Tomorrow the 22 surviving members of the original crew of the Battleship North Carolina will visit the ship in celebration. A ceremony will be held with the Azalea Queen to honor the crew.
“It is an honor to have these gentlemen onboard again," said Captain Terry Bragg, the executive director of the ship.
The crew will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the ship earlier than normal to coincide with the Azalea Festival. The normal reunion weekend for the ship's survivors is in May.
Battleship Marketing Director Heather Loftin expects more than 300 people to attend the free event tomorrow at 2 p.m. The event is open to the public.
“A lot of people like the opportunity to shake the hands of the original crew,” Loftin said.
The Azalea Queen, Heather French Henry, will make a presentation to the original crew to thank them for their service. Robin Cox of Eat Dessert First will serve a replica cake of the Battleship North Carolina at the event.
“It’s huge. She’s gone into some pretty neat detail with it,” Loftin said of the cake that is so large it requires two 8-foot tables for preparation. Loftin said that in the 1940s replica cakes of the ship were a popular tradition to honor the servicemen.
The Azalea Festival begins today at 3 p.m. with the queen’s coronation at Riverfront Park. This year the Battleship is honoring both its 70-year anniversary in operation and its 50-year anniversary docked here in Wilmington.
Original Article
Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
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St. James Plantation
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Vacation- and Investment-Home Shares Hold Even in 2010
The market share of vacation- and investment-home sales1 held steady in 2010, although the sales volume declined with the overall market, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
NAR’s 2011 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, covering existing- and new-home transactions in 2010, shows vacation-home sales accounted for 10 percent of transactions last year while the portion of investment sales was 17 percent, both unchanged from 2009.
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said, “Despite extraordinarily tight credit conditions for purchasing a second home, the market share for vacation and investment homes held steady,” he said. “A sizeable number of buyers made deals with all-cash offerings.”
All-cash purchases have become prevalent in the second-home market in recent years: 59 percent of investment buyers paid cash in 2010, as did 36 percent of vacation-home buyers.
With an overall decline in home sales during 2010, the volume of 543,000 vacation-home sales was down 1.8 percent from 553,000 in 2009. Investment purchases fell 7.8 percent to 867,000 in 2010 from 940,000 the previous year. Primary residence sales declined 5.6 percent to 3.81 million from 4.04 million in 2009.
Foreclosure or trustee sales accounted for 17 percent of investment purchases and 11 percent of vacation-home sales in 2010, compared with 5 percent of primary purchases. “Second home buyers purchased more distressed homes at discount than did buyers of primary residences,” Yun said.
The median vacation-home price was $150,000 in 2010, down 11.2 percent from $169,000 in 2009, while the median investment-home price was $94,000, which is 10.5 percent below the $105,000 median in 2009. By contrast, the median primary residence price declined a relatively modest 4.5 percent to $176,700 last year from $185,000 in 2009. 2
The typical vacation-home buyer in 2010 was 49 years old, had a median household income of $99,500 and purchased a property that was a median distance of 375 miles from his or her primary residence; 31 percent of vacation homes were within 100 miles and 41 percent were more than 500 miles.
Investment-home buyers had a median age of 45, earned $87,600 and bought a home that was fairly close to their primary residence – a median distance of 19 miles.
“The fall in home prices has opened opportunities for more families to enter the second-home market – the median income of investment buyers today is lower than it’s been in recent years,” Yun said. While the median income of vacation-home buyers in 2010 is slightly above 2007 when it was $99,100, the median income of an investment-home buyer is 5.7 percent below $92,900 in 2007.
“Even if purchases are delayed due to economic circumstances, the underlying long-term demand – the desire for purchasing second homes – remains because people in their 30s and 40s will reach the prime age for buying and will drive the second-home market in coming decades as conditions permit,” Yun added.
Currently, 40.7 million people in the U.S. are ages 50-59 – a group that dominated sales in the first part of the past decade and established records for second-home sales. An additional 43.8 million people are now in the primary buying demographic of 40-49 years old, while another 40.4 million are 30-39.
Lifestyle factors continue to be the primary motivation for vacation-home buyers, with the desire for rental income driving investment purchases. Vacation homes were more likely to be located in a rural area, while investment homes were more likely to be in a suburban location.
“Vacation-home buyers want the property for their own personal use, with 84 percent saying the primary reason for buying was to use for vacations or as a family retreat,” Yun said. “Rental income generation was the primary motive for investment buyers. At the same time, nearly half indicated they sought to diversify their investments or saw a good investment opportunity.”
Thirty-four percent of vacation-home buyers said they plan to use the property as a primary residence in the future, as did 10 percent of investment buyers.
Twenty-one percent of investment buyers and 14 percent of vacation buyers purchased the property for a family member, friend or relative to use. “Some of these buyers purchase a home for their son or daughter to use while attending school,” Yun explained.
Vacation-home buyers plan to keep their property for a median of 13 years while investment buyers plan to hold their property for a median of 10 years.
Thirty-six percent of vacation homes purchased in 2010 were in the South, 27 percent in the West, 19 percent in the Northeast and 15 percent in the Midwest; 3 percent were located outside of the U.S.
The distribution of investment properties differed from vacation homes: 32 percent were in in the South, 24 percent in the West, 21 percent in the Northeast and 20 percent in the Midwest; 3 percent were purchased outside the U.S.
NAR’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data shows there are 7.9 million vacation homes and 41.6 million investment units in the U.S., compared with 74.8 million owner-occupied homes.
Original Article
Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
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www.KenKeegan.com
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St. James Plantation
NAR’s 2011 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, covering existing- and new-home transactions in 2010, shows vacation-home sales accounted for 10 percent of transactions last year while the portion of investment sales was 17 percent, both unchanged from 2009.
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said, “Despite extraordinarily tight credit conditions for purchasing a second home, the market share for vacation and investment homes held steady,” he said. “A sizeable number of buyers made deals with all-cash offerings.”
All-cash purchases have become prevalent in the second-home market in recent years: 59 percent of investment buyers paid cash in 2010, as did 36 percent of vacation-home buyers.
With an overall decline in home sales during 2010, the volume of 543,000 vacation-home sales was down 1.8 percent from 553,000 in 2009. Investment purchases fell 7.8 percent to 867,000 in 2010 from 940,000 the previous year. Primary residence sales declined 5.6 percent to 3.81 million from 4.04 million in 2009.
Foreclosure or trustee sales accounted for 17 percent of investment purchases and 11 percent of vacation-home sales in 2010, compared with 5 percent of primary purchases. “Second home buyers purchased more distressed homes at discount than did buyers of primary residences,” Yun said.
The median vacation-home price was $150,000 in 2010, down 11.2 percent from $169,000 in 2009, while the median investment-home price was $94,000, which is 10.5 percent below the $105,000 median in 2009. By contrast, the median primary residence price declined a relatively modest 4.5 percent to $176,700 last year from $185,000 in 2009. 2
The typical vacation-home buyer in 2010 was 49 years old, had a median household income of $99,500 and purchased a property that was a median distance of 375 miles from his or her primary residence; 31 percent of vacation homes were within 100 miles and 41 percent were more than 500 miles.
Investment-home buyers had a median age of 45, earned $87,600 and bought a home that was fairly close to their primary residence – a median distance of 19 miles.
“The fall in home prices has opened opportunities for more families to enter the second-home market – the median income of investment buyers today is lower than it’s been in recent years,” Yun said. While the median income of vacation-home buyers in 2010 is slightly above 2007 when it was $99,100, the median income of an investment-home buyer is 5.7 percent below $92,900 in 2007.
“Even if purchases are delayed due to economic circumstances, the underlying long-term demand – the desire for purchasing second homes – remains because people in their 30s and 40s will reach the prime age for buying and will drive the second-home market in coming decades as conditions permit,” Yun added.
Currently, 40.7 million people in the U.S. are ages 50-59 – a group that dominated sales in the first part of the past decade and established records for second-home sales. An additional 43.8 million people are now in the primary buying demographic of 40-49 years old, while another 40.4 million are 30-39.
Lifestyle factors continue to be the primary motivation for vacation-home buyers, with the desire for rental income driving investment purchases. Vacation homes were more likely to be located in a rural area, while investment homes were more likely to be in a suburban location.
“Vacation-home buyers want the property for their own personal use, with 84 percent saying the primary reason for buying was to use for vacations or as a family retreat,” Yun said. “Rental income generation was the primary motive for investment buyers. At the same time, nearly half indicated they sought to diversify their investments or saw a good investment opportunity.”
Thirty-four percent of vacation-home buyers said they plan to use the property as a primary residence in the future, as did 10 percent of investment buyers.
Twenty-one percent of investment buyers and 14 percent of vacation buyers purchased the property for a family member, friend or relative to use. “Some of these buyers purchase a home for their son or daughter to use while attending school,” Yun explained.
Vacation-home buyers plan to keep their property for a median of 13 years while investment buyers plan to hold their property for a median of 10 years.
Thirty-six percent of vacation homes purchased in 2010 were in the South, 27 percent in the West, 19 percent in the Northeast and 15 percent in the Midwest; 3 percent were located outside of the U.S.
The distribution of investment properties differed from vacation homes: 32 percent were in in the South, 24 percent in the West, 21 percent in the Northeast and 20 percent in the Midwest; 3 percent were purchased outside the U.S.
NAR’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data shows there are 7.9 million vacation homes and 41.6 million investment units in the U.S., compared with 74.8 million owner-occupied homes.
Original Article
Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
(910) 523-0903 mobile
Email Me
www.KenKeegan.com
Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate
St. James Plantation
Monday, March 28, 2011
Freshen up! Update your whole house for spring!
Many years ago, T.S. Eliot said that April is the cruelest month, but today it seems like March holds the sadistic spot on the calendar. With its alternating bursts of winter and spring, March leaves you anxious for the cold to depart permanently. And although there’s nothing we can do about Mother Nature’s stubborn grip on winter, we can freshen up our homes for the spring that will eventually arrive -- and help us feel better while we wait.
Banish all those dark-colored throws and pillows and add a bright spark of color. Feeling ambitious? Remove heavy drapes and replace them with light voile sheers that let in more light and brighten things up.
Replace candles on the fireplace mantle with vases of brightly-colored flowers or a fresh green plant. Don’t forget to remove
the fireplace screen, and if your fireplace is empty, add some accents like a stack of white aspen logs or a lush plant. Lighten up the seating area with a sisal rug that harkens to days at the beach. Cover dark ottomans with bright throws and replace dark lampshades with light-colored examples.
Refresh the bedroom
With the departure of winter, stash heavy blankets and down comforters back in the closet in favor of lighter spreads. Consider adding a splash of paint color behind the bed. With only one wall to cover, the job will be quick and easy, yet make a big impact. Pull heavy accessories off the nightstands and replace them with glass bowls filled with seashells, sea glass, or bright silk flowers.
To give your bedroom that springtime scent, add potpourri with a light fragrance to make the room smell fresh. Drop some lightcolored throw pillows on the bed. Remove drapes in favor of a light-colored valance and patterned sheers to draw more light into the room. Next, take a tip from 4-star hotels
and add a spring-inspired throw rug on each side of the bed.
A springtime kitchen
Painted cabinets are back in style, and if you want to give your kitchen a dose of spring freshness, all it takes is a coat of paint in a soft celery hue. Nothing says spring like green! Remove as much as possible from the countertops -- and the refrigerator door, a notorious clutter magnet. A neat kitchen looks cleaner and brighter.
To complete the makeover, add one or two bright-colored accessories, such as a vase or covered cake plate filled with decorated cookies in springtime shapes of leaves, rabbits or flowers. Hang some pretty botanical plates on the wall bring the outdoors in. Be sure to add some springtime freshness to your table, too, with napkins and placemats in spring colors, or that feature leaves or plants. Hang some pretty new dishtowels and you’re all set.
Original Article
Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
(910) 523-0903 mobile
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www.KenKeegan.com
Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate
St. James Plantation
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Real Estate Photos: Pictures Worth a Thousand Words
When you are interviewing for a job, you want to put your best foot forward. You wear nice clothing, carry a briefcase, and make sure every hair is in place. Your resume is in pristine condition and you sell your smile to every person you meet. Selling your home is very similar; you want to put your best foot forward.
Many people have begun to rely solely on the Internet to find their next home. According to the National Association of Realtors, nine out of ten home buyers search for their next home on the Internet. With those kinds of odds, you need your home to have a strong presence on the Internet. How can you do that? With great real estate pictures.
On the Internet, your St. James Plantation will be almost entirely judged based on its photographs. If a potential home buyer is turned off by your photographs or the fact that you don’t have any, you can bet they won’t take the time to come check out your home.
Implement the following suggestions when taking photos of your real estate:
Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
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www.KenKeegan.com
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St. James Plantation
Many people have begun to rely solely on the Internet to find their next home. According to the National Association of Realtors, nine out of ten home buyers search for their next home on the Internet. With those kinds of odds, you need your home to have a strong presence on the Internet. How can you do that? With great real estate pictures.
On the Internet, your St. James Plantation will be almost entirely judged based on its photographs. If a potential home buyer is turned off by your photographs or the fact that you don’t have any, you can bet they won’t take the time to come check out your home.
Implement the following suggestions when taking photos of your real estate:
- Invest in a decent camera and use a tripod for sharp photographs.
- Stage your home effectively. Use flowers and limit the clutter in your home.
- Use as much natural lighting in your photographs as possible.
- Choose flattering angles. Corners and hallways are usually a good spot to take your photos.
- Take as many photos as possible. Experiment with lighting and angles to get the best shots. Review your photos and choose the best ones.
- When you are reviewing your photos, it may be necessary to implement some photo editing tools to brighten pictures or crop unflattering photos.
Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
(910) 523-0903 mobile
Email Me
www.KenKeegan.com
Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate
St. James Plantation
Friday, March 18, 2011
What to Expect During a Home Inspection
When selling your home, it is necessary to get a home inspection. While it may not be something you immediately think to do, it is very helpful in identifying any problems you may have before you even put your St. James Plantation home on the market.
A home inspection can last anywhere from two to three hours and involves the inspector going through every part of your home from top to bottom. The following are some of the things an inspector will pay close attention to during an inspection:
Having an inspection before you put your home on the market can help you fix any major problems before you try to sell, and it can also help remove any nagging questions about the condition of your home for potential buyers.
Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
(910) 523-0903 mobile
Email Me
http://www.kenkeegan.com/
Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate
St. James Plantation
A home inspection can last anywhere from two to three hours and involves the inspector going through every part of your home from top to bottom. The following are some of the things an inspector will pay close attention to during an inspection:
- Operation of plumbing
- Operation of heating
- Operation of air conditioning
- Electrical systems
- Appliance systems
- Structural integrity of the roof
- Structural integrity of the foundation and basement
- Structural integrity of windows and doors
Having an inspection before you put your home on the market can help you fix any major problems before you try to sell, and it can also help remove any nagging questions about the condition of your home for potential buyers.
Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
(910) 523-0903 mobile
Email Me
http://www.kenkeegan.com/
Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate
St. James Plantation
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
#1 in North Carolina
Hello from Las Vegas everyone. Just heard that Coldwell Banker is now the number one real estate company in North Carolina.
Having some fun at GenBlue in Last Vegas!
(910) 523-0903 mobile
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Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate
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