COUNTY APPROVES HATTERAS ISLAND FIREWORKS BAN

March 20th, 2007
Yesterday, the Dare County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance that will ban the possession, sale or use of fireworks on Hatteras Island. The new ordinance will take effect on June 1, 2007. The fine for violating the ordinance will be $250.00
 
The Commissioners’ action was taken in response to concerns voiced by a wide variety of organizations and citizens on Hatteras Island related to the fire hazard that fireworks create. We have had to call the fire department on several occasions when fireworks caught either the dune grass or bushes on fire. In one instance, live embers from fireworks landed on our roof and deck. All things considered, especially the wooden construction of houses on the island, it is close to a miracle that a severe fire affecting multiple properties has not occurred.
 
It is our understanding that special permits will be available for public and private fireworks displays.

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NEW DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME DATES & YOUR COMPUTER

February 25th, 2007
One of our Realtor® friends in Everett, Washington, Karen Schweinfurth, sent us this informative guide for dealing with the new daylight savings time dates and the potential impact on our computers.  Together with us, Karen is a member of an elite group of real estate professionals, the Allen F. Hainge CyberStars, who focus on using leading edge technology in their marketing efforts.  We hope you find this helpful.
 
“You may have heard about the change in Daylight Savings starting this year. DST will start three weeks earlier on March 11, 2007, and end one week later on November 4, 2007.
 
This could affect machines & computer programs that are set to coordinate time/date using Daylight Savings.
 
The first step is to ensure that your computer is prepared. For Windows XP users, click the below link to download and install the Daylight Savings patch:
 
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=66F1420C-DF2D-400B-A8A9-EF9061A9A3CA&displaylang=en
 
Scheduling software, such as Microsoft Outlook, could also be affected.
 
If you use the calendar feature in Outlook, and have version 2000, 2002, or 2003, you will want to download and install the Time Zone Data Update Tool by using the below link:
 
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=E343A233-B9C8-4652-9DD8-AE0F1AF62568&displaylang=en
 
You will also want to ensure that any fax machines that you use are changed to the correct time, as well as your digital phone at home, mobile phone, PDA, portable music player, programmable thermostat, digital camera, DVR, etc.
 
For other scheduling software, Smartphone’s, & PDA’s, check with the manufacturer to determine if you need to install updates to prepare for the new Daylight Savings rules.”

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UPDATE ON OREGON INLET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

February 24th, 2007
The proposed new bridge over Oregon Inlet appeared to move one step closer to becoming a reality last week.  According to an article in The Virginian-Pilot newspaper, a recent updated environmental assessment of the project included two new options.  One alternative was a bridge through Rodanthe; the other terminated south of the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.  Prior proposals included various combinations of a short bridge, relocation of Highway 12, beach nourishment, and a long bridge west of Oregon Inlet.
 
Cost seems to be the major consideration in the project.  Estimates for the various options vary from $602 million to $1.3 billion.  The price of constructing the 17.5 mile long bridge appears to be beyond the state budget since no federal money would reportedly be available.  The other major issue is the potential environmental impact on Pea Island of the short bridge option and the associated construction adjustments that would be necessary.  Some members of the scientific community have expressed concern that decisions are being made without enough emphasis on the “science” of the project.  There has also been apprehension that, if constructed, the long bridge might ultimately lead to the loss of access to Pea Island. Dare County supports the short bridge alternative, and state and federal officials have sided with this option.  On the other hand, national and state environmental groups support the long bridge favored by the National Wildlife Refuge.
 
 A team of representatives from 13 state and federal agencies is expected to choose the “best” option in May.  The design/construction contract is scheduled to be finalized in 2009, which would translate into completion of the bridge around 2013 or later.
 
Allen Burrus, the Dare County commissioner from Hatteras Island, perhaps summed the whole issue up best when he said, “Hatteras Island is really concerned with our bridge.  They want something done quickly.”

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DR. STAN RIGGS TO SPEAK AT THE FESSENDEN CENTER

February 10th, 2007
If you are on the island the evening of Thursday, February 15th, one of the most enjoyable and informative educational opportunities of the year will be taking place at the Fessenden Center in Buxton at 7:30 p.m.  Dr. Stan Riggs of East Carolina University will be offering a presentation titled, “Climate Change and the North Carolina Coastal System – Past, Present and Future.” He is perhaps the foremost expert on coastal geology as it relates to the Outer Banks. Dr. Riggs is a coastal and marine geologist who has been conducting research on the North Carolina coast since 1964.
 
Dr. Riggs has been involved in such critical issues as climate change, rising sea level and shoreline erosion. His most recent book, Drowning The North Carolina Coast: Sea-Level Rise and Estuarine Dynamics is a scholarly study of the history and impact of rising sea level on our coast. If you are a collector of books about the Outer Banks, this is one that you will definitely want to have on your shelf.
 
We can assure you, without qualification, that Dr. Riggs’ presentation will hold you spellbound and that you will leave the session with a new appreciation for the natural forces that affect Hatteras Island now and in the future.

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WINTER ARRIVES ON HATTERAS ISLAND!

January 30th, 2007
Well, it looks like winter has finally arrived on Hatteras Island.  After a wonderful autumn and a mild early winter with temperatures sometimes in the 70s, a cold front came through a few days ago and abruptly reminded us that it really is the end of January.
 
Winter is a very special time on Hatteras Island. The days are usually brilliantly clear. There are times when your car is the only one that can be seen in either direction on Highway 12. And, the beach is virtually deserted with just the sound of the wind and the waves to keep you company. At times like these, it is easy to visualize what the island must have been like hundreds of years ago.  
 
The sunsets are especially spectacular during the winter months.  On some evenings, when the conditions are just right, for a few moments the setting sun throws off rays that seem to dance and shimmer across the sky with every color of the rainbow.
 
Winter is also a time when our famous nor’easters visit the island, and we are again taken back to the days when storms meant ship wrecks. It was only a few weeks ago that a sailboat washed up on the beach north of Rodanthe, a modern day victim of the Graveyard of the Atlantic.
 
We would encourage you to create an opportunity to spend some time on the island during the winter months. You will find it to be quite different from the summer, but equally spectacular in its own way.  For some, this is their favorite season. It may end up being yours as well!  

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HOMEOWNER INSURANCE RATES TO INCREASE THIS YEAR

January 27th, 2007

 

The Virginian-Pilot newspaper reported this morning that the premiums for homeowners insurance will increase 25 percent this year for properties located on Hatteras Island and in counties along the North Carolina coast. The justifications for the increase were rising home prices, higher repair costs, and recent storm loss experience. The new rates are scheduled to take effect on May 1st. By comparison, the average premium increase across the state was reported to be 5.4 percent. The current increase comes on top of a 15 percent increase in 2005.
 
If you have any questions concerning the forthcoming rate hike, your insurance agent is your best source of information.

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IMPORTANT NEWS FOR FISHERMAN !

December 10th, 2006
According to a report in the Virginan-Pilot newspaper, effective January 1, 2007 anglers fishing in public waters will have to purchase a coastal recreational fishing license. The annual fishing license will cost $15 for residents and $30 for non-residents. A 10-day license will cost $5 and $10 respectively. Licenses can be purchased at tackle shops, hunting supply stores, through the Internet, and at some retail stores. The requirement for a coastal recreational fishing license means that residents and visitors will no longer be able to just go out to the beach and throw their lines in the water without first obtaining the necessary permit. Reportedly, North Carolina is the last state between Maryland and Texas to require a saltwater recreational fishing license.
 
While details about how the revenue from the new license will be used are still being developed, laws require that the money can only be spent to protect, conserve and enhance marine resources.
 
For more detailed information concerning the new coastal recreational fishing license, please visit the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries web site at: http://www.ncfisheries.net/recreational/NCCRFL.htm

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THE THANKSGIVING NOR’EASTER OF 2006

November 24th, 2006
We hope that you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration!
 
The Thanksgiving holiday on Hatteras Island was interesting to say the least. As you probably heard on the news or read about in the paper, we had one of our famous nor’easters come in starting on Tuesday morning. After blowing all day, the storm really cranked up after dark on Tuesday. According to the Virginian-Pilot, our local newspaper, a wind gust of 115 mph was reported at the Dare County airport in Manteo. The National Weather Service recorded a high wind gust of 82 mph at the Alligator River bridge west of Manteo. Winds over 60 mph and lots of rain affected the island. Standing water could be seen on many spots along Highway 12 and on some of the side streets.
 
The strongest part of the storm seemed to occur between midnight and 5 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Electric power to the entire Outer Banks was out for a few hours, and here on Hatteras Island, it was out for about 17 hours. The greatest dislocation, however, was the closing of Highway 12 due to ocean overwash north of Rodanthe. Some ocean overwash also occurred just north of the motels in Buxton and outside Hatteras Village. It is our understanding that the road was closed early Wednesday morning, and it did not reopen until about 3:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. As we like to say, “Just another day in paradise!”
 
All things considered, there appeared to be relatively little property damage on most of the island. The exception was in areas north and south of the Rodanthe pier where ocean overwash damaged some oceanfront homes and covered streets with sand. These areas have experienced ocean overwash in the past.
 
The strong storms that we occasionally experience are a fascinating part of the island’s history. In some ways, it is quite extraordinary to experience the island the way it used to be for a few hours when everything is totally quiet except for the sounds of the ocean and the wind, and the only lights are candles flickering through cottage windows. At special times like these, we come to realize how cluttered our lives have become with the constant noise from television sets and automobiles, and we come to appreciate the truly unique opportunities that Hatteras Island offers us to enjoy peace and quiet, a very simple lifestyle, and the time to do what we want. We really do have a lot to be thankful for, don’t we?
 
While we are talking about giving thanks, let’s not forget our service men and women whose sacrifices allow us to enjoy the freedoms that we have. We recently became aware of a project sponsored by Xerox that is designed to let our men and women in uniform know how much their efforts are appreciated. If you will go to http://www.letssaythanks.com , you will find cards and messages that you can send by e-mail to our men and women in the military. It is hard being away from home anytime, but especially during the holidays. We encourage you to visit this web site and to send a message of support to our troops, many of whom are our relatives and neighbors.

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Ownership Demographics, Rising Sea Level, & Recipes

October 8th, 2006
Did you ever wonder about which states our property owners come from? Currently, there are about 9,000 real estate parcels on Hatteras Island, excluding government owned properties, utilities, cemeteries and lots that are classified as being overwashed by the ocean. Here are the approximate ownership statistics:
-     32 percent are owned by individuals with Hatteras Island ZIP codes
-     68 percent are owned by individuals with off-island ZIP codes
 
The mailing addresses by state for the majority of off-island owners are:
-    Virginia – 23.0 %     
-    North Carolina – 15.8 %
-    Maryland – 6.1%
-    Pennsylvania – 4.8%
-    New Jersey – 4.8%
-    New York – 2.1%
-    Ohio – 1.6%
-    Florida – 1.4%
-   All other states – 8.0%
 
In the future, we would expect to see the number of property owners from North Carolina increase. The construction of new four-lane roads from the Raleigh area has made it much easier to get to the Outer Banks from mainland North Carolina than it has been in the past.
                       
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A recent article in The Virginian-Pilot. our local newspaper, reported that rising sea level is adversely affecting the Alligator River Wildlife Refuge that is located across the sound from Manteo. The rise in sea level is apparently turning areas that are currently forest into marsh with potentially negative effects on the wildlife habitat. Rising sea level is a fascinating issue. It is a lot like high blood pressure. It occurs so slowly that we don’t see the effects on a daily basis, but its implications are dramatic and far-reaching. A recent book by Stanley Riggs and Dorothea Ames, Drowning The North Carolina Coast: Sea-Level Rise and Estuarine Dynamics, (North Carolina Sea Grant, December 2003) forecasts an increase in the rate of sea level rise over the next century with the dramatic effect of potentially transforming Hatteras Island into an archipelago vs its present configuration. Scientists had estimated that sea level along the North Carolina coast was rising at the rate of about one foot per century. According to Dr. Stan Riggs and Dorothea Ames, data accumulated from tide gauges at the Army Corps of Engineers site in Duck suggest that sea level in the state may actually be rising at a faster pace of 1.5 feet per century. If you would like more information about rising seal level, request a copy of our free report on this subject at hranicka@hatterasisland.com.
 
On a related topic, the Alligator River Wild Life Refuge has some very interesting nature programs such as "howling up" the red wolves in the evening.  The next time you are on the island, check the refuge’s program schedule for an Outer Banks experience that will provide memories for a lifetime.  The refuge’s schedule may be viewed at http://www.fws.gov/alligatorriver/spec.html.
 
***
 
If you would like to enjoy at home the seafood that you eat while you are on Hatteras Island, check out our new page on Outer Banks recipes. The first recipe is for Hatteras clam chowder from Steve and Beth Bailey at Risky Business Seafood.

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WELCOME TO THE HATTERAS ISLAND REAL ESTATE BLOG!!!

September 28th, 2006
Welcome to the Hatteras Island Real Estate Blog! Our goal in creating the blog is to establish an interactive online forum for the discussion of issues related to Hatteras Island and its real estate market. We hope that you will feel comfortable adding your comments and observations to the blog, and we invite you to participate on a frequent basis as a vehicle for all of us to gain a better understanding of the island and the changes that it is facing on a variety of fronts. We also intend to use the blog as a means to communicate important information on a timely basis, so be sure to sign up for our e-mail notification service.  
 
Perhaps the most noticeable change on the island over the past year has been the dramatic shift in the real estate market from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market. With August sales results just finalized, there is virtually no change in the state of the real estate market on Hatteras Island from what we have seen over the past eleven months. The inventory of property for sale is about 60 percent higher than it was a year ago, and both the number of sales and the volume of sales are down approximately 50 percent. While the average selling price of residential properties is 2.4 percent lower for the first eight months of the year compared to the same period in 2005, the average selling price of unimproved lots is up over 28 percent on a very limited number of sales. The Hatteras Island Pending Home Sales Index, a leading indicator of sales 45 to 60 days in the future, has remained essentially flat since last November, suggesting that current market conditions will continue for the next few months.
 
There are any number of opinions concerning the reasons for this state of the market. Our personal opinion is that the withdrawal of investors from the market , rising interest rates, price appreciation that outpaced income growth, and a soft rental market have caused property sales to languish.
 
Fortunately, there are some signs on the horizon that the market may be stabilizing.
– For those homes that have sold, prices have held up well, although price declines are starting to appear.
– The Fed appears to be at or near the end of its interest rate increases.
– Nationally, second home sales now account for about 40 percent of all residential transactions.
– Over half of all baby boomers are still under 50 years of age, suggesting strong pent-up demand.
 
New flood insurance rate maps for Dare County became effective on Wednesday, September 20, 2006. All new construction projects and additions will be based on flood elevations noted on the new maps. Any proposed project must include an up-to-date survey with the base flood information established using the new flood maps. Apparently, a new datum is being used to establish elevations – thus, the need for new surveys.
 
Autumn is a spectacular season on the island with warm days, cool nights, good fishing, warm ocean temperatures and a reduced number of visitors. We hope that you will have the opportunity to visit during this very special time of the year.

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