Bald Head’s Colorful History

What do the Declaration of Independence and the Old Baldy Lighthouse have in common? Besides being important historical landmarks, both were commissioned by Thomas Jefferson. The story of Bald Head Island, N.C. – home to Old Baldy – is filled with many historical figures, from pirates to presidents to lifesavers alike.

Bald Head Island is a resort community accessible only by boat where no cars are allowed. Located two nautical miles off the southeastern coast of North Carolina, this Island’s shores are no longer a refuge for pirates. However, the natural beauty of Bald Head Island ensures that this is still a place to seek and find adventure. Of the Island’s 12,000 acres, 10,000 acres of beach, salt marsh and maritime forest are protected and will remain undeveloped.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, when pirates ruled North Carolina’s coastal waters with greed and terror, Bald Head Island was a favorite hideaway for these notorious bandits. The most famous pirate to roam the waters was Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. In a nod to this colorful past, today’s visitors are transported to the island aboard ferries appropriately named “Revenge” and “Adventure” – both ships from Blackbeard’s infamous fleet.

Bald Head Island’s historic lighthouse, known affectionately as Old Baldy, was commissioned by Thomas Jefferson in the early 1800’s and is the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina. It’s not the only lighthouse in Bald Head history, though. Another beacon once shone from the island’s eastern tip: the Cape Fear Light was erected in 1903, following the creation a U.S. life saving station on Bald Head Island. Cape Fear Station was a bustling community of surf men until the service was deactivated in 1958.

Today, Bald Head Island’s preeminent residential community, Cape Fear Station, stands as a tribute to these heroes. Its entrance is marked by the ruins of the Cape Fear Light.

Pirate Captured Off Bald Head!

The pirate Stede Bonnet was captured at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, right by Bald Head Island, NC.  He was taken to Charleston, SC and hung along with his crew! Read more

Shipwreck Diving NC

Everyone fascinated with the sea will enjoy reading this documentary on local shipwreck diving. The book features stories and pictures about ships that have sunk offshore this area since the early 1800s.

Local authors Fred R. David and Vern J. Bender created this 66 page paperback book. Read more

Frying Pan Tower To Be B&B

A man plans to turn an abandoned light tower off the North Carolina coast into a high-seas bed-and-breakfast.

50-year-old Richard Neal of Mint Hill bought the Frying Pan Shoals Light Tower in a federal government auction in May for $85,000.

Neal plans to turn the 44-year-old former U.S. Coast Guard post into a bed-and-breakfast. The tower is 25 miles from Wilmington and is more than 60 feet above the water. It has seven bedrooms, a kitchen, a recreation room and helicopter landing platform. The tower was built in 1966 and was deactivated in 2003. Read more

All About Foreclosures

You can purchase property at a great discount through a Bank Owned or REO Foreclosure. When a foreclosing lender takes a property back it passes the property on to its REO (Real Estate Owned) department which arranges to sell the property.

Buying a bank owned property can be a complex purchase but an Accredited Real Estate Buyer’s Agent can put their years of experience to work to help you navigate the process and to negotiate the best bargain you can – keeping your financial circumstances and the worth of the property in mind.

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing a REO/Bank Owned property:

Some Advantages

• You can take your time deciding as there is no mandatory fixed time limit as there is in an auction.
• You will have an opportunity to really get a good look at the property to ascertain its condition and what repairs and maintenance may need to be done.
• The bank makes the arrangements to evict the former owners so there is no inconvenience or awkwardness for the buyer.
• Liens on the property aren’t a factor because the bank itself takes care of that.

Some Disadvantages

• A Bank/REO Owned property may be more expensive to purchase than one that is acquired during the pre-foreclosure phase. Even though the property is unsold, it is still unlikely that a bank will sell it at rock bottom prices. Sometimes the price fixed by the bank is more than the market value of the property. Your Accredited Real Estate Buyer’s Agent can best advise you on the property’s value as an opportunity.
• In many cases a bank will want to dispose off the property in an as-is condition. To protect yourself from having any nasty surprises your a good Accredited Real Estate Buyer’s Agent will put in an ‘inspection contingency’ condition. This is to give you the right to inspect the property and rescind your offer if the property is fails to measure up to.
• Banks are not required to issue a Property Condition Disclosure Statement. However, if a qualified, Accredited Real Estate Buyer’s Agent is involved, he/she will provide a Property Condition Disclosure Statement to you.

In purchasing a Bank Owned/REO property you will have to make your offer to the bank. Even though the auction was not successful the bank is still going to attempt to get the best price they can. When you make an offer, the bank will counter your offer with one that is generally higher than your offer. You will want to settle on a maximum price you are willing to offer and then make a final offer. Thereafter it will be put submitted for the bank’s approval after which a decision will be taken.

Purchasing an REO or bank owned property can be a complex purchase. As an Accredited Real Estate Buyer’s Agent I put my years of experience to work to help you navigate the process for a beneficial outcome. I can help you to negotiate the best bargain you can keeping your financial circumstances and the worth of the property in mind.

My website http://pope-realestate.com contains current, frequently updated listings of all foreclosures in Brunswick County (homes & land) as well as Wilmington, NC, Wrightsville Beach, NC and Carolina Beach, NC

For more information on these or any other foreclosures please contact Martha Pope:
email: martha@pope-realestate.com
phone: 910.619.7673