North Beach Sun Real Estate Holiday 2014

REAL ESTATE

Please call in advance. Pre-booked reservations only until May 15th.

HOLIDAY 2014

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THINK YOU COULD RUN AN OUTER BANKS B&B?

22ND ANNUAL PARADE OF HOMES PAGE R9

TRAFFIC ISSUES ON THE OUTER BANKS PAGE R10

(IT’S NOT AS EASY AS IT LOOKS.) PAGE R16

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NORTHBEACHSUN

NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE

Please call in advance. Pre-booked reservations only until May 15th.

OUTER BANKS TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, INC. PERSONAL DOOR-TO-DOOR CAR SERVICE

24 hour availability by reservation Call for pricing • up to 4 passengers Airports • Amtrak • Greyhound Wedding Shuttles • Corporate Accounts Package/mail delivery • Dr. visits

Airport Shuttle / Shared Ride Service

$115

Kitty Hawk to ORF • ORF to Kitty Hawk 7am to midnight / 7 days a week by reservation per person

252-256-8000 • 757-237-8087 • obtransportation.com CHRISTMAS TREES • BLUE RIBBON SWEET POTATOES FLAVORED BUTTERS • FRESH BAKED GOODS COUNTRY HAMS * COLLARDS

Y FRESH, LOCALL E C U D O R P GROWN

7940 Caratoke Hwy, Powells Point

THINK YOU COULD RUN AN OUTER BANKS B&B? (IT’S NOT AS EASY AS IT LOOKS.) PAGE R16

thefarmmarketobx.com • 252-491-2181

Great Food For Great Events Let us help you entertain with your Holiday Festivities

COMPANY PARTIES • REHEARSAL DINNERS THEME DINNERS • PERSONAL CHEFS 252-202-1404 • kelsey@chilli-peppers.com

m)

Amazing Lunch, Dinner, & Sunday Brunch (9a HAPPY HOUR from 3pm - 6pm DAILY with SHRIMP & WING SPECIALS

MONDAYS Build Your Own Pasta TUESDAYS Oyster Night WEDNESDAYS Build Your Own Pizza THURSDAYS Tapas - Flavors From Around The World!

FRIDAYS Gourmet Burger Night SUNDAY “Best Brunch On The Beach” Voted by VA. Pilot

MP 5.5, Bypass, KDH • (252) 441-8081 Join us for New Year’s Day Brunch!

NORTHBEACHSUN

NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

@northbeachsun

h o l i d ay 2 0 1 4

R9

R5 Welcome!

R6

Town Report What’s happening all over the beach

R6

Real Estate & Business Briefs

R7

mid-term election results

R8 Sun Salutations R9 parade of homes 2014

A showcase for value and innovation R10 overcoming roadblocks

An Outer Banks roads report R14 HAMMERTIME

To upgrade or not to upgrade?

R16 THE INN IS OPEN

Local innkeepers balance hospitality and life

R10

R18 FAB UNDER $50

You’ve been framed!

R21 Reflections on Retirement

Stealing at Christmas time...tsk, tsk R22 BEAUTIFUL BEDROOMS

Get the look for your bedroom R24 Classifieds

R16

ABOUT THE COVER The Cypress House Inn on the beach road in Kill Devil Hills. Photo by K. Wilkins Photography.

Publishers Adam & Cathy Baldwin EDITOR Cathy Baldwin Photography K. Wilkins Photography Art Director Dave Rollins Graphic Design Adam Baldwin

Writers Cathy Baldwin Glen Baldwin Jeffrey Ballard Amanda McDanel Jeff Scott Kip Tabb Michelle Wagner

Sales Manager Michelle Fernandez Account Executives Helen Furr Sue Goodrich Tori Peters Distribution Bob & Glen Baldwin

ADVERTISING DEADLINE FOR THE SPRING ISSUE

MARCH 6

NORTH BEACH SUN 115 West Meadowlark St. Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 252.449.4444 phone 252.715.1303 fax

The North Beach Sun is published quarterly by Access Media Group. All works contained herein are the property of the North Beach Sun and/or its contributors.

Opinions, responses, and inquiries are always welcome. You can email us directly at editor@northbeachsun.com or sound off at NORTHBEACHSUN.COM. NORTHBEACHSUN

NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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@northbeachsun

! e m o c l e W

You might think that winter is the time of year that we local folks go into hibernation, and you’re mostly right. Plenty of businesses board up for the season, and a fair percentage follow the sun south to warmer, tropical locales for the colder months.

But for those who stay behind and make the Outer Banks our year-round home, winter is the ideal time to examine ourselves as a community and work out the kinks before the next busy summer season begins.

Perhaps the biggest “kink” that needs our attention is the unholy summertime traffic. Gridlock at the Wright Memorial Bridge. Cut-through traffic on the neighborhood streets of Southern Shores.

Funding for bridge repairs (pick a bridge, any bridge). The elongated ferry route to Ocracoke.

And, sadly, pedestrian deaths in Corolla. On page R10, Kip Tabb takes on this goliath of an issue and the solutions proposed by lawmakers, residents and the NCDOT. Shifting gears (oh, the traffic puns I could make here), we check in on the 22nd Annual Outer Banks Parade of Homes on page R9. The Parade shared Columbus Day weekend with both the Duck Jazz Festival and the Mustang Music Festival, giving residents and visitors plenty of opportunity to find something to do. Like a voyeur, I love the Parade of Homes. It gives me a chance to traipse through other people’s living rooms, check out their personal style, admire the builder’s craftsmanship, and picture myself living there. And while I may never own a multi-million dollar oceanfront estate

This property, built by Saga Construction & Development, features the Outer Banks’ largest foldable glass door system. Truly a room with a view, “Good Karma Retreat” is located in Nags Head and available for rent through Carolina Designs Realty.

with a swim-up bar and a theater room, the Parade of Homes gives me the chance to imagine where I’d enjoy an evening glass of wine if I did—likely on the veranda overlooking the pool, if you’re curious.

We also sat down with several local bed and breakfast owners—whose schedules are often too busy to enjoy a glass of wine on the veranda—and talked about the day-to-day operations behind their successful and long-running B & Bs. Spoiler

alert: there’s a lot more laundry than there are tea and crumpets with the guests. Check out Michelle Wagner’s take on life as an Outer Banks B & B owner on page R16.

Until our next issue in the spring, we hope you continue to follow the Sun through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Have an idea for a story or feature? Shoot an email our way at editor@northbeachsun.com. As always, thank you for reading, and have a wonderful winter!

-Cathy Baldwin

OUTER BANKS LEVERAGE Now that we have begun to see a little positive movement in Outer Banks property values, it is a good time to talk about the principle of leverage. One definition of leverage is a technique to multiply gains. When a buyer makes a down payment and the value of the property goes up, their money is multiplied. For example, let’s say you purchase a beach cottage for $300,000 with a 20% down payment of $60,000. If the cottage appreciates 3% the first year, then the value of the property is now $309,000. That is a 15% gain on your down payment! You have used your borrowing leverage to make money on your down payment.

Of course you really don’t realize this gain until you sell the property and there are costs associated with owning and selling a home here.

Here’s a closer look at a possible 10-year scenario: Let’s say you are purchasing that $300,000 vacation rental home today and it costs you $5,000 a year out of pocket to keep it. The income from a vacation rental NORTHBEACHSUN

By Jeff Scott

be left with $328,000 or $28,000 more than the original sales price. That’s almost a 50% gain on your initial investment and you have a place to stay at the beach when it is not rented!

property rarely takes care of all the expenses and this is a realistic number in many cases. Your plan is to sell it in 10 years. If income and expenses stayed the same (both are likely to go up), then this house would cost you $50,000 over the next 10 years.

If the house appreciated 3% every year over the next 10 years then at the end of the 10 years, your $300,000 house would sell for more than $403,000! Subtract that $50,000 in expenses and roughly $25,000 in closing costs and you would

No one knows what the next 10 years will bring to the Outer Banks real estate market, but history shows real estate is cyclical and our down cycle looks to be over. Since every vacation rental cottage has different financial characteristics, contact your local Realtor to help you find a home that makes good financial sense.

Realtors have the knowledge and tools necessary to help you make the most of the principle of leverage on the Outer Banks.

Jeff Scott is President of Scott Team Realty, Inc. He is also author of Living the Dream, a comprehensive guide to buying, owning and selling Outer Banks real estate. You can reach Jeff at jeff@ ScottRealtyOBX.com or toll free at 866-438-8382.

NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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REAL ESTATE

Compiled by Kip Tabb

TOWN REPORT What’s happening in your town?

Here’s a report from all over the Outer Banks.

Currituck County State Representative Bob Steinberg told the Currituck County Commissioners that the county’s 3.9% unemployment rate is the lowest in the state and one of the lowest in the nation. Representative Steinberg also discussed transportation issues, noting that Dare and Currituck counties generate more than $1 billion in revenue per year and an inadequate transportation system could jeopardize that.

The commissioners passed a resolution opposing changes to the Clean Water Act, citing concerns that new language would expand the definition of “Waters of the U.S.”—waters subject to regulation by the Clean Water Act. The resolution raised concerns about the expense to the county with no offsetting funds from the federal government.

Duck The Town of Duck is developing plans to implement Municipal Service Districts (MSD) to pay for its share of the cost of the countywide beach nourishment project. The plan would cover five years of the initial phase of the project. Town Manager Chris Layton emphasized that there would probably be ongoing financial needs beyond the first phase.

With plans to expand its multi-use paths, Duck is hoping to become a pedestrian first community.

Proposals call for extending the soundside boardwalk to the south, a feasibility study on extending it to the north and a preliminary concept to connect many of the vacation home cul-de-sacs with the current trails.

Southern Shores In spite of vigorous resident opposition to capital improvement projects on Fairway Drive and at the intersection of East, South and North Dogwood, the town council approved plans to move forward. Resident complaints focused on the removal of all trees within 4 feet of the shoulder of the roads.

The look of Fairway Drive in particular was changed by the removal of more than 50 trees.

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REAL ESTATE & BUSINESS

BRIEFS Kitty Hawk Barrier Island Station is getting a facelift. Completed in 1993, the timeshare community behind Walmart was given conditional permission by the town council to proceed with plans. However, there were a number of noncompliant parts of the plan that the council did not approve, and the developer was asked to bring those areas into compliance. The renovations are slated to include a welcome center and fitness center.

Kill Devil Hills Town council approved additional sidewalks along U.S. 158. New sidewalks will connect Lowes with the northern section of Kill Devil Hills.

The town is also planning to improve its storm water reduction plan.

In other business, town council is looking into ways to cooperate with the other beach towns in enforcing ordinances prohibiting tents, chairs and other items being left on the beach overnight.

Nags Head In a resolution presented to Director of Strategic Prioritization for NCDOT Don Voelker, the town outlined concerns about how traffic patterns are evaluated on the Outer Banks. Pointing out that an annual daily average does not reflect the traffic woes experienced in the summer, the town called for NCDOT to work with the Albemarle Rural Planning Organization which is developing an evaluation formula specific to tourist areas.

The council tentatively approved plans to expand the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau Event Site to include a 1,000-person pavilion.

Manteo The Dare County Board of Education hopes to have the addition to Manteo Elementary School completed before the end of 2014. The original plans called for the building to be completed by December 29, allowing students to start using the new wing when they returned to school from winter break.

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island will be closed periodically during the winter for renovations.

Dare County

Nags Head Property Owners Win Court Battle Court battles pitting Nags Head and the state of North Carolina against the right of property owners to maintain their homes have been resolved for now in favor of the property owners.

After a November nor’easter damaged Seagull Drive in South Nags Head in 2009, the town condemned nine homes on the ocean side of the road and told homeowners they had to remove the structures.

The state and Nags Head maintained that the encroaching ocean and changing shoreline placed the properties in the common area of the beach. The properties, according to the town, were therefore dangerous and a public nuisance.

Property owners sued claiming the homes were repairable and state and local government had stripped them of their rights as property owners.

Both state and federal courts have now ruled in favor of the property owners.

Visitation Numbers Show Strong Summer Initial figures show that the summer of 2014 will go down as the best summer we have seen on the Outer Banks. These numbers come with a bit of a caveat, since they are for Dare County only. Dare County tends to be faster in reporting occupancy and food and beverage tax revenues than neighboring counties. However, Dare has proven to be a fairly accurate bellwether predictor for Currituck.

Through August, Dare County visitation revenues were up 4.37% ($332,704,377 vs $347,255,553) and food and beverage was up 4.5% ($160,350,712 vs $167,533,410).

What is remarkable about these figures is that Hurricane Arthur hit the Outer Banks during July 4th weekend—the earliest any of us can remember a hurricane making landfall here—and it was a barely noticeable economic blip.

Land transfer taxes and building permits are also up.

What’s Old is New A trend we’ve been noticing is the re-emergence of housing projects that had been put on hold for one reason or another, mostly because of the economic downturn.

Saga Construction has two moving forward right now.

The capital improvements were outlined in a 2009 planning document. However, residents argued that the final plans were not presented until two weeks before the town council meeting.

For the 23rd year in a row, the Dare County Finance Department has received a certificate of excellence from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.

On the Currituck mainland, Waterside Villages in Jarvisburg is finally reaching its potential. A beautiful piece of property on the Currituck Sound, multi-use paths connect the complex and take homeowners to a fully-functioning clubhouse.

The council passed a resolution very similar to that of Currituck County opposing changes to the Clean Water Act.

The Department of Health and Human Services building is getting an extensive remodel with some new construction.

Carlyle on the Sound is a project that was started but never completed off Colington Road. Saga Construction has taken that one also and new homes are being built.

NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

@northbeachsun

2014 MID-TERM Seagull Drive in South Nags Head.

Local Brewer Plans Expansion Paul Charron has been brewing fantastic beers on the Outer Banks for a number of years, but the brews were only available at his Full Moon Cafe restaurant.

That is changing. He has been expanding his operation, and over the summer he began selling his beer at a number of local bars and restaurants. According to his partner, Sharon Enoch, he has his beer in nine Outer Banks locations now, including Trio, Lone Cedar Cafe and Red Drum Grille & Taphouse.

He’s looking to expand, and if he finds a location that will allow him to brew the quantities he’s hoping, we should be seeing a lot more of Paul’s British and Irish styled brews.

Elan’s Offices and Affordable Housing Units Project Making Progress The new offices for Elan Vacations are taking shape in Powells Point.

Delayed by the weather last winter, the ground breaking ceremony for Elan President Norman Bibeau’s University Park project was held in late August, and the building should be ready for occupancy before the end of the year.

The office is the first part of a two phase plan. Phase two will be the construction of housing geared toward Outer Banks workers. Plans call for 39 affordable housing units on land about 200 yards south of Elan’s offices. “Our next project will be putting up 39 town homes back here,” said Bibeau, adding that affordable housing is desperately needed here.

ELECTION RESULTS The 2014 election has come and gone.

It’s still a little early to tell exactly what the results mean, but there certainly have been some changes.

In Dare County, a Republican majority sits at the Board of Commissioners’ table for only the second time in the past 100 years. Whether Democrat Warren Judge will continue to serve as Chairman had not been determined at press time.

Long-serving Commissioner Virginia Tillett was defeated by conservative candidate Margarette Umphlett. Tillett had been a passionate advocate for education and Dare County schools during her tenure.

In state legislative races, Senator Bill Cook defeated Stan White; Currituck County and Northeastern North Carolina returned Representative Bob Steinburg to the State House. Both Cook and Steinburg are Republicans.

The big news coming from the north end of the Outer Banks is that the Sanderling Resort in Duck has been sold. Carey Watermark Investors (CWI), a real estate investment trust, purchased the property for $38 million in late October, according to the CWI website.

With two years of legislative history behind him, Democrat Paul Tine, the minority party legislator in Raleigh, defeated Republican Mattie Lawson by more than 2,000 votes. In the first contest between the two, Tine eked out a narrow victory by 458 votes.

The new ownership has retained Northview Hotel Group, the previous owners and managers of the property, to continue to operate the resort. The 24-room expansion started by Northview is still on track. “CWI plans to begin this project in late 2014 and to deliver the 24 additional guestrooms in time for the 2015 peak spring and summer seasons,” the purchaser is quoted on their website.

With 100% of votes counted, 46.19% of Dare County registered voters cast their ballot, slightly better than the 44% statewide. Currituck County was slightly lower than the statewide average at 43.23%.

Sanderling Resort Sold

Federal Legislators Senate Thom Tillis U.S. House of Representatives Walter Jones

State Office Senate Bill Cook Representative Paul Tine Representative Bob Steinburg

Dare County Board of Commissioners Jack Shea, Margarette Umphlett, Wally Overman *Unofficial results showed Max Dutton in the lead, but an official tally on Nov. 14 concluded that Beverly Boswell won the race. As of press time, Dutton had until Nov.17 to request a recount.

Sheriff J.D. (Doug) Doughtie Clerk of Court Dean Tolson

Currituck County Board of Commissioners Mike Hall, Mike Payment, Marion Gilbert, Paul Beaumont Sheriff Susan Johnson

www.easterntreesvc.com NORTHBEACHSUN

NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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REAL ESTATE

SUN SALUTATIONS Danielle Taylor named Agent of the Month Beach Realty & Construction Sales Manager Beth Urch extends congratulations to the August and September agent of the month, Danielle Taylor. A Canadian native, Danielle has almost 20 years of experience in sales and marketing with 10 of those years at the executive sales level.

“Danielle has an amazing attention to detail. Buyers and sellers appreciate that and can be assured they are receiving the best representation possible,” says Beth Urch. Danielle works from the Duck office and can be contacted at (252)261-6600 or danielle@beachrealtync.com.

George O’Neal Joins Beach Realty & Construction / Kitty Hawk Rentals General Manager Jason Ward is pleased to announce the return of George O’Neal to the position of rental manager. George, a Buxton native, previously worked for Beach Realty and relocated in 2010 to work in property management on Hatteras Island. Jason Ward says, “With George’s 12 years of experience and his heightened customer service skills, he will be a tremendous asset to the Beach team of managers. We are thrilled to have him back.” George lives on Roanoke Island and works in the Kitty Hawk office.

Premium Vacations on the Outer Banks

Carolina Designs Welcomes Stacey Hinkle to the Sales Team For over a decade Stacey Hinkle’s career has been closely connected with Outer Banks real estate. A licensed broker who represents sellers and buyers in successful property sales and purchases, she’s also spent several years in the vacation rental property management business. These skills combine to make her a dynamic advocate for clients investing on the Outer Banks. Stacey is an active volunteer with the Kill Devil Hills Fire Department, a commitment reflecting her spirit of service.

Joe Lamb Welcomes Janie Chesson

graphic design & branding publishing printed items signage promotional items advertising

Janie Chesson is a true North Carolina girl from Wilson. She owned and recently sold her company in Edenton where she both developed and sold real estate. Now she loves the beach life and is ready to help buyers and sellers in the Outer Banks market. She can be contacted at (252)339-7514 or janie@joelambjr.com.

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NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

@northbeachsun

2014

Parade of Homes A showcase for value and innovation

Photos and story by Kip Tabb

The Outer Banks Parade of Homes is an exceptional event. Sponsored by the Outer Banks Home Builders Association, this year’s Parade was the 22nd annual, and somehow Outer Banks builders and contractors manage to come up with new designs and ideas every year.

There seemed to be a few more homes priced between $250,000 and $400,000 than in past years. That observation was passed along to Saga Construction CEO Sumit Gupta, and his answer was interesting.

“Everybody talks about price, but it’s really value that they (customers) want,” he said.

Clockwise from top: Living room at Colington Pointe by Randy Saunders • Interior space SAGA Construction & Development Villages at Ocean Hill • Modern Neal Cunstruction home in Kitty Hawk, People’s Choice Award • Sandmark Construction remodel, Southern Shores • SAGA Construction & Development Villages at Ocean Hill.

It’s a valid point and the builders we spoke to seemed to understand that whether a home is a $280,000 condominium or an $800,000 beachfront rental property, it is their job to deliver the best possible quality at a fair price.

Some of the more affordable housing projects that had been started but put on hold during the economic downturn are taking shape again. The condominiums at Colington Pointe appear to be moving forward with Randy Saunders building them. Bermuda Bay also seems to be back on track with Outer Banks Renovations taking on the project.

It is remarkable touring the homes—the quality of the workmanship and innovative design are apparent. Ballard Custom Designs’ project in Nags Head was memorable because of how well it used three floors and 2,500 square feet. Sandmark Construction took a house built in 1990 and, instead of reinventing the wheel, worked to bring out what was best in it. Another favorite was a home built by Neal Contracting in Kitty Hawk. At 1,400 square feet, it was nice to walk into a house that felt just right for a family of four.

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NORTHBEACHSUN

NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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REAL ESTATE

an outer banks roads report

Overcoming Roadblocks Beautiful, restful and just remote enough to create a sense of adventure, this strip of coastal North Carolina, from Corolla to Ocracoke, is a vacation paradise. Every year millions of visitors come to relax and let the cares of work and home life slip away. As a region, the

Outer Banks has done a remarkably good job ensuring that services, businesses and shelter are available to the vacationers who come streaming to our community.

It appears as though 2014 will be the best year yet for tourism on the Outer Banks, and as more visitors find their way here, communities are confronting another truth—our road systems are, at best, barely adequate to handle the crush of summer traffic. From the promised multi-use paths in Corolla that have become a matter of life and death, to the gridlocked traffic in Southern Shores and on the Bypass, and even to the closing of a ferry channel between Hatteras and Ocracoke, traffic woes on the Outer Banks have taken center stage in any discussion about growth and quality of life.

Corolla This past August, Asen Zahariev of Bulgaria was struck and killed just south of Harris Teeter. Zahariev was walking along the shoulder when he was hit, and there is reason to believe the planned 10-foot multi-use path would have made a difference.

Currituck County has had a plan in place to connect the various subdivisions and developments for a number of years, and has completed the first two phases of the plan on the northern end of Corolla, according to Currituck County Project Coordinator Eileen Wirth.

“We’ve finished phases I and II from the Corolla Greenway to the light at Albacore Drive,” she said. Combining a 10-foot multi-use path that parallels N.C. 12 with existing interconnecting paths in the subdivisions, walkers, joggers and bike riders can go from Currituck Heritage Park to Monterey Plaza without traveling on the highway.

The next two phases will be almost entirely parallel to N.C. 12. Phase III will include the 1.9 miles from Albacore to the Harris Teeter Shopping Center and Phase IV will be another 1.9 miles from Harris Teeter to the southern Currituck Beach Access.

Phase III is well into the design and engineering stage. If all goes as planned, a new 10-foot wide multi-use trail will be ready for summer visitors when they arrive. “The engineering and design work is in progress now. We’ll have it ready for permitting in January,” Wirth said. “We’re hoping to start construction in March.”

Long term plans call for a multi-use path to the county line. When completed, it would be possible to ride a bike from Bodie Island Lighthouse in South Nags Head to the Currituck Beach Lighthouse on interconnecting paths.

Southern Shores From the Wright Memorial Bridge to Whalebone Junction, the volume of traffic is at the heart of the summertime blues. Southern Shores, however, is most affected by the congestion.

The majority of visitors coming to the Outer Banks cross the Wright Memorial Bridge on either Saturday or Sunday during the summer. Some, of course, come from the west using the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge, but 80 to 85% of all vacationers enter the Outer Banks on U.S. 158 in Kitty Hawk.

About 50,000 head north to Corolla and probably another 10,000 or 12,000 head to vacation homes in Duck and Southern Shores. Because check-in times have a fairly narrow window, almost all of those vehicles arrive between 12 and 5 p.m.

The result is a massive back-up, sometimes extending all the way to the Cotton Gin in Jarvisburg.

For residents of Southern Shores, the traffic on U.S. 158 and then N.C. 12 as it heads to the northern beaches is only part of the problem. With its narrow, twisting, tree-lined residential streets and speed limit of 25 mph, the town roads were never intended to handle a heavy volume of traffic.

If the county is able to stick to that schedule, Phase III should be completed by Memorial Day.

But with GPS mapping the way, vacationers are trying to bypass the U.S. 158/N.C. 12 gridlock and cut through neighborhoods to get to their destination sooner.

Regardless, some work will be done on the project, Wirth emphasized. “If we get delayed and can only get a mile done, we’ll get a mile done. We won’t do it in the season. It’s too dangerous. But we will finish it after that.”

At an October 2nd citizen’s meeting organized by the town, the issue was examined, debated and possible solutions presented. With a number of ideas offered and frustration apparent, finding common ground seemed difficult.

Planning has already begun for Phase IV, Wirth said. “We hope to complete that next year. We’ll give the commissioners the budget for it and if they approve it, we’ll be able to finish it.”

The one area of consensus among participants at the October meeting was the need for more multi-use paths.

“One way to minimize the impact on our residents would be

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NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

By Kip Tabb

to have a multi-use path along Dogwood Trail. That would allow us to walk or bike more safely,” one of the participants said.

Later in the meeting, a parent stood up to say he was concerned about the safety of his children on weekends during the summer and he felt a multi-use trail would alleviate that danger.

Both statements were met with applause from the audience.

The town was presented with a final draft of the Southern Shores Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan in October. The document contains plans calling for paved multi-use paths along the most traveled Southern Shores streets—South and East Dogwood, Highland Drive and Sea Oats Trail.

The plan, however, did not include a timeline or funding sources.

Restricting access to the town streets was a more difficult issue, although many of the residents in attendance favored the idea. Noting that the streets are owned by Southern Shores, Town Attorney Ben Gallop indicated the town would have the authority to pass an ordinance restricting access.

“They have the regulatory authority and they could pass some form of restriction,” he said.

However, enforcement would be difficult, probably violating the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable search and seizure.

“Stopping someone based on a license plate may be a Not a single coastal violation of their rights,” he county, including said.

Dare and Currituck, has a major road Chief of Police David project that will be Kole concurred, adding, “It’s a priority under the a public street. Anybody new STI law. is welcome to drive on it.”

He went on to say the only way that type of ordinance could be enforced is if a patrolman followed a car all the way through town and was able to show they were cutting through and not stopping.

Employers north of the town also chimed in to point out that their employees often use Southern Shores streets to get to work. Chief Kole agreed. “Thirty-five to 40% is local traffic trying to get to work.”

There was widespread consensus that the key to alleviating the traffic would be the Mid-Currituck Bridge which would reroute the 50,000 vacationers going to Corolla away from Southern Shores.

Originally conceived as a public/private partnership, the project is on hold, and its future is doubtful.

@northbeachsun

Delays with the resurfacing project on the Wright Memorial Bridge are just one of many traffic headaches being felt all over coastal NC.

Locally, a popular concept and one that has been in development for more than 20 years, the Mid-Currituck Bridge had moved into the last stages of planning, before the N.C. State Legislature halted funding.

Regional Planning Organization (RPO) and the organization has taken a leading role in creating a more representative evaluation method for District 1. Discussions have been ongoing to address some of the issues.

The State, the Highways, and a New Evaluation

“Over the last year, NCDOT, the Albemarle RPO, Dare County and local towns have been developing a Comprehensive Transportation Plan for Dare County,” Garifo wrote.

The Mid Currituck Bridge as well as a number of other projects still exist on NCDOT’s books as Transportation Improvement Projects (TIP), but a new way to evaluate state highway projects fell victim to the Strategic Transportation Investment Law (STI).

Passed by the N.C. State Assembly in 2013, the law attempts to evaluate all highway projects on a series of objective criteria. Nine criteria for evaluating projects are used and within each criterion are additional evaluations.

The law heavily favors urban areas, allocating points based, as an example, on commuting time. Although traffic volume is included in the evaluation, state officials have indicated that traffic count is gauged on an average daily use and does not take into account seasonal fluctuations.

There is also a provision in the new law that creates new funding sources for projects. In the past all funding went through NCDOT. The new law allows other sources of funding. Under this provision, a private entity could wholly fund the Mid-Currituck Bridge or enter into an agreement with a county or local government.

A High Speed Option

Road Rage

in Southern Shores Overriding vigorous and vocal opposition from residents, the Southern Shores Town Council approved road improvement projects on Fairway Drive and at the intersection of South Dogwood and East Dogwood Trails (above).

Residents were particularly angered by the town’s insistence on removing a large number of trees, especially along Fairway Drive. The town, citing the need to maintain the streets in a safe manner and noting that the projects had been scheduled as part of a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) since 2008, began removing trees in October.

Not a single coastal county, including Dare and Currituck, has a major road project that will be a priority under the new STI law. The Bonner Bridge replacement is moving forward with funding already approved; however, major road projects in District 1 that include both counties have come to a virtual halt.

The removal of the trees was not the only issue that upset homeowners affected by the work. Residents pointed out that although the CIP had been on the books since 2008, the actual plans were not presented until two to three weeks before the town took a vote on the project.

There are projects are on the books, however. In fact, improvements to the U.S. 158 corridor from Kitty Hawk to Nags Head—designated R-3419— were the highest ranked projects in the district and the plans, according to NCDOT Communications Officer Jennifer Garifo, are more extensive than are listed on the STI evaluation spreadsheet.

“It’s so disheartening,” East Dogwood resident Linda Lauby said. “It doesn’t appear that the board is representing the people.”

“This project is for making future improvements along the length of U.S. 158 from Kitty Hawk to Nags Head,” she wrote in an email. “It is being scored through STI and we will not know if it will be funded until the draft STIP (State Transportation Improvement Program) is approved. Initial plans included adding lanes to the road . . . One of the draft recommendations is to upgrade the existing five-lane road to a four-lane divided boulevard.”

It is difficult to tell exactly where the road projects are ranked as there are separate ratings for statewide, regional and divisional needs. In the first draft of NCDOT’s prepared ranking projects, R-3419 was 149th in the state. The MidCurrituck Bridge was ranked 194th.

As discouraging as the ranking may seem, there is some movement to improve the chance some of these projects will be funded.

Northeastern North Carolina is part of the Albemarle NORTHBEACHSUN

It is not only the roads that are stalling traffic on the Outer Banks. The Hatteras/Ocracoke Ferry has gone from a 40-minute to a 75-minute ride.

The original channel has been filling in for more than 10 years and efforts to dredge it have not been able to create a permanent passage. The new route is about three times longer and even bringing in extra ferries, NCDOT has not been able to maintain the same level of service to Ocracoke it has in the past.

There was agreement that some work needed to be done on the roads, specifically root damage from trees that were sometimes within a foot of the road. However, the town, citing a 4’ right of way, removed all trees within that distance of the street.

The result was a massive loss of greenery, especially along Fairway Drive. “The trees on a property are a part of a family,” said Lauby.

According to a number of media reports, NCDOT is considering a passenger-only ferry for the route to run in conjunction with its vehicle ferries. The ferries would be high speed, shallow draft crafts that would connect directly with the village of Ocracoke, docking at Silver Lake.

Acknowledging the process had been difficult, Mayor Tom Bennett noted the council members are charged with certain responsibilities. “Maintaining our streets in a safe condition is part of our responsibilities,” he said.

“It’s our responsibility to maintain property values. You don’t get that if you don’t invest in that.”

The plans are still very tentative and a number of questions would have to be answered regarding fares, bicycles, access, and passenger parking.

There are other CIPs scheduled for this fiscal year, including Scuppernong Lane and Pintail Court, but the town council may revisit those projects. “We may either delay or change or reduce what we’re doing,” Bennett said. “The public has some input and you can’t ignore that.”

The N.C. Ferry Division has indicated that if it does experiment with a passenger-only route, the ferry would be leased initially.

NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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SOUTHERN SHORES OCEANSIDE - Charming 3BR/2BA beach cottage just 125 yards from beach access. Meticulously maintained with many upgrades. Ceiling fans throughout the house. Tile laid in kitchen & bathrooms. Newly added game room is an additional 480 SQF. Sundeck with furniture, outside shower and grilling area. $348,700 #8156

SOUTHERN SHORES - OCEAN VIEW - This deluxe 4BR/3.5BA high elevation ocean view home has it all! Like new, quality furnishings and electronics, private pool with hot tub and Tiki bar. New updated appliances; great floor plan, lots of square footage, free internet and quick walk to the beach. $499,000 #8202

DUCK – OCEAN SIDE - Beautiful 5BR/4BA home located in the community of Four Seasons in Duck! Home features an open floor plan with new kitchen appliances, large living room with cathedral ceilings and a gas fireplace. Two master bedroom suites; one with a gas fireplace. $749,000 #8229

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SOUTHERN SHORES WESTSIDE - Private Chicahauk location. Unique 5BR, 3 Bath, 2 Half Bath property has been renovated and refurnished. Features an attached, but separate, self-contained living space! Huge private and beautifully landscaped corner lot. Very secluded pool area and hot tub. $419,000 #8163

SOUTHERN SHORES WESTSIDE - Cozy 3/BR/3BA, with In-Law Suite, tucked into the trees but only 2/10ths of a mile from the beach! Gorgeous kitchen remodel. Beautiful and functional sunroom. The downstairs In-Law Suite has private entrance and own fenced in backyard with fish pond Wonderfully landscaped. $290,000 #8164

DUCK WESTSIDE - WOW! Is not enough to say about this 3BR/3BA Nantucket Village Soundfront property. Incredible views and carefree living in this luxury condo with all the right touches. Soundfront decks overlooking the beautiful Currituck Sound on all three levels. Top level Master Suite with spacious master bath, sitting area and private deck. $499,000 #8170

SOUTHERN SHORES WESTSIDE CANAL FRONT – It’s all about LOCATION!!! 4BR/3BA home located on a quiet cul de sac. Beautiful canal front and panoramic golf course views.

Fully bulk headed dock with electric and water plus a boat lift! Make this one yours before it’s gone! $469,900 #8206

SOUTHERN SHORES - WEST SIDE - At 30+ feet above sea level this view is awesome! 3BR/2BA + sleeping loft. Hot tub on the deck gives a panoramic sound view from Duck to Currituck. Big kitchen, Garage, Lots of skylights and an open feel makes this Contemporary special! Nicely landscaped, and furnished (With some exclusions) this home is a GEM! $739,000 #8207

DUCK OCEANSIDE - Only 4 lots back from the beach in prestigious Tuckahoe! 4BR/3.5BA, heated pool, hot tub, and a large 4 hole putting green. The pool area has great landscaping with an attractive waterfall. Bright, open kitchen with corian countertops, wet bar sink and stand alone icemaker. Two gas fireplaces. $675,000 #8216

SOUTHERN SHORES - CHICAHAUK - 4BR/3BA home in wooded setting with easy beach access. Updated interior and wonderful neighborhood with great amenities. House is in X-zone- no flood insurance required! $369,000 #8233

DUCK – WEST SIDE - 3BR/2BA sound front Nantucket condo offers a sound front deck and sun room! Enjoy a peaceful and relaxing setting or watch the boaters, kayakers and windsurfers cruise along the Sound! Home features an open floor plan, large master suite with a jetted tub and access to sun room and deck! $340,000 #8234

KILL DEVIL HILLS - COLINGTON HARBOUR - Sound front with fantastic views of Albemarle Sound, this 3BR/2.5BA opportunity features a first level master bedroom and a huge, open dining room/great room. Capture a wonderful waterfront living opportunity with terrific value with almost 170 feet of water frontage! $449,900 #8237

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MARTIN’S POINT GORGEOUS INTERIOR, POND FRONT LOT

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$125,000

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GOLF COURSE FRONTAGE

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NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

@northbeachsun

The Outer Banks Expert FEATURED PROPERTY

SOUTHERN SHORES WEST SIDE – Stunning water, wildlife, and sunset views from this gorgeous 4-bedroom, 3 bath home with den, sunroom and a pool. Remodeled kitchen, high end appliances, Silestone and marble counters, luxurious baths include sauna and steam shower. Handicap ramp. $446,900 #8195

SOUTHERN SHORES WESTSIDE – 3-BEDROOM, 2.5 BATH HOME IN Mallard Cove with screened porch and sundeck overlooking Duck Woods Pond. Association takes care of exterior maintenance and grounds keeping! Convenient location! $314,900 #8198

SOUTHERN SHORES – WEST SIDE - 4BR/4.5BA on a private, wooded lot in an X zone. Bright and airy living areas on the top floor for optimal sunrise and sunset viewing. Split level design with private master suite wing. Game room with wet bar on lower level and second master and two bedrooms on mid-level. $399,000 #8227

SOUTHERN SHORES – OCEAN SIDE - Beautifully renovated 5BR/3BA home located in Sea Crest Village! Just a short walk to the beach on quiet, safe, non-thru street. Enjoy the perfect blend of classic beach home (Juniper Paneling) with a new spacious floor plan. Amenities include pool, large hot tub, jet tub gas fireplace and more! $485,000 #8228

COROLLA - WEST SIDE - Coastal FanSea! Located in Villages at Ocean Hill in Corolla. 5BR/5.5BA with heated pool and hot tub! Game room with pool table, shuffle board and a home theatre room that seats 9. This home is handicap friendly and the elevator services each floor! Beautiful home with FANTASTIC amenities! $579,900 #8226

SOUTHERN SHORES – WEST SIDE - 4BR/3.5BA totally remodeled! This home features beamed ceilings with columns, bamboo floors and an impressive wood burning fireplace. Remodeled galley style kitchen with Corian counter tops and a high end, over-sized gas range stove and beautifully remodeled bathrooms! $419,900 #8238

SOUTHERN SHORES – WEST SIDE - This 4BR/3BA Contemporary home is centrally located on a very high lot!

This is a spacious, open floor plan with lots of attic storage space and a two car garage. There is also a den/office and a bonus room (FROG). Potential for a 5th bedroom and a 4th bath. $369,900 #8247

SOUTHERN SHORES – WEST SIDE - This 4BR/3.5BA home features a salt water pool and hot tub in a desirable X zone!

This home is GORGEOUS! Great floor plan with fantastic cook’s kitchen. $649,900 #8246

Agent of the Month

Agent of the Month

October

Charlie Byrne 252-202-2642

Agent of the Month

September

Janet Owen 252-599-1786

Mike Ross

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COROLLA - WEST SIDE - This 2BR/2BA condo is the perfect beach getaway or business employee housing!

Convenient to everything! WALK TO: beach, sound, shopping, dining, movie theater and entertainment for kids and adults! $113,900 #8249

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Jim Stone

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Cory Taylor

252-599-1721

John Wojcik 252-473-7060

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Visit our office at 5 Ocean Boulevard in Southern Shores, NC NORTHBEACHSUN

NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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REAL ESTATE

HAMMER TIME

By Jeffrey Ballard, GC When it comes to resale, turnkey is what most people want. If a person can just move in their furniture, the likeliness of a sale increases. Repairs like painting take a second seat, since most don’t have the same taste in color. If you do paint, choose a neutral color, returning the most value for your efforts. repairs, this alone could make the difference in the sale of your property.

For homeowners it seems there is always something in need of fixin’. That’s when the question usu-

ally arises: When does this end? Answer: It never does.

So, how do you get the most bang for your buck?

Whether it is an upgrade or repair, always keep your goals in mind. Ask yourself what you’re trying to accomplish. Is it to replace, repair for resale, or is it because you’re just sick of looking at that worn kitchen?

In most cases, kitchens and baths are the first rooms that come to mind for an upgrade. The key is not spending more than what you can get in return.

An appraiser once told me a story. After an appraisal, a customer asked why he hadn’t received a higher rate since he had installed a special granite countertop.

It came “from the bottom of the ocean” and was “so awesome,” the customer said. Shouldn’t he get more for that? The response was simply no. Granite is granite when it comes to resale. The point is that for $5,000 less in materials, the appraisal would have been the same.

When deciding on countertops or even flooring, laminates have come a long way. These products are a good, durable alternative for solid surface and can be one-fifth the cost. For most people, a product that is visually appealing is just as important as being maintenance free. Some of these products look so real that folks have to touch them to know the difference.

Another good choice is installing mid-grade cabinets, instead of cabinets with all the bells and whistles.

This is a great option that can save thousands. In most cases, the fact that it’s brand new is enough. If a prospective buyer doesn’t have to make any immediate

Bathrooms benefit the most from simple new fixtures. A new faucet can cost less than $200, keeping the appeal high. Installing a new toilet, at around the same cost, does more than one would think. Just the fact that it’s new is the appeal here, and it can be installed within a few hours.

Maintenance-free materials are another big resale ticket. For example, replacing your decking with composite material can greatly improve the sale of a home, not so much as to double your money, but enough to make the sale. And if you don’t sell, chances are you will never have to replace your deck again.

Creating outside living areas is another trend. Going this route could also be onefifth the cost of interior space improvements. From wood decking to pavers, like anything else, there are many options in material and design. A great material to use outdoors, and typically less expensive, is poured concrete. Here on the beach, concrete holds up well because there is great drainage and compaction. There are many inexpensive ways to “dress up” the look of the concrete finish; from cutting patterns with an abrasive saw, to “Stamp Crete.”

Concrete not only serves the purpose at a lower cost, but also could last a lifetime with little or no maintenance.

There are many products available today from high-end to low-end, from solid to laminate, wood to concrete. Keeping your goal in mind will help you through the process of selection. Ultimately, a well thought-through process of upgrading will give the greatest return for your money.

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Jeffrey Ballard is a local licensed building contractor and the owner of Ballard Custom Designs, a division of B&B Contractors. Contact him at 252-489-9551 for questions, quotes or consulting. Check him out on Facebook at ballardcustomdesigns.

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NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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VACATION RENTALS • REAL ESTATE SALES • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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REAL ESTATE

Th e Inn is

Outer Banks Innkeepers Balance Hospitality and Life Photos by K. Wilkins Photography Story by Michelle Wagner When Veda and Bill Peters purchased the Cypress House Inn in Kill Devil Hills more than a decade ago, they didn’t have a clue what went into being an innkeeper. But Bill loved the beach, Veda loved older homes, and they both were looking for a career they could do together.

They decided to take a chance and what they discovered is that while being innkeepers is hard work, it’s also a job that comes with many rewards.

With their son Stephen and dog Sassy, the couple hosts out-of-town guests for nine months out of the year in their quaint historic home on the Beach Road at milepost 8.

Veda says her favorite part of being an innkeeper is sitting down for breakfast with the guests. “Everyone has a unique story to tell, from where they went to college to the trips they have taken in the past.”

Guests, she has found, tend to be more loyal to the innkeepers than the property, so being a good host is important. “We take time to get to know our guests and that relationship begins around the breakfast table. They return year after year and become like family.”

Like Peters, she also says breakfast with the guests is one of her favorite times a day. “We didn’t have the slightest idea what went into it,” she said. But two decades later, she is still the innkeeper and has a thriving bed and breakfast.

Depending on whether guests are coming or going or both determines how busy Caviness is for the rest of the day.

“There are days when the whole B and B empties out and new guests come in. Those are the days I am charged

up on caffeine and rock-and-roll. And there’s no telling when that is going to happen.”

The biggest challenge is having some boundaries, or you may end up eaten alive in this profession.

Caviness says the burnout rate for innkeepers can be high. “There’s not much space between you and your guests in the literal and figurative sense. Innkeepers need to be adept at balancing their own needs and the responsibilities that need to get done.”

Since purchasing the Cypress House Inn, the Peters have made it their own and have redone the house’s six bedrooms and bathrooms and tweaked the house recipes to offer a lighter fare. An intimate setting, guests often gather in the living room and on the porch. “And we need to be there if they want to talk,” she adds.

Along with its rewards, Veda admits that as an innkeeper, you need to be on-call all of the time, not to mention being a jack of all trades. From on-line marketing to a lot of laundry and being concierge to as many as 12 guests at a time, the Peters stay busy. During the off-season, they have house projects to complete.

Nancy Caviness, innkeeper of Advice 5¢ in the heart of Duck, says she and her partner built and opened the business nearly 20 years ago. They got the idea after visiting the village in 1993 and realizing there were no inns in town.

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NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

@northbeachsun

Unparalleled Property Management Roanoke Island Inn in downtown Manteo (left, photo courtesy of the Roanoke Island Inn). Nancy Caviness of Advice 5¢ in Duck (bottom). Veda Peters on the porch of Cypress House Inn in Kill Devil Hills (above).

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Dee Evans, who has been innkeeper at The Roanoke Island Inn in downtown Manteo for the past four years, echoes Peters’ comments. “The day starts early and lasts until your head hits the pillow,” said Evans, who operates the eight-room inn. “The first thing is coffee, then breakfast.” Then begins preparation for in-coming guests, answering phone calls and attending to guests’ questions or needs, she adds.

“On heavy turn-around days, we do eight to ten loads of laundry,” she says. “We even iron every pillow case.”

Tackling maintenance issues, cable provider headaches and restocking the pantries are all in a day’s work for Evans.

She says being on call 24/7 can be a challenge, but she still loves what she does. “First and foremost, I love people. I enjoy being a host,” she says, describing her position almost as a personal tour guide or mother hen. “I enjoy seeing guests start to relax when they are here and love it when they rebook with us. I also love that many of our guests initially have no clue as to how much history there is and how many things there are to do and see right here on Roanoke Island.”

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While she said having constant company can be tiring at times, she says the clientele who stay at the inn are fabulous. But it is hard work.

“I do not sit around and enjoy glasses of wine with the guests at night, nor do I look like a million bucks everyday.

But it’s a great job if you love everything that goes along with running a household of 20 to 30 people every day.”

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NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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REAL ESTATE

FAB UNDER $50

You’ve Been

Framed!

By Amanda McDanel

In addition to needing about 600 extra square feet in our home, my family needs about 16 more walls. Why? We are at that very crucial stage of having more artwork than our walls can handle. Rest assured that the vertical spaces in our home are not covered in Picassos and Rembrandts. In fact, with the exception of two local favorites, Marcia Cline and RedDawn Designs, our artists are the lesser renowned four-year-old preschooler, family members or obscure calendar and print artists.

The beauty of art is that it is what is beautiful and meaningful to you. It could be a seagull feather you found on a morning beach walk and placed in a pure white mat and frame. Or, how about the March kittenof-the-month from that calendar hanging on your wall? Place it in an empty frame and bam—Miss March is a year round centerfold.

Some of my favorite pieces are in my daughter’s room.

I’m mildly, alright totally, obsessed with children’s books. My mother was that mom who kept everything from my childhood, from stuffed animals to dollhouses to an entire children’s library worth of books. I especially love the obscure and vintage Golden Books for their artwork. I selected several favorite pages from a variety of books, tore them out (it hurt, I won’t lie) and took them to my favorite local framer Hubby Blevins in Manteo. A few days later, I picked up custom artwork that was special and meaningful to my family.

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Another example came from an anniversary trip to Hawaii.

I wanted a special souvenir, so I picked up a deck of flashcards that had the alphabet and corresponding picture of Hawaiian culture. It was such a shame to see beautiful hand-painted images of aloha, ukulele and zori stuck in a box year round.

My husband laid out the collage of letters and I filled in the holes with scraps of fabric that I had left over from making a corresponding pillow for my daughter’s room. Once again, my favorite framer Hubby built the perfect custom frame, and now we sing the ABCs while doing the hula in her room.

© 2013 Trane. All rights reserved.

All around my house are images of my favorite subject— my family! I highly recommend investing in a quality family photographer to capture a few special moments in your life.

Photographers aren’t just for weddings and senior portraits; some of my most precious images are of everyday events— days at the beach, newborn hands, bath time, a walk along the sound. Printing the images in black and white or sepia can create cohesion in a collection. While all of the images in my bedroom are of different events in my life shot by Kristine Pringle, Mary Basnight and Brooke Mayo—engagement, maternity, weddings, vacations, babies—they are all in a sepia tone that tells my family’s story seamlessly.

Sometimes you do not even need a subject to frame; frames are so beautiful in themselves. I found an empty old wooden frame with a rusty wire in my mom’s attic and thought, “Huh! That would be cool hanging on my beadboard reading nook.” So there it hangs, rusty wire exposed and all, and I adore it. I like to think I got the idea myself, but I probably subconsciously absorbed it from Pinterest. People always compliment it when they walk into my living room, and I’m almost 95% sure it’s a genuine compliment and not a passive aggressive “she must not be able to afford artwork; bless her heart” sentiment.

Empty frames can also be used to frame other frames or frames of other frames (how much wood would a woodchuck chuck…). Seriously, I found a gigantic 5- by 6-foot square frame at a yard sale that was painted the most beautiful blue color. It was empty and I had nothing that large to go in it but as with most things, I brought it home determined to find the perfect place for it. Once I noticed it was almost the same color as my dresser, I hung it above the dresser and used it to frame the aforementioned collection of sepia wedding photos. The frame highlighted the grouping so perfectly that I can’t imagine it not being there now. Whether you are placing an empty frame around a single photo or a grouping, this is a great use for an empty awkward space as well as a focal wall.

So next time you find yourself facing an empty wall, look around your house for all of the possibilities you can slap a frame on. Or you can just go and buy one of those framed generic pieces at the big box retailer; bless your heart.

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NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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R20

NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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By Glen Baldwin

REFLECTIONS ON RETIREMENT

like drunken Jack-in-a-boxes, they jumped up and down through the service, never quite in time with the rest of the congregation. That money maker is now absent from the auction list!

Stealing at Christmas Time ...Tsk, Tsk I’m a sucker for traditions. Early on in my marriage I realized that they somehow bound our family together, reminding our children that even though the world is full of rich adventure and wonderful friends, being part of a family was richer and more wonderful still. Traditions for me are the glue that helps keep us bound as a unit. Consequently, I was always seeking out creative ideas and trying them on for Baldwin size. I’d latch on to any interesting tradition that I’d see or hear about – from a friend, a magazine, a TV show, even in a novel. Some were tried on and tossed; several remain. So in the spirit of good will this season, I’m going to share some my most favorite holiday traditions, and right off the bat, I’m letting you know that I stole them, all but one.

Lobster stew on Christmas Eve (stolen from Steve, a former high school student who shared it with me during his detention one afternoon). Days before Christmas, Bob and I bring home the lobster, steam it to a sweet, succulent yumminess, pick and then try to freeze it without eating more

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than a fistful apiece. On December 23rd, along with cream, a splash of sherry and enough butter to slap an artery shut, the lobster begins its slow simmer in a huge pot. Every hour adds more flavor to our feast.

A strict and heartless order to the events of the day (stolen from my parents, Dick and Cora, who unlike us did it out of necessity). My dad was a pharmacist who had to work on holidays. Thus, on Christmas morning, we’d get up at dawn to open our stocking surprises from Santa, and then say goodbye to my father as he headed off to work.

When he arrived home after noon, we’d have our big family dinner, grudgingly do all the dishes, and only then could we open the presents under the tree. It was a deliciously painful and drawn out procedure, waiting to see if our Christmas wishes had been granted. I’m sure at the time I hated it; but as a parent, I wanted to recreate that sweet anticipation for my own family – with adjustments. Stockings first, then a ridiculously huge breakfast, and finally the goodies under the tree. And for dinner later?

Chinese food... but that’s a whole different tradition.

Enormous Christmas ornaments, the gaudier, the better (stolen from The Jolly Roger Restaurant).

Years ago, when we were living in Maine, we came to the Outer Banks for a winter vacation, bringing friends who thought that anything south of the Mason-Dixon line had to be a warm treat compared to the nine months of deep freeze at home. That January, waking up after a 17-hour drive, we headed to The Jolly Roger for breakfast. The meal and service were excellent, but what really grabbed our attention was the ceiling which displayed hundreds of ornaments – a sea of glitter and glow.

What a perfect idea for the beams in our farmhouse kitchens at home! The rest of our vacation, from Southern Shores to Manteo, we collected; and still today, when we spot a large and unusual Christmas ornament, it’s added to the crazy collection. Our friends’ display still decorates their big, old Maine cape beams. We’ve moved several times since then, however, and beams have morphed into stair rails, counter tops, hanging light fixtures – any place that will display our funky and fun assortment.

The dismantling of the Christmas tree by Karen, my daughter-in-law (this one’s not stolen!).

Selfishly this might have been my most favorite tradition. For me, once the presents are opened, the wrapping paper tossed, and the holiday cookies consumed, it’s time to put away the crèche, the Santa and snowman collections and dismantle the tree. It doesn’t have to happen right away but before the new year for sure. And de-decorating is so much less fun than decorating! So... most generously, for over a dozen years until we moved Monopoly auction (stolen to the beach, Karen (who still lives from Sue, my mother-in-law’s e rg la a ot sp in Maine) has given me a unique caregiver, who decided one ...when we as tm is and perfect birthday present when hr C Thanksgiving that cooking for and unusual to their family comes for the Christmas ed d 22 people wasn’t any fun unless ad ornament, it’s holidays. Every December 28th some of the guests helped). I n. io ct the crazy colle (my birthday) she’d remove each love this tradition! I share a list ornament, wrap it in tissue, store in advance, letting anyone who’s it in a box, fold the Christmas tree skirt coming home for Christmas know how they can earn Monopoly money. Helping prepare for storage, and vacuum all the fallen pine needles. a meal - $100, setting the table - $50, walking the Alas, no more. Since winter makes travel from Maine dog - $25 (the sort of helpful chore that might need to the Outer Banks a bit dicey, their trip south is now a nudge, once they’ve gotten into the eggnog) along usually limited to the warmer months, and I just with some fun ones: $75 for singing a Christmas song can’t wait that long for Christmas clean-up. or $25 for wearing a holiday garment. Christmas So sadly, I’ve had to let this tradition go, and night, we have an auction where they get to spend that’s okay. Traditions change. As families evolve, their “money” on all the things that Bob and I have branching out to make their own stories and their gathered – mostly junk with an occasional item of own histories, that’s bound to happen. Memories worth. Of course the time I offered $500 to anyone and traditions may be the magical glue that binds us who’d go to midnight mass with me was a disaster. I as families, but as our families grow, we may need thought maybe a few greedy ones would succumb to to say goodbye to some of the old in order to make temptation, but they all did. A dozen non-Catholics room for the new. After all, the binding is what’s imjoined me (the lone one), tromping in late to St. portant, not the brand of glue. However, is there anyMary’s to find the only seating available was in the one out there who enjoys putting away Christmas front row – of course! – then making quite a show as, decorations?

Glen Baldwin is a wife, mom, and grandmom who’s spent the past 45 years as an English teacher, greenhouse grower and real estate agent. Living here at the beach now, she’s waiting to see what her next career will be.

NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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REAL ESTATE

beautifulbedrooms Photos by K. Wilkins Photography Story by Cathy Baldwin

Don’t settle for slumber in a boring boudoir. These inviting pieces from some of our favorite local retailers will make you want to curl up under the covers and catch some z’s.

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Set the mood with this curvaceous ceramic lamp and linen shade. Choose your hue: blue or green. Available at

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This recycled wood key rack makes a perfect jewelry holder for the bedroom wall.

Surf into dreamland on this beautiful wave bed adorned with Pinecone Hill bedding. Choose

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with a pair of pedestal side tables in a distressed finish. Available at Daniel’s Homeport, $219 each.

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NORTH BEACH SUN REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY 2014

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REAL ESTATE

South Mills—Corner lot cleared and ready to build.

Close to Suffolk, Norfolk & Elizabeth City. Private septic/county water. MLS 85570, $46,000. Call Brindley Beach Vacations & Sales (252)453-3000.

CLASSIFIEDS Ocean Sands Oceanside—5 BR, 4 BA. Bright, beautiful home with stunning views located close to community pool. Terrific location and price. MLS #82873, $395,000. Call Danielle at Beach Realty & Construction (252)261-6600.

Osprey, Duck Oceanfront—4 BR, 4 BA. Attractive home with ocean views galore! Updated kitchen, 3 living areas and very special location with uncrowded beaches. MLS #85554, $1,495,000.

Call Carolyne at Beach Realty & Construction (252) 261-6600.

Ocean Sands Oceanside—6 BR, 5 BA. Great vacation home with solar heated pool, hot tub, lots of updates and quick walk to the beach! Priced to sell. MLS #84992, $445,000. Call Joanne at Beach Realty & Construction (252) 453-3131.

Whalehead Oceanside—8 BR, 6.5 BA. This home has it all! Huge game room, large pool, spacious and open living area, and ocean views. Located on Whalehead Drive. MLS #84585, only $674,900.

Call Ilona at Beach Realty & Construction (252) 261-6600.

Bayberry Bluff, Duck Oceanfront—5 BR, 3 BA. Solid oceanfront investment with consistent rental income in excess of $80k per year! Priced right. MLS #85429, $925,000. Call Jackson at Beach Realty & Construction (252) 261-6600.

Corolla—Opportunity to own a turn-key, wellestablished, fast paced restaurant in the highly desirable TimBuck II. MLS 85327, $225,000. Call Brindley Beach Vacations & Sales (252)261-7550.

Duck—Quiet Oceanside building site. Close to boardwalk and beach. Cul-de-sac location.

Sanderling. MLS 85551, $299,000. Call Brindley Beach Vacations & Sales (252)261-7550.

Kill Devil Hills—10 vacant lots available in Carlyle on the Sound, a soundside community. Starting at $165,000. Varying MLS numbers. Call Brindley Beach Vacations & Sales (252)453-3000.

Corolla—Vacant level lot, well treed, located close to indoor club facility. A quiet cul-de-sac. MLS 81675, $225,000. Call Brindley Beach Vacations & Sales (252)261-7550.

Duck—Wooded lot on Sound Sea Ave. Pond Front in the much desired community of Duck. Oceanside community. MLS 85178, $140,000. Call Brindley Beach Vacations & Sales (252)261-7550.

Aydlett—High and dry X zone lot in a nice neighborhood. Peacefulness of Currituck, 30 minutes to the beach. MLS 81110, $36,000. Call Brindley Beach Vacations & Sales (252)453-3000.

Nags Head—Semi-oceanfront home site. Good Ocean and Sound Views. Easy beach access. MLS 84570, $199,500. Call Brindley Beach Vacations & Sales (252)261-7550.

Corolla—2 lots available in the ocean side community of Buck Island. Rare opportunity to build 8-10 BR homes. MLS 84788/84789, $160,000 each. Call Brindley Beach Vacations & Sales (252)453-3000.

Duck—Last one of a kind lot in Sanderling. Semioceanfront w/direct ocean access. Walkway in place. MLS 85421, $599,000. Call Brindley Beach Vacations & Sales (252)231-7550.

Premium Vacations on the Outer Banks

Duck Oceanfront—6 BR/5.1 BA, 4,648 heated sf. MLS #84871, $2,895,000. Situated on the southernmost homesite in Palmer’s Island, a premiere Outer Banks community. This home design and location offer privacy and unsurpassed ocean to sound views. Call Carolina Designs Realty, Gray Berryman (252)573-9503.

Duck Oceanside—4 BR/3 BA, 2,450 heated sf.

MLS #85591, $699,000. Charming beach retreat with warm ambiance, spacious and airy floor plan and recent upgrades. Captain’s Watch with ocean view, private pool, putting green and just steps to the beach. Call Carolina Designs Realty, Barry Breit (252)202-1043.

Corolla—Great, 6 BR 4.5 BA sixth row home in the fabulous Whalehead Club community. Private pool, gazebo with built-in seating, hot tub, nice backyard and wonderful landscaping. MLS# 85366, $499,000. Call Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty (252)261-3800, www.cbseaside.com/ 85366.

Kill Devil Hills—So many top of the line features in this charming, recently built 4 BR 3.5 BA home in Colington! From the circular drive to the double garages on each side of the ground level entry, this house plan was well thought out. MLS# 85616, $375,000. Call Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty (252)261-3800, www.cbseaside.com/85616.

Southern Shores Oceanside—7 BR/6.2 BA, 4,396 heated sf. MLS #80566, $850,000. Pondfront home with bulkhead and a short walk to beach! Numerous upgrades, 6 masters, water views, elevator, game room with pool table and a heated saltwater pool. Call Carolina Designs Realty, Fran Kapinos (252)202-8467.

Kill Devil Hills—Meticulously-maintained home located at the end of First Street in a peaceful location. Gorgeous mature trees provide privacy.

The top floor features an open kitchen, dining room and living room, 3 BR and 2 BA. MLS# 85412, $369,000. Call Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty (252)261-3800, www.cbseaside.com/ 85412.

Corolla—Stunning 7 BR, 5 BA semi-oceanfront home surrounded by live oaks and native grasses on a huge (nearly a full acre), secluded lot. Enjoy ocean and lighthouse views! MLS# 885204, $1,050,000.

Call Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty (252)2613800, www.cbseaside.com/85204.

Acreage in Downtown Manteo—8.5 acres on Fernando and California Lane. Owner said all reasonable offers will be considered. MLS 85676, $674,000. Call Carolyn Hickok, (252)562-2485.

Nags Head—Semi-oceanfront, 5 BR, 4 BA home with greater than 10% return from rentals! All of the amenities and features you could ask for in a beach home. MLS# 85172, $899,000. Call Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty (252)261-3800, www. cbseaside.com/85172 .

Ocean Sands Lakefront Corolla—This home has covered and open decks for relaxing with your very own lake view or swim in the private heated pool. Large rooms with 5 BR and 4 full BA, bottom floor has a game room for the family to enjoy time together. MLS 84346, $466,900. Call Carolyn Hickok, (252)562-2485.

Corolla—A 6 BR, 5.5 BA home is that is very spacious and well-appointed for a vacation rental.

Will be sold completely furnished and ready to go for the new owner. MLS# 85617, $670,000. Call Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty (252)261-3800, www.cbseaside.com/85617.

Nags Head Semi Oceanfront—Absolutely stunning sunrises! 5BR, 5 full BA, 2 half BA, ocean views, 175 feet to beach access, 4 decks, large great room/dining area with fireplace, large luxurious

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bedrooms. Entertain in your solar heated pool or in the lower level gameroom. MLS 83130, $745,000.

Call Carolyn Hickok, (252)562-2485.

Rodanthe Beach Box—Cute little beach box waiting for a new owner to call home. Just down the road from the pier with great views. This house has 2 BR and 1 full and 1half BA, lots of decking around the house. MLS 82862, $180,000. All reasonable offers will be considered! Please Call Carolyn Hickok, (252)562-2485.

Corolla Crown Point—Newly renovated 7BR/5 full and 1 half BA. Well maintained and attractively furnished home. 2 master suites and 4 additional bedrooms that share Jack-and-Jill baths. Enjoy all of the amenities of Crown Point. Ample decks for sunbathing and enjoying ocean views. Only 100 yards to sandy beaches. MLS 78540, $542,000.

Call Carolyn Hickok, (252)562-2485.

Kitty Hawk—$349,000. 3648 Poseidon. This beautiful home is immaculate with all new appliances. All furnishings convey down to the linens. Walk-in-ready for you to enjoy and hit the beach. Located one block from the beach access.

Call Janie Chesson (252)339-7514.

Oceanside—$650,000. The perfect South Nags Head beach house! Cathedral ceilings, special touches like hickory cabinetry, wood wainscoting & floors.10x16 swimming pool, composite poolside decking/built in seating. Short walk to the beach, w/ direct ocean access. 9701S. Old Oregon Inlet Road, MP 19.7. Call Janie Chesson (252)339-7514.

Nags Head— $799,000. 7 BR, 5 ½ BA. Ocean and sound views! Luxury abounds with private pool, hot tub, rec room. Conveniently located to Jennette’s Pier and beach access. Excellent rental history for those looking an investment opportunity. Call Janie Chesson (252)339-7514.

Corolla, 4 Lots from Oceanfront (5th Row)— $694,000. Warm and inviting, this spacious beach cottage offers all the sought after amenities vacationers dream of. A large pool area, cabana, game room and loft area are just few of this home’s special features. 8 BR, 6 BA. MLS #85575. Call Susie Von Suskil at Resort Realty’s Corolla Office (252)453-3700.

Kill Devil Hills, Colington—$312,500. Privacy, comfort and modern style are what you’ll find at this quality home in Colington. This home features an impressive chef’s kitchen, cathedral ceilings, 700 sq. ft. game room, office and a fenced in backyard.

3 BR, 2 BA. MLS #85557. Call Mark Massey at Resort Realty’s Kitty Hawk Office (252)261-7060.

Corolla, 2 Lots from Oceanfront (3rd Row)— $689,000. This quality built, oceanside home comes with an excellent rental income history, tasteful furnishings and wonderful amenities. Enjoy direct beach access, Ocean Crown’s community facilities and close proximity to local attractions, restaurants and shops. 5 BR, 4.5 BA. MLS #85517.

Call Ron Ryan at Resort Realty’s Duck Office (252) 261-8686.

Kill Devil Hills Westside—$239,000. Don’t miss this great investment opportunity with over $19,000 in rental income last year! This home has lots of possibilities with 2 separate living areas and a completely remodeled bottom floor. 4 BR, 2 BA. MLS #85515. Call Tony Baca at Resort Realty’s Kitty Hawk Office (252) 489-8094.

Duck, 2 Lots from Oceanfront (3rd Row)— $719,000. Ocean views and direct sound and beach access are readily available at this wonderfully maintained home in Sound Sea Village. Special features include a private pool, hot tub, game room, covered decks and spacious layout. 4 BR, 3 Full, 2 Half BA. MLS #85511. Call Cherie Beacham at Resort Realty’s Nags Head Office (252) 202-6998.

Frisco Oceanfront—$429,000. This incredible property sits just north of Frisco pier and offers wonderful ocean views and seaside living. The yearround resident and vacationer can both appreciate this home’s special amenities, including an elevator, hot tub, and fireplace. 3 BR, 2 BA. MLS #85545.

Call Norm Campbell at Resort Realty’s Waves Office (252) 955-5891.

Corolla Soundfront—$598,500. 5 BR, 5.5 BA. MLS #85507. This gorgeous home is located in a wonderful neighborhood on a quiet, beautifully landscaped lot. Sit and enjoy the views from the sun decks and covered porch. Its spacious interior and amenities are sure to impress. Call Randy Jones at Resort Realty’s Duck Office (252) 202-2573.

Nags Head Westside—$279,900. Well priced and turn-key ready, this attractive home features a large open living area with soaring cathedral ceilings. No flood insurance is required on this ½ acre, X flood zone lot. 4 BR, 3.5 BA. MLS #85535. Call Mark Massey at Resort Realty’s Kitty Hawk Office (252) 261-7060.

Corolla Oceanside—$699,000. With its grand curb appeal, spotless interior and premier amenities, this home has everything you need and more! A motivated buyer and solid rental history make this a great rental income investment. 5 BR, 5.5 BA. MLS #85483. Call Dave Hoare at Resort Realty’s Kitty Hawk Office (252) 261-7060.

Avon Oceanside—$325,000. Take advantage of this rare chance to own a semi-oceanfront tri-plex on Hatteras Island! This property includes 2- 2 BR, 1 BA units and an upper studio unit. Lots of possibilities with its centrally location and ocean views. 4 BR, 3 BA. MLS #85475. Call Daphne DeGabrielle at Resort Realty’s Kitty Hawk Office (252) 261-7060.

Buxton—“Hatteras Retreat” is an oceanfront luxury home near the famous Cape Point. 7 BR, 6 full BA and 2 partial BA. Relax in the covered lounge area or kick back beside the cabana Tiki bar while the kids jump into the sparkling pool and play in the inset kiddie section. Custom game room, pool table, wet bar, full size refrigerator and stand-alone ice machine provide easy access to pool, upscale theater room with stadium seating and high end electronics, gaming/lounge area, gourmet kitchen with entertainment island, dual refrigerators, dual dishwashers, 5-burner cooktop, dual wall ovens and two microwaves. Rental projection in place for $173,265. MLS #82804, $1,575,000.

Salvo—Take a “Time Out” in this oceanfront retreat located in the exclusive Hattie Creef estates. 8 BR, 8 full BA and 2 partial BA. Private swimming pool with built-in wet deck in the inset kiddie pool, poolside Tiki bar and entertaining area, under-house lounge area with outdoor pool table, game room with 2 large screen TVs and wet bar with microwave and full size refrigerator. Home theater room with 80” large screen Smart TV with stadium-style seating.

4 master BR on the mid-level of the home. Bonus room on this level with private full BA. The top level offers 2 master BR, spacious great room with vaulted ceilings and ocean views. Gourmet kitchen featuring granite countertops, custom cabinetry, 2 dishwashers, dual wall ovens and 2 full size

refrigerators and a center island. 10 weeks already booked for 2015. Rental income in excess of $164,000. MLS #82566, $1,750,000.

Outer Banks—Introducing “SoCo” the Outer Banks first Southern Living Showcase Home. This home features 8 masters, a bonus room, home theater and rec room scheduled for grand opening January 2015. Custom tile showers, hardwood flooring, extraordinary home furnishings and electronics, custom heated concrete pool, hot tub trellis with 12 person swim spa, sauna and event space.

Sponsored building products include Belgard Hardscape, Moen plumbing fixture, Lennox HVAC, Marvin Windows, Bevolo Lighting, Rinnai hot water system, Sherwin William paint, Sunbrella fabrics, LP Smart Side and Wellborn Cabinetry. Rental projection of $250,000. MLS #84180, $2,375,000.

Outer Banks—Build your Outer Banks Home in time for the 2015 season. For a limited time with 10% down and bank approved credit for the contract amount, you can have a new home from the developers of Moongate. Be the first to pick your second row lot and start designing your home.

No construction loan required, settle for the home at completion. Standards included granite kitchen countertops, custom cabinets with dovetailed drawers, double hung windows, hardwood and ceramic floors, gas fireplace, stainless steel appliances, fenced yard with landscaping. Options heated pool, hot tub, Tiki bar, elevator. Prices begin at $649,000 for lot/home and buyers to carry construction loan. Rental projection in excess of $60,000.

Nags Head, Milepost 14—New semi-oceanfront community at Mile Post 14. This 7 BR home to be built by SAGA Construction in the Moongate community will consist of quality materials throughout with attention given to every construction detail. The exterior will consist of cement fiber board and cedar shake roof shingles, fenced yard with Tiki Bar, landscaping, and heated pool. Enjoy

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REAL ESTATE

upgrades such as stainless steel appliances, granite kitchen countertops, custom cabinets with dovetail construction, hardwood flooring in the living and dining areas, gas fireplace, custom tiled master bath, tankless water heater and much more.

Access to all the amenities of owning in the Village at Nags Head, including private beach access with a bathhouse directly, community pool, tennis, clubhouse access and more! Rental projection of approximately $75,000 to $83,000. MLS #80866, $846,300.

Nags Head, Milepost 14—This 7 BR model home in the Moongate community, custom built by SAGA Construction, consists of quality materials throughout with attention given to every construction detail. The exterior consists of cement fiber board and cedar shake roof shingles, fenced yard with Tiki Bar, landscaping, and heated pool. The fullyfurnished interior boasts stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, custom cabinets with dovetail construction, hardwood laminate flooring, gas fireplace, custom tile work, tankless water heater, and upscale electronics. Access to the amenities of Village at Nags Head, including community pool, tennis, clubhouse access and more. “Members only” beach access directly across the street with private bath house. First year rental (gross) income was $78,000. MLS #80863, $869,000.

Manteo—Introducing the Cedar Bay community, SAGA Construction & Development’s latest housing subdivision located in Manteo. 31 new construction homesites with various home designs to choose from. Single dwelling homes which includes an open floor plans with vaulted ceilings, granite countertops, 9 ft. ceilings, galley kitchen with eat-on bar. Minutes

from area schools, businesses and waterfront activities. Visit cedarbaycommunity.com. Lot home packages beginning in the low $200s.

Waterside Villages—Semi-soundfront condo with beautiful views! Spacious and open floor plan including a fully equipped kitchen with maple cabinets. The perfect community for growing families and retirees looking for a small town waterfront lifestyle in a secure, gated community.

Just minutes from beaches, restaurants and shopping on the Outer Banks and all the conveniences of Elizabeth City and Hampton Roads.

Amenities include a pool, hot tub, tennis courts, clubhouse with exercise equipment, grill room, sound side walking trails and gazebo, boat slips and sound front pier. MLS #83527, $199,000. Visit watersidevillages.com.

Waterside Villages—The new “Jensen II” model is move in ready! Base price is $226,000 and this house includes upgrades valued at $4,130, including prefinished oak flooring, stainless steel appliances and tile backsplash and a $3,000 well.

Waterside Villages is a gated soundfront community with sound access, boat ramp, beautiful clubhouse, walking trails, outdoor tennis and pool. Just minutes from beaches, restaurants and shopping on the Outer Banks and all the conveniences of Elizabeth City and Hampton Roads. Situated on over 75 acres Waterside Villages offers 2, 3, and 4 bedroom home options. MLS #84263, $233,130.

Corolla—Build your dream home in The Villages at Ocean Hill in Corolla. SAGA Construction and Development is offering lot/home construction package for the beautiful, open-concept, 3-bedroom

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“Azalea” floor plan. Select paint colors, flooring, cabinets and fixtures. Features include hurricane impact-resistant exterior windows and doors, stainless steel trim nails, professionally landscaped yard, architectural accent moldings, banks and posts, granite countertops, birch cabinetry, Whirlpool appliances and Moen fixtures. This community offers amenities including both oceanfront and soundside pools, tennis courts, fitness center, clubhouse and playground. Other lot/home packages available offering 5 and 6 bedrooms lot/home packages also available for sale. Visit thevillagesatoceanhill.com.

Lot/home packages beginning at $369,000.

Southern Shores Ocean Side, Sea Crest Village— Cozy 3BR/2.5BA house in a great location! Master bedroom has wet bar and master bedroom bath has huge tub/shower. Loads of porch and deck area. Fireplace in living room area. Enjoy as is or there probably is room for a pool. Excellent value and huge potential in this ocean side property. $279,000, #7361.

attractions. Large lot has enormous potential. Great price, will not last long. $259,900, #8101.

Southern Shores, Ocean Side—Cute 3BR/2.5BA nestled in Sea Crest Village. Only 5th lot back from oceanfront. Game room, large owner’s storage, screened porch and ocean view from crow’s nest.

Plenty of room for a pool. $365,500, #8138.

this contemporary special. Nicely landscaped, and furnished (with some exclusions) this home is a gem! $739,000, #8207.

Duck Oceanside—Only 4 lots back from the beach in prestigious Tuckahoe. 4BR/3.5BA, pool, hot tub, and a large 4-hole putting green. The pool area has great landscaping with an attractive waterfall. Bright, open kitchen with Corian countertops, vegetable sink and stand-alone icemaker. Two gas fireplaces. $675,000, #8216.

Nags Head, Between the Highways—Wellmaintained, clean, 5BR/3.5BA rental machine in Whalebone Cay. Just three lots from ocean. Great ocean and sound views. Abundant amenities.

Convenient to restaurants, shopping and outdoor water activities. $439,000, #8140.

Kreplin, Currituck Mainland—Bright, open, 4BR/2.5 BA contemporary home with bonus family room over garage. This home is in an established neighborhood and sits on a 1 acre lot. Walk to the end of the quiet street to visit the neighborhood sound side pier and enjoy the wonderful view. Public boat ramp is just a short drive away. Refrigerator, range/oven, microwave, washer/dryer all convey. $169,500, #8181.

Southern Shores Oceanfront—This 4BR/3BA flat top home is charming and occupies a full size deep lot. Private attached bedroom, garage, fireplace, screened porch, large kitchen and sundeck on roof with great ocean view. $975,000, #7935.

Southern Shores Westside, Canal Front—4BR/3BA home located on a quiet cul-de-sac. Beautiful canal front and panoramic golf course views. Fully bulk headed dock with electric and water plus a boat lift. Living room boasts a massive wood burning fire place. $469,900, #8206.

Colington Harbour—Fantastic views from this 3BR/2BA canal front home on double lot with multiple boat slips and boat dock. Located in the popular gated community of Colington Harbour, off the beaten path but still close to beaches and area

Southern Shores Westside—At 30+ feet above sea level this view is awesome! 3BR/2BA and sleeping loft. Hot tub on the deck gives a panoramic sound view from Duck to Currituck. Big kitchen, garage, lots of skylights and an open feel makes

Corolla Westside—Coastal FanSea! Located in Villages at Ocean Hill in Corolla. 5BR/5.5BA with heated pool and hot tub. Game room with pool table, shuffle board and a home theatre room that seats 9. This home is handicap friendly and the elevator services each floor. Beautiful home with fantastic amenities. $579,900, #8226.

Southern Shores Westside—4BR/4.5BA on a private, wooded lot in an X zone. Bright and airy living areas on the top floor for optimal sunrise and sunset viewing. Split level design with private master suite wing. Game room with wet bar on lower level and second master and two bedrooms on mid-level. $399,000, #8227.

Southern Shores Ocean Side—Beautifully renovated 5BR/3BA home located in Sea Crest Village. Just a short walk to the beach on quiet, safe, non-thru street. Enjoy the perfect blend of classic beach home (Juniper paneling) with a new spacious floor plan. Amenities include pool, large hot tub, jet tub gas fireplace and more. $485,000, #8228.

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Duck Ocean Side—Beautiful 5BR/4BA home located in the community of Four Seasons in Duck.

Home features an open floor plan with new kitchen appliances, large living room with cathedral ceilings and a gas fireplace. 2 master bedroom suites; 1with a gas fireplace. $749,000, #8229.

Southern Shores Westside—This 4BR/3BA contemporary home is centrally located on a very high lot. This is a spacious, open floor plan with lots of attic storage space and a 2-car garage.

There is also a den/office and a bonus room (FROG). Potential for a 5th bedroom and a 4th bath. $369,900, $8247.

Southern Shores, Chicahauk—4BR/3BA home in wooded setting with easy beach access. Updated interior and wonderful neighborhood with great amenities. House is in X-zone- no flood insurance required! $369,000, #8233.

Southern Shores Westside—This 4BR/3.5BA home features a salt water pool and hot tub in a desirable X zone. This home is gorgeous! Great floor plan with fantastic chef’s kitchen. $649,900, #8246.

Duck Westside—3BR/2BA. This Nantucket condo offers a sound front deck and sun room. Enjoy a peaceful setting or watch the boaters cruise along the Sound! Home features an open floor plan, large master suite with a jetted tub and access to sun room and deck. $340,000, #8234.

Kill Devil Hills, Colington Harbour—Sound front with fantastic views of Albemarle Sound, this 3BR/2.5BA opportunity features a first level master bedroom and a huge, open dining room/great room. Capture a wonderful waterfront living opportunity with terrific value with almost 170 feet of water frontage! $449,900, #8237.

Southern Shores Westside—4BR/3.5BA totally remodeled! This home features beamed ceilings with columns, bamboo floors and an impressive wood burning fireplace. Remodeled galley style kitchen with Corian counter tops and a high end, over-sized gas range stove and beautifully remodeled bathrooms. $419,900, #8238.

Vacation for a Week, Vacation for a Lifetime

Corolla Westside—This 2BR/2BA condo is the perfect beach getaway or employee housing.

Convenient to everything! Walk to the beach, sound, shopping, dining, movie theater and entertainment. $113,900, #8249.

Southern Shores—3 BR, 2.5 BA affordable oceanside home nestled in the woods. MLS# 84742, just $364,000. Call Madonna VanCuren (252)202-6702 or mvancuren@obx1.net.

Nags Nead—3 BR, 2 BA sold furnished. MLS# 84656, just $245,000. Call Hugh Willey (252)4898491 or hughwilley@sunrealtync.com.

Frisco—2 BR, 2 BA income-producing property at a very reasonable price. MLS# 82976, just $105,000.

Call Tina O’Neal (252)995-5821 or tinaoneal@ sunrealtync.com.

More OBX Real Estate Sold.* More Happy Buyers & Sellers. * Based on The Outer Banks Association of Realtors MLS data from 01/01/2013 through 12/31/2013 for total number of transactions closed.

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