Here are some of the Weekend Events going on in Wilmington:

1.  The Black & White Ball is planned for Friday night, the 29th of September, at the downtown Hilton in historic downtown Wilmington.  The ball will be elegant black tie, inspired by Truman Capote’s orginal Black & White Ball at New York’s Plaza Hotel in 1966.  The event will encompass the Hilton’s entire first floor and ballroom which will be transformed with lighting and black and white decor.  A cocktail hour(full, open bar with a special martini bar) will be followed by a seated dinner, including wine service, and dancing to the Andrew Theilen Band.  From 7-10pm, attendees wil be able to place bids for a silent auction for fine art and sculpture that has been donated by local artists.  $125.00 per person.

2.  Airlie Gardens will host a kayak eco tour on Saturday, September 30th, from 1-4pm which includes the boat, tour guides and snacks.  Attendees will be guided through Bradley Creek and will focus on the flora, fauna, ecosystem and other coastal issues.  Registration is $50.00 per person and is limited to 12 people. 

3.  The Model Railroad Show & Sale will be held Saturday, September 30th from 10am-5pm and Sunday, October 1st from 10am-4pm.  The show will feature model railroad dealers as well as N scale and HO Scale modular layouts.  There will also be free modeling clinics, a white elephant sale, door prizes and raffles.  Tickets are $5 for adults and children under 12 are free. It will be held at the American Legion Post 10 at 702 Pine Grove Drive in Wilmington. 

4.  The 1st Annual Surf Kayak Rally will be held on Saturday, September 29th and Sunday, October 1st on the North End of Wrightsville Beach.  The is an Eastern Surf Kayaking Association (ESKA) sanctioned surf kayak contest.  Watch some of the best Surf Kayakers in the country go head to head in the waves or sign up and test your abilities against them.  Competition categories range from sit-on-top to high performance sit-inside.  Entrants will be classified according to age and skill level.

For more information on any of these Wilmington Weekend Events contact me at 910-431-9395. 

Prudential Carolina Real Estate and Yahoo! Real Estate announce an exclusive partnership to deliver results to sellers by providing market information for the Cape Fear region to Yahoo! visitors worldwide.   The powerful combination of both websites gives Wilmington homeowners the exposure they need to sell quickly.  This is great news for sellers in the Wilmington area that list with Prudential.  For more information about this exclusive partnership contact me at 910-431-9395.

One of my mortgage friends sent me an email and announced that interest rates dropped under 6 % today!   This is great news for any buyer interested in Wilmington Real Estate.  For more information about interest rates or Wilmington Real Estate contact me at 910-431-9395.

      

This renovated historical downtown Wilmington home has it all! This is a prime location that is only a few blocks from the Cape Fear River, fabulous shopping, art galleries, entertainment and trendy downtown Wilmington restaurants.   Picture yourself sitting out on the front porch drinking mint julep’s with all of your friends!  To learn more about this historic downtown Wilmington home contact me at 910-431-9395.

The 43rd Annual Carolina Spot Festival will start today and end on Sunday the 24th of September at 5:00pm.  It will be held in the open field across from Deerfield on Hwy 17 in Hampstead.  The festival includes a kickoff concert this evening at 6:00pm featuring Eight Foot Stride.  There will be fireworks on Saturday at 9:00pm.  Other festival events & activities include:  arts & crafts, beer garden, wine tasting, spot dinners, live music, antique car show, food vendors and much more! 

Also, the 1st Annual Brewgrass Festival will be Sunday, September 24th on the Water Street Riverview Parking deck in historic downtown Wilmington. Gates open at 3:00 pm and lawn chairs are welcome.  The Avett Brothers headline a day of music & brews.  Other acts inlude L Shape Lot, Lamont Skylark and The Barnraisers.

Wilmington weather looks fantastic for the weekend!  Enjoy!

For more information on these or any other Wilmington area events contact me at 910-431-9395. 

BUYERS

Dual Agent

     You may permit an agent or firm to represent you and the seller at the same time.  This “dual agency relationship” is most likely to happen if you become interested in a property listed with your buyer’s agent or the agent’s firm.  If this occurs and you have not already agreed to a dual agency relationship in your (written or oral) buyer agency agreement, your buyer’s agent will ask you to sign a separate agreement or document permitting him or her to act as agent for both you and the seller.  It may be difficult for a dual agent to advace the interests of both the buyer and seller.  Neverthless, a dual agent must treat buyers and sellers fairly and equally.  Although the dual agent owes them the same duties, buyers and sellers can prohibit dual agents from divulging certain confidential information about them to the other party. 

      Some firms also offer a form of dual agency called “designated agency” where one agent in the firm represents the seller and another agent represents the buyer.  This option (when available) may allow each “designated agent” to more fully represent each party.

     If you choose the “dual agency” option, remember that since a dual agent’s loyalty is divided between parties with competing interests, it is especially important that you have a clear understanding of what your relationship is with the dual agent and what the agent will be doing for you in the transaction.  This can best be accomplished by putting the agreement in writing at the earliest possible time. 

Seller’s Agent Working with a Buyer

     If the real estate agent or firm that you contact does not offer buyer agency or you do not want them to act as your buyer agent, you can still work with the firm and its agents.  However, they will be acting as the seller’s agent (or “subagent”).  The agent can still help you find and purchase property and provide many of the same services as a buyer’s agent.  The agent must be fair with you and provide you with any “material facts” (such as a leaky roof) about properties.

     But remember, the agent represents the seller-not you-and therefore must try to obtain for the seller the best possible price and terms for the seller’s property.  Furthermore, a seller’s agent is required to give the seller any information about you (even personal, financial or confidential information) that would help the seller in the sale of his or her property.  Agents must tell you in writing if they are seller’s agents before you say anything that can help the seller.  But until you are sure that an agent is not a seller’s agent, you should avoid saying anything you do not want a seller to know. 

     Seller’s agents are compensated by the sellers. 

If you have any questions about Buyer’s Agency or any other Wilmington Real Estate topic contact me at 910-431-9395.

BUYERS

Buyer’s Agent

     Duties to Buyer:  If the real estate firm and its agents represent you, they must:  promote your best interests, be loyal to you, follow your lawful instructions, provide you with all material facts that could influence your decisions, use reasonable skill, care & diligence, and account for all monies they handle for you.  Once you have agreed (either orally or in writing)for the firm and its agents to be your buyer’s agent, they may not give any confidential information about you to the sellers or their agents without your permission so long as they represent you.  But until you make this agreement with your buyer’s agent, you should avoid telling the agent anything you would not want a seller to know. 

     Unwritten Agreements:  To make sure that you and the real estate firm have a clear understanding of what your relationship will be and what the firm will do for you, you may want to have a written agreement.  However, some firms may be willing to represent and assist you for a time as a buyer’s agent without a written agreement.  But if you decide to make an offer to purchase a particular property, the agent must obtain a written agency agreement.  If you do not sign it, the agent can no longer represent and assist you and is no longer required to keep information about you confidential.  Furthermore, if you later purchase the property through an agent with another firm the agent who first showed you the property may seek compensation from the other firm. 

     Be sure to read and understand any agency agreement before you sign it. 

     Services and Compensation:  Whether you have a written or unwritten agreement, a buyer’s agent will perform a number of services for you.  These may include helping you:  find a suitable property, arrange financing, learn more about the property and otherwise promote your best interests.  If you have a written agency agreement, the agent can also help you prepare and submit a written offer to the seller. 

     A buyer’s agent can be compensated in different ways.  For example, you can pay the agent out of your pocket.  Or the agent may seek compensation from the seller or listing agent first, but require you to pay if the listing agent refuses.  Whatever the case, be sure your compensation arrangement with your buyer’s agent is spelled out in the buyer’s agency agreement before you make an offer to purchase property and that you carefully reald and understand the compensation provision.

     If you have any questions about buyer’s agency or any other Wilmington Real Estate topic contact me at 910-431-9395.  Buyer’s agency to be continued tomorrow!