Real Estate News Articles Archive

NC Real Estate for Sale in surrounding towns and communities, such as: Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Leland, Carolina Beach, Castle Hayne, Kure Beach, Southport, Oak Island, New Hanover County, and Brunswick County. Jacksonville, Hampstead, Burgaw, Targeted NC Home Searches; Full Service Real Estate Brokerage from Exit Realty.

09.29.2008 - In layman’s terms what does the “$700 Billion Bailout” really mean …
09.07.2008 - Hampstead Growth brings Jobs and Manufacturing
08.21.2008 - New utilities authority explains billing issues, procedures
08.07.2008 - Pending home sales index rises 5.3% in June: NAR
08.07.2008 - Wilmington NC Home Equity ranks High in 'Forbes' list.
08.05.2008 - Developer interested in building Walmart in Surf City
08.03.2008 - Get answers to questions about legislation to help homeowners
08.01.2008 - North Carolina ranks 4th for "The Best States for Business"

09.24.2008 - Downtown plan faces new reality by Molly K. Dewitt. Jacksonville has yet another plan for its downtown area. The Downtown Master Plan, prepared by The Lawrence Group and commissioned in 2007, has been developed to update the 1998 Downtown Jacksonville Revitalization Plan and the 1999 Downtown Design Guidelines.

09.07.2008 - Hampstead Growth brings Jobs and Manufacturing.
If you live in Hampstead NC you probably work in Wilmington; at 8am on weekdays you are met with an exodus of vehicles headed South on 17 towards Wilmington and back again at the end of the day.

08.21.2008 - New utilities authority explains billing issues, procedures by Chris Mazzolini, Staff Writer. Getting the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority operational is like trying to rebuild an engine while the car is running.

08.19.2008 - Approval of revised downtown development rules expected Tuesday by Sam Scott, Staff Writer. The Wilmington City Council should give final approval Tuesday to a wide-ranging revision of downtown development rules that backers believe will make life easier for everyone but that skeptics think stops short of protecting the city's historic treasures.

08.07.2008 - Pending home sales index rises 5.3% in June: NAR
By Ruth Mantell, MarketWatch. This update includes corrected data from the National Association of Realtors regarding the percentage change for housing starts.

08.07.2008 - Wilmington NC Home Equity ranks High in 'Forbes' list.

08.05.2008 - Developer interested in building Walmart in Surf City - By Tyra M. Vaughn, Staff Writer. An Indianapolis-based development company may be interested in bringing the world's largest retailer to Surf City.

08.03.2008 - Get answers to questions about legislation to help homeowners - By Dave Carpenter, Associated Press.

08.01.2008 - Curb appeal is important not only when selling your home. Use these tips to help spruce up your front yard...

08.01.2008 - North Carolina ranks 4th for "The Best States for Business"

07.31.2008 - Housing Relief - first small step towards recovery... Many Options and Tax Relief for Buyers. By Mary Ellen Podmolik - Chicago Tribune reporter. First-time home buyers have a better shot at the American dream and strapped homeowners may be able to stave off financial ruin under a lengthy set of measures signed into law by President Bush on Wednesday.

07.30.2008 - Chandler's Wharf owner files for demolition permit By Gareth McGrath, Staff Writer. A building whose renovation helped jump-start the revival of historic downtown Wilmington soon could be history itself.

07.29.2008 - Why Wilmington NC? Planning: A city with an active vision for the citizen’s future… Blog by Key Yessaad. A community thrives when a concerted effort towards its growth and its embellishment are planned and thoughtfully implemented.

07.29.2008 - DOT to present ideas for S. College/Oleander intersection. By Patrick Gannon, Staff Writer. Each day, tens of thousands of motorists come upon the intersection of South College Road and Oleander Drive, deemed in a 2004 study as Wilmington's "most congested."

07.28.2008 - Inlet areas face new development rules. By Gareth McGrath, Staff Writer. Coastal regulators on Thursday took the first tentative step to adopting new development rules around inlets, long recognized as some of the most unstable areas along the coast.

07.28.2008 - More bicycle paths on the way for Wilmington. Build bike paths and lanes, and the bikes will come.

07.28.2008 - Wilmington making plans to spruce up gateway to downtown. By Patrick Gannon, Staff Writer. Enter downtown Wilmington from the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, and it's hard not to notice utility poles and wires...

07.26.2008 - Housing Bill offers many Tax Benefits to HomeOwners... Taxpayers Need to Strategize: Major Tax Provisions in New Housing Assistance Bill.

07.26.2008 - How Housing Rescue Bill can Help You - The legislation devotes $300 billion to helping troubled homeowners avoid foreclosure. See if you qualify.

07.24.2008 - Downtown structures could be demolished to make room for bigger buildings - by Gareth McGrath. The carrera black glass, chipped and cracked in places, still glittered in the morning sunlight...

07.24.2008 - Wilmington Local theater companies opt for own space over established one - By John Staton, Staff Writer. A lot of people might think Richard Davis is living the dream. A graduate of the University of North Carolina Wilmington's drama program ...

07.23.2008 - With 2 hotels in works, Leland looks to tap tourism. Once known as a rural community across the river from Wilmington, the Leland of mega retail, chain restaurants and multiplying homes is now talking serious tourism.

07.02.2008 - Save Your Money - A Way to Live an Abundant Life! - by Key Yessaad. Saving Money has nothing to do with your income… strange huh! Previous generations understood that and lived their lives aware that one ought to conserve, save for a rainy day… we instead spend, spend, spend… what happened?

06.27.2008 - US existing home sales rise 2.0% in May. Sales of existing US homes rose a surprising 2.0 percent in May from April amid falling home prices, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) said on Thursday.

06.26.2008 - Proposed new port in Brunswick County takes step forward - Asked last week whether the proposed new port in Brunswick County was a "done deal," Tom Eagar, N.C. State Ports Authority chief executive officer, said, "No, not by any means."

06.22.2008 - Pictures from the Burgaw Blueberry Festival - so much fun... Burgaw is country living at its best...

06.16.2008 - Why are Blueberries Blue? Does Burgaw hold the answer? Join us Saturday June 21st in Burgaw for the Blueberry Festival and bring the whole family.

06.05.2008 - Company submits development plan for downtown Wilmington land, wants to make deal with city. By Sam Scott, Staff Writer. The owners of the biggest swath of undeveloped land in downtown Wilmington unveiled conceptual plans this week showing hotels, restaurants, offices and condominiums filling the 45 acres of riverfront.

06.03.2008 - Serious crime decreases in much of Wilmington and Southeast N.C. By David Reynolds, Staff Writer. Serious crime in North Carolina inched up in 2007 though crime fell in Wilmington and two other jurisdictions in the area, according to statistics released Tuesday by Attorney General Roy Cooper's Office.

06.02.2008 - Mortgage-rescue scams may sink homeowners facing foreclosure. By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org. For people about to lose their homes to foreclosure, the advertisements are like a lifeline: "WE BUY HOUSES FOR CA$H," or "Refinance Your Mortgage! And Receive a 7 Day Vacation."

06.01.2008 - Own the house - but not the land. By K.J. Williams, Star-News Correspondent. A new approach to affordable housing is in its early stages here, with $220,000 in startup money for land acquisition from the city of Wilmington giving it impetus.

06.01.2008 - Local REALTOR® Top Agent under 30. Stephanie Gasparovic of EXIT Homeplace Realty named one of 30 Agents under the age of 30 by REALTOR® Magazine.

05.30.2008 - Brunswick Realtors celebrate 3 months of gains in home sales. By Shannan Bowen & Wayne Faulkner, Staff Writers. Supply | Brunswick County Realtors rallied Thursday to celebrate three consecutive months of gains in home sales over 2007 numbers, potentially a sign that the wounded housing market is on the rebound locally.

05.30.2008 - Architectural firms present proposals for library project. Negotiations to take place over design of Sneads Ferry branch. By Suzanne Ulbrich, The Daily News. The new Sneads Ferry Branch Library could be the model all Onslow County branch libraries follow. The county is negotiating with three architectural firms to design the new facility.

05.23.2008 - Isabel Holmes Bridge also needs immediate repairs. By Patrick Gannon, Staff Writer. The other bridge across the Cape Fear River needs immediate repairs, too. But state officials said they would try to schedule lane closures on the Isabel Holmes Bridge so they don't coincide with anticipated closures on the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.

05.20.2008 - The Chamber’s First General Membership Meeting. The first General Membership Meeting took place on Thursday, April 10th at Pender Adult Services. Approximately 40 members attended. President Pete Cowan started the meeting by recognizing the sponsors, Peele Construction and Exit Realty.

05.20.2008 - The 2008 Parade of Homes has Arrived, and this Home Won the Gold! This year's Parade of Homes event includes over 110 homes open to the public, all of which are judged in 11 different categories according to price range, and awarded for craftsmanship, design, and quality.

05.20.2008 - Bike, pedestrian plan nearly ready. Proposal may go before city council in July. By Heather Gale, The Daily News. Jacksonville's bicycle and pedestrian plan project is a step closer to reality. Matt Hayes, a consultant with Greenways Inc., said more than 50 people came to comment and learn about the proposed plans during Thursday's comment session. A second session was held Friday.

05.20.2008 - Schools eye $45 million budget. Onslow board irons out plan for 2008-09. By Amanda Hickey, The Daily News. How much does it cost to run Onslow County Schools for a year? For the 2008-09 fiscal year, the Onslow County Board of Education says it will be $45.16 million.

05.20.2008 - Way cleared for hospital plan. By Melinda J. Overstreet, Daily News Staff. In less than two years, Onslow County cancer patients will have the option of getting radiation therapy in their home county instead of traveling at least 45 minutes each way. Patients now have to travel to places like Greenville, New Bern and Wilmington to get the treatment.

05.20.2008 - N. Topsail hotel project advances. By Suzanne Ulbrich, Daily News Staff. NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH - The North Topsail Beach's board of adjustment has agreed to go along with a court order that will allow the construction of a five-story, 35-unit hotel.

05.17.2008 - Memorial Bridge faces months of night closures for emergency fix. By Patrick Gannon, Staff Writer. On Monday, April 28, Raleigh-based inspectors atop the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge discovered a serious problem. Hundreds of connector plates that hold together steel beams that support the bridge deck were cracking under years of weight and stress from traffic and the slight sway of the structure.

05.07.2008 - More customers expected to tap into Pender water system, by Tyra M. Vaughn, Staff Writer. With more than 1,100 new customers expected to connect to Pender County's water system over the next few months, the county's water supply might be getting thinner.

05.01.2008 - GE Hitachi to get up to $25.7M for Castle Hayne expansion by Chris Mazzolini, Staff Writer. It’s nuclear week in New Hanover County. Monday brought a nuclear sub to Wilmington. Wednesday brought more news about nuclear jobs – and the amount of money the state is paying to bring them here.

04.29.2008 - Jacksonville buildings get a boost by Heather Gale, Daily News Staff. Sprucing up the local downtown area has been a project for Jacksonville for a number of years; however for the personally owned businesses, it is hard to find money to renovate the older buildings.

04.29.2008 - Topsail Beach faces request for extra $62K by Suzanne Ulbrich, Daily News Staff. TOPSAIL BEACH - Coastal Planning and Engineering requested an extra $88,000 dollars from North Topsail Beach earlier this month to complete the beach nourishment plan for the town. Now Topsail Beach, at the south part of Topsail Island is facing a similar request.

04.28.2008 - Greener than grass: Beautiful yards don't need lawns. By Susan Hart, Star-News Correspondent. Rick and Melissa Ulstad's garden on Castle Street has a secret. Although new, the house blends well into the older homes nearby.

04.24.2008 - Home prices aren't tanking everywhere. In some housing markets, homes aren't only retaining value -- they're gaining. Challenging real estate markets can be found across the U.S. as home prices decline, sales fall and foreclosures rise. But in some places the biggest challenge has been convincing would-be buyers and sellers that local conditions don't resemble the national trends.

04.24.2008 - Onslow gets new park by Suzanne Ulbrich, Daily News Staff. Jacob Maxwell, 6, of Swansboro was not much interested in the fuss surrounding the dedication of Deppe Park. He came to play in the tot-lot. "We've been kind of waiting for it to open up - we've been watching the development of the park since it started," said his great-grandmother, Rosan Blair.

04.24.2008 - Richlands sewer moratorium could soon be lifted by Amanda Hickey, Daily News Staff. Richlands could see a 130,000 gallon per day increase in their wastewater flow allocations over the next year and a half, said Frank Sanders, Onslow Water and Sewer Authority director of operations. The ONWASA board of directors approved the Richlands Wastewater Treatment Plant special order by consent. Through the special order, Richlands' would again be able to have new connections to the sewers.

04.24.2008 - Pender water plant could cost county $21 million by Ken Clarke. A 2006 bond referendum giving the Pender County commissioners $17.5 million to build a 2MGD (million gallons a day) water plant off Hwy 421 may not be enough. On Monday, the Pender commissioners came to terms with Camp Dresser and McKee (CDM) to design, bid and have construction oversight for the water plant. Pender will pay the firm a little more than $1.3 million for their services.

04.23.2008 - Wilmington condos to be first air-rights project in region by Sam Scott, Staff Writer. And for his latest trick, Dave Spetrino will make a nine-unit brownstone float in air. Well not quite, but the downtown developer is about to blaze new ground in Wilmington by constructing the city's first air-rights project - high-end town homes that span other people's properties but don't touch them.

04.23.2008 - New Hanover expects big cuts in 2008-09 budget by Chris Mazzolini, Staff Writer. Goodbye funding gap. Hello frugal times. In March, New Hanover County Manager Bruce Shell told the commissioners there was a $29 million gap between what county departments wanted and the amount of revenue the county projected for the next budget year, which begins July 1.

04.21.2008 - Leland library could get needed expansion. County calls for expansion to keep up with growth by Ana Ribeiro, Staff Writer. Tuesdays have become "library day" in the town. They're busy from the outset as dozens of pre-schoolers saunter in for morning story time, said Leland library manager Lisa Milligan.

04.21.2008 - Tight budget has hit New Hanover County library hard by Chris Mazzolini, Staff Writer. The New Hanover County Library can't buy as many books this year because of budget cuts. Library supporters worry that next year's budget will be even tighter.

04.18.2008 - Is It Time to Buy Real Estate? by Vicki Gerson provided by Bankrate.com. Investing in real estate used to be considered a "no brainer," a can't-miss investment. But these days, this sure thing isn't so sure. Home prices keep falling. Standard & Poor tracking shows prices down 7.7 percent nationally in November 2007.

04.18.2008 - Kitchen Think - Couple keeps Earth in mind when stocking the busiest room in the house. By Liz Biro, Star-News Correspondent. Life without paper towels? Impossible! Or is it? With more Americans wanting environmentally friendly kitchens, sacrificing so-called “necessary” disposables – paper towels and napkins, aluminum foil, plastic bags and wraps – is getting easier thanks to changing attitudes and more “green” kitchenware choices.

04.17.2008 - N.C. 210 bridge replacement is on schedule - 900 feet of road will also be resurfaced. By Suzanne Ulbrich, The Daily News. It may be closing in on deadline, but the bridge replacement and alignment of N.C. 210 between Dixon and Sneads Ferry is on schedule.

04.17.2008 - N.C. 53 plans create work for ONWASA - Authority to move water lines due. By Amanda Hickey, The Daily News. The N.C. Department of Transportation plans to improve traffic conditions in the Southwest area, but in doing so, it's giving a little extra work to ONWASA staff. The DOT plans to turn N.C. 53, which is a two-lane road with some three-lane sections, into a three-lane road, said Patrick Riddle, DOT project manager.

04.17.2008 - Surf City advances utility projects - Town approves contract for part of sewer and water facilities’ upgrades. By Suzanne Ulbrich, The Daily News. This island town is already being approached about selling some of its water and sewer service - before construction on the project has even been completed.

04.17.2008 - Giant cement company looks at New Hanover County for plant site - Commissioners might offer up to $4.2 million in incentives. By Chris Mazzolini, Staff Writer. A giant cement company might build a manufacturing plant in New Hanover County, and county officials are considering giving the company millions of taxpayer dollars to make that happen.

04.11.2008 - There's a Mansion for you on this 2008 Azalea Festival Home Tour - By Ben Steelman, Staff Writer. There's more to Wilmington than downtown, of course. And - lovely as they are - there's more to the Port City's architecture than stately Victorian mansions.

04.07.2008 - Burgaw's money spent elsewhere - Small Town Main Street program working to bring those dollars back to Downtown Burgaw. By Tyra M. Vaughn, Staff Writer. The future of downtown Burgaw could lie in attracting more restaurants and clothing, department and variety stores to fill the vacant storefronts in the town's central business district.

04.07.2008 - Exit Homeplace Realty Website (www.realexit.com) Reaches Page 1 of Google - just behind Exit Realty! We just thought you may want to let your Buyers, Sellers and Real Estate Investors know that out of 1,300 Exit Offices in North America, and 825,000 Search Results we are currently on Page One of Google under the search "Exit Realty;" and that under certain Propagations of Google we are right underneath our Corporate Parent.

04.03.2008 - 2 Water Access Projects funded in Pender & Brunswick County. By Chris Mazzolini, Staff Writer. Sunset Harbor's boat ramp will continue to thrive, but the fate of a proposed boating and fishing complex in Pender County remains uncertain.

04.02.2008 - Massive facility may be coming to Leland - Philadelphia company hoping to build distribution center at industrial park. By Patrick Gannon, Staff Writer. The North Carolina Port Industrial Facility would be the first modern distribution center near the Port of Wilmington.

04.01.2008 - Wilmington Taxpayers in city face 13% higher '09 tax rate. By Sam Scott, Staff Writer. Homeowners in the city of Wilmington should get ready to shell out more to the tax man. The city council expects to raise property tax rates at least 13 percent next year to increase city salaries, amend for an error in this year's tax base and fight off the effects of a slowing economy.

03.31.08 - Brunswick Forest in Leland to get new entrance, 3 lights. Development at Leland to pay $1.2 million tab. By Ana Ribeiro, Staff Writer. Progress will not come to the Brunswick Forest without some road work.

03.30.08 - A Bridge for the 21st century; While its time has passed, Phillips Bridge safe for travel. by HEATHER GALE, Daily News Staff. Although it's rated one of the worst in the state, the Buddy Phillips Bridge is not likely to crash into New River anytime soon.

03.28.08 - Proposed Brunswick County Port would cost $2.3 billion - By Patrick Gannon, Staff Writer. The proposed seaport in Brunswick County will cost an estimated $2.3 billion, with the first phase expected to open in 2017, according to new studies released Thursday by the N.C. State Ports Authority.

03.27.08 - All Real Estate is Local: New-home sales in U.S. fall to 13-year low, but in the South Sales Rose 5.7%. This article and others like it reveal that the headlines hide good news for sectors of Real Estate that the general public is not aware of and that awareness of Local Market Activity is very important...

03.26.08 - Exit Energy walks "Thru the Fire" - Article published in the Topsail Voice 3/26/2008.

03.26.08 - Systematic Annexation Considered - Wilmington might continuously absorb nearby areas. By Sam Scott, Staff Writer. Monkey Junction may just be for starters. Wilmington could soon go on a steady diet of annexation. City staffers are recommending going to a two-year cycle of annexation where the city continually considers absorbing urbanized areas on its edges.

03.25.08 - Sales of Existing Homes Rise 2.9% in February 2008 - Unexpected February increase no assurance that slide is ending. By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press. Nationwide sales of existing homes increased unexpectedly in February after six months of decline, but private economists said it was too soon to say that the prolonged slide in U.S. housing is coming to an end.

03.25.08 - Under combined water authority, New Hanover residents might pay more. By Chris Mazzolini, Staff Writer. If you live in Wilmington, your water and sewer rates could be going down for the 2008-09 fiscal year. But New Hanover County residents might have to pay more.

03.24.08 - Real Estate Market picks up as Spring begins - By Wayne Faulkner, Business Editor. This year's spring house-hunting season belongs to the buyers. That's what area real estate agents are saying - and here are the reasons.

03.21.08 - Flowering Oakdale - Generations of family plantings bring historic cemetery to life. By Ben Steelman, Staff Writer - Star-News. Superintendent Eric Kozen was almost apologetic earlier this week about Wilmington’s Oakdale Cemetery.

03.21.08 - Cape Fear Fishing Report - Inshore, creeks are the hot spot; Virginia mullet making a visit. by Capt. Marc Maus - Star-News. Eager fishermen have hit the coastal waters after some very warm weather. Red drum and speckled trout are being caught in the creeks. Virginia mullet are being caught in the river and off the piers at Topsail Beach.

03.20.08 - Brunswick County's population rate of growth eases - By Shannan Bowen, Staff Writer. Despite a nationwide housing slump and worrisome economic conditions, Brunswick County has continued to grow - just not as much.

03.17.08 - Saturday's storm spawned Hampstead tornado - By Ana Ribeiro and Tyra M. Vaughn, Staff Writers. Published: Sunday, March 16, 2008. Rocky Point | A tornado touched down near Hampstead on Saturday night, damaging several homes and businesses, National Weather Service officials said this afternoon. The twister was part of a fast-moving storm also left seven people injured and 10 others homeless at two Rocky Point mobile home parks.

03.12.08 - Small Plates, Elegant Dinners. Little Wonders - Make a small plates menu for a big, elegant dinner. By Pervaiz Shallwani, Associated Press. If you want to make a big impression with dinner guests, think small. Small plates, that is. For more than a decade, restaurant chefs have been wowing diners with their small plate offerings, one- or two-bite portions of often intensely flavored foods.

03.11.08 - Wrightsville Beach panel told to get more info on park plans - By Sherry Jones, Local News Editor. Wrightsville Beach | The parks and recreation advisory committee went to the Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen on Monday looking for guidance, but it left with homework.

03.11.08 - New Hanover County set to begin water system upgrades. $48 million project includes new plant, to improve water quality. By Chris Mazzolini, Staff Writer. After years of planning, New Hanover County will soon begin construction on nearly $48 million worth of improvements to its water system, including a new water treatment plant.

03.11.08 - Sewer work progress may end building ban in New Hanover County. Wilmington completes repairs; builders anxious to resume projects. By Sam Scott, Staff Writer. The building ban in New Hanover County may soon be history. The city of Wilmington announced Monday it finished $6 million in emergency repairs to the Northeast Interceptor, a 9-mile sewer main that crosses from Wrightsville Beach to near the Cape Fear River.

03.07.08 - Jacksonville Downtown Going GREEN Festival - Saturday March 15th 1-5pm - Public Invited to "Downtown's Going Green" Festival Jacksonville, NC "Bettering Our Local Downtown." (B.O.L.D.) of Jacksonville and EXIT Realty will host the "Downtown's Going Green" Festival on Saturday, March 15th, 2008 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. This environmentally-focused holiday event will be held on the two blocks of New Bridge Street between EXIT Realty (603 New Bridge St.) and Johnson Drug Store (714 New Bridge St.). This free festival is open to the public. A complete vendor list and event details are available at www.GotDowntown.com.

03.06.08 - Pender County Water Bond Resurfaces - Columbia-Union district to get another vote on referendum. By Tyra M. Vaughn, Staff Writer. James Pierce spends about $500 to $600 every five years to replace the water softener for his home's well system. He's had to budget for the item for the past 20 years because without it, everyday tasks such as taking a shower and washing clothes would be difficult.

03.05.08 - Hampstead-area development plan to receive further review - By Tyra M. Vaughn, Staff Writer. Burgaw | The Pender County Planning Board put off deciding whether to enter into a development agreement with the developers of a controversial 376-acre residential and commercial project in Hampstead.

03.04.08 - Home Fuel Cells - The True Next Energy Revolution. They already power houses in Japan, cutting pollution - By Yuri Kageyhama, Associated Press. Hiratsuka, Japan | Masanori Naruse jogs every day, collects miniature cars and feeds birds in his backyard, but he's proudest of the way his home and 2,200 others in Japan get electricity and heat water - with power generated by a hydrogen fuel cell.

03.04.08 - New Hanover won't get waterfront funding but Hampstead project still being discussed; One snag "Owners of land asking $10 million" - By Chris Mazzolini, Staff Writer. New Hanover County won't receive any money from the state's new Waterfront Access and Marine Industries Fund, according to recommendations from a citizen advisory committee. But projects in Brunswick and Pender counties may fare better.

02.28.08 - Tofu Curiosity - Admit it: We all have it. So stop wondering and start tasting - By Allison Ballard, Star-News Correspondent. Tofu isn't the subject of romantic culinary notions. For years, many chefs stayed away from the vegetarian staple, and its close association with vegan living sure didn't do much to boost its chances of landing on a restaurant menu.

02.28.08 - Wilmington Home Sales up from December but Pending Homes sales down from same period a year ago. Editor's note: Because of incorrect information supplied by a source, the number of pending home sales in the Wilmington area reported in Tuesday's Star-News was incorrect. As a result, the thrust of the story was miscast. We have opted to run the correct information here, in a similar location to the original story. - By Wayne Faulkner, Business Editor.

02.26.08 - Wilmington Home Market looking Up! January contracts up 3.5 times over same time in '07. By Wayne Faulkner, Business Editor. If you've been waiting for a sign that the Wilmington area's housing market is about to turn around, say, "Happy new year." Nearly 3 1/2 times more homes went under contract here in January than in January 2007, according to Susan Lacy, president of the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors.

02.26.08 - Builders oppose new downtown Wilmington rules. Proposed city restrictions draw fire; forum tonight. - By Sam Scott, Staff Writer. City planners see the carrot, developers see the stick, and tonight everybody else can see what they’re talking about. The city of Wilmington is holding a forum to get input on proposed revisions to what can and cannot be built in the city’s central business district. Planers have been meeting with downtown developers since September to help create the draft, but the current proposal still has some builders seeing red.

02.26.08 - Wrightville Beach Public safety center gets go ahead. Wrightsville Beach residents will likely pay more in property taxes. - By Sherry Jones, Local News Editor. The board of aldermen voted 4-1 Monday night to proceed with plans for a $6.8 million center to house the police and fire departments. Using current property assessments, the town is projecting a 1.74-cent increase in the tax rate per $100 of value. That would amount to $174 extra a year for the owner of a $1 million home.

02.25.08 - How ambitious a plan should Carolina Beach adopt for the Boardwalk? - Carolina Beach| Plans for the Carolina Beach Boardwalk stunned April McMunn so much that she had to walk out of a January meeting to compose herself. She needed a minute alone after seeing that her building at 8 Pavilion Ave. was gone. In fact, all of the buildings along the town's historic but faded Boardwalk would be replaced by open space or new buildings, according to the options presented in the town's proposed master development plan.

02.24.08 - A park from this? Cape Fear Island pitched as possible recreation site - The island is only yards from the New Hanover County mainland, separated by a spit of sand that's accessible at low tide. Getting to the 50-acre former spoil island already is tough. Plans by a developer to build thousands of homes and relocate River Road as far as 3,000 feet inland could make access next to impossible.

02.24.08 - Cleaner water could cost more in Southport - Southport | This city's board of aldermen wants to quench residents' thirst for cleaner water. At its March meeting, the board will consider purchasing all of its water from the county and halting use of its well. If the board decides to use county water, residents will eventually notice an improvement in water quality, Ralph Cardwell, interim public works director, said during the board's annual retreat Saturday.

02.24.08 - Affordable Housing - appeared in The Money Section of The Star News Sunday. "It's really hard to find a nice house in New Hanover County, in a good school district, that we can afford." It's a sentence that's repeated in some form by perhaps hundreds every day.

02.24.08 - Boardwalk Revival; Group works to return Carolina Beach landmark to life - Carolina Beach | Newly elected Councilman Dan Wilcox called Duke Hagestrom the day after the Nov. 6 election to talk about reviving the town's historic but sagging Boardwalk. Nothing new there, thought Hagestrom. Politicians have promised for decades to fix the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, once a wonderland of amusement rides, dance halls and bingo parlors soaking in the post-World War II boom.

02.22.08 - Increased sales tax could pay for New Hanover County Roads - An additional one-quarter-percent sales tax is on the table as a way to pay for much-needed road projects in New Hanover County.
Wilmington City Councilman Jason Thompson prodded New Hanover County leaders Thursday to hold a countywide vote this year on the new tax. Bill Caster, vice chairman of the New Hanover County commissioners, said he would ask county administrators to begin planning a referendum, most likely for the November ballot. It is unlikely a referendum could be planned in time for the May 6 primary ballot.

02.22.08 - 14-screen movie theater planned at Brunswick Forest in Leland - A Florida company is under contract to buy 10 acres in Brunswick Forest for a 14-screen movie theater and entertainment center.
Officials at Frank Family Entertainment Group plan to open a 60,000-square-foot E-Town (short for Entertainment Town) project in the Villages at Brunswick Forest, a 160-acre town center in Leland.

02.20.08 - New Hanover County tax bill info not available online - Interested in finding out the amount of your 2007 tax bill? Don't bother looking online, where New Hanover County used to list tax bills for properties countywide. Now, you have to call the tax department or stop by its offices - but get ready to wait for a while. The tax department's four information center employees have been bombarded by phone calls from property owners and mortgage companies looking for tax information that used to be just a click away.

02.19.08 - City of Wilmington gets 3 Proposals for Convention Hotel - Developers went down to the wire Monday as three companies turned in proposals for building a hotel next to the city's forthcoming convention center, the last of which came in minutes before the 5 p.m. deadline. They were the only proposals received in the five-week window for offers.

02.18.08 - Cape Fear region cashes in on drug research firms - What happens when a pregnant woman takes prescription drugs that can cause birth defects? It's a question that is important enough to women's health, the drug manufacturer and the Federal Drug Administration that a company in Wilmington has been following the problem - for 18 years.

02.18.08 - Hampstead board issues '08 wish list: New roads, better zoning, a new library... - New roads, better zoning, a new library and county offices top the list of what many Hampstead residents would like to see in the Pender County community this year.

02.15.08 - Public Transportation Plans bus routes to Wrightsville Beach - Wrightsville Beach | Public transportation to a public beach seems like a good idea. Implementing that plan is going to take a lot of work. That was what came out of Thursday's Board of Aldermen meeting and a presentation by Albert Eby, director of Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority, better known as Wave Transit.

02.13.08 - Administration announces program to help homeowners threatened with foreclosure - U.S. homeowners threatened with foreclosure would in some instances get a 30-day reprieve under an initiative the Bush administration announced Tuesday. Dubbed "Project Lifeline," the program will be available to people who have taken out all types of mortgages, not just the high-cost subprime loans that have been the focus of previous relief efforts.

02.09.08 - Verizon picks Corning's new Cabling (Manufactured Wilmington) - Verizon has decided to bend it like Corning. The giant telecommunications company based in New York has chosen Corning Inc.'s ultra-bendable cabling - manufactured in Wilmington NC - as it brings fiber optic Internet and TV services to multifamily buildings.

02.09.08 - The mood-altering power of color. Walcoverings, fabrics, and paint affect your mood - Q: Where we live, everyone has traditional houses with antiques, crystal chandeliers and oriental rugs. I'm not brave enough to be really different. Besides, I grew up with and still love traditional rooms. But lately I find myself wanting a new look. Any suggestions?

02.08.08 - Four Hotels planned for Brunswick County North Carolina. - Northern Brunswick County is hoping to give Wilmington's hotel industry some competition with more than 400 new rooms within the next year or more. Developers are planning four new hotels along the growing U.S. 17 corridor south of Wilmington. Two have received municipal approval and expect to break ground within the next few months.

02.07.08 - Wilmington named one of the "Top Distinctive Destination" for 2008 - Wilmington, an historic port city with roots dating back nearly three centuries, is rich in grand old mansions, riverboats, historic museums, battleships, splendid gardens and Civil War sites. Located in the southeastern corner of North Carolina between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, the city boasts seven National Register Historic Districts and 300 blocks of historic sites, homes, landmarks, churches, cemeteries, museums and markers. Whether touring by foot, riverboat, horse-drawn carriage or trolley, visitors benefit from the perspective of many time periods.

02.06.08 - Port City planning to make roads safer for walkers, bikers. - Noelle Milam lives in Wilmington's Forest Hills neighborhood, within a mile of a coffee shop, a grocery store, the mall and Empie Park's dog park. But because of a lack of crosswalks on major roads that surround her neighborhood - specifically Market Street, Oleander Drive and Independence Boulevard - she and her family feel effectively trapped, unable to safely get to those destinations without piling in a sport utility vehicle.

02.06.08 - Realtors hope for hot year - article in Star-News about Exit Energy - Nothing says motivation like a walk over fiery coals. And on Feb. 12, brokers and agents from Exit Realty offices in Wilmington, Jacksonville, Burgaw and Hampstead will converge on the Castle Bay Country Club in Hampstead to try their tolerance at the Exit Energy 2008 event.

02.06.08 - Winter's Bounty: Fresh advice for locavores on surviving winter - Your New Year’s resolution was to eat more local foods so that you could support area farmers, get better-quality produce and help protect the environment. And now that you’ve gotten the requisite excuses out of the way (I had to empty the fridge, I had to finish Mom’s famous holiday fudge, Mars is in retrograde, etc., etc.), you’re ready to begin.

02.05.08 - Should land across from City support dense development? - The New Hanover County Planning Board on Thursday will consider the first project under a controversial new zoning classification for parts of the riverfront opposite downtown Wilmington.

11.26.06 - Bucking the Bubble. Although sales may be taking longer, home prices in the Cape Fear region are holding fairly steady, defying national trend. New York, if nowhere else, still makes the Port City seem like a bargain. Even a one-bathroom fixer-upper back in Mamaroneck, a New York City suburb, would have run a half-million dollars, said Jennifer Hughes, a recent Wilmington arrival. Instead, she and her husband bade farewell to their two-bedroom apartment there for milder climes and a chance to raise their three kids in a house.

11.20.06 - North Carolina Sales Strong - "The biggest total sales increase was in North Carolina, where existing-home sales rose 9.7% from the third quarter of 2005." Conditions for home buyers improved during the third quarter as existing single-family home prices in many metropolitan areas experienced corrections, and most states saw sales activity below a year ago which helped to build housing inventories, according to the latest quarterly surveys by the National Association of Realtors.

11.01.06 - Top 10 Cities: Where to buy Real Estate. Nestled between the Cape Fear River and North Carolina's Inner Bank beaches, Wilmington has great golf, mild weather, natural beauty, and a relatively cheap cost of living, all of which make it popular with both permanent residents and second-home vacationers. But it hasn't always been this way. It was an isolated backwater until 1990, when the final 120-mile stretch of I-40 opened. Now the Research Triangle's well-heeled tech workers can be at the beach in three hours.