White Christmas for Wilmington?
Not likely, at least not for Wilmington NC. Check out our 7 day forecast! It’s the perfect weather for golfing, kayaking, beach walking or simply finishing up your Christmas shopping!
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Old Wilmington by Candlelight
A lot of the charm that comes as part of living in the Wilmington North Carolina area is due in part to the history of Downtown Wilmington. From quaint historic cottages to the larger “mansions”, there’s a history along with some mystery that can’t be overlooked. This weekend marks the 38th annual Old Wilmington by Candlelight tour, a chance to wander through these beautiful historic homes (and a couple of churches) all decked out for the holidays.
For more information on the tour and where to purchase tickets for the event, check out the Lumina News.
Stay-cation Things to Do: the Beach (duh)
Yes, I know the beach and vacation (or stay-cation) seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly, but most of us who live in the Wilmington area take the area beaches for granted. From Topsail Beach (pronounced Top-sull, for our northern friends) all the way down to Oak Island, the beaches offer what everyone is searching for on a stay-cation, respite from a hectic day. It’s no secret that when you hit the beach chair with your favorite book, or even sit and watch the ocean, all your worries fade away.
If you’re planning a last minute summer get-away Orbitz named Wrightsville Beach a bargin in this article.
So tell us, which of our many beaches is your favorite escape?
Things to Do and See on Your Stay-cation: Ingram Planetarium
Confession: I have lived in the Wilmington area for well over a decade and until recently, I wasn’t aware that there was a planetarium in our area!
The Ingram Planetarium is located in Sunset Beach and well worth a visit for young or old! Every day this summer (closed Sundays), starting at 12:00pm is a different interactive exhibit. From 1:00pm until 5:00 there are are various shows at various educational levels. During the weekdays there are laser music light shows at 6:00pm and 7:00pm.
While you’re there, you’ll want to plan to spend some time in the Paul Dennis Science Hall. The hands on exhibits range from in-depth scientific theories to coloring pages for toddlers.
For more information and a detailed schedule of events visit them on-line.
What fun things do you like to do in the Wilmington area? Leave a comment and let us know, we’d love to check it out!
Stay-Cation Versus Va-Cation
Another joy of living in Coastal Carolina is the ability to plan a fabulous stay-cation. In fact, it is such a popular idea around here that I’ve heard friends say that they have to force themselves to leave “paradise” in order to find another paradise.
But maybe you’re newer to the area, and want to discover all we have to offer. Or maybe you have family or friends coming to visit you since you moved near the beach. The Wilmington, North Carolina area has so much to offer beside the beaches. Perhaps it’s time to see the area through the eyes of a tourist!
We would love to spotlight each attraction individually and want your input on your favorite haunts, sites and area’s must-dos! If you live in the area, please comment with your favorite space or place. If you’ve visited our area, what attraction did you enjoy the most? Maybe you’ve only read about us and are planning a visit – what’s piqued your interest? We’ll do our best to spotlight it and bring you the facts!
Golf Season is in Full Swing
Get it? Full swing???? Alright, all joking aside, we wanted to take a few minutes to focus on what may be deemed as a retiree’s favorite past time – golf. Yes, that’s right, the weather is now perfect for a round of golf. In fact, with our warm client, golfers in Southeastern North Carolina are able to get a round in through out the year. Neighborhoods such as River Landing, St. James Plantation and Landfall are the perfect venue for a golf enthusiast. Even if you have never swung a 9 iron, but have the sport on your bucket list, the greater Wilmington area may be the place for you! With literally thousands of public and private golf courses within a 100 mile radius of Wilmington, your game is sure to challenged.
Okay, so it’s time for a confession. I’ve never taken my personal golf game past miniature golf (unless you count Tiger Wood PGA Tour on Wii real golf), so I’m not able to share any great tips with the budding golfer. I’ll leave that up to my readers. Where is your favorite course in Southeastern North Carolina? And, what’s the one secret you wished someone would have shared when you started your game?
Azalea Festival
This coming Wednesday kicks off the start of Azalea Festival in Wilmington. This year marks the 64th year of this time-honored tradition.
Not familiar with Azalea Festival? Think belles donned in beautiful gowns with parasols waving daintily from a float. Now magnify that image ten-fold. Azalea Festival is all about grandeur and celebrating the goodness that is not only Wilmington, but the entire south.
Activities for the whole family abound, including (but not limited to) a street festival featuring traditional fair fare, arts and crafts, and mini concerts and performances. The circus comes to town and headlining concert events. (This year features Darius Rucker and The Avett Brothers). The Home and Garden Tour are, obviously, one of our favorite venues of Azalea Festival. From downtown Wilmington to Wrightsville Beach, each garden shows the pride of their caretakers.
We cordially invite you to this year’s Azalea Festival and hope we have the opportunity to meet with you personally and show you all there is to lvoe about living in the Port City.
Wrightsville Beach Quintiles Marathon
This Sunday, March 20 marks the second annual Quintiles Marathon at Wrightsville Beach. The marathon (and half marathon) will begin just before the crack of dawn at East Salisbury Street heading east and making its way around “the loop”. The runners will then leave the beach travelling west on Eastwood Road to Military Cutoff past the Landfall Shopping Center, the Forum Shopping Center and Mayfaire Town Center on their left. The participants will then enter Landfall at the Arboretum gate, their path taking them right past Courtyards at Regency before exiting Landfall.
The participants for the full marathon will continue up Military Cutoff to go through Landfall again, while the half marathoners will make their way to the finish line.
The course take those continuing on through Mayfaire before finishing the race.
Hagood Homes is proud to cheer on all the runners participating. We know you have trained hard for this event!
Santa Sightings
Here at Hagood Homes, we believe that Christmas is a magical time of year. Part of that magic is the joy of seeing children’s faces when they finally get to sit on Santa’s lap and tell them all their dreams and desires. Wilmington, North Carolina is fortunate enough to have Santa Claus at several convenient and popular locations:
Mayfaire Town Center
Monday – Saturday (Nov. 27 – Dec. 17): 11am – 7pm
Sundays: noon – 6pm
Saturday, December 18: 10am – 8pm
Monday, December 20 – Thursday, December 23: 10am – 8pm
Friday, December 24: 10am – 2pm
Visits with Santa are free, and picture packages may be purchased.
Cotton Exchange
Each Saturday from 12-4pm and each Sunday from 1-4 pm Santa will be visiting the Cotton Exchange. He will have one last special visit on Thursday, December 23 from 12-4. Visits are free and you are welcome to take your own photos!
Independence Mall
This year the Independence Mall offers a Fast Pass to avoid long lines, cranky kids (or parents). Tickets can be purchased on-line and purchasers will receive a free Shutterfly card with the purchase of their picture package as well as free beanie.
Have you spotted Santa around Wilmington? Be sure to let us know where!
This Year Marks the 27th Annual Wrightsville Beach Flotilla
If you haven’t had the opportunity to take part of the Wrightsville Beach Flotilla, you should really plan on visiting this year. Named in the top twenty “Must See Events in the Southeast”, the Wrightsville Beach Flotilla is 27 years old this year. Local boat entries of all makes and models compete for a grand prize (this year a trip to Costa Rica is on tap). The lighted boat parade is capped off by a spectacular firework display by famous Zambelli Internationale, a delight for all.
One of the many wonderful reasons to own a place at the beach is the Wrightsville Beach Flotilla. Our 1940’s cottage on Charlotte Street is the perfect location, just a few blocks from downtown Wrightsville Beach, is the perfect place to enjoy festivities such as the Flotilla. Be sure to check out the listing and let us know if we can give you a personal tour!
Grand Opening at Chapelwood is a Stunner!
Chapelwood, Chapel Hill’s first and only age restricted neighborhood, celebrated it’s grand opening this past Sunday
. The Hagood Homes team worked tirelessly throughout the week putting the finishing details on the decorated model available to view.
Sunday, over 200 attendees came out to the neighborhood to enjoy the pig pickin’, Italian Ice, and to tour beautifully decorated Cameron floor plan.
Chapelwood (www.ChapelwoodInfo.com) is located off Barbee Chapel Road and just minutes to golf, the campus of the University of Carolina at Chapel Hill, and state of the art medical facilities. The homes of Chapelwood are all brick, one-story living ranging in size from 1800 square feet to just under 2600 square feet. Homeowners will live better in their “green” rated homes and enjoy the reduced energy bills that come along with the green building techniques.
Call today (919)960.6321 to find out how you can be part of the Chapelwood experience!
Connect.LiveBetter
We’re excited about this…
Starting June 1, 2009 until December 31, 2009 Hagood Homes is pleased to bring you our Connect.LiveBetter contest. Anyone over 18 is eligble to play and you do NOT have to purchase a home to win (although, we sincerely hope you do). To sign up, simply join our mailing list and do your best to earn points, as seen below. Contestants can sign up at any time during the contest.
Learn more! Visit www.hagoodhomes.com/contest
As Seen on TV…
We were thrilled when we received the phone call from the Cape Fear Homebuilders Association asking if we would allow the local tv station access to one of our beautifully decorated homes.
They wanted to shoot footage for a Parade of Homes commercial. We choose our available home in Parkside at Mayfaire – The Dram Tree. It was easy to shoot, because it offers plenty of natural light and has an open floorplan.
It isn’t the first time we’ve been asked access to our model homes. A few years ago a commercial for an international flooring company was shot using one of our model homes in Marsh Oaks. They also did a photo shoot for their print advertising which runs in major magazines such as Better Homes & Gardens.
Hagood Homes is looking forward to this years Parade of Homes, and we hope we will see you on the tour!
Azalea Festival Comes to Wilmington!
Most Southern towns can boast a festival or two, but I don’t think there is one that compares with the Azalea Festival in Wilmington, North Carolina.
This year marks the 62nd anniversary of our Azalea Festival. The 5 day festival comes to it’s culmination this weekend. What started on Wednesday with the crowning of the Azalea Queen will continue with varied events, the parade, various concerts, garden tours, home tours and the street festival to mention a few.
Locals and patrons of the Azalea Festival will be donning thier best southern garden attire and attending the popular Garden Party this afternoon at Airlie Gardens, while tourist will be checking into the various hotels and condos around town.
We would love to hear how you celebrated Azalea Festival this year! What activities did you enjoy the most? Whether you are a full time homeowner, enjoying our area as a visitor, or have been coming to Wilmington as a second home – let us know you’re favorites!
What If We’ve Already Missed the Bottom?
Spend any amount of time listening to the media and you will be convinced that the recession will be here forever. If we’ve learned anything from history it is this: everything is cyclical. “This too shall pass”. We find it interesting in our current market when we hear, “We think prices will drop even more.” We wonder where the elusive crystal ball is that is giving this information to buyers. When will you know that the prices have reached their lowest point? The answer to that is simple – when the prices begin to rise. And, we don’t need the elusive crystal ball to tell us that once prices stabilize or begin to rise again, so will interest rates.
We at Hagood Homes do not spend a lot of time dwelling on the negative, we are far too busy for that. We are busy looking for ways to improve our product, deliver what our consumers are searching for and, well, sell homes. All of our buyers are looking for fabulous deals. Hagood Home offers fabulous deals. Are they marked down by 20%? Is that what defines a fabulous “deal”? Or is a fabulous deal in a home really the value of it’s livability, it’s style, it’s security? Could it be that the fabulous deal you are looking for is the retreat you can take in your home at the end of a long day?
We are not proposing that you buy a Hagood Home if you are looking to “flip” the home. We propose to sell you a house that you can call home, that you can take refuge in, that will live better. We propose to sell you a home that is in a neighborhood where you can build a dream of friendships and connect with others. After all, that is the true American way, right?
If you are searching for a home, you’ve taken the first step in the right direction, move onto step two by reviewing our homes currently available to you – we’re here to help you Live Better.
St. Patrick’s Day Festivities In and Around Wilmington, NC
Looking for something fun to do to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Read on for a few suggestions…
Fat Tony’s on Front Street has partnered with neighboring businesses including Longstreet’s Irish Pub to serve their famous slow cooked Guiness brisket along with all the traditional trimmings.
Enjoy organic green beer and learn more about the co-op when Bottega Gallery and Tidal Creek Co-Op present their St. Patrick’s Day Environmental Consciousness Celebration at 8 pm on March 17th.
Ballyho! will be playing in celebration at Kefi’s starting at 10pm.
Know of another St. Patrick’s Day event? Leave us a comment!
Preparing for 2009 Parade of Homes
Spring is in the air, and with spring in Wilmington comes the annual Parade of Homes.
Hosted by the Wilmington Cape Fear Homebuilder’s Association, this event takes place over two weekends (April 25-26 and May 2-3). The Parade of Homes is an opportunity for the builder community to showcase their homes to the public over the two weekends. Each entry is judged by volunteers coming from outside the area that are in the building industry. Homes are categorized by price range and have a chance at being awarded a bronze, silver or gold awards. Last year there were over 100 homes ranging in price from the $100,000’s to well over a million. The homes, located from Brunswick County through New Hanover and Pender Counties were well attended. Hagood Homes’ entries in several of their neighborhoods saw as many of 400 people through their doors.
This year’s entry for Hagood Homes is located in SaltGrass at Marsh Oaks.
The “Cordgrass” is a new plan for us in SaltGrass at Marsh Oaks. It will feature over 2200 square feet of living space, most of which is on the first floor. The open plan is sure to please, with the living room and back porch, as well as the master suite overlooking the nature conserve that is beyond the back yard of the home. This home will be available for sale and priced at just $400,000. 
Marsh Oaks is Wilmington’s premier uptown neighborhood featuring a bounty of amenities such as a neighborhood pool, clubhouse, tennis courts and playground. The close knit community enjoys a private neighborhood website, an informative newsletter, and many groups and clubs in which homeowners can be involved.
Please plan on joining us at this year’s Parade of Homes. Mention this post and receive a keepsake, courtesy of Hagood Homes.