Southeastern North Carolina continues to be a popular vacation, retirement, 2^nd home and relocation area, and as a point of illustration, today we borrow some recent news from a local attraction. The USS North Carolina Battleship, which sits about 30 minutes north of Seawatch, announced their attendance numbers were the best they have seen in 18 years.  From their press release:

“We are honored by the number of people who continue to visit and celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Battleship coming to Wilmington and assuming duties as the State of North Carolina’s Memorial to those who served during WWII,” states Captain Terry Bragg, Executive Director of the Battleship North Carolina. “As the growth trend continues, it is special to all that so many still care about the crew and the history of this magnificent vessel.

Brunswick County (Seawatch at Sunset Harbor) and New Hanover County (Wilmington) are separated by the Cape Fear River, the home of our beloved battleship. After many years of service, most notably during World War II, the USS North Carolina was moored along the river in 1961.  In 1962 the ship was dedicated as the State’s memorial to its World War II veterans and the 10,000 North Carolinians who died during the war.

We here at Seawatch are very proud of all service members that served on the USS North Carolina, and are thankful to all who serve in our armed forces.

May the peace and joy of the holiday season be with you throughout the coming year!

From The Seawatch Real Estate Team.
~ Michael, Ann, Chad, Matthew, Marianne & Deborah

Arts and Crafts vendors are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday. and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday. There are also a wide variety of food vendors serving fare from clam chowder to gyros and turkey drumsticks, and for dessert, you’re sure to find one of your favorites amongst the funnel cakes, cotton candy, and more.

For the competitive sort, there is a horseshoe tournament and a sandcastle building contest. Children enjoy face painting, huge kites flying overhead and the children’s rides and amusements. There is live musical entertainment both days at Holden Beach’s new Pavilion.

Come join us this weekend for this fun, free event!

Admission is $5, but free for kids under 8. The festival is centered around 2nd Street, beside the Museum of Coastal Carolina. For more info, check www.ncoysterfestival.com/

Wilmington, NC - Historic Downtown Waterfront

Good news for southeastern North Carolina! Outside Magazine recently ranked Wilmington among its list of nineteen Best Towns. From the magazine, “These towns are the finest places you’d ever want to call home, from a Midwestern mountain-biking hub, to a Seattle-area hang-gliding mecca, to, um, Boulder.”

Here’s what they wrote about Wilmington:

“Similar to Charleston: southern charm, a 300-year-old harbor, ample seafood. But what sets Wilmington (pop. 106,500) apart from its genteel South Carolina neighbor is an economy in overdrive—not long ago, it was the second-fastest-growing economy in the U.S. Thanks to EUE Screen Gems, it’s also home to the largest motion-picture and television studio outside California. (The local film industry employs some 800 people.) Situated where the Cape Fear River meets the Atlantic, the former military port’s recreation options are mostly water-based—sea-kayaking, sailing, deap-sea fishing—and the biggest party of the year is, naturally, Riverfest, a frenzy of vendors, fireworks, music, athletic competitions, and invading pirates.”

Seawatch at Sunset Harbor is located just 40 minutes south of Wilmington. Our community is in the perfect location, nestled in the Brunswick Islands coastal corridor. Have you planned a visit to our area yet? Call us at 877-732-9282 or fill out a contact form to start planning a visit to Wilmington & Seawatch.

Bill Medley is a seminal figure in the history of American music. He is perhaps best known as half of the unmistakable duo, The Righteous Brothers. Their raw emotional rhythm and blues sound essentially created the genre “blue-eyed soul.”

The opening of this state-of-the-art medical facility reinforces what those who call Brunswick County home know – that it is an exceptional place to live that both cherishes its relaxed and un-crowded lifestyle, while continuing to develop the technology and modern conveniences that you’d expect in a prosperous, growing community.

“Voyage upon life’s sea, to yourself be true, and whatever your lot may be, paddle your own boat.”  -Sarah Bolton

As we journey through life, many of us have attempted and failed to do what great poets and philosophers have advised for centuries: “paddle your own boat.” Alas, life’s unpredictable circumstances usually end up steering us instead. This is probably why the literal side of the saying has become one of the most popular past times for retirees in southeastern Brunswick County North Carolina.

On the Atlantic Ocean, Shallotte River, Mercer Mill Creek, Intracoastal Waterway, or local streams and lakes, the canoe and kayak are personal craft that envelope and embody the variant nature of both humans and water. Long before interstate highways, railway systems, or the Internet, exploration was first and foremost indulged with a paddle. Just ask the American Indian, Inuit fishermen of the Arctic, and Lewis and Clark as they mapped the amber waves of grain and purple mountains majesty.

Paddling is a voyage of discovery as you maneuver your canoe or kayak over the gentle waters of a glassy lake or stream, escape from a crowded day through winding creeks and marsh savannas, or push your way courageously through a spectacular set of waves and sea, streaking up and over a giant swell into the blue valley of the next great wave. It’s just you and the water, experiencing the natural world the way it was meant to be…head-on.

Of course, you don’t necessarily have to live on the coast to experience the ride.  But if you are fortunate enough to live in southeastern North Carolina, your choices for adventure are endless. Seawatch at Sunset Harbor offers opportunities for you to enjoy the pure enjoyment of paddling. This impressive community offers the experience of kayaking or canoeing with a private pier and launch for your boat along with clubhouse and boat storage. If it’s your first adventure, don’t worry…there are boat rentals and guides available locally.

After all, paddling your own canoe or kayak is what it’s all about and here on the coast. Plan your visit today and you may find an adventurous new pastime that you adore with health benefits.

A recent issue of Fortune Magazine featured an article on the real estate market that we thought was very interesting. The article pointed out a few observations to describe their assessment. Two important trends mentioned in the article were:

1 – The steady decline in prices which has been going on nationally since 2005 has finally hit the level where it costs less to own a house than to rent in many cities.
2 – Home builders have held back on building new homes for several years, creating the conditions for a shortage of new homes when demand goes up just a little bit.

If you would like to read the article, click here.

To get up-to-date information on real estate opportunities in Seawatch at Sunset Harbor including available waterfront homesites on the Atlantic Intracoastal, please email or call us at 877-732-9282.

Now is a great time to buy real estate!