Ring in the New Year at Sea Trail Plantation in Sunset Beach, North Carolina with an awesome New Year’s Day Brunch for only $7.95 per person!   Sea Trail Plantation's New Year’s Day Brunch will feature traditional Southern holiday foods, many of which are “Farm to Table” from Executive Chef Robbie. Brunch will be served in Magnolias on Sunday, January 1st starting at 9:00am. Be sure to reserve your spot today at the first event of 2012 at Sea Trail Plantation...       12/31/2011

Sunset Beach Market Report Homes For Sale/Sold Nov. 2010/2011       In November of 2010 there were 415 HOMES for SALE In November of 2011 there were 332 HOMES for SALE This shows a 20% DECREASE in Homes for SALE In November of 2010 there were 13 HOMES SOLD In November of 2011 there were 20 HOMES SOLD This shows a 53.8% INCREASE IN HOMES SOLD In November of 2010 Avg. Active Price  $318 In November of 2011 Avg. Active Price  $279 This shows a DECREASE OF 12.3% In November of 2010 Avg. Sold Price  $329 In November of 2011 Avg. Sold Price  $226 This shows a DECREASE of  31.3% The above values reflect LESS homes on the market, more have sold this year, for LESS money $$$      Lower Listing Prices, Lower Interest Rates and the number of AFFORDABLE Properties Available ...... IT IS a great tim... 12/30/2011

Going out with a bang for the December 2011 blogging contest ~       It's the day before New Years Eve Day...  Time to start chilling the champagne ....  In anticipation of......       Bet you thought we were going to say the New Years Celebration...     But believe it or not tomorrow, New Years Eve, we will be showing oceanfront property in Sunset Beach, our hometown.        Hoping to sneak in one more deal before Father Time bids farewell to 2011 and we welcome the New Year!                                           HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 12/30/2011

2011 December Blogging Challenge ~ Responding to Clients During the Holidays Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is about spending time with those you love. They may not be with you in body, but they will always be with you in spirit. This year was especially hard for me because I was not able to be with either of my children or their significant others. When you are apart from those you love it is so much harder during the holidays but we did manage to talk on the phone, text and send pictures. One of our clients sent us the cutest Jib Jab early this morning to enjoy.  The focus was their family singing Christmas Songs with their dog, Rudy as the lead vocal. Hilarious for first thing on Christmas morning as an email... totally unexpected and very cute.  That is what is so enjoyable about t... 12/25/2011

Reflecting during the 2011 December Blogging Challenge I tend to lose track of time when I become immersed in a book.  Reading is my way of escaping.  Ah, if only my mother knew when she sent me to my room to punish me, it would become my alone time to escape and read. To this day I still sneak off from time to time with a book, though not as much as I would like to.  What would you like for Christmas from Santa my mother would ask ... Every year it was always the same, books... very specific books.  I still ask for books for presents, well sometimes I ask for pajamas too.  I just love hanging around in my pajamas reading books...  I also love to sit on the beach, under my umbrella, reading a book --- not a Kindle or a Nook --- a book, and it has to be a hardcover book!! The 2011 Decemb... 12/21/2011

2011 December Blogging Challenge ~ We are working for a living Why do WE followup?  It's Simple.. Make it Fun..  Build the Rapport & Engage...  Listen & Learn ...  Because this is the way we work our business .. and it works... Phone calls to new prospects that left inquiries on our website .. Last minute holiday cards ... (hey, I'm human) Make the best efforts at the end of the year... to plant those seeds ....  Looking forward to Friday, showing homes on Sunset Beach!! We are TRULY having fun with this challenge and plan to make 2012 the best Real Estate Year for OUR CLIENTS and US!!! 12/19/2011

    2011 December Blogging Challenge ~ Networking in Sunset Beach ~ Time to Network, bring friends, meet new friends and enjoy the evening in Sunset Beach!! December 17th Wine Tasting/Wine Night Host: Mavericks Java 910-575-5282 When: Saturday, December 17 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM Where: Mavericks Java 303 Sunset Blvd. North  Sunset Beach, NC 28468 LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 12/17/2011

2011 December Blogging Challenge ~ You Better Watch Out .... Oh, you better watch out .... Clear the dining room table .... Frank is on a mission to get the Christmas Cards for family, friends and clients finished ... You better not cry .....   Karen's house is a mess ......   She's going through the contact management system and checking it twice!! You better not pout ....  Updates galore, so far behind this year ...   Decided to take a break for a walk on the beach ... I'm telling you why ....  Next year we promise to start earlier ....    Thank goodness Frank is almost done addressing the cards .... Santa Claus is coming to town .....  and he'll be here in 0nly 10 Days!!!  Hurry up Frank, get those cards finished .... OH YOU BETTER WATCH OUT YOU BETTER NOT CRY YOU BETTER NOT POUT I'... 12/15/2011

2011 December Blogging Challenge ~ Meetings and Girls Just Wanna Have FUN .... Frank and I attended the local  BNI (Business Networking International) Meeting @ 8:00am on 12/13/11 We have decided to apply for membership after attending a few meetings.  The networking will be a great source of referrals for our business as well the other members we can refer to our friends and clients in the community. We want to support the local businesses in the area and this is a wonderful opportunity for us. Back to the fun part of the day  ... shopping and a lunch break   ....   A quick trip to Sunset Beach to enjoy another gorgeous sunset ...  It's fun to promote the area where you live ... and LOVE ... GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN ..... Jean & I were so excited to see a REAL CHRISTMAS TREE @ the Gaz... 12/14/2011

2011 December Blogging Challenge ~ Clients as Dinner Dates ~ Two nights in a row .... Dinner Dates with Clients ~   Last night was a Mutual Birthday Dinner Date with past clients who are our dear friends....   Tonight was another birthday dinner celebration and get together with friends/past clients ~  Stay in touch with past clients ~ It's a great way to keep the referrals coming... 12/11/2011

2011 December Blogging Challenge ~ Clients as AmbassadorsThis year has been the best year for us in Real Estate and we are enjoying catching up with clients during the holiday season.Whether meeting for lunch, going shopping, enjoying dinner or attending a tree lighting .... It's all about letting our clients know how much we appreciate their business .... This month is filled with many end of the year activities with previous clients and goals that are focused on a prosperous New Year.We have graciously asked clients to become our "Ambassadors".  We fill small brown envelopes with our business cards and introduce them to our ambassador program by presenting them with the coveted envelope with our business cards.  We remind them what an honor it was to help them find a home and what an ... 12/08/2011

2011 December Blogging Challenge ~ Decorating or Working? December blogging challenge....You are asking for the near impossible but isn't that what a challenge is all about... An email from a client this morning warranted immediate response.  Our client was requesting pertinent information about a certain listing they have their eye on. A certain area, a particular listing, with a lower price...not to give away any information to the public....  Quick CMA done for client...couple of emails back and forth as client was at work and unable to talk on the phone.Following up with clients is always an important aspect for our business and one we take pride in!! Now mind you I woke up this morning to Frank playing Christmas music....This is very unusual since he told me he wasn't decorating th... 12/01/2011

  "The secret of health for both mind and body  is not to mourn for the past,  worry about the future,  or anticipate troubles,  but to live in the present wisely and earnestly."    Too often we live in the  past and quite often our thoughts have a negative focus.  Live for today Be grateful, thankful, courteous and compassionate ....   Be strong enough to say "I'm Sorry" and mean it                                             11/27/2011

You can shop anytime you want, anywhere on the Internet, so why are we coaxed to shop on Black Friday?  My opinion, I would rather relax, spend some quality time with family and friends.  We decided to spend another afternoon at Sunset Beach, soaking up the rays, relaxing, taking a walk with friends and enjoying the sunny,cloudless, warm temperatures we have enjoyed for the past eight years on Sunset Beach.  We plan to shop local on Saturday to support local businesses!! Enjoy your day no matter what you decide to do!!  We know we will here on Sunset Beach!     11/25/2011

  Thankful for many Gadgets in our life? How truly thankful are you this Thanksgiving?Okay, so what are you truly thankful for in your life?  Is it a gadget?  Is it a creature?  Is it a being?  Is it a substance? Is it a quirk?  Is it a feature or a detail?  Is it a quality or a style?  Is it an impression or an opinion??Is it an accomplishment or an achievement?  Is it a new obsession or a fad?Being thankful is where someone is appreciative and grateful... Satisfied and pleased...Anything can become a thankful element... Thankful for the air we breath, the ability to hear, see, smell and touch everything around us.  We are accustomed to so many things in life, that we forget what it is to be thankful for...       11/23/2011

  Tom decided to invite a bunch of his friends over to celebrate before the  THANKSGIVING FESTVITIES begin..... A casual get together.....Now the question is : Are Pre Thanksgiving Parties for the Birds??     Wondering when the Chicks are going to start serving the adult beverages...and hors d'oeuvres.... Let's have some fun with this!! Who can come up with a great caption for this picture?? 11/20/2011

ActiveRain/DocuSign Contest : Thankful GroupEveryday is a day to be thankful.....  Not just because it is a contest.  Not because you get points....Not because you save time using DocuSign... I can honestly say there is only one person in this world I am thankful for everyday of my life … and that is my husband Frank.Who else could put up with me for the past 36 years?  December, 1975... our first date....He loves me unconditionally.  He loves our two children unconditionally.  He has never been abusive to me.  He is not a womanizer.  He is not a drunk.  He never uses foul language. He has always provided for his family.  He shared the responsibilities of raising two children...He changed diapers, feed, burped and bathed his children. He chauffeured his children to boy scouts, girl scou... 11/09/2011

The POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul group gives you the opportunity to share the miracles in your life during this fall season with a creative writing challenge . Join in on the challenge with the  FALL SEASON OF MIRACLES CONTEST | Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul Group We are very fortunate for the past eight years to have the best neighbors in the world!! We want to tell you what a miracle it is to have such wonderful neighbors in Sunset Beach, NC. When we first moved to Sunset Beach, NC we didn't get involved with our neighbors. It was only the wave when you saw the neighbors kind of relationship because we were working and busy settling in.   We decided to buy a boat and one day decided we would venture onto the IntraCoastal Waterway up to Topsail Island to meet Frank's nep... 10/31/2011

Travel over Niagara Falls in a Barrel, sure why not?? The Sunset Beach Team headed from Sunset Beach, North Carolina to see Niagara Falls. Will they go over it in a barrel?? Niagara Falls was never meant to be traveled over with a barrel but foolishly the first person to survive the trip over the Niagara Falls was a 63 year old schoolteacher by the name of Annie Taylor in 1901.Niagara Falls is meant to be admired and viewed from a distance. You didn't really think The Sunset Beach Team would go over in a barrel??Think of the what the force of water is when 681,750 gallons comes crashing down on you from “The Horseshoe Falls” in a mere second of time from a height of 167 feet. Would you believe the force is approximately 2,509 tons!! We chose to view Niagara Falls from afar a few differe... 10/25/2011

Thankful Thursday & Vitamin F Why do we have a variety of friends who are all different in character ? Some of them have obvious flaws, but then, so do we?. How do we get on with them all ?We think that each one helps to bring out a "different" part of us... With one of them we am polite and as refined as we can manage.We joke a lot with another.We talk about serious matters with one. With another we laugh a lot.We share a glass of wine with one , And dance on occasion with another.We listen to one friend's problems and give them advice Then we listen to another advising us. They are all like pieces of a jigsaw, When completed they form a treasure box. A treasure of friends! They are our friends who understand us better than we ourselves can do, who support us through good days and bad... 10/13/2011