Living in the rural setting of Murphy, NC has some great advantages for a simpler life in the mountains. Many city dwellers want to get away from all that hustle and bustle to a slower pace lifestyle where neighbors wave and you can sit out at night and see a sky full of stars. Some even want to have a few chickens running out in the yard and a few fresh eggs everyday. These are some chickens enjoying their happy home at the Persimmon Creek Campground.  If you’d like to find out more about moving to the Murphy, NC Mountainsvisit Lee & Carol Barbour at www.LeeAndCarol.com   09/12/2010

Lucy McKenzie of Murphy, NC brought some special gifts with her to an appointment with Dr. Whaley at the Georgia Cancer Center at Riverstone. With a little help from her family and friends Lucy McKenzie paid it forward with the “Lucy Mac Sac”. Lucy started chemotherapy back in November 2006. This past February, the disappointing news came that it transitioned to acute myeloid leukemia and she had to stop working for Meridian Behavioral Health in Marble, NC. The cancer may have stopped Lucy Mac from working, but it couldn’t stop her from helping people! Along with her daughters, Carol Lee and Mary Lynn, Lucy created the “Lucy Mac Sac” to give as gifts to the folks who are starting or continuing chemo treatments. The “Lucy Mac Sac” for the ladies is a cheerful fashionable handbag and for ... 09/11/2010

ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST POPULAR EVENTS OF ITS TYPE IN THE REGION DO NOT MISS THIS EVENT................. Fall Festival is a celebration of our rich Appalachian heritage. Fine craft, craft-making demonstrations, music and dance performances, kids' activities, tasty food, and a visit to the school's Craft Shop and History Center make Fall Festival a great way to begin the autumn season. Handmade Craft for SaleOver 200 juried and non-juried craftspeople will offer their handcrafted items for sale including jewelry, woodturning, pottery, weaving, ironwork, photography, rugs, woodcarvings, furniture, paintings, baskets and much, much more.Craft-Making DemonstrationsYou'll be fascinated by over 40 demonstrations of traditional and contemporary craft. See how to throw a clay pot, turn a wo... 09/11/2010

Did you see all those campers at the Persimmon Creek Campground in Murphy, NC? Persimmon Creek Campground officially opened on June 26, 2009.  The first stage is completed with several full hook-ups, a dump station and lots of tent sites. Owners, Tony and Karen Tipsword live on site, in a cabin they salvaged and are doing all the work themselves; including building all the picnic tables from their own sawmill lumber!  In their previous lives, Karen was a schoolteacher, and Tony was a grader.  Together they embarked on a new life in a place they could live and work with each other and their animals. (This is so similar to why we moved to Murphy, NC too.) As campers, they disliked the trend toward miniscule sites and parking lots.  Having grown up camping with their families, they wanted ... 09/10/2010

The gardens will soon be put to rest here in Murphy, NC, but Ashley shared this shot of one of her Morning Glory flowers crowding into the blueberry bushes with us and it is already making me want to start planning next years garden. Ashley is a very delightful young lady that lives down the road from us with her parents and her two other sisters in a beautiful log home. They moved here from Florida too. Spending time outside with your family is one of the best reasons for moving to the NC mountains and it was certainly our top reason when we moved from Miami, back in 1997 to Murphy, NC. If you’re thinking of a change in your lifestyle and want more information on the western NC, north GA or east TN mountains visit Lee & Carol Barbour at www.LeeAndCarol.com   09/09/2010

No, we’re not just another Internet Realtor in Murphy, NC. And no we don’t just put up a yard sign, slap it on the MLS and wait for your house to attract a buyer – we do so much more! Now we’ve all heard that the way of print ads is just a waste of time and money, but we still believe in utilizing these marketing areas too. After we’ve done the comps and research to position your home on the market we start on our aggressive marketing plan… You’ll find our listings in the weekly ad in the local Cherokee Scout newspaper; the monthly Homes For Sale Magazine and various other publications such as the Real Estate Buyers Guide, Mountain Realty & Shopper Guide, our local Wal-Mart office Listing Gallery and of course our 32 page Color Brochure. We also want to reflect your home in the best way... 09/08/2010

  Here is the Murphy, NC Market Snapshot for August 2010.  We’ve also included the previous month’s stats for comparison.  If you’re looking to purchase a home or land in Murphy, NC and start enjoying Mountain Living then please contact Lee & Carol Barbour at www.LeeAndCarol.com and we’ll get started right away on finding you your perfect “piece of the mountain” in NC, GA or TN.   All statistical information used to create this report was obtained from the Mountain Lakes Board of Realtors MLS and includes all areas. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. 09/07/2010

Looks like another sure sign that summer is over here in Murphy, NC. The last of the hay has been cut and baled into the square bales – which are much easier to handle.  The tractors have all gone around the fields one last time to gather up all the hay for storage as the cooler weather of fall and winter brings the change of seasons here in Cherokee County, NC. The next time we see some of these square bales will be out in the barns and pastures as feed for the animals or in front of homes and businesses as Murphy, NC decorates for the fall season.   09/06/2010

Now is the time to start planning your get-away Cabin Rental in the Murphy, NC Mountains! So they say that Labor Day is the end of summer and we’re already starting to feel some cooler weather here so this is your reminder to start booking your dates whether you want to come for October and the Fall Colors, November celebrating Thanksgiving or December for the Christmas Parade and hang around for the Possum Drop on New Years – so don’t delay in booking that perfect cabin rental here in the crisp cool mountains of western NC.   Views from this in town 2BR/2BA mountain Chalet   A cozy 2BR/2BA w/ loft Log Cabin in the woods   Spectacular views from this 3BR/3BA Chalet     Daniel Boone 3BR/2BA Log Cabin in the woods     09/05/2010

  What better way to spend Labor Day than out on pristine Lake Apalachia in Murphy, NC. The perfect setting for a relaxing canoe ride or some of the best fishing around. This unspoiled lake is the only area TVA lake maintained at full pool year round making Lake Apalachia unaffected by drought and water level fluctuation faced by other lakes. An estimated 80% of land surrounding Lake Apalachia is National Forest. Apalachia Reservoir is 9.8 miles long with 31 miles of shoreline and about 1,070 acres of water surface. Shorelines are strictly protected guaranteeing enduring scenic beauty. Thats why Lake Apalachian is our favorite lake in the tri-state area - it always looks like a postcard in every season. Happy Labor Day weekend!Lee & Carol Barbour www.LeeAndCarol.com 09/04/2010

Whose reputation are you staking your reputation on? Our clients deserve the best inspection we can refer and it's one of the most important processes in purchasing a home. That’s why we’re confident to have Professional Property Inspections, Inc. a part of our Mountain Living Team Professional Service Providers here in Murphy, NC. In1996, Larry Moyer launched his own private inspection company named Professional Property Inspection, Inc.  Since 1991, Larry has personally performed more than 13,000 inspections including multi-million-dollar single family homes to corporate office buildings, warehouses, motels, high rise hotels in Miami's South Beach area and even entire multi-unit apartment complexes. Talk about experience! In 2001, Larry and his wife, Shari relocated their inspection b... 09/03/2010

    Just over the Tennessee state line and about 30 minutes from Murphy, NC is the Ocoee Whitewater Center - a great place to spend the day for an outing. The Ocoee Whitewater Center (OWC) site was constructed for the purpose of holding the 1996 Olympic Canoe and Kayak Slalom competitions. This was the first time these events were held on a natural river and it was appropriate the Ocoee should be chosen as the site as it was already one of the most popular whitewater rivers in the world. Constructed using 60,000 tons of native rock, individually placed and cemented into position along the banks of the river, the riverbed itself was narrowed to create the spectacular rapids necessary for the competition. Those same rapids are the draw for the thousands of people who come each year to raf... 09/02/2010

So what’s the secret to selling your home in Murphy, NC? Well, these “secrets” have always been the pillars of marketing and selling your home, and now more than ever you need to be following these... Price it Competitively With so many foreclosed homes and short sales out there (and even next door) you’ve got to be priced competitively. It’s a buyers market and they’re looking to get the most home for their dollars so don’t lose time and money by not pricing your home competitively from the start. Let’s face it; more and more buyers in this market will usually go for the lower priced home even over the “better home” that’s priced higher. Showcase Your Home   Now that your home is priced right, it’s time to make sure you’ve got the “wow” factor. Many foreclosed and short sale homes wil... 09/01/2010

                             If you are in the mountains of Western Carolina this Labor Day weekend stop into Murphy North Carolina and enjoy the craft show, food, music and much more.... FOR MORE INFORAMTION GO TO: http://www.heritagepartners.org LISTEN TO AND EXPERIENCE MURPHY NC   Murphy NC is just minutes from trout streams, hiking trails, kayaking or white water rafting through the Nantahala Gorge, browsing in the one of many antique and craft shops or just enjoying the sunset on your own deck in peaceful solitude. You CAN have it all!!!!! Only 2 hours from Atlanta, Chattanooga and Asheville, Murphy, NC feels like it's from a different time and place. A time when life moved at a slower pace and people savored the simple pleasures.  LET ME HELP YOU FIND YOUR DREAM HOME OR VACATION G... 08/31/2010

I LOVE WHAT I DO.....  I never thought that 3 years ago I would be selling Real Estate in Murphy NC. It gives me great pleasure when I can find a dream vacation home for someone and then they also become close friends. Here is one of my experiences that I want to share. In December my neighbors (Matt & Lori who own a vacation home in Murphy NC) introduced me to Matt's brother Mark and his wife Laird who were also vacationing. I ended up selling Mark & Laird a mountain view chalet. In March Mark & Laird came up to spend a week in their mountain view chalet and brought friends of theirs with them Joe & Chris. Well Joe & Chris loved Murphy NC so much they too bought a vacation home from me. Whenever anyone comes to Murphy NC we always get together. Whether we BBQ, go to dinner, or just han... 08/31/2010

While driving around Murphy, NC you start to wonder just who named all these roads.  Here are just a few we came across one day while previewing some homes… Now coming from Miami, FL any place call Roach Cove Road sort of gives me the willies. Of course we’ve not really seen cockroaches here in the mountains and this road is named, as many are, after the family’s name. Way down into the woods was Break Wind Ridge. I can just see us giving directions to our mountain cabin in the woods and telling everyone to just follow Breaking Wind till you find us! Then there are the roads where they must have been plum worn out when it came time to “name the road day” and they just figured it was Justa Road anyway. So what about where you live? Let us know what creative, or not so creative, names of ... 08/31/2010

Our recent Wild Edibles Walk in Cherokee County, NC was a great way to keep up with identifying weeds and herbs in the wild and a chance to learn about others. Lamb's QuartersThis is one of our favorites. The leaves taste like spinach and are very nutritious and have often been used as a famine food. Use like spinach raw or cooked. Sometimes this plant will show up as a weed in your garden beds. Sassafras  Very distinct with its three different leaves that remind you of mittens. To make a tea use roots pulled from the ground in early spring while ground is still soft and roots are small is best. Scrub the roots and cut them in pieces.  Use them fresh or let them dry for later use. Put roots in a pot, add a bit more water than you want tea, and boil until it turns a nice red color then s... 08/30/2010

We stopped in to see The Village Green while passing through Cashiers, NC and found some lovely sculpture along their many paths. Established in 1992 with the vision of one and the hard work of many, the center of Cashiers was saved from becoming a hotel. It was given to the village of Cashiers for a community park. The property was transferred to the Village Conservancy, a non-profit charitable corporation which was established to preserve, restore and maintain the character of this very special community.  Today, the now 12 1/2-acre park thrives, featuring walking paths, a nationally judged dahlia garden, native landscaping, low stone walls, boardwalks over wetlands, a children's playground, rustic pavilions with picnic tables and grills, a woodlands trail, and sculptures by internati... 08/29/2010

The weekend is finally here and Murphy, North Carolina can offer you a seat with a view to relax and unwind. No matter if you’re looking for a spectacular mountain view, river or lake view, they’re endless here in Cherokee County NC and the surrounding north GA and east TN Mountains. So give us a call and we’ll save you a seat to enjoy some serene mountain living here in Murphy, NC. Visit Lee & Carol Barbour at www.MountainLivingTeam.com     08/28/2010

Is Your Pet Sabotaging You from Selling Your Home? It’s just not realistic to think you can relocate your precious pets while you’re home is on the market, but here are some tips to stop sabotaging your showings. As you leave the house everyday or get ready for that showing appointment follow these tips… Keep cat litter boxes and puppy pads impeccably clean and out of sight Keep all pet toys, kitty condos and feeding bowls picked up and put away Make sure carpets and floors are cleaned of any stains Mist the carpets and fabrics with Febreze, it freshens the air with a perfume smell. Air freshener sprays can affect people with allergies and just smell like you’re covering up something. Put your pet in their carrier out in the garage or in an out of the way corner of a room. Better yet, l... 08/27/2010