New Restaurants Are Popping Up All Over New Hanover County

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By Judy Royal

“Want to grab breakfast?” “What are you doing for lunch?” “What’s for dinner tonight?” These questions are almost as pervasive in everyday conversation as, “How are you today?” The Wilmington area, known for having a high number of restaurants relative to the size and population of the region, has plenty of options for those seeking a good meal with no effort or mess to clean up afterward. While there are many tried-and-true establishments that have stood the test of time around here, the nature of the industry also lends itself to many newcomers who are ready to give it a go and offer their cuisine to the hungry masses. The following are a few recently opened establishments you might want to consider the next time you dine out:***

Blackfinn Ameripub, 18 Harnett St., Wilmington

This spot in the Pier 33 northern riverfront section of downtown Wilmington has a prime waterfront location with lots of indoor and outdoor seating for all seasons. Catch your favorite sports games on plenty of TV screens, or just sit and enjoy the view for lunch, dinner, or late night. There are plenty of beer, wine, and cocktail selections, including the refreshing Cucumber Cooler and the Blackfinn Bacon Mary. Food runs the gamut from appetizers and small plates such as Fried Deviled Eggs, Southern Nachos, and Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes to salads, sandwiches, and large main dishes, including Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf, Shrimp N Grits, and Chicken Fried Chicken. There is also a weekday happy hour menu with $5 noshes and brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

Cruz, 7205 Wrightsville Ave., Wilmington

The newest creation from the folks who brought the area K38 Baja Grill and Tower 7 is now open in the bottom floor of the Grand View Luxury Apartments building just west of the drawbridge to Wrightsville Beach. Enjoy lunch and dinner daily, with tasty bites such as Truffle Fries, Florets of Fire (cauliflower), and Mexican Street Corn as well as salads, sandwiches, tacos, tostadas, enchiladas, and main dishes, including Tuna Sedona, Cruz Spring Chicken, and Masonboro Shrimp Bake. Wash it all down with selections from the full bar. The crisp-looking décor includes light colors in a beachy theme.

Far from France, 1474 Barclay Pointe Blvd. #204, Wilmington

Pastries, bread, gourmet chocolate, macarons, and imported French goods line the shelves at this bakery in The Pointe at Barclay, a mixed-use development at the corner of South 17th Street and Independence Boulevard that also features a brand-new movie theater and a number of other shops and businesses. Grab some sweet souvenirs or other goodies and sit outdoors with some coffee, or take them with you. Recent selections included croissants, baguettes, crepe cake, wheat bread, and madeleines, which are French tea cakes. The café is open every day except Monday.

Nollie’s Taco Joint, 3 Pelican Lane, Carolina Beach

Located just a few steps off the beach yet hidden on a side street just off the town’s bustling Boardwalk area, this spot is open daily for lunch and dinner. Tacos on corn or flour tortillas, chips with various salsas and guacamole, burritos, salads, and quesadillas make up the menu, including some vegetarian selections. There is also a lineup of drinks such as micheladas, margaritas, and cold beer. Sit indoors or outdoors on the deck, or take your food with you to enjoy on the sand. Just watch out for the seagulls!

Pho Café, 3926 Market St. #201, Wilmington

Owners of the former Saigon Bistro are back with a smaller-scale operation serving many of the Vietnamese street food items previous customers have been missing. The menu includes a variety of pho, a soup made from a complex broth paired with meat, rice noodles, white onion, green onion, cilantro, bean sprouts, basil, lime, jalapeños, hoisin sauce, and Sriracha sauce on the side. Banh mi, a traditional Vietnamese sandwich served on homemade baguettes, and boba tea are also among the offerings. Service is mostly takeout with limited dine-in seating. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner.

Southeastern North Carolina has you covered when you’re hungry for a good meal, and Intracoastal Realty is here to satisfy your Wilmington NC real estate needs. We are a full-service real estate brokerage operating since 1976, and we currently have 13 offices with over 400 agents and staff to serve Southeastern North Carolina, including the areas of Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Southport, Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach, Leland, Hampstead, and Topsail Island.

***This list is informational only and does not serve as a review or any other endorsement for these establishments.

Enjoy Southeastern North Carolina’s Nature at No Charge

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By Judy Royal

Anyone sitting on the sand at any of our beach strands would likely agree that many of the best things in life are free. But other than the sea, what can you enjoy without a fee? Plenty! If you’re looking for a way to commune with nature without breaking the bank, you’re definitely in luck in this region.

John Nesbitt Loop

Hours: Always open
Contact: Causeway Drive, North Lumina Avenue and Salisbury Street, Wrightsville Beach, (910) 256-7925, www.towb.org

Why do you always see so many people out exercising in Wrightsville Beach? They’re taking advantage of the John Nesbitt Loop, known to locals simply as “The Loop,” a popular 2.45-mile stretch of sidewalk that circles the town’s heart. The route offers coastal views, scenic parks and gardens, water fountains, and pit stops for thirsty dogs. When the weather is nice, you’ll see plenty of locals and visitors – along with their four-legged friends – walking, biking, jogging, and skating.

Carolina Beach State Park

Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily
Contact: 1010 State Park Road, Carolina Beach, (910) 458-8206, www.ncparks.gov/carolina-beach-state-park

You’ll find a marina, secluded camping area, cabins, visitors center, and walking trails that traverse various habitats at Carolina Beach State Park, home to the Venus’ flytrap, one of the world’s most carnivorous plants and a native of Southeastern North Carolina. Have fun and learn at the same time, as rangers hold regularly scheduled educational and interpretive programs about the park. It’s also a great place for a picnic along the bank of Snow’s Cut, with tables, grills, and plenty of shade from large oak trees.

Summer Rest Trail

Hours: 8 a.m.-sunset daily
Contact: 1981 Eastwood Road, Wilmington, and 423 Summer Rest Road, Wilmington, (910) 798-7629, www.parks.nhcgov.com

Explore one of the area’s hidden gems by taking a stroll or bike ride along Summer Rest Trail, a 0.7-mile asphalt path that begins at Port City Chop House on Eastwood Road and winds through a wooded route to Summer Rest Road, which overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway near Wrightsville Beach. It’s the perfect place for a short run, quiet walk, or scenic getaway from your regular surroundings.

Oakdale Cemetery

Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
Contact: 520 N. 15th St., Wilmington, (910) 762-5682, www.oakdalecemetery.org

Part outdoor museum and part arboretum, Oakdale Cemetery boasts 100 acres and is North Carolina’s oldest rural cemetery. Its native vegetation is punctuated with blooming plants all year long but especially so in the spring, so it’s a great spot for a self-guided tour to stroll through the beauty and history.

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area

Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily; the pedestrian beach is always open
Contact: 1000 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach, (910) 458-5798, www.ncparks.gov/fort-fisher-state-recreation-area

Enjoy 6 miles of unspoiled beaches and trails at the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, located at the southernmost part of Pleasure Island. Explore the salt marsh and its wildlife, including loggerhead sea turtles, piping plovers, and other rare species. Enjoy surf fishing as well as a boat ramp and padding launch.

New Hanover County Arboretum

Hours: Open daily during daylight hours
Contact: 6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, (910) 798-7660, www.arboretum.nhcgov.com

Explore 7 acres of plants that grow in the coastal area as well as emerging trends in plant material, proper horticultural techniques, aesthetic design, environmental stewardship, and research at the New Hanover County Arboretum, which bills itself as “where nature and knowledge grow.” During your visit, enjoy numerous gardens, a plant clinic, a picnic area, a gift shop, a children’s area, and an interactive chalk wall.

Brunswick Nature Park

Hours: 8 a.m.-dusk daily
Contact: 2601 River Road (N.C. Highway 133), Winnabow, (910) 253-2670, bcparks.recdesk.com

Brunswick Nature Park offers 911 acres of undeveloped wilderness featuring a dynamic mix of vegetation, wildlife, ecosystems, vistas, wetlands, and waterways for exploration. Enjoy a kayak/canoe launch site and a large picnic pavilion as well as walking, biking, and horse trails. Take a ride out to the country to please your senses with the primitive and unspoiled views and serene atmosphere.

Airlie Gardens

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
Contact: 300 Airlie Road, Wilmington, (910) 798-7700, www.airliegardens.org
*Admission charge typically applies, with exceptions noted below.

*If you live in New Hanover County and have a valid ID to prove it, you get in free on the first Sunday of each month. Experience 67 acres of formal gardens, wildlife, historic structures, walking trails, sculptures, views of Bradley Creek, 10 acres of freshwater lakes, more than 100,000 azaleas, and the grandeur of the 472-year-old Airlie Oak at Airlie Gardens. While you’re there, meet Reilly, a rescued border collie that was “hired” to help manage Canada geese on the property, or explore the 2,700-square-foot butterfly house, which is home to 11 native species of butterflies and open May 15-October 15.

Cape Fear Museum

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday
Contact: 814 Market St., Wilmington, (910) 798-4370, www.capefearmuseum.com
*Admission charge typically applies, with exceptions noted below.

*If you live in New Hanover County and have a valid ID to prove it, you get in free on the first Sunday of each month. Cape Fear Museum, the oldest history museum in North Carolina, offers various exhibits and programs focusing on the area’s history and science. It draws on a collection of more than 52,000 items to help visitors explore a wide range of topics related to the Lower Cape Fear region.

N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
Contact: 900 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach, (910) 772-0500, www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher
*Admission charge typically applies, with exceptions noted below.

*Admission is free on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January and Veterans Day in November. The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher offers a variety of exhibits for all ages that have everything from an albino alligator and a rescued bald eagle to sharks and loggerhead turtles as well as an interactive touch tank. Visitors journey down the Cape Fear River – from freshwater streams and swamps to coastline habitats, reefs, and the open ocean – discovering unique habitats and wildlife.

 

Are you ready to take advantage of all Southeastern North Carolina has to offer? Intracoastal Realty is here to meet your Wilmington NC real estate needs, whether you want to stay for a weekend or a lifetime. We are a full-service real estate brokerage operating since 1976, and we currently have 12 offices with over 400 agents and staff to serve Southeastern North Carolina, including the areas of Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Southport, Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach, Leland, Hampstead, and Topsail Island.

Top 6 Reasons to Buy a Home in Leland, NC

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With some of the most beautiful and accessible beaches in the nation, it’s no wonder that the North Carolina coast is so appealing as a destination, whether for vacationing, retiring or living. Among all the beach towns that NC has to offer, from quaint to urban, there are a few hidden gems that are on the rise — Leland NC, and nearby neighbor Belville NC, being two such towns.

So if coastal living is on your mind, read on to learn why Leland NC or Belville NC may be just the town you’re looking for, starting with what may very well be the driving factor behind your search: the beach.

The Beach? More Like: Beaches

While Leland and Belville don’t run right up to the coast like neighboring North Carolina beach towns, they are in a prime location for quick access to several beautiful beaches, each featuring their own unique atmosphere, whether you’re looking for a peaceful retreat or a beach humming with people. Locals have their pick of the very best beaches that the area has to offer, being an average of 30 to 40 minutes away from Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Caswell Beach, Oak Island, Holden Beach and Ocean Isle. And that doesn’t even include the beaches that are a little farther off the beaten path, such as Bald Head Island or Sunset Beach, both of which are only an hour or so away. No matter what your motivation is for wanting to buy a home in Leland or Belville, the beach is normally a prime factor — and who can blame you? Had a rough day at work? Within 30 minutes you can be burying your toes in the sand, letting the ocean ebb away your stress.

Parks to Play in

Leland NC is home to several large parks, most of which are equipped with paved paths, picnic areas, playgrounds and more, so area residents are within close proximity to scenic paths for running, walking or biking, in addition to picturesque settings for family outings or children’s play.

Included among Leland’s parks is the Leland Community Garden, where locals can grow their own veggies to be donated to a local food pantry. Leland’s Sturgeon Creek Park, comprised of 27 acres of wetlands and 1.2 acres of uplands, offers locals water access for kayaking, canoeing, boating and fishing. The Westgate Nature Park in Leland NC, as implied by the name, offers an enormous natural landscape of nearly 150 acres of wetlands and uplands and features trails for hiking and biking, an outdoor classroom, nature-inspired playground, picnic area and more.

Golf, Fishing, and the Great Outdoors

Golfers can take refuge in Leland’s two, superb golf courses, comprised of Magnolia Greens and Cape Fear National, the latter of which has been the recipient of multiple awards throughout the years. A third golf course is also set to open in 2016, within the newly developed Compass Pointe resort-style housing community.

While Leland and Belville offer a few fishing holes of its own, fishers can flock to nearby Wilmington NC for all the fishing charters and fishing spots they could possibly desire — only a mere 15 minutes from home. And for those hoping to take to the water in pursuit of paddling, there are also a vast number of kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals located within Wilmington as well, offering equipment rentals, in addition to classes and guided tours. Carolina Paddleboard Company, Mahaneim Adventures, Paddle NC, Cape Fear River Adventures, and Hook, Line and Paddle are just a few such companies.

A Community on the Rise

The current population of Leland NC sits at 18,000, but is projected to rise to 30,000 within just four more years and 60,000 within another 14 years. The town has hired a new economic development director and is in the process of carrying out multiple plans for development,  including those for new housing, retail and other commercial spaces.

In conjunction with Leland’s projected business growth, the town is rapidly expanding its housing with the creation of housing communities ranging from housing ideal for budding families, such as in The Willows, to the environmentally conscious neighborhoods within the Brunswick Forest community, to the luxurious accommodations of Compass Pointe and more.

Plans also include the development of three to four apartment complexes to be completed over the next two years, resulting in approximately 1,000 apartments to be added.

Educational Opportunities

Brunswick County, the county that encompasses Leland and Belville, is comprised of 20 public, K-12 schools, and includes higher education opportunities for high school graduates, or those seeking continuing education.

Just over the bridge is the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, as well as Cape Fear Community College, which has gained regional and national recognition for its technical programs. Closer to home is Brunswick Community College, which has gained statewide recognition for its two-year programs.

Secluded Location, Within Close Proximity

One of the most advantageous perks to buying a home in Leland NC or Belville NC, though perhaps not the most widely recognized, are their locations. Their close proximity to other beach towns, such as Wilmington, ensures that residents have access to the amenities, entertainment and buzz sought after in more urban areas, without actually immersing residents in the racket. The Leland/Belville area has a remote feel, without actually being so, and still enjoys the close range to the beach without being directly on its sandy shores — which can also help to decrease the cost of living that beach residents experience.

With Leland’s plans for expansion, combined with its existing charm and perks, this destination will likely become a prime destination for new residents considering one of North Carolina’s many beach towns. Don’t miss out! Contact us today to learn more about houses for sale in Leland NC and Belville NC.

Cycle of Investments

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2011-9-Sept-Connections

There is a very famous saying which asserts “Sell High, Buy Low”. It is obviously great advice no matter what the investment. This graph depicts the cycle of investments. It shows the points of maximum risk and maximum opportunity when purchasing. We want to sell high (point of maximum risk) and buy low (point of maximum opportunity).

The challenge, as it pertains to a real estate buyer, is how to determine when the market has hit bottom. The only time you know for certain that you have hit bottom is after you pass it!

Real Estate Expert Visits Intracoastal Realty

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Local news articles highlight real estate expert Steve Harney’s visit with Intracoastal Realty.

Speaker Shares market insight with Intracoastal Agents
Greater Wilmington Business Journal, February 2, 2011

Distressed real estate to drive area’s prices down
Star News, February 3, 2011

Real estate expert Steve Harney and Intracoastal Realty CEO Jim Wallace discuss the area’s housing market in Wallace’s office. Photo by Paul Stephen

Why You Should Consider Making a Home Purchase

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Here are 5 reasons to consider a home purchase in 2011:

    • Mortgage rates will stay low. Even with rates climbing — maybe to as high as 6 percent by 2012 — they are still well below where they have been historically.
      2011-1-Why-Buy-Now-C2
    • Tax cuts could help. Extending the tax cuts could encourage a more rapid recovery for the economy.
    • Americans want to be home owners. A recent Fannie Mae survey showed that Americans still believe a home is a safe and desirable investment.
    • Homes are shrinking. Homes are getting smaller, which has made them more affordable.
    • Builders are about to begin building. Home builders have been sitting on the sidelines. This year, they think pent-up demand will create an appetite for new homes

When you are buying or selling, make sure you are dealing with a real estate expert, not just someone who happens to have a real estate license. Now is the time to talk to an experienced agent about real estate.

Best Opportunity Featured Home: 6075 Willow Glen Drive

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2010-4-4-18-BO-6075-Willow-GlenThis week’s Best Opportunity Featured Home!

6075  Willow Glen Dr,  Wilmington, NC
$349,900  [#440092]

This wonderful home is all you need! Just over 2,500 square feet with spacious rooms. Living areas are mainly on the first floor. Additionally, the home features a generous bonus room with bath. Inviting large porches on front and rear, perfect for enjoying beautiful surroundings and tranquil breezes. Well appointed with hardwood floors, granite in kitchen, crown molding, designer cabinets, ceramic tile and much more! Never been lived in! Bank owned and able to close quickly.

This is the first installment of Our Featured Homes! Each week we will feature properties that showcase a listing in either the Best Opportunities program or a waterfront or Historic home, or one of our luxury properties throughout the area.

2010-4-Best OppsBest Opportunities and Bank Owned Properties is our exclusive program that is designed to connect you with properties that rank among the very best buying opportunities. Our Best Opportunities provide an outstanding opportunity to find real estate from a wide assortment of extremely well-priced properties listed with Intracoastal Realty.
When you purchase one of the many fine homes or condominiums presented here, you are assured of one of the best home value in today’s marketplace. We add new properties frequently and will be featuring Best Opportunities on our blog regularly so be sure to check back often.

To qualify for inclusion in the Best Opportunities program, properties must meet the following criteria:

  • Priced Below Comparative Market Analysis
  • Priced Below Appraised Value
  • Best price in its competitive set