St. James, North Carolina is a small town located just outside of Southport, North Carolina.  Incorporated in 1999, the majority of the Town of St. James is located within the gated community of St. James Plantation.  It features a full service marina, four premiere golf courses, tennis, beach activities, a private beach club, biking trails, walking paths and more.

St. James resident and Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty associate Ken Keegan shares his St. James expertise.

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

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.

The city of Boiling Spring Lakes takes its name from the array of 50 lakes and a natural boiling spring there.  Sharon “Zak” lives along the 10 mile shoreline of the “Big Lake,” where she enjoys the natural beauty and friendly faces.

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

What’s so great about Wilmington, North Carolina?  Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty’s Michelle Gurrera decided to call Wilmington home more than twenty years ago. She explains that the Port City has something for everyone and why you’ll love Wilmington too.

Featuring commercial shopping, dining, golfing and professional opportunities, Shallotte is the location for investors and retirees. With a population of just over 1,500 residents, take pleasure in a small town feel with city amenities. This scenic river town dates back to 1899 when residents relied on agriculture, fishing, and the Shallotte River that flows through the town. Today, Shallotte NC real estate offers waterfront, river and waterway properties. Ten minutes away lies Holden, NC, home of one of South Brunswick Island beaches. Voted one of America’s top 10 family beaches, Holden is a great place to take a active or relaxing kind of vacation. Check out Holden Beach real estate for oceanfront, second row or canal front residential and rental homes.

During one of George Washington’s visits to the coast, he planned to feast on the abundant mullet caught in the Topsail Sound. When he arrived, the mullet had not yet begun to run so he had to eat ham instead, hints where Hampstead, NC got its name. Located between Wilmington and Jacksonville, Hampstead is a community known as the seafood capital of the Carolinas. The area boasts four golf courses which it is also well known for, and quite affordable compared to other local areas. Surrounding the golf courses is a varied assortment of Hampstead real estate homes, pleasing both the golfer and non golfers alike.

Named for its natural spring water, the town of Boiling Spring Lakes is centered around one of 50 natural, man-made lakes in the community. The quiet, serene atmosphere is adored by many residents who want a smaller setting near larger town beaches. Boiling Spring Lakes real estate offers many affordable residential homes in the coastal North Carolina area since 1961. With so many beautiful coastal communities in NC, it can be hard to decide which one is the perfect fit for you. Sometimes taking a visit is all you need to imagine yourself relaxing on one of North Carolina’s calm, sandy beaches.

A vendor fair in the parking lot of clinical-trials giant PPD here in Wilmington drew a good turnout yesterday afternoon, with Sea Coast Realty sponsoring a booth, and volunteer associates giving away company “goody bags” and mingling with employees.  We also had representation from The Highlands at Castle Bay, a golf community at Hampstead by Hardison Building Company with easy access to Wilmington via U.S. 17.  Showers that had been predicted for the day held off, and sunny, breezy conditions prevailed — which made putting our tent up kind of a challenge!

  PPD World Headquarters in Wilmington

  The Highlands at Castle Bay, Hampstead, NC

Earlier this month, we opened a new office in Leland, North Carolina, just across the Cape Fear River from Wilmington, NC real estate in Brunswick County.  At about the same time, we became the exclusive agents for the remaining new homes, townhomes, and building lots in beautiful Magnolia Greens Plantation, one of the premier neighborhoods in Leland.  Our office is at 1018 Grandiflora Drive, near its intersection with U.S. 17, and quite close to Magnolia Greens.  Pyramid Builders, Hagood Homes, and Landmark Developers are the companies we are representing, and we are excited about this new association.

  Magnolia Greens Plantation, Leland, NC

  Find these folks at our newest office, in Leland!

  Our Leland Office in front of Magnolia Greens