Greetings! Welcome to our July edition of the OBX Homes Team real estate newsletter. As the summer months unfold, The Outer Banks transforms into a community of activity, hosting a number of exciting festivals and events that give this coastal region an extra glow. From upbeat live performances to peaceful yoga sessions on the beach, there is always something going on in this bustling piece of paradise. We genuinely hope you have the opportunity to participate in the many summertime activities offered in the OBX.

We also hope that your Fourth of July festivities were joyful, marked by dazzling fireworks, laughter, and cherished memories, as we paid tribute to our beloved country, symbolizing freedom and courage.

In local news, several governing bodies recently finalized the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget adoptions. Dare County, Manteo, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, and Duck have all opted not to raise their property taxes. On the other hand, The town of Nags Head’s tax rate will climb by 4.25 cents, while Kill Devil Hills’ tax rate will rise by 3.5 cents. Currituck County has decided to increase the tax rate by 10 cents. These budgets demonstrate local governments’ various steps in response to their financial demands for the upcoming fiscal year.

Our local real estate market continues to hold up well compared to the overall market due to several variables, including a shortage of availability, high demand for vacation rentals, ownership of tangible assets, and the potential for long-term appreciation. Even when investors explore alternatives to traditional investment opportunities, the Outer Banks remain popular. Due to its unique blend of a booming tourism industry and a limited supply of properties, the OBX real estate market is an appealing proposition for investors searching for security and potential returns in a volatile economic environment. Since “they aren’t making any more land,” as the expression states, why not purchase in a beautiful location?

If you’ve been thinking of selling, are looking to purchase, or have friends/family interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out, as we can send a free market analysis for your property and also add prospective buyers to the auto-email notifications for specific types of properties here at the beach. If you’re not able to visit in person, we offer virtual showings and are more than happy to preview a home for you and send some notes.

We’ve included the OBAR statistics report for June* for your review. If you would like a more tailored report with specific figures for your neighborhood, please let us know, as the report we send contains figures from Corolla south until Nags Head.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email us if you have any questions or should you need anything at all.

According to the classic quote by author Jean Hersey, “June is the gateway to summer.” As we start the month of June, we are reminded to take advantage of everything the Outer Banks has to offer. We do not doubt that all of you are as eager to start this season filled with relaxation and fun as we are. We wish everyone a happy and prosperous June!

Before anything else, let us take a moment to wish all the dads out there a happy Father’s Day! We appreciate the significant impact that fathers make on our lives and the community as a whole. We hope you have a lovely day celebrating with your loved ones.

In local news, Memorial Day weekend along the Outer Banks was marred by unusually windy and chilly weather. Despite being challenging and unpleasant, tourists and locals were still able to have a good time. We hope this was a rare occurrence and that calmer conditions shine for the remainder of the summer, allowing for an easier-going time.

There was a significant development after we sent out our last owner note. It may be a little older news, but it’s worth mentioning. The Outer Banks Voice reported on May 14 that the attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center said they had opted not to appeal the Court of Appeals’ decision from late December, which favored the construction of the Mid-Currituck Bridge. As a result, the bridge’s future has one less hurdle to face before it may be built. While several paths still need to be paved, each step forward brings the bridge closer to reality.

In real estate news, the overall sales volume has declined marginally compared to previous months. While this could seem worrisome at first, it is in line with the seasonal drop in market activity that we notice around this time of year. Although there hasn’t been a seasonal cooling off in the last several years, it’s important to remind everyone that this is quite normal in our area. For the time being, sellers still have an advantage in this market due to a lack of inventory and high demand.

If you’ve been thinking of selling, are looking to purchase, or have friends/family interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out, as we can send a free market analysis for your property and also add prospective buyers to the auto-email notifications for specific types of properties here at the beach. If you’re not able to visit in person, we offer virtual showings and are more than happy to preview a home for you and send some notes.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email us if you have any questions or should you need anything at all.

The OBX Homes Team

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms out there! We wish you a day full of affection and joy. We appreciate everything you do. Enjoy your beautiful day!

Greetings, everyone. Let’s kick off the month of May with a fun fact. This month marks the 220th anniversary of signing one of the most notable land transactions in US history, the Louisiana Purchase. In May 1803, the US bought 827,000 square miles of land from France for $15 million, which doubled the country’s size and significantly impacted its growth. Even back then, real estate deals experienced delays. According to the National Archives, the documents were all dated April 30, 1803; however, they were not signed until a day or two later. While such a monumental transaction may not occur again, we firmly believe that real estate is an excellent investment regardless of size or value.

In local news, the town of Duck began its beach nourishment project which is currently scheduled to be completed by the end of this month. It’s great to hear that the project will be finished before the busiest time of the summer, giving both visitors and residents wider beaches to spread out, and added protection if any weather events occur during the season.

As summer approaches, the local real estate market continues to outpace many other second-home markets. According to a Redfin report published in early April, “the number of people locking in mortgages for second homes fell to its lowest level since 2016 in February and remained nearly as low in March.” However, this has yet to be widely detected on the Outer Banks. It is also critical to note that this data does not include cash purchases. Most homeowners still have an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the low supply and high demand by listing their homes at a premium price. With a proper pricing strategy and marketing campaign, sellers are likely to draw serious buyers who are ready to buy.

Here’s to a successful summer season!

If you’ve been thinking of selling, are looking to purchase, or have friends/family interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out, as we can send a free market analysis for your property and also add prospective buyers to the auto-email notifications for specific types of properties here at the beach. If you’re not able to visit in person, we offer virtual showings and are more than happy to preview a home for you and send some notes.

We’ve included the OBAR statistics report for April* for your review. If you would like a more tailored report with specific figures for your neighborhood, please let us know, as the report we send contains figures from Corolla south until Nags Head.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email us if you have any questions or should you need anything at all.

The OBX Homes Team

“April prepares her green traffic light, and the world thinks, “Go!” – Christopher Morley. There was no doubt that the green light turned on as April drew near, whether it was a literal portrayal of this by the growing percentage of cars on the road and restaurants reopening or a symbolic depiction by the growing plants and blooming flowers. Whatever the case, spring is here now that April has arrived!

The OBX Homes team is excited to share details about an upcoming event that is near and dear to our hearts. The Outer Banks SPCA will host a Bark in the Park event at Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head on Sunday, April 23, from 1 to 5 p.m. We’d love to see you there if you are in the area. If you want to support this event or the SPCA in general, please go to https://www.obxspca.org/donate/. We all know how much joy our pets bring us, and this is a fantastic way to help animals in need and anyone thinking about adopting.

In local news, two new, well-known companies, Target and Marshalls, officially opened their doors for business at the end of March and the beginning of April. Even though some locals and visitors might not have initially embraced the development of these stores in our neighborhood, the economic benefits of more jobs generated, taxes being collected, and more consumer options should ultimately lead to positive changes for the community as a whole.

In real estate news, our local market demonstrates that it’s more resilient to economic challenges regardless of the nationwide financial climate because of continued demand and a minimal supply of properties for sale. Because many buyers are purchasing properties as investments, the strong possibility that interest rates will level off to prevent potential bank collapses and the uncertainty surrounding other investment options keep our market competitive. In fact, our team had its busiest week of the year during the final week of March. Although we realize that this may be attributed to the seasonality of our market, it is worth noting that there are many buyers on the sidelines still waiting for the ideal property to come along.

If you’ve been thinking of selling, are looking to purchase, or have friends/family interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out, as we can send a free market analysis for your property and also add prospective buyers to the auto-email notifications for specific types of properties here at the beach. If you’re not able to visit in person, we offer virtual showings and are more than happy to preview a home for you and send some notes.

We’ve included the OBAR statistics report for March* for your review. If you would like a more tailored report with specific figures for your neighborhood, please let us know, as the report we send contains figures from Corolla south until Nags Head.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email us if you have any questions or should you need anything at all.

The OBX Homes Team

What do you call the place where leprechauns go to relax? A lepre-condo.

With March finally here, it’s difficult to resist the opportunity to sneak in an Irish joke. This month marks the start of spring and longer daylight hours. Although it’s still unpredictable and challenging, March is nevertheless full of possibilities. It’s an excellent time to consider preparing your house for the upcoming season. Whether you’re eager for the chance to soak up the warmer weather, start a new project, or even sell your home, we hope this season brings you all you’ve been hoping for! For those of you who are Irish, or pretend to be for the day, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

We are excited to announce that our new Duck office officially opened its doors late last month! Our grand opening was a huge success, and we’d like to thank everyone who came out to show their support. If you’re in the neighborhood, please stop by to see the new office and say hello. We are located at 1176 Duck Rd, just north of Aqua Restaurant and Spa.

Two very noteworthy developments occurred in February. The first was a court decision in NCDOT’s favor, which has further advanced the planning process for the Mid- Currituck Bridge. Organizations opposed to the bridge include a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization named the Southern Environmental Law Center, the NC Wildlife Federation, as well as the No Mid-Currituck Bridge Org. All have filed a lawsuit in an attempt to thwart its construction.

The allegations in the lawsuit stated that the North Carolina Department of Transportation disregarded the National Environmental Policy Act’s regulations when the bridge project was permitted. The district court disagreed with the plaintiffs’ findings despite their arguments and ruled against them. Following the court’s decision, a spokesman declared that they would keep pressing to stop North Carolina from squandering money on the bridge and endangering the Currituck Sound.

After a thorough three-year analysis of the shoreline, Currituck County is in a critical position regarding how to mitigate beach erosion and generate the resources needed. The study indicated that more than 150 houses would be affected over the next 30 years without considering potential hurricanes or other weather-related damage. The county commissioner referred to Kitty Hawk and its inevitable vulnerabilities, voicing his motivation for Currituck County to avoid a similar outcome for its beaches. The report highlighted potential next steps, including the need for a beach management plan. The commissioner acknowledged that they are working on that recommendation and agreed that enhancing the beach by nourishment is probable. They have hired a lobbying firm to assist them and other coastal communities by urging the state to provide guidance and support. This study served as a powerful wake-up call to take action sooner than later.

In real estate news, the positive momentum that began in January did not last throughout all of February. There was a flurry of activity at the beginning of the month, but it simmered down halfway through. Although there are still buyers looking, we’ve noticed that inquiries and showing requests are a bit lower than normal for this time of year. We will continue monitoring the situation in the coming weeks to better understand how our local market is adjusting. We could be at another tipping point, but we’ll have to wait and see how the next few months unfold.

If you’ve been thinking of selling, are looking to purchase, or have friends/family interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out, as we can send a free market analysis for your property and also add prospective buyers to the auto-email notifications for specific types of properties here at the beach. If you’re not able to visit in person, we offer virtual showings and are more than happy to preview a home for you and send some notes.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email us if you have any questions or should you need anything at all.

Winter is nearly over, and the weather has been colder than usual. The start of the month saw the appearance of a small groundhog from Pennsylvania who was there to predict how long winter would last. According to legend, the fact that he spotted his shadow indicates that winter will last another six weeks. The good news is that, unfortunately for Punxsutawney Phil, he is incorrect around 60% of the time. Let’s hope his prediction is wrong and spring comes in two weeks as opposed to six!  Fortunately, there are some interesting and fun February events to keep you entertained.  Super Bowl Sunday is always a good time to get together with friends and watch a football game while making interesting wagers. Let’s not forget Valentine’s Day, the month of February’s most popular holiday. Best wishes and happy Valentine’s Day to you. We hope you find the opportunity to do whatever you love.

Locally, the ongoing legal battle over the closure during COVID between non-resident property owners and Dare County continues. The most recent decision by the US Court of Appeals came at the end of January. It ruled against the plaintiffs seeking compensation from Dare County for denying these property owners access to their homes during that time period. The complainant claimed that denying them access to their property was unconstitutional without providing just compensation. The US Court of Appeals rejected their appeal because the court order did not permit any other entity to occupy or operate the plaintiff’s vacation house and because the owners retained legal possession the entire time. In addition to the previous reasons, the restricted access was temporary, and the plaintiffs were notified a few days before it took place. Since their case did not present a reasonable claim for relief, the district court’s decision was upheld. Dare County isn’t out of the woods yet with this ongoing shutdown issue. The county manager said that additional grounds for appeal may exist, but they are pleased with the recent decisions.

Throughout national real estate headlines, homebuyers have likely noticed a small shift in the power dynamic in their favor as a result of moderate increases in the housing supply. However, our region’s supply has only slightly increased, and many homeowners are holding on to their properties, preventing an oversupply of new listings for sale at the local level. As a result, the local market should continue to favor sellers and last slightly longer than the national level.The market’s performance during the unforeseen high a few years ago is impossible to measure up to, but the cooling off period our region is currently going through is more of a gentle landing than one could hope for. Average days on market are still down quite a bit, and property prices are still significantly higher today than they were a few years ago, before the recent events-related boom.

If you’ve been thinking of selling, are looking to purchase, or have friends/family interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out, as we can send a free market analysis for your property and also add prospective buyers to the auto-email notifications for specific types of properties here at the beach. If you’re not able to visit in person, we offer virtual showings and are more than happy to preview a home for you and send some notes.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email us if you have any questions or if you need anything at all.

We hope you had a joyous holiday season and wish you the best of luck, happiness, and success in 2023!

As we look back on the past year, we want to thank you for making 2022 a memorable one. The OBX Homes Team ended 2022 with over $41 million in sales, with an average transaction price of just over $1.1 million. What another fantastic year for the Outer Banks real estate market and our team!

As you may have already heard, we are happy to share that we recently joined Landmark Sotheby’s International Realty. This new opportunity has us incredibly excited, and we look forward to giving our clients the exceptional service they have come to expect from us. As many of you know, Sotheby’s Int’l Realty is a prestigious and highly regarded company with a worldwide presence and a reputation for excellence. With this new alliance, we are confident that we will be able to better assist our clients in achieving their real estate goals. We are excited about the possibility of working with you in the future and welcome the chance to do so.

Please make a note of our new email addresses, as our Twiddy email addresses are no longer in service. Also, please be sure to mark the new email addresses as safe/not spam:

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

If you do not receive a response from our email in a timely manner, please call or text Heather at 252-202-3409.

We are pleased to be the Outer Banks SPCA’s corporate sponsor for the fourth year in a row. This has become one of our favorite ways to give back to our community.

We have a favor to ask of you. If you haven’t already, we’d appreciate it if you could leave us a review on Zillow and Realtor.com. It’s incredible how many new clients we get from these sites; your reviews truly help a lot. By visiting each site, you can add a client review/rating to Heather’s profile (search agents). Thank you again to everyone who has left us reviews! We sincerely value your comments.

If you’ve been thinking of selling, are looking to purchase, or have friends/family interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out, as we can send a free market analysis for your property. We are also happy to add prospective buyers to the auto-email notifications for specific types of properties here at the beach. If you cannot visit in person, we offer virtual showings and are more than happy to preview a home for you and send some notes.

We’ve included the 2022 Year End statistics for your review.* If you would like a more tailored report with specific figures for your neighborhood, please let us know, as the report we send contains figures from Corolla south until Nags Head.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email us if you have any questions or should you need anything at all.

Thank you again for your loyalty and business over the years. We are so grateful to have the opportunity of working with you and are looking forward to an excellent 2023 ahead!

The OBX Homes Team

Welcome to the month that bridges autumn and winter. Crossing it ushers you into the magical holiday season along with the reminder to slow down and spend time with family, friends, and loved ones. The OBX Homes Team wishes you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Despite some unfavorable tropical storm weather early in the month, October exceeded expectations and was exceptional for the majority of outdoor activities. At their annual jazz festival, the Town of Duck was quite successful by bringing together international jazz musicians and North Carolina bands for an unforgettable weekend. The Seafood Festival, held on the third weekend of October, was a resounding hit as well. Along with the town events, Twiddy’s annual Homeowner Appreciation Day was restored and a huge success. If you were unable to attend this year, be sure to set a reminder on your calendar to go next year. You will not be disappointed.

It is no secret that home prices have skyrocketed beyond comprehension in recent years. Those days, however, may be coming to an end. Consumer confidence and purchasing power are currently being stripped away by high inflation and less favorable financing conditions. The Federal Reserve’s ongoing battle against inflation has resulted in several rate hikes. As a result, an increasing number of prospective buyers and sellers are treading carefully. The Outer Bank’s market appears to be outperforming the rest of the country, but we are noticing a significant headwind that could be a sign of things to come in the coming months. As you can see from October’s statistics report* the local property values remain exceptionally high. However, if the economic outlook for home buyers or investors does not improve, price reductions to reflect the nation’s overall economic performance are very highly probable.

If you’ve been thinking of selling, are looking to purchase, or have friends/family interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out, as we can send a free market analysis for your property and also add prospective buyers to the auto-email notifications for specific types of properties here at the beach. If you’re not able to visit in person, we offer virtual showings and are more than happy to preview a home for you and send some notes.

We’ve included the OBAR statistics report for October* for your review. If you would like a more tailored report with specific figures for your neighborhood, please let us know, as the report we send contains figures from Corolla south until Nags Head.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email us if you have any questions or should you need anything at all.

The OBX Homes Team