Buddy Blake's Blog: All Categories

Wilmington, NC -  The top real estate performers in the area (source: Wilmington Regional Assoc of Relators MLS system) are posting their best numbers since 2005.   Buddy Blake and team of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty finish January with best numbers ever.  Buddy's team CLOSED 31 properties in January 2007 compared to just 9 in January 2006.  Buddy's team also put nearly 30 more properties under contract during January.

CLICK HERE to view January 2007 Agent Rankings for the Wilmington area

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Ski by the sea: Who needs snow when you've got crushed shells and sand?

By Ben Steelman
Staff Writer, Wilmington Star News

 SEE THE VIDEO NOW

 

Maybe, if you've walked along Wrightsville Beach lately, you've noticed long, shallow tracks in the sand, as if something snakelike had slithered through not too long ago.

Maybe, if you arrived at just the right time, you noticed a bearded guy scooting along the beach on a pair of cross-country skis.

That guy is David Gessner, a nature writer and an assistant professor of creative writing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He's a recovering Yankee who moved to the area from Cape Cod, Mass., in 2005. For the past year or so, he's been out skiing on the sand almost every day.

"Since… Read Full Post

Good Monday Morning!

What a nice Superbowl weekend we had here in Wilmington, temps in the 50's and lots of sunshine.  Our real estate market continues to be quite active, in January our team put 31 properties under contract (compared to only 9 last January). 

TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT:

• New two bedroom townhomes near historic downtown Wilmington now preselling for only $129,900 (regular price $142,900).  Includes neighborhood clubhouse, swimming pool and tennis.  Visit www.thewillowsnc.com for more information.
• Wrightsville Beach Magazine 2006 Real Estate wrapup recognizing the Buddy Blake Team as the top real estate team in the entire area with nearly 300 homes closed and over $120,000,000 in sales for 2006.  Click here  for the…

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Airport a hot entry point for the rich and famous

By Patrick Gannon,
Staff Writer for Wilmington Star News

 

 

Forget Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill. There's another source of the Port City's reputation as the "Hollywood of the East" - Wilmington International Airport.

It's not often talked about - and certainly not celebrated - but countless movie stars, athletes and politicians stop at ILM on North 23rd Street.

Ensconced in personal or chartered jets, suntanned and relaxed, they touch down fresh off weekend getaways in tropical destinations, such as the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, St. Kitts or South America.

But don't expect to see them on the street or in the line at the grocery story. For them, the Port City stopover is one of… Read Full Post

The Wider Region

Download Entire Article from Wrightsville Beach Magazine

In the greater New Hanover County area, listing and sales volumes were more than $6.6 billion, an increase of 65 percent, but, as we all know, looks can be deceiving. The increase can be directly attributed to the vast number of properties coming on the market in 2006 and remaining unsold, a sharp departure from the previous year.  

The top listing and selling agent in the entire Realtor association was Buddy Blake’s team from Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty, which garnered the top slot for number of units listed and sold, 282, as well as the overall highest volume in listings and sales, with a combined volume of just under $123 million.

Of the 4,900 single-family…

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McLEAN, VA - Freddie Mac released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.34 percent with an average 0.4 point for the week ending February 1, 2007, up from last week when it averaged 6.25 percent.  Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.23 percent.  The 30-year FRM has not been higher since the week ending October 26, 2006, when it was 6.40 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 6.06 percent with an average 0.4 point, up from last week when it averaged 5.98 percent.  A year ago, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.81 percent.  The 15-year FRM has not been higher since the week ending October 26, 2006 when it averaged 6.10 percent.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid… Read Full Post

Good Monday Morning!

Crazy weather these days...  it was a gorgeous Spring-like weekend here in Wilmington (until it turned cool Sunday afternoon).  Absolutely perfect for walks, outdoor gardening and even a little boat riding.

More great news on the housing front, as New Home Sales came in better than expected. Looking at last year, 2006 represented the 3rd best existing home sale market on record. But the media is already putting a doom and gloom spin on the story, making a buzz about the steep drop from 2005 to 2006, and the fact that sales haven't fallen off this much year-over-year since the early 80's. But some important considerations: first, 2006 is coming off a record year in 2005, so to see a drop off in record levels is not unexpected. Second,…

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Watch Buddy on HGTV Househunters, filmed in Wilmington NC.  Not just about finding a home, but also great shots of the Wilmington and surround beaches. 

House Hunters
Episode HNT-1705

HGTV will be rerunning the shows again in February 2007, click here for dates and times.

 

AIR TIMES:
• … Read Full Post