635 Magnolia Drive in Sunset Beach

Home is where the beach is!  This Seaside Station home in beautiful Sunset Beach, NC is the perfect vacation getaway or primary residence.  A little over 1200 square feet, it features two large bedrooms, two full bathrooms, eat-in kitchen, living room, extra storage and even an outside shower.  The Carolina Room is also a nice size and can be used for extra sleeping space when the family comes.  Off the living room is a wonderful screened porch complete with swing for outside enjoyment.  Just minutes to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Sunset Beach Bridge, this is the place to be to enjoy all aspects of coastal living.

Call or email me for more information on this or any other available property in Brunswick County:
               Vicki Griffith, Century 21 Sunset Realty
               (910) 279.9509
               Email me at vicki@sunsetrealty.com

33 Carolina Shores Drive, Carolina Shores

Charming all brick three bedroom, two bath home in popular Carolina Shores is just what you need for a lifestyle of contentment.  Hardwood and tile flooring, open floor plan and split bedrooms, updated kitchen, Carolina Room, laundry room, two car garage and an expansive back deck on private corner homesite.  Close to Calabash shops and restaurants, Sunset Beach and area golf courses and a short ride to Myrtle Beach shopping and attractions.  Listed for just $225,000.

Contact me anytime for more information on this or any other property in Brunswick County, NC.
                Vicki Griffith, Century 21 Sunset Realty
                 (910) 279-9509
                 Email: vicki@sunsetrealty.com

Road Trips: Sunset Beach about more than sunsets - Winston-Salem Journal: Road Trips

Recently, a special correspondent for a Winston-Salem publication, Zenda Douglas, was a guest at The Sunset Inn, a bed and breakfast on the island of Sunset Beach.  If you're not familiar, when you travel over the Sunset Beach bridge to the island, the Sunset Inn majestically overlooks the marsh and Intracoastal Waterway.  Ms. Douglas came to write a featured article on the area and during her stay, got a little taste of just what makes the coastal lifestyle of the South Brunswick Islands so special.  I know this because the builder/owner of this gorgeous establishment is a friend and colleague.  The article is linked below, but be warned - once you read it you may get the irrepressible urge to come visit.  Do not fight this urge.  Come to coastal Brunswick County and discover for yourself how wonderful life can be.  You may even decide to stay awhile.  Many people do.  Read more...

 

Yes, there is more to Sunset Beach than just the sunsets...but the sunsets

 "shore" ain't bad.

 

 

  Road Trips: Sunset Beach about more than sunsets - Winston-Salem Journal: Road Trips

Vacation Homes: A Place to Make Memories

Last week I showed several beach properties on the island of Sunset Beach, NC to a couple who were looking to purchase a vacation or second home.  The day was glorious with beautiful blue skies and sunshine which I had arranged just for them!!
One of the homes we looked at was an older home which had been lovingly cared for and showed very well.  On the right side of the home was a large room which looked like a converted porch.  It ran the width of the house and then lead out onto the back porch and the roof deck.  One half of the room contained two twin beds in an "L"  and a dresser of draws for additional sleep space.  The other end had a small table and chairs and a TV.  Something about that room almost immediately took me back to my childhood and summer vacations spent with all my cousins at the beach house my grandparent's would rent every year when we were young.  Three generations would spend wonderful times together at the beach.  There were beds everywhere and it must've been those "L" shaped beds that jogged the wonderful memories of a simpler time.

  A few months ago, I had the pleasure of helping another couple purchase a second home, this time on the mainland.  Theirs was to be a vacation home for their entire family and every decision they made was with their children, and their children's children in mind.  This was their gift,- the purchase of this second home where the family would vacation together,  enjoy each other and be present in each other's lives.

Times have definitely changed but vacation homes still have the magnificent power to bring families together and strengthen the ties that bind; to make us take time to appreciate each other and form new memories that will last a lifetime and put a smile on your face.

My Vacation Memories from Days Gone By

 

 

The Real Cost of a Fixer Upper

In many areas, there may be a shortage of homes built in the last few years due to the downturn in the economy and the housing market.  During that time, new construction virtually came to a standstill.  This has resulted in a shortage of homes with the updated features and modern, trendy conveniences many buyers are looking for.  In some markets, such as retirement or vacation areas, home buyers just don't want to do the work, either themselves or by contracting it out.  Most of them have "been there, done that" when they purchased their first home way back when.  In my eyes, sometimes it seems a shame, though, that a buyer won't consider a fixer upper when the return on investment could be quite substantial.

Following are seven steps to take which can help you determine if buying a fixer upper makes financial sense - or not.   How to Assess The Real Cost of a Fixer Upper House

                           

Creative Kitchen Islands

When we renovate or remodel our homes, we are expressing ourselves at the same time.  We put our own personal stamp on our homes by just rearranging furniture, adding color, new flooring or repurposing items.  If adding a kitchen island is on your list of things to do, you might want to read this first - 10 creative ideas for kitchen islands that will definitely get you thinking out of the box.

 10 Inventive Ideas for Kitchen Islands - by Laura Gaskill, Houzz Contributor

Eclectic Kitchen - love this idea of a farm sink!

Getting Through a Home Renovation

Patti Stern, a principal of PJ & Company Home Styling, LLC , and an interior decorator and accredited home stager, recently remodeled her master bathroom and offers these tips for surviving any home renovation. 

4 Tips to Getting Through Any Home Renovation

Throughout the process, I kept a journal and noted some key tips and advice for all home owners when taking on any renovation project including:


1. Have a written plan. Be sure that you are absolutely clear with your interior decorator, contractor, and carpenter — whomever you are working with — regarding the remodeling job and have a written plan and contract.
2. Plan ahead. Make sure you have all of your design plans and materials for your remodeling project ahead of time (including windows if applicable). Sometimes, though, things do have to change once the remodeling starts.  Be flexible and plan for an additional 10- 15 percent above your budget for “just in case” scenarios.
3. Don’t skimp where it’s important. When putting in a shower floor, for example, make sure your contractor is using the right materials to prevent leaks, mold, and mildew. Sometimes spending a little bit more on better quality items will save you money in the long run.
4. Think about the big picture. How will your remodeling project affect other rooms or even future plans for your home? Will a wall being knocked down impact another room? If so, you may have to consider painting or repairing any walls in the impacted space. Are you thinking of selling your home in a few years?  If so, you’ll want to make changes you’ll enjoy now but that also will appeal to potential buyers in a few years.   Read more about Patti's actual bathroom makeover experience.  It might help you with yours!