About Dare County, NC

We here on the Outer Banks are spreading the word - one by one - to our friends and family about the potential to help eradicate breast cancer within the lifetime of our children. You can get involved.

Maybe you read information in Prevention Magazine. Perhaps you heard Dr Susan Love on Good Morning America discuss the research about going beyond breast cancer early detection and cure. Let's prevent it!

The movement is across this country and involving women - and men - beyond our borders. Help reach the goal of one million women working to eradicate breast cancer in our lifetime.

Learn about the Army of Women today. Become a part of this fight to win a brighter, healthier future for our children. What if your information contains the answer that will stop this enemy?

If you have been following the financial news lately you may have started to hear talk about when the FED is going to raise interest rates. It should be no surprise that sooner or later the FED will have to raise rates since they have been at all time lows for many years. The FED is going to have to be extra careful when the time comes to raise rates. When do they do it?? How much?? When do they stop?? In the next 3 to 6 months I think we will find out the answer to all of those questions. In the meantime it's time to start thinking about how is it going to impact you,me, everyone.

First and foremost raising rates will hurt anyone currently making payments on revolving lines of credit like credit cards, home equity lines, and any loan based on the prime rate. Those minimum payments are going to go up each time the FED raises rates. Many people are struggling to make ends meet and rely heavily on credit to get by and now is the time to make those extra payments to pay down some of that debt if possible. Another thing to consider might be moving all of the remaining revolving debt to a fixed loan and take advantage of low fixed loan rates. The payments may be more in the short term because you are paying down principal and interest but in the long run may save you if rates increase dramatically. Do your homework to see what options are right for you. On a more positive note for everyone who has been getting those ridiculously low interest rates on checking, money market, cd's and money market accounts will be happy as those rates will rise paying out more interest.

Now let's talk about what affect all of this will have on mortgage rates. Finally the real estate market is starting on the road to recovery, at least here on the Outer Banks it has, and low mortgage rates have had a big impact on that. When the FED does decide to raise rates mortgages will follow suit as well. As mortgage rates rise it decreases a buyer's purchasing power substantially.

Example: If a buyer is qualified for a maximum monthly principal & interest payment of $1500 month with 20% down a buyer can purchase a house for $418,750. However when mortgage rates go up 1% the buyer can only purchase a house for $375,000 to still have a P&I payment of $1500 a month.

Purchase price $418,750-$83,750(20% down)=$335,000 Loan amount
Loan amount $335,000 X 5% 30yr Fixed Mortgage=$1500 P&I payment

Purchase price $375,000-$75,000(20% down)=$300,000 Loan amount
Loan amount $300,000 x 6% 30yr Fixed Mortgage=$1500 P&I payment

Just a 1% increase in mortgage rates decreases a buyer's purchasing power by $43,750!! If you are currently looking to buy or on the sidelines waiting you need to consider what kind of impact rising mortgage rates will have on your ability to buy. Get with your local lender and Realtor to find out what prices are doing in your area(remember real estate is local not national) and ask them to help you figure out how much rising mortgage rates will hurt you. You may realize that now is the time to jump off the fence and get the house you have always wanted.

For more information about the Outer Banks real estate market go to www.HometownOBX.com or email MattHuband@HometownOBX.com

Matt Huband is Broker/Owner of Hometown Realty in Kitty Hawk, NC working with buyers and seller from Corolla to Hatteras.

Having a strong referral team for Outer Banks real estate is critical here. Mortgage lenders are certainly one of the key positions. This team of top notch professionals is perhaps more important on the Outer Banks than for your local primary home sales because our clients come from other towns and states. They do not have friends and neighbors to pass on a reputable name.

When a buyer purchases a second home perhaps with rental income or one for investment, the support professionals such as attorneys, lenders, insurance agents, home inspectors and others, can make the transaction a piece of cake or a crisis. Particularly in this current climate, buyers are wary and need the best.

With all this said, I recently had a client who fell into a dark black hole on financing. Excellent credit. All the stars aleigned. We were on go ... headed for closing when their lender threw up red flags. While the story is too long for now, I referred my clients to Rich Rollason with Wells Fargo. This guy wears a white hat and rides a great white horse. He worked for my clients and completed their finance package with no wrinkles.

Needless to say the little one was concerned that he might not be able to have his Outer Banks house and his huge sand box!

I find it amazing how the people in other areas of expertise can create harmony or havoc. If you would like to contact Rich here's his web site. If you would like names of other great professionals here on the Outer Banks, visit the list for professional services on my web site. Have any questions needing answered? Just e-mail me!

I recently posted a story about Mr. Kevin Davis from Indiana taking home a once in a lifetime memory of his Outer Banks vacation. While enjoying the beach in Nags Head, a young fawn had gone into the ocean and was struggling in the surf. Mr. Davis went in and rescued the animal.

I'm sure the animal was scared and in shock ... but so thankful to Kevin Davis. The animal was taken to Roanoke Island Animal Clinic as a precaution.

After some antibiotics and a few days rest, Officer C. P. White from the Wildlife Resources Commission released the young fawn at Nags Head Woods in Kill Devil Hills ... on the sound side of the island.

Can you imagine the stories both Kevin Davis and that young fawn will be telling their friends and family about their vacation at the beach! Mr. Davis shows us the appreciation our tourists/guests have for this seductive sanctuary. Once again, Kevin Davis is a kind and gentle hero.

Thanks go also to The Coastland Times, the news paper that shared this story and continues to report stories about the generosity and kind spirit we can still find in this world.

If you would like information on Outer Banks Places to Go, please visit my web site or e-mail me. I love sharing the with folks and am glad to help.

An Outer Banks vacation often brings once in a lifetime memory to many visitors. Sometimes it can simply be watching your grandchild play in the sand. Have you ever seen an endangered sea turtle head for home?

Perhaps it's the couple strolling on the beach that have just gotten engaged. Remember the time your first saw the wild horses in the Corolla area, or climbed a lighthouse ... to the top.

I'm sure everyone who has vacationed here on this awesome sanctuary of life has some special Outer Banks memory to tell. And now ... let me tell you about Mr. Kevin Davis from Indiana, who saved a piece of our wonderful Outer Banks wildlife population.

Somehow a small fawn was seen in the ocean in south Nags Head last week. Mr. Davis swam out and brought this beautiful (and grateful) creature safely back to dry land. A bystander said the dear was nearly overcome by the waves when Mr. Davis went into action.

An animal control officer arrived on the scene and as a precaution, the dear deer was taken to the Roanoke Island Animal Hospital. This story was reported in The Coastland Times last week and they have kindly given me permission to tell you about just one of our tourists who care about this blessed place. Thanks to The Coastland Times for sharing and a special thanks to Mr. Kevin Davis.

If you haven't visited the Outer Banks and would like to know something more, please visit my web site or e-mail me. I love to share the mystery, history, and beauty of the Outer Banks.