Outer Banks BLOG

Fall Buying on the Outer Banks begins as kids go Back to School

Though the past few years have steered away from traditional buying cycles, this year seems headed back on course. It does appear that fall buying on the Outer Banks begins as kids go back to school once again.

The buyers that were priced out of the market in the 2004-05 years are watching and many are ready to begin the selection process. And why shouldn't they. Selection is great. Interest rates are at all time lows with interest as low as 4.25%. Sellers are ready to negotiate.

A word of caution to buyers: While there are many homes for sale on the Outer Banks, just remember that the most buys are occurring in the $500,000 range and down. That means you will have more competition and may need to be ready to make an offer if you find "the one."

Fall buying on the Outer Banks begins as kids go back to school and will run through November. Start now while there is a better selection.

Buyers, seriously, if you are thinking of jumping on this bus, contact me to learn how and where to start. I promise not to high pressure you into buying something. My job as your Outer Banks buyer agent is to find the property you want when you are ready. Let's begin the planning process now.

Fall buying on the Outer Banks begins as kids go back to school. If you prefer call me at 252-599-2845. Begin to shop now at all Outer Banks homes for sale.

Adopt a Vulture Today

Perhaps you should consider this. Adopt a vulture today! Before you tell me how ugly they are with their disgusting habits, let me tell you why they are so beneficial to the environment. Perhaps you will change your mind about these birds.

Vultures may not be  beautiful to see, but consider they scavenge on dead animals which effectively rids the environment of disease. Are you convinced it is time to adopt a vulture today? What if I told you some of those diseases included botulinum toxin, cholera, and anthrax bacteria? Check it out on Wikipedia or other sources you may find.

OK. You may not want one as a pet since they do have the nasty habit of throwing up when they are frightened. But, after careful consideration of these birds becoming endangered, you may just want to adopt a vulture today!

 "Linda, just what brought this on?" you ask.

• It's my sister-in-law's fault. She wants to soar but not kill to eat. See my post Vultures remind me of my sister-in-law on 8/31.
• Then there was an article on 9/2 in The Virginian-Pilot by Will Harris called Don't Fear the Vulture. Appreciate It. It announced the second annual International Vulture Awareness Day which took place at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center on Saturday.
• Carol Ann Curran, a conservation education specialist with the aquarium, appeared on TV with 2 of the critters.
• We have campaigns to adopt a whale, adopt a cat, adopt a star, adopt a tree, so why not a vulture?
• My dog made me do this

Well, the last reason isn't true. Perhaps you may not want to adopt a vulture today, but at least consider looking at them in a different light. After all . . . it could be some you know up there soaring on the current over the Outer Banks.

Sunday Morning Breakfast on the Outer Banks

What is it about the idea of leaving church and heading for our favorite place for Sunday morning breakfast on the Outer Banks? I hope you have your favorite spot for that special Sunday treat and it's as good as mine.

If you travel to the Outer Banks be sure and plan on having breakfast any morning at Stack 'Em High in Kitty Hawk at milepost 4.5. Um-m-m good. They have the usual fare. Fried or scrambled eggs, omelets, sausage, country ham, bacon, toast, hash browns, grits, waffles, French toast, pancakes.

Let me just say my usual order is 2 eggs, bacon, hash browns, wheat toast and coffee. I love the hash browns. They must sprinkle some magic over them before serving. This is not the average Sunday morning breakfast on the Outer Banks!

But wait ... The very best item on their menu is the pancakes. Short stack of 3. High stack of 5. You can order them plain, with fruit, pecans, chocolate chips, or coconut. These pancakes are magical. I don't know what their secret recipe is, but it certainly isn't anything like what I (used to) make at home. These things are fabulous.

The next time you visit and want to experience Sunday Morning Breakfast on the Outer Banks just stop by Stack "Em High and tell them Linda Powers sent you in. Get ready for some great food.

Why do you go to work?

Financial gain certainly is the number one answer ... or is it? In real estate we can work for days on end without income (sometimes longer), so there should be little perks along the way for us.

I am so fortunate to have my office with Resort Realty facing the Currituck Sound in Duck NC. As I parked my car this morning here is what greeted me.

Isn't he magnificent! He tolerated me and camera for several minutes and about 50 shots at about 4 feet away. He must know how incredibly beautiful he is and just wanted to give me a thrill.

And ... as if this gorgeous bird wasn't enough, a nutria swam into the shot. He's to the right. What a day! I'm rich in all things.

Why do you go to work? I hope you have perks every day to enjoy as well Enjoy your holiday weekend and be safe where ever you go.

Prepare for a Hurricane on the Outer Banks

Family and friends often are overly concerned for those of us who choose to live on a barrier island in the face of a major storm. Of course they understand we are taken by the beauty of the sea when all is calm, but WHAT IN THE WORLD MAKES US CHOOSE TO STAY WHEN A HURRICANE IS ON THE WAY!

Some of our stubbornness has to do with years of experience and all the wonderful stories told by those who have lived here much longer. We develop a sense of storm patterns and lay of the land. Though we don't know the technical terms or have the fancy equipment of NOAA, we can sense when to stay and when to go.

So how do we prepare for a Hurricane on the Outer Banks? We follow all the lists for collecting flashlights, batteries, portable radios, manual can opener, non-perishable food, and tarps. We gather all important documents like birth certificates and insurance papers. When we know we are ready for evacuating or hunkering down, we get ready for the last minute things that must be done:

• Wal-mart for cookies and animal treats -- and check on neighbors
• Grocery store for liquid refreshment -- and check on neighbors
• Beach to watch increasing wave action-- and check on neighbors
• As wind increases make final check on house -- and check on neighbors
• Final preparation as we watch for latest on news -- and laugh with neighbors

Now I do want to make one final commentary. Storms are serious no matter where you live. Go inside when you hear thunder. When the sky looks really wierd and you live in a tornado prone area, take cover. When you live near a volcano and see smoke begin planning to leave. When you hear a hurricane is coming your way, plan to take the appropriate action.

Y'all be safe and enjoy life. Sometimes we find a rainbow when least expected.

Hurricane Earl is focused on the Outer Banks

Well, it's Thrusday about 4:30 and those of us who live on the Outer Banks are prepared to ride this one out. For a number of reasons we certainly want our visitors to leave. Those reasons vary according to the area of the Outer Banks where they stayed this week.

• proximity to the ocean
• mode of travel to destination, i.e. ferry
• known issues in any storm such as flooding of low lying roads near the ocean
• in flood prone areas such as south Nags Head

Now, we hate to see our visitors go, but we know this can be a tad stressful when the wind howls and the rain blows sideways at 50 miles per hour.

So ... why do we think we should stay? Well, we may be crazy, but we live here. We work daily, monthly, yearly here to enjoy the good weather and beautiful natural beauty of coastal living. Staying during a storm is just a part of the process.

Hurricane Earl is focused on the Outer Banks. That's ok. I think most of us who live on the Outer Banks will confess that this excitement, this force of nature is so beautiful. Secretly we love it and respect it at the same time.

Earl, we are ready for you. We have our generators, water, batteries, radios, manual can opener, and all the other stuff to camp our way through your visit.

Though Hurrican Earl is focused on the Outer Banks, we hope he will stay out to sea, not only for us, but for the rest of the east coast. Everyone ... stay safe and enjoy the moment!

Hurricane Earl may vacation on the Outer Banks

Ok, everyone should come to the Outer Banks at least once. But Earl is simply not invited. When we locals heard that hurricane Earl may vacation on the Outer Banks we began making signs to tell him to stay out to sea.

While we are watching the NOAA tracking reports and our emergency folks are keeping us advised, friends and family are getting their weather news from the national media.

Here I go again! I can't help it. To me some of the information provided nationally is simply wrong. Friends and family depend on the newscast to make sure loved ones are safe ... all across the country.

Yesterday evening my sister called to tell us to get in the car with my pets and head for her home in West Virginia. She heard that all of the Outer Banks was under mandatory evacuation. WRONG. Wrong. Wrong.

If you are familiar with the long thin stretch of land known as the Outer Banks, you know it is about 125 miles long. It seems further when you want to see it all. What happens in a northern area will not impact a southern place.

As of just an hour ago here is what is happening:

• Ocracoke Island(the most southern part of the Outer Banks) is under mandatory evacuation for both visitors and residents. Just remember this is an island with access only by ferry. Ferries cannot run in heavy seas, so folks have no way to leave if needed.
• Hatteras Island is under evacuation orders for visitors only. This is because of low lying roads that flood easily blocking traffic from leaving the island.
• From Oregon Inlet through Corolla at this time there are no evacuation orders for anyone.
• The 4 wheel drive area north of Corolla may have evacuation orders in place because the beach will be closed for driving. That's the only way in or out.

Hurricane Earl may vacation on the Outer Banks but our emergency preparedness folks are all over this storm and will do their best to keep all of us safe.

Vultures remind me of my sister-in-law.

I simply can't help it. I can't get the thought out of my mind. Vultures remind me of my sister-in-law.

No-o-o-o. She doesn't look like a vulture. In fact she is one of those cute, perky, next door types that always has a smile and can do anything.

So why the vulture image? Well, her mind simply works in wondrous ways. Consider this: Her mother loved the smell of a skunk. (This family is very unique!) Though Mom left this world several years ago, every time we smell a skunk, we think of her. Seriously.

So to think of my sister-in-law when I see a vulture is not such a stretch! OK. There is more to this story. To protect her identity, I'll call her Joyce. Now Joyce loves all of God's creatures On the off chance that in some life she would return as something else (the game we all like to play), she would like to be a bird that soars.

So why not an eagle? Hawk? Osprey? Well, you would just have to know her heart. She could not survive as a soaring bird that kills another living creature. As a vulture she could soar high and still be useful by cleaning up someone else's mess.

After hearing her story I tried thinking of her as a pelican. They soar. They are family oriented. They are beautiful and funny at the same time. Well, I now seem to find vultures every place. Of course in the sky ... soaring. But they seem to be in TV commercials as well.

I guess it just makes sense. She wants to soar. She wants to keep the world clean and beautiful. But, Joyce, You already soar!

Now you know why vultures remind me of my sister-in-law.

Outer Banks Restaurant for Fine Dining

When it comes to choosing an Outer Banks Restaurant for Fine Dining, the first place I think about is Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern. Oh, we have a multitude of wonderful places to spend an evening for a special night out, but I just love Kelly's.

Of course each meal is wonderful, great selection cooked by an expert chef. Each item will create memories of the best of any dining experience. 

But I must say I am most attracted by the atmosphere. It's kinda like going back home for the best family gathering ever. Everyone just makes me feel welcome. When I consider an Outer Banks Restaurant for fine dining this is my choice.

The restaurant has many rooms to make dining there a new experience each time. There's also the bar with dance floor with enough separation from the dining areas to make it a pleasure for all.

Making the diner choice is difficult. You'll be impressed with the many selections, even for the children. And if you like fine wine with your meal, you'll also be impressed with the many labels and the reserve list.

This Outer Banks Restaruant for fine dining will fill you to the brim, but p-l-e-a-s-e save some room for dessert. These are Kelly's crowning jewels to any meal. While at Kelly's be sure to browse their Tempting Treasures. Their many items are every bit as scrumptious as their dinners.

Kelley's Restaurant is located in Nags Head at milepost 10.5 on the bypass (Hwy 158). Come enjoy this Outer Banks restaurant for fine dining.

Outer Banks Restaurants for Great Seafood

Of course tourists and frequent visitors go to Outer Banks restaurants for great seafood. Great seafood, after all, is expected here. So where do the locals go when they want the best?

Don't tell anyone. Unfortunately, I think the secret is out though. Here it is. Awful Arthur's Oyster Bar, one of the best Outer Banks restaurants for great seafood. It's in Kill Devil Hills on the beach road and milepost 6 across from Avalon Pier.

Can't say that I like oysters (slimy little rascals), but you just gotta try their spiced shrimp - perfect with the house salad. If you like clams or snow crab legs, they are steamed right before your eyes if you sit at the bar.

There are also tables but often there is a line waiting for seating. Don't let that stop you from eating here though. There is a bar upstairs ... great for shortening your wait, and it comes with an ocean view.

Awful Arthur's serves soups and salads, pasta (but why pasta when there's such great fish!), appetizers, sandwiches, dinners, and a selection for the munchkins.

I have mentioned there are many Outer Banks restaurants for great seafood, but TRY the flounder sandwich here. Not only is it huge, it is mouth watering, flaky, the best tasting flounder you'll find. I think it's time for me to make another stop for that sandwich.

Perhaps I'll see you there, and we can discuss more Outer Banks restaurants for great seafood. Or ... maybe we can talk about finding you that perfect beach cottage as a second home or permanent home!