leland nc: Who Caused the Housing Crisis?
- 08/18/12 06:32 AM
Most blame for today's housing market is rightly assigned to lenders. It's true, their low standards and poor qualification practices contributed mightily to where we are today. Yes, they could not have lowered standards on government secured loans without political complicity but lobbyists worked hard to create a wider market for lending. Further, there were unscrupulous firms offering loan products that made no sense. Recently I read a homeowners deed of trust several times attempting to understand their Option Arm mortgage. I gave up and cursed the mess we're in today. But, being the thoughtful and curious type, I keep coming back to … (9 comments)
leland nc: Does Home Ownership Still Make Sense For You?
- 08/18/12 03:54 AM
In the greater Wilmington, NC area, where so many homeowners are hurting due to falling house prices, folks are looking for and deserve anwers to the question that make sense. That our area home vales rose 60% between 2004 and 2007 didn't make any sense. That irrational growth meant a long fall and protracted recovery. We may be at the bottom but no one knows for sure. My message to todays buyer is be prepared to rent out your home if circumstances take you outside the area before appreciation kicks in again. I know that ours is an inherently transient area. Many folks come, fall in love, stay forever … (2 comments)
leland nc: No One Wants to Be the Sucker Who Overpays?
- 08/18/12 03:07 AM
Awhile back, a fellow agent member of AR wrote a "members only" blog expressing frustration. She presented a market analysis to a seller whose home had been previously listed by three other agents. After doing so, he assured her his home was worth exponentially more than the market indicated. Then he called to brag that he had a buyer who would give him almost what he thought his home was worth. Yes, if he's unbelievably lucky his buyer Will Not have a Buyers Agent, will pay him cash and will not get an appraisal - that's the real estate equivalent of winning the mega-millions lottery but, … (4 comments)
In any given month fewer than 10% of listed homes are selling here. It follows suit that to be one of the 10%’s will require special effort and the right people involved!
This helpful post is worth sharing with you! Information courtesy of Beverly & John Femia – Contact us because, “With Us, It’s All About You!”
Compliments of Beverly Femia - Coastal Area Living in Hampstead, NC … (3 comments)
Several years ago, we listed a second row property in Hampstead, NC 28443, across the street from the Intracoastal Waterway. The home, a 40 year old brick ranch, was never built for views. To make it worse, the waterway home on the ICWW side had a leafy privacy screen. Yet, my client’s home was on higher ground and, in leafless seasons, permitted “water-peep” from outside. On the inside, if I stood in one or two spots and looked hard, I might glimpse blue water. … (4 comments)
leland nc: They Breached Their Contract!
- 10/28/11 08:17 AM
When the financial industry chose self-interest over the nation’s financial stability, they breached their contract with America. These institutions, guardians of the nation’s wealth, chose deceptive business practices as their prevalent business model. They chose the wrong path as clearly as any other bank robber and are, as surely, felons. That their greed was so self-consuming they were clueless to the national ramifications of their actions is both astonishing and frightening! How can we ever regain America’s financial security if a core industry already acknowledged as “Too Big To Fail,” is so out of touch with reality they no longer recognize … (6 comments)
leland nc: Wilmington, NC Area Ranks High as Place to Live, Play!
- 10/25/11 03:38 PM
The Wilmington Business Journal says Wilmington is enjoying positive press from several sources in national media outlets like Orbitz, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Outside magazine. Orbitz named Wilmington area beaches their top pick as a late-summer beach bargain. Bloomberg Businessweek ranked Wilmington, NC as the 7th most fun, affordable city in the US while Outside magazine ranks Wilmington 6 in their “Best Towns” list in the October issue. Such accolades provide great value to restaurants, hotels and a wide variety of retailers serving Wilmington area travelers. Best of all, they represent free advertising from credible unbiased sources and the value … (3 comments)
leland nc: We Love Our Ship – The USS North Carolina at Wilmington, NC
- 10/23/11 02:59 PM
Oct 14 was the 50th anniversary of the day The USS North Carolina came up the Cape Fear River to berth in Wilmington, NC. She’s across the river from downtown and visible to all just as she might have looked when launched from the New York Naval Shipyard in 1940 nicknamed “Showboat!” She went to Pearl Harbor In 1942 and fought in every major battle in the World War II Pacific theater. She earned 15 battle stars downing 24 Japanese planes and bombarding Japanese strongholds 9 times. Of the 2195 enlisted men and 144 officers, only 67 were injured and … (1 comments)
leland nc: Corporations Are People Too !
- 10/17/11 04:29 PM
Recently it was said that, “corporations are people too!” But, faceless corporations aren’t going to seem like real people until we begin seeing real people held to account for our current financial disaster. Today’s economy can be traced directly back to the greed, ineptitude and malfeasance of this century’s robber barons – the financial institutions. Yes, 2008 was the tipping point but it didn’t start there. It began in the 80s when the government loosened the tight reins of bank regulation in place since the 30s for a reason. Yes, the great depression of the 20th century can be traced … (6 comments)
leland nc: When Did Self Control Fall Out of Fashion?
- 10/16/11 04:00 PM
A recent post started me thinking about the lack of self-control exhibited today. When did that start? When did it become more important to say whatever is on one’s mind rather than spare the other person’s feelings? I know I liked it better when people didn’t always say what was on their minds. The pretenses of politeness meant civility even when people strongly disagreed. What happened to counting to 10 before responding? Yes, self control is out of fashion today and we need to get it back! That’s because, in the absence of societal self-control, narcissism becomes the new normal! … (2 comments)
“Supersize me” has applications beyond fast food. Recently, I shopped for dining room furniture and found chairs bigger. In the armed “Captains” chair, I felt a bit like Lily Tomlin’s “Edith Ann.” It set me thinking about the trend toward larger in everything from fast food meals to homes.
Here in the Wilmington and Hampstead, NC area, our market is a long way from recovery but new construction is readily available. Our local production builders survived and, today, have their pick of large blocks of developed lots in failed neighborhoods. Builders build what buyer’s want and, today, in … (5 comments)
leland nc: The New Wilmington North Carolina Real Estate Market
- 01/03/10 07:50 AM
Today, at the beginning of the new decade, it's my pleasure announce The New Wilmington North Carolina Real Estate Market includes homes for sale to buyers who resigned to a life further inland. No longer should you think it impossible to live in a small jewel of a city located between the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Fear River. Falling home prices reopened the greater Wilmington area to budget conscious buyers. Here in 2010, whatever your budget parameters, you'll find property listings demonstrating your money goes much further in the Wilmington area than it did in 2007. Whether you wanted a small … (1 comments)
Related Links:
Beverly Femia
Broker Realtor Stager - Greater Wilmington, NC Are
Most blame for today's housing market is rightly assigned to lenders. It's true, their low standards and poor qualification practices contributed mightily to where we are today. Yes, they could not have lowered standards on government secured loans without political complicity but lobbyists worked hard to create a wider market for lending. Further, there were unscrupulous firms offering loan products that made no sense. Recently I read a homeowners deed of trust several times attempting to understand their Option Arm mortgage. I gave up and cursed the mess we're in today. 
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