January Snapshot for the Outer Banks

January 30, 2013 By Ilona
After coming off such a strong year in 2012, I’m sure you’re wondering how things are going so far in 2013.  Here’s a snapshot of what’s been happening on the Outer Banks for January.
  • Surprise!  No news to report on the Mid-Currituck Bridge
  • Actual Surprise – It SNOWED!  It’s all gone now, but it was fun for a day
  • The Great White Shark Mary Lee was cruising around Hatteras
  • I was named Beach Realty’s 2012 Agent of the Year
  • Sales for January have been STRONG. Over 50 properties CLOSED so far
  • Over 200 properties have already had a price adjustment in January
  • Nearly 200 new listings came on the market
  • When priced correctly multiple offers are coming in!
  • When priced correctly properties are selling within 30 days of listing
Outer Banks 2013 Housing MarketLast year I predicted the sales for 2012 would increase 15%.  The actual number was 21%!  It was even better than I thought.  This year I predict a similar trend.  With the activity in the market so far we should easily exceed the number of sales over last year again.  I also predict we will see a stabilization in pricing…no real movement up or down.
So here’s the question…how can I be of help to you this year?  What is your strategy for making the most of the 2013 market?  What are your thoughts on how this year is going to play out?  I’m interested to create this dialogue with you, so I can be sure to provide you with the most relevant information.
Stay warm and talk soon!
Filed Under: Home Buyers' Tips & Advice, Home Sellers' Tips & Advice, OBX Real Estate News & Data, Outer Banks Good Living Tagged With: , , , ,

Best Buys for the Week of January 28, 2013

January 28, 2013 By Ilona

Contact Me About Any of These Properties!

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2012 Agent of the Year

January 23, 2013 By Ilona

Beach Realty & Construction / Kitty Hawk Rentals
2012 Agent of the Year – Ilona Matteson

Beach Realty and Costruction Agent of the Year 2012Ilona Matteson, associate broker for Beach Realty & Construction / Kitty Hawk Rentals was named the company’s agent of the year for 2012.  Ilona was licensed in the late 1990’s  and became sales manager for Beach Realty in 2002.  In 2006, she moved to Richmond, VA and was affiliated with a national coaching company where she excelled as a one-on-one coach for real estate professionals.  The allure of the Outer Banks brought her back to the beach and she resumed her career in real estate sales.  She quickly became a top producer and attributes her success to hard work, discipline and an in-depth knowledge of the local market.  Along with her successful career in real estate sales, Ilona Matteson also offers training and coaching to the sales team at Beach Realty & Construction.

Sales Manager Beth Urch says, “Ilona is an integral part of the Beach Realty sales team.  She brings a level of integrity and professionalism to the business that her clients and peers appreciate.  She is a valuable resource for our sales team and is instrumental to the company’s success.”

You can reach Ilona Matteson in the Duck office of Beach Realty & Construction / Kitty Hawk Rentals at (252) 261-6600 or email [email protected].

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Beach Realty & Construction/Kitty Hawk Rentals is a full-service real estate company offering an attractive and ethical environment for licensed real estate professionals to realize a successful career.  For more information about joining the Beach Realty Sales team contact Sales Manager, Beth Urch at (252) 261-3815 or [email protected].

 

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The Secret Formula

January 22, 2013 By Ilona

It’s been a while since my last personal blog.  That’s for many reasons.  First, I hate to write.  Second, I have been busy.  Third, I hate to write.  (See Adam, it’s not just running I hate.)  I’m sure I could have found the time if I really wanted to.  I just didn’t make it a priority.  It’s interesting what we CAN do when we make it a priority.

Seahawk graduationLast night I graduated I think my 5th or 6th Bootcamp.  I’ve lost track.  After getting into a routine with Charlie and letting my hip injury heal I decided to get back in and signed up for the Night Camp.  Wow, what a great decision!  All through the holidays I had something more to keep me on track.  And I actually did a pretty good job!

For the two months I took off I gained no weight!  I was thrilled.  I was also worried that I had lost my momentum and this next camp would be like starting over.  Boy was I wrong.  It’s a combination of mental and physical breakthroughs.  After running the half marathon, I actually believe now that I AM a runner.  That was step 1, belief.  Step 2, physically doing it, came on the first night of the camp when I look around at mile 2.5 and I’m still in the front group.  I was amazed.  Normally I’m the first person of the back group.  The front group always a good 100 yards in front of me.  Not this time.  I was the last person in the front group!  Woo Hoo!

That alone gave me a shot of confidence so big I felt I could take on the world!  Not to mention, I’ll never get tired of hearing how skinny I look when I see someone I haven’t seen in a few months!  That’s a good booster there too.  So with this renewed confidence I saw myself doing things with ease that 6 months before I struggled with.  My physical ability had gone to the next level.

Now, the most important lesson here is this…it started in my mind first.  The truth is, I was probably physically capable of many of these tasks 2 months ago, but I didn’t believe it yet.  It took my mindset shifting before I really broke through.  Now I see why it was so important to Matt that I run that half marathon.  I’m just going to have to get him a keychain that says “you were right again” as I keep finding myself saying that to him.  One day, I’ll stop questioning and just start doing!

So back to the lesson…all of my mentors, all the self help books, even the bible talks about how (whatever you want to do) is not possible if you can’t first believe it can be done.  You have to believe it to achieve it.  I’ve known this for years, yet still didn’t apply it in my fitness life until now.  I’ve been telling Charlie for months now that he has two choices…he can believe he’s going to live or believe he’s going to die.  Everything else will respond to and fall into whatever belief he chooses.  Ever notice how it’s always so much easier to give advice than take it?

boot camp dog tagsFor the second time this month I was given an achievement award.  Last night Adam surprised me with the Honor Graduate dog tags.  Earlier this month I was awarded Agent of the Year at Beach Realty for 2012.  In both cases I really worked hard.  I really wanted to excel.  I made it a priority to do so.  And I believed it could be done.  So there you go folks.  There’s the “secret” formula for success.

This year I plan to lose 30 pounds.  I will fight in an amateur kickboxing fight.  I will earn a yellow shirt, (maybe even a black one) at Bootcamp and I will sell 40 houses on the Outer Banks.  How can I be sure?  Because I will follow the formula.

  1. I will work HARD.  It won’t be easy.  If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.
  2. I’ve set goals I really WANT to achieve.
  3. I’ve made a schedule that allows the work required to be a priority.
  4. I have no doubt these things are possible if I follow 1 through 3.As with any great achievement, it isn’t done alone.  I want to thank those who helped me get there and also say, I’m counting on you big time this year!
  • Matt Costa – Head Coach and my Fight Trainer
  • Adam Swansen – Bootcamp Coach and fitness “Pusher”
  • Jay Bowman – Bootcamp Coach and all around Inspirational Guy
  • Re – Bestest Friend and excellent cheerleader
  • Lisa – Best Friend and excellent cheerleader
  • Ann Baker – Best Real Estate Coach EVER!
  • Kimberly, Jean, Beth and Kari – Beach Realty Gals and Lifeline
  • Mom – Well, that’s obvious – the giver of life and creator of my moral foundation
  • Charlie – For your patience and courage.  You inspire me every day to keep going!

 

Filed Under: OBX Real Estate News & Data, Outer Banks Good Living, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

Major changes coming to the National Flood Insurance Program

December 20, 2012 By Ilona

There are major changes coming to the National Flood Insurance Program in 2013 and it seems second homes and vacation homes are the primary target.  If your home falls into certain criteria be prepared for discontinued subsidies and ultimately an increase in your premiums.

Another point of interest in relationship to this is the plans from CAMA to re-map our area effective in 2014.  This will directly impact what flood plain a home falls into and in the end the flood insurance premium paid.

I’ll report updates and new information as it becomes available.

The following was taken from a newsletter provided by the local Outer Banks Association of Realtors.

MAJOR CHANGES TO NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM


Below is additional information from last week’s briefing about new legislation that may affect flood insurance policy rates for home and business owners in your community.
The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (BW-12) requires FEMA to take immediate steps to eliminate a variety of existing flood insurance subsidies and calls for a number of changes in how the program operates. The new rates will reflect the full flood risk of an insured building, and some insurance subsidies and discounts will be phased out and eventually eliminated. Rates on almost all buildings that are, or will be, in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) will be revised over time to reflect full flood risks. Based on various conditions set forth in the law, subsidies and grandfathered rates will be eliminated for most properties in the future.

Effective on January 1, 2013, flood insurance policy rates for some older non-primary residences in SFHAs that received subsidized rates based on their “pre-Flood Insurance Rate Map” (pre-FIRM) status will increase by 25 percent a year until they reflect the full-risk rate. A pre-FIRM building is one that was built before the community’s first flood map became effective (1974) and has not been substantially damaged or improved. If the building will be lived in for less than 80 percent of the policy year, it is considered to be a non-primary residence. Click here to read a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) bulletin that provides additional details around the legislation.

Effective August 1, 2013, the NFIP will also begin eliminating subsidized premiums for other buildings as mandated by Section 100205 of BW-12. Click here to read the full bulletin and note that key changes include:

• Subsidies will be phased out for severe repetitive loss properties consisting of 1-4 residences, business properties, and properties that have incurred flood-related damages where claims payments exceed the fair market value of the property.
• Properties with subsidized rates will move directly to full-risk rates after a sale of the property or after the policy has lapsed.

• NEW policies will be issued at full-risk rates.

• Policyholders should be aware that allowing a policy to lapse could be costly. A new application will be required and full-risk rates will take effect.

Beginning in 2014, premium rates for other properties, including non-subsidized properties, will increase as new or revised flood insurance rate maps become effective and full risk rates are phased in for these properties. These premium rate increases will include properties in areas that have received new or revised flood insurance rate maps since July 6, 2012 (the date of enactment Changes in the Flood Insurance Program Preliminary Considerations for Rebuilding – Early Considerations for Rebuilding of the new law). Additionally, even if you build to minimum standards today, you will be subject to significant rate increases upon remapping if your flood risk changes in the future.

Important Note on Preferred Risk Policies (PRPs)
As of January 1, 2013, PRPs issued on properties located in a high-risk area may continue beyond the previously designated two-year period until FEMA completes analysis and implements a revised premium structure put in place with BW-12. For some policyholders in areas flooded by Sandy, the impact of these changes could be substantial. For this reason, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages property owners to consider flood insurance costs when making decisions about how high to rebuild. A brochure that details some of the legislation’s impacts on building is also available here. Scroll down and click on the download/print link.

For More Information:
For the latest NFIP Bulletins about the implementation of these changes, visit www.nfipiservice.com/nfip_docs.html. For more details about flood insurance, visit http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/.

Filed Under: Home Buyers' Tips & Advice, Home Sellers' Tips & Advice, OBX Real Estate News & Data, Outer Banks Good Living Tagged With: , ,

Thankful on the Outer Banks

November 21, 2012 By Ilona

This month’s update is pretty bland compared to some of the things happening in recent months. There are no insurance rate hikes, no damaging Hurricanes, no bridge news…only good news this month!

While a good portion of our beaches were damaged during Sandy, we still remain extremely fortunate not to have received a direct hit. As is typical on the Outer Banks, most everything is cleaned up and businesses affected are back up and running. We do tend to recover from these things pretty quickly and that has certainly been the case with Sandy as well.

Since we have been through this so many times, it was an interesting change to see the 2 HUGE trucks of supplies that our Outer Banks locals sent to New Jersey to help out Sandy victims in that region. Even though we are a small community, when we come together we accomplish big things. I hope if you were affected by Sandy your situation is on the mend or fully recovered.

On to the news in the marketplace. Sales activity for 2012 is up so far this year 21%. Land sales lead the way with the biggest improvement. Inventory is down 4% so far this year. This is a move in the right direction…more is needed.

The most popular selling price range is still $200K to $299K. However, surprising enough so far 50 homes sold in the $1M or more price range, with an average time on market of 186 days! That’s definitely good news.

Distress activity remains the same. There does seem to be a small decline in foreclosure filings when looking at the data over the last several months. The biggest challenge with distress properties is that the median sales price for them DROPPED 22% this year so far. When these homes become your competition, that means a drop in price for regular sales as well, albeit generally not as big a drop.

One last tidbit…I was informed this morning that our Property Management Department is coming off one of the best seasons in history! If you know of anyone needing a new management company, certainly give me a call!

If I can provide you with any additional specific market data, please be sure to let me know.

Have a very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving celebration.

Filed Under: OBX Real Estate News & Data, Outer Banks Good Living Tagged With: , ,

Outer Banks Marathon

November 14, 2012 By Ilona

Marathon weekend has now come and gone.  Boy was it an event.  It started off with a Saturday wake up call to a very sick Charlie.  I was scheduled to run the 5k at 10 am.  Needless to say that didn’t happen.  I was starting to worry that he would not be well enough for me to leave him on Sunday morning to run the half.  It’s so interesting because a week ago, I was wondering if I even still wanted to do it.  Then at the thought of not being able to go got me all worked up.  Of course my first priority is Charlie.  But I realized Saturday morning that I actually wanted to run this race.  I hadn’t felt like that much at all during this whole process.  It was a very strange feeling.

Saturday night I actually went to bed early and slept well all night.  I set my alarm for 5 am but ended up waking up around 4:30.  Not seeing much reason to go back to sleep I decided I would just get up.  I went down to check on Charlie and he was actually doing well.  He gave me the green light to go ahead and make the journey.  So I set off to pick up Lisa and head to Nags Head.  Once we got to the Dream Center…where the event begins…I wasn’t extremely nervous.  I had a few butterflies but was so in awe of the number of people around.  Hugs, well wishes and laughs going on all around you has a much needed positive effect on the nerves.

The plan was to run with Lisa for a few miles and then just get in our own groove and do our thing.  Run our own race, as Matt put it.  We heard the gun go off for the first corral.  That’s a fitting term for it as we were literally corralled like livestock to the front as each group was given the green light to start their race.  It got to be our turn to start and from the beginning my legs didn’t feel quite right.  This isn’t unusual as I am a slow “starter-upper” when it comes to running.  I find it takes about 2.5 miles to get into my groove.  My legs felt like lead.  We started off very slowly.  Lisa and I kept pace for about the first mile.  Even though my legs never did warm up, around mile 2 things got just a tad easier.  I was looking forward to mile 6 as I knew once there it would be easier.

What I found at mile 6 was the Brindley Beach water booth, the “easier” part I was hoping for never did show up.  That Brindley booth was a needed sight as many of them are also Bootcampers.  The cheering and encouragement was much appreciated at that point.  I knew I was nearly halfway.  However, my hips said, halfway?  You’ve got to be kidding, we’re done!  By then most everything else is blurry until Mile 11.  I do remember a brief holler from the Beach Realty water table at Mile 9 or 10.  Then the bridge!  Oh the bridge.  By this time I was fighting the pain with everything in me.  Fighting the hip pain so much that my shoulder muscles got so tense it almost replaced the pain in my hip.  Shaking out my arms, shrugging my shoulders, I boldly took on the bridge.  Within a few steps I knew it.  I knew I needed to walk it.  My feet were numb, shoulders screaming, hip burning, I just needed the small break.  At the top of the bridge, no excuses, it’s all downhill I have to run it.  So I did.  Hit the next water station, got up about a half mile and who finds me?  Thing 2!

Re caught up with me and just as I was about to take off on another jog, she said she needed to walk a bit.  I was certainly not going to argue with her!  So we made the pact to walk for mile 11 and pick up the jog at 12 all the way in.  It’s been suggested many times by Adam that throughout our training we take part in an ICE BATH.  I’ve never been brave enough to try it.  At mile 11.5, I was begging for one!  This is how I knew what trouble I would be in, if I finished this thing.  Re kept assuring me we would finish, even if we were crawling!  I believed her, knowing she would drag me behind her if she had to! That’s what “Things” do for each other!

About mile 11.75, I start proclaiming with every ounce of determination I had that I would NEVER, EVER, EVER do this again!  Why in the world did I agree to do this?  People who do this are just plain crazy.  I’ve done one and I’m not doing another.  Of course at this point I’m not even finished yet…Oh dear!  So mile 12 is upon us.  We take off in a jog.  Re says she has to stop again.  I knew darn well she wouldn’t for good!  I’m jogging away in all the pain thinking to myself, less than a mile…you just have to go less than a mile.  A little ways down I knew I had to be half a mile out.  I kept saying, just a half a mile, you can do it, half a mile.  Then to the corner off the main road onto the side roads a lady yells out “Only a quarter mile to go!”  Oh dear God, I’m so close.  I keep saying to myself, only a quarter of a mile, quarter of a mile.  Then another turn with people yelling “You’re almost there!”  I chant to myself, I’m almost there.  Last left turn ahead I hear the most beautiful words…”Just this left turn and you’re done!”  I start saying left turn, left turn, that’s it…that’s all you have to do.

I get to this left turn and see a HUGE crowd of people standing and cheering.  It’s absolutely overwhelming.  The cheers are streaming in, you hear your name called by a few familiar faces.  I couldn’t tell you who they are right now because I had tears in my eyes.  I had to fight back the emotion as I was about to completely break down.  I look down, gather my composure, look back up to see the FINISH and a few strays in front of me who had passed me at the last minute.  I take off in a sprint, despite the excruciating pain, pass 3 of the 4 and straight into the arms of Jay.  Oh, I love this man, yet have never before been so happy to see him.  It meant I had done it.  I had run 13.1 miles (well about 11.5 of them.)  I finished this monumental task and started crying.  More hugs from Jessica and Joan then I get out of the way to wait for Re.  I see her…she comes in strong.  First thing out of her mouth….Jay said drink Pineapple Juice.  Ha Ha…ok, let’s find the pineapple juice.

On the way home it occurred to me that I had just finished all that running, had burned all those calories and was hungry.  I’m having a BURGER, I exclaim.  And so I did.  It was the best burger I’ve had in a very long time.  Still proclaiming I’m never doing this again all the way home.  The next day I review the results.  I see my time.  2:46. I know I can do better than this.  After all the full marathon winner beat me by more than 20 minutes.  What? I can’t possibly go down like that!  This can’t be the best I can do.  Ok, when does training start for the Flying Pirate half in April?  Yes…I’m hooked.  I suppose there are worse things to be hooked to than running.  I’ll take it!  In April I will finish in 2 hours.

That’s the new goal.

Filed Under: Outer Banks Good Living, Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

Best Buys for the Week of November 12th

November 12, 2012 By Ilona

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Filed Under: OBX Real Estate News & Data, Outer Banks Good Living, Properties Tagged With: , , ,

The importance of Support…and I’m not talking about Control Tops or Sports Bras!

November 8, 2012 By Ilona

So the Outer Banks Marathon weekend is upon us.  I will be running a half marathon in less than 72 hours.  Am I nervous?  Well it depends on the moment.  I’m excited half the time and scared to death the other half of the time.  I just have to keep remember why I’m running this.  I’m running for Charlie.  He can’t run.  Heck, he can barely walk now.  And even though it’s painful for him to move around a lot, when I need him to get up, he does it and doesn’t complain…well, not much anyway.  So who am I to complain about the fact that I have the ability to run 13.1 miles?

Really at this point it’s all a mental game.  I’ve been training for this since April, I just didn’t know it!  Matt made sure of that…he’s sneaky like that you know.  If I can just keep my mind in order until about mile 6, I’ll be golden.  I know physically I can do this.  There’s no question.  It’ll hurt some for sure, but it’s supposed to hurt.  Anything hard to get is worth the pain to get there.  Shoot, so much of what we do hurts anyway.  We don’t let that stop us in other areas of life.  Giving birth, that’s a real doozy but women purposely get pregnant all the time, some even for a second and third time!!!  Drinking too much wine hurts…the next day, and yet I still partake in that exercise more often than I should.  When will I learn?

The point is…things in life that are worth having usually don’t come easily.  They’re not supposed to.  What makes it all worthwhile is that fighting spirit and sense of accomplishment when it’s done.  That’s why I’m going to fight through the pain, fight through the mental challenges, get my medal at the finish line, drink a beer and then go home to show Charlie that I did it all for him!

I know the title of this blog is about support, so I’ll get to it finally.  There is no way one takes on an endeavor like this without a support system.  In my case the support system is the only reason I am able to take this on.  My family at Outer Banks Bootcamps is…well…there’s really only one fitting way to describe them…simply AMAZING.  The Outer Banks is a special place to live.  God made this place special through the beautiful ocean, sky, nature and also the people who occupy this island and call it home.  I’m sure there are great people in many places…I’ve had the good fortune to meet some of the greatest people here on this little barrier island.

The strength, commitment, enthusiasm, community spirit, diversity and compassion that our little (growing every day though) group of bootcampers possesses is….well…once again…simply AMAZING.  I have never in my 37 years been a part of something like this.  There is a true sense of family and community amongst us.  We are fiercely loyal to Matt and Jay and they return the protection to us as well.  That’s what the strongest families do. 

I shudder at the thought that I almost didn’t stick with it. That would have been a big mistake.  God has a plan.  Things happen for a reason.  Sometimes we don’t see it until later, but when we do how can you help not looking back, smiling, nodding your head and knowing something much greater than you is in control and always has your back!  I now realize that going through all the discomfort, the growth, the connecting, the sweat, the cursing (well maybe he didn’t plan that) I was in the right place all along with the absolute right people.

From the bottom of my heart I can never thank you all enough for the lifting words. The quiet prayers. The delicious food. The endless encouragement. The smiles. The hand squeezes.  The shoulders to cry on.  The delivery of bed pads.  The text messages. The facebook messages.  The beautiful birthday surprise party.  The 20 minute drive to do a 2 minute limb removal.  The bottles of wine followed by truth or dare.  The running partner.  The reassurance I can do it.  Oh, I could go on and on.  In a nutshell, it’s the SUPPORT.   I am so blessed and grateful to be part of your group, your family.

And lastly, the support from our fearless leaders Matt and Jay has been off the charts.  If you don’t have someone like these two in your life, you’re truly missing out. You’re missing out so much that once you have them you can’t imagine life without them.  I’ve had many mentors in my years and have loved them all.  These guys take it to that next level.  I can’t even finish writing this without the tears streaming.  I hope you know how deeply important you are to us.  You are the head of this family and its strength is a direct reflection of you as leaders.  You surround yourself with the best of the best and I’m so blessed to be a part.

So, to sum it all up…Thank You.  Love You.  See You Sunday at the finish!

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Hurricane Sandy – Tuesday, October 30th, 2012

October 30, 2012 By Ilona

Here are some videos of the damage Hurricane Sandy did to the Outer Banks. Check back often because I’m out and about still taking shots!! Hope all are safe and sound!

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