Sun Surf Blogs

Snow in Emerald Isle, NC!!!

2010-03-01T09:21:00.000-08:00

When you live at the beach you don't get to see alot of snow, so when we had several inches (I measured almost 6" on my deck) on February 12 it was a beautiful site! The beach pictures were taken at Bogue Inlet Pier in Emerald Isle.

Ok, enough about snow. Let's talk about Spring in Emerald Isle. The St. Patrick's Day Festival is March 13 - make your plans to attend! You can view additional Festival details by clicking here http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/StPats/default.htm

If you are planning your summer vacation check out our "Specials". We are adding to the list daily!

Excellent fishing in Emerald Isle

2009-10-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

The first sign that Spots are running is an increase in the number of yellow butterflies. It sounds odd but once someone tells you about these butterflies you start to notice them. The first time I see them which is usually in mid-late September, I find myself thinking that the Spots will be here soon! The next sure sign is an increasing number of boats in the waterway as you drive across the Emerald Isle bridge. It will start with just a few boats and before you know it there will be several. Some days it looks as though you could make your way down the waterway by walking across the boats.

Don’t have a boat – not a problem…fish from the Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier in Emerald Isle. Currently, they are catching King & Spanish Mackerel, Croakers, Sea Mullet, Flounder & Sheephead.

If you love fishing now is a great time to visit Emerald Isle! Rental rates are very affordable and the weather is great. Call today to plan your weekend or week at the beach!

Fall in Emerald Isle…Festivals, fishing & MORE!

2009-09-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

Fall is a great time to visit Emerald Isle. What more could you ask for….beautiful weather, great fishing and excellent rates?!

This weekend (actually, every weekend) is the perfect time to visit the Crystal Coast. The 23rd Annual North Carolina Seafood Festival is October 2-4. For additional information and a schedule of events visit http://www.ncseafoodfestival.org/

The Swansboro Mullet Festival is October 10 & 11. Come and enjoy bands throughout the day, crafts and a kid area.

While I am still looking back trying to decide where the summer months went, most are busy looking forward and planning their 2010 vacation. If you have specific needs for your vacation, preparing early guarantees a better selection of vacation rentals. We are currently taking 2010 tentative reservations.

I am actively working on our 2010 Vacation Guide so if you have an interest in renting your home or condo, please call today….1-800-553-7873. If you have your property with another property management company and you are tired of getting lost in the sea of vacation rentals AND having your rental income eaten away with extra homeowner fees, give us a call to see how we are different!!

Ellen Garris

What a great summer in Emerald Isle!

2009-09-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

Summer has been hot which is exactly how it should be at the beach. Thinking back, there hasn't been a weekend that my family and I didn't enjoy the beach. Sadly, summer will officially end this weekend, but typically the weather tends to be perfect for the beach through October. The house work will have to wait because we still have several weekends for clamming, boating, and playing on an island. I don't think anyone should have to come up with an excuse to enjoy a weekend at the beach, but just in case.....the weather will be cold soon enough and there will be little to do except work around the house so you should take advantage of this beautiful weather NOW! We still have availability for Labor Day weekend - Give us a call today!

Don't miss the Emerald Isle Bike Rally September 10-13. Stay 4 nights for the price of 3 or 3 nights for the price of 2!

Ellen Garris

Great beach vacation deals!

2009-07-23T08:05:00.000-07:00

If you were thinking of vacationing in Emerald Isle this summer, now is the time to make your plans. Great properties are currently offering incredible deals for your beach vacation! Pack up the car and head to Emerald Isle. You will know you are here when you see that beautiful view of the water from the bridge. I truly believe that one of the best medicines for stress is the smell of salt air and the feeling of sand between your toes. This picture was taken on the beach....doesn't she look stress-free!

Call today!

Summer Vacation in Emerald Isle, NC

2009-06-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

Just yesterday I was standing on the deck of an oceanfront cottage…..After all of the years that I have lived here I am still in awe of this beautiful beach. The water was an incredible blue/green color and the white sand complemented it perfectly. There was a gentleman fishing in the break of the waves and children were playing in the water and the sand. I was very jealous that I wasn’t on the beach too!

You can experience this beautiful beach by giving us a call today and planning your vacation! We have excellent discounts on summer rentals which are updated daily.

It's time to plan your beach vacation

2009-04-24T13:52:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I walked down to the beach with my dog & children for the first time this year. Every winter I forget how good it feels to dig my toes in the sand! There were several people out walking with their dogs and I thought to myself how lucky I am to live on a “pet-friendly” beach.

This morning on my way to work I noticed the flowers blooming and people walking/running on the sidewalks – everyone just seems to smile a lot more as the sun shines and it gets warmer! The weekend traffic is starting to pick up which means more and more people are taking advantage of a beautiful weekend at the beach.

Specials are updated daily so don’t delay making your beach vacation plans today for the best availability.

Getting married in Emerald Isle, NC

2009-04-15T12:48:00.000-07:00

Are you getting ready to plan the wedding of your dreams? For some couples the beach is one of the most romantic places. Why not get married in Emerald Isle? Imagine hearing the sounds of the waves behind you, feeling the warm sand on your feet (no shoes required), and watching a beautiful sunset as you begin you life as husband and wife. Avoid the stress of a big wedding and instead invite your closest friends and family for an intimate beach wedding .You can save money by having the reception by the pool at one of our beautiful houses (you wouldn’t have to rent a facility)! For more information call our rental department at 1-800-553-7873.

Ellen Garris

Be smart when planning your beach vacation!

2009-03-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

In these tough times everyone needs a beach vacation in Emerald Isle, NC. However, now more than ever, the thought of planning your vacation with even the small possibility that you would have to cancel & loose money (due to a number of reasons including the loss of your job) is a major concern. Sun-Surf Realty offers & highly recommends Vacation Rental Insurance through CSA Travel Protection. This insurance covers a wide range of circumstances including job loss, hurricane evacuation & more! Always keep in mind that if you can’t afford to loose money because you have to cancel or delay your vacation due to an unforeseen reason (and let’s face it….there is no way to predict what will happen in the days to come), then you can’t afford NOT to purchase travel insurance which is typically a small dollar amount as compared to what you stand to loose.

Side note: If you previously declined this insurance, you may purchase it up to the day you make your final payment (please keep in mind it will not cover any pre-existing situation)!

Ellen Garris

It's a great time to buy a home on the Crystal Coast!

2009-03-24T08:23:00.000-07:00

Our sales staff at Sun-Surf Realty have been scouting the market for the best beach buys in Emerald Isle and surrounding areas (and there are plenty!). The inventory is like we’ve never seen before and prices have really gotten competitive. Sellers are realizing that pricing is key to successfully selling in our market. Who knows if our bottom has actually hit, but we can certainly say that you won’t be sorry if you buy now. Mortgage interest rates are well below 5% and loans are out there for borrowers who have good credit and some down payment. Of course, there is plenty of 100% financing for military through the VA loan guarantee program.

As an added incentive to our buyers and sellers, we at Sun-Surf Realty are offering a FREE HOME WARRANTY to anyone who buys or sells through our company (a $350 value). A Home Warranty can offer peace of mind to both buyers and sellers because it covers items such as water heaters, appliances, electrical systems, plumbing and polybutylene pipe leaks, and more. This coverage starts on the day we list your home or the day you purchase a home for a period of one year. Call us for more details!

Next topic – First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit (put $8000 back in your pocket!)

Stephanie Warren, Sales Dept.

Vacation on a Budget

2009-03-19T10:41:00.000-07:00

Everyone seems to be living within a budget these days and if you have flown lately you know how expensive it can be. The good news is you don’t have to purchase a plane ticket to visit the beautiful island of Emerald Isle, NC. Pack up your car and don’t stop until you see this beautiful view from the bridge leading to Emerald Isle (this picture was taken this morning from my car). I have been told driving across the bridge has a calming affect.

In years past it was necessary to wait until the last minute to make your beach vacation plans in order to take advantage of “specials”. This year we started posting rental specials in January so our guests are able to plan ahead. Just last week I spoke with a guest who received a discount of over $250 (sounds like grocery money to me!). Speaking of grocery money….you really can save big $$ by renting a beach house or condo and cooking your meals rather than going out to restaurants.

If you’re unsure as to whether a vacation in beautiful Emerald Isle will fit into your budget give us a call, we are happy to help!

Ellen Garris

Spring is fast approaching in Emerald Isle...

2009-03-11T06:43:00.000-07:00

Growing up I'm sure we were all taught that it wasn’t very nice to brag, but I just can’t resist….we have just experienced the most beautiful weekend in Emerald Isle after a long windy, rainy, cold stretch. AND TODAY IS EVEN WARMER! Spring fever is setting in for all of us! While the weather is improving all across the country, there is just something about being at the beach when this happens. Now is the time to pull out your rod and reels and make sure they are ready for the upcoming fishing season. The Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier located just off Emerald Drive, in the heart of the business district, will be opening this Saturday, March 14th.

Others must have taken note of the forecast because I noticed an increase in beach & marina traffic this weekend. Here are a few pictures taken on the beach this past weekend - the water looks beautiful (yes it was warm enough to wear a bathing suit)!!

For all of you that enjoy boating while in Emerald Isle, the town of Emerald Isle is working to secure the funds to purchase a 16-acre tract of land near Emerald Isle Chapel By The Sea for a new public boat launching facility. The plan is for a total for 125 vehicle/trailer parking spaces and 19 single-vehicle spaces and will be the largest of its kind in North Carolina.

This coming weekend (Saturday, March 14th) is the 18th Annual St. Patrick’s Festival. Sun-Surf Realty has available properties for the weekend so give us a call! If your schedule will not allow you to visit the Crystal Coast this weekend, we are always happy to assist in planning your vacation any time of the year.

2009-03-03T10:52:00.000-08:00

March has roared its way into 2009. We have just experienced our 3rd (maybe even 4th) snow on the Crystal Coast here in Emerald Isle. Those of you who are not from this area probably wouldn’t even consider what we had as “snow”, however you must remember that we live at the beach and when white flakes fall from the sky – it is SNOW.

Check out the photos of the snow fall we had in January as well as last night (March 2, 2009). It really is beautiful to see! Now let’s picture YOU relaxing on the beach while enjoying the sounds of the waves breaking, children playing and the smell of sunscreen all while sinking your toes into the warm sand. Go ahead and leave winter behind, we are updating our site daily so you don’t have to wait until the last minute to take advantage of excellent discounts for your beach vacation.

If you are planning your family vacation we have added a new feature that enables you to create your very own brochure. When viewing properties for your family or friends click “Add it” and when you are finished you can view the brochure and email it to others. If you need assistance please do not hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-553-7873. As always, we look forward to hearing from you. 03/04/2009

Ellen Garris

2009-02-27T13:16:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first Sun-Surf blog! As I am sure everyone is aware, we are on the downside of Winter – yahh! One of the first signs of the much anticipated Spring season is the 18th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Emerald Isle on March 14, 2009. Call us today to plan your weekend at the beach and take advantage of great off-season rates!

If you are starting to think about planning your summer vacation - now is the time. We are posting specials daily on the site so you don't have to wait until the last minute in order to receive great discounts! Summer just isn't the same without sand between your toes and you wouldn't want to miss the incredible sunrises and sunsets in Emerald Isle!!

Ellen Garris