OAK ISLAND IS CAPE FEAR REGION’S MOST AFFORDABLE AND ACTIVE BEACH COMMUNITY

Posted in Local Business Profile, Market Reports, News You Can Use, Southport NC Real Estate, Team Gale on Jul 25, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 23, 2018

CONTACT: Debbie Elliott Advantage Marketing, a division of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage 910-471-3181 debbieelliott@seacoastrealty.com

OAK ISLAND IS CAPE FEAR REGION’S MOST AFFORDABLE AND ACTIVE BEACH COMMUNITY; JUNE MEDIAN HOME SALES PRICE JUST BELOW NATIONAL FIGURE

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage Analysis Finds Tight Inventory Slows Carolina Beach June Sales By 35%, But Kure Beach Sales Jump More Than 216%

WILMINGTON, NC – Oak Island was the most affordable and active of eight popular Cape Fear beach communities with 70 homes sold in June at ...

Cash-for-Equity the New Frontier for Mortgage Lending?

Posted in Market Reports, News You Can Use, Team Gale on Jul 19, 2017

At the beginning of the year, the LA Times published some 1600 words on Unison, a company based in San Francisco offering what is essentially down payment assistance to home buyers - in exchange for an ownership stake in the property.

Perhaps an odd-seeming arrangement, but an appealing alternative to cash-strapped or credit-challenged home seekers. Unison provides an unorthodox way to supplement your conventional mortgage loan so you can buy your "dream house."

Founded twelve years ago, and formerly known as FirstREX, the company bills themselves as "one of a handful of firms developing novel...

"Good Neighbor Next Door" Program from US Dept. of HUD

Posted in Foreclosures in SE NC, Market Reports, News You Can Use, Team Gale on Oct 05, 2016

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development aims to "create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all."

One of the ways HUD is working to strengthen the market and empower consumers is through the GOOD NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR SALES PROGRAM which offers certain HUD-owned properties at a 50% discount for a period of 7 days in targeted "revitalization areas."

"Good Neighbor Next Door (GNND)" candidates are required to live at the property for three years as their sole residence, and agree to certify their eligibility every year. Candidates and/or their spou...

Unparalleled Exposure!

Posted in Market Reports, News You Can Use, Team Gale on Sep 21, 2016

Team Gale has had incredible activity online this summer.

Our listings get enhanced and promoted across dozens of third-party real estate sites, as well as on our Team's various social media platforms.

REALTOR.COM alone produced this traffic:

Not all realtors are alike, and not all realtors can deliver this kind of activity!

If you've been on the fence about selling your home, call Team Gale today for a complimentary market analysis of your property. Our agents are on duty daily at 910-541-1212

Our market is very strong again right now and continues to improve...

Posted in Market Reports, News You Can Use, Team Gale on Aug 22, 2016

The Washington Post reports that "Areas hit hardest by the real estate bust are now seeing the highest gains."

Local REALTOR Tom Gale, of Team Gale at Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage, breaks down what this upswing in development and sales means for our area:

"In investment markets like Miami, it’s good to see that the banks are requiring significant downpayments.  When buyers have “skin in the game,” they’re less likely to walk away from their investment.  Combined with the more stringent credit requirements, I feel better about this strong housing market than the last hot market.

Although...

Amendment to Zoning in Historic District Proposed

Posted in Market Reports, News You Can Use, Team Gale, Wilmington NC Real Estate on Aug 17, 2016

This month, the Wilmington City Council called upon the community to weigh in on a proposed change to allowable lot size in the historic district. Two council members, Paul Lawler and Kevin O'Grady, "expressed concerns that the amendment could lead to developers tearing down historic homes in the area in favor of more homes on smaller lots."

Two local groups, Historic Wilmington Foundation and Residents of Old Wilmington, who would certainly want to weigh in, were in the dark until recently. Sylvia Kochler, president of Residents of Old Wilmington, notes that "If you're going to have a zoning ...

Brexit Vote Sends US Mortgage Rates to 3 Year Low

Posted in Buyer Tips, Market Reports, Team Gale on Jul 01, 2016

News outlets this week have been aflutter with speculation in the aftermath of the controversial vote for Britain to leave the European Union. The historic move has many intricacies and consequences on an international plane, which Bloomberg breaks down for us: "Brexit has only heightened concerns about the global economy that have been pushing down borrowing costs since the start of the year."

Keith Gumbinger with HSH.com notes that "the odds for lower rates, for a longer period of time, are very good." The average 30 year mortgage rate has been under 4% since the first quarter of 2016. "If r...

Wilmington Among Best Cities in Nation for Independent Entrepreneurs

Posted in Local Business Profile, Market Reports, News You Can Use, Team Gale, Wilmington NC Real Estate on Aug 27, 2015

Wilmington scored the second slot on NerdWallet's Top 10 Prime Locations for Independent Entrepreneurship. Apparently the Port City and it's outlaying regions are chock full of the right people to support businesses large and small!

183 metropolitan areas were evaluated for this report. Those cities needed to have 15,000 or more businesses, and a population greater than 250,000. Average revenue of businesses, percent of businesses with paid employees, and number of businesses per 100 people were considered; along with median annual income, median annual housing costs, and unemployment rate....

Things to Consider During "Selling Season"

Posted in Market Reports, News You Can Use, Team Gale, Wilmington NC Real Estate on May 22, 2015

Spring is the busiest time for home sales, and an unbalanced market gives sellers a real advantage. Sales are occurring at a faster rate than new listings, so buyer's with newly approved, low interest loans are scooping up the attractive area properties.

Have you been on the fence for a while now about selling your home?

Last month, RIS Media's House Call column pointed out five key items to consider in making the decision to move. 

First, are you frustrated by lack of space, constantly rearranging closets and hesitant about hosting overnight guests? Have your kids' outgrown their shared bedro...

$1.8 Billion in Grants for Homeless Programs Nationally

Posted in Market Reports, Team Gale on Feb 13, 2015

2015 has begun with a lot of proposed action from the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). We previously covered the pending changes to mortgage financing discussed in the State of the Union address, but the HUD announcement about over $1 billion in grants for local homeless shelters and housing services makes a bit more of an impact.

This so-called "Continuum of Care" will support over 180 homeless programs in the state of North Carolina. These funds could not be more welcome, considering the 11,000+ homeless population in the Tar Heel State. Three quarters of a million dollars wi...