Luxury Portfolio Spotlight: Celebrating the South with Pinnacle Properties from Wrightsville Beach to South Africa

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As our partnership with Luxury Portfolio allows, Intracoastal Realty’s listings are often featured on LuxuryPortfolio.com. We often spotlight outstanding listings around the world and become enamored with the many features, outdoor spaces, and interior design and decor of these lavish properties. This month is no exception. We bring in 2017 by celebrating the South and have opted to share three extraordinary custom homes with you.

wrightsville-beachOne of a kind home with every imaginable feature beautifully incorporated with rich mahogany details throughout. Constructed with steel and concrete to withstand over 130 mph winds. Amenities and features are numerous and exquisite. For a detailed list of amenities contact Intracoastal Realty agents, Jeff Hovis and Deb Hayes.

True professional chef’s kitchen, full in home spa, stunning master suite encompasses the entire north side of the third floor, southern wrap around porch to capture the scents and beauty of the ocean and its expansive views.

Variety of recreation and entertainment areas and facilities to match any enthusiast’s lifestyle. Four garage bays, two outdoor shower/dressing areas, and multiple storage rooms. Home must be seen to be fully appreciated. Sold with adjacent ocean front lot, 20 E. Oxford.

PROPERTY FEATURES INCLUDE: Waterfront, Security System, four-car attached garage, zoned central cooling, heat pump, zoned heating system, irrigation system, security lighting, shutters – hurricane, thermal windows, outdoor shower

INTERIOR FEATURES INCLUDE: 9-foot+ ceilings, blinds/shades, ceiling fan(s), elevator, pantry, security system, smoke detectors, sprinkler system, walk-in shower, walk-in closet, wet bar, whirlpool, sauna

VIEWS INCLUDE: Water, Sunrise

BUILT IN: 2009

APPROXIMATE SQUARE FEET: 7,838 ft.

LOT ACRES: 0.24

See it!

atlantaConstructed of concrete and slate, with windows and doors custom made in the Loire River Valley and installed by French artisans brought to the United States for the project, the level of craftsmanship represents the pinnacle of homebuilding in the American South.

Designed not only to reflect the quality of lifestyle of a forgotten age, this home was also carefully crafted to house a modern family. This is an heirloom home designed to last hundreds of years and represents a seldom available opportunity to secure what is certainly one of the South’s most important residences.

Property Features Include: six-car garage

Approximate Square Feet: 15,172 ft.

Architectural Style: French Provincial

Lot Acres: 2

See it!

south-africaRietfontein, the magnificent Karoo stud farm that has been home to sporting legend Gary Player and his family for the past 44 years, has been listed for sale. Champion racehorses have been bred and raised on this farm since 1883 and it has achieved worldwide acclaim for the exceptional quality of its breeding stock.   Designed by Watermeyer & Mason Architects, the master-built homestead pays tribute to the traditions of Karoo building, with interiors by top designer Michele Throssell.

Flowing off the cool entrance courtyard with its oversized skylight and large Koi pond, it features vaulted ceilings and generously proportioned, airy living rooms and bedrooms; a large terrace with lovely views of the surrounding hills; a basement wine cellar; an ultra-modern kitchen with separate pantry, walk-in cold room and breakfast area; an upstairs library/ reading room; a private study with its own lounge area and a luxurious gym. It is air-conditioned throughout.

Outdoors there is a long lap pool; tennis court, enclosed hillside barbeque area with a hot-tub; a private chapel; two guest flats and a three-bedroom, two-bathroom guesthouse with its own pool and entertainment area. And, of course, it has a Gary Player-designed private golf course.

In the business section of the farm, there are 46 stables, eight of them in a special foaling barn; 14 staff houses; tack, equipment and feed storage sheds; two offices and a veterinary treatment room. Grazing and exercise areas include 14 post-and-rail paddocks, several fenced camps and an enclosed oval race-track of about 3000m. The farm also has its own fenced game reserve.  Price excludes VAT.

PROPERTY FEATURES INCLUDE: Ranch, Alarm System, three-car garage, guest parking, air conditioning

VIEWS INCLUDE: Hills

AMENITIES INCLUDE: on golf course, equestrian facilities, Lap Pool

DESIGNED BY: Watermeyer & Mason Architects

ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Ranch

See it!

January 2017 Area Events, Plus New Year’s Eve Celebrations

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january-2017-events12/3 – 1/8: Art of Illumination – Cameron Art Museum

12/30 – 1/22: Sister Act – Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts

12/31: Bluewater’s New Year’s Eve Big Band Bash – Bluewater Waterfront Grill

12/31: Island of Lights New Year’s Eve Celebration – Ocean Front Park & Pavillion

12/31: New Year’s Noon – Children’s Museum of Wilmington

12/31: Midnight in Paris – Le Catalan Café

12/31: New Year’s Eve Winner Party Boat Cruise – Carolina Beach Marina

12/31: New Year’s Benefit Gala – Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts

12/31: New Year’s Eve Celebration – Blockade Runner Beach Resort

1/1: Toast the Coast – North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher

1/1: 1st Day Hike I – Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and Carolina Beach State Park

1/1: 2nd Annual Wrightsville Plunge – Wrightsville Beach (Crystal Pier)

1/1: 15th Annual Dolphin Dip – Surf City (Roland Ave Beach Access)

1/5 – 8: Art of the Bloom (Proceeds benefit Cameron Art Museum and New Hanover Garden Club) – Blockade Runner Beach Resort

1/7: Nabucco at the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD – Lumina Theater at UNCW

1/7: Hidden Battleship – Battleship North Carolina

1/9 – 11: Nocturnal Animals – Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts

1/14: Run for Food Marathon and 5K Race – Ocean Isle Beach Town Hall

1/14: The 152nd Anniversary of the Battle of Fort Fisher – Fort Fisher State Historic Site

1/16: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day March and Commemoration – Historic Downtown Wilmington

1/16 – 18: Loving – Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts

1/21: Cold Stroke Classic: 9th Annual – Blockade Runner Beach Resort

1/21: Taste of Wrightsville Beach – Blockade Runner Beach Resort

1/21: Joe Crookston Concert – Virginia Williamson Event Center

1/21: Roméo et Juliette at the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD – Lumina Theater at UNCW

1/22: The Silver Coast Bridal Show – Silver Coast Winery, Ocean Isle Beach

1/21: Battleship 101 – Battleship North Carolina

1/22: Wilmington Symphony Orchestra’s Beethoven 15K & 5K – Brunswick Forest Fitness Center, Leland

1/26: Beginnings Chicago Tribute – Virginia Williamson Event Center

1/26 – 29: East Coast Shag Classic – Holiday Inn Resort

1/28: Shallotte Rotary Club Las Vegas Night – 130 Whiteville Rd Shallotte, NC

1/28: AIW (Arts In Wilmington) First Annual Awards Show – theArtWorks | 200 Willard Street

1/28: David Cassidy in Concert – Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts

1/29: The Adventures of Bonnie Reed, Queen of The Pirate Ants – Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts

New Year’s Resolutions for Better Home Maintenance

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Another year is upon us, and this time, we’re making a New Year’s Resolution that we’re going to keep! This year, put some of that resolution effort back into what is, most likely, your biggest investment by dedicating some time to keeping better maintenance of your home. Simple, daily tasks can have a huge impact on preserving and improving the value of your home, while making it safer for you and your family to live in now!

1. Protect your home from dangerous toxins

This is a fairly simple, yet extremely important step that requires very little in terms of a monetary investment. First, have your house tested for radon. According to the EPA, homes with high levels of radon have been found in every state and levels can vary from home to home — even among directly neighboring homes, so just because your neighbor doesn’t have a radon problem, doesn’t mean you won’t. Radon is naturally occurring and the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers, but it can be easily identified and resolved, so there’s no reason to delay in getting this taken care of! You can purchase radon kits for approximately $20 at your local hardware store.

Secondly, install carbon monoxide detectors in every bedroom of your home. This is another small investment, especially compared to its importance. If your chimney or furnace vent becomes blocked or leaks, this extremely deadly gas can build up in your house and almost immediately put you and your family in serious danger.

Lastly, if your house was built or remodeled before 1978, you should consider having it tested for lead and asbestos. If your home ends up possessing either one of these deadly toxins, the effects on your health can be devastating. It’s important to hire a professional to remove any and all lead and asbestos in your home, should either be found.

2. Prevent and prepare against fires

Lint may seem relatively harmless, but in reality, it can become a major fire hazard! Most people know to clean out their dryer’s lint trap between loads, but most homeowners aren’t nearly as diligent when it comes to cleaning lint out from their dryer’s vents and ducts. You can hire someone to do this for you, or you can easily do it yourself, as long as you can actually access the duct/hose behind your dryer. All you need is a lint removal kit and a vacuum, and you’re set. Doing this will not only help safeguard against the possibility of fires caused by lint buildup, but it should actually help your dryer work better, drying your clothes quicker and saving you money. (Also, start getting in the habit of making sure you never leave your house or sleep at night with the dryer running. A hot, running dryer without any supervision = fire hazard.)

For your standard fire precautions, make sure you test your home’s smoke detectors to ensure that they’re working properly and aren’t in need of new batteries. You should also invest in a couple of fire extinguishers for your home, if you don’t already have some. In the kitchen, keep a kitchen-specific extinguisher, like this one. These typically are designed to avoid hot oil splashing and can tackle a grease fire. You should keep a fire extinguisher on every level of your home, near front and rear entrances/exits. Always opt for a dry, chemical extinguisher, as opposed to a water-based one, as water-based extinguishers will only complicate a grease or electrical fire.

3. Reduce your bills and your carbon footprint

If you spent more than you would have liked to heating and cooling your house last year, it might be time to make some upgrades to help you cut down energy use and curb costs. You can make some obvious changes, like making sure you turn off unnecessary lights when you’re not in the room, checking the weather stripping and caulking around your doors, windows and any opening into your home, or simply consciously fighting your will to crank the thermostat when you can just put on a sweater or opt for lighter layers instead.

However, there’s much, much more that you can be doing, including swapping out your light bulbs with either Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) or LEDs, both of which are vastly superior to your standard light bulb in saving energy, using up to 85 percent less than standard bulbs. Among other new habits, you can also strive to ensure that you only run your dishwasher and washer when full; make sure to unplug appliances, electronics and chargers that are not being used (as these appliances continue to pull energy, even when not in use); and, make sure you maintain your HVAC system by replacing your filter as needed, scheduling regular inspections and keeping your unit clear from debris to ensure that it’s running efficiently at all times.

4. Maintain a regular cleaning schedule for your home

This might seem somewhat optional when it comes to “maintenance,” but keeping a regular cleaning schedule can be extremely beneficial in protecting against unsanitary conditions, the accumulation of dust, mold and other allergens, as well as potential damage. While it’s certainly not going to hurt to let your house “go” every so often, it’s really best to stay on top of cleaning in your home when you can! Dishes should be done on a daily basis and kitchen counters wiped. Spend a few minutes tidying up every day by eliminating clutter (like junk mail or magazines) and making sure dirty clothes find their way to the hamper, instead of residing on the floor. This will require enlisting the help of the entire family—everybody should be cleaning up behind themselves every day!

On a weekly basis, set aside some time to clean the majority of your house by vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, dusting, doing the laundry, etc. Then, once a month, do some deep-cleaning to tackle any of those tasks that you just don’t have the time, energy or attention for on a weekly basis, like wiping the floorboards, dusting fan blades, cleaning the refrigerator, running vinegar through your dishwasher, vacuuming your refrigerator coils, etc. If you’re in the need of some specific checklists to make sure you don’t miss a thing, we can definitely point you in the right direction with these!

6. Have your home inspected

Home inspections aren’t just important to have done prior to buying a new house. Having regular home inspections conducted throughout the years you spend in your home help you to stay on top of the overall health of your home, especially when it comes to the parts of your home that you can’t actually see, like the plumbing. Regular inspections will not only help you catch potentially big problems before they become big, but they will also help when or if the time comes to sell your home by helping you to avoid any nasty shocks when a potential seller has an inspection done. They also act as a clean bill of health, showing that you’ve properly maintained your home over a long span of time!

You should have your home inspected at least every few years, if not annually, depending on the age of your home and any pre-existing issues that your home may have. Home inspections should always be conducted by a professional home inspector and should include inspections of your home’s heating and air systems, plumbing, roof, attic, insulation, foundation, basement, structure, flooring, ceilings and walls.

This year, make a new year’s resolution that will keep your biggest investment clean, safe and valuable for years to come. A small investment in time and money now will reap big rewards in the future, so start your new year off right with these tips to get you started!

New Year’s Ham, Kale & White Bean Soup

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ham-soupEnjoy renewed health in 2017 with our warm and inviting soup. January’s recipe is a healthy kale and white bean fusion incorporating the salty ham and soothing broth left over from your bountiful Holiday feast. Our seasonal remedy will soothe away the winter chills and ills for renewed health and happiness in your home. Be sure to share our recipe pick with family and friends during the New Year!

Recipe Courtesy of Casey McGuire,
Intracoastal’s Designer and Marketing Coordinator

Ingredients:

  • 1 leftover ham bone
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 5-6 medium – large carrots
  • 4 celery stalks
  • 2 onions
  • garlic cloves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ tsp whole peppercorns
  • 2 cans white beans (cannellini or great northern)
  • 8 oz. or 1 large bunch of kale

Directions:

  1. Simmer leftover ham bone with 1 onion, 4 cloves garlic, 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, peppercorns and bay leaf in chicken stock for 2-3 hours.
  2. Remove bone and pull meat off for soup. Discard bone and strain stock.
  3. Sauté remaining onion, garlic cloves, carrots and celery in olive oil until soft. Add back in stock, shredded ham, 2 cans of white beans and kale.
  4. Simmer until warmed through. Serve with red wine vinegar, shaved Parmesan and crusty bread.
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Celebrate the Arts in January with AIW (Arts In Wilmington)

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Saturday, January 28th at 6 pm, join AIW (Arts In Wilmington) for the first annual Wilmington Awards show at theArtWorks. This year’s celebration will honor four outstanding recipients from the area. Beer, wine, and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served. 12-20-aiw-awards-promotion-poster-final

Award recipients include:
Individual Artist:  Hiroshi Sueyoshi
Individual:  Jim & Betsy Knowles, Owners of theArtWorks
Arts in Education:  Gabriel Lovejoy
Organization:  DREAMS of Wilmington

AIW (Arts In Wilmington) connects artists, arts professionals, and arts advocates and includes Wilmington, Carolina & Kure Beaches, Wrightsville Beach, Hampstead, Surf City, Topsail Beach, Burgaw, Leland, Shallotte, Southport and Brunswick County Beaches.

To purchase tickets:  AIWAwards.EventBrite.com

For more information:  Contact Craig Stinson at 910-524-2679 or craigstinson@intracoastalrealty.com

 

5 Things That Pull Down the Value of Your Home (That You Can Fix!)

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If you’re trying to prepare your home to sell, then you probably already know that maximizing your home’s value is really the best way for you to get the most out of your home, monetarily speaking. While there’s not always a whole lot you can do about the the highway they laid down behind your neighborhood a few years ago or the power lines that seem to have accumulated since you first moved in, there are still things that you can do to preserve your home’s value, if not increase it.

1. Swimming Pools & Elaborate Landscaping

There are several factors that determine whether or not having a swimming pool will actually be a good or bad investment in terms of the value of your home. If you’re in a locale that supports having a swimming pool with sweltering, long summers — like we are! — then a pool in and of itself isn’t a bad idea. However, if your pool isn’t well maintained or if it bogarts all the space in your backyard, it might end up hurting more than helping. Keep in mind too that, for any potential buyers will small children or dogs, a pool might be a big negative for safety reasons. Does your pool have a safety fence or cover? If you’re going to have a pool, it’s important that it’s safe and clean. Buyers might also be turned off by the idea of having to care for a pool, as the maintenance is normally quite costly and labor intensive.

There’s a similar mentality for landscaping when it comes to maintenance. A highly customized and unique yard, laden with hard-to-care-for plants or requiring constant trimming to manage its aesthetics might actually act a deterrent for buyers, as opposed to an attraction. When tending to your yard, keep in mind that most buyers will probably care more about whether or not your yard has a healthy lawn (which is a prized asset here on the coast) than anything else, as well as the health of trees close to the house that could cause damage if they drop a heavy branch.

2. Poor Maintenance

Think of regular maintenance on your home as a requirement, because it essentially is if you want to protect the value of your home over time. When it comes time for your potential buyer to have their home inspection done on your home, all the little things that you’ve put off will add up, if they didn’t snowball into a couple of big problems, which will wind up costing you a lot more when you’re scrambling to close the sale on your house than they would have if you had just taken care of them when you actually had the time to research contractors and find the best rates. Poor maintenance can be a major contributor to decreased value of your home. Keep up with your home’s maintenance from the get-go with these helpful tips!

3. Overly Customized Kitchen/Bathroom Remodels

Upgraded kitchens and bathrooms can be a healthy boost to your home’s value, but not if they’re over the top or extremely personalized to your very specific taste. As we covered before with the swimming pools and landscaping, not all upgrades are instantly beneficial to your home’s value. You want to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible, and ornate faucets, “statement” sinks and professional-grade kitchen appliances might prove an obstacle to that. On the other hand, new appliances in the kitchen won’t improve your home’s value as much if the kitchen still has original linoleum floors, for instance, and your home doesn’t have a consistent feel to it.

4. Lackluster Curb Appeal

Just like having overly elaborate landscaping might act as a hindrance to buyers, so will a yard that looks barren and neglected. Admittedly, it can be fairly difficult to cultivate a lush, green lawn with the sandy soil and immense pine needles that we have to contend with, however, it’s not entirely impossible, and there are other ways to compensate for it. If you’re trying to raise your own luscious lawn, you’ll have to do a little research based on your soil type and the amount of sun/shade your lawn receives. Typically, in these parts, residents rely on several different strains of grass, typically bermuda, fescue or even ryegrass, among others.

If your yard is past the point of being salvageable, or, if you’re looking for a quick fix, potted plants are the way to go. You can also do your best to make sure that the actual exterior of your home is looking spiffy by renting or hiring pressure washing services to make sure that siding/shingles, fences, driveways and decks are clean and looking like new!

5. Bright Paint

Whether it’s on the interior or the exterior of your home, very bright and bold paint can be a turnoff for potential buyers. No matter how much you love your adventurous color palette, it can distract buyers from being able to actually picture themselves in your home, or the idea of having to repaint an entire house inside and out can deter buyers who are looking for a move-in ready home. Not sure where to start? Check out this neutral paints guide for ideas!

You can’t control everything when it comes to preserving or improving the value of your home, but there is still plenty that you can do! Need some help preparing your home to sell or looking for an agent? Give us a call at 1-800-533-1840 or email us at info@intracoastalrealty.com.

Why You Should Always Hire a Buyer’s Agent

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Buying a house can be a lengthy and somewhat arduous process no matter how many times you’ve done it. There’s always going to be a decent amount of time spent researching, filling out paperwork, scheduling viewings, etc. However, having a buyer’s agent by your side can greatly ease the process! Before you hire one though, here are some things to consider beforehand.

Research your agent first

Buyer’s agents are there to represent your interests and should act as your ally throughout the entire buying process, however, just like with any other professional service, you should do your research first. Some agents will always be better than others based on their experience, communication skills, market knowledge and overall professionalism.

When looking for an agent, focus your search on realty companies, as opposed to just searching for individual agents. There’s not a very consistent way to actually “rate” agents online, so you’re not always likely to get a very accurate picture of an agent’s aptitude. However, if a realty agency or corporation has good reviews, that bodes well for their agents. Look on Google, Yelp, Zillow, Realtor.com, etc. for reviews, or, even better, ask around to see if any friends or family had positive experiences with certain agents or companies.

When you meet with your agent, make sure to ask them a couple of questions first to ensure that they’re knowledgeable and are going to be available when you need them. Have they lived in the area for long? How long have they been an agent? How many homes have they helped clients purchase in the past year? Do they have recommendations for mortgage brokers? Are they available via text, email and phone? Are they an exclusive buyer’s agent, or are they a dual agent?

This last question is particularly important because, if they’re a dual agent, then they also act as a seller’s agent in some cases, which can present a conflict of interest if you should ever view one of the homes that they actually have listed. A buyer’s agent should disclose this information to you upfront and should be able to recommend another agent should you want to pursue a home that they are acting as the listing/seller’s agent for.

Agent benefits include:

1. Helping you find homes according to your specifications

When you meet with your agent, you should discuss what you’re looking for in a home. If you’re serious about buying a home, you should get pre-approved for a loan beforehand to determine how much house you can actually afford. Some agents actually require this before getting started. Afterwards though, they should help narrow down your potential homes—do you have a specific area you want to stay within? Do you want good schools nearby? Do you want a home that’s move-in ready or are you willing to do some work on a home? They should provide you with listings of potential homes that match your requirements regularly and help you schedule viewings.

2. Providing advice and insight when viewing homes

When viewing a home, they should be there to help point out qualities in the home that are both good or bad, helping you to notice any potential areas of the home that might need work or any perks, as well as filling you in on the surrounding area and neighborhood. You should never feel like your agent is trying to “sell” you on a home—that’s not their job. Their job should be to help you analyze a home based on its qualities, location and price from a perspective that benefits you the most.

3. Helping you negotiate offers and stay within your price range

A good agent will make sure that you’re looking at homes that are realistically within your price range. They should be able to tell you about factors that might affect the cost of a home, like HOA fees, taxes and whether or not the surrounding market supports the listed price of the home. When it comes time to place an offer, they should guide you in making a reasonable offer that won’t deter the seller, while making sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.

4. Taking care of all of the paperwork, legal matters, etc.

Perhaps one of the best reasons to have a buyer’s agent is simply to ensure that all required paperwork is taken care of in a timely manner because there is a ton of paperwork. They should take care of scheduling inspections, drafting offers and due diligence documents, scheduling professionals to take care of any necessary repairs on the home (should any be required or agreed upon by the seller), filing all paperwork with a lawyer and coordinating with the seller’s agent, lawyer and mortgage broker. All you should have to do is double-check documents that they send to you for review, let them know of any necessary changes, and sign.

If you’re getting ready to buy a home, make sure you weigh the options of hiring a buyer’s agent beforehand! All fees for a buyer’s agent should get wrapped up into the actual sale of the house, so there shouldn’t be any upfront cost, meaning there’s really no reason not to hire one.

If you’re in the market for an agent, make sure to check out our listing of agents here or contact us at 1-800-533-1840 or at info@intracoastalrealty.com. Happy hunting!