in a hurry to shop, and try to fit everything in to their schedules. Traffic increases and time decreases. If you add into it the gift buying pressures, and baking, cooking, traveling, this can stir up anxiousness. Make sure to take time for yourself. Here are a few ideas to help you find joy during this(or any) time of year. Take a "time out", go for a walk, read a book, take a bubble bath, or treat yourself to something small that brightens up your day! Remember-we all have the same 24 hours in a day. Sticking to a schedule can help. Know that if you are stressed, there are others feeling that way too! So, during that rush hour traffic, or while waiting in line, try to remember that there are people dealing with their own issues(loss of a loved one, loss of jobs, divorce,empty- nesters, and not able to be with family). Check on distant loved ones, and neighbors who may be alone. Sometimes the best gift that you can give is something simple like an invite, or a dish of food, or even a hug or lending an ear. THIS is what the season should be about. Spread the CHEER!

 Happy Holidays!

We are so excited to see all of the local events happening this month!

We keep hearing of "secret" neighborhoods that have magical lighting that goes over the top(Think Clark Griswald), and hay rides on farms with lights, pictures with Santa, and cookies and warm cider or cocoa. There are flotillas to attend. So exciting!

 There are tree lighting ceremonies, and even a new ice skating rink in Mayfaire (read about it here>)

 . What are you most looking forward to?

What puts you in the holiday spirit? Is it baking, or visiting someone who does the baking?Writing Santa a note and putting out cookies and milk?(Santa always requested wine and a cheese plate at our house) If these sound familiar, check out these awesome cookie recipes(Santa might trade in his very specific brand of zinfandel for some of these and a big cold cup of milk!)

This area is known for being pet friendly, and our fur babies love getting in on the fun, here are a few things to check out while you snuggle with your pooch or kitty

If you are thinking about moving here, or know someone who may be, please send them our way. We would love to help them find a home in this area. Our TEAM at Realist Homes wishes you and your family a HAPPY and SAFE Holiday!

Wishing you lots of TREATS today! Check out some of the SWEET deals that we have going on!! Remember, for all of your Real Estate Needs, we are here to help! https://www.realisthomes.com/

What time did the man go to the dentist? Tooth hurt-y. Yep! That's the kind of jokes that i have to hear from my dad. That may be why we make reservations for Mother's Day, and we make side dishes for Father's  Day(so we don't have to hear the bad jokes in public).

We so easily plan a cookout, and everyone contributes something. We fight over which person makes Dad's favorite dishes...and he probably tells each one of us that it was his favorite.  He casually mentions how he cut the grass, or planted a new tree or bush, fishing for compliments. He takes over the grill, and dishes out advice, alongside the steaks,and seasons it with dated music, but he is is happiest just having a part of you there. So what is the one dish that you would make that would be praise-worthy for this special day? Is it spicy or sweet? Is it a family recipe or a new dish? Did you enter our Father's Day giveaway? Simply like, comment and SHARE our Realist Homes Facebook page to enter for a chance to win a gourmet gift. Have a happy Father's Day!

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Memorial Day is celebrated in America as a way of remembering and honoring those who have died in the line of duty.Sometime during the late Civil War, friends and family started decorating the graves of loved ones that died in battle. Originally, Memorial Day was called Decoration Day. This tradition has continued over time  and other groups have helped to honor all those that have fought in battles. So take a moment during your long weekend of bbq-ing and remember that it is much more than an extra day off, it is taking the time to  REMEMBER those that gave their lives , and to appreciate Service men and women of the past who fought with everything so that we could have the FREEDOM that we have today!Have a SAFE holiday from all of us at REALIST HOMES!

 Did you know???

The official fruit of the State of North Carolina is the Scuppernong grape.

The official red berry of the State is the strawberry.The official blue berry of the State is the blueberry.

These berries are ripe for the pickin'! You don't have to look too hard to find a "pick your own" sign, or see a roadside fruit stand or Farmer's Market. We are lucky to live in an area that  supports local, saving us money, and our farmers shipping and storage fees.Add that the local restaurants love supporting local foods bringing true Farm to Table and Ocean to Table goodness and it pretty much makes this an even more incredible place. You can see berries making their way onto menus all over. Strawberry compote on cornbread, strawberry -jalapeno wings, blueberry spinach salad, blueberry balsamic drizzle on grilled chicken, not to mention in cocktails(blueberry mojito, sangria, strawberry basil martini, or just adding to lemonade or iced tea), and hearing recipes talked about in stores(strawberry hand pies, cobblers, brown betty's, buckles and crisps.) What is your favorite recipe? How do you eat your shortcake?With cool whip?whipped topping? ice cream? or milk and sugar?We love hearing about the memories(and smiles) that these bring. Hope this inspires you to grab some and make something delicious!

Summer is hot ,and so is the  Real Estate Market! Summer is a great time to sell, and with tourists coming in, and kids out of school soon, there will be a lot of home buyers looking to buy! What great features of your home can get the attention of Buyers? Do you have a great yard? An incredible porch that screams RELAXATION!!? Do you have a great BBQ area? Focus on those areas and show them off! Highlight outdoor living space that will be great for entertaining! Stage the porch or back yard, so that people can see all of the great potential and extra living space.The Realtor can also feature these in pictures, when listing.

Keep the home cool.Make sure that the air conditioning is on, and performing efficiently, during showings.

If you do not have central air, consider installing window units or at the very least, have floor fans throughout the home. Keep lights off and blinds drawn during hotter periods.

Stage the home to reflect summer. This means eliminating seasonal decor. No Christmas or holidays past decorations. This will also show in the pictures, possibly making buyers think that it has been on the market for a while, and causing lower offers. Make sure to also eliminate heavy scents like cinnamon and  warmer scents throughout the home, and opt for lighter, clean , fresh scents.Remove excess pillows and throw blankets that would give a heavy, dark, wintry look to the house.

Don't leave garbage inside or outside that tends to stink more , the hotter the weather gets.

Price the home correctly, when first listing. You may be wanting to "test the market", and list higher than a Realtor recommends, but the longer it sits without offers, the better the chances, that when an offer comes in, it will be low, because buyers will think that something is wrong with it, because it hasn't sold fast.

Hire a FULL TIME Realtor that knows the area, and will be someone that  is an Agent people coming in from out of town will contact to show them properties.  The professional and experienced Agents will also  make sure that the buyers  are prepared and qualified to purchase, not just looky-loos who want to go see homes out of curiosity, only causing aggravation, because they are unable to purchase.

These are a few helpful hints. Contact Realist Homes if you are ready or thinking about listing your home. We can help answer any questions that you may have and get your house SOLD!

What a perfect time of year for Mother's Day.... all the flowers are in bloom. Bright colors everywhere. The temperatures are warm, but not too hot yet. Great time of year to get Mom some beautiful flowers or plants. Some people are just going for walks or drives to take in the sights.Restaurants are packed with those taking mom to her favorite place, or just giving her a break from cooking for us. Some people are not able to be with their moms, whether  they are too far away or no longer with us. Please take time to still soak in the surroundings all around you and notice the beauty that we sometimes take for granted. See that bluebird? Hear the chirps of the birds? The buds blooming?  Look at those gorgeous waves of the ocean.Are you thinking of maybe making a recipe that she made? What a great way to honor her. We hope that no matter where you are, and no matter how you celebrate today, you find something that brings a smile to your face, and a cherished memory to mind.

My newest obsession is food trucks! Have you been to any of these amazing little restaurants on wheels? They are popping up everywhere! This past weekend  our area had a food truck "rodeo" ,where a bunch of food trucks gather and you can try all kinds of different foods, from appetizers to desserts and anything and everything in between.There are food trucks that specialize in breakfasts and brunch, foods that i have not tried (yet), but what a perfect opportunity to share a small amount to see if you like, to all out seafood dinners. There are even food truck battles over the best BBQ!They are also an opportunity for people to start new restaurants, or restaurants to get word out to bring people to their restaurants. I have been wanting to try quite a few of them (Arepas, anyone?)  Where have you found your favorite food truck?  A concert venue? A park? The beach? What did you have? We would love to hear about these places and be able to share tried and true word of mouth places that you recommend! Loving the Locals!