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Murphy, NC Real Estate News

By Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS, Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA
(Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA)
We’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Murphy, NC with a very traditional “green lunch.”  Corn beef & Cabbage, parsley potatoes, a fresh rye roll and a great piece of cake to top it off is what our office at Appalachian Land Company is having delivered in today. What a great way to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day and help put our local Homeless Shelter. All proceeds from this great $5.00 "green lunch" will go to the Hurlbert Johnson Friendship House and they are in dire need for funds. We are truly blessed to have so many people volunteer and support this project. So today, not only in Murphy, NC, but where ever you are on this St. Patrick’s Day, please also remember to support your local communities. For details or to volunteer, call 828-837-2654. Friendship House Inc., P.O. Box 422, Murphy,...
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By Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS, Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA
(Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA)
Share a hearty meal with friends... enjoy an evening at the John C. Campbell Folk School... AND help support our local food banks.   Tickets are $25 Event begins March 20, 2010 at 5 pm.Location:Olive Dame Campbell Dining Hall First, select a handcrafted bowl from a collection donated by area potters. Next, fill your bowl with a hearty meal of soup, salad, bread and dessert. Enjoy live entertainment and the company of new and old friends. Take your bowl home with you to keep as a reminder of hunger in our local and global communities.    Tickets are on sale now at the following locations: Folk School Craft Shop (828) 837-2775 Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce in Murphy (828) 837-2242 United Community Bank in Hayesville (828) 389-6363 *Cash or checks only in all locations, please.   Ple...
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By Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS, Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA
(Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA)
This week The Cherokee Scout announced the latest on Cherokee County, NC having a chance at a Class II gaming facility that covers several types of gambling including lotto, pull-tabs, bingo and some types of card games. The Eastern Band owns property in Andrews, Marble, near the Western Carolina Regional Airport, just northeast of Murphy, and a large portion between Hanging Dog Road and Joe Brown Highway for a total of 5,367 acres in Cherokee County. A gaming facility on tribal land could sell alcohol if it desires, even in the unincorporated portion of the county. Like many other counties struggling in these economic times, the possibility that a gaming facility could draw 3.5 to 4 million people to the county and the many jobs that will open up, I’d say that most of Cherokee County, ...
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By Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS, Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA
(Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA)
Why the Possum's Tail is Bare Possum once had a very long busy tail. He was so proud of it that he combed it out every morning and he always sang about it at the dances. Rabbit used to have a long busy tail too, but he lost his in the frozen lake. Rabbit was jealous of Possum's tail, so he decided to play a trick on Possum. A great council meeting and dance was to be held; all the animals were invited to attend. It was Rabbit's job to spread the news. Passing Possum's place, he stopped to ask Possum if he intended to come to the dance. Possum said, "Oh, I'll go if I have a special seat. Because I have such a handsome tail I ought to sit where everybody can see me." Rabbit said he would definitely see to it and he would also send someone to comb and dress Possum's tail for the dance. Thi...
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By Kate Wheeler, CCIM - Murphy NC Real Estate for Sale
(Country Homes and Land Murphy NC Realtor )
According to the headline in today's Cherokee Scout, Cherokee County, North Carolina is now one step closer to having legal gambling.  Last week, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council approved a resolution to study the feasibility of establishing a Class II gaming facility near Murphy, North Carolina. The Eastern Band is one of the largest landholders in the county, with 5,367 acres, including a large parcel of land near Western Carolina Regional Airport and 1,203 acres off US19 near Walmart.  Harrah's Cherokee Casino, about 45 miles away from Murphy, is one of the largest employers in western North Carolina and draws more than 3.5 million visitors each year. Plans were approved 2 years ago to spend $650 million expanding Harrah's Cherokee property, doubling the gambling ...
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By Kate Wheeler, CCIM - Murphy NC Real Estate for Sale
(Country Homes and Land Murphy NC Realtor )
If you're longing for signs of spring after the long hard winter we've had, drop into Wayne's Feed Store at 869 Andrews Road in Murphy, North Carolina 28906.  I drove past this morning and just had to stop to admire the shelves of seedlings lined up in the sun, anxiously waiting to be adopted by gardeners chomping at the bit to get out and dig in the dirt.               Broccoli, lettuce, cabbage, onions, seed potatoes - everything you need to get your garden started can be found at Wayne's.  I love to shop there because the plants are locally grown and you won't find anything displayed outside unless the time is right to take it home and put it in the ground.  Wayne's has flower and vegetable seeds too and a wide variety of fruit trees will be coming in soon.  But my all-time favorite ...
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By Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS, Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA
(Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA)
The General Assembly of North Carolina has passed Senate Bill 831, “An act to extend certain government approvals affecting the development of real property within the state". Realizing that as “a result of the crisis in the real estate finance sector of the economy, real estate developers and redevelopers, including home builders, and commercial, office, and industrial developers, have experienced an industry‑wide decline, including reduced demand, cancelled orders, declining sales and rentals, price reductions, increased inventory, fewer buyers who qualify to purchase homes, layoffs, and scaled back growth plans.” They have extended many improvement permits for a period of up to 3 years, and there's no paperwork or cost involved. Many construction projects have been put on hold and th...
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By Kate Wheeler, CCIM - Murphy NC Real Estate for Sale
(Country Homes and Land Murphy NC Realtor )
                        Or do you look like you've just been through a long, hard winter?  According to Zig Zigler, one of my favorite speakers on the motivational circuit, you can describe the same thing but paint 2 very different word pictures. So how do I describe this hardy little soul, peeking out of a pile of fallen leaves in a corner of my woodland garden on March 7 in Murphy, North Carolina?  This is the first year that I've lived in the mountains and haven't seen flowers blooming in February.  A solitary little daffodil is the only one brave enough to come out into the long-awaited sunshine - or foolish enough to risk another cold spell. I can't help thinking about all of us in America who have weathered our own long, hard winter over the last few years.  Jobs lost, homes gone,...
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By Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS, Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA
(Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA)
The family fireplace stack and old split-rail fence is all that remains of this homestead in Murphy, North Carolina. Humble it still stands as a memory today on this family’s land located in Cherokee County, NC. You can also see a few more at Memories Around the Fireplace If you're searching for a get-away cabin, land, investment property, or to make that move into your dream home, let us show you what the beautiful Western North Carolina, North Georgia and Eastern Tennessee mountains have to offer. Visit Lee & Carol Barbour at www.MountainLivingTeam.com  
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By Kate Wheeler, CCIM - Murphy NC Real Estate for Sale
(Country Homes and Land Murphy NC Realtor )
       Mysterious circles of light show up in photos shot all around the world.  But I've never seen any in color - until I moved to these ancient mountains surrounding Murphy, North Carolina.  Ever since I heard of orbs appearing in nighttime pictures, I've tried to capture them on film with varying rates of success.  On ghost tours in Gettysburg and in England, they were a no-show.  The same goes for a candlelight tour at the national monument of Fort Pensacola, where Geronimo was held.  I never found orbs in any of our photos from centuries-old temples in China.         But casual family photos shot in my own back yard here in the mountains of Murphy show dozens of orbs, some glowing in blue and green, others a veritable rainbow of hues. .  Some nights, the orbs seem to be everywhere...
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By Kate Wheeler, CCIM - Murphy NC Real Estate for Sale
(Country Homes and Land Murphy NC Realtor )
     Despite the unusually cold and snowy start to the year, 2010's home sales in Murphy, North Carolina are keeping pace with last year's numbers.  Record setting cold weather all the way to southern Florida did not deter bargain-seeking buyers from heading to the mountains of Cherokee County to take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in February. Just as in the movie The Perfect Storm, a triple whammy of conditions has converged.  Historically low interest rates, free money from Uncle Sam and incredible deals on foreclosures and short sales are offering buyers a chance to have their dream of a home in the mountains at  prices we'll never see again.                                Inventory is down nearly 10% from December, when there were 837 homes for sale in Cherokee Count...
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By Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS, Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA
(Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA)
Cherokee County, NC Residential Real Estate Market Report for February 2010 Residential New listings were 85, for a total of 979 Active, 18 Pending and 17 Sold.  Average sales price was $137,393. Average days on market - DOM was 281 days.  All statistical information used to create this report was obtained from the Mountain Lakes Board of Realtors MLS. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.    
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By Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS, Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA
(Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA)
As you drive along some of the back roads in the Murphy, NC and surrounding mountains every once in a while you’ll see a testament of stone, brick or river rock. What stories and memories have these lone sentinels out along the North Carolina mountainside pastures and fields have from year’s gone by? How many generations were raised in these modest dwellings where mornings started before the first glimpse of light and fresh coffee brewing announced the beginning of a hard day’s work and evening suppers where children’s laughter filled the evening air? These are the memories of our heritage here in Cherokee County, NC and although Murphy, NC has grown into one of the most desirable destinations to move to, we still have that small town, easy going lifestyle of “living in the mountains.” ...
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By Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS, Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA
(Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA)
  If you're looking for a real estate team that can help you sell your home, or find the perfect place to live, then you've come to the right place. As former Floridians that made the move to the mountains, we want to serve you in finding and making your dreams a reality, too. It would be our pleasure to help you with all your real estate needs. We are licensed in NC, GA and TN. If you're searching for a get-away cabin, land, investment property, or to make that move into your dream home, let us show you what the beautiful Western North Carolina, North Georgia and Eastern Tennessee mountains have to offer. If you'd like to see more info on Murphy NC and Cherokee County please visit our web site at www.MountainLivingTeam.com
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By Kate Wheeler, CCIM - Murphy NC Real Estate for Sale
(Country Homes and Land Murphy NC Realtor )
                It's 3 PM on February 21.  The temperature is a balmy 64 degrees.  Warm sun is bathing away grimy patches of snow left on the far mountaintops in Murphy, North Carolina today.  The grill is dusted off, ready for the steaks thawing in the kitchen.  I've already ventured out into the front yard, poking around under a tattered blanket of leaves  to see if any of the new shrubs I planted last fall succumbed to winter's blasts.  Now I'm finally back in my favorite spot in all the world - a little rectangle only 4 feet by 14 feet, cantilevered over the garden below.    This tiny addition to our outdoor living space was added about a year ago.  But dollar for dollar, it's the best investment we ever made. This is where we sit in the mornings in early spring, cradling a steaming...
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By Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS, Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA
(Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA)
If you’re looking for a second home or already have one here in the Murphy, NC, north GA and eastern TN mountains then this might be a service you’d be interested in while you’re away. Many absentee homeowners return to their primary residences leaving their second homes unattended. As a second homeowner you worry about such issues as the weather, water leaks, break-ins, appliance failures, central air and heating, winterizing and many other issues. Undetected, these issues can lead to unnecessary damage and higher costs for repair. What if there was a way to eliminate the stress of the unknown regarding the condition of your second home when it's left unattended?  Would that be important to you?  If so, Carl Byxbee, President and C.E.O. of Carolina HomeWatchers, Inc., have just the ans...
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By Kate Wheeler, CCIM - Murphy NC Real Estate for Sale
(Country Homes and Land Murphy NC Realtor )
Vancouver may have the Winter Olympic games, but in the mountains near Murphy, North Carolina there's a sporting event you won't find on NBC.  The annual Glacier Breaker Slalom Race was held last Saturday on the Nantahala River.       Summertime rafting on the Nantahala is all about families and youth groups riding the rapids, getting wet and having fun on hot, sunny afternoons.  But there were no giggling children or adventurous grandparents on the course on Saturday.  For most of us, this Alpine white water rafting would be considered an extreme sport - fun to watch, but way out of our comfort zone.   The river is high and wild this winter, thanks to heavier-than-usual snowfall in our mountains.  And although Saturday was sunny and mild, the "white water" in this year's event included...
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By Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS, Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA
(Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA)
Spring is always a busy time in Murphy, NC  for Real Estate so here are some tips to help get your home ready for those "spring buyers" that will be out previewing your home! Clean and shining inside A good spring cleaning is the first step to getting your home ready for buyers. Put on your favorite music, get all your supplies together and let your feather duster fly. Get those windows, mirrors and all surfaces squeaky clean and shining. Let the sun shine in on your home to set it apart from the others. Give that yard a good trim Cut back any dead stems and branches in your lawn. Trim everything away from windows and walkways. Showcase the exterior of your home for that very first impression when buyers drive up. Splash around some color  Winter is behind us now and everybody loves to ...
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By Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS, Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA
(Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA)
Spring will be here before you know it and so will the deadline for the First Time Homebuyer & Repeat Buyer Tax Credit!  The snow has finally stopped falling in the Murphy, NC and surrounding GA and TN areas, so now is the time to get out and find your home in the mountains. Give us a call today at 1.800.837.9199 and visit us at www.MountainLivingTeam.com so that we can assist you in finding the right home and taking advantage of the tax credit. Remember, to qualify for the tax credit, you have to be under contract by April 30, 2010 and close by June 30, 2010. Since there can always be financing issues, home inspection issues or seller issues, you want to give yourself enough time and not miss out on this up to $8000 tax credit.  
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By Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS, Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA
(Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA)
Many home buyers are wanting to get away from the typical neighborhoods and get a "little piece of land" for a nice garden, do some canning and raise a few chickens to enjoy a more simpler life in the Murphy, NC mountains. Well, we can help you find that home and when you're ready for some great information along the way make sure you check with your county extension office for workshops like these... The Cherokee County, NC Cooperative Extension has planned a workshop entitled “Managing the Backyard Flock” that is scheduled to be held Thursday, February 25, 2010 at the Small Business Center for Applied Technology in Marble, NC. Backyard poultry flocks have gained tremendous popularity in recent years. Many folks have come to enjoy fresh eggs each morning or even having fresh chicken at...
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