Pirate Nation

September 5th, 2010

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, fall in North Carolina is my favorite time of year.  You know fall is approaching when you get to sleep with your windows open and…oh yeah….when college football kicks off!  With East Carolina University just an hour down the road from Arlington Place and two ECU alums here in the office, we definitely feel right in the middle of Pirate Nation. 

The official start to ECU’s football season is today at 2:00 as the Pirates take on Tulsa.  Today is also the debut of the new and improved Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium that has undergone a 7,000 seat expansion this year.  The stadium can now accomodate 50,000 purple and gold, passionate, Pirate fans.  We’re excited for an eventful season….Go Pirates!

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Elevation Appreciation

September 1st, 2010

What comes to mind when you think of Coastal Carolina?  Life on the water, rocking chairs on the front porch, quaint historical towns…..also perhaps low land, hurricanes, flooding.  The old saying rings true, You can’t have your cake and eat it too….or can you?  Most of the year, Coastal Carolinians enjoy a relaxed outdoor lifestyle with the sun shining and gentle breezes.  Fall is undoubtedly my favorite season….tourists have cleared out, most days are in the upper 70s and the water is still warm.  But for those who don’t live here, all you hear are the dreaded hurricane reports.  I was thinking about this as I watched Al Roker report on Earl from my favorite beach this morning on the Outer Banks…..no wonder our area has a negative connotation when September rolls around.  It’s true, we do get storms every now and then but most are just threats….the bark is worse than the bite. 

Everyone wants to be reassured that their families and their homes will be safe…rightfully so.  This peace of mind is one of many things that sets Arlington Place apart from the crowd.  Our land elevations average 25 feet ABOVE SEA LEVEL….extremely rare for the Carolina Coast.  Arlington Place is perfectly situated on a high bluff which makes for incredible views, great drainage, NO FLOOD INSURANCE and that ever important peace of mind.  I think September should officially be named ‘Elevation Appreciation Month’ on the coast. 

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Michelob Ultra Regatta Next Weekend

August 27th, 2010

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The 2010 Michelob Ultra Regatta returns to the Neuse River on Labor Day weekend, Sunday September 5th.   Around 10am sailboats will race down the wide waters of the Neuse from Oriental to Union Point Park in New Bern.  We should get a pretty good view of the race from the shores of Arlington Place around lunchtime.  And waiting for the competitors and spectators at the end is the Octoberfest “Beergarden” Shore Party at the New Bern Farmer’s Market…..how appropriate. 

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‘McMansions’ are Out….Cottages are In!

August 23rd, 2010

There was a foreshadowing article from CNBC this week called Death of the ‘McMansion’: Era of Huge Homes is Over. We have witnessed this “right-sizing” trend here at Arlington Place with about half of our owners and potential residents looking for a home around 2,000 square feet or less. This of course, led to the recent introduction of our Arlington Place Cottage Series with packages starting in the upper $200Ks. Good to know that we have what people want!

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Death of the ‘McMansion’: Era of Huge Homes is Over: They’ve been called McMansions, Starter Castles and Garage Mahals but here’s the latest thing you can call them - History.  In the past few years, more towns have passed ordinances against garishly large homes, which are generally over 3,000 square feet and built very close together. What sets a McMansion apart from a regular mansion, according to Wikipedia: They’re tacky, they lack a definitive style and they have a “displeasingly jumbled appearance.”

Well, count 2010 as the year the last nail was hammered into the McCoffin: In its latest report on home-buying trends, real-estate site Trulia declares: “The McMansion Era Is Over.”

Just 9 percent of the people surveyed by Trulia said their ideal home size was over 3,200 square feet.  “That’s something that would’ve been unbelievable just a few years back,” said Pete Flint, CEO and co-founder of Trulia. “We continue to move away from the McMansion chapter of residential design, with more demand for practicality throughout the home.  McMansions just look and feel out of place today, given the more cautious environment everyone’s living in,” said Paul Bishop with the National Association of Realtors.

And homebuilders are heeding the call: In a survey of builders last year, nine out of 10 said they planned to build smaller or lower-priced homes.

What’s more, many in the real-estate business say they think this trend of downsizing, or “right-sizing,” as Flint likes to call it, is here to stay.  “This is absolutely a long-term effect.” The full article can be found here.

Call us for more information on the Cottages at Arlington Place and how you can receive an $8,000 incentive!  800-967-7639

Dragon Boats Cruise into Oriental

August 22nd, 2010

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Yesterday marked the beginning of what will undoubtedly become summer tradition in Oriental, the First Annual Dragon Boat Festival and Race.  Teams of 20 maneuvered the 46 foot long boats through the waters of the Neuse River and hundreds of spectators enjoyed the race and other festivities from dry land.  Congratulations to Arlington Place’s own Tom & Elaine Hills for their second place finish in the race!

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Photos courtesy of TownDock.net.  Jana was going to be our photographer for the event, but she was a bit busy having a baby:)

The Arlington Place Family is ‘Plus 1′ Today!

August 21st, 2010

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The Arlington Place family continues to grow in more ways than one.  Congratulations to our office manager Jana and her husband Ian who welcomed their daughter into the world early this morning.  Happy Birthday to Madeline Rose Crawford…..6 pounds 12 ounces and just as cute as can be.  We are so happy for your family and can’t wait to meet Little Miss Maddie!

Arlington Place on the Road

August 19th, 2010

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We’d like to extend a warm invitation to meet us at the Arlington Place booth at the Morris County New Jersey Live South Real Estate Show. September 18th and 19th in Parsippany, NJ and at the Greater D.C. Live South Real Estate Show on September 25th and 26th in McLean, Virginia. If you haven’t been able to get out to see us at Arlington Place, we’re coming to your area. Please feel free to drop by to meet with our community consultants, pick up more information, and catch up on the latest Arlington Place news.

Meet the experts, attend seminars, take advantage of special offers/getaway packages, compare retirement, investment and vacation properties all in one convenient location. Whether you are hoping to improve your quality of life, lower your cost of living or just escape congestion and cold weather, you can find the homes you seek at the Live South Real Estate Show. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join Arlington Place at the Greater New Bern Business Expo

August 19th, 2010

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Arlington Place will be at the Greater New Bern Business Expo today from 10:00am - 5:00pm. Stop by our both today for a quick hello and for more information on Arlington Place, our new Cottage Series and all the great amenities our neighborhood has to offer.

We hope to see you there!

Welcome to the Neighborhood!

August 13th, 2010

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A huge wecome from all of us at Arlington Place to our newest home owners, Scott and Nan Zillioux.  We’ve already had such a wonderful time getting to know them and can’t wait to spend more time with them out on the water, for game night, or just chatting on the porch.

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2010 Dragon Boat Festival

August 12th, 2010

How appropriate that Oriental, whose town symbol is the dragon, is hosting the 2010 Oriental Dragon Boat Festival.  The Festival will be held this year on August 20th and 21st and features Dragon Boat races, entertainment, parade of teams and great food.

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The race should be interesting and exciting.  Dragon Boat paddlers move in unison, combining strength with teamwork in a boat whose elaborate design originates in ancient China.  Dragon Boats are the world’s largest flat water racing canoes, propelled by a co-ed crew of 20 plus a drummer and a steersperson.  Teamwork is everything and synchronicity is more important than strength. 

Come join us for yet another fun filled weekend on the water!