The State Port Pilot > Front Page News > Double feature

Weather hasn't been great this week, but we've had some excitement around town on the one beautiful, sunny day we did have.....filming of two TV pilots "Revenge" and "Heart of Dixie" has been fun to watch....crews are friendly....pictures to come

The State Port Pilot > Front Page News > Double feature

This isn't an April Fools Day Joke!

Can you believe it is already time for pools to start opening up?  I know some kids who have been waiting for this!  Arbor Creek is opening it's pool on April 1st! This truly is the beginning of Spring!

And what perfect timing!  We currently have 8 homes on sales ready to be moved in!  All of them are just a walk or bike ride to the pool, clubhouse, tennis courts, lake and garden!  If you are more interested in starting a new project, we have 7 lots listed that are perfect to build your dream home on!  If you have never been to Arbor Creek, it is a very active neighborhood, just on the outskirts of Southport city limits.  It is close to both Oak Island bridges, shopping and restaurants.  It is surrounded by Saint James and with only one way in and one way out, it is a perfect place to stroll, ride bikes and walk your dog, or cruise to one of the many activities the neighborhood holds.  

Click on our listings below for more information on that property or click here to see all 33 properties available at this time!

Spring Has Sprung!

Yesterday was the first official day of Spring.  I think everyone is happy to see it finally here.  The sun is shining, the grass is growing, gardens are being planted, flip flops are being dug out of the closet and cars are turning a pale shade of green. Spring is here!

As the days get warmer, you see more and more people coming down to the waterfront.  There are the locals gathering on the swings, kids feeding and chasing the seagulls on the lawn, more and more fishermen on the pier, joggers and dog walkers passing with a wave hello and a lot of picture taking.  Open flags are flying on the freshly painted restaurants and shops.  Patio furniture is being washed and set up, window boxes are being freshened up, and the leaves are being brushed away.   Spring is here!

Soon it will be warm enough to roll up your pants and wade in the cool water while looking for sea shells and sea glass.  But for now, we will enjoy the sun and the salty sea breeze we have all been anticipating!  Ahhh Spring is finally here!

Southport Spring Festival - Chili Cook-Off, Fun Run, Food, Crafts, April 22 & 23 2011

Just went to another planning meeting for the upcoming annual spring festival that will be held Easter weekend in Southport...Downtown Southport, Inc & Southport-OKI Kiwanis are pulling together another great event and want to get the word out about the 29th Annual Robert Ruark Chili-Cook-Off Contest!    Don't let your team miss the chance to participate...with room for only 14 teams get your application in as early as possible...so far 5 teams have committed with several more strongly considering an application.  Call Pam Frandano at Southport Realty at 910-457-7676 for some hints on participating and for an application and guidelines or email  pamfrandano@southport-realty.com.   

This family friendly community event also has lots of homemade crafts, food, and children's activities, and a fabulous Plant sale put on by the Kiwanis Club....this year Kiwanis will be selling at least 10 varieties of camellias in addition to flowering plants, herbs, and their traditional item, Encore azaleas!  Oh, one more thing as part of the festival....Kiwanis is hosting another 5K Run/Walk on Saturday morning  (4/22).  Register early to receive a race t-shirt!

Visit http://www.downtownsouthport.org/ or http://www.southport-oakisland-kiwanis.org/

Another Great Reason to Retire in North Carolina - Retiree Tax Guide to NC by Kiplinger

The Tar Heel State is a favorite destination for retirees. Social Security benefits are exempt from state income taxes as are in-state public pensions and military pensions. Up to $4,000 of retirement income from federal, state and local government pensions can be excluded, too. Out-of-state government pensions also qualify for the $4,000 exemption. You can also exclude up to $2,000 of qualified private pensions, including IRA distributions, from state income taxes. State income-tax rates range from a low of 6% to a high of 7.75% (on taxable incomes of more than $120,000). North Carolina imposes a 5.75% sales tax. Counties can add their own sales taxes, and the combined rate can reach 8% or more in some jurisdictions. Prescription drugs are exempt; food is subject to a 2% county tax. Real estate and personal property is assessed at 100% of appraised value. Homeowners 65 and older may qualify for a homestead exemption of up to $25,000, subject to income eligibility, and a circuit breaker program that limits property taxes to 5% of income, subject to income-eligibility limits. There is no inheritance tax, and the estate tax is related to federal estate-tax collection.

STATE SALES TAX
5.75% -- but is due to return to 4.5% on July 1, 2011. Prescription drugs and medical equipment are exempt. Food is subject to a 2% county tax.

INCOME-TAX RANGE
6.0% – 7.75%

EXEMPTIONS FOR RETIREMENT INCOME
Social Security is exempt. At least $4,000 in exclusions for pensions from federal, state and local governments (depending on dates and length of service); an exemption of up to $2,000 for qualified private pensions, including IRAs. Out-of-state government pensions also qualify for the $4,000 exemption. State retirees with at least five years of creditable service as of August 12, 1989, will be permanently exempt from state income tax on their retired/retainer pay.

PROPERTY TAXES
All property, real and personal, is subject to taxation and is assessed based on 100% of appraised value. Taxes are collected by cities and counties. Under the homestead exemption, the greater of $25,000 or 50% of the appraised value of real property owned by a North Carolina resident and occupied by the owner as his or her permanent residence is excluded from the taxpayer's assessment if the following requirements are met: (1) The owner is 65 or older or is totally and permanently disabled. (2) The disposable income of the owner did not exceed $25,000 for calendar year 2008. The 2009 limit is $25,600. The income-eligibility limit is adjusted each year by the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. The disposable-income limit amount includes all money received plus the disposable income of the applicant's spouse if they reside together. The state also has a "circuit breaker" property-tax-deferment program. Under this program, taxes for each year are limited to a percentage of the qualifying owner's income. The qualifying owner must be at least 65 years old or be totally and permanently disabled. For an owner whose income amount for the previous years does not exceed the income-eligibility limit for the current year, which for the 2009 tax year is $25,600, the owner's taxes will be limited to 4% of the owner's income. For an owner whose income exceeds the income-eligibility limit of $25,600 but does not exceed 150% of the income-eligibility limit (which is $38,400 for the 2009 tax year), taxes will be limited to 5% of the owner's income.

INHERITANCE AND ESTATE TAXES
There is no inheritance tax, and the estate tax is related to federal estate-tax collection.

State tax data courtesy Retirement Living Information Center. Visit RetirementLiving.com for a complete rundown of taxes in North Carolina.



Read more: http://portal.kiplinger.com/tools/retiree_map/index.html?map=14&state_id=34&mode=Go&page=plans_by_state&si=1#ixzz1G2JAetRn
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Top 10 Home Showing Tips by Elizabeth Weintraub

Top 10 Home Showing Tips

How to Show Your Home to Buyers

By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide

1) The Gracious Welcome

Although the buyer is a guest in your home, you want the buyer to imagine owning the home. You don't want to make the buyer feel like an intruder.

• Don't expect the buyer to remove her shoes, unless you are selling to a buyer for whom religious or cultural reasons mandate it. Otherwise, the presumption is insulting.
• Leave the house. The buyer won't talk about the house in front of you or open doors with you standing there.
• Don't pressure or hurry the buyer. Tell the buyer to take all the time that is needed.
• Leave a bowl of wrapped candy or other treats near the front door with a small note thanking the buyer for coming to see your home.

2) Check the Temperature

• Now is not the time to worry about your utility bill. If it's cold enough to wear a sweater to stay warm, turn on the heat.
• If it's warm outside, turn on the air conditioning. It's better to heat or cool the house a degree or two warmer / colder than usual and then set the temperature at normal. This prevents the heat or A/C from kicking on when the buyer is present, because some HVAC systems are loud.
• You want the temperature inside to be comfortable and to give the buyer more of a reason to linger, especially on hot or cold days!

3) Create a Mood

• Light a fire in the fireplace.
• Make it romantic by placing two champagne glasses on a nearby table.
• Turn on soft music. I used to play Enya until one day I heard it piped in at a mortuary.
• If you have water fountains, turn them on. They are especially useful for drowning out traffic noise.

4) Play Down the Scent

• Many people are allergic to certain scents and deodorizers, so don't spray the air or plug-in air fresheners.
• Don't burn candles or spray perfume in the bedroom for the same reason.
• If weather permits, open the windows -- if there is too much noise outside, close them.
• If you're going to bake cookies or simmer spices such as cinnamon in water on the stove, put out munchies so buyers aren't disappointed. More than one buyer has said, "Oh, darn, I thought there were cookies in here!"

5) Play Up the Visual

• If you have seasonal photographs showcasing flower gardens, leaves bursting in color or a snow-covered lawn twinkling from street lights, then display them in a prominent position.
• Open all the window coverings to let in light.
• Keep blinds partially closed that otherwise show undesirable outdoor scenery such as a dilapidated fence or a nearby structure that obstructs views.

6) Light up the House

• Turn on every light in the house, including appliance lights and closet lights.
• Brighten dark rooms with few windows by placing spot lights on the floor behind furniture.
• Turn off TV.

7) Encourage Touching

• Drape sensuous fabrics such as velvet or silk throws over chair arms.
• Leave doors slightly ajar.
• If you have carpeting, vacuum in one direction.

8) Provide Thoughtful Cards

Attach printed cards to items and in rooms that provide further information the buyer might miss or might not know. You have so little time to make an impression.

• If you have an antique chandelier in your dining room, put a card on it that discloses its age and other important details.
• If you have removed the washer and dryer from the laundry room, attach a card to the wall describing the room.
• If your basement stairs are steep, attach a card to the railing that cautions buyers to watch their step.
• Take care when placing a card that says: "Not included in the sale." That will make a buyer want it, but you can play that later to your advantage.

9) Top It Off With Food

The best way to entice buyers to linger and notice even more details about your home is to offer them food. You don't need to cater a lunch, but finger sandwiches, cookies, soft drinks, water, desserts, all are welcome.

• Set out serving utensils, if needed.
• Provide plates, cups and napkins. They can be paper products.
• In plain sight, provide a waste receptacle.

10) Encourage Buyer Feedback

• Near the snacks, leave pens and a stack of preprinted questionnaire cards or a guest book to sign.
• Buyers will feel obligated to respond to your request after being fed.
• The showing feedback you receive will be invaluable.
• Allow buyer anonymity.

_{At the time of writing, Elizabeth Weintraub, DRE # 00697006, is a Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, California
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