Many hardworking North Carolina families don’t earn enough to afford an average-priced home in their community.  Real estate professionals with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty recently earned the North Carolina Workforce Housing Specialist certification and learned about programs that can help teachers, firefighters, nurses, and other service workers in our community achieve the dream of home ownership. 

Brett Adams, Cathi Anderson, Carolyn Dunwell, Paul Dunwell, Tom Gale, and Amy Whetsel from Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty’s Wilmington office earned the certification.  Homes4NC, a housing foundation created by the North Carolina Association of REALTORS®, offers the certification to REALTORS® who take extra steps to learn about the federal, state and local housing programs specifically designed to help buyers that earn less than the area median income.  They also work within the community to increase housing affordability for all citizens.   

“My wife is a teacher, so I hear from her colleagues all the time about how hard it is to find affordable housing,” said Tom Gale.  “With the training we received, I know about more lending programs that can help them.”

According to Homes4NC, wages in North Carolina are not expected to keep pace with the cost of housing.  Half of the state’s future jobs are expected to pay 60% of the state’s current average earnings.

To earn the certification, REALTORS® must complete sixteen hours of educational courses that focus on national, state, and local affordable housing resources. For more information about the North Carolina Workforce Housing Specialist certification, visit www.Homes4NC.org.

Readers of Wilmington’s Encore magazine have voted Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty as Wilmington’s Best Real Estate Company in their “Best of Wilmington 2010″!

Thanks go out to everyone that voted for for us.  Though this isn’t our first “Best of Wilmington” award, we’re still thrilled by this honor.  Our more than 300 agents and staff take great pride in the fact that every year for the last decade, we’ve sold more homes in southeastern North Carolina than any other real estate company.

Check out the nice things Encore had to say about us:

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENCY

The local and national housing markets may have taken a hit due to the recession as of late, but Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty is soaring high above the rest with their win for Best Real Estate Agency. Serving the cities of Wilmington and Jacksonville; the coastal communities of Carolina Beach, Topsail Beach, Surf City, Wrightsville Beach, Figure Eight Island, North Topsail Beach, Kure Beach, Bald Head Island, Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach and Holden Beach; and coastal communities, including Porters Neck, Southport, Sneads Ferry, Leland, Scotts Hill, Hampstead, Holly Ridge, Camp Lejeune, New River, Bolivia, Shallotte, Boiling Spring Lakes and St. James, Sea Coast is without a doubt a leader in its industry. In fact, it is the number-one real estate company in southeastern North Carolina, selling more properties than any area firm for the past eight years.

With 300-plus agents and seven convenient locations (two in Wilmington, on Military Cutoff Road and at Porters Neck) Sea Coast is more than equipped to satisfy anything their customers desire. They can handle relocation needs, from start to finish, and even offer a 100-percent Satisfaction Guarantee. In an ever-changing real-estate climate, Sea Coast has remained true to its roots and continues to offer first-class service with a reputation clients have learned they can trust. Their easy-to-navigate Web site, www.seacoastrealty.com, only adds to what Wilmington recognizes as dependable, up-to-date and quality service.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, or Onslow County, North Carolina, shouldn’t you have the “Best of Wilmington” working for you?  Visit us online at www.seacoastrealty.com or call us at 1-800-522-9624.

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.

Brunswick County in North Carolina is home to many small towns that offer affordable housing. Bolivia is one such town. It has a population of about 150 and covered an area of around .7 square miles. It is very close to many beaches like the Carolina Beach and the Kure Beach. It is a part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Area. Bolivia NC real estate market has many properties on sale, which makes it a great time to buy. Shallotte NC real estate, another city close by, also offers similar deals. Both these cities are very close to the coast and Wilmington, making them an ideal place to buy a house.

The county seat of Brunswick County, the town of Bolivia is home to less than 150 residents with 91% of Bolivia NC real estate owner occupied.  With three golf courses in the area, the town of Bolivia is prime for adults and retirees.  Despite the small population, Bolivia is not an isolated area. In Bolivia’s neighboring city, Southport, boasting seven more golf courses to choose from.  Although a higher popluation than Bolivia, Southport is still a small town as it is home to less than 2,500 residents. Like Bolivia, regardless of the population of residents the area still flourishes and is constantly busy with its neighboring cities in the Wilmington metropolitan area.  Southport real estate features waterfront and waterview homes, as it is located at the entrance of the Cape Fear River.

Looking to live in a small town that has large city amenities? Consider Shallotte, located in southeastern North Carolina. Known as the “commercial hub” of Brunswick County, Shallotte is named after the scenic river that flows through the town. The investment potential in owning real estate in Shallotte is increasing as the commercial property is growing exponentially. Whether you are looking for a gorgeous new home or a quaint old home, Shallotte NC real estate has a wide assortment to choose from. Enjoy the vacation facet year round, while making a great investment at the same time.

As the professional and shopping focal point of the area, Shallotte offers its residents convenience to area beaches, golf courses and other attractions. Shallotte is conveniently centered directly between the popular beaches of Wilmington, NC and Myrtle Beach, SC, only half an hour away. If you’re looking for something even more local, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, and Sunset Beach are located less than 10 minutes away. Within a few minutes of Shallotte, residents can access signature golf courses for that vacation feel anytime. The selection of golf courses to choose from is far from limited, as over 100 golf courses lye within a forty mile radius of Shallotte.

Home to one of these golf courses, the small town of Bolivia also resides within the Brunswick Islands. Featuring the Carolina National Golf Course, Bolivia is also local to Holden Beach, Southport and Wilmington. With less than 150 residents, Bolivia is the perfect place for an uncomplicated lifestyle with convenience to large city attractions. Check out Bolivia NC real estate.