Grande Villas Beach Condos Blog in Indian Beach, North Carolina

Six Great Shopping Destinations on the Crystal Coast

November 8th, 2011

Now that autumn is here and the holidays are just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get your shopping groove on. Check out the cool shops and local boutiques that are a short drive away in Morehead City, Atlantic Beach, and Beaufort, NC.

1. Find a terrific read. Make your first stop the Morehead City Bookshop. This independent new and used bookstore carries everything from the bestsellers all your friends are reading, to books that are rare and out-of-print. 4915-C Arendell Street, Morehead City. For more information, call 252-240-1163 or visit www.moreheadcitybookshop.com.

2. Bring home local art. Since 1985, the Down East Gallery, located on the historic Beaufort waterfront, has been exhibiting and selling the artwork of local artist Alan Cheek. Alan’s work is inspired by the beautiful landscape of the coast – and you’ll find an impressive inventory of collectibles and canvases available. 519 Front Street, Beaufort. Call 800-868-2766 for or visit www.alancheek.com for information on the gallery and artist.

3. Make a splash with ceramics. Featuring a selection of beautiful hand-painted ceramics from Spain, Portugal, and Mexico, Tierra Fina offers gifts for both the home and garden. Find everything from flowerpots to cookware to the ever-popular house number tiles. 415 Front Street, Beaufort. Call 252-504-2789 or visit www.tierrafinanc.com for more information.

4. Enjoy a unique gift from Asia. The Dragonfly Import Company in Atlantic Beach offers unusual gifts, hand-picked by the owners on travels through Southeast Asia. If you’re looking for something that’s not your typical beach souvenir, this is the place to go. 1010 W. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach. Contact the shop at 252-222-0080.

5. Go fly a kite. In the same shopping center, make sure to visit Kites Unlimited & Bird Stuff – where they care about the things that fly! Browse through high-end games for kids, an amazing selection of great kites, and functional and decorative birdhouses. 1010 W. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach. Call 252-247-7011 or visit www.kites-birdstuff.com.

6. Get some Mistletoe Magic. The Mistletoe Magic Holiday Gift & Craft Show will be held Saturday, Nov. 12 and Sunday, Nov. 13 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City. Find great gifts for the upcoming holidays including pottery, jewelry, purses, accessories, art of all kinds, and food ideas for the holidays. For more information, call 252-247-3883.

Any fun or funky shopping spots that we’ve missed? Join the conversation and share your recommendations in the comments!

Tags: atlantic beach shopping, beaufort nc shops and shopping, morehead city nc shopping, morehead city shopping, shopping in beaufort nc
Posted in Activities & Attractions, Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Emerald Isle, Morehead City | No Comments »

A Move-in Checklist for Your New North Carolina Beach Condo

October 28th, 2011

You’ve finally arrived at your Indian Beach condo. The movers are gone. The boxes are unpacked. You’ve taken a deep breath – and feasted your eyes on the gorgeous, panoramic ocean views. Read on for a checklist of things you can do to make your condo feel like home.

1) Get organized. Start your new life right with a condo free of clutter. It’s always easiest to simplify and sort when you first move in, so resist any urge to procrastinate. Your suite comes with generous closet space and built-in shelves. Make the most of that storage space with open baskets to hold small objects – and large plastic bins to store bulky items you may not need immediately, like winter clothing or linens.

2) Furnish with style. Is your look easy and casual? Classic and elegant? Modern and cutting edge? Whatever your taste, show your flair with furnishings that reflect your unique style. The Crystal Coast boasts both national furniture chains and upscale home furnishing boutiques. So whether you’re looking for wicker, wood, or something in between, you can find the pieces you’re looking for locally.

3) Express your personality. The little details make all the difference. Inject color with tapestries, wall hangings, or floor rugs. Indulge your wild side with exotic vases and sculptures. Get your children’s school paintings framed and playfully showcase them. Or, let the ocean be your muse and find interesting ways to use shells in jars and glass boxes.

4) Be vibrant. Nothing brings life into a home like fresh flowers and plants. Give your space an instant breath of fresh air – have a local florist deliver lovely bouquets on a regular basis. Fill flowerpots with easy, no-fuss houseplants such as Pothos, Peace Lily, ferns or jade plants, and create your own little garden indoors.

5) Call the Grande Villas Homeowners Services Team. At Grande Villas, we want your North Carolina beach condo experience to be tranquil and worry-free. The Homeowners Services Team is here to provide personal, complimentary services that make your move easier. The team can offer advice on interior decoration, schedule maintenance, and help you get to know the area and the cool amenities you get with your condo.

Now you’re ready! Get out and enjoy carefree coastal living and seaside relaxation.

Tags: Homeowners Services Team, Indian Beach Condos, Move-in checklist, North Carolina Beach Condos
Posted in Real Estate | No Comments »

Blackbeard’s Cannon Recovered

October 26th, 2011

RALEIGH, N.C. – A piece of pirate history that’s been
resting on the ocean floor for nearly than 300 years was brought to the
surface Wednesday morning and is on its way to the North Carolina Maritime
Museum in Beaufort. Discover more here…

Posted in Activities & Attractions, Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Crystal Coast, Emerald Isle, Events & News, Families & Kids, Indian Beach, Morehead City | No Comments »

Childproofing Your North Carolina Beach Condo

October 13th, 2011

Maybe you have small children, or maybe you have grandchildren or other youthful visitors spending time at your Grande Villas condo. In either case, it’s a wise idea to consider the measures you might need for childproofing. Here are a few precautions you can take to ensure the little ones stay safe and everyone can focus on good times at the North Carolina beach.

If your condo is on one of the higher floors, you’ll definitely want to be mindful of windows and reduce any potential falling hazards. You can install window guards that prevent your windows from opening more than a few inches, while still maintaining an attractive exterior appearance.
Looped cords on window blinds in your condo can be strangulation hazards, so keep the ends of the cords out of reach of children. Keep furniture and other large objects away from windows to prevent children from climbing onto windowsills.
Condos at Grande Villas do not have interior staircases needing safety gates, but you might wish to use them to keep small children out of the kitchen or other places where they shouldn’t wander unattended.
Use outlet protectors to keep curious fingers out of unused electrical outlets in your condo. You can also install special plug adaptors designed to make it difficult for kids to unplug cords from outlets in use.
Install wall brackets and anchors on bookcases, shelving, and heavy upright furniture in your condo to prevent them from tipping over. Make sure toy chests and other furniture do not have heavy lids that can slam down.
Use the back burners on your stove and keep the handles on hot pots and pans turned toward the back, out of children’s reach.
Install safety latches on cabinets and drawers in the kitchen and bathrooms where medicines, cleaning products and other potential hazards are stored. Place “Mr. Yuk” poison prevention stickers on these products and teach children to avoid them.

For more detailed information, visit Child Proofing Tips Blog, A Parent’s Guide to Child Safety or Consumer Reports. With a few responsible steps, you can put your Grande Villas home among the most child-friendly beach condos in North Carolina.

Tags: Childproofing, North Carolina Beach Condos
Posted in Families & Kids | No Comments »

Great Golf on the Crystal Coast

October 4th, 2011

The crisp autumn weather makes this time of year perfect for a rousing game of golf. A wealth of outstanding golf courses in this Crystal Coast region offer a variety of topographies and challenge levels for avid golfers and beginners alike. Calling ahead for tee times is recommended at these local courses.

Crystal Coast Golf Courses:

Brandywine Bay Golf and Country Club
177 Brandywine Blvd.
N.C. Highway 24 & U.S. Highway 70
Morehead City, NC 28557
Phone: (252) 247-2541
Semi-private course, open for public play: 18 holes. Official home of the Purple Heart Classic. Named one of the Best Places to Play in North Carolina by Golf Digest, 2006. Voted the most outstanding course by readers of Coaster Magazine, 2010.

The Country Club of the Crystal Coast
152 Oakleaf Drive
MM 5, N.C. Highway 58
Pine Knoll Shores, NC 28512
Phone: (252) 726-1034
Semi-private course, open for public play: 18 holes. With rolling sand dunes, tall pines and majestic oaks that line the fairways, this course is a true shot maker’s delight and fun to play for the entire family.

Silver Creek Golf Club
601 Pelletier Loop Rd.
Cape Carteret, NC 28584
Phone: (252) 393-8058
Public course: 18 holes. Gene Hamm’s breathtaking layout and outstanding design give all levels of golfers a fair and challenging test of their playing ability. Driving range and putting green.

Star Hill Golf Club
202 Club House Drive
Cape Carteret, NC 28584
Phone: (252) 393-8111
Semi-private course, open for public play: 27 holes. Star Hill Golf Club opened its fairways and greens for play in 1967, making it one of the Crystal Coast’s preferred golfing traditions.

Crystal Coast Driving Ranges:

The Golf Farm
612 Tom Mann Rd
Newport, NC 28570
Phone: (252) 223-3276

The Golfin’ Dolphin
N.C. Highway 24
Cape Carteret, NC 28584
Phone: (252) 393-8131

To our golfers out there, which of the Crystal Coast area golf courses do you recommend for a fun and challenging round? Please share your comments and experiences below!

Tags: Driving Ranges, Golf Courses, Golfing
Posted in Activities & Attractions, Crystal Coast, Morehead City | No Comments »

N.C. Existing Home Sales Continue to Post Double Digit Growth

September 27th, 2011

(Greensboro)- North Carolina existing home sales posted double digit growth for the second consecutive month in August with a 21 percent increase in units sold. Existing home sales have not been this high since May 2010.

According to statistics compiled by the North Carolina Association of REALTORS®, total units sold for the month were 7,878 and total dollar sales were $1,572,790,747. The average existing home sales price declined 4 percent to $199,643.

Brunswick County led the state with the highest year-to-date sales growth with an 8 percent increase in total dollar sales. Rocky Mount and Carteret County followed closely with a 7 percent and 3 percent increase, respectively. Brunswick County also led the state with the largest price appreciation at 5 percent, while Rocky Mount and Carteret County followed with a 2 percent increase, respectively.

For detailed information, visit the market statistics area of the NC REALTORS® website at http://www.ncrealtors.org/uploads/August11.pdf

Posted in Atlantic Beach, Crystal Coast, Emerald Isle, Indian Beach, Morehead City, Real Estate, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Top 7 Ways to Enjoy the Crystal Coast this September

September 15th, 2011

Summer may be winding down, but there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy the beautiful Crystal Coast as we ease into early fall. Here are a few interesting recreational and cultural activities going on around our region this month.

1. Take a nice walk
Come on out and join the Emerald Isle Parks & Recreation’s fall walking club at the Community Center, 7500 Emerald Drive, Emerald Isle. Walks start at 6 PM every Tuesday now through October 17. For more information or to register contact Sheila Lowe at (252) 354-6350 or slowe@emeraldisle-nc.org.

2. Celebrate children
Emerald Isle’s Sixth Annual Day4Kids takes place at Emerald Isle Park and Rec Center from 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturday, September 17. Bring out the kids fun-filled day of vendors, activities, games, face painting and more! Call (252) 354-6350 for details or email Laura Lee Davis at ldavis@emeraldisle-nc.org.

3. See history come alive
See Civil War Reenactments at Fort Macon on the weekend of September 17 and 18. Members of the 1st N.C. Volunteers will perform different programs from 10 AM to 4 PM each day, including historical talks and musket firings and drills. For more information call (252) 726-3775.

4. Bike along the beach
Cycling for the Coast begins at Bogue Banks on Saturday, September 17 at 8 AM. Pedal through Emerald Isle, Salter Path, Indian Beach, Pine Knoll Shores and Atlantic Beach. to raise awareness for our coastal estuaries and white sandy beaches, and raise funds for the North Carolina Coastal Federation. Visit www.nccoast.org to register or contact Sam Bland at (252) 393-8185 for more information.

5. Fish the surf
Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation and The Reel Outdoors are sponsoring the 5th Annual Flounder Surf Fishing Tournament to kick off the surf-fishing and beach driving season that starts September 15. The tournament runs from Saturday, September 24 to Saturday, October 8. Registration is free and the Reel Outdoors will be providing prizes for the top 3 anglers! Contact Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation for further information or call (252) 354-6350.

6. Dine on great seafood
Don’t miss the 25th Annual North Carolina Seafood Festival in Downtown Morehead City, September 30 – October 2. Carteret County’s annual seafood celebration is the second largest festival in North Carolina, playing host to an average of 200,000+ people each year. While sampling the large variety of seafood available, you can also experience educational exhibits and take part in hands-on activities for young and old alike. For more information visit the North Carolina Seafood Festival website.

7. Experience floating art
A $40 million dollar floating art gallery will be docked in Morehead City for the North Carolina Seafood Festival. ArtSplendor on SeaFair is a juried art show and sale of original artwork during the weekend of September 29 – October 2 on the Morehead City waterfront. For more information visit www.expoships.com or www.artscouncilcarteret.org.

Tags: Cycling for the Coast, Fishing Tournaments, Floating Art Gallery, Fort Macon State Park, Seafood
Posted in Activities & Attractions, Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Crystal Coast, Emerald Isle, Events & News, Families & Kids, Indian Beach, Morehead City | No Comments »

August Fun Events: Pirates and Seafood!

August 8th, 2011

We have some major local annual events coming up on the weekend of August 13 and 14, celebrating the unique cultural heritage of the Crystal Coast. Don’t miss out!

Beaufort Pirate Invasion
Join the town of Beaufort, NC in welcoming Blackbeard back nearly 300 years after the harrowing events of 1747! The yearly invasion reenactment features sword fighting, cannons blaring, pillaging, plundering, and of course, grog swilling.

Locations: Beaufort Historic Site, Beaufort Waterfront, Maritime Museum. Invasion will begin at 1:30 PM Saturday on the Beaufort Waterfront. After the invasion, those captured will be marched to the Beaufort Historic Site for a mock trial. Buchaneer’s Ball will be held Saturday night at 7 PM. Tickets to food events will be available at Beaufort Trading Co., Tierra Fina, Scuttlebutt, Curves, Martha’s Hot Shop in downtown Beaufort (cash or check only). For more information call (252) 728-3917.

Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival
The annual festival at Sneads Ferry Community Center, Park Lane, honors local fishermen and the greatness of wild American shrimp. Events include the Shrimp Ball, Shrimp-a-roo, carnival, arts & crafts, food booths, beer & wine garden, fireworks and live bands.

Parade starts at 10 AM Saturday, festival opens 11 AM Sat., noon Sun. Admission $3 adults, under 12 free. For more information call (910) 327-2707.

And also mark your calendars for the North Carolina Seafood Festival coming up on September 30 – October 2 in Morehead City!

Tags: Beaufort Pirate Invasion, Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival
Posted in Activities & Attractions, Beaufort, Crystal Coast, Events & News, Families & Kids | No Comments »

Earning Rental Income from Your Vacation Property

July 25th, 2011

Owners and prospective buyers of vacation homes may wish to consider the advantages of earning rental income. If your property at Grande Villas or elsewhere is going to sit unoccupied for long stretches between your stays, turning it into a rental can be a smart way to put your investment to work. While you may not quite manage to make the vacation home pay for itself as some real estate investors would dream of, the extra income and tax benefits can represent a very attractive proposition.

The key consideration before getting into the rental game is the amount of time you wish to rent out your property. If you rent it for less than 15 days in a year, whatever income you collect from it is completely tax-free. This can be an appealing option for those only interested in short-term arrangements, and it can pay off handsomely if the second home is located near a popular attraction (like an annual festival or golf tournament) that can command peak rental rates. Of course, if you don’t have to report your rental income, that means you can’t claim any rental-related expenses as deductions.

If you rent your property for 15 or more days a year, then the IRS considers it a rental business and you must report the income. In this case, your costs on the home during rental periods can be deducted as business expenses. As long as you maintain personal use of the property as your vacation home, you can also continue to deduct your mortgage interest and property taxes. That may sound like a win-win, but becoming a landlord carries a lot of responsibilities and liabilities that you should carefully review with your accountant or attorney before jumping in.

Check out these links for further general information:

H&R Block Tax Tips: Owning a Second Home

SmartMoney: Property Taxes on Vacation Homes & Timeshares

Buyers Utopia: Vacation Rental Home Investment Property

Tags: Indian Beach Real Estate, Property Taxes on Vacation Homes, Vacation Home, Vacation Rental Home Investment Property, Vacation Rental Income
Posted in Real Estate | No Comments »

Crystal Coast Real Estate Market Heats Up

July 11th, 2011

According to a recent report by the North Carolina Association of Realtors Carteret County led the state with the highest year-to-date sales growth with a 13 percent increase in total dollar sales. This is great news for properties along the Crystal Coast. Grande Villas recorded two additional sales over the past week and is currently enjoying its strongest sales year since opening the project. We still have a great selection of available units and great purchase incentives.
Contact us today at 877.845.4438 or sales@gvcondos.com for a list of available properties.

Posted in Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Crystal Coast, Emerald Isle, Events & News, Indian Beach, Morehead City, Real Estate | No Comments »

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