We're thinking of retiring to eastern Carolina. Are there affordable waterfront homes and marinas?

YES!! With waterfront home prices beginning in the low $200's, docking your boat in your own back yard is definitely affordable. Deep waterfront building lots begin in the low $100's. Alternatively, private marinas with a variety of slip sizes are also reasonably priced.

As an example, Fairfield Harbour, a gated residential community less than 20 minutes from downtown New Bern, offers waterfront lots and homes on both bulkheaded and natural shoreline locations with direct access to the IntraCoastal Waterway (ICW). 

Natural shoreline home

View from private dock

Rear grounds and private dock

A few unimproved lots already feature docks, and many of the houses do, too. And for those who prefer a professionally managed marina, Northwest Creek Marina is one of the highest rated and largest on the Eastern seaboard, with a full-time staff who cares for your boat as much as you do.

Part of Northwest Creek Marina

Below are links to a waterfront building lot and a natural shoreline  home currently for sale, as well as to a link to Northwest Creek Marina.

To view more photographs and virtual tours of this home and lot, please click on the  links below:

Home 

Lot

Stay tuned for more Ask Pat Dumon questions and answers, or feel free to submit a question of your own.  I'll do my best to answer it for you....

Casual Fridays

One of the features of this blog will be to post Casual Friday updates on what’s going on in and around New Bern.  Here are just a few events on tap for this weekend....

2011 Festival of Fun

Saturday, April 16; 10 am – 3 pm

Union Point Park

210 East Front Street

New Bern

Free Admission

This year will mark the 11th year for Eastern North Carolina's best children's event, the Festival of Fun! This year's festival will feature a day full of games, inflatable rides, carnival food, interesting vendors, educational information, arts, crafts and more!

Back onstage by popular demand are New Bern Ballet, Down East Dance, Margaret Fletcher Dance Studio and Kaitlyn's Bellydancing.

2011 ENC Pet Expo

Saturday, April 16, 2011; 9 am – 5 pm

New Bern Riverfront Convention Center

203 South Front Street

New Bern

Free Admission

The 2011 Pet Expo is a consumer event for pet lovers and pet businesses in Eastern North Carolina. Guests will also have an opportunity to talk with professionals who can answer questions or provide advice about your special friend. In addition, the Pet Expo will offer a variety of entertainment, even if you’re not a pet guardian right now.

The expo will feature educational classes, informative presentations, shopping for pet gear as well as pet related entertainment.

Tryon Palace Theater

Saturday, April 16, 2011   1:00 p.m.

North Carolina History Center

Cullman Performance Hall

529 South Front Street

New Bern

$6 per adult, $3 per student; Free with regular admission

Photo courtesy of Tryon Palace.org

William Gaston was a lawyer, North Carolina Supreme Court Judge, composer of our state song, and a family man. Come learn a bit more about one of New Bern’s greatest sons from the three women who knew him best.

Check the Visit New Bern site for more activities.

2011 Movie Night Series

New Bern Civic Theater

414 Pollock Street

New Bern

“Back to the Future”

Saturday, April 16 at 7 p.m.

Admission: $5 – includes popcorn & soda

Universal Pictures, 1985

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

Starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd

Rated PG   115 minutes

1980’s teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is transported back in time to 1955 where he accidentally changes the course of history through a series of comic misadventures and finds he must return things to the way they were, back to the future.

Visit the New Bern Civic Theater site for the upcoming dates of its live performances of “Steel Magnolias.”

Pat Dumon's "Three D's" for Showcasing Your Home

Clichés become clichés because there is always some truth to them. We’ve all heard how you only get one chance to make a first impression, and it’s true, especially when trying to sell your house in today’s competitive real estate market. So what are my “Three D” rules for making your best possible first impression? Read on….

1. De-clutter – Overloaded tables, countertops, and book shelves tend to make your home look smaller than it really is. Be brutal! Pack up most of those items, and follow the “one third” rule… one third books, one third knick-knacks, and one third open. You’ll have to pack these items when you move anyway. May as well do it now and create a more spacious look for your house. Less is better. “When in doubt, kick it out!”
2. De-personalize - We all have those special people we dearly love… family members, friends, significant others, so it’s natural to have their photos on display. Same goes for items that tend to impart a “personal” touch. Kitchen signs with cute sayings on them. Pillows with “Fluffy’s” face. These kinds of items send signals to potential buyers that this is your space. Too many personal items can interfere with a prospect’s ability to envision “their” things in “your” home. Don’t let them feel as though they are invading your privacy. Work to turn your home into a much more neutral “model house.”
3. De-odorize - NOTHING turns a potential buyer off more than unpleasant odors. Pet smells, cigarette smoke, musty air… whatever the source, find it and get rid of it. Dump the kitty litter. Get out the air freshener. If possible, open some windows. You want your house smelling as clean and fresh as possible. Clients have keen noses.

Before De-Cluttering

After De-Cluttering

Once your house is on the market, a "Fourth D" kicks in. It’s natural to want to be there when your house is being shown, and to add comments or "explain things" to help the real estate agent sell your property. Yet your presence can seriously interfere with the real estate agent’s ability to conduct a candid information exchange with the prospective buyer. So help your agent by following the "Fourth D" rule and De-part while your house is being shown.

Keep these “Three D” rules in mind when staging your home in order to transform it into a marketable property and then lDepart while your house is being shown. In today's Buyer's real estate market, following these guidelines is essential to maximize your property's competitive stature.

More about New Bern

New Bern is the "sister" city of Bern, Switzerland, having been founded in 1710 by Baron Christopher de Graffenried and other Swiss and German settlers. The emblem of both Bern and New Bern is, of course, the bear, the English translation of Bern. The center of New Bern's foundation is at the intersection of Middle and Pollock Streets, in the heart of our renovated Historic District. Please see the links in other areas of this blog for loads of additional historical information. 


Having just celebrated its 300th birthday in 2010 with a year chock full of festivities, New Bern continues to embrace its past while looking forward to its future. Please visit the New Bern's 300th Anniversary site to scroll through the calendar, videos, and photographs and see for yourself why our special town is so loved. And we at Neuse Realty are proud to have sponsored "Neuseopoly" - our Bear contribution to New Bern's 300th celebration.

Neuse Realty's "Neuseopoly"

Browse through this site New Bern Bears to see all the sponsored Bears, each one designed and painted by local New Bern artists.

Marinas and boat ramps abound, as do walking trails and parks. Additionally for the golfers, there are many fine courses, both public and private, some literally could be in your back yard! We'll feature the area golfing communities and facilities in the next issue of this blog.

For a look at some available housing in our area, go here:  Neuse Realty, Inc.

Stay tuned for more news and updates on our beautiful New Bern area in upcoming posts, and thanks for looking....

New Bern, North Carolina

Shops of Old Town New Bern

New Bern is a quaint little town located a couple of hours east of Raleigh.  Located at the juncture of the Trent and Neuse Rivers, it is a boating and golfing community rich in history.  The "old town" section of New Bern features a variety of small shops, beautiful churches and grounds, restaurants, and Union Point Park, the setting for 4th of July fireworks and concerts throughout the year.  A few sample photos of New Bern (courtesy of my husband, Bob) are shown below, with more available on our Shutterfly link.

One of New Bern's many Bed & Breakfast Inns 

Persimmon's waterfront restaurant