The Crystal Coast Blog

With Memorial Day less than 2 weeks away, the peak vacation season at the Crystal Coast is about to begin. Pack your bags and head to the beautiful beaches of the Southern Outer Banks. What better way to spend your summer vacation. Sure gas is expensive but if you’re headed to Emerald Isle be sure to take advantage of the bike paths. Why not park your car in the driveway of your rental and pedal to almost any where you want to go.

Helpful Crystal Coast Rental Agency Websites

Planning your vacation is part of the fun. Go on line and do a search of rental properties on the Crystal Coast. There are several easy-to-use rental property websites from the local Crystal Coast real estate agencies. Each one has it’s own unique features. I suggest you find one that makes your rental search easier and gives you the best results for your family’s needs.

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By following these simple tips, you stand a far better chance of returning to a secure home from your trip to the Southern Outer Banks. The best way to protect your home is by creating the appearance that your home is occupied even while you are out of town. You can achieve this by:

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In my previous Crystal Coast Blog post, I spoke about the major time commitment involved to go For Sale Buyer Owner. The next big challenge you’ll face when selling your Emerald Isle home yourself is the need for a solid Internet marketing plan. You might be asking why an Internet marketing plan? Many real estate marketing experts (present company included) will tell you can forget about placing ads in your local area newspapers. It’s a waste of your money and your valuable time. The vast majority of Crystal Coast home buyers troll the web. In fact, statistics now indicate as high as 85% of all home buyers now use the web to search for homes.

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So can you pull it off and sell your own Emerald Isle home? The thoughts of saving 6% or 7% for the agency commission is mighty tempting. So is it possible to sale your home yourself? Sure you can, but know this – selling your Crystal Coast home yourself will take:

1. A major commitment of your time
2. A fool-proof Internet marketing plan
3. Knowledge of your local market
4. The ability to accurately price your property
5. An understanding of the legal implications of the North Carolina real estate transaction
6. Skillful at negotiating the offer
7. And plenty of help from a few respected experts (attorney, title company, lending consultant and so forth).

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Sail Over to Beaufort

Held at the NC Maritime Museum, the 34th Annual Wooden Boat show offers a variety of small boats, boat rides and a wooden boat building competition, the 34th Annual Wooden Boat Show begins today, April 27th. This week long event is held in downtown Beaufort through May 3rd. This Crystal Coast town will be the “main harbor” for this weeks maritime activities.

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This isn’t Your Typical Beach Souvenir Shop!

If you’re looking for a funky selection of slightly eccentric “island-themed” home and fashion accessories, you owe it to yourself to stop by this neat little boutique on your way to Indian Beach from Emerald Isle. With an adjacent convenience store and gas station, Flip Flops is owned by Ms. Marcie G. Creech (FYI-Marcie is NOT associated with the Crystal Coast Blog). Marice has one of the finest collections on the island for home accessories including painted “beach-themed” furniture. Utilizing local Carteret County artist, including Shirley Pittman and works by Gwen Jordan, their pieces will spice up any room in your Crystal Coast home. One other NC artist that offers some really interesting work is Deborah Cavenaugh from Wilmington.

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Are You Renting an Emerald Isle Beach House This Summer? Here is What to Bring

Renting a Crystal Coast beach cottage or condo can be a wonderful experience if you remember to bring along all the essential items you need to make your vacation more enjoyable. If you forget an item, more than likely you will be able rent it once you arrive. Comprehensive beach rental gear vendors are located in Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach.

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It’s Easier than You Think!

We all know the beach is a wonderful place to make memories. And what better way to document your time together than by taking awesome photographs. Believe it or not, beautiful photos can be taken on the beach and it’s easier than you think. We recommend you try these simple tips.

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Spring is Bike Inspection Time

Longer days, crystal blue skies and warmer temps are sure signs that spring is in full swing here in Emerald Isle. Now is the right time to give your bike and biking gear a quick safety inspection before you put your bike through another rigorous workout. Ron Ryan, bike repair pro with Highway 58 Bicycles, emailed me the other day to offer these timely tips to getting your bike ready for more time spent on those wonderful bike paths here in beautiful Emerald Isle.

Ron recommends you:

• Check your helmet from time to time for bad straps, worn chin snaps and helmet cracks. If your helmet has any of these problems, it’s time for a new one. Moms and dads, be sure your child’s helmet fits securely and properly.
• Check for broken or missing reflectors. There should 8 reflectors on your bike.

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Every Season is Kite Flying Season

Here on the beaches of the Southern Outer Banks, it’s always the right season to come fly your kite. And if you’re in need of such a “flying machine”, there is no better place to purchase said “stringed aerial apparatus” than at Kites Unlimited (& BirdStuff, etc.) in Atlantic Beach. Located in the Atlantic Station Shopping Center just down from the Outer Banks Outfitters marine store, this is one shop that is a must on your list of Atlantic Beach shops to visit.

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