Linda Powers on the Outer Banks

Now search all Outer Banks homes for sale from your smart phone ... FREE! You can also search lots and land as well as commercial.

It's easy! From your smart phone search for www.lindapowers.OBXwhere.com then simply save to your home screen.

Here's our logo you will see.
Just click on "search" and choose your search type.

When you're here at the beach you can search both
Dare and Curriticuck counties for property near you
OR
You can choose your criteria for town, price, income,
location, number of bedrooms.

You can see your search results on a map or list.

Make notes on each property - save to favorites.
Contact me for showing or additional information.
From the search page get community and event information.

Enjoy this great app for Outer Banks real estate and homes for sale. Just think of us when you consider buying or selling. We love working with folks like you from Corolla through Nags Head. Give us a call today at 252-599-2845 with your questions. Or email us.

The cost of Outer Banks real estate compared to the towns and neighborhoods where our clients work and live often is a surprise to folks who want to buy here. It doesn't matter if a year round or second home is wanted, or, for that matter, a second home in a rental area or an investment property.

As an example, let's say you currently own a 2500 square foot home with 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths, large kitchen, formal dining and living as well as a family room. You want something similar as a year round or second home on the Outer Banks. OK. We can do that.

Oh, but you want a similar price as well. Just think about this. You love the Outer Banks. Come as often as you can. You want to own a part of it. You want a water view, ocean or sound. Perhaps you want a boat and would like to live in a boating neighborhood.

You see where this is leading. Many other families have the same dreams ... the same wants. Unfortunately, the very thing that makes the Outer Banks so beautiful - water all around us - is what makes the limited land so valuable. When land is very limited and also in demand, even in this economic climate, prices are just naturally higher.

The reality of owning Outer Banks real estate is that a sacrifice (if you can call it that) is made in the size or features of your house so you can simply walk on the beach any time, or watch the sunset over the sound, or watch the water foul come in flocks for the winter, or ...

If you have questions or comments about the cost of Outer Banks homes for sale, please contact me. If you are considering a purchase of Outer Banks real estate, I can work for you as your Buyer Agent.

View all Outer Banks real estate listed in our MLS, and email me with your questions.

It is once again time to shop for Outer Banks real estate and your home on the beach. Really. Throughout this year single family homes for sale from Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and through Nags Head have averaged 1% above the average sales price for 2010. Considering that this is the first year out of several that the prices have not fallen, it is time for serious buyers to come back and get the best of the buys!

Some buyers have already taken advantage of Outer Banks real estate once again being a good buy. The number of sales have increased 5% over 2010.

With this boring read of statistics, let me show you some exact numbers. While resort real estate remains higher than traditional home sales, just remember there is only so much beach property ... and it will continue to be in demand.

Over the past few years, prices have dropped significantly. Now that they are reasonable again, buyers are serious about getting back in the market, both as investors and as second home owners. See below to get a glimpse of the price corrections on past Outer Banks homes for sale. Call me for details on currently listed property for sale. I will find the great buys for you.

A Nags Head ocean front home at 114 E. Sea Holly Court sold in 2004 for $1,300,000 and sold again at $1,000,000 in 2010.

A Kill Devil Hills ocean front home at 1005 N. Virginia Dare Trail sold at $3,000,000 in 2003 and sold again in 2009 for $1,653,750

A Pine Island ocean front home at 115 Cadwall Road (Corolla) sold in 2006 for $2,775,000 and resold at $1,850,000 in 2010.

Another Corolla home - ocean front - at 991 Lighthouse drive in Whalehead sold in 2006 for $1,795,000 and in 2011 sold at $860,000.

167 Mantoac Court in Duck on the ocean sold in 2005 for $2,465,000 and again in 2009 for $1,500,000.

Homes away from the ocean front have also seen great price reductions ... for the buyers. Sellers are pricing to compete with other property including short sales and foreclosures. Don't rule anything out.

With prices stabilized and poised for a slight annual increase now is the time to buy your Outer Banks home. Let us help you find the best buys. Outer Banks homes for sale currently offer a wide variety of locations, styles, and prices. Let's talk about your wishes for Outer Banks ownership today. It is never to soon to begin making your dream a reality.

Ah ... the good old days with memories of romantic walks at night on the beach ... moonlight shining across the water ... walking in the surf ... being chased by a wave ... or a ghost crab.

Remember your first Outer Banks visit when you parked your car and hurried to the beach for that first sight of the Atlantic Ocean ... feeling the air blowing your hair ... smelling the salt air ... hearing the cry of sea gulls and watching the flying formation of the brown pelicans.

Wasn't that outdoor shower fabulous on a hot summer day! The kids loved chasing the foam ... splashing in the water ... building sand castles. Remember wandering how such a little body could be covered in so much sand.

Whether you chose one of the hotels/motels, or a summer cottage, visiting the Outer Banks always created such relaxing memories. In addition to the beach and all its treasures, there were the restaurants offering the freshest of daily catches, the shops with mementos for all, and the many attractions.

You could imagine watching Wilbur and Orville testing their designs for flight trials, you could visit the old life saving station, climb a lighthouse, fish from a pier or surf, or simply sit in a rocker and watch the day go by.

Well, you know, the Outer Banks has not changed much at all over the years. Perhaps there are more homes than you remember, but the Outer Banks continues to be that perfect family vacation spot. If you haven't been here in some time, you should come again for a refresher course. If you have been here recently, you know it won't be long before you begin planning your return.

Wait! I've stated the Outer Banks has not changed much, and that is not entirely accurate. Outer Banks real estate is once again affordable ... after 2005 prices dropped significantly. If you ever thought about owning your own very special place on the Outer Banks ... if you thought you couldn't afford it ... now is the time to rethink your position. Sellers are eager. Selection is great. Interest rates are low.

Outer Banks homes for sale once again offer the opportunity for you to own your own vacation place, begin new memories, and share your pride with friends and family. Outer Banks memories are waiting for you. Begin collecting yours now.

Is now the time to buy an Outer Banks home? We see strong evidence that many are testing the waters to see if the current prices are now stable. This current year is showing monthly average sale prices remaining above the 2010 average for Outer Banks homes. The number of sales are increasing. A good sign. Interest rates are unbelievably low. While they fluctuate daily, the rates make a strong case for buying now.

Low asking prices and interest rates aside what is the driving motivation for buyers in this market? Because the Outer Banks real estate market is not comparable to the traditional market, the motivations vary widely.

• If you are considering:
  A second home, you are looking for perhaps a weekend getaway close to the beach for you and your family ...perhaps an extra bedroom for friends;
  A second home with some rental income. You want the pride of owning your own Outer Banks home, but your visits are limited to perhaps 2 or 3 weeks a year.
  A year round home to work and/or live on the Outer Banks
  An investment home that offers all the amenities vacationers want for a week. You understand the importance of having a place away from the pressures of work and worry, share it with others as you invest in your future.
• And you are ready and committed to make your dream a reality, begin by determining:
  Price range or budget. Talk to an Outer Banks lender to get pre-qualified for your financing. By determining your comfort range you will be able to settle on location and amenities.
  Amenities. The "wish" list of features can include a hot tub, pool, ocean view, gourmet kitchen, game room, theater room, and much more. The question becomes, "Is this a want or need?" After all, we can have everything...for the right price.
  Location. Each Outer Banks home offers a unique location, and each comes with a price variation. Again, the question becomes "What must you have?" Ocean front. Ocean side. Golf course. Sound front. Sound side. A short walk to the beach. Near activities for the tweens and teens.

While this appears to be complex, consider that Mike and I have been involved in Outer Banks real estate sales for many years. We know the market. We know how to help you determine the property that best meets your needs and find the price you want to pay. As your Buyer Agent we work to protect you by getting you the best possible price...at no fee. We are paid at closing by the seller through our MLS agreement.

Why not contact us now and put us to work for you? Let us help you plan your future on the Outer Banks. Let us do what we do best ... find our clients an Outer Banks home.

We work in Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head. Let's find your home. Begin by searching the Outer Banks MLS on our web site, or call me at 252-599-2845 now.