Imagine you are in the market to purchase new appliances. You go to Home Depot and see some that you like. Unfortunately, none of them have prices on them. Of course, you want to know what the prices are, so you pull up the Home Depot website on your phone. Perhaps prices can be found there. No prices are listed there either! This may be a little bit of an exaggeration, but this analogy is similar to what’s going on in the real estate industry right now. Agent Fees Prior to the National … Continue reading...
NAR Settlement Impacts OBX Real Estate
If you follow real estate then you are probably aware of the lawsuit that the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR), settled this spring. Most local Realtors were disappointed with the settlement and the media coverage. In many ways, news articles mislead the public about how we conduct our business and how it would impact the Outer Banks real estate industry. This post is not to explain the details of the settlement. If you are looking for that click here. The purpose of this post is to … Continue reading...
Finding an OBX Rental Gem
When you begin to look at vacation rental homes for sale on the Outer Banks, it often becomes obvious… If the property only generates the same income as it does right now, then you’ll end up having a negative cash flow. Why is that? This article will discuss reasons why and help you in the process of finding an OBX Rental Gem. Flexibility For many vacation rental homeowners, a home here is not about making money. It’s about having flexibility for OBX vacation time. Of course, these owners … Continue reading...
Outer Banks Septic Systems
Many areas of the Outer Banks don’t have central sewage systems or community sewage systems. As a result, it’s a good idea to have a little knowledge about septic systems so that you can protect your Outer Banks property and make good buying decisions. This blog will provide some basic information about Outer Banks septic systems. What is a septic system? Basically, the septic system is a mini-sewage treatment plant. Septic systems clean the effluent to a level that does not contaminate the … Continue reading...
Outer Banks Bucketlist for March
The weather on the Outer Banks this time of year can be hit or miss. Usually early in the month, it will be cold and rainy. Chances of having nice weather days gets better towards the end of the month. Here are a few fun things to do here that you may want to put on your Outer Banks bucketlist for March. Attend the St Patrick’s Day Parade Nags Head hosts the largest St Patrick’s Day parade in North Carolina each year. This parade has been running since 1990 on or around St Patrick’s Day. For … Continue reading...
Outer Banks Bucketlist for February
Winter living along most of the East Coast has its challenges. The Outer Banks is no exception. The weather is less than desirable most of this month. Those days when it’s not foggy and cold, it probably is windy and rainy. Sunny and warm February days this time of year are few and far between. Just because the weather stinks does not mean there aren’t fun things to do on the Outer Banks. Here are three things you might want to put on your Outer Banks Bucketlist for February. Visit the … Continue reading...
Outer Banks Bucketlist for January
January is just about the quietest time on the Outer Banks. Most folks don’t equate the beach with freezing cold temperatures. People don’t want to drive on snowy roads to get here so a mid-Atlantic snowy forecast stops many folks from a weekend trip. Being quiet has many benefits. It’s much easier getting around on our roads, the restaurants are not crowded, and you can enjoy many locations on the Outer Banks in relative solitude. If you are here this month, then get out and enjoy the OBX. … Continue reading...
Outer Banks Bucketlist for December
Most people don’t associate the beach with wintertime. Even though it’s the beginning of winter on the Outer Banks, December is a great time to be here. Often, our first frost comes this month. The great fall fishing has tapered off and only rarely will there be a beach day where you will want to be in your bathing suit. Besides a few things that will help get you in the holiday spirit, this is the time of year to enjoy a few specific items here on the Outer Banks. Here’s our Outer Banks … Continue reading...
Outer Banks Bucketlist for November
There's no doubt the vacation season is over when you are here in November. Except for Thanksgiving week, the roads, restaurants and the beach are less crowded. Many locals have adjusted to this slower pace and it feels like the Outer Banks is a small town again. It's easy to enjoy the Outer Banks this time of year. Here's our Outer Banks bucketlist for November. Walk in Nags Head Woods Taking a walk in Nags Head Woods this time of year is enjoyable. Our foliage changes much later than … Continue reading...
OBX Market Report Fall 2023
After finishing school in 1989, I immediately started my real estate career on the Outer Banks. The other Realtors who had been working in this market for a while kept saying "You should have been here last year." Evidently, I had just missed the peak of that previous real estate cycle. New agents who enter the market today are likley to hear simliar comments. After close to three years of very busy real estate activity, the Outer Banks Real Estate Market is showing some signs of cooling … Continue reading...