Marvin, a fellow agent, and I both live and work primarily in the Oriental NC area, but frequently assist clients in other areas also. Since our company office is located in New Bern, we have an interest in keeping informed about the history surrounding that area. Tours are not all the same and we learn about different things with each tour taken. Most of these tours are walking or riding in a bus or trolley. Recently, we took the New Bern Colonial Capitol tour, which uses the Segway People Movers for transportation.
The Segway is one of the neatest machines I have ever seen. After a brief instruction session, we were outfitted with helmets and a receiver to better hear about the various buildings and sites, then we were on our way. Never having been aboard a Segway before was no problem, they are very easy to use. You must be careful not to rub up against a curb or another rider's wheel, and be attentive when riding on a slanted surface.
I won't go into the history that we learned, but can tell you that we learned quite a lot and had a great time. If you happen to find yourself in New Bern with a couple free hours on your hands, this tour is highly recommended. Contact Neal Davis at: http://www.tarheeladventures.com/. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
I am asked this question a lot by those who may be considering placing their home up for sale. The picture is not as pretty as we might like, but perhaps it will help you understand what is, and has been happening. The graph shown is for homes only, lots and commercial properties are not included. This graph shows the number of homes sold in Pamlico County each quarter since January 1, 2008.
As you can see, during the past year there have been a total of 67 homes sold in all of Pamlico County, or an average of about 5.58 homes sold per month. Currently there are 213 homes actively listed for sale in the area.
When there is a 6 month supply of homes, it is considered to be a normal, balanced market. Less than a 6 month supply is a Sellers' market, and more than a 6 month supply is a Buyers' market.
Using the figures above, you will see that Pamlico County has more than a 38 month supply of homes on the market at the present time. This puts us very deeply into a buyers' market, meaning that there are more homes available than there are buyers to absorb the excess in a timely manner.
Having such a large supply of homes is an indication that prices for many of the homes are too high. If you are thinking of purchasing a home in the area, be sure to select an agent who will prepare a current Comparative Market Analysis for you on any home you select.
Yes, homes are being sold and buyers are naturally picking the best values for their dollars. This means that any home being placed on the market should be immaculately clean, in good repair, and priced about 5% below its current market value. Otherwise, that home could be on the market for a very long time.
If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact me by e-mail at: Joe@JoeBrant.com.
Joe Brant, ABR, GRI, e-PRO Keller Williams Realty www.JoeBrant.com (252) 675-3038
Let's address the two main questions first. Whenever and wherever I go in my little "jeep", everybody seems to love it, and very few have ever seen one before. So, I frequently get stopped by people (including police officers), who ask me the same two questions:
What is it? and...
Where can I get one?
What it is... is an Austin Mini Moke, the most unusual variant of the old "classic" Mini from the 60's. It is about 4 1/2 feet wide and 10 feet long, has a 4 cylinder 1 liter engine, 4 speed transmission, gets 42 MPG and the book says top speed is 81 MPH.
The Moke was designed in the late 50's, to be a replacement utility vehicle for the British Army. The British Army chose not to purchase Mini Mokes, and a very limited number were produced between 1963 and 1993. They were never "cheap", and still aren't.
Where can you get one? You might find one on eBay, or I can connect you with sources.
Anyway I got my little Mini Moke out of it's garage just before Independence Day, and found that it needed new rear wheel bearings. My parts supplier had them in my hands two days later.
With the new bearings installed, a short test ride followed. Within three miles, I discovered that it was also time to install a new exhaust system. In the photo above, the old exhaust system has been removed and the new one should be installed before the weekend.
If you see me out cruising around Oriental, give me a shout.
About a month ago, mid-September, Mark and Gail arrived from Illinois to look at some property in New Bern. While in the area, they also wanted to take a look at available properties in Oriental. I met with them briefly on Friday morning, just before they left with Craig to view the New Bern properties. Craig had referred them to me for viewing properties in Oriental as I have owned property there since 1992, and make my home there.
We met again on Saturday morning and headed out to see what was available in the area. I told them a little about the village and the many varied shops, organizations, and businesses here as we looked at homes, lots and marinas. They let me know that they had finished looking in New Bern early the previous day, and had driven down to Oriental to look around. We stopped at the Deli for lunch, and took a table on the deck to enjoy the view. I called my wife to see if she would like to join us, and she walked down from the house, making the meal that much more enjoyable. Actually she had accidently locked herself out, so it was a good thing we went back to town for lunch.
The meal, the company, the conversation and the view made the day a memorable event. A perfectly relaxing time in the most relaxing place I have ever been to or lived in. Toward the end of our meal, we spoke of staying in contact. I found out that Mark and Gail have a two-page foldout photo of Oriental on their refrigerator. Then Gail suggested that I send a photograph of something in the area each time I make contact with my customers and clients. What a great idea!!!
A few days later I received an email, letting me know that they had returned to Oriental after church on Sunday and had enjoyed sitting in the Adirondack chairs in the park overlooking the river. I don't recall where I found this photograph, but I did not take the picture. When I saw it I immediately knew who it might have some meaning to. So Gail, this one is for you, and thank you for the Great Idea!
I recently received a call from Maria, a very pleasant surprise. Jack and Maria live in New York and had purchased about 4.5 acres of land with a boat slip from me a while back. They were in town so I walked over to the Tiki Bar to say hello. Evidently they were having a great holiday of fishing, relaxing and becoming more acquainted with the area. They had been out on a fishing boat and were very pleased with their catch. Maria was especially pleased that the captain's wife came along, as the girls enjoyed socializing.
Jack showed me photos of an old Harley Servicycle he had restored and it is "drop dead" gorgeous! The paint job on that Servi is phenominal! He also had photos of another Servi that he is currently working on. This one is being customized, and I am certain that the work on it will be as flawless as the first.
They visited their property here and had met some of their neighbors. Jack was excited to learn that the neighbor beside them was from the same area where they currently live. Small world! They really enjoy Oriental and left saying "we'll be back next month". If you ever get to meet Jack, Maria, and their little dog Peanut, take time to get to know them. You'll be glad you did.
Those who know and love Oriental are aware that there's just no other place like it. Widely known as the "Sailing Capitol of North Carolina", where boats outnumber residents 3 to 1. The small town atmosphere is so relaxing during the week, just as it is for those who spend their weekends with us. I've heard it said that "the temperature is never higher than 80 or lower than 60 and it only rains at night". While that may not be totally true, it's not excessively hot or cold very often, or for very long.
Once you have spent time in Oriental, you will find this sailing and fishing village of 875 people is not quite like anywhere else. It's history is part of that feeling.
Oriental was settled by Louis B. Midyette in the 1870's. Legend says that "Uncle Lou", as he was known, anchored his sailboat in the protected waters of Oriental to escape a gale. He was sailing from New Bern back to his home in Dare County where he was a farmer and a fisherman. Storytellers claim that the next morning Lou went ashore and climbed a tree. He was captured by the beautiful landscape and all of the waterfront created by the many creeks. He returned home to persuade others to join his family in moving to the area.
Conveniently located along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), Oriental is a popular stop for "snowbirds" cruising south for the winter or heading north for the summer. Many residents will tell you that their first visit to Oriental was by water while cruising coastal North Carolina and that they too decided to make Oriental their home.
Why is it called Oriental?
Most stories heard around Oriental seem to have a boat in them. The origin of the town's name is no different.
The United States Post Office Department established a post office here back in 1886. Lou Midyette was named postmaster of what was then known as Smith's Creek. Lou's wife, Rebecca, thought the village needed a better name.
Rebecca had found the nameplate from the sunken ship "Oriental" on the beaches of the Outer Banks (some stories say she just saw it in a Manteo home - but either way the name "Oriental" made an impression on her).
The sailing steamer Oriental was built in 1861 in Philadelphia, and was used as a Federal transport ship in the Civil War. She met her fate in May of 1862, shipwrecked off Bodie Island 33 miles north of Cape Hatteras. The passengers and crew were saved. Today, one of the Oriental's portholes is on display at the Oriental History Museum. The fate of the "Oriental" nameplate is unknown.
The village became known as Oriental a few years after the post office was established, and was incorporated in 1899.
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