I used to live in Malibu CA and everyone asked me, “Why do you live where there are Fires, Mudslides and Earthquakes every year?”.  Now I live on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the same folks ask “How can you live where there are Hurricanes, and Nor’easters?”.But you already know the answer;  it is beautiful, the oceans are breathtaking and I am not looking for safety.  I am content with paradise. Life is like that.  Adventure requires risk.  Status Quo requires, well, maintaining the same old same old.  That has never been my goal.  Real estate is a new career for me.  It was my last resort.  I did not choose it because of my love for real estate. On the Outer Banks, one of the few ways to earn a good living is selling real estate.  And I wanted to stay here after my job taking ... 11/14/2009

I have always had private health insurance I paid for myself as a self  employed middle class, working single parent.  When I turned 65 I had to enroll in Medicare plus purchase a “supplemental prescription plan and “supplemental medical plan” to have barely adequate coverage.  At a cost almost equal to my very expensive PPO with Blue Cross, I now have less coverage, the doctors get lower payments and I am suspect at a  doctor’s office because of my “medicare status “ until I explain that I have supplemental coverage and offer to pay the difference.  And I am in perfect health!Another article like the one by Ross Douthat of the NY Times accusing “elderly, retirees, seniors & over 65” of robbing the country of health care reform is silly.Get real.  Most everyone I know over 65 and under ... 09/14/2009

One topic at our Realtor Association meeting last week was branding our community.  As many know, the Outer Banks has been known as “Fishermen’s Paradise” for generations.  And our beaches are known as some of the best in the country.  However, with the onslaught of the “Consent Decree” beach closings and increased fishing regulations, our Paradise is less about fishing & beaching each year!  As one who loves casual bike riding, I think our community could be an ideal destination for others who cycle, either casually or seriously.  What can we do to bring this sport into our brand?  How about contiguous bike routes from Hatteras to Corolla?  Some paths could be along the roads and some closer to the ocean and/or sound.  We already have the most important ingredient for success, an unpar... 08/31/2009

I got another question recently from an interested buyer looking in the Southern Shores area of the Outer Banks. They wanted to know: Question: What % below asking price is about right to offer on a home in Southern Shores, NC that will be used for a weekly vacation rental? Also it does not have a pool, how much would it cost to add one? Answer:  There was time when you could count on the local MLS information to help you come up with the right offer. However with the current state of the market it takes a lot more that just looking at numbers to consider what to offer on any given house.  I can only tell what I do for my clients when they get ready to make an offer in this market and it has worked for me to get the best deal I can. With out giving away all of my "trade secrets" you rea... 07/08/2008

Click here to Search All Southern Shores Real Estate and Homes for Sale and browse through the properties available. You do not have to sign up or register.There are 10 properties per page next to a digital satellite map of the neighborhood with the location of each house marked on the map. Zoom in on your new home.You can search for real estate in any location in Southern Shores in any price range.You can view all of the real estate for sale with the Outer Banks Association of REALTORS in one place.   05/06/2007

Southern Shores and Chicahauk in the Outer Banks of North Carolina This is a continuation of my series communities in the Outer Banks! The town of Southern Shores is a wonderful community.  It is home to many year- around residents and has plenty of vacation homes.  It goes from the Atlantic Ocean to the Currituck Sound.  Canal front homes are plentiful and the canals have enough depth that you can have a boat. This community has marinas, tennis courts and playgrounds located throughout the community.  Duck Woods Golf Course is located in this community and has a fitness area, tennis and a pool for a membership.  This is Semi-private club.  The town has an association group and for around $50 to $60 a year you have private beach parking and there are lifeguards available.  Please review... 04/13/2007

SSOUTHERN SHORES RESIDENTIAL SOLD MARKET ANALYSISOceansideFinancing          No. of Listings     Dollar Volume      Average Price      Median Price      Average DOMConventional                 3               $3,215,000              $1,071,667          $600,000             260Totals                            3              $3,215,000             $1,071,667         $600,000          260WestsideConventional               10               $5,804,900              $580,490             $485,000             220Cash                            1                 $455,000                $455,000              $455,000             161Totals                          11                $6,259,900           $569,082           $470,000           214 04/07/2007

The Chicahauk property owners association held a meeting where they voted on a resolution to oppose the condemnation of a common area by the town of Southern Shores for t a dredge spoils site. The town of Southern Shores wants to dredge the canals that run through the town. They have the money to do the project but no place to deposit the spoils. Spoils are the material the dredge pulls up out of the canals.The cheapest method for disposal of the spoils is to pile it somewhere. The most convenient location is a cypress swamp located in the Chicahauk section of Southern Shores. Naturally the property owners in Chicahauk are not happy with this proposal.This cypress swamp is a rare leftover of the past life of the Outer Banks. It is a pristine natural environment that has been set aside a... 04/03/2007

The shinning star on the Outer banks is the increased value of Southern Shores real estate. While some areas have seen a decrease in property values the sale of Southern Shores real estate saw a 10% increase in values in 2006. The number of sales is down but the prices are holding on.The following Southern Shores real estate sales statistics were derived from the Outer Banks Association of REALTORS MLS.2006 saw 69 residential properties sell for an average price of $627,319 and a median price of $579,900.2005 saw 125 residential properties sell for an average price of $611,787 and a median price of $525,000.2004 saw 148 residential properties sell for an average price of $525,528 and a median price of $466,250.2003 saw 112 residential  properties sell for an average price of $432,285 an... 02/20/2007