Homes for sale in the Pinehurst NC area MLS are still dropping in inventory.  Now there are 1,069 single family homes for sale in the Pinehurst - Southern Pines area.  Sales of more expensive homes are still very sluggish, but there has been more activity lately when it comes to houses priced over $500,000.  We have seen price reductions of higher priced homes, plus banks have now begun to lower their interest rates on jumbo loans.  In the last 30 days, there have been 10 sales over $450,000 in the local MLS.  McDevitt Sotheby's has been the selling firm or the listing firm 3 of those 10 sales (both on one of them); and the buyers in each case got great deals.  The average home/condo sale price in the local MLS in the last 30 days was about $255,000, which is down less than 5% from last year, so it is looking more and more like we will be able to avoid drastic drops in home values.  It has been a tough year for real estate, but it does look like the worst is over!

About a month ago, the number of single family of homes for sale in Moore County (which includes homes in Pinehurst and Southern Pines) dropped below 1,100 and as of my last post on Sept 9 was down to 1,096 homes.  As of today (Oct 15), the inventory is down to 1,074.  Normal for this time of year is 900, so we are still up 15-20%.  But that is not bad when you think about markets in some parts of the country being up 200%, 300% or even more.  Higher priced homes are just not moving - in part because jumbo interest rates are still higher than conventional rates and in part because home buyers are more risk averse than they were 2 or 3 years ago.  If you want to keep track of the inventory number, sign up on www.twitter.com and follow my daily inventory posts at http://twitter.com/pinehurstnc more info about Pinehurst homes for sale, visit us on the web at http://www.mcdevitttownandcountry.com

For Pinehurst real estate and Southern Pines NC real estate, it's been an interesting year.  The inventory of single family homes in Moore County NC topped the 1,000 mark in January 2009 and the number continued to rise throughout the Spring and early Summer, reaching a peak of about 1,170 in mid-June.  Since then, the inventory of homes for sale in the county has declined slowly but steadily.  As of September 9, 2009, there are 1,098 single family homes for sale in Moore County.  This includes ONLY single family homes, not condos, farms and land.  Our normal average number is around 900; and for this time of year (end of Summer), we usually have about 800 homes on the market.  The number of sales tapers off in the Fall and inventory usually rises slightly.  It will be interesting to see what happens this Fall.  The recession has made it very hard to make accurate predictions, but check back here for updates, or visit us on the web at http://www.mcdevitttownandcountry.com

If you own or rent a home in Moore County, NC, you may be interested in info about recycling.  Recycling doesn't have to mean saving the planet single-handedly, but it can mean making your home safer by safely getting rid of dangerous or unwanted materials around the house, in the attic or the garage.  Pinehurst and Southern Pines offer some reclycling pickup for homeowners in their city limits, but there are many materials that they will not accept when they come to your home.  However, Moore County maintains a number of recylcing centers around the county.  Different locations accept different materials.  To get more info and to see a chart showing where you can dispose of certain household items, hours of operation and telephone numbers, visit: http://www.mcdevitttownandcountry.com/info/recycling-centers-moore.html

At McDevitt Sotheby's International Realty, we are committed to providing our past, current and future clients with information that goes far beyond real estate in Pinehurst and Southern Pines. Please visit us on the web at: http://www.mcdevitttownandcountry.com or call us toll free at 888-410-4110.

The US Golf Association recently announced that the Women's US Open will be held at Pinehurst in 2014 on the Pinehurst No. 2 Golf Course.  The tournaments will be held back to back in June 2014. This is great news for Pinehurst, Southern Pines and the entire area, which is a great place to live. These events will continue to put the Sandhills areas of NC on the map as a premier relocation destination. The quality of life in Pinehurst is wonderful because of the great weather, restaurants, shopping, a major regional medical center, and above all the people from all over the US who have chosen to move to Pinehurst or Southern Pines. Real Estate values are incredible, and are complemented by the quality of life, low taxes and year round golf, tennis, cultural activities and more. Pinehurst and its sister town of Southern Pines are located about an hour from Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham, NC - close enough to get to a big city when the need arises, yet far enough away to escape the urban sprawl. For more info, visit us at http://www.mcdevitttownandcountry or give us a call at 800-788-8814.

Southern Pines NC has a lot of holiday events that are fun for the whole family.  Three biggest events are:

1. The Southern Pines Christmas Parade.  The Parade takes place on the first weekend in December.  Broad Street is blocked off and the sidewalks fill up quickly before floats, antique cars bands and civic groups make the annual march through town.  Santa is there for the kids.  The shops and restaurants in town are of course open all day, so you can get a lot of shopping done.

2. The Carriage Parade.  This unique event takes place on the second Saturday in December.  The carriages are all drawn by horses, and the event is organized by the Moore County Driving Club.  This event is one of the highlights of the year here in the heart of North Carolina Horse Country.

3. First Eve.  On New Year's Eve, the town once again blocks off the streets for a variety of entertainers to spend a few hours celebrating the New Year.  The great thing about this event is that it's designed for families, so the hours are 6 - 9 pm.  This gives children the chance to celebrate with their parents and grandparents.  There's even a ball - drop at around 8.  And the adults still have time to do some late night celebrating if they still have the energy.

Visit us on the web for more info about these and other events in Southern Pines and Pinehurst during the Holidays. Pinehurst and Southern Pines NC events

The dining room at Whispering Pines Country Club is now being managed by the Ironwood Cafe and it's owner, Vince Continenza.  The restaurant is now called Woody's and they are doing a great job.  The menu is similar to Ironwood, except for the fact that there is a lot more "comfort food" available at Woody's - and it's excellent.  We ate there tonight and the service was just as good as the food.  They had a pretty good sized crowd.  Whispering Pines finally has a fine dining restaurant after all these years.  I highly recommend the trip out to WPCC to have dinner at Woody's.  Call 910-949-3000 for reservations and to make sure they are open.  I am not sure about their hours, although I know that they are open on Friday and Saturday nights in addition to some other nights of the week.  Ironwood is also handling lunch, which I am sure is equally impressive.  If you go over the holidays, and go by way of Ray's Bridge Rd so you can enter Whispering Pines along the Pine Lake dam.  Lakefront homes have their Christmas Trees lighted on their docks and that alone is worth the trip - it looks great.  If you need directions, don't hesitate to give us a call or visit our website: http://www.mcdevitttownandcountry.com.  We can be reached at 800.788.8814 toll free or 910.693.7901 locally.

There's a great opportunity to get membership privileges at 4 different golf clubs in the Pinehurst area at a very good price.  Avestra golf management is offering a program called Sandhills Originals, which includes Southern Pines CC, Whispering Pines CC, Foxfire CC and Hyland Hills Golf Club.  There is a $500 activation fee, and then rates begin at $150 per month.  This entitles members to full golf privileges and all you pay is the cart fee, which is either $16 or $20 depending on which course you play.  (SPCC is $20).  In all there are 6 great courses.  You can add a $145 to your monthly bill and you never pay a cart fee.  It's a great deal and all of the courses are in very good shape and getting better.  Visit our website at http://www.mcdevitttownandcountry.com or Avestra Pinehurst Golf Deals for more info.

Looking for new place to go for a gourmet dinner.  Try Wolcott's in Southern Pines NC.  The restaurant is not exactly brand new - it has been around for well over a year now.  It is located on Pennsylvania Avenue right between Broad Street and Bennett Street and across the street from The Pilot Newspaper Office.  It is a small place that packs a big punch.  All of the food is great and they have a good wine selection.  Wolcott's is convenient to Pinehurst as well, and last night, there were a number of people eating dinner who are associated in some way with the US Amateur Golf Tournament which is being held at the Pinehurst Country Club in Pinehurst NC this week.  Wolcott's is just in the phase of being discovered, and I highly recommend that you try it if you have not done so already.  If you a visiting the area to search for Pinehurst NC property or if you are just visiting on vacation, Wolcott's has an intimate atmosphere that is sure to make you feel at home.  Give them a call at 910-695-1551, as reservations are recommended.  If you want to find out more about Pinehurst or Southern Pines NC, please give us a call at 800-788-8814.  We have helped hundreds of families relocate to the area, and we love showing off this wonderful part of the world.  You can also visit us in the web: http://www.mcdevitttownandcountry.com .  If you are planning a visit, be sure and call our office to request an Area Guide, which we have compiled based on years of experience in the area.

Legacy Golf links is a very good course located near Pinehurst NC in Aberdeen.  It is also the location of Legacy Lakes, a new real estate development with golf front homes and golffront property.  It is a Nicklaus Jr course that is a great alternative to the courses that are right in Pinehurst.  It is one of the courses that golfers liek to play when they come to town to play all of the Pinehurst CC courses.  Often, they throw Legacy into the mix.  There are some nice long holes if you play from the Pro or Mens tees.  The course plays just over 7,000 yards (73.2/132) from the Pro tees and about 6,500 (70.8/124)from the Mens. My favorite holes are the 1st (Par 4) , the 12th (par 4) and the 16th (Par 5).  The Pro Shop is OK and the grille is very good.  Legacy has a great practice range.  Legacy Lakes offers new homes beginning in the $300K's, and it also has a very nice Clubhouse with a great tennis facility.  Legacy Lakes in convenient to Pinehurst and Southern Pines, and it is also very close to Fort Bragg, NC.  For more info on Legacy Golf Course or real estate at Legacy Lakes, please give us a call at 800-788-8814 or visit http://www.mcdevitttownandcountry.com