Regina Drury Real Estate Group Blog Page

Top Tips for First-Time Homebuyers

Buying your first home in Wilmington NC may seem like an impossible dream yet millions of first time buyers buy their first home every year.  Have you started to look around then got discouraged and decided to continue renting instead? Here's a great list of tips to help you buy your 1st home.

Pros and Cons of Rent vs Own 

First before we go over the tips lets talk about the most common decision you'll need to make first, which is should you continue Renting or Buy now? 

Renting has it's advantages like you can move whenever you want, you don't have to have good credit, the landlord makes the repairs, and you don't have to make any commitments.  Renting disadvantages are of course you never will have it paid off and rents keep increasing.

Buying a house has it's advantages like picking a place that is all yours, painting it any color you want and adding your personal touches, building equity, and working towards having the house paid off.  Another big advantage is that your mortgage will probably be less than what the rent would have been for that house.  Of course the disadvantage of owning a house is if something breaks you'll have to fix it.   

The American Dream

We've grown up hearing that owning a home is the American Dream.  Travel to other countries and you'll hear stories of homeownership being impossible in many other continents around the world and an average household has an extended families (children, parents, grandparents, great grandparents) living in very tiny apartments.  

Yes, prices are high for Real Estate in Wilmington NC yet let's agree that it's not impossible to own a home here.

People buy houses in the Wilmington area every day with very little money as the down payment.  Saving for years to buy your first home really isn't necessary when there are great 100% loan options in the Wilmington area.  

How Much Do I Need to Buy an Affordable Home

Typically in Wilmington you'll need about $1,000 as the down payment when you write an offer.  Many first time buyers have had as little as $500 as a down payment, especially when getting a 100% loan.

100% Financing

So we've all heard money doesn't grow on trees so someone must be helping out first time homebuyers.  YES, we have 100% financing in Wilmington NC area. One of the most popular is the USDA loan which is a government loan program for houses in rural areas.  Although USDA is for rural areas, we are fortunate they have not redone the USDA maps yet.  For now Wilmington is still an available area.  Here's a link to the USDA loan program which will tell you more about how to qualify and also has links to areas that houses are for sale that may qualify for USDA.  

Another great 100% loan in The City of Wilmington is the HOP loan.  This is for lower income families (starts at $38,000 and goes up based on dependents) and credit score minimum 620.  This program is for 1st time home buyers.  60% of the loan is a low interest rate and 40% of the loan is 0% interest!  Minimum down payment is $500 and there is no PMI payments.  You must with your current employer for at least 6 months and 1 year in your current profession.  

Tips for First Time Homebuyer

1) Good Credit is Important

If your score is close but needs a little help, there are helpful lenders in Wilmington that will give you free advise on how to improve your credit.  Don't assume you know what needs to be done.  Get advice from the experts.  It could save you time and money.

2) Skip the Expensive Cars and Car Payments

One of the biggest mistakes I see is people pay hundreds of dollars a month for their cars.  Next time you are at a car dealership and thinking about buying a house, ask yourself "Can I Live in that Car". The moment you drive that car off the dealership lot the value has significantly dropped.  Yes it's easy to get a car loan but that monthly payment will count against you for the next 4-6 years!  Buy your house first before signing the contract for a car payment.

3) Keep your Expectations Low for the 1st Home

LOL, ok this Cuba house is an extreme example of low expectations.  I promise you that we'll find a house for sale nicer than this for you. 

We all want the big oceanfront house at Wrightsville Beach with 2 car garage and access to the beach from our backyard but this is your 1st home so let's refocus.  You might have pets and require a fenced yard.  By the way, I recently did a great blog post about Dog Parks in the Wilmington area and Dog Friendly Real Estate.

When looking for your first home write down your must have list but keep an open mind.  This first home won't be your forever home.  It's a place to start building equity so you can move to your next bigger and better house.  Make smart decisions and keep trading up and eventually you might find yourself in that Wrightsville Beach Oceanfront House you've always dreamed of.

4) Timing is Everything

Spring is not the best time to look for a house!  In the Spring there are more houses for sale in Wilmington but there are also a whole lot more buyers searching for a house at that time too.  More buyers mean more competition for you for that great affordable house.  With more competitors that means you'll risk being in multiple offers on a house and will find it very difficult to get all your closing costs paid by the seller.  

5) Get Pre Approved First

When you find that great affordable house you'll need to submit a pre-approval letter with your offer.  There are a lot of buyers looking for the same thing as you so don't wait to get the approval letter.  Waiting until after you find a house can be a big mistake because while you're working on getting it, someone else can put in an offer for your house.

6) Don't Wait

I've seen a lot of buyers in Wilmington wait the last few years for prices to get better.  Instead prices have gone up and up.  Find a house that you can call home for a few years and start there.  Again, it's not your forever home.  You can continue to pay your landlords mortgage or you can start building equity for yourself.

7) Consider Real Estate in Other Areas Around Wilmington

Foregoing your dream of owning a home just because you can't afford to buy what's For Sale in Wilmington doesn't make sense. 

Brunswick County Homes for Sale in Leland is still more affordable but maybe not for much longer.  As prices continue to go up in Wilmington many people are buying in Leland when they never thought they would.  The lower prices, lower taxes, and abundance of new home options make affordable home plan a lot easier. The #1 reason I hear people don't want to live in Leland is because of the bridge traffic or because they think it's too far from Wilmington.  Since the highway was widened traffic is not as much of an issue.  You'll get to Monkey Junction and Carolina Beach just as fast from Leland as you would from the North Wilmington or the Ogden area.  In fact, I think you'll get there faster!  For more Brunswick County Homes For Sale here's a link to some of Homes For Sale by City in Brunswick County.

Another great option is Homes for Sale in Pender County like Hampstead.  In Hampstead you might be surprised to find you can get a larger home with a lot more square feet for a lot less than Wilmington.  So why buy the tiny home in Wilmington if architectural styles and larger homes are better in other close towns.  How about checking out Homes For Sale in Burgaw.  This quaint little town is an easy 30 minute commute to Wilmington and will typically give you more elbow room between you and your neighbor's house.  For more Pender County Homes For Sale here's a link to some of Homes For Sale by City in Pender County.

Homes for Sale in Castle Hayne is also a great option and still very close to Wilmington without needing to cross a bridge or get on a highway.  Castle Hayne is often overlooked and yet it has some great Real Estate options plus it's in the USDA 100% loan area.

8) Hire a Professional Buyer's Agent

This step is equally as important as getting pre-approved before you start looking.  Affordable homes for sale are getting hard to find and when one comes on the market there's usually several buyers looking at it at the same time.  A full time Buyer's Agent will be looking for you and will be able to get you in as soon as it comes on the market. 

In the Wilmington market there's over 3,000 Real Estate agents and most of them are part time.  Your house will be the biggest purchase you'll make in your lifetime.  It's not the time to hire a friend who "does it part time" just to help them out.  You might get lucky or you might be like might get discouraged when they aren't very helpful.  You need a professional working for you.

The Regina Drury Real Estate Group is full time and actively prospects to find a home for our buyers.  When our buyers prefer a neighborhood or an area that there are no houses for sale, we call the neighborhood, door knock the neighborhood when allowed, and we mail them letters requesting help to find you a house.  We go the extra mile. 

When choosing the Real Estate Agent you'll work with it's a smart step to check out their reviews. There's an abundance of 5 star reviews for Regina Drury and Regina Drury Real Estate Group on Facebook, Google, and Realtor.com.

Homes for Sale Wilmington NC

Finding Affordable Homes for sale in Wilmington NC can feel like a challenge but with the right preparation steps you'll be in your new home sooner than you think.

Taking the first step and getting pre-qualified is an important step and I always recommend that you do it right away when you start thinking you might want to buy a house.  One of the reasons to get this done right away is so that if something shows up on your credit that you didn't expect, you have time to fix it.  Also getting pre-approved early is a good idea because you never know when that perfect cute affordable home will come on the market.

Owning your first home is an exciting feeling.  Soon you'll be picking out paint colors and hanging pictures in your 1st place.  Your first barbecue at your home you'll delight at showing your friends and family your new home.  Pride of Home Ownership is all possible and we're excited to help you!

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Grab Fido's Leash and Head Outside

Is Wilmington NC a dog friendly city?  That's a question some will debate, but personally my old Hudson Valley NY hometown didn't have dog parks or beaches or anyplace for the pets to play so I feel Wilmington is a dog friendly city.  Sure, maybe we need more parks or restaurants they are allowed but for a small city I think we have some nice options.

So why aren't the dogs allowed on the beach during the summer?  To protect the sea turtle nests, dogs are not allowed on the beach from April 1 to September 1.  Now that the summer season is over and our beaches are open again to our four legged fur babies you might consider bringing them for a stroll on the beach this weekend. 

The great thing about Wilmington is that the beach isn't their only option.  With the cooler temperatures here, it's also a perfect time to take your dog for a long walk, or better yet take them for a play date at a dog friendly park.  If you haven't had a chance yet to explore our dog parks then you and your pup are missing out.

Dog Tired?

You've been at work all day.  Your desk is piled high with things to do.  Oh and remember your spouse called and said don't forget to stop at the store and pick up a bag of dog food on your way home.  After a long day at work, you might not be thinking of heading to a dog park.

Getting outside and going for a walk is good for you and your dog.  After a tough day at work there's nothing better than walking that stress off.  Plus you'll burn some calories which is always a plus.

Benefits of Time Off

Have you ever noticed that when you are struggling with figuring something out or if you had a bad day that stepping away from it all and doing something else for a little while helps clear your mind and refocus?  Dogs are great for that fun distraction.  You get home from a long day and they come to you all excited like you are the best part of their day.  Well, you are the best part of their day.

A Nap is Really What You Prefer

When you get home from work, don't stop for a break on the couch or lie down for a second because you know what will happen .....

Where are the Dog Parks in Wilmington?

There are 4 great dog parks in Wilmington that have fenced play areas for the dogs to play off leash.

Ogden Dog Park

Ogden Dog Park is at 615 Ogden Park Drive, Wilmington, NC 28411. It has 2 fenced areas that separate Big Dogs from Small Dogs.  My 15 pound dog thinks he's a big dog and prefers to play with big dogs but when we go to the dog parks we play it safe by avoiding the big dog area.  Ogden Park has some shade and fresh water so you can consider this park as an option to bring them in the summer.  The biggest disadvantage to this park, in my opinion, is that it is all sand.  I have long hair dogs so they come home with sand tucked in all over their little bodies.  Also some have said their dogs have gotten sandspurs in their paws.  My dogs love this park and haven't had any issues.  There are benches here so you can sit while your dogs run around off leash.

Long Leaf Park

This is my favorite dog park.  Long Leaf Park (previously known as Hugh McRae Park) is easily accessible from College Road near Oleander Dr.  This park has lots of shade and natural pine straw throughout the play areas.  Just like the Ogden Dog Park, there are 2 separate fenced areas for Large Dogs and Small Dogs plus there's fresh water.  There are picnic tables inside the fenced area for you to sit on while your dog walks unleashed but the park prefers you don't bring food inside the fenced dog park.  Obviously food plus dogs could break out into a fight so it's best to follow the rules and don't bring anything.

Wilmington Dog Park at Empie

Located on over 2 ares on the corner of Independence and Park Ave, Empie Dog Park is at  3405 Park Ave, Wilmington, NC 28403 in central Wilmington.  This dog park is across the street from the Independence Mall behind the Firestation.  It has 2 separate fenced off leash areas for Large Dogs and Small Dogs.  There's great shade areas and a fresh water station.  There is a dark sand in this play area that some have said discolored their shoes and their dog.  Most however love this park and especially rave about it's convenient location.

Halyburton Park

Halyburton Park is at 4099 17th St, Wilmington, NC 28412 and although there's no fenced area for off leash, it's certainly worth mentioning for the 1.3 mile shaded nature trail that dog owners and their pets will enjoy.  This park also has a fresh water fountain for dogs.

All of these dog parks require that you scoop up their wastes.

Dog Parks for Large Dogs and Small Dogs

It's nice to have a variety of options for our pets.  If you have never brought your dog to a dog park be prepared that they might react a little nervous at first and some will try to stick by your side.  Try not to pick them up.  If your dog is aggressive do NOT bring them to a dog park.  It's not fair to the other dog owners and can cause a big problem.  It's important that when you take them for the first time that you watch their behavior and stay close.  

Your Dog will Thank you

Dogs are social animals and getting them around other dogs can be a very happy experience for them.  You might think they will play the entire time but many times my dogs go just to sniff the ground, the trees, and other dogs.  Either way they love to go to the dog parks.

Dog Friendly Real Estate Agency

Regina Drury Real Estate Group is a Dog Friendly company.  In fact over the years, we've sponsored a few Dog Parties at Hugh McRae Park for our Past Clients and Friends.  Here's a link on Facebook to some of the photos from the Dog Party events.  Throwing a dog party was a lot of fun for the dog owners and for their pets.  We hired a dog trainer to come to the event and give us training tips.  We also had fun contests including dress up the dogs and racing back to the team.  Our events were catered and we had hot dogs and cookies for the dogs.  Funny part was most of the hot dogs and dog cookies were eaten by the people!  Even after telling them that those cookies were for their pets, they still tried it any way.  A face painter we hired for the events painted some faces of the kids to look like their fur friends.  It was a great time and we hope to see you at our next Dog Event at the Park.

We've had clients moving to the area that needed a place to board their dogs while they were in town looking at properties.  We can help you with great recommendations of our favorite boarding facilities and of course with recommendations for vets in Wilmington, and great restaurants in Wilmington that you can take your pets with you.  Yes, we even have some bars they can go too.

Dog Friendly Real Estate

We have dogs and previously we had 2 dogs, 3 cats, and 2 ferrets so we understand the importance to pet owners of a pet friendly home.  We know that when you buy a house you prefer a fenced in yard.  If you can't find a fenced in yard we can help you negotiate for a fence to be added or we can give you recommendations for fence installers.

We understand the importance of accessibility to safe neighborhoods, sidewalk communities well lit for evening walks, and the importance of dog friendly home owner associations, do friendly condos and dog friendly townhouses.  

When you are looking for a House to sell or a House to Buy, we hope you will consider the Regina Drury Real Estate Group.

If you are curious how much your house is worth, here's a link to a Free Instant House Value Report: http://nchousevalue.com

Or if you'd like to see how much homes have sold for in your neighborhood, here's a link to all the Under Contract and Sold Homes.

 I'm Regina of the Regina Drury Real Estate Group and it was my pleasure to write this blog for you about the great Dog Parks in Wilmington NC.  I hope you have enjoyed this blog and share it with your pet owner friends. 

-Regina Drury

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4 BR Beach Bargain with a Pool

1607 Swordfish Lane #1 at Carolina Beach is a beach bargain waiting for you!  Investment property, second home, or your new residence, this condo at almost 2,400 square feet has it all. Take a stroll on the beach or a dip in the pool.  

Ask around and most people will tell you their top place they'd like to live is the beach.  With limited beach property available it's no surprise to see prices have been going up.  Here's a rare chance to buy a 4 Bedroom 3 Bath condo with everything you'd expect from a house.  Lots of room at almost 2,400 square feet and a pool that's shared by only 1 other condo.  

1607 Swordfish Lane #1 has been an investment property for the current owners with great rental history.  Income grossed last year was $29,000.  

1607 Swordfish Lane Unit #1 is For Sale Fully Furnished.  

Beautiful features including hardwood floors, and cozy fireplace. 

This Beach Bargain has a very spacious kitchen with granite counters and lots of cabinets.

Ocean views from the Master Bedroom Balcony.

Grab your beach chair and head to the beach.  There's nothing better than living at the beach.

1607 Swordfish Lane #1 Carolina Beach NC | House For Sale Carolina Beach

Beach Bargain

Carolina Beach

Kure Beach

4 Bedrooms

3 Bathrooms

Oceanview

Balcony

Granite Counter

Wood Floors

Fireplace

Pool

Beach

Outside Shower

Here's a link with more photos and information about 1607 Swordfish Lane #1: 

https://www.reginadrury.com/property/100079944/

Schedule a private showing 1607 Swordfish Lane Unit #1. Please contact Regina Drury Real Estate Group [Linda Brett-Kell] 910-540-4390.

Wondering... What is my house worth? Here's a link: http://nchousevalue.com/

Schedule to see this house today!

111 Dron Place Wilmington NC is the perfect house to call your new home.  With 4 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms, hardwood floors, vaulted ceiling, gas fireplace, beautiful wood floors, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, big private yard, and great schools! Schedule a Showing to Tour this house today!  Don't wait to see this deal!

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4 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms For Sale

111 Dron Place Wilmington NC is located in 28409 houses for sale in popular Holly Tree, Roland Grise, and Hoggard school districts. This 4 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms Wilmington Real Estate is priced at only $212,000 which makes it a great deal! 111 Dron Place has so much curb appeal!  As you pull into the cul-de-sac you'll be delighted when you see the stone details on the front of the home and on the driveway columns. Real Estate For sale like this in this price range doesn't come up very often so schedule an appointment today to see it!

Step inside 111 Dron Place and you'll love the gleaming wood floors throughout the house, vaulted ceilings in the living and dining room, open floor plan and the cozy wood burning fireplace in the living room. 

Kitchen has granite counters and stainless steel appliances

You'll find the kitchen at 111 Dron Place Wilmington NC a pleasure to be in.  It's located on the front of the house and radiates with lots of natural light.

Huge windows provide lots of natural light in this home's kitchen.

Large Private Back yard with 2 Decks

Step out from the dining room at 111 Dron Place to the deck on the side of the house or step out of the master bedroom to the deck on the back of the house.

Yes, there's plenty of room in the back yard of 111 Dron Place for a pool and playground.

Schedule a Showing today!  Don't wait!

A house like 111 Dron Place Wilmington NC in highly desired 28409 and Hoggard school district don't last long.  Here's a link for more information.  If you'd like more Real Estate information such as room measurements, or additional information we can help you with that too.  Contact the Regina Drury Real Estate Group [Regina Drury] for all your Real Estate buying and selling needs.  We are a Full Time crew.  We will provide you with our expert knowledge and focus on maintaining a high degree of customer service that will leave a lasting impression.  Here's a link to some of the reviews that have been written about Regina Drury and Regina Drury Real Estate Group.  We're confident we can help you with all your Real Estate needs.

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111 Dron Place

Wilmington NC

Hoggard High School

Roland Grise

Holly Tree

4 Bedrooms

3 Bathrooms

Formal Dining Room

Wood Burning Fireplace

Vaulted Ceiling

House Deal

Wood Floors

Granite Counters

Stainless Steel Appliance

Big Yard

2 Decks

Big Windows

For more Information or to Schedule a Showing click here: https://www.reginadrury.com/property/100089857/

or Contact Regina Drury Real Estate Group [Regina Drury] 910-239-1396

To see How Much Your House is Worth click here: http://nchousevalue.com/

You'll get an Instant House Value Report.

Transcript 

Hello the saw Regina with the Regina Drury Real Estate group in Wilmington North Carolina and I am super excited to bring you a house it's coming on the market right now we're in Hager School District. I mean literally right in the center of everything and this house has four bedrooms three bathrooms all on one floor and it's priced at only two hundred twelve thousand, yes $212,000 so come on let's show you inside. You are gonna love this house it is so cute so we're in a cul-de-sac neighborhood sorry having technical difficulties, let me bring you to the outside of the house first before we walk in. Super cute right? Four bedrooms three bathrooms two hundred and twelve thousand in a cul-de-sac y'all whip around so you can see the neighborhood tucked in a cul-de-sac, here only two hundred twelve thousand pretty unbelievable right? The floors are gorgeous, so step inside you're gonna see that these hardwood floors are pretty much throughout the home except for picks up four in one bedroom we'll head back there to show you that first Oh two bedrooms. So the master bedroom has carpet and so does the guest bedroom guest bedroom is really large master bedroom has easy access to deck out back it's actually two decks on this house there's one out back and there's one on the side. Of course you guys know I'm all about my closet space and yes this one does have a walk-in closet pretty cool, shower is inside that little room over there yes tile backsplash in here. So this is coming on the market right now we just got them taking pictures and we'll be putting this in the MLS today, so if you're working with an agent please let your agent know that you want to see the house on 111 Dron Place Wilmington Nc that's again it's gonna be two hundred to a thousand I wish I could bring you more light in here but unfortunately this is the best that we can do at this point. But I know you guys wanted to see this house as soon as it came on the market yes it has a fireplace and so basically the way that this floorplan works you know we came in through that front door right there your living room was to your left your dining room was to your right and then back there was the master bedroom and two additional bedrooms and a bathroom. But then to the front of the house here you have a separate bedroom with an additional bathroom, so pretty cool alright and then here is the kitchen I love that window. So who do you know that's looking for a house in the hybrid school district or quite frankly anywhere in Wilmington for under 250,000 do you see this backyard so as I mentioned to you there's two ducks so here's the one that's on the side of the house right and then there is one in the backyard it's a really nice backyard. So from here Wrightsville Beach is maybe I don't know 10 minutes away 10-15 minutes at the most from here also independent small is less than ten minutes away Hugh McRae Park is gosh I don't know less than 10 minutes awesome maybe five minutes away so this is a really nice location. Locations like this usually go under contract within just days them coming on the market so if you know anyone that is looking right now tell them not to wait to give me a call and we'll get them in right away because it is going to the MLS today so is available for showings starting this evening. And remember we are on 111 Dron Place Wilmington NC, but really cute house and we'll have it in the MLS later today. So give me a call I'm Regina with the Regina Drury Real Estate Group in Wilmington North Carolina and we'll get you in talk to you then!

Blooper Videos

So the big moving day is approaching and you're asking yourself if you are prepared and what possibly could go wrong.  Here's some funny videos to give you a laugh about moving day disasters other people experienced.  Grab a glass of wine, press play, and enjoy!

How to Move a Couch Upstairs

Best tip is probably don't try this at home. Ross, Chandler, and Rachel show you how easy moving a couch can be.

No U-Haul Needed

If you got a pick up truck or a back seat, some might say you don't need a U-Haul.  Save money and skip hiring a mover or rental truck so you have to buy a new car after you move.  

Hire Movers that Previously Worked for The Circus

 This video will make you laugh but you might not want to watch it until after the movers have moved you in.

How to Move Your Refrigerator

You might want to empty it first.  

Wrap Your Precious Items Well

Having lots of bubble wrap and newspaper on hand can help with protecting your most precious items.

Ask your Friends to Help but Don't Ask them to Pack

Body Building Comedian tells you the truth your friends might not say. You don't know a person until you help them move.

Moving Can Be Exciting

Yes, moving day is a lot of work and you'll be stressed and very tired but most will agree that it's all worth it when you are done.  So go get the boxes, start packing and send us your bloopers. 

Halloween Party at Regina Drury Real Estate Group

For a few hours in the afternoon on Halloween, kids and adults of all ages came to enjoy hot dogs, snacks, and all kinds of spooky treats for everyone. Old friends and new friends came not only to have some Halloween fun, but also to celebrate our one year anniversary of serving Wilmington and the surrounding areas as Regina Drury Real Estate Group. 

We had some really great costumes at the party.  Pat Holsten from American Security Mortgage played the part of Mortgage Nurse and provided a champagne punch to all our guests to toast the success of our Real Estate Company's 1st year.

The night before the party, Regina and David made candy and chocolate covered apples.  They wrapped them so the guests could take them home.

Regina Drury played the part of the Queen of Hearts but we think these little girls stole our guests hearts.  So adorably sweet!

It's always a pleasure to spend time with Cameron and Tia Hankins and their adorable little guys.  This one was waken up from a nap.  No costume or candy was putting a smile on his face for this photo.  

Linda Brett-Kell worked hard to help us set up for the party.  She helped make sure there was plenty of fun touches.  We got to test the spooky factor of some of our decorations on her during setup.   

Some guests stopped by before the party to check out the decorations and pick up some goodies.  We were delighted to send Aubrie home with some goodies.

Our Real Estate Team chose to be characters from Alice in Wonderland.  Regina Drury was the Queen of Hearts, David Drury was the Mad Hatter, Will Kilchenman was the Rabbit, Russell Kwaak was the Ace of Hearts Card, and Linda Brett-Kell was the cat.  These great costumes were a big hit at the Halloween Event.

Russell Kwaak, Regina's dad, visited from New York to join the 1 year Celebration of Regina Drury Real Estate Group.

We've got a lot more photos we'd love for you to see!  For more photos, visit our Facebook page: Regina Drury Real Estate Group

Thank you again for joining us. Thank you for spending just a part of your day with us. We loved seeing all of the different costumes--from mermaids, to witches, and even to tiny little ninja turtles. See you soon at our next event!

How to Search for a House: Old Ways and New Ways

Searching for that perfect home to buy has changed a lot in the past 20 years.  20 years ago if you wanted to find a house for sale in Wilmington NC you would meet with a Real Estate agent and they would search with you in a big fat MLS book.  That book was at least double the size of an old phone book.  When a new home came on the market it might be a couple of weeks before you knew about it.  Now when you search for a house, you can know immediately when a house comes on the market in Wilmington NC or in Leland NC or anywhere in the United States.

What are the Old Ways to Search for a House?

1. Look through a Real Estate book or magazine.

2. Call a Real Estate office and get an Agent who's on Duty. Not all agents are the same.  You don't want a Duty Agent. You want the best Agent to help you. Here's how to search and find Wilmingtons Top Agent.

3. Drive around on Saturdays and Sundays and go to Open Houses.

What are the Newer Ways to Search for Real Estate?

1. Find a great Website with Live data directly from the MLS (database agents enter their houses for sale).

2. There's so many places you can find reviews about Real Estate agents now.  It's worth your time to research the Agent that will help you with your search.

3.  Virtual tours!!!  You can watch virtual tours of homes for sale at midnight if you want to.  No one will know.  

4. Facebook Live videos are a great way to see a house the moment it comes on the market.  

Best Website to Search for a House for Sale in Wilmington NC area

Finding Real Estate for Sale in Wilmington NC area is a lot easier if you know where to look. Not all websites are the same.  A few years ago our local Real Estate Companies made a decision to not post all houses that are for sale on all websites.  They decided to leave it up to each Real Estate Company if they will post the homes for sale on all websites. 

Have you searched lately for a home on Zillow.com or Trulia.com and not found the house you were looking for?  Have you searched for a house for sale in Wilmington NC and found a house that you were excited about and then found out it was SOLD? 

When choosing what website you'll search for a Real Estate for sale, choose a website that has live data directly from the MLS so it includes all the houses for sale in Wilmington NC area. 

ReginaDrury.com is a great website to use.  It's easy to use. It has all the properties for sale in the entire Southeast North Carolina area, and you can search things like homes for sale in waterfront homes, gated communities, homes with no HOA, and Beachfront Bargains, or search by neighborhood.  

Find a Full Time Top Agent to be your Real Estate Agent

Buying a house is a big step.  This is not the time to be using a part time hobby Real Estate Agent.  You want someone that knows the Wilmington area neighborhoods and Wilmington Real Estate For sale.  You want an Agent that can guide you through the process.  Best part is you can read reviews about Real Estate Agents now.  Facebook is a great place to read reviews because you can then clicl on the person who wrote the review and ask them more questions if you'd like to.

Open Houses

When searching for Real Estate for sale in Wilmington NC why spend a Saturday afternoon driving around looking for Open Houses?  Today many of the best Real Estate companies have virtual tours of the homes.  When Regina Drury Real Estate Group puts a house on the market, there's a Facebook Live video posted immediately.  If you follow Regina Drury Real Estate Group page on Facebook you'll be the first to see the house.  In fact you'll probably see it before the For Sale sign is put in the yard.  When viewing house tours virtually you'll have a better idea of if you want to see more of that house.  Finding Real Estate For Sale in Wilmington NC is a lot less time consuming than it was 20 years ago.

We're Here to Help!

When choosing an agent be sure to go with an agent who has the expert knowledge of listing and selling property.  The Regina Drury Real Estate Group has that and more.  We are a Full Time crew.  We will provide you with all of our expert knowledge and focus on maintaining a high degree of customer service that will leave a lasting impression.  Contact us today to talk more about your Real Estate needs.

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 Free Boat Ramps Wilmington NC area

Wilmington NC is a beautiful coastal town located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River.  Whether you are a boater, a fisherman, a surfer, or a Professional Beach Bum you'll love our 3 Wilmington NC area beaches: Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach. 

Endless Lifestyle Options when you Live Near the Coast

The opportunities for entertainment are vast in the Wilmington, NC area, but you've got one thing on your mind: getting your boat in the water. 

What if I have a Boat but no Boat Slip?

No problem. Wilmington is fortunate to also offer a variety of options for boat ramps in the surrounding areas. If you are looking for a home with convenient access to a neighborhood boat ramp, here are some locations where you might be interested in buying a home.

• Myrtle Grove Public Boat Ramp: 
  • Trails End Park, 613 Trails End Rd, Wilmington, NC 28409
  • (Open 6a-6p)
• Carolina Beach Public Boat Ramp: 
  • Snow’s Cut Park, 9420 River Rd, Wilmington, NC 28412
  •  (Open 8am-6pm)
• Castle Hayne Public Boat Ramp: 
  
  • Castle Hayne Boat Ramp, 6418 Orange St, Castle Hayne, NC 28429
• Murrayville Public Boat Ramp:
  • Smith Creek Park, 633 Shenandoah St, Wilmington, NC 28411
• Hampstead Public Boat Ramp: 
  • Washington Acres Boat Ramp, 715 Hughes Rd, Hampstead, NC 28443

Owning a Home with a Boat Slip may be more Affordable Than You Think

Homes with boat slips in the Wilmington NC area can be found for as little as $250,000. For more information about neighborhoods with boat slips or to search for homes with boat slips, click here.

We're Here to Help!

When choosing an agent be sure to go with an agent who has the expert knowledge of listing and selling property.  The Regina Drury Real Estate Group has that and more.  We look to provide you with all of our expert knowledge and focus on maintaining a high degree of customer service that will leave a lasting impression.  Contact us today to talk more about your Real Estate needs.

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Great Tips When Choosing an Agent 

So you are thinking about selling or buying a house and you need a Real Estate Agent to help you?  How do you find a great Real Estate Agent?  Will you need to pay them anything to represent you?  

Seller's Agent also known as Listing Agent

Selling a home in a hot market can seem like it will be fairly easy but...Are you getting the most money and will the process be smooth?  

How Much will it Cost to Sell?

That's the interesting part.  It pretty much costs the same commission to hire a great Agent as it does to hire a less experienced Real Estate Agent so why not hire Wilmington's Top Agent if it cost the same?  If you would like a List of All Closing Costs When you Sell a House here's a link for that too.

How do I find a Hard Working Top Agent to Sell my House?

First step of course to finding a Top Real Estate Agent is to ask your friends and family.  Then read the reviews about them.  Facebook Reviews and Google their business to find Reviews about them are 2 smart places to start.  

There's a lot of part time Real Estate Agents in this business.  A part time Agent might not be that familiar with the market, not the best at negotiating, might not have the skills or time to go above and beyond the basics in advertising, and a part time Real Estate Agent might not be able to handle issues as well as a Professional Full Time Real Estate Agent.  You definitely want a Full Time Real Estate Agent working for you.

Do all Agents use the Same Techniques When Selling a Property?

NO!  All Agents will put it in the MLS, on websites, and put a sign up but that's where most will stop.  A great productive top agent will prospect for your buyer!  What does prospect mean?  Prospect means they will make daily calls to your neighborhood, other neighborhoods, their past clients, and to other Agents to ask if they know anyone looking for a home like yours.  Prospecting or cold calling for a buyer for your house is only done by a few Real Estate Agents in the Wilmington area.

Another great technique is target ads on Social Media like Facebook.  Have you ever gone on Facebook or google and found ads pop up on your screen that were related to something you were looking for earlier?  That's done by targeted marketing.  An ad is created to target an audience that seems to be looking for homes or seems to want to move.  It's a great way to find a buyer possibly before the buyer was expecting to buy anything. 

Videos, videos, videos... Buyer's love to see videos.  Wilmington's Top Agent will post videos live when they are at the house so buyers know the property is coming on the market.  The buyer shares the video with their Agent and tells them they want to see the property as soon as it's available.  The video doesn't need to be high quality.  It needs to look real, not doctored up.  Buyers love seeing the walk thru videos. 

Buyer's Agent

Buying a home will be one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make in your lifetime. 

How Much Does a Buyer's Agent Cost?

Hiring a Buyer's Agent to represent you is a smart decision and it usually won't cost you anything.  Buyer's Agents are paid at the closing sale by the seller for a predetermined percentage of the price of the house.  That percentage is disclosed on the mls to the agent with all the other information about the property.

What will the Buyer's Agent do?

An experienced Buyer's Agent will make the buying process a lot easier and less stressful.  A Top Agent will recommend that you start with getting pre approved with a lender and will have some great lenders  Many times a buyer shops around online for lenders and then are disappointed when the lender doesn't complete the loan on time or worse, declines the loan at the last minute.  When working with a good Buyer's Agent, they will help you by recommending lenders, inspectors, and attorneys that they work with on a regular basis that are known for consistent satisfactory service.

A Wilmington Top Agent is an expert in the area and will help you with getting a home that meets your wants and needs.  In a booming market prices could go up so fast that sometimes it's hard to know what's overpriced vs what's priced appropriately.  A great Buyer's Agent will advise you if they feel a house is overpriced.  

How to Choose a Real Estate Agent to be Your Buyer's Agent?

Wilmington NC area has about 3,000 agents so it can feel like a needle in a haystack when looking for Wilmington's Top Real Estate Agent that best fits you.  If you are a first time home buyer, we've got a great article for First Time Buyers about How to Buy Your First Home.  A great place to start when searching for a Top Agent is read reviews.  Facebook Reviews is nice because you can read the review and click on the person who wrote the review.  Then you can see if you have friends or acquaintances in common.  Another great place to read reviews is if you Google the name of the agent that you are considering hiring.  If you see reviews with less than 5 stars you might want to read the lower star reviews and see if the issues they had are possible issues you'd have.

It's also a good idea to ask friends and family who they used, but be careful.  They might have not had any major issues that would have tested the true professional abilities of their agent.  Some major things that can come up are inspection issues, appraisal issues, etc.  If you want to be sure you are working with one of Wilmington's Top Agents / Wilmington's Top Real Estate Agents then follow up their recommendation by reading the reviews about them.

We're Here to Help!

Are you looking for the best real estate agency in Wilmington, NC? When choosing an agent be sure to go with an agent who has the expert knowledge of listing and selling property.  The Regina Drury Real Estate Group has that and more.  We are a Full Time crew.  We will provide you with all of our expert knowledge and focus on maintaining a high degree of customer service that will leave a lasting impression.  Contact us today to talk more about your Real Estate needs.

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Bradley Creek Point Neighborhood Tour

People say Bradley Creek Point is the best neighborhood in Wilmington NC. Beautiful horses at the entrance, butterflies and birds everywhere, and lots of majestic Oak trees are just a few of the southern charms Bradley Creek Point has. It's hard to believe this beautiful courty like area is just minutes from Wrightsville Beach. Some of the homes here are located right on the Intracoastal waterway and have private docks.

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