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Friday, 20 June 2008
Call me about homes in Pasquotank in subdivisions like Queenswood, Danson's Grant, Equestrian Estates, and Pelican Pointe today! 252 339 5151 or phyllisb@longandfoster.com Friday, 20 June 2008
WILL 2008 BE THE YEAR YOU WISH YOU HAD BOUGHT REAL ESTATE?With lower interest rates and plenty of homes to choose from, now may be the right time for you to purchase real estate. Today's lower interest rates may not be around when prices flatten out, so trying to time the market rarely works to your advantage. Another problem with trying to time the market is that it requires a rising market to know just where the bottom was...hindsight is always 20-20, isn't it? In many cases, purchasing a home may be cheaper than renting. Your rent could have gone towards your own mortgage, instead of paying your landlord's mortgage for him. Your landlord loves you, by the way, because you're making him rich. You are literally buying his property instead of your own. That is not an exaggeration... Then there is the distressed (foreclosure) property market. While many of these properties have condition issues and other challenges, in many cases they are priced below market value and offer opportunity for those willing to put in a little sweat equity to make a profit. If you are considering purchasing a distressed property, let me help you with the tricky foreclosure market. It can be tricky to navigate. All investments carry some level of risk, and purchasing real estate is certainly no exception. This is not the time to make decisions that have not been carefully analyzed. What is a good purchase for an investor may not be a good purchase for a typical homebuyer. Let me guide you, homeowner OR investor, in the right direction and provide the information you need to make an educated decision based on your individual and family circumstances. Many people wish to wait "until next year, when prices may be lower". This sounds so wise and yet, of course, carries its own risk. Prices may be lower, but no one knows, they may be higher. How many times have you waited for that special sweater at your favorite store to be marked down, only to discover that it was snapped up by someone else before you had the chance to purchase it? It may be a simple analogy, but the principle is the same: if you snooze you lose. You may try to wait it out, but hopefully you won't want to kick yourself a year from now. The truth is, none of the 'so-called' experts can accurately predict the real estate market any better than other experts can accurately predict the stock market or what gas prices will be a year from now. If you purchased real estate in 2006 or 2007, you most likely got a great home at a terrific price with a low interest rate. Provided you stay in your home for several years, you will benefit when property values eventually rise again. One buyer purchased a home when the market was so hot that homes were selling in just days and for full list price. That home is now worth about $100,000 more than it was when purchased. A few years earlier, it may be worth $25,000 more than that. Just two years ago, it may be worth about what it sold for. That's the nature of real estate. Values go up, values go down, and when you purchase and sell makes all the difference. Also, who you have representing you makes a big difference! For the typical homeowner, purchasing real estate should be a long term investment as well as a good tax deduction, and also a place to live and make memories that will last a lifetime. Is it a good time to sell your home in today's market and purchase a new home? Absolutely!! In fact, this market offers tremendous opportunities. Selling has to do with many factors, so don't forget that family timing is all important as well as market timing. If the market values are higher in three years, some will make more money on the sale of their home. Of course, you will also be paying more money for that new home. So nothing may be gained by waiting for family reasons, yet sometimes those reasons are valid and justified. Some may actually lose money because of the higher purchase price on a new home and potentially higher interest rates. But that's life, folks. Sometimes you need to make decisions based on what is right for you and your family at this moment of realty instead of making decisions based solely on the financials and what-if's. So will 2008 be the year you wish you'd bought real estate? Only you know you family situation Contact me, Phyllis, at 252 339 5151 for advice on Northeast NC and Albemarle Sound real estate, and let me help you navigate these important waters. Thanks to Kelly Sibilsky of Lake Zurich, IL, for some of these thoughts. You can read her full article at Thursday, 19 June 2008
LOOK, WE'VE GOT SOME IMPORTANT GOODIES COMING TO ELIZABETH CITY!! 500 JOBS PROJECTED! Read this morning's article from the Daily Advance about our great new airpark getting ready to start construction! Construction on the new $10.4 million aviation research and commerce park at Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Regional Airport is expected to begin Sept. 1, according to City Manager Rich Olson. Meanwhile, officials will begin advertising bids for the project Monday, July 7. Olson, in his weekly memo to city councilors on Friday, said he recently met with U.S. Coast Guard officials and project design consultants to iron out final details. "The plans for the park are now 90-percent complete and have been submitted to several state agencies for review," Olson said. "The project continues to be on budget." Olson said a tentative time line calls for bids to be advertised starting July 7, a bid opening on Aug. 5 and City Council awarding a bid by Aug. 11. Construction would then start on Sept. 1, he said. To date, 64 acres of land across from the airport on Consolidated Road have been bought for phase 1 of the project. Eventually, the project will encompass 187 acres. Airport manager Scott Hinton recently said there are no long-term plans to close Consolidated Road, although temporary detours are possible during construction. As well, for four weeks starting in late September, Consolidated Road will be closed to traffic for stormwater drainage upgrades, Olson said. It also may be necessary to close the road for two weeks in March 2009 for construction of the park's 2,900-foot taxiway, he said. Elizabeth City State University has already begun designing the new aviation science building that will become part of the airpark. Hinton also said several aviation-related businesses have shown interested in bidding on the project. Already, DRS Technologies, which operates an aircraft maintenance facility next to the airport, has announced it will be among the tenants of the airpark. Airport officials have said they expect the airpark to create up to 500 new jobs and pump millions of dollars into the local economy. http://www.dailyadvance.com/local/content/news/stories/2008/06/19/0619AirparkUpdateRM.html These 500 new jobs will provide more families the opportunity to look for the home of their dreams all around the Albemarle Area. Let us at Phyllis And Company, your trusted professionals, help with questions and decisions regarding property Elizabeth City, Hertford, Camden, and Currituck. Call Phyllis Bosomworth at 252 339 5151 or Erin Nixon at 252 435 5043 ! Wednesday, 18 June 2008
"It's really nice, but it is not my style ....." How much to upgrade before you put your home on the market is a valid thing to consider. Should you install solid countertops like granite, for instance, or price your home lower and offer decorating concessions to the buyers? The answer is not always in black or white, it is one of the idiosyncrasies, one of the Catch-22's of real estate. Doing all the upgrades before marketing it doesn't always mean the home will sell for more. WHAT!?!? While everyone likes having the work done before THEY take possession of your home, not everyone has the same taste or would target fixing the same items with the same amount of capital. For example, your next buyer might not care about granite countertops, but would love to upgrade with certain handicap friendly features instead. Our crystal ball is difficult to read to anticipate every buyer's needs or even whims. Hopefully, any good realtor showing your property will know their client's individual and specific needs and can point out the possibilities for upgrades that make your property a dream home for THEM! Remember, buyers are looking at this to be THEIR home, not YOUR home! Don't misunderstand, an outdated home takes longer to sell and you will get less money for it than a comparably priced home which is more upgraded. Some of it boils down to what your home is competing with and its competitor's features. It is important that you check out the competition before you invest money into your home specifically for resale. If you have done upgrades to make it more pleasant to live in along the way, wonderful, you are already ahead of the game! However, before you spend big money to upgrade to resell, consider offering seller concessions. They may prefer a black roof to a white roof. The granite you chose, for instance, may not be the granite they would have chosen ... and therefore, doesn't really increase the value of your house to them. Homeowners sometimes replace carpeting prior to selling their home, only to drive by after the sale and find their "new" carpet pulled out and at the curb. Maybe it was the wrong color or the buyer wanted hardwood flooring. Did it help the home sell for a higher price or in less time? Who knows? Not in that case. This may sound 'contrary to popular belief', but an important part of selling your home is not just replacing what you have (unless it is truly worn-out, hopelessly dated compared to your competition, or smells). The most value for the buck you can invest in your home is to CLEAN IT, DECLUTTER IT, ORGANIZE IT and show it WELL MAINTAINED! You have come to the right realtor to help you with these questions and decisions. As a professional who continually trains, I am a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB), Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) and Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES). Only six percent of all agents have the valuable designation of CRS while just one percent have the CRB designation. From my training and from my many, many years of experience with many buyers and sellers, I know that the proper preparation of your home PRIOR to your listing it is an important key to your success. I will help guide you in any way possible. BUT DON'T GO OVERBOARD! My job is to help you maximize your PROFIT on your home, not just your SALES price! There is a distinct difference between the two. So, clean, organize, declutter down to the closets, and paint those walls. Wallpaper, while lovely, reflects YOUR taste, not theirs. Remove it! Have the carpets cleaned unless they are obnoxious, contain pet odors that can't be removed, or are REALLY worn. Fix what is broken. Consider replacing the bedding, curtains and towels on display (which you can take WITH you!). Replace some cabinets and drawer pulls and dated light fixtures. Clean up the yard, plant some flowers and add fresh mulch. Make sure everything is squeaky clean and smells great! Last but not least, let's make sure we price your home appropriately. That is the first big thing to draw them to your home. They will look at the other details after that. In most cases, you don't really have to spend a lot of $$ to sell your castle. The best bang for the buck is the price of elbow grease and that is free! You can trust the experienced professionals of Phyllis And Company to fulfill your real estate dreams today. Let us help you with property in Elizabeth City, Hertford, Camden, and Currituck. Call Phyllis at 252 339 5151 or Erin Nixon at 252 435 5043 ! Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Hello All! From time to time I will post a home I represent in case you missed it on my www.PhyllisAndCompany.Com website. How to pick, how to pick....? Well, let's start out with this lovely, large home in Elizabeth City. This home is certainly worth a look!!
POSTED BY: Phyllis Bosomworth AT 11:36 am
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Friday, 13 June 2008
There are two weekend events coming to The Whalehead Club in Currituck County you won't want to miss! The first is this evening, the next is the following weekend. 6/13/2008 Corolla, NC, Currituck County
The The Langley Winds woodwind quintet from the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band is performing a free concert on Friday, June 13th, 2008 from 3:00 – 4:00pm. Bring a blanket or beach chair to enjoy this concert on the north lawn of the Whalehead Club at
Admission: Free 252-453-9040
6/18/2008 Corolla, NC, Currituck County
The 7th Annual "Under the Oaks" Arts Festival at Whalehead Club Enjoy an annual outdoor art show on the grounds of
Admission: Free (Parking donation requested) 252-453-9040
Welcome to The Whalehead Club at Currituck Heritage Park
Map to Whalehead Club in Corolla Let me show you property in Currituck near Whalehead, or in Elizabeth City, Hertford, or Camden today! Call 252 339 5151 and let's get started! Thursday, 12 June 2008
Mud Bog at Dennis Anderson's It’s time to get down and dirty at the Dennis Anderson's
Race categories include: Street Class (street legal trucks and stock), Super Stock Class, Modified Class, Super Modified Class, and Unlimited Mudders. The family-fun festivities start at 1:00 p.m. and continue until the racin’ is done.
Call or come see me about properties in Currituck County, Elizabeth City, Hertford, and Camden today! 252 339 5151 or mailto:phyllisb@longandfoster.com
Admission: General Admission: $10.00; Pitt pass admission: $12.00; VIP Tailgater Front Row: $20.00; VIP Tailgater 2nd row: $15.00
http://www.dennisandersonsmotorsportspark.com
Photos Courtesy of the Daily Advance, Tarrants and Falls)
Thursday, 12 June 2008
June 14, 2008
Open House at Harbinger Lavender Farm
The Ladies at Harbinger Lavender in Harbinger, NC, Currituck County, invite all to enjoy a festive afternoon at the 2008 Annual Open House. Join Anne, Doris and Leah for a day full of lavender-flavored fun. Leah will provide a demonstration on how to make a lavender wand and guide guests in their own wand-making activity. All supplies will be provided by Harbinger Lavender Farm, so come make your own magical lavender wand. During the afternoon, Anne or
http://www.harbingerlavender.com 252-491-2225
Call me, Phyllis, at 252 339 5151 to look at properties around Currituck, Harbinger, Elizabeth City, Hertford and Camden. phyllisb@longandfoster.com Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Dismal Swamp Canal Trail designated as National Recreation Trail On June 4, 2008, in the spirit of the 40th Anniversary of the National Trails System, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced that he has designated the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail in Camden County, one of the 24 trails in 16 states, to be a National Recreation Trail. North Carolina had only two trails receiving this recognition. "One of my priorities at Interior is to reconnect American families to nature,” said Kempthorne. “The National Trails System, including these additions, provides an excellent link to the outdoors, particularly for children. National Recreation Trails exemplify partnerships and are providing a path to fitness and stewardship for Americans of all ages.” The announcement coincides with the 16th annual celebration of National Trails day on Saturday, June 7, 2008. The theme for this year, “Join Us on the Trail,” encourages people of all ages to get outside and use trails for exercise and exploration. Thousands of trail enthusiasts will participate in hikes, educational programs, bike rides, volunteer repair projects, festivals, paddle trips, and trail dedications across the country. National Recreation Trails have been a touchstone of the National Trails System since the first designations in 1971. The National Recreation Trails recognize existing trails that connect people to local resources and improve their quality of life. In 1998, the concept of a multi-use trail running parallel with US 17 from the village of South Mills, North Carolina to the North Carolina/Virginia border was first discussed. Groundbreaking for the trail was on September 29,2004, with completion of the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail opening to the public in June, 2005, with Enhancement monies from NCDOT. The main trail begins on the southern end of the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center off US Highway 17. Asphalt tops the 10-foot wide trail ... making it user-friendly and ideal for families and handicapped individuals. The first three miles meander through a wooded area between the historic waterway and the historic highway, ending at NC Highway 343. A 5-foot wide highway extension provides access for the trail to the Village of South Mills via NC 343 and Mullen Road, ending at the drawbridge over the canal. Two picnic tables, four benches, and several trash receptacles complement this trail overlooking the beauty of the historic Dismal Swamp Canal. In the midst of the natural, cultural, and historic resources of the historic Dismal Swamp Canal, the trail became part of the NC Birding Trail on December 15, 2005, and part of the East Coast Greenway on November 6, 2006. The trail runs long the Dismal Swamp Canal which is the oldest hand-dug waterway in the United States and is part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. The canal is still in use today as part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The trail runs close to the highway in one area because this was the location of the old Culpepper Locks (1830-1898), causing the canal to be extra wide at this point, pushing the trail east. The original stone milepost marker # 19 sits along the trail. This trail connects with the Dismal Swamp State Park which only enhances the entire area. Since it opened the trail has become very popular with both travelers and residents, as it provides wonderful recreational opportunities for bicycle enthusiasts, walkers, runners, birders, and photographers. This area is FILLED with things to do whether you were born and raised here, been transferred here with the US Military, or choose to retire in the Albemarle Sound area. Call me at 252 339 5151 to find that starter home, bigger home for your family, or your retirement or waterfront property. phyllisb@longandfoster.com
POSTED BY: Phyllis Bosomworth AT 01:03 pm
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Monday, 09 June 2008
HANDCRAFT FINE FURNITURE AROUND THE ALBEMARLE With sawdust at their feet and the scent of freshly planed wood in the air, The students come from throughout the United States to spend a week with Hobbs on his 30 acres in Perquimans County in the Albemarle region of North Carolina. They may be dentists, attorneys or gardeners in their workday lives, but upon completion of Hobbs’ class they are transformed into furniture makers. They leave for home with their own handmade reproduction of an elegant Colonial-era piece of furniture and fond memories from a week of hard and rewarding work. In the 1700s, North Carolina’s Albemarle region was an important furniture-making center and Hobbs draws on this rich heritage in his classes. Hobbs stresses traditional designs, hand tools and eighteenth-century furniture making techniques. Trained as an educator and a cabinetmaker over 20 years, Hobbs has offered the weeklong classes since 1995. Since that time, Hobbs has been featured in Fine Woodworking magazine and Woodworkers Journal. Beechtree Inn, the on-site bed & breakfast where students stay, contribute to the experience. In addition to his appreciation of fine early American furniture, Hobbs has a fondness for pre-Civil War buildings. He and his wife Jackie have collected and moved onto their property 17 buildings dating from mid-eighteenth to mid-nineteenth centuries. To date, three have been restored and furnished with Ben’s furniture and are the centerpiece of Beechtree Inn. Although the cottages are historic, guests are afforded all the comforts expected of the twenty-first century—including television, private baths and mini-refrigerators. For more information about Benjamin Hobbs Furniture and Beechtree Inn, contact Ben and Jackie Hobbs at bhobbs@hobbsfurniture.com; 252/426-7815; 948 Pender Road, Hertford, NC 27944. Thanks to the Perquimans Chamber of Commerce for this information. http://www.visitperquimans.com/content/Features/HobbsFeature.shtml There is always something different going on in Northeast North Carolina. Call me at 252 339 5151 or email me at phyllis@phyllisandcompany.com for information about real estate in Hertford, Elizabeth City, Camden, or Currituck! Saturday, 07 June 2008
"A spectacular night! Quite incredible!" That is how Peggy Kanehann describes the special dinner and evening she and her husband enjoyed recently, compliments of the Perquimans County Restoration Association. They, along with TEN of their luckiest friends, were treated to an 8 course candlelight dinner at the Historic Newbold-White House. They were served by skillful re-enactors dressed in 1700's Quaker garb. The dining room of this quaint, oldest brick building in North Carolina, was set for their meal on delicate blue and white antique china, crisp white linen with silver candelabra and a colorful rose centerpiece. The party was greeted at the front steps by re-enactors and a harpist and flutist presented music from that time period, which added elegant and historical atmosphere. "It was simply enchanting. The table was spread like a king's table before us. It was magnificent. The meal [of shrimp, soup, wild rice, quail, filets, potatoes, salad and mousse] was scrumptious. This is something I will never forget," said Mrs.Kanehann. The re-enactors related information about their Quaker religion, their customs, and even blessed the food. A different toast and wine were enjoyed with each different course. The Kanehanns moved to The Albemarle Plantation in Hertford, Perquimans County, 10 years ago from Los Angeles, CA. They traveled in their motor home as they approached retirement searching for the perfect place to relocate and retire. After two years, they fell in love with Hertford because of its natural beauty and the beauty of its people. They finished their careers as a literary and talent agent, and in mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Kanehann also founded a company that builds wheelchairs in Russia. They researched northeastern North Carolina before settling here and decided that this was the right place for them. 10 years later they have no regrets and are even more sure of it after winning the raffle for their delightful dinner at the Newbold-White House. Raffle tickets are available now for the next Colonial Dinner at the NWH for 2009. Tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100, available until March 7, 2009. They are tax deductible and can be purchased by calling the NWH at 252 264 5123. Check out further happenings at the Newbold-White House at http://newboldwhitehouse.org/ This couple found the Albemarle area to be everything they hoped it would be. Call me today to find property in Elizabeth City, Hertford, Camden, or Currituck at 252 339 5151 or email me at phyllisb@longandfoster.com Thank you to Cathy Wilson of the Perquimans Weekly for this information. You can get the full article from Cathy at cwilson@nccox.com
Friday, 06 June 2008
There will be no shortage of things to do this weekend around the Albemarle. There will be mud slinging at the tractor pull in Morgans Corner and ski jumping in Gates County. But it will be the beauty of Elizabeth City on display when the Carolina Cup Regatta comes to town on Saturday and Sunday. Along with the inboard hydroplanes, which can reach speeds of over 160 mph, the popular Jersey Speed Skiffs will be racing in the Pasquotank River just off the water front. There will also be more than a dozen vintage boats on display on both land and water and there will be about 10 boats in a junior class for the first time. The J class is for kids between the ages of nine and 16. "The vintage part was (requested) from our own community, because of the history on the Pasquotank of the regatta," said Shirley Outlaw, secretary of the Carolina Cup Regatta committee. The boats will be coming in from all over the country, including High Society from South Carolina. That boat's owner, Bill Steinfield, won a race on the Pasquotank River in 1959. The American Power Boat Association sanctions the event and Elizabeth City will be the sixth stop on the 28-race Eastern Division tour. Organizers of the third annual event are expecting close to 10,000 people to converge on the water front for the two days of racing. Last year, there were about 7,500 attendees, an increase of 40 percent from 2006. Despite the busy weekend, Outlaw is not too concerned that attendance to the Carolina Cup will be affected that much. "Yes, it's a concern, but we're hoping that Elizabeth City has grown enough that there will be enough spectators for all the events," she said. As racers come into town on Friday, their boats can be viewed in front of the Museum of the Albemarle. The museum has several historical items on display, including the International Cup, an original trophy from 1955, as well as some 1950s era power boats and equipment. Racing begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday and runs until 5 p.m. both days. There is no cost to watch the races, which can be seen from anywhere along the water front. More information on the regatta can be found at www.carolinacupregatta.com Thanks to Will Harris, Sports Writer, Daily Advance. The full article can be read at: http://www.dailyadvance.com/local/content/sports/stories/2008/06/0606CarolinaCup.html Call me at 252 339 5151 or email me at phyllisb@longandfoster.com if there is anything I can do to help you find property in Elizabeth City, Hertford, Camden, or Currituck! Wednesday, 04 June 2008
The lawn of Hertford’s historic 1730 Newbold-White House is the setting for the outdoor 2005 Summer Breeze Concert series. The series will launch June 12th. The second performance in the Summer Breeze Concert series is will follow July 17th. The final performance will arrive August 28th. The Summer Breeze Concerts are sponsored by the Perquimans County Restoration Association and Perquimans Arts League. There is no fee for the three-concert series, but donations will be accepted. All three concerts on the Perquimans River will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will last about one hour. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and a picnic for this casual outdoor family concert. Please call ahead to confirm performances. Performers: The Newbold-White House is open for tours Tuesday thru Saturday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m from March to Thanksgiving. For more information call the Newbold-White House at (252) 426-7567 or nbwh@inteliport.com For more information about Perquimans County and beautiful Historic Hertford, North Carolina, click on http://www.visitperquimans.com/ Call or email me to view real estate in Hertford, Elizabeth City, Camden or Currituck! 252 339 5151 or phyllis@phyllisandcompany.com
POSTED BY: Phyllis Bosomworth AT 09:28 am
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Phyllis Bosomworth
Copyright© 2008 Phyllis Bosomworth, REALTOR®, All Rights Reserved.
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The sleepy village of Corolla on the Outer Banks of North Carolina began an unforeseen journey into the future in October of 1922. Northern Industrialist Edward Collings Knight, Jr and his bride Marie Louise LeBel took up winter residency in their newly acquired Lighthouse Club and began construction of a 21,000 sq.ft. private residence. Its location on Currituck Sound and the Atlantic Flyway was perfect to satisfy the Knight's passion for waterfowl hunting. Three years and $385,000 later Edward and Marie Louise moved into their "cottage" on the sound. It was unlike any structure that local folks had ever seen or even imagined.
