Candelight Tour...Wow!

After residing in New Bern for over 12 years, I finally attended the Tryon Palace Candelight Tour. I went with my husband and 18 year old daughter who was home from college. My daughter, Annie, summed up the tour nicely by saying it was, "Awsome!" and it was! I had no idea there would be so many things to see and do. The candles added to the atmosphere as well as the sounds of the flutes and drums from the Fife and Drum Corps.

For a much better display of photos and information, visit http://www.tryonpalace.org/photogallery.html and be sure to get tickets for next year. I will!

If You Miss the Ghost Walk...

If you miss the ghost walk, you can still learn about New Bern's connection to the Civil War and take a self guided tour. The details and maps can be downloaded from http://www.visitnewbern.com/heritagetours/heritage_tour_civil_war.htm

If you would like to access other walking tours of New Bern, visit
http://www.visitnewbern.com/heritage_tours.htm

New Bern Ghost Walk 2007

It's time again for one of my favorite New Bern events, our annual Ghost Walk! This year will feature 35 "ghosts" from the Civil War Era with tours of 20 historic homes and sites. The ghostly dates are October 26th and 27th with a Sneak Preview of the Cedar Grove Cemetary, circa 1799, on October 25th. The cemetary is considered by many, myself included, to be one of the highlights of the tour. There are several areas of the cemetary where "ghosts" are stationed to tell their timely and sometimes comical tales. Don't miss it!

Proceeds from the event benefit preservation and educational programs of the New Bern Historical Society. For more information, times and pricing, visit http://www.newbernhistorical.org/ or call 252-638-8558

Bridge Floats Away

While showing a stunning waterfront condominium yesterday, my client turned to me and remarked, "There goes the bridge". I looked out the window at the expansive Neuse River and saw the swing portion of New Bern's Alfred Cunningham Bridge floating down the river on 2 barges. What a thrilling site!

For a bit of background, the bridge was closed a few months ago and will be completely rebuilt. It was opened in 1955, withstood many a hurricane but could no longer be repaired. I have linked a video of the removal process http://www.wcti12.com/MediaStation.asp?VIDREF=mms://206.107.99.17/NewsFeatures/feat12.wmv but if you can't see it from this link, go to http://www.wcti12.com/ and look at the video of the bridge.

The photo above is courtesy Emily Helling. Enjoy!

Big Rock Winner!

Wow...what a finish for the tournament this year. Read below to get the stats:

Bak Bar wins 49th 'Big RockBruce

Paul, Media Director

June 16, 2007

Bak Bar made last call at the 49th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament’s weigh station Friday, weighing in a 613-pounder to win $800,839 from the event’s $1,568,950 purse.Bak Bar captain Tommy Lewis, Huger, S.C., reached Morehead City just after 11 p.m. with a blue marlin that his son, Montukie, needed nearly six hours to land. Fifteen hours later, when no bigger fish were caught during the final hours of fishing, the Bak Bar crew began an after-hours celebration.The Bak Bar win almost didn’t happen. Bak Bar’s blue marlin got tail wrapped and died near the bottom of the ocean four hours into the fight. For the next two hours, Montukie Lewis had to carefully reeled in the dead giant. He couldn’t set the drag too tight in rough seas or reel too fast for fear of breaking the line. “It was dead weight with a big fish at the very bottom ,” the younger Lewis said. “It was rough out there. I had to give back as much (line) as I took. I didn’t make much headway for a long time. I had to find a happy medium … but I only got tired at the end.”Once the fish was in the boat, Lewis wasn’t tired at all. The entire Bak Bar crew knew they had the potential winner.“We knew (the fish) was longer than the others,” Lewis said. “It’s a good one … a big fish. This is my happiest day. It feels great to be in this position.”Lewis’s catch was an early Father’s Day present for his dad. Ironically, all five blue marlin brought to the Big Rock scales Friday were reportedly caught by father-son teams.Bak Bar’s catch knocked Licketysplit from the top spot on the Big Rock leader board. Licketysplit, captained by Bobby Scarborough, Hatteras, took the Big Rock lead Friday afternoon with a 567-pounder reeled in by Grimesland angler David Williams. But that lead didn’t even last the night.Licketysplit tried to return the favor Saturday afternoon with a hookup three minutes before the tournament ended. Unfortunately for Licketysplit, the fish threw the hook and got away.Licketysplit competitors received $258,752 for placing second. Maggie, captained by Randy Bryant, Morehead City, finished in third place with a 505-pound blue marlin landed Friday by Beaufort angler Butch Bryant. The Maggie crew received $171,835 for finishing third.

This year's tournament has been exciting for me...I hope you enjoyed it. For more information go to www.thebigrock.com

Day 3 of Big Rock!

The third day produced no new contenders for the current winner but seas were 8-10 feet as posted below:

Safari maintains Big Rock lead

Bruce Paul, Media DirectorJune 13, 2007

The 49th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament reached its midpoint Wednesday with just one blue marlin on the leader board and a gigantic payday on the horizon.The Safari, captained by Mark Harris, Dania Beach, Fla., has maintained the tournament lead since Monday afternoon when angler Brett Goulding reeled in a 473.5-pounder. Even though a blue marlin that size has won just twice in the past 23 years, the likelihood of a victory is drawing closer.And since no other blue marlin are on the leader board, Safari would qualify for the entire blue marlin pot -- $1,215,425.“That’s a beautiful thing,” said the Australian-born Harris when told about the one-winner scenario. “God bless America.”Harris said he has been in contact with his family “down under.” They have followed his success on the Internet.“They’re amazed,” he said. “A big tournament (in Australia) is 30 boats. This tournament blows that away.“When I pulled into the dock (Monday) and I saw all those people there, it really felt like I was playing professional football again. To have those people cheering, it was unbelievable. I’ve fished in the Bahamas, St Thomas … all the recognizable tournaments. I don’t think you get (the Morehead City crowd reaction) anywhere else in the world.”Billfish releases and gamefish continue to dominated the offshore action. Anglers on 102-of-184 boats went offshore Wednesday, recording releases on 16 blue marlin, 8 white marlin and 12 sailfish. So far, a total of 69 blue marlin, 34 white marlin and 22 sailfish have been released. Another 53 billfish hook-ups got away before the anglers could determine exactly what they had.“This tournament is wide open,” said Big Rock tournament director Crystal Watters. “Everybody’s still in it. And most boats still have two days to fish.”Most boat are expected to take a lay day Thursday and wait for calmer weather Friday and Saturday. Sea conditions were suppose to be fine Wednesday, but anglers who went offshore reported 8 to 10 foot seas most of the day.Sea Striker, a boat captained by two-time Big Rock winner Adrian Holler, Newport, has a reputation of fishing well in rough seas. Holler’s crew recorded three blue marlin releases Wednesday. Tournament officials are trying to determine if this is a one-day blue marlin record.Added to the blue marlin release Sea Striker recorded Monday, Holler’s team took the release lead with 1,600 points. Tuna Trappe , captained by Brian Smith, Wilmington, is in second place with three blue marlin releases worth 1,200 points. Sea Hag, captained by Ken Kramer, Morehead City, has five releases totaling 1,050 points to hold down third place. A victory in the release division is worth more than $82,000.Deacon Blues, captained by Jay Blount, Morehead City, won the $2,000 daily prize for scoring the first release of the day. Blount’s crew caught and released a spearfish 10 minutes after the start of fishing Wednesday.Sea I Sea, captained by Brad Langdon, Newport, captured the lead of the wahoo division Wednesday with a 45.25-pounder reeled in By Bill Mills of Jacksonville. Buck Wild, captained by Parrish Warren, Rocky Point, took over the lead in the dolphin division with a 52.1-pounder caught by Wes Davis, Wilmington.No tunas were brought to the scales Wednesday. Yellowfin, a boat captained by Jeff Garner, Morehead City, maintains first place in the that division with a 69.4-pounder that Steve Rollins, Brighton, UT, landed Monday.The six-day event continues Thursday at 9 a.m. Each boat is allowed to fish 4-of-6 days during the competition. Anglers are battling for a share of a Big Rock purse worth $1,568,950.

For more information and updates go to www.thebigrock.com

2nd Day of Big Rock

Yesterday was the 2nd day of the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament with no new catches. See details below

Releases dominate Big Rock's second day

Bruce Paul, Media Director

June 12, 2007

Billfish releases and gamefish weigh-ins dominated the action Tuesday as the 49th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament completed its second day of competition.Anglers battled 53 billfish, including 33 blue marlin Tuesday but none were deemed large enough to meet the tournament minimum of 400 pounds.That leaves the Wrightsville Beach-based Safari atop the leader board with the 473.5-pounder that angler Brett Goulding reeled in Monday afternoon. Safari, owned by John McNeill, Jr. of Whiteville and captained by Mark Harris, Dania Beach, Fla., grabbed the tournament’s inaugural lead and managed to hold on despite the best two days of Big Rock billfish fishing in more than 10 years.“It was as good a day of fishing that I can recall in a long, long time,” said Big Rock board member Randy Ramsey, who handles radio communications with competitors throughout the tournament. “It’s the best two days of fishing in many, many years … especially for blue marlin. We had 33 blue marlin today and, by anybody’s standards, that’s outstanding fishing.”Anglers have tallied 89 billfish releases in two days, including 52 blue marlin releases.

For full details and other Big Rock information, go to www.thebigrock.com

Big Rock Tournament

The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament is in full swing with the following update:

Safari tracks down Big Rock lead

Bruce Paul, Media Director

June 11, 2007

Safari captain Mark Harris took the first-day lead in the 49th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament after angler Brett Goulding landed a 473.5-pounder late Monday following a 42-minute fight.It was a great finish to a day that started inauspiciously for the Wrightsville Beach-based team.Safari recorded the first hook up of the 49th Big Rock, but lost that fish after a four-minute fight. Harris was determined to troll the same area, hoping to get a second chance. Four hours later, he got another billfish hook-up. This time the big fish didn’t get away.“It took us down about 300 yards of line straight off the reel on the bite,” Harris said. “It jumped itself out and sounded down in 800 feet of water.”That’s when Goulding pulled the big fish up from the depths. Goulding, an experienced angler, who has “released plenty but never boated one before” termed his catch as “easy.” “The fish actually just came up,” Harris admitted. “We held her and measured her and put her in the back of the boat. It was that easy.”Even though the catch was easy, staying in first place might prove to be otherwise.Safari’s catch would have won just one of the previous 18 Big Rocks. Still, the Safari crew is only team at this point that has a chance to take home the $800,837 winner’s share from the Big Rock’s $1,568,950 purse. “This morning it was 182-to-1 and now we’ve narrowed that down a bit,” Harris said. “Everyone’s chasing us now. Even though it’s not a big fish, it’s very good to have.”A second blue marlin was boated on the Ashley Lauren, but that fish did not meet tournament minimums of 400 pounds or 110 inches in lower jaw fork length. The Ashley Lauren will be penalized 400 pounds from the weight of any other blue marlin it brings to the scales.The Island Girl, captained by Jeffrey Quidley of Buxton released the first billfish of the tournament to win the $2,000 daily first-release prize. Anglers on 172 of 184 went offshore Monday, recording 21 blue marlin, nine while marlin, eight sailfish releases and a large assortment of hook-ups that got away.Reel Quick, a Wrightsville Beach-based boat captained by Chris Bailey won $942.08 gamefish daily prize for landing the largest dolphin. Yellowfin angler, Steve Rollins, reeled in a 69.4-pound tuna to win the daily prize in that division. Sudden Impact, a boat captained by Jerry Elliot and based out of Dover won the daily wahoo prize with a 24.85-pounder. The Big Rock has featured purse with at least $1 million for 10 straight years. The six-day event continues Tuesday at 9 a.m. Each boat is allowed to fish 4 out of the 6 days during the competition.

To get the full story and keep updated, log onto www.thebigrock.com . The Big Rock purse reached $1,537,350 this year!

Home Sales $ Comparison

This chart shows the prices of homes sold in the New Bern Multiple Listing Service for the past 3 years.

More Good News for Buyers!

Daily Real Estate News March 30, 200730

Year Mortgage Rate Holds Steady While the 30-year fixed mortgage rate held at 6.16 percent this week, Freddie Mac reports a dip in the 15-year fixed rate to 5.86 percent from 5.9 percent a week ago. The five-year adjustable rate fell to 5.88 percent from 5.91 percent, but the one-year ARM climbed slightly to 5.43 percent from 5.4 percent. Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft says he does not expect the housing market to recover in the near future, citing conflicting reports about home sales. Nothaft points out that the annual pace of home resales hit a nearly one-year high of 6.69 million units in February, while the annual pace of new-home sales fell to a nearly seven-year low of 848,000 during the same month.

Source: The Wall Street Journal (03/30/07)

Good News in Home Sales

I just received this from our online Realtor Magazine:

Daily Real Estate News March 23, 2007Existing-Home Sales Post 'Surprising' GainsExisting-home sales rose strongly in February reaching the highest level since last April, and follows a healthy gain from January, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.Total existing-home sales — including single-family, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops — rose 3.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.69 million units in February from a downwardly revised level of 6.44 million in January. Still, the numbers are 3.6 percent below the 6.94 million-unit pace in February 2006. Nevertheless, last month’s increase was the biggest monthly rise in three years — sales last rose 3.9 percent in March 2004.David Lereah, NAR’s chief economist, says the strong gain is a bit of a surprise.“Some of the rise in home sales may be from mild weather that brought out shoppers in December, but fundamentals have improved in the housing market and buyers see a window now with historically-low mortgage interest rates and competitive pricing by sellers,” he says. “Even so, winter storms last month discouraged shopping, and buyers were chilled with the third coldest February on record. These unusual weather patterns mean home sales that close in March may decline before rebounding later this spring.”According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage was 6.16 percent in the last week, down from an average of 6.29 percent in February. The 30-year fixed rate was 6.22 percent in January, and 6.25 percent in February 2006.

About Absorption Rates

Absorption Rates are a way to "measure the market" to determine if an area is a "buyers market", a "sellers market" or just stable.
A buyers market shows that there are more homes available (high supply) than there are buyers (low demand). The term "buyers market" means that the buyers will usually have more homes available in their price range and the prices are usually more negotiable. Good for buyer; bad for seller.
A "sellers market" means there are generally fewer homes on the market (low supply) than there are buyers (high demand). The seller will generally sell their home more quickly at a higher price. Good for the seller: bad for the buyer.
In the greater New Bern area were are generally in between the two. This is good for both. Buyers have a pretty good supply and there is a generally a little room for negotiation and the sellers will usually be able to sell their home if priced correctly.
The chart I created is a little off. I am new at this but if you would like an email of my excel spreadsheet, email me at marcia@neuserealty.com

Absorption Rates New Bern

Market Absorption Rates
New Bern MLS January 7, 2007

Closed Transactions in Past 12 Months 6 Months 3 Months

2287 1088 474
Average #of homes Sold Per/Month 190.6 181.3 158.0
Current Active on MLS>>> 1145 1145 1145
Months Supply on Market 6.0 6.3 7.2

6 Months Supply=Balanced Market
Less than 6 Months Supply = Sellers Market
More than 6 Months Supply = Buyers Market