 Established in 1952, Kill Devil Hills is the oldest and largest incorporated municipality on the Outer Banks, but the landmark that lends the town its distinctive name has been around much longer. At one time, the northern Outer Banks were characterized by a series of sand mountains over 100 feet high. These dunes stretched from sound to sea, from Corolla to Nags Head. Kill Devil Hill was one of the larger of the dunes, and stories about how the monolith got its name are varied and colorful: Some legends have said that the rum consumed by “Bankers” was so bad it would kill the Devil. Other stories speak of a brand of rum called Kill Devil Rum that often washed ashore from shipwrecks during the colonial period. One story even stated that the waters around this area were so bad to navigate that it would kill the Devil to try. Whatever the origins of its name, the dune was the site of the Wright Brothers historic flight on December 17,1903 which placed Kill Devil Hills forever in the history books. In the 1930’s, workers planted hearty grasses on the dune to prevent it from continually shifting, then constructed the impressive Wright Brothers Memorial.  |  | | | Kill Devil Hills - The Wright Brother's Monument | |
Today, the Wright Brothers National Memorial is visible for miles and is one of the most visited sites on the Outer Banks. With miles of gorgeous oceanfront, plentiful public beach accesses, and as the commercial hub of the Outer Banks, Kill Devil Hills is a favorite vacation spot for visitors and home to thousands of year round residents. 
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The people who do title searches have an extremely important job. They must ensure that the sellers really own the property being sold and that all liens against the property are being paid off as a result of the sale.
If the seller has had financial difficulties, for instance, and didn't pay his bills, there may be judgments that must be satisfied on or before the closing. Someone in addition to the party who signed the sales agreement may have an interest in the property. If so, it will be necessary for that person to sign the sales agreement and the deed that transfers ownership to the new buyer. The preliminary title report will also show any easements that run with the property. The Title Company will go back many years, examining what is called the "chain of title". If you learn that the property you are buying has title problems, don't panic. Most of them are resolved easily and in plenty of time to avoid delays in the closing.
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What real estate board game became the best-selling game in America just one year after it was created?
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Charles B. Darrow invented Monopoly in 1934, to cheer himself up while unemployed during the Great Depression. Monopoly is now the most popular board game in the world and has sold over 200 million copies. |
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