Slow Start
Going into our 100th anniversary year, our membership stands over 3,500 as of January 2022. That's a long way from the dozen real estate leaders who started the group in 1922.
On February 16, 1922, the Wilmington Morning Star has an informative account of the inaugural organizational meeting and banquet of the Real Estate Board of Wilmington, held in the dining room of the Carolina Apartments on the corner of Fifth and Market Streets. Attended by 34 local real estate men, this initial Real Estate Board of Wilmington would become nationally affiliated with National Association of REALTORS® on June 2nd, 1924.
Increased Growth & Expansion
Although the Wilmington Real Estate Board would face its largest challenge early, it would quickly rebound in a patriotic fashion. By 1940, the Board had replenished its members to 12 and included another 17 members who were also affiliated. On December 4th, 1940, the board minutes show a plan to “proceed at once in conducting a detailed survey of local housing problems relative to facilities for U.S. Army officers and others who will be stationed at the anti-aircraft training camp at Holly Ridge in the next few months.”
The following year would plunge our nation into World War II, and the boards plans would prove incredibly helpful. The large influx of military personnel and their families, as well as thousands of civilians into the Cape Fear region is estimated by historian Wilbur D. Jones Jr. to around 73,000 soldiers and workers at the peak in 1942-1943. The additional bases at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach, Bluethenthal Field Army Base and rescue bases at Wrightsville Beach also contained soldiers and workers who needed housing. To this end, a War Housing Center was established to work under the Housing Authority of the City of Wilmington. Foster-Hill Realty Company in particular built and sold about 80 “Victory Homes”, which were five-room dwellings in eastern Wilmington close to Princess Street. After the war, the board would reestablish itself as the Wilmington Board of REALTORS® on November 9th, 1945 by the following seven members: W.A. Fonvielle, Louis O. Fonvielle, William M. Hill, Walter M. Hewlett, W. A. McGirt, K.B. Marshall and Frederick Willetts.
Post-War Improvements
As Wilmington was growing, the Wilmington Real Estate Board underwent its own exciting changes. A short 15 years after the board was in danger of closing, its numbers had multiplied to between 30 and 50, with monthly meetings held at various local businesses. The 1950’s also brought some of the first women REALTORS® and REALTOR® Affiliates to the industry. Catherine C. Brown, a broker for Wilder Realty Co.; Valeria Williams held an office in the Odd Fellows building; and Annie Peterson Bryant are the only recorded women in New Hanover County who worked in the industry for the first half of the century.
In 1977, a group of women REALTORS® formed the Wilmington Women’s Council of REALTORS®. While many women were needed for this step forward, Linda Coite stands out, serving as the Wilmington Women’s Council state president in 1994, national governor in 1995, and regional vice-president in 1997, and continues to do amazing work to this day! 3 years after the Wilmington Women’s Council of REALTORS® was established, Sally Noffsinger became the first woman president of the Wilmington board, and Cape Fear REALTORS® honor her service with the Sally Noffsinger Scholarship Award, which is given out once every year.
In 1986, continued charitable efforts from Robert D. Bryant, John W. Pierson, Charlene Efting, Sandra S. Lewis, and H. Carlton Fisher led to the creation of the Wilmington REALTORS® Foundation, providing the Wilmington Board of REALTORS® with a philanthropic way to engage and help the community. Funding for this foundation is used to provide aid to charities not funded by United Way and is derived from either real or personal property for charitable or educational purposes.
New HQ
Undergoing several location and name changes, Cape Fear REALTORS® received its current name on December 1st, 2016, and has found a new home at the Terraces on Sir Tyler in Mayfaire Town Center, which also provides a high-end shopping experience as well as apartments and office buildings. The board that started in 1922 with 34 members and 17 firms and struggled to the point of closing down for a time, has grown by leaps and bounds.
As of January 2022, there are 250+ Affiliate members, 3,300+ REALTOR® members; totaling 3,500+ members affiliated with Cape Fear REALTORS®.