Southport Magazine

STORY BY LESLIE FOSTER

Their agents are well trained and have varied specialties which custom fit their client’s desires. Looking for a historic property downtown or new construction off the 211 corridor? Or perhaps you are looking to rent a home for a season. Whatever your need may be, an agent at Southport Reality can match your desire with an agent who specializes in just what you are looking for in a home. The charm of Southport is evident in the homes that were built here many
Seasonal, Vacation, and Forever Homes Offered at Southport Realty Stroll by and Stop in! Southport Realty is ready to Welcome You Home!

Located within the historic Thompson-Williamson house with a perfect view of the Cape Fear River, it’s easy to find yourself skipping up the porch steps of Southport Realty to check out their real estate listings. This family based, full service real estate company has two locations, both on Howe Street, to fill the needs of both commercial and residential clients. years ago. Front porches, welcoming front doors, lots of windows, picket fences and new construction around Southport reflects that charm.

The owners and agents who know our town and the surrounding communities so well are eager to find you a property where the welcome mat, a swing, and a screen front door are there to welcome you and your family home. And all the better if that porch door squeaks! Welcome Home!

1. Southport Realty has two offices in Southport. Do the offices offer different real estate services? We handle residential and commercial sales at both offices. Our rental department is located at 727 N. Howe Street, which provides property management services. In 2005, we opened the second office to accommodate our growing business.

2. Timeline: Share the history of Southport Realty?
Mary Anne Russ, the mother of one of the current owners Kim Anne, started Southport Realty in January 2001 after working in real estate for many years in Southport. Mary Anne retired in 2007 and sold Southport Realty to the current owners, Kim Anne Russ and Pamela Frandano. The current owners follow her vision of providing personal service and community involvement.

3. Education is a fundamental building block for your agents. Tell us more…. We pride ourselves on having a wonderful group of agents that come from a variety of backgrounds. We have agents with specialized knowledge in local historic properties; construction, commercial, investment and land just to name a few. We frequently rely on the expertise of our team to meet the individual needs of each client. In addition, most of our agents have one or more designations ranging from SRES, Senior Real Estate Specialist to GRI, Graduate Realtor® Institute.

4. As a Southport resident, I see more and more lots for sale downtown with custom cottages being built upon them. Is this a trend in the market that excites you? Yes! The new homes that are being built with respect to Southport’s historical architecture and charm enhance our downtown for residents and visitors. It’s a big part of our thriving downtown. It’s also exciting to watch many of the historic homes being restored to their former glory. The people buying downtown lots are bringing progress, but it hasn’t taken away our historic charm.

5. What does the future of Southport real estate look like from where you sit? One of the biggest challenges we’ve faced in recent years is a lack of inventory. More people desire homes than we have available. Prices in the Historic District of Southport trend higher because of this. Fortunately, the Southport area offers a wide variety of communities at different price points. That is why we see growth coming from the 211 corridor, Boiling Spring Lakes, and Oak Island where inventory is steadily increasing.

6. In your opinion what is the single best improvement that a homeowner can make to increase the value of their home? A desirable kitchen is number one on most buyers’ lists. Experts agree, improvements in the kitchen increase the value of a home. From a real estate listing perspective, first, de-cluttering and cleaning inside and outside yields results. Second, simple improvements such as a fresh coat of paint, where needed, make it easier for buyers to envision themselves in your home.

7. Are you a Southport native? If not, what drew you to this area and what drew you to the neighborhood you call home? Kim Anne enjoyed a small town childhood growing up in the Historic District of Southport. Pamela relocated here 14 years ago to work in real estate and raise her children in a small town.  They both live a stone’s throw from downtown and love living near the Cape Fear River!

8. Rentals: Either seasonal or long term, do you carry these in your real estate portfolio? Yes, we manage over 300 long-term residential and commercial rentals throughout Brunswick County.  We also manage several vacation rentals in Historic Southport.  One trend we have seen increase in recent years is visiting snowbirds, those escaping to Southport for a few months in the winter.

9. How many agents does Southport Realty employ?  We have over 25 brokers, some fulltime and some part-time.  We are proud to be locally owned and consider our team family!