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7 Things to Know About Wilmington,North Carolina

When people talk about Wilmington, they're often referring to much more than the city itself - they're talking about the Cape Fear region, which encompasses three counties and all of the nature, history and recreational opportunities that go along with a visit here. As a visitor, here a few things you'll want to know about the Wilmington area.

THE WEATHER: You'll need your sunscreen because the weather here is bright and beautiful. Average daily highs top 80 degrees Fahrenheit from June through September; in July, the average highs stand at 89.9 degrees, according to records of the National Weather Service.

THE BEACHES: The area's beaches are large and family-friendly, with ample opportunities for surfing, kayaking, boating and other recreational activities.

FUN FOR ALL: Family fun is available in every town, from the Cape Fear Serpentarium in downtown Wilmington and the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher to the Ingram Planetarium in Ocean Isle Beach. Check out our "Destinations" pages and "See + Do" to plan where you want to take the family when you're not lounging on one of the area's many beaches.

YOU MIGHT SEE MOVIE OR TV STARS: The Wilmington area really is Hollywood East. Since "Firestarter" back in 1983, more than 300 feature films, TV movies and TV shows, including Matlock, Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill, have been shot in the Wilmington area. For a good guide to local film landmarks, check out The Film Junkie's Guide to North Carolina, co-authored by Wilmington resident Connie Nelson. EUE Screen Gems, the city's 32-acre studio complex, offers guided tours of its sound stages and back lots at noon and 2 p.m. Saturdays, beginning at the front gate at 1223 N. 23rd St. Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 students, $8 senior citizens and $5 for children aged 5 and older. For details, call 343-3433.

THE OUTDOORS: The state's biggest flathead catfish was caught right here in the Cape Fear River. It was 78 pounds. The state's biggest black drum was caught here, too. It weighed 100 pounds. To find out more about fishing, and the many nature parks and trails available to tour, see the Outdoors page. of www.coastalcarolinaescape.com

HISTORY EVERYWHERE: History abounds, not just in the many historic homes in downtown Wilmington and other cities in the region. The area has a connection to many major American conflicts, from the Revolutionary War to World War II. For the Civil War, check out the Fort Fisher State Historic Site (largest U.S. amphibious landing before D-Day), Fort Anderson near Orton Plantation or the trenches of the Battle of the Fork, near the Cameron Art Museum. For the American Revolution, drive north to Currie (watch for the brown turn-off signs along U.S. 421 or I-40) and visit the Moores Creek Bridge National Battlefield. For World War II, there's the Battleship, of course, and the Community Arts Center at Second and Orange streets, which started out as one of Wilmington's wartime USO centers. Halyburton Park is named for the New Hanover High grad who earned a posthumous Medal of Honor as a Navy corpsman in the Pacific. Ashley High School is named for Sgt. 1st Class Eugene Ashley, who earned a posthumous Medal of Honor in Vietnam as a Green Beret in 1970.

GET SPOOKED: Wilmington and the surrounding areas are haunted. Joe Baldwin, the headless ghost who carried the ghostly light along the (now vanished) railroad tracks near Maco Station, seems to have disappeared. Others, however, are still hovering. At St. James Church in downtown Wilmington, they'll tell you about Samuel Jocelyn, who came back to tell friends he'd been buried alive. Actors claim to spot Victorian theatergoers up in the balcony of Thalian Hall, and sailors killed in action reportedly clang the bulkheads of the Battleship North Carolina Memorial. The Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington will tell you some of those stories nightly, departing from the foot of Market Street by the Cape Fear River. (For details, call 794-1866 or visit www.hauntedwilmington.com.) For more stories, read Brooks Preik's "Haunted Wilmington" or John Hirchak's "Ghosts of Old Wilmington."

It seems that we hear a lot about environmental concerns these days. Much of it is simply the result of a greater awareness than in the past. And even though there isn't anything to be concerned with in most homes, there are still a number of potential home environmental issues that buyers should be aware of.

Water quality is probably the most common concern and the one most often tested for. Typically, a basic water quality test will check pH, water hardness, the presence of fluoride, sodium, iron and manganese, plus bacteria such as E-coli. Additionally, water may be tested for the presence of lead or arsenic.

In homes built before 1978, lead based paint may be present. Generally, if thelead based paint is in good condition, not cracking or peeling, it is not a hazard. If the condition is hazardous, the paint will either need to be removed or sealed in such a manner as to eliminate the hazard.

Another common environmental concern with the home is radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium in the soil. Pretty much all homes have some radon present, tests can determine if the level present is higher than what is considered safe. If the level is too high, a radon reduction system will need to be installed.

In older homes built more than 30 years ago, asbestos was used in many types of insulation and other building materials. If the asbestos is releasing fibers into the air, it needs to be removed or repaired by a professional contractor specializing in asbestos cleanup. But, if the asbestos material is in good repair, and not releasing fibers, it poses no hazard and can be left alone.

Knowing how to maintain your home is an essential part of protecting your investment and boosts your resale value. Proper regular maintenance can prevent huge expenditures down the road. Most buyers will sell their homes within 5-10 years so here are some tips on features that will help you get top dollar in the housing market.
1. The View-Homes with an unencumbered view sell better. Proper maintenance of your trees, shrubs and bushes will also add to the curb appeal. Maintaining tidy landscaping helps too.
2.Painting walls and baseboards so there are no scuff marks or chipping paint are a must. When selling keep in mind neutral paint tones help the potential buyer envision how it would work for their own style and taste.
3.Carpeting-Maintaining a clean carpet by having them professionally cleaned several times a year will male it last them longer. Dirty stained carpet will turn off potential buyers.
4.Power Washing-Especially important for vinyl siding which gets holds mildew and dirt and can be unattractive.
5. Keep cutters clean out especially of leaves and pine straw.
6. Listen for noisy pipes it can be an underlying cause of loose fittings or leaks.
7. Properly maintained HVAC will definitely save you money down the road.

My skills and experience can help you recognize costly details in your home that when fixed early can make your home even more marketable.

 

As Earth Day aprroches on April 22, I have been researching more information on how to be more green, honor the Earth and be more aware of promoting more community awareness and how this all ties in with my profession of being a realtor.

When looking for a new home, we like to say that the three rules of real estate: location, location, location. A good location is typically thought of as a safe community with good public schools. According to an article published in the Washington Post,  where you live has a direct effect on how long you live. According to a team from Brigham Young and Harvard Universities, reducing air pollution has extended average life expectancy by five months for urban residents in dozens of U.S. cities over the past two decades. Average life expectancy improved 2.72 years (with five months of that increase attributed to cleaner air). However, the improvements were especially high in the District of Columbia, where residents are living roughly three years longer—most likely because of the profound reductions in particulate matter made in the region. This evidence that extensive clean-up efforts are worth the up-front investment can help environmentalists breathe easy. Urban air quality is no newcomer to the national stage: Earth Day Network released its own Urban Environment Report in 2007. The Report ranked 72 U.S. cities according to more than 200 environmental, health, and quality of life indicators. It also introduced, for the first time, a “Vulnerable Population Index” (VPI) which factors in each city’s susceptibility to an expanded list of environmental challenges based on the percentage of its population that is most at risk. Source:http://earthday.net/

To check out Earth Day Network’s Urban Environment Report, click here

Happy Earth day!
Karla