About Perquimans County, NC

I'm sitting in the Sheraton Hotel on Canal Street in New Orleans patiently waiting until it is time to leave to catch my flight home. I've been in New Orleans attending the United Country Real Estate Convention and I've come away with a lot of knowledge and some new friends. I look forward to attending again next year! This convention just affirms my happiness with my decision to purchase a United Country Franchise. I love the culture at United Country! A lot of very friendly down to earth people and our management team is great. We have a very supportive, approachable, and highly qualified home office that supports their affiliates.

For those of you wanting to just visit New Orleans I have a few tips and information concerning my trip. My stay at the Sheraton on Canal Street was great! Very nice hotel rooms, great location, and a friendly staff. The Acme Oyster Bar just off of Bourbon Street was my favorite place to eat in New Orleans. The raw oysters were the freshest and best I've ever eaten! Also you must try the grilled oysters, trust me on this one, they are fantastic. Bourbon Street was quite interesting, but my favorite part of my trip down Bourbon Street last night was enjoying the music of an authentic group of Cajun musicians. I wish I knew the bands name as they deserve major props. Viewing the architecture in the French Quarter was pleasing as well. New Orleans also has one casino, Harrahs, I visited for about 1 hour and played a few hands of blackjack. Lost $70 pretty quickly, but I'm not a gambler and maybe amateurs like me should stay out of the casino. However I did enjoy walking through the casino much more than my poor attempt at actual gambling.

In conclusion I enjoyed my stay in New Orleans and will be coming home with more knowledge to serve clients in Perquimans County and the rest of Northeastern NC. However I cannot wait to get home to Hertford, NC!

Last Friday night I did an auction for the Perquimans County Athletic Boosters Club. I was approached by a member of the group a couple of months before the auction and I attended a meeting to help plan the auction. They typically offered 14-20 items at live auction and had a reverse raffle on top of selling tickets to the fundraiser dinner. I learned that 6 of the items were tickets to Perquimans County High School Athletic events and a money bag. The other 14 items included a variety of items: an antique homemade coca cola wagon, Jim Catfish Hunter framed Sports Illustrated Cover (Hertford, NC and Perquimans County is the home of Jim "Catfish" Hunter) passes to play golf at Sound GolfLinks in Albemarle Plantation, a wooden plaque of Jim "Catfish" Hunter baseball cards, different framed pictures of scenes in Hertford, NC such as our famous S bridge, a basketball signed by the 1991-1992 Duke basketball team, a fishing rod and reel, and a few other items.

I proposed something very different than what the PCABC had done in the past regarding the auction. Instead of offering the items one at a time and only once to the buyers I decided upon something very different. I would bring in two dry erase boards with the lots numbered 1-14 and have 3 rounds of bidding. The first round we would offer all the items at "high bidders choice" meaning the high bidder would have their choice of which item they wanted. The second round I would go to each item and ask the crowd would anyone like to raise the bid and if someone raised the bid I would start auctioning the item once again until the bidding ceased. The third rounds procedure was the same as the second except it was the final opportunity to raise the bid on an item.

In between each round of bidding we pulled numbers for a reverse raffle and auctioned off the Perquimans County High School sports tickets and money bag. We conducted the auction in the method mentioned above for several reasons: one to give every bidder who were not familiar with auctions every opportunity to bid and to hopefully raise more money for the PCABC.

In conclusion the auction turned out to be a success as competitive bidding by using high bidders choice in the first round resulted in high opening bids. Offering bidders two opportunities to raise the bids on individual items resulted in a 20% gain from the first round to the third round. This auction method achieved our goals of raising more money and giving the bidders who are unfamiliar with auctions every opportunity to purchase the item they wanted.

Albemarle Plantation is an established gated residential golf and marina community located on the waterfront of beautiful Albemarle Sound in Hertford, North Carolina.

Albemarle Plantation Info - Bordered by the waters of Albemarle Sound and the mile wide Yeopim River is the world-class,1,200 acre, golf and boating community of Albemarle Plantation. Its location is perfect situated between historic Edenton and Elizabeth City. The pace of life in this pre-Revolutionary area of Eastern North Carolina encourages a laid-back, small town atmosphere, reminiscent of simpler, easier going days past. However, an hour's drive north is Tidewater Virginia with all the advantages provided by a large metropolitan area. Additionally, the area enjoys a temperate, four-season climate and is within a day's drive of any major Northeast city.

Somewhere along the drive, just as you emerge from the rural countryside and ease through the Albemarle Plantation gates, it happens. An automatic shift to a slower pace, a realization of abundant nature, the captivating smell of sea air. With so much to do here, you realize the day is yours and you can fill it however you like. And because living at Albemarle Plantation costs considerably less than at other resort communities, life feels especially good.

The plantation style clubhouse provides quality dining, 25-meter pool, fitness center and lighted tennis courts. Dine at the Clubhouse with its breathtaking views, in the grill or at the pool-side bar, on entrees specially prepared by our chef. Bask by the sunlit pool or take to the Sound to sail, ski or fish to your heart's content, in waters that offer both fresh and saltwater advantages. Bike the trails, walk the landscape, take a class, join club activities, then-at the end of the day, enjoy the cocktail hour overlooking sunset on the Sound, with several of your (now) closest friends. Albemarle Plantation hosts more than 50 different clubs for all different interests. Perhaps this is why we were recently named one of America's 100 best master-planned communities to retire (although our community consists of a wide spectrum of ages). Here you'll find tennis, yachting, bocce, waterfront tai chi, trapshooting, garden clubs, carving and a long list of others. Not to mention all the festivals, tournaments, parties and gatherings throughout the year.

Real Estate: To appeal to every lifestyle, homesites range from $80,000 to $775,000 and houses start at $375,000 and Condominium prices range from $100,000 to $375,000.

To view available North Carolina Lakefront Properties, visit http://www.NCLakefront.com.

Town Info: Nestled among cypress groves, waterfront coves and historic towns, Albemarle Plantation not only offers a wealth of opportunities to enjoy within the property, but also a long list of activities that can be found outside its community gates. In any of several surrounding towns and areas, you might find yourself meandering through 18th century homes and buildings, touring a National Wildlife Refuge, or experiencing the life of America's first English settlers through a production of The Lost Colony. Shop for crafts imported from around the world, wander Elizabethan Gardens, or take the trip to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, just an hour away, to lose yourself in its 70 miles of shell-strewn beaches. There are festivals, craft shows, and with several colleges in the area, also theater and cultural events, plus numerous opportunities for continuing education.

Marina: Albemarle Sound is the largest freshwater sound in the country-55 miles long and 15 miles at its widest point. Albemarle's marina is one of the largest private marinas between Norfolk, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. The 212-slips facility of Yeopim Creek accommodates yachts up to sixty feet in length. We've placed our marina strategically at the mouth of Yeopim Creek and just beyond the high insurance line saving boaters significantly on their insurance rates. This beneficial location lends itself to waters that are both freshwater and salt, offering an abundance of fish and shellfish varieties throughout the year.Types of boating vary-sailing, naturally, is a mainstay, but all kinds of vessels dock here. Our residents find it's a quick trip to the Outer Banks (Kitty Hawk is just 38 nautical miles East) or even to the Gulf Stream for a day of marlin, tuna or dolphin fishing.

Golf: Choose a round of golf on the Dan Maples-designed championship golf course, with its spectacular cypress-lined holes overlooking the Albemarle Sound. When he designed The Sound Golf Links at Albemarle Plantation, Dan Maples applied his renowned passion for environmental sensitivity and extraordinary golf course architecture. The result is an unforgettable experience that ranks as "One of the Best 201 Places to Play" by Golf Digest. Here, many of the holes have panoramic views of Albemarle Sound, and each hole is distinctively different, with its own personality based on the challenges of the lay of the land. The marshlands, the Sound front, the Spanish-moss-lined cypress groves are incorporated to full advantage, offering vistas that vary but remain consistently breathtaking, with the added ambiance of soft breezes to add even further challenge.Lessons and clinics are readily available through our Pro Shop, and you'll find an assortment of tournaments throughout the year. There is also the Men's Golf Association and Ladies' Golf Association which play on alternating days during the week. All players are asked to have an established USGA handicap.

NC Lake Property is not just a financial investment - but also an investment in your family, your future, your enjoyment, and your peace of mind.

There's nothing better than living along the lake - The water draws us in with its promise of peaceful times and recreational family fun. To own property beside it is a dream for many. And the Southeastern part of the United States has the waterfront property (Oceanfront or Lakefront) in the highest demand. To help you investigate North Carolina and make a sound waterfront investment, we founded NClakefront.com Realty.

About NClakefront.com Realty - If you're looking for property in a lakefront community in North Carolina, you've come to the right place: NClakefront.com Realty. We work with many developers throughout the state to help families, like yours, find just the right property. We are committed to creating places where the wonders of nature combine with everyday life. Our professional staff will provide a pressure-free experience and guide you through the process of purchasing property. Our reputation for service and attention to detail are clearly evident both during and after the sale. We assist buyers in finding a primary, vacation, or retirement place. Some of the amenities in subdivisions we work with include: Gated stone entrance, walking trails, fitness center, golf, tennis, boating, fishing, sailing, horseback riding with horse equestrian facilities, marinas with restaurant, swimming pool, lazy river, spa, hot tub or whirlpool, and so much more!

You could spend a lifetime exploring all that North Carolina has to offer. Some of the types of beach, lake, and mountain properties in North Carolina for sale include: 55+ or Active Adult, Coastal, Private and Gated, Land Conservation, Luxury Condominiums and Townhomes, Million Dollar, ocean front, and Resort communities.

Call 800-517-5899 or 828-221-2505 or visit our website at http://www.NClakefront.com to learn more information.

They say (whoever "they" is) that every storm cloud has a silver lining. And so it is true with the slowly passing housing market crunch. For example, prices which had been going absolutely crazy have now settled to modest levels. In fact, one home builder I know is building new ranch style, 3 bed, 2 bath homes with attached double car garage and frog on half acre lots for $165K to $185K. Wow! A new home for $165K!! These are quality homes and yes, they are selling!

A second silver lining is that first time home buyers have been courageously taking the plunge and buying homes. Personally, I have worked with five since the beginning of the year and as buyers they have been great! One survey showed that 43% of all buyers have been first time home buyers!

Then, finally, there is a greater spirit of cooperation among agents in the area. Instead of seeing other agents as the "competition" there is a greater sense of "we're in this together let's try and make every deal work." As a result, the customer, buyer and seller, is the winner! And when that happens that is a good thing! Yeah, who would've thought the housing market "crash" would bring anything good!

For sale by owners usually prove why real estate professionals are needed. Yesterday I met with a for sale by owner in Hertford, NC, he is one of four brothers who inherited their mother's home after she passed away in June 2008. They have been trying to sell the house for $120,000, but the home is appraised at only $110,000. I explained that the most they could possibly sell the home for is $110,000 as a bank will not lend more than a home is worth. I then went on to explain the difference between an appraisal and market value and that the home's market value was between $80,000-$90,000. Fortunately for me I was talking with the brother who says he's been telling his siblings that the home was overpriced. He's ready to put the home on the market for a reasonable listing price and sell the property, but he has to deal with three unrealistic brothers who live out of state while he has to maintain the property.

Most for sale by owners do not think of how much it costs to maintain and own real estate. For example how much money have these four brothers spent to maintain real estate Hertford, NC? The best advice I can think of to families who inherit homes is to price the property correctly and list it with a Realtor or sell the property at auction. Divide the proceeds from the sale and maintain a healthy relationship with your family.