Brevard North Carolina Real Estate Blog

Foreclosure properties....land for sale...homes for sale...in western North Carolina including
Asheville, Brevard, Etowah, Lake Lure, Cashiers, and more!

If you're looking for professional help finding a home or land, or selling your existing property, contact the Clay Team, Brevard North Carolina's most respected real estate team. If you have questions about these or other listings please contact Robert Clay at 828-551-6291 or Carol Clay at 828-551-6290. Broker/Realtor Keller Williams http://www.BrevardNCProperty.com

Click a link below to view a listing from, "Your Friends in the Mountains" the Clay Team!

Great deal on mountain golf course home with views:
http://www.brevardncproperty.com/108-Riverview-Ct-a41194.html

15+ acres...perfect for horses or a private retreat:
http://www.brevardncproperty.com/00-Cottage-Place-a3339.html

Beautiful 2.47 acre building lot in golf course community:
http://www.brevardncproperty.com/Lot-4-Masters-View-Dr-a3771.html

Lake front property...minutes from Brevard, NC:
http://www.brevardncproperty.com/Lake-Shore-Dr-a32506.html

14 acres with 1,800 river frontageon one of WNC best trout rivers:
http://www.brevardncproperty.com/00-East-Fork-Rd-a9757.html

Bank Foreclosure. Equestrian property with views:
http://www.brevardncproperty.com/FORECLOSURE-PROPERTY-Reduced-a63431.html

Adorable-Affordable home near Brevard NC:
http://www.brevardncproperty.com/21-Cherry-Ridge-Rd-a35188.html

Beautiful family home in Brevard NC:
http://www.brevardncproperty.com/5-Crestview-Dr-a30324.html

New construction! Upscale mountain home in Brevard area:
http://www.brevardncproperty.com/246-Poplar-Crest-Drive-a69226.html


Visit the Clay Team at http://www.BrevardNCproperty.com

Keller Williams/Brevard NC

This roller coaster year is finally coming to an end and in these quiet days I'm left wondering about where we all go from here. What have we learned? What will we take with us in the year ahead, and what will we leave behind? How has this year changed our core beliefs about ourselves, our businesses, or our country.

The things I'm leaving behind are my disappointments and some of my expectations. So much of what has happened this year is way beyond my control so the best I can do is adjust. I'm taking with me the belief that our business is better prepared for 2009 than we were for 2008. This year we took the approach of "making lemonade out of lemons" and in many respects our business is better for it. We upped our training, we learned new ways of doing things, we dug deep to become self-reliant. It hasn't been an easy year and like everyone I know, we took a financial hit. But by being resourceful, we've managed, and at the end of the day, we'll be better at what we do than had we not lived through this past year.

I wish I felt as good about the world around me. I've seen enough corruption and violence lately to last me a lifetime. I truly don't know how someone can dress up like a Santa, then go on a killing spree. I don't understand how a man can knowingly scam friends, families, and foundations out of billions of dollars and still sleep at night. Maybe one of my new years resolutions should be to watch less news.

There are plenty of things I don't know...but the one thing I know for sure is that the only thing constant in life is change. And if we aren't moving forward, we're standing still.

So here's to a new year, new experiences, and to always moving forward. 

Like every other year, Christmas has once again snuck up on me. You would think that the lighted Christmas trees that show up right after Easter in my neighborhood Lowes would be a signal. Ok, maybe not after Easter, but certainly right after Halloween for sure! Nonetheless, tomorrow is Christmas Eve so even though this is probably a little late in coming, I thought it might be fun to share Christmas favorites.

What's your favorite Christmas Carol? Your favorite Holiday Dinner menu? Or maybe a Christmas or Hanukkah memory from your childhood. Whatever you feel like sharing.

I know lots of folks are off with families, friends, and neighbors....but if you feel like stopping by and spreading some Christmas Memory Cheer, this is the place.

My favorite Christmas carol? On the traditional side, it's either Oh Holy Night, or Silent Night. On the non-traditional side it's Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas...hands down.

I really like some of the more contemporary artists who do this, but this is the original...so what the hey. Listen to the words. It's really a classic.

Whatever your memories hold for you....here's wishing you many more. This year, my wish for you is that you have yourself a merry little Christmas!

Today I turned another year older. Another page on the calendar gone. It's not so bad, though. Several friends have already called with best wishes for the day, others sent e-cards, and Robert and I are going out for one of our favorite dinners - mussels and salad at Carrabas. But here's the thing....this morning I realized that this oh-so special day also put me over the top and into another age bracket with people who are way older than me! I mean seriously, the people in this age group, are...well...old! I can't be "their" age, can i?

Sure, there are days when it's hard to get going in the morning.

But then there are plenty of days when I feel like I can do anything!  I am "Wonder Realtor" at your service.

And I'm a firm believer in "never stop learning" so even now, I keep my eyes open for new opportunities and things I can learn about life, our business or just the crazy, whacked-out world we're living in.

All in all, life is good. Despite the miserable market, I'm doing something I really enjoy, and I'm living in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina with a wonderful husband, and our old dog Abby who...by the way, agrees with my notion that there is nothing like a long hot bath to give you a new outlook on things.

So Happy Birthday to me...and Happy Birthday to everyone else lucky enough to be born on this day.

I confess that I have been pursuing Google for nearly a year now, doing everything I could to get noticed. Sometimes I got a nod, or maybe a flirtatious wink, but more often than not, I would find Google spending time with others leaving me to wonder what a girl has to do to get a little Google love. Hey, look at me! I have value! I have worth! I'm embarrassed to admit that in the beginning, I even paid for a little of that love. But I knew there had to be a better way!  So I had a total make over to bring out my best features and lately I've spent long hours getting in shape, toning up my content and tightening my up my key words. And, I've been reaching out to others, learning everything I can so Google would find me interesting, informed, and relative.

So last night, bolstered with a sense of confidence, I went searching for the big G at the hottest spot in town. I couldn't believe my eyes! Not only was I on G's dance card, I was at the top of the list on the first page. Number One! Numero Uno! I gushed with excitement and wanted to shout it to the world. You like me! You really like me! I opened a bottle of my best cheap red wine and celebrated our new love. All my hard work had finally paid off. I just knew that if I took my time, and didn't push, that Google would eventually see things my way and we would be together 4-EVER!

This morning when I woke up, I was still hung over from the night's celebration, but I had a smile on my face. The birds were chirping and for some reason, the morning light seemed just a little brighter than the day before. But as I looked around I saw that Google was gone without so much as a note. It was as if it had never happened. Was it all just a dream? Had my passionate desire to be G's #1 played tricks on my brain? No, I saw what I saw and what I saw was real. I was there at the top of the list, ahead of all the others who had captured so much of Google's time and attention in the past. So how could it all be over so fast? What possible explanation could there be for what I saw this morning. Once again, Google had forsaken me for others, relegating me and my hard work to a distant 3rd page.

My one night stand with Google was exciting for sure and one that I can openly talk about now that I have had some time to think about it. Some day, I might even tell my grandchildren the story of how I made it to the top of Google's list that one December night back in 2008. But like any of life's experiences, there are lessons to be learned. And if I learned anything, it is that Google is fickle and suffers from some serious commitment issues. Will Google ever change? I doubt it. So today, it's back to basics as I remain resolute in my goal of once again being Google's number one.

For all the energy everyone puts into having a strong Internet presence, I wonder how much of that hard work and energy actually translates into real business. We build fancy websites with all the whistles and bells, we capture leads and send drip campaigns, we email, we blog, we live and die by SERPs, but where does it get us? Like a lot of today's technology, we are led to believe that our world is not complete without the latest gadget or time saving device that actually ends up costing more time to learn and operate than it's worth. Does having a Blackberry make me a better Broker? Does having a a strong Internet presence guarantee me success? Sometimes I wonder.

I know a mega agent in our market who, up until just recently, never had a website. Ever. Yet he has been one of the top producing Brokers in two counties for years. He's a listing machine and I've always wondered how anyone in today's world could be that successful and not have a lead generating web site. I talked to him the other day and learned one of his big secrets. Letters. He writes lots and lots of letters. Hand addresses them, too. Old school? You bet! But I can't argue with his success.

So again I wonder....is it possible for old school to become new school at some point? I don't think I could survive without email and I admit that I am not quick to work with clients who don't have it. And I'm not anywhere near considering abandoning our website. I believe all the statistics that say 85% of people start their search on the Internet so I'm not taking any chances. Just the same, I think there is a lot to be said for some old school lessons.

In my opinion, high tech can never replace high touch.

What say you?

It's been a tough year and we've all had to make choices about how we spend our time and our money. Eveyone I know is cutting back in ways they never thought of before. But please, don't cut back on your health. When money is tight, it's so easy to put off those important annual screenings...the ones that can save your life.  Stress is so hard on our health, (and who among us has NOT been stressed out this year!) so if you're experiencing some health issues that maybe you've never had before, please go see your doctor. Whether you have insurance or not, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." The graveyards are full of people who wanted to save money on their health care.

There are alot of things in this world that we can't control. Our personal health care is one thing we can control. Here are 6 things you do right now!

1. If you have insurance, talk to your provider about what they will cover and what your options are. I learned this week, for instance, that for the cost of a $50 co-pay, I can save over $1,200 on a particular screening if I would be willing to drive a couple of hours to a specialist in another county. I think I can handle that.

2. If you don't exercise, start today. It can be something as simple as taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

3. If your diet has deteriorated over this last year, start eating better today. Small changes can make a big difference.

4. If stress is affecting your mental and physical well being, address it head on with a yoga class, turning off the news for the day,  talking a walk with someone you love, meditation....or whatever it is that helps you release the stress your mind and body are holding onto.

5. If you have questions...get some answers. There are a myriad of websites out there so there's really no excuse for not knowing. These are just a few.

American Cancer Society

American Heart Association

American Diabetes Association

American Lung Association

6. IF YOU ARE STILL SMOKING, PLEASE STOP. I MEAN IT!   PLEASE STOP SMOKING!!

Do these things for yourself, do them for the people you love, or do them for those who love you.  It's never too late to start.

So last night we went to a friend's house for a little holiday party. They live about an hour east of us in a golf course community. On this night, our drive home turned out to be yet another reminder of why we love living here.  We were only 5 minutes from our friends' home when we came around a turn and found ourselves face to face with a very large horse who was ambling down the middle of this dark country road. Being concerned for the safety of the horse, we stopped and put on our flashers. Normally, this road would not be well traveled, especially at 10:00 pm, but because it is being used as a detour from another road, there were more cars than usual and it wasn't long before cars from both directions were stopped while the horse, which resembled a small Clydesdale, wandered off and onto the road, crisscrossing, and changing direction. Eventually, someone notified the farmer who owned the horse and he drove up with harness in hand. It was another 10 minutes before he was able to secure the horse, and walk him to the pasture gate. As I watched the old farmer and his horse make their way down this dark country road toward the gate, time stood still for a bit. Despite the fact that there were probably 15 cars backed up in both directions, there were no horns blaring, no one demanding to go by, no one yelling about the situation. No one was in any hurry and we all waited patiently until the horse was secured. It was like something from a Norman Rockwell painting and I honestly don't know what touched me more...the simple image of the farmer and his horse or the momentary sense of community we had with our fellow travelers.  With the horse back in the pasture, cars began to disperse as people went on their way. The farmer had parked his old jeep next to us so we waited for him to return, leaving our headlights on so he could see better. He thanked us and and we wished him and his horse, who we learned was named Clyde, a good night. We smiled all the way home.

Everyone has their own opinion about the best place to live. Some like the energy of the city, others want the beach. For me, it's always been about the mountains. I feel particularily blessed, however, to be living right here in the mountain community of Brevard, North Carolina.

Someone I know says that in order to sell a home in today's market it has to be "the prettiest girl at the dance". OK, that statement may bring back some not so pleasant memories of junior high school, but if we're talking about making a home more attractive to buyers, there is a lot of truth to it. It's a buyers market and the buyers know it so they are able to pick and choose in order to get the most for their money. So what is a seller to do? One approach is to embrace the idea of remodeling, especially if a home is more than 10 years old. From a design stand point, a lot has changed in 10 years and many of today's buyers expect granite and stainless in the kitchens and look for homes with updated spaces. Then there is the issue of wear and tear that can make a home less desirable for potential buyers. But which remodeling projects give you and your home the most bang for your buck?

According to the annual Remodeling Cost vs Vale Report, a joint effort of Realtor Magazine and Remodeling Magazine, in 2005 when the real estate market was booming homeowners could expect to recoup an average of 86.7% from their remodeling projects. While remodeling is still a viable way to increase the value of a home, the 2008 average has dropped to 67.3%. Like everything else when it comes to today's housing market, even that number can change dramatically depending on the type of project and where you live. The report indicates, for instance, that in Charlotte, NC, some projects like new decks and window replacements can actually net more than the project costs. If you're in Seattle, you can anticipate recovering 100% of your costs for things like a deck or a minor kitchen remodel. For homeowners in markets including Chicago, Indianapolis and other Midwest cities the news isn't as good. In those cities, it's tough to get your money back.

The Cost vs Value Report studied 30 different home improvement projects in nine regions across the US and you can see the full report online to get a better understanding of it all, but here are a few highlights for those of us living in North Carolina which is part of the South Atlantic Region and also includes Washington, D.C, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

According to the study, and the 2008 averages, these are some of the home improvements projects where you can expect to recoup a fairly large portion of the cost:

• Adding a wood deck - 83.9%
• Remodeling an attic into a bedroom - 75.5%
• Remodeling a basement - 78.1%
• Minor kitchen remodel - 79.9%
• Mid range bathroom remodel - 75.5%
• Replacing vinyl siding - 82.6%
• Fiber cement siding - 91%
• Vinyl window replacement - 82.4%

If you're thinking about creating a dedicated home office space, though, you might want to reconsider installing those built in shelves and custom desks. The home office remodeling project had the lowest return of all the 30 projects studied coming in at 56.3% in our area, even less in other areas.

Needless to say, these are national numbers and subject to change depending on what is usual and customary in any given area. The rate of return will will also vary depending on the quality of the materials used and the workmanship. In the end, while remodeling can be challenging it's also a great opportunity to make your home more attractive for future buyers, and maybe even more livable for yourself in the meantime.

I don't often write book reviews, but I just finished reading a book that was so good, I want to share it with everyone who is interested. It's called Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.  I started reading it Sunday morning and couldn't put it down until I finished it this morning.

I suppose there are plenty of men who would enjoy this, but like some movies, this one really speaks to women, our friendships with other women, and our historial role in society. The story takes place in 19th century China in a remote Hunan county. It is an educational journey into the ritualistic world of China during that time and the standing women had in society. Paraphrasing from the book, girls were considered worthless limbs of a family tree. When they are very young, the two girls in the story are paired with each other as "laotong" or "old same". The practice is similar to the matchmaking done to find a husband but a girl's relationship with her laotong transcended everything, including marriage.The story begins when they are only about 5 years old and carries you through their adult life and eventual death.

The story is fictional but based on truth..including a secret language called "nu su" that women in that day created in order to communicate with each other in a way that men didn't understand.

I could go on and on. The book would make a wonderful holiday gift for yourself, or your best gal pal.