Special offer

Asheville, NC Real Estate News

By ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779, CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com
( REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK )
 Is it time to start buying real estate in the much sought-after Greater Asheville, N.C. area ? Are you looking at 1031 Plan and thinking that a slow-down in the real estate market means watch out? Wrong! For our eco-savvy clients, seems to me there's a river of pure potential just beyond the brambles (see photo) and an exciting ride to "green" investing with lots of GREEN in sight.  It's all about sailing with your 1031 Toolbox in tow.   Those tools: 1) Intuition-You have to be able to intuit where the basement is in a local market, 2) Timing- you have to buy at the "right" time, 3) A  "Good-Eye" when it comes to buying/selling/holding in terms of real estate market trends, and 4) A Gift for Asking Spot-On Questions True, the handy real estate investor needs to be able to accurately ca...
Comments 5
By ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779, CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com
( REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK )
Living "Green" seems to be about the positive momentum for Baby Boomers with 1031s .   I asked one of my 1031 Baby Boomer clients, who is a Big Fan of sustainable develpoment,  what "living green" given the current  economic climate meant to him.  He smiled. A 1031 investor  who drives a car powered by biodiesel, (see photo) he has been into low-impact living for some time. In fact, over the years, he has built up his 1031 investment nest egg in conservation real estate. Still smiling, he confided that it means many things. Given the economic situation as of October, 2008, his 1031 timetable may be bumped up a year!  He explains: "Seems to me this is a time to advance (as opposed to retreat) due to 'bargains' I may be able to acquire in acreage. "  "Well," I have to tell him, " As a LAN...
Comments 9
By ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779, CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com
( REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK )
   The American Institute of Architects (AIA)  recently instituted a "GreenSteps" initiative with a series of instructive videos available for architects, other professionals and the public.   "There's been a lot of talk about changes in our climate lately. CO2 emissions, dwindling resources, and energy usage are growing concerns in every walk of life, " a spokesperson for the organization reported.  " AIA Architects, in particular, want to address those concerns. We strongly believe that the time for talk has passed, and now it is time to walk the walk. " Photo courtesy of AIA  Living here in Asheville, NC, where real estate professionals and our clients more and more are in the know, and are demanding green-excellence in housing opportunities, I could guess that nowhere is that green-...
Comments 8
It is hard to say exactly what a "healthy" real estate market should look like. Prices and inventory seem to set the theme and "location, location, location" is not always the final judgement of health or desirability. In a "normal" real estate market it is estimated that the housing inventory of homes for sale should be somewhere around 6 to 7 months supply. Asheville and Buncombe County are holding steady at about 15 months supply, on average. The news nationally, almost constantly, is about the home prices going down as inventory goes up. In Asheville, we are just now seeing a slow reduction in home prices, as the inventory sits at the top of recent high numbers. The real area of concern appears to be on homes over $400,000. The worrisome market is the homes at or over $1 million. Th...
Comments 0
By ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779, CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com
( REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK )
An  Energy Wise True or False Test  was delivered with a smile to our client who purchased  a wee rustic cabin in the mountains near Asheville with an energy-efficient mortgage. Certainly, the place was  in need of updating. The appliances were about as old as the structure itself, which is to say at least as old as your Great-Grandma,  and so our buyer intended to replace them, immediately.    She wanted to know  1) what she could do to find out more about the various appliances on the market, and 2) for what she might be looking . . .   We had checked with the lender hoping that they would pay for an energy rating as part of the costs , but that didn't work out, so, as a closing gift,  we gave her a gift certificate for services from a professional Home Energy Rater  who could offer h...
Comments 21
Asheville, Buncombe County, NC Real Estate Market Statistics - Active and Sold - August 2007 and 2008 Comparisons Our Active Residential Listings have increased 21% from this same time last year.  The Average Asking Price has increased 7% and Median Asking Price has increased almost 7%. The real problem we still face is the SOLD numbers and the SOLD prices are down. As you can see by the chart below, we have been down significantly on our SOLD numbers all of the last 12 months, yet our inventory has increased. The number Sold in August 2008 is down 35% from last August 2007 and the Average Sold Price is down 4%. Also the number of Days on Market is at the highest levels in over 5 years. Residential Properties = Single Family Homes, Condos, Townhouses & Mobiles on Owned Land      AR MEmb...
Comments 2
By ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779, CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com
( REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK )
In the past two years, I have closed ten (10 ) transactions I can attribute directly to connections I made through Active Rain.  To the "Rain Gods" back in Seattle, and  All....Wow!  "Y'ALL ROCK  Active Rain!" Thanks so much for helping me achieve this 200,000 point  milestone!  It's a prodigious reckoning...hitting 200,000 points.   Makes one feel as if a word or two is in order ..something special, something rare...something appropriate...and, most especially, something to express appreciation for all the positives that have arrived in my life as the 200,000 points collected themselves around my BLOG  since I stepped out into the (ACTIVE) RAIN..  200,00 points! First of all, I sure didn't accumulate those points all alone! Thank you for reading and subscribing to my BLOG and commenti...
Comments 27
By Gabriel Swinney
(Handyman Connection)
I just wanted to take a moment to touch on some of the reasons that Handyman Connection is the leader in the home repair and remodeling industry in Asheville, NC and across our country.  For one thing, we lead the market because we created it.  Handyman Connection was founded on the basis of no job is too small and this has been our motto for over fifteen years. Handyman Connection found that the small jobs that most competitors will not take generate more business than just by taking large jobs alone. Handyman Connection revolutionized the home repair and improvement world because "no job is too small".  Companies have tried to imitate Handyman Connection in hopes of achieving our success, the bottom line is we are still the leaders because we are the best.Some of the reasons that Hand...
Comments 0
By ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779, CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com
( REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK )
Someone asked me just this week for my opinion on the "green-built situation" in today's mortgage market. Personally, I am very positive. Why" Because excellence and sustainability seem always to stand for themselves, even in challenging times. So, maybe I am more than "positive"....  You  could say that I am excited about the possibilities and the positive impact happening in terms of green building (and remodeling) here in Asheville and across the country.  More and more, eco-friendly homes are on the minds and buying lists of our clients. As I poll REALTORS® across the country, I find that the interest in healthy-built homesin their towns and neighborhoods also  is on the rise . And, the National Association of REALTORS® will be offering a "Green" Designation in the not too distant f...
Comments 6
By Bill Westel, ECO
(Eco-Steward Realty)
  The single most important driving force in the Asheville, North Carolina market today is this: How close to downtown Asheville do you want to live? The answer to this question usually influences many other decisions that buyers will make about purchasing a home or land since proximity to downtown goes hand in hand with price points. The other important issue now affecting buyers is gas prices, with many clients considering living right in the downtown area in any number of the new green condos being built.    So what does draw soo many people to the downtown Asheville area? I know there are plenty of answers to that question so I will just list some of my reasons why I thoroughly enjoy a visit to downtown. First is the walkability of the area. There are at great streets that you can l...
Comments 1
By ActiveRain City and State Listing Group
Vacant Land, Lots, and Acreage - Buncombe County, NC Buncombe County includes the cities or areas  of Asheville, Weaverville, Leicester, Black Mountain, Arden, Skyland, Candler, and Biltmore Forest. Vacant land sales can be an indicator of the health of the real estate market overall. Buncombe County land sales in 2008 have slowed to about 55% of sales in 2007, 272 parcels have been Sold in 2008 with an Average Sold Price of $151,991, a decrease from July prices. A breakdown of those sales, year to date, looks like this: 1 acre or under - 128 parcels sold with an Average Sold Price of $84,229. 1 to 2.99 acres - 85 parcels sold with an Average Sold Price of $129,074. 3 to 4.99 acres - 23 parcels sold with an Average Sold Price of $144,950. 5 to 9.99 acres - 11 parcels sold with an Averag...
Comments 0
By Gabriel Swinney
(Handyman Connection)
The cornerstone of our business at Handyman Connection in Asheville, NC are home repairs and remodeling projects.  It is when a Handyman Connection craftsman is sent out on a home repair project that his or her skill and resourcefulness can be tested.Home repairs can be so many things; the project might be simply fixing a door that sticks or it might be exploring why the bathroom floor has gotten soft.  Regardless the size or scale of the home repair, the project usually calls for a professionals knowledge and experience to properly address the issue at hand.  At Handyman Connection all of our craftsmen have at least ten years of experience and possess the confidence and skill necessary to evaluate a home repair project and get it taken care of.At Handyman Connection in Asheville we hav...
Comments 0
By Rich Cooke, Western North Carolina Real Estate
(Beverly-Hanks & Associates)
Come to the WNC Agricultural Center, located across from the Asheville Regional Airport, anytime between September 5-14 to enjoy the annual North Carolina Mountain State Fair, the Best of the West. This 10-day, family-oriented event includes carnival rides, pig races, animal exhibits, camel rides, a petting zoo, vendors, a wildlife show, Rusty's Western Show and artisans competing for a piece of the $180,000 prize money up for grabs in such categories as arts and crafts, canned and baked goods, flowers/gardening and livestock. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the gates open at 9am and rides open at 10am. During the week (Monday through Thursday), the gates will open at 3pm and the rides will open at 4pm. Admission to the fair at the gate is $5 for adults, $2 for kids ages 6-12 and childr...
Comments 0
By Scott Raines
(Keller Williams)
What a GREAT weekend we had! Jordan, my 7 year old daughter, was up on two wheels (bicycle) quite a while back, but this weekend was her first time riding mountain bike trails.  She is hooked now! Chloe (4) is not far behind her as my wife, Michelle steadied her on the same trails on her small bike with training wheels.  MAGNIFICENT!!  We spent Sunday afternoon and most of Monday either hiking, biking, swimming or skipping rocks in the woods at Bent Creek/Lake Powhatan, just 10 minutes south of downtown Asheville.   This is a GREAT family getaway with a campground.  If you enjoy mountain biking, being contiguous with the Blue Ridge Parkway, it would take you months to find all the cool trails in and around this area. The greatest thing is that there are trails that accomodate any skill ...
Comments 0
By Gabriel Swinney
(Handyman Connection)
Handyman Connection in Asheville goes out everyday to work on a large variety of projects.  We do everything from fastening loose boards, installing a new door knob, painting a room all the way to major home remodels.  The home remodel is one of the largest classifications of projects we work on and one of our favorite. You can ask any of our craftsmen what they love about their work and they will most certainly answer the sense of accomplishment that comes after focusing on and completing the details of a home remodel.  To see a vision come to life is a very exciting process indeed and this is the outcome from Handyman Connection Craftsmen working hand-in-hand with the home-owner. These days home remodels are more and more common.  With the real-estate market being what it is, many peo...
Comments 0
AUGUST 2008 Buncombe County is the home of Asheville, NC. Buncombe County and the surrounding areas of Asheville, Leicester, Black Mountain, Biltmore Forest, and Arden like the rest of the country, has been experiencing many changes in the real estate market, some good and some, not so good. There has been a slight change in the market conditions compared to last month, but only slight.  The continuing bad news is that the number of homes over or close to $1 million are not moving and the inventory is still hovering around the record high numbers. The Asheville area has historically been immune from the negative real estate trends that the rest of the country was experiencing. This is different now. The market "slumps" in most of the country has now had an impact on the Asheville area, ...
Comments 2
By ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779, CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com
( REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK )
Part II. SUN POWER. It is amazing how we have evolved over the years. These days, we can pull together  a stylish, comfortable, and beautiful "palace" that is also non-toxic and eco-friendly. Here in Asheville, we are really getting into Solar Power. Just today I heard about  a Hands-on Workshop: Building a Solar Water Heater, that will take place at the Long Branch Environmental Education Center. Here,  ladies and lords, you can learn about a solar design even RA may have envied. It is "the essence of simplicity: Put  water holding tanks in an insulated box, with glass on the side facing south and fill it with water. No moving parts, nothing to break down, free fuel and no pollution."  You do NOT need building skills (though architects, engineers, and building contractors are welcome),...
Comments 1
By Gabriel Swinney
(Handyman Connection)
Handyman service in Asheville, NC is always a fascinating venture.  Handyman Connection has been the leader in the home repair and remodel industry for a long time and during the course of business our craftsmen have had the chance to build great proffesional relationships with many home owners.  These relationships form the background of our business, laying our foundation on repeat customers. Here in Asheville this is especialy true.  The people are the reason our handyman service is here.  Everyday we talk to and work with happy customers who invite us back time and again to evaluate their home projects.  Everything from handyman work, home remodels, home repairs, painting, drywall, Handyman Connection is there.  We love the Asheville area and being able to serve here something we ar...
Comments 2
By Sharon Cobb
(Keller Williams Brevard)
I recently watched Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman in the movie 'The Bucket List'.  I'm not getting any younger and I've got a number of things I hope to see, do, accomplish before I kick off this bucket..... One of those things I can now cross off my list is to see B.B. King, one of my all time favorites in the music world.  I saw him live at the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC, on August 8th.  It was a memorable night that I will never forget.  B.B. is 82 years young and is still going strong.  Although he had to be helped on and off the stage, he is still amazing and true in his voice, guitar playing, and story telling.  And to be sitting there, watching the beautiful WNC sun go down on the lawn of the Biltmore House, and then to see B.B. in person actually brought me to tears duri...
Comments 0
By Gabriel Swinney
(Handyman Connection)
Being the leader in handyman projects, home remodel, and home repair in and around Asheville, North Carolina is an exciting place to be.  Everyday our craftsmen are out in the field meeting new customers, solving problems, and helping people repair and improve their largest investment, their home. One of the chief benefits to being at the Asheville branch of Handyman Connection is the amount of talent we have in our local craftsmen.  Some of our craftsmen are creaters of museum quality furniture, some have been remodeling homes for more than thirty years, and others are those neighborhood heroes who everyone turns to for any home repair need imaginable. One thing that unites all of our craftsmen at Handyman Connection is reliability; reliability that is born from their love of what they...
Comments 0
Explore Asheville, NC