Linda Hinson

Sunset Beach, NC has long prided itself on being a small, exclusive family beach with all the charm acquainted with a small, southern community. What kept it small and exclusive? The first reason was the lack of sewer system. To some property purchasers, a septic tank is very unattractive plus some lots on the island are non-buildable because they will not support a septic system...in other words, they won't perk. Secondly, the swing bridge is old-fashioned and unique but wait until you try to check in during the summer on Saturday afternoon at 3:00. You just drove 6 hours to the beach, you and the family are hot and tired and hungry, the traffic is backed up at the one lane swing bridge for at least a mile on both sides of the bridge because the tourists who just checked in realize that the grocery store in on the mainland. Guess what they want to do?

A new bridge is under construction with a completion date of early summer. Locals do have mixed feelings. The swing bridge is a hazard. It opens on demand for commercial boats and every hour on the hour which add to the traffic problems. Barges damage it from time to time which locks everyone down anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. For years, we have been concerned about fires or an immediate need for ambulances. Will it change the flavor of the island? You bet it will. Once that bridge is open, many locals and tourists will use that beach. A day visitor might avoid the swing bridge but a new high rise bridge will mean quick access.Sunset Beach is beautiful; the people who live there love the non-commercial atmosphere. Houses are built behind the dunes to protect the island and the nature lovers guard their turtle nests religiously. The inlet between Sunset and Bird Island has been filling in for years so that people can walk to that wild, natural island. One saving grace may be the lack of parking on the island. I hope that Sunset Beach continues to enforce their ordinances to protect the village atmosphere. If you would like to see additional pictures, you can view on my facebook page...LindaMedlinHinson.

Do you automatically qualify all your clients or do you judge by the clothes, the car, their job, etc? One comment that I hear from agents regularly is, "They can afford it," when they refer to clients with whom they are working. How do you really know beyond what a prospect either buyer or seller chooses to share. I wanted to share two stories, briefly...one happened to me and one story was shared.

My son was in college in Chapel Hill several years ago, and my husband was going to Raleigh for a seminar. I had been looking for a new car for a few weeks and there was a dealer in Chapel Hill that had all three cars on their lot so I could test drive all 3. My son met me at the dealership. Getting up at 4:00 AM was not conducive to getting into full make up and professional dress so let's face it, I wasn't going to make a great impression (plus I was driving my husband's pick up truck). Without giving all the boring details, all 3 cars had sold signs on them and I couldn't even sit in them because they were sold. Imagine my surprise when a Volvo pulled up and a young man walked into the showroom and the salesmen bent over backward opening the cars and allowing him to sit in them When I asked why him and not me, I was told they had all fallen out of contract. No test drive, though, because people who bought those kinds of cars, trusted the brand and didn't need to test them. I had owned two of them but the salesmen didn't know that. I asked for a booklet, but again, I was told they were out but would mail me one. I never did receive one. Of course, the joke was on them; I had a check in my pocket to pay cash for which ever one I wanted. Later, the next week, I sent the dealership five copies of Dr. Stanley's book The Millionaire Next Door. The dealership on Capitol Blvd. had no problem that afternoon letting me test drive their cars nor did they have any problem cashing my check.

I was sharing this story with another car salesman several years ago, and he said salesmen in any field need to learn this lesson early. Years ago, he said he was working for a Lexus dealership in the middle part of the state when he noticed a young girl had been sitting in their front lobby for quite awhile. He came back from lunch and she was still there. He asked if he could help her and she told him she was waiting for someone to take her for a test drive but no one had the time. He decided he didn't have anything going so he grabbed a set of keys and they took off. He took her out in the country and let her drive for awhile and then returned to the showroom. When they returned, she thanked him and told him her grandfather would probably contact him. He laughed and so did the other salesmen until he received a call from a very famous CEO thanking him for treating his granddaughter with such respect. She had been to two other dealerships trying to test drive a car to no avail. He not only bought one for his granddaughter but called and order another one for his wife.

So, my question is how do you treat new prospects? If Jed Clampett walked into your office wanting to see a $1,000,000 house would you recommend that he be pre-approved or would you show him the house?

Several years ago, when the economy was booming, companies would take agents on trip to various conventions up North promoting tourism. Of course, we wanted to entice convention attendee to buy second homes at the beach or consider retiring to our beautiful area. Many times they would laugh when someone tried to talk to them about property in North Carolina, indicating that they were planning to move to Florida. Agents would chuckle because many don't last long in Florida before they were calling wanting to move halfway back which put NC in their sights...thus the term "halfback". NC sits halfway between NY and Florida. In fact, many travelers stop in Lumberton on I95 to break the trip. I love Florida. I had a son who attended school in Sarasota, and we purchased a home there that we maintained for four years. It was not a good experience. Next to Hawaii, I had never paid so many taxes. Communities were on a water rationing; you could only water lawns at specific times. At times, you couldn't wash your car, and the traffic was horrible. It was beautiful but an expensive place to live.

Seniors discount the costs and the time spent traveling back and forth between their home up North and their new home. It is hard to break those ties when you have left children, grandchildren, and siblings behind. NC allows a day's trip to most Northern cities. Also, you would think you would love hot, sunny days most of the year (disregard this year), but most actually miss those seasonal changes after a few years. I have spoken with many mountain agents who say some retirees have a home in Florida for the winter and a mountain home for the summer because they don't do well with the Florida humidity. NC medical facilities are another reason we acquire "halfbacks". Of course, no matter the reason, we always welcome everyone.

Our company had its monthly meeting for all three offices at Ocean Isle Beach this morning. Mike, one of our long-time appraisers, spoke to us about the changes occuring in Brunswick County. Of course, values have decreased throughout the entire coastal areas, but an agent asked, "Where would you take a client who still wants to invest for several years down the road"? He said there were many properties (primarily vacant lots that have been reduced as much as 75%) that are being sold at unheard of prices; however, his recommendation is to buy near tidal areas. Farms can be converted to tract houses and golf courses...there are hundreds of acres; however, water properties (due in part to governmental regs) are in short supply and will eventually rebound. He also added, "This is the time that people get rich." They buy when all sectors of the market are low and hold until the market rebounds...and it always does. Timing will be the main factor.