Homer Ray

I have been reading the news a little(it scares me to death!) but alway seem to find solace in the golden rule of real estate. That rule for me is"ALL REAL ESTATE MARKETS ARE LOCAL".

When I see the headlines about the US real estate market I go and pull the numbers.

Here's what the average and median sale prices look like for the area served by the Neuse River Region Association of REALTORS for 2003-2008. Sorry, I could not get the median price for 2003 (MLS problem) but anyway I thought it was informative.

I'm in eastern North Carolina...What's you market doing?

We all stronger when we know our number and can discuss the "truth" about our markets. We are the experts, right?

I going to sell some houses in 2009, how about you?

Well as we get to the end of the 2008 sales year it's time to look at the trend lines for closed transactions vs. pending transactions for the area covered by the Neuse River Region Association of REALTORS®. The chart below follows the old line" a picture is worth a thousand words".

As part of the constant revamping of downtown New Bern, NC the work we have been waiting to see has started.

Workers started "craving out' the center of Broad Street with the protective orange and white barrels to get us to remember it's a work zone. In a few days work will begin really craving the median and center out of the road to be replaced with a raised "green median" with plantings and shrubbery.

Currently Broad Street is 4 laned with turning lanes. when this project is complete it will return to the look of days gone by, a 2 laned divided roadway with 14 foot sidewalks. Parking will be permitted on both sides of the road.

This morning I saw where they had removed about a foot of road surface and uncovered a brick road at the bottom of the grade. It should be interesting to hear what they find.

The contract for the road work is estimated in excess of 2.5 million and does not include all the work that is scheduled. Estimated completion of the Broad Street project is the Fall of 2009. This will be a little ahead of the 300th anniversary of the founding of New Bern in 1710.

I was on my way to work this morning and decided to drive by Lawson Creek Park on the Trent River and watch the fisherman go out before work and enjoy the crisp morning. The nights this week have cooled off, giving us a glimmer of the crisp fall weather that's not too far away.

I went past the docks and ended up at Jack's Island, when I noticed a young lady and two dogs playing at the edge of the river. I think they were from Massachusetts.

As I came up, camera in hand, one of the dogs happily approached and gave me the wet dog glad to see you shake. He then proceeded to hit the water again chasing a stick his owner had thrown into the river for him to retrieve.

It was easy to see how much she loved her two companions, and the pleasure everyone was having. The dogs were swimming, and she was laughing and giving them encouragement to "fetch the stick". It was a peaceful morning for everyone. I took the picture above and laughed as I told her, I'll make your dog famous. As I retreated to the day ahead, I was glad I took a moment to relax and enjoy the simple things of life.

I think I did make her dog famous.

Another fine example of New Bern lifestyles. Simple pleasures and good times. Come see us!

Shoppers who live in the Havelock area and members of the MCAS Cherry Point community now have another option for shopping in Havelock.

Wal-Mart has opened a store near the "back gate" of MCAS Cherry Point on US 70. This neighborhood store has groceries as well as the usual merchandise you are used to finding in the big "box" stores.

Until the store opened in Havelock the closest Wal-Marts were in New Bern, about 20 miles or Morehead City about 18 miles.

This store is also very convenient for the communites of Stately Pines and Carolina Pines which are about 4 ans 3 miles respectively west of the Havelock Wal-Mart.

For military families, the Commisary on board MCAS Cherry Point provides great shopping (cost plus 5%surcharge) for active duty, retired, reservist and other qualified shoppers.

However, with this local Wal-Mart now open, they now have another choice as the Commisary is closed on Mondays.