Bring your dog to Sarge’s Maggie Valley Club Pooch Party Picnic this Sunday, June 14th from Noon until 3:00 p.m., poolside. Grooming stations, training-tip sessions, toy stations, agility stations and doggie treats will be featured, and Beth Brown Photography will be available to take family photos with your freshly-groomed best friend for only $5.00! Enjoy a fun afternoon with your dog, enjoy music by the pool which you are welcome to use (no doggies in the pool!), and you can also enjoy the human treats such as chair massages, Sno-cones, and hotdogs. Proceeds from the event will go to benefit Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation. Help Sarge’s. About Sarge’s. Upcoming Events at Sarge’s. Video Views of Spring at Maggie Valley Club and Golf Course. Visit my horse website, Horsealicious! Orig... 06/14/2009

©Susie Blackmon Photos Darn! I looked at the inventory numbers this morning, and they are still increasing - - by 23 within 8 days (since my last report on 05/25). Considering the 44 closed residential transactions in May, our absorption rate is approximately 28 months. The average selling price for May closings was $237,005, and it took an average of 146 days to sell the homes; however, this figure is somewhat skewed by 1 sale of a $1,520,000 home by a developer. The average listing price of the active listings today (see below) is $353,750. Month-end report with more details to follow. The Haywood County NC residential market includes Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Canton, Clyde and Lake Junaluska): Haywood County, NC Active Residential Listings as of 06/02/09 Haywood County Homes for S... 06/02/2009

Florida-like weather has hit Haywood County as we have 'enjoyed' almost daily thunderstorms recently, usually in the late afternoon or evening. Maggie Valley and Waynesville both needed the rain. The video show below was 'shot' right after a little rain storm, so many of the flowers were beautifully wet (you know I'm thinking succulent), and the rainbow was a welcome sight. Now, if I could just find that pot of gold. See more Spring flowers. What I’m doing while the market sucks. The Carolina Sauce Company - Barbecue sauce, wings sauce, hot sauce … you name it! Breaking Asheville News - My ‘everything Asheville and then some’ website, in real time, Twitter-fed. The Ten Ways Twitter Will Permanently Change American Business.(This is an excellent article, especially for businesses. Love h... 05/29/2009

It seems daily we are reminded of the unemployment numbers in this country. I have been thinking for over a year now that the true picture of unemployment is very misleading. The reason? I think one of the hardest hit professions of this recession is real estate and more specifically Realtors. It seems we fall through the cracks in many ways. Since we are independant contractors we really do not have a "job". It would be very tough for any of us to go to an agency and request unemployment. Personally, that is the last thing I would ever do, but does the government understand the effect this recession has on Realtors? They will spend billions to bail out our financial sectors, billions to bail out the car makers, and billions soon to be spent on a "new" health care system. I am not sayin... 05/11/2009

Maggie Valley, the morning after all the tornado warnings. Spring is so beautiful here in the mountains of Western North Carolina that I find myself taking more pictures every day as more flowers bloom. Spring is Blooming in Maggie Valley and Waynesville. The Web's Greatest Blog Posts from the Regator. 50 Most Popular Newspaper Blogs (NYT) via @PatKitano Waynesville and Maggie Valley Real Estate Blog. GOOGLE ME   05/10/2009

Beautiful Maggie Valley, NC in the late afternoon light yesterday afternoon (April 17th). Slowly but surely the green is returning to our landscape. Brand new magnolia blossom in late afternoon light in Maggie Valley, NC (04/16/09). Country music star Gene Watson will be in town tonight, April 18th, and performing at 8:00 p.m. at EagleNest in Maggie Valley. Read more here. Inspired by the legacy of the Cherokees for gathering and eating ramps, The Haywood County ‘Annual Ramp Convention’ will be held Sunday, May 3 (the day after the Kentucky Derby I might add), starting at noon at the American Legion Post in Waynesville. Advanced ticket information is available by calling 828-456-8691. Read more about ramps here. 04/18/2009

My trip to the Sunrise Service at Lake Junaluska was shrouded in pea-soup fog even though it was 32 degrees outside, so my photo opportunities at the lake were non-existent until breakfast at Joey’s Pancake House here in Maggie Valley. Joey’s Pancake House led me into temptation. ©Susie Blackmon Photos Previous article about Joey’s: Get Stuffed At Joey’s Pancake House See my Photos of the Day. See my photos on Flickr. Search the MLS. Broker/(REALTOR®) Original post on Bucking the Real Estate Trend. 04/12/2009

Beautiful cherry blossoms photographed 03/02/09 in Maggie Valley. ©Susie Blackmon Photos Easter at Lake Junaluska. Check their calendar on their website for Easter festivities planned in and around beautiful Lake Junaluska. 75th Anniversary Website for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a great place to visit if you are in Waynesville or Maggie Valley for Easter! The 10 Best Hot-Cross Bun Recipes - - What's Easter without frosting on your buns? See my Photos of the Day. See my photos on Flickr. Search the MLS. Broker/(REALTOR®) 04/03/2009

(Maggie Valley, NC) Would the foreclosures, short sales and other toxic assets be getting cleared out if the lenders did not expect the US government to pay more for them? I only really know 'my market'. Every short sale and foreclosure has more than one offer on it. So why aren't they getting sold to the private sector; to buyers in the community? Are they waiting because they think the Federal Government will pay more? Is this promise of government intervention enough to slow down the process of Private sector Capital flowing in to purchase the toxic assets?  The Federal Government is actually slowing down the process; because there is a belief that they will be the highest and best offer. Is this Capitalism at work or Intervention at work?  If toxic assets are the problem as many peo... 04/03/2009

Pursuing real estate has 'thrust' me into an arena that I truly love. Thinking I was smart for moving from Hawaii to a tiny log home (450 sq. ft.) in a beautiful yet affordable mountain town in North Carolina to survive financially while obtaining my NC Real Estate Broker’s license, my business plan was almost immediately directed to developing, legitimately, over time, my internet presence and eventually, my credibility, by communicating on my website and the internet on a daily basis with  relevant, interesting, and at times irreverent, content. Merely competing with realtors who have lived in Haywood County all their lives for me was not an option or a goal… far too limiting and futile. What I have and am continuing to learn along the information super-highway is absolutely amazing. ... 04/01/2009

Today’s market report is merely a picture of the closed transactions for the year so far, by price range.  Nothing over $600,000 has sold so far this year, but 32 homes (out of 91) priced between $100,000 and $200,000 closed between January 1 and around noon on March 31, 2009. Last year at this time, we had closed 129 residential transactions, with the highest selling price being $810,000. There have been 28 land transactions this year, as opposed to 53 last year for the same time period. The Asheville Citizen-Times had a very informative article yesterday about not only Asheville’s market, but surrounding markets as well, including Haywood County. Here’s a link to the article: Home Sales Fall Again in February. Source: MLS. Data deemed reliable but, not guaranteed. See the Haywood Coun... 03/31/2009

..... a beautiful Painted Pony. Believe it or not this pasture (and old barn) is right on the main drag going through Maggie Valley, very close to Ghost Town. Photo taken 03/29/09 in the heart of Maggie Valley on Soco Road. ©Susie Blackmon Photos Photofunia is a free and fun website that I found this morning. How do you like my little ‘personalized’ car that I created on Photofunia? See my other Photos of the Day See my photos on Flickr. Search the MLS. Broker/(REALTOR®) Original posted on Bucking the Real Estate Trend. 03/30/2009

Beautiful Maggie Valley Club is a beautiful, established development located in the mountains of Maggie Valley, surrounded by creeks and trees, and featuring superb amenities, a renowned  golf course, and exquisite mountain real estate. Maggie Valley Club Golf Course Maggie Valley Club Cottages Maggie Valley Club Home Page This video is from my tour of the property, cottages and residences on March 24, 2009. Let me know if you want your own tour. ©Susie Blackmon Photos Related articles: A Man in the House is Worth Two in the Maggie Valley Creek A Visual Maggie Valley Aphrodesiac for Golfers See my Photos of the Day. See my photos on Flickr. Search the MLS. Broker/(REALTOR®) Original posted on Bucking the Real Estate Trend. 03/28/2009

This beautiful tiger kitty (up at around 3,000 feet) thought she was a chameleon. ©Susie Blackmon Photos Yesterday I enjoyed a delicious lunch at Maggie Valley Club (Turkey Wrap with Sweet Potato Fries), and then toured the Maggie Valley Club property, including their beautiful cottages. I’ll be posting more photos from the beautiful Maggie Valley Club soon. Interior shot from one of the Maggie Valley Club Cottages. See my Photos of the Day. Search the MLS. Original posted on Bucking the Real Estate Trend. 03/25/2009

Popcorn Sutton died yesterday (03/16/09) in Tennessee. Here is a very colorful, recent interview with Popcorn Sutton from JackassWorld.com. Asheville Citizen-Times article in today's paper.   03/16/2009

The New York Times had an interesting article on-line entitled "Thoughts on Walking Away From Your Home Loan." Hopefully this is not information you need, but you may know someone who does. It is an excellent article, in my opinion, and discusses short sales, a deed-in-lieu, taxes, and credit, among other things, with links to even more information. The chicken photos were taken March 13, 2009 in Maggie Valley along Black Camp Gap Road. Don't even think about taking my feathers! High-stepping rooster. Honey, there's a FSBO! ©Susie Blackmon Photos See my Photos of the Day. Search the MLS. Original posted on Bucking the Real Estate Trend. 03/14/2009

March 10, 2009 in Maggie Valley, on a creek! ©Susie Blackmon Photos These are the facts of the day Folks: Closings January 1 through March 11 2009 - 69 Closings January 1 through March 11 2008 -99 Closings January 1 through March 11 2007 -140 Closings January 1 through March 11 2006 -188 Closings January 1 through March 11 2005 -151 Many sellers (and realtors) in Haywood County are finally realizing that we/they are not exempt from the financial and real estate challenges and price corrections these days, and the result is more and more homes on the market that are PRICED FOR TODAY'S MARKET! See my Photos of the Day. Search the MLS. Broker/(REALTOR®) 03/11/2009

Flowers speak the language of love don't they - - especially when they are the first blooms of color in March! Love Spring, Love You Honey, Love Your Cupcakes... whatever. These beautiful yellow daffodils really stood out in the early light in Maggie Valley yesterday against the brown of our winter landscape. Want to get instant gratification while being environmentally friendly AND advertising your Seller's home at the same time? Check out ForSaleByText. ©Susie Blackmon Photos See my Photos of the Day. Search the MLS. Broker/(REALTOR®) Original posted on Bucking the Real Estate Trend. 03/10/2009

Residential sales in Maggie Valley in February totaled 4 as of February 28, 2009 out of the 24 total sales for all of Haywood County. The average days on the market was 203, with 270 homes remaining on the market in Maggie Valley as of 02/28/09. Previous Year. February 2008 numbers: Active Inventory in Maggie Valley one year ago was 234 (now 270), Sales - 6, and the Average Selling Price was $225,167. Source: MLS. Data deemed reliable but, not guaranteed. Absorption Rate. The inventory/absorption rate of homes presently on the market, based on 4 sales in January, is 67.5 months. *** Haywood County, NC Active Residential Listings as of 02/28/09 Haywood County Homes for Sale - Active - 1,021 Properties Found Maggie Valley Homes for Sale - Active - 270 Properties Found Waynesville Homes fo... 03/05/2009

March roared in today in Waynesville and Maggie Valley with some very beautiful snow! These photos were taken from my deck... I didn't venture out very far. Maybe I'll get more tonight! Like I said... you never know! Photo below was taken an hour before the three above! ©Susie Blackmon Photos Twenty-five Reasons You Don't Need Google Look where I want to go March 12th before RETech South! Personal Branding in the Age of Google (Seth Godin) Broker/(REALTOR®) 03/01/2009