Southport is one of the most beautiful and charming small towns in North Carolina.  During warm weather, visitors flock to Southport’s picturesque tree-lined streets to explore its many restaurants, shops, marina, yacht basin and historic attractions.

Hundreds of years ago, pirates and explorers visited the area.  Today, it’s convenient location, where the Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway, and Cape Fear River meet, is still very popular with mariners.

Ginger Harper with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty has been a Southport resident for 27 years and shares some of her favorite things to do there.  Photos courtesy of Jim Harper.

For more information, please visit www.seacoastrealty.com or become our fan on Facebook.

This week, state & local officials discussed plans for Wilmington’s growth at an economic and business development forum hosted by Coastal Carolina Tomorrow.

Growth strategies included expanding the film industry and arts scene, becoming more involved in historic preservation, and fostering year-round tourism.

What actions would you like state & local leaders to take toward the Wilmington area’s growth?

The New Hanover County town of Carolina Beach has a laid-back attitude, dozens of restaurants, and countless ways to enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty’s Greg Barber is a Carolina Beach resident. He shares some of the great things to do and see in Carolina Beach, NC.

If you’re in the market for a beach property without the hefty price tag, Greg says you’ll want to check out Carolina Beach.

For more information, please visit www.seacoastrealty.com or find us on Facebook.

Thinking of relocating, but you just aren’t sure? Why not take a “test drive”?

Pat Maloney with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty suggests three great ways that you can get a feel for areas like the NC coast before you make a commitment.

Why not rent a beach cottage during the off-season to get a feel for the area? Pat says it’s a great option, especially if you’re already retired.

If you aren’t retired, but want to test the waters, Pat suggests buying a “little something”, a small home that you’ll use for weekend getaways and family vacations. Then when you do retire, you can decide if moving to the coast is what you have in mind.

For those that are more daring, but still not ready to buy, Pat suggests moving somewhere and renting a home for no longer than 6 months.

With all the natural beauty and friendly folks on the Cape Fear Coast, you’ll be surprised how quickly you feel at home.

For more information, please visit www.seacoastrealty.com or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/seacoastrealty.

Normally, the winter months are a pretty slow time in the real estate business.  While the weather has been cold outside this year, the real estate market has been getting hotter and hotter. 

In January 2009, homebuyers toured Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty listings 2,757 times!  That’s a whopping 72% increase from the previous month.  The number of showings is expected to grow even more over the next few months.

Our real estate professionals say that there are lots of homebuyers hunting for homes earlier than usual this year, so that they can take advantage of the homebuyer tax credit before the April 30, 2010 deadline.  First-time homebuyers are eligible for an $8,000 tax credit.  Homeowners that have been in their current home for the last 5 years are also eligible for a $6,500 tax credit.  In addition, real estate agents say that there are lots of investors and folks looking for second homes out looking for great properties at a bargain price.

If you are considering selling your home, it’s smart to contact a Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty agent today.  Our real estate professionals in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, and Onslow counties will expertly market your home, so that it will get the attention it deserves and sell for the most money.

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty has been southeastern North Carolina’s top home seller for the last 10 years!  Find out more at www.seacoastrealty.com.

Wrightsville Beach is a changing growing population that can change and grow like the ebb and tide throughout the year.  Holidays are always a popular around Wrightsville.  You can always find folks shelling, walking, and fishing off Johnny’s pier year round.  But more than the beach and marinas, Wrightsville is great for year round living too.  There’s always NC Coastal beachfront property for sale, and property values have remained strong even through the downturn.  And if the beach front is not for you, there are beautiful communities away from the beach, where properties have southern charm or contemporary modern architecture.  Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty has a great online property search, and you can see those properties with a ColdWell Realtor at your convenience.

Johnny Mercer's Pier

Boiling Spring Lakes or BSL as nicknamed by local people, offers a 150 acre lake with more than 10 miles of shoreline. As one would think, its name is derived from a natural boiling water spring that pumps about 40 million gallons of hot water on a daily basis. Boiling Spring Lake real estate features many wooded homes with astonishing waterfront views. It is a part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Area and Brunswick County. If you are looking for waterfront properties you can also consider New River real estate. New River is famous for canoeing and is home to many similar tourist attractions.