Ways to Improve Your Credit

Credit scores, along with your overall income and debt, are a big factor in determining if you'll qualify for a loan and what terms you'll be able to qualify for.

1. Check for and correct errors in your credit report.
2. Pay down credit card bills.
3. Don't charge your credit cards to their maximum limits.
4. Wait 12 months after credit difficulties to apply for a mortgage.
5. Don't open new credit card accounts before applying for a mortgage.
6. Shop for mortgage rates all at once.
7. Avoid finance companies.

See our New Rental Property!

We are offering a brand new rental property!

7323 Canal Drive in Emerald Isle, NC

This gorgeous and fully furnished four bedroom, 3.5 bath house boasts a gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, a huge great room with dining area, hardwood and tile flooring, downstairs rec room, plus an elevator!

$2500 per month

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Steps to Getting Your Finances in Order

1. Develop a family budget.
Instead of budgeting exactly what you'd like to spend, use receipts to create a budget for what you actually spent over the last six months. One advantage of this approach is that it factors in unexpected expenses, such as car repairs, illnesses, etc., as well as predictable costs such as rent.

2. Reduce your debt.
Generally speaking, lenders look for a total debt load of no more than 36% of income. Since this figure includes your mortgage, which typically ranges between 25% and 28% of income, you need to get the rest of installment debt - car loans, student loans, revolving balances on credit cards - down to between 8% and 10% of your total income.

3. Get a handle on expenses.
You probably know how much you spend on rent and utilities, but little expenses add up. Try writing down everything you spend for one month. You'll probably see some great ways to save.

4. Increase your income.
It may be necessary to take on a second, part-time job to get your income at a high-enough level to qualify for the home you want.

5. Save for a downpayment.
Although its possible to get a mortgage with only 5% down, or even less in some cases - you can usually get a better rate and a lower overall cost if you put down more. Shoot for saving 20% downpayment.

6. Create a house fund.
Don't just plan on saving whatever's left toward a downpayment. Instead decide on a certain amount a month you want to save, then put it away as you pay your monthly bills.

7. Establish a good credit history.
Get a credit card and make payments by the due date. Do the same for all your other bills. Pay off the entire balance promptly.

February Events on Coast

February 4
Winter Tennis Clinic with Tony Pereira
Emerald Isle Community Center

February 4 - March 10
Youth Tennis Clinics with Tony Pereira
Emerald Isle Community Tennis Courts

February 7
A Trail in Underwater Medicine
N.C. Maritime Museum. Lecture by Dr. Charles & Jerry Aquadro on his work as liaison between the US Navy Underwater Demolition Team & undersea medicine for Jacques Cousteau.Call 252-728-7317 for more information.

February 8
American Music Festival Concert
Eric Pritchard (violin) and Barbara McKenzie(piano) will perform a famous Beethoven Sonata and works by Faure and Robinson. The concert will be held at 8 PM at The History Place, Morehead City, NC. Tickets at the door are only $25.00.

February 12
Ports & Pilots
N.C. Maritime Museum. Video and guided tour of NC State Port at Morehead City. Reservations- $5For information, call 252-728-7317


February 15
Winter Lunch Series with Rodney Kemp
The popular “Lunch with a Dash of History” series with storyteller Rodney Kemp is held at noon on Fridays at the History Place, 1008 Arendell Street, in downtown Morehead City. The new winter series begins Friday - January 18th , 2008.The topics for the winter series are: Friday, Jan. 18th - “Let’s Talk” - Carteret County Language; Friday, Feb. 1st - Harkers Island Revisited; Friday, Feb. 15th - Carteret County “Animal Show”; Friday, March 7th - Gloucester/Straits Revisited; and Friday, March 21st - Capt. Matthew Gooding and the WBTS.Tickets are $9 for lunch and only $4 without lunch. Reservations must be made and tickets paid for before Wednesday prior to each lecture by calling 252-247-7533 ext. 106, or stop by the Museum Store. All of Rodney Kemp’s past lectures are available on video in the Museum Store for $5 each and DVD’s of lectures will be made by individual request.

February 20
Empty Bowls Fundraiser
The EMPTY BOWLS luncheon to raise money for area soup kitchens and pantries will be held at the Crystal Coast Civic Center on Arendell Street in Morehead City, N.C. Tickets MUST be bought in advance and will be on sale by January 3, 2008. The ticket allows the participant to a choice of a delicious soup donated by area restaurants and to select a wonderful pottery bowl handmade by local professional and student potters. For more information about this charitable event call 354-5278 or 726-2127. Start Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm.

February 23
Hospital Gala
Carteret General Hospital Foundation’s 4th annual Hospital Gala is scheduled for Saturday, February 23, 2008 at the Dunes Club, Atlantic Beach. The Gala event will feature a silent auction, heavy hors d’eouvres, live band and much more. Contact Michelle Gregson, Foundation Director at 808-6336 or email foundation@ccgh.org for more information or to request an invitation. All proceeds benefit CGH Foundation for the purchase of a 64-slice CT scanner for Carteret County patients.

February 28
Taste of Core Sound- Winter Edition
Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center
A Celebration of Down East Winter Cooking -- Oysters, Scallops, Wild Game, Winter Collards, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Light Rolls & Molasses GungerGuest Speaker: Dr. David Cecelski, Historian/Writer featured in the News & Observer's "Listening for a Change"Tickets: $150 couple for membersl' $175 couple non-members (includes new membership); Singles $75/$85. 252.728.1500

January Events on the Coast

January 4-6
Crystal Coast Boat Show
Crystal Coast Civic Center

January 8
EJW "Big Buck" Dinner Fundraiser
Crystal Coast Civic Center

January 12
Bridal Fair
Crystal Coast Civic Center

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from The Jerry Ferguson Team!

We wish for you a new year of happiness. What better way to find that happiness than on the beautiful Crystal Coast of North Carolina. We have it all here in our little piece of paradise - easy living, quiet relaxation, great climate, blue skies and the blue waters of the Atlantic, all right at our doorstep. We love it here, and we know you will too!

Come on down and say hello, get to know us and fall in love with the coast!

www.jerryferguson.net

December Events on the Crystal Coast

It's a beautiful time to be on the Crystal Coast! The weather is gorgeous, blue skies, bright sunshine -- none of the snow and ice that everyone else gets this time of the year. With new shopping stores popping up all over the place, everyday is a new and exciting adventure! And, you just have to experience a true "down east" Christmas event. It's magical!


December 5
Beaufort Christmas Parade - 4:00 pm
Parade begins at the Beaufort Fire Station and proceeds along Live Oak Street to Front Street and west through downtown Beaufort.

December 7 - 13
Hospice of Carteret County "Festival of Trees"
This yearly event benefits those receiving Hospice servicees. Displays of more than 60 decorated trees, a gala preview party and Santa. Local choral groups, school groups, and musicians entertain throughout the event.

December 8 - 11:00
Morehead City Christmas Parade
One of the largest Christmas parades in eastern North Carolina. Parade starts on Arendell Street in downtown Morehead City.

Coastal Carolina Christmas Walk
Begins at the Beaufort Historic Site. The walk features open house tours of historic places decorated in period fashion for Christmas.

Breakfast with Santa - 10:00 am
Children of all ages join Santa for a Christmas story and have breakfast with him afterward. Emerald Isle Parks & Recreation.

Old Fashioned Christmas at the Customs House - NC Maritime Museum, Beaufort.
4:30 - 6:30 pm

December 9
NC Maritime Museum Holiday Open House

December 15
Civil War Musket Demonstration at Fort Macon - 11:00 am

December 17
Clawson's Annual Sing-Along - 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Beaufort boardwalk in front of Clawson's Restaurant

New Listings!

We've added three new listings today! You can get all the details on our website!

8801 Reed Drive in Emerald Isle listing for $390,000

10300 Coast Guard Road in Emerald Isle listing for $569,000
and our December Home of the Month (below) 9425 Ocean Drive West in Emerald Isle listing for $979,000

Contact Jerry, Judy, or Scott to see any of these gorgeous beach properties!

December's Home of the Month!

December's Home of the Month
MLS 07-5618
9425 Ocean Drive, Emerald Isle
$979,999

Outstanding, direct oceanfront West side duplex, with extensive upgrades to both interior and exterior. Immaculate home with grand ocean view, decks galore and great rental history make this a rare find. Fully furnished.

Call Jerry, Judy, or Scott to view this spectacular property.
See more of this property on our website!

Happy Thanksgiving from The Jerry Ferguson Team!

We want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. We have lots to be thankful for...family, friends, wonderful clients and so much more. Let us know what you have to be thankful for this fast-approaching holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Updated Testimonials!

We are happy to say we've updated our Testimonials page. You can read comments from all our past satisifed clients here.