Living on Topsail Time

Southeastern North Carolina and Fall along the coast!

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:55:48 -0500

Each Fall, I am always amazed by the changes that take place on Topsail Island and, I would expect, in communities and neighborhoods up and down the coast. School reopens, vacationers head home and Harvest Festivals, county fairs and the North Carolina State Fair become the topics of conversation. It is a great time of year!

Real estate in coastal North Carolina began its recovery starting in November of 2008. Jacksonville and Wilmington have led the return to more normal market levels. Homes priced $300,000. and under move from listed to sold quickly. We continue to work our way through short sales and foreclosures out on the beach, so there are still some excellent opportunities. Our new home community in Hubert, The Highlands at Queens Creek and the homes that we have under construction in Richlands are generating sales and presales. Our community in Holly Ridge, Sage's Ridge has one of the best price points in the area, and is located midway between Wilmington and Jacksonville and only ten minutes from the beaches of Topsail Island. Prices there begin at $154,900. Sales are being driven by the $8000. tax credit, various builder incentives and an increase of military into the Jacksonville/Swansboro/Richlands/Hubert/Holly Ridge area.

So, whatever brings you to southeastern North Carolina, be it service to your country, retirement, relocation, a vacation or second home on the beach, we hope you'll consider us as a resource.

Spring has arrived in coastal North Carolina!

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:36:36 -0500

I am sure that you, like the rest of us here on Topsail Island and in Jacksonville are happy to finally see sunshine and warmer weather! This has been a glorious first week end of Spring! Our home on the island looks out over the Intracoastal Waterway. Over the past month, the sun has begun shining through our windows (illustrating, I might add, that those windows need their spring cleaning) and letting us know that spectacular sunsets will soon be visible. We are beginning to see the return of the sailboats and motors to the ICWW, as they make their way back to their summer homes. Bald Head, Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Figure 8 and Topsail are busy ports of call throughout the repositioning of boats and yachts during the spring and early summer.

Our phones are ringing at Sea Coast Realty. Since last November, we have seen a steady uptick in the number of properties going under contract. There has been an increase month over month, an indicator that our market may have reached its bottom four months ago. Combined with the $8000. first time home buyer incentive, the historic low interest rates and the well priced listings currently on the market, it is an opportune time to purchase a home.

Our Topsail Landing Condominiums are 1.5 miles from the beach and only 40 minutes from Jakconville and the same from Wilmington. Pool, clubhouse, business center, gameroom, playground and pet friendly, Topsail Landing offers our residents shopping, restaurants, dentist and doctor's offices within walking distance. Pricing for for a two bedroom, two bath patio home begin at $164,900.

Visit www.topsaillanding.com and take our video tour or call 1.853.0414 and enter extension number 1154.

Topsail Island's Burchfield Group collects 1029 pounds of food

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:40:41 -0600

On Saturday,December 20, 2008, Burchfield Group members (Judy Carlton, Jerry Blackburn, Bob Ramsey, Kathy and Rand Burchfield) of Topsail Island and SeaCoast Realty were at the Food Lion in Hampstead. We collected 1029 pounds (that’s one thousand and twenty nine pounds) of food for the North Carolina Food Bank. The food pantries in four counties - Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender and Onslow will be the recipients of the overwhelming generosity of the residents of Hampstead and the Food Lion store.

95% of the people who took one of our flyers and went into the Food Lion came out with one item, and in most cases several bags of groceries and often, a full grocery cart. Cash, as little as one dollar and as much as $20.00 was donated, so that we also gave the Food Bank $ 135.00 in cash and checks. The kindness of the people of Hampstead was astounding!

Team member Judy Carlton coordinated with the Food Bank and spearheaded the effort, Kathy Alexander did yeoman’s work on the PR and all of us worked with them both to be sure that they had all the information they needed. We have a terrific banner that we will be able to use whenever we do the “Feed the Need” Food Drive again.

What a fantastic day we all had! We delivered the pallets of food to the Food Bank of NC this morning and the director, Mike was amazed that we had collected so much food in such a short time. He said that it was a professional effort and we should be very pleased. We are, of course, but we are more pleased that so many families will have food on their tables and in their cupboards this month.

Topsail Beach Christmas Parade!

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:31:22 -0600

Well, the third and final parade of the season (for The Rand Burchfield Real Estate Group, anyway) was Saturday, December the 6th. We put a holiday wreath on the front of the truck, lit it up and we were off to Topsail Beach from our main office in Surf City! Joining us were team members Linda Blackburn, Judy Carlton, Bob Ramsey, Dot Cotman and myself and Kathy. Not able to be with us were Justine Warner (our executive assistant) and Bill Hunt, a long time associate and buyer agent. As you will note from the photos, Lilly and Pearl had a grand time, all decked out in the reindeer antlers. Pearl is actually starting to enjoy the limelight a little bit!

Our last event of the year will be a food drive for the North Carolina Food Bank, to be held on December 20th in the Food Lion parking lot in Hampstead. We call it "Feed the Need." This year in particular, there are a great many more people turning to the food banks all over the state and the country, I would imagine. You can help locally by just bringing canned food and dry items (nothing frozen or needing refrigeration) to the collection point. We will transport it to the Food Bank. Easy for you and so helpful to those of our citizens who may find themselves without this holiday season. Please come and help!

Jacksonville Holiday Parade and our newest office in Onslow County!

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:44:51 -0600

We participated in the 53rd annual holiday parade in Jacksonville, N.C. on Saturday, November 22nd. The weather was COLD! The temperature when we left our office in Surf City on Topsail Island was a crisp 25 degrees! Now, we know that for some of you, that may be shorts and T shirt weather but here on Topsail, those temperatures are out of the ordinary for November. Our new office in Jacksonville opened last week and our colleagues there built a float for the parade, which WON Best in the Amateur Division! Pete Barber entered his Cobra and we, the Rand Burchfield Real Estate Group, put the moving truck to good use, as well. This time, Kathy drove (thank goodness, only required to do so in a straight line), Judy Carlton, Linda Blackburn and our Bichons, Pearl and Lilly rode along. Bob Ramsey and I walked in front, so we had a good representation. The parade was huge!!

After the parade, we toured the office at 2445 Onslow in Jacksonville and talked with some of the agents being based there. Then, off to lunch! If you are looking for "home style" cooking and you are in Jacksonville, turn left or right onto Onslow Drive (wave at our newest office, or stop in and say hi) and go two blocks. You cannot miss the big letters on the front of the building that say "HILDA'S". If you are there on a Saturday or Sunday, ask for Arlene to be your wait person. The food is great and the atmosphere, comfortable.

We have been graciously welcomed to Jacksonville by the community and look forward to a long and happy association.

Thanks, Jacksonville for a great holiday parade experience!

Topsail Island and TS Hanna

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 11:04:09 -0500

All over and done with, for the most part. wind gusts of maybe 65 - 70. No high sustained. The power was on the entire time, we didn't lose cable and Kathy stayed nice and cool 'cause the AC stayed up. YAY! The dogs were a little jumpy most of the night, especially the younger of the two Bichons, Pearl. Evidently it became her assignment to make certain her family was aware of all those leaves blowing by the windows. Still a bit blustery on the island but the sun is coming out and folks are out on the beach. We will take a drive up and down the 27 miles of the island at some point today and check all of our current listings and those homes of our past clients who do not live here. As the storm affected the south facing beaches, we do not expect that there will have been much in the way of erosion. That's another part of living on the island that you have to be aware of during a storm... the ocean giveth and the ocean taketh away. Safe for another day!

Holly Festival fun with the Rand Burchfield Real Estate Group of CBSCR!

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:22:43 -0600

The Rand Burchfield Real Estate Group, along with Sea Coast Realty sponsored a float in the Holly Festival parade November 1st. Linda Snow, Pete Barber, Mary Williams, Rand Burchfield, Bill Hunt, Judy Carlton, Bob Ramsey, Kathy Burchfield, Cynthia Moxley-Finch and Dot Cotman were either on the float, in the Burchfield moving truck, or in Pete Barber's Cobra, distributing gifts to the people along the parade route. Throughout the day, members of our Surf City office were part of the festival, filling in as ticket takers, Mistress of Ceremonies for the talent show (Linda Snow) or wherever a helping hand was needed. Like to see more photos? Email us for a photo link!

Topsail Island, Surf City and cooooool weather!

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 19:35:26 -0600

Wow! I hope that wherever you are, the weather was as glorious as it was on Topsail Island today! I heard from a couple of our Facebook friends that it was crisp and clear in many places around the United States.

We have temperate weather in Surf City through most of the year, as our thermometers rarely reach the freezing mark. Now, that is not to say that we never have that kind of weather, just that it happens at points so few and far between, that we forget!

There are a lot of events coming up through the holiday seaon! We need at least a little cold weather to put us into the spirit. The Rand Burchfield Real Estate Group participated in the Holly Festival Parade on November 1st with a float and our moving truck. We sponsored the talent competition, one of the most popular segments of the fest. There are a number of very talented young people in our area! We gave each of the three winners a $ 200.00 cash prize. This was our second year of sponsorship and we are already looking forward to next year's festival.

Next Friday, November 22nd, we will have our team members and our moving truck in the Jacksonville Holiday Parade. Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty is opening their new office in Jacksonville next week, so all of the agents and company members from that office will be on a float or marching with us! Topsail Beach has its parade on December 6th and we signed up for that one, too!

Our "Living on Topsail Time" newsletter has a complete calendar of events for the month of November and the first part of December. If you would enjoy reading November's issue, please just click here. Want to receive a copy every month? Just email us with your request!

Topsail Island and Surf City are remembering our veterans today!

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:20:32 -0600

With grateful thanks to all of our men and women in uniform, both past and present!

We live near Jacksonville, North Carolina, home to Camp LeJeune. Our military men and women are woven into the fabric of our every day life. We see them in uniform, out at sports events, with their families in church, at the post office, in the parks, and out walking their dogs, all of the activities that each of us do throughout the day. The difference is that those men and women, both currently serving and those retired, are called to higher service to their country and stand in our defense. We are proud to salute them and grateful for their sacrifices.

Topsail Humane Society Benefit - The Junk Yard Dog Sale at Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:24:20 -0500

Our dogs, Lilly and Pearl come to the office with us every day. Lilly was adopted when her owner died and Pearl came to us two years ago next March. We feel, as do many, that the presence of dogs in the office benefits us and our agents greatly. Stress levels are reduced and it is quite difficult to stay angry or upset when there are happy faces greeting you!

It is no surprise then, that one of the causes we champion is the Topsail Humane Society and their efforts to build a new facility for their No Kill shelter. On Saturday, October 11th - Dogs Rule Holiday - our biannual Junk Yard Dog sale will be held at our offices in Surf City. Proceeds will go to the THS. We will also be accepting blankets, toys and other dog related items for donation to the shelter. Cats are not slighted! Operation TopCat on the island humanely captures and spays feral cats, and places for adoption and fostering the many cats and kittens without homes.

We've said goodbye to two of our dearest friends in the past two months. Bill and Brenda Hunt's soft coated Wheaton Terrier, Sam passed away in August. Just last month, Dot Cotman's Scottish Terrier Buelah was diagnosed with cancer, very advanced and left us. We will miss these two wonderful friends always.

There are many web sites where you can help. One of our favorites is this one, The Animal Rescue Site and it is so easy. Costs you nothing and the animals win!

Living on Topsail Time

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:59:56 -0500

Two of our dearest friends in the real estate business, Gene and Bobbie Anderson, have decided to retire. Over the past eight years, they have been our mentors, our colleagues, and most importantly, our friends. One of the columns in Gene's monthly newsletter was a comprehensive snapshot of market conditions. While Kathy does the layout, design and nearly all the writing for our Living on Topsail Time newsletter, market stats are left to me. Gene was a good teacher and we think that continuing to offer this feature in our newsletter will provide our clients and friends with a realistic picture of what is happening, especially during these challenging times.

Right now, even though we are experiencing less than optimal market conditions, we are still above the numbers for last year. Sharing our knowledge of local conditions - the closed sales for 2007 and 2008 both on and off the island - are eye opening for both buyers and our listing clients.

So, we will continue to provide these statistics, carrying on a tradition started by Gene and Bobbie Anderson and relied upon by bankers, buyers, sellers and our own team, for the clearest picture possible.

Check out our LINKS and take a look at our October newsletter!

North Carolina Spot Festival

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:02:57 -0500

Hampstead, N.C. holds the annual Spot Festival each September. This year is the 45th festival and is being held this week end, September 27th and 28th. The festival location is on Highway 17 on the southbound side, about a quarter mile south of the intersection with 210 west. Plenty of Spot dinners, and also featured will be musical performances, arts and crafts, food vendors, and did we mention Spots? For more information, visit the website at http://www.nc-spotfestival.com. BTW, Spots? It is a fish!

Surf City and Topsail Island

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:46:57 -0500

The new Surf City Visitors Center on Topsail Island opened yesterday. Located on the ocean front, the structure was moved from its former location in Camp Davis in the early 1950's. A picturesque spot, with the Surf City pier as a backdrop, the site was home to Cindy's Oceanside Restaurant until August 2007. A total renovation of the building makes available meeting space for small groups, as well as a wonderful venue for weddings, receptions, baby showers, and other community events. The SC Visitors Center will also provide a central location on the island for tourists to stop in, chat with locals and learn about all there is to do and see do on Topsail Island. Flanked by Daddy Mac's Restaurant and Buddy's, and across the street from Bank of America (the only bank on the island) the center is centrally located at the intersection of Roland Avenue and North Shore Drive and is within walking distance to the island's shopping and restaurant district. The center will be open daily from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

More on Star Power in Orlando

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:29:42 -0500

We traveled to Orlando by car for the Star Power conference, and arrived on Monday evening, which allowed us a full day on Tuesday to rest, relax and plan. All of our team members were staying in the same hotel, just moments from the site of the event. We decided to make a trip over to Epcot and spend the day (all except for Judy Carlton, who had not yet arrived). Kathy and I had not visited Epcot in quite a few years and we were looking forward to seeing new exhibits but were disappointed. Pretty much the same. We did visit the aquarium and took a few shots of one of my favorite sea creatures, the sea horse. There were some other extremely interesting fish, as you can see.

Just before we went into Epcot, Linda Blackburn's step daughter, Ashley, took a photo of us. Note the sign "Year of a Million Dreams", appropriate, don't you think? That's Bob Ramsey, his wife Kathleen, Linda, me and my wife and business partner, Kathy.

We had a great time in Florida, always do. Glad to be back home on Topsail Island! 'Course, it's great to be a real estate professional in North Carolina!

Rocking and rolling (with the nor'easter) on Topsail Island!

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:04:15 -0500

Considering the fact that Hurricane Hanna was touted as such a big deal a couple of weeks ago, this nor'easter was more damaging (to the beach). As the storm came ashore on astronomically high tides, the intracoastal waterway (normally a quarter mile from our back garden) rose to spill into the sound and then into our marsh. Amazing! We walked out to the beach yesterday, just at high tide and we were stunned to see the huge waves. There was a great deal of debris in the water, from stairs and sand fencing, so there is going to be a bit of cleanup over the next few weeks. High tide this a.m. was still being pushed by the storm but this effect will subside as we move through the day. We will be out this afternoon taking a look at our oceanfront dune line and will post back later or tomorrow about our observations. We always keep in mind that Mother Nature giveth and Mother Nature taketh away, particularly when you live on an island!