Brevard North Carolina Real Estate Blog

Six miles south of downtown Brevard is the golf course community of Connestee Falls.....

Connestee Falls is so much more than a "golf course community". From the start the area was ecologically designed to preserve the environment and today this 3,900 acre “neighborhood” is as much a park as it is a great place to call home. Deer and other wild life are common place and, along with the woodlands and spectacular mountain views, they are part of the community’s natural beauty.

Connestee Falls is a unique blend of seasonal and year round residents. Approximately half of the homeowners live here year round.  But whether you live in Connestee year round, or only visit part of the year, when you’re here, you can stay as busy as you choose to be….or not to be.

At the center of activity is the Connestee Falls Clubhouse where you’ll find the Overlook Dining Room, community rooms, a library, the lower level grill, and the golf pro shop.  The 6,000 yd. 72 par golf course designed by George W. Cobb is beautifully maintained and offers up some of the most spectacular scenery and challenging golf around. And thanks to our moderate climate, the course and practice facility are open year round.

Recreational choices at Connestee also includes tennis, hiking trails, a heated swimming pool, a fitness center, and four lakes and parks where you can fish for trout, bass or bream. Plus there are active social groups and clubs for just about every interest from amateur theater to photography and gardening.

There are currently about 1,300 homes in Connestee ranging from condominiums, to small mountain chalets, to larger family size homes. You’re sure to find something that fits your needs. Or, consider one of the residential lots that are available where you can build your dream home or rustic mountain getaway.  

Connestee Falls is located at approximately 3,300 feet elevation at it highest point making it a perfect spot to escape the heat of the summer months and enjoy the cool mountain breezes. It is within a one-hour drive to Greenville-Spartanburg Airport or Asheville Regional Airport.

For more information on Connestee Falls, or other great communities in and around Brevard, North Carolina, give us a call or visit us online at BrevardNCProperty.com

Western North Carolina is a rich agricultural area and the summer is a great time of year to enjoy the bounty of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Juicy ripe peaches, wonderful tomatoes of varying size and color, mountain blueberries, dozens of varieties of squash, greens, potatoes and more are fresh from the fields right now and available at local tail gate markets and farms.

Whether you visit a small local tail gate market, or the large state run WNC Farmers Market in Asheville, you are assured of finding plenty of "good eats". While you're shopping for fruits and vegetables, don't miss the locally made cheeses, grain fed organic meats, organic honey, and garden fresh flowers to round out your table.

This past weekend, I hit two small tail gate markets as well as the WNC Farmers Market. For the very best selection, and while it's still cool, go early in the day. Be sure to bring a large basket or canvas bag to carry your goodies home in. This time of year, it's also a good idea to bring along a cooler with ice, or one of those thermal bags in case you buy cheese, eggs, or any other perishables.

The first stop was the N. Asheville Market on the campus of UNC. All the tents and tables were set up under the trees and by the time we got there at 10, it was already buzzing with activity. Honestly, it was so hard for me to choose what to get. It was all great. I settled on some kale that was different from any I've seen in the stores, some incredible fresh made Chevre cheese with ginger in it, some braising greens, fresh salad greens, and organic patty pan squash.

The next stop was another small market in Asheville where I snagged some amazing bread, sweet onions, and some other veggies that were destined for the grill that night.

Our final stop was the WNC Farmers Market. This is where local restaurants and stores also buy their fresh goods. There is a special section just for commercial buyers and there is a large building for the rest of us.  This is where I bought my peaches and tomatoes. If you don't live in an agricultural area and are reliant on a chain grocery store for "fresh" vegetables....you don't know what you're missing. The peaches come from just over the border in SC. The tomatoes are local. Both are packed with freshness and flavor that you don't get when they've been picked too soon and shipped across country. Of course, there were plenty of beans, squash, onions, potatoes, honey, cantaloupes, flowers, and herbs from local farms, as well as a few non-food craft booths.

By the time we headed home, the car was filled with the smell of peaches and I couldn't wait to start cooking!

Below are just a few of the local markets. For a complete list and more information about local tail gate markets, growers, and farms in this area visit http://www.asapconnections.org/

• Transylvania County Tailgate Market - Tue, Thur, Sat 7:30 am - 1:00 pm behind the South Broad Park.
• Henderson County Tailgate Market - Sat 9:00 am - Noon 100 N. King St., Hendersonville
• N. Asheville Tailgate Market - Sat 7:00 am - Noon. UNC campus
  
  Photo Source: Flickr.com

When the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was put in place, the idea was to give a boost to the real estate market by helping first time home buyers get off of the sidelines and in doing so, reduce the inventory of available homes. So who can take advantage of this program and what are the important things to know?

1. For starters, the law defines a first time home buyer as anyone who has not owned a primary residence for three years prior to making a purchase.

2. As a first time home buyer, you can qualify for a credit of up to $8,000 if you purchase a home before December 1, 2009 and keep it as your primary residence for at least 36 months. If you own a vacation home, but do not own a primary home, you can still qualify for a credit.

3. You also have to meet certain income standards. A single person earning up to $75,000 a year or a couple earning up to $150,000 can qualify.

4. Unlike the tax credit that Congress enacted in 2008, this credit does not have to be repayed.

5. The credit is only available for FHA loans. It cannot be used to finance the minimum 3.5% down payment that is required, but it can be used to finance any part of the down payment that exeeds the 3.5% or it can be used to cover closing costs. Often times, especially with first time home buyers, qualifying for a loan is just the beginning and coming up with the cash for the closing costs is difficult. This credit could go a long way to greasing the wheels.

Since the plan was put into place the beginning of the year, there have been some changes made and if you are considering taking advantage of the plan, you should consult your tax advisor and your lender.  There are also a variety of useful and informative websites where you can get additional information. Here are just a few.

http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/glance.php

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-8000-first-time-home-buyer

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.html

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/the-home-front/2009/05/29/the-8000-first-time-home-buyer-tax-credit-program-expands-5-things-to-know.html

Summer is a great time of year to be in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Whether you're in the Brevard, NC area for a long weekend, or escaping the summer heat for the entire season, there are tons of things to see and do. Here is just a sample!

June 26 - Brevard Music Center Opening Night! Tickets now on sale. Visit the Brevard Music Center for complete details. Performances continue through the summer. With over 80 public performances by some of the best and brightest young musicians from around the world...It's a must for summer entertainment!

June 26 - 4th Friday Gallery Walk. A cool summer nite is perfect for a stroll in downtown Brevard and for a visit to the art galleries, art stores, retail stores and restaurants. Most galleries have new artwork each month, while you enjoy wine, munchies and music. Be sure to look for the 14 sculptures and five murals located in downtown as well. A brochure for the gallery walks can be found at any of the participating galleries or at the Chamber of Commerce. For more information call TC Arts at 884-2787 or go to www.artsofbrevard.org. Gallery Walk occurs on the 4th Friday of the month throughout the summer.

Brevard Old Time Street Dances, every Tuesday night from June 30 through Aug. 18. Music starts at 6:30p.m., dancing at 7p.m. Music provided by Roy Chapman and his True Blue Grass Band. For more information, call 884-4793

July 4 - There's something special about celebrating the 4th of July in a small town like Brevard! Don't miss a minute of the fun. The festival runs from 9 am- 5 pm and includes the 37th Annual Fine Arts & Craft Show, a Classic car show, tons of music entertainment, a 5k/10k run and of course, it's all capped off with a Fireworks Show. 

July 5 - Songcatchers Music Series. The Cradle of Forestry's Songcatchers Music Series honors traditional music and the talented performances who preserve it, share it, and make it their own. Enjoy songs from ancient Appalachian ballads, vintage melodies, and fiddle tunes. For details, contact the Cradle of Forestry at 828-877-3130.

For more information about Brevard, North Carolina, visit us online today!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love living in western North Carolina? Only every day! After living in Florida for more than 30 years, living in the Brevard, North Carolina area is something I hope I never really get used to. The easy going way of life, the 4 distinct but temperate seasons, the people....it's a lifestyle that far exceeded my expectations when we moved here 4 years ago.

This morning I sat on my front porch to have my coffee and instead of the sound of traffic all I heard was the rushing river, and the sound of birds, including an occassional hummingbird. Instead of roof lines of other homes, I see beautiful trees and mountains. Best of all...Here we are the middle of June and we still haven't needed to turn on the AC.  Does it get warm here? Yes, this time of year we will have a streak of temps in the high 80s or maybe even 90 during the day but it doesn't last long. And at night, it goes right back down to being cool. I remember summers in Florida when it was stil 89 degrees with 90% humidity at 11pm.

If you're looking for homes for sale in the Brevard, NC area, you have plenty of options. Glen Cannon and Connestee Falls are both golf course communities with lovely homes, great views, and affordable pricing. In town, you'll find great bunglow style homes that remind us days gone by. Being a "townie" also means you can easily walk to restaurants, art galleries, and enjoy the various events held throughout the year in downtown Brevard.  Of course, there are also lots of options if you want a home with some acreage for horses, a garden, or just some privacy.

To learn more about homes and land for sale in Brevard, North Carolina, visit us online. You'll find loads of information about the area as well as our featured properties including homes, land, and condos.

The mountains are calling! Don't be late for your life.

Affordable housing doesn't mean you have to sacrifice quality or value! 

This is a spotless home perched on a beautifully landscaped 1.25 acre parcel with mountain views, in a quiet country setting. Included in the price is an oversized 2 car garage with loads of room. The home is 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, with a contemporary kitchen.

The home is located in Etowah, minutes from schools and shopping. It's about a 15 minute drive to downtown Hendersonville, 20 minutes to downtown Brevard, and about 30 minutes to downtown Asheville.

Great value...beautiful setting! Call today for more information or to schedule a showing. 

But wait! There's more! The seller also has a classic 1984 refurbished Corvette for sale. Only 81,000 miles. Asking $8,000!!

In Henderson County, there were 87 residental closings in May, down slightly from April when there were 91 closings, and down from May 2008 when there were 127 closings. The average residential closing rose slightly from $197,877 in April, to $211,442 in May. The days on market dropped from 180 days in April to 155 days in May.

The average listing price in May was $224,248 and the average selling price was $211,442, which means homes sold for slightly more than 94% of asking.

There were 7 land sales in Henderson County in May. The average listing price was $73,757 and the average selling price was $57,857 or roughly 78% of asking. The average days on market for May was 85 days.

For more information about buying and selling homes and land in the Hendersonville, NC area, give us a call at 828-551-6290 or 828-551-6291.....or visit us online at BrevardNCProperty.com.

The number of residential closings in Transylvania County was up slightly in May, mainly due to an increase in home sales in the $100K - $200K price range. There were a total of 14 closings compared to 12 in April.  There were 9 closings in the $100K-$200K range, 4 in the $200K-$300K range, and 1 closing in the $300-$400K range. In May 2008 there were 20 closings.  The good news is that the days on market dropped from an average of 278 days to only 139 days.

The average residential listing price in May was $222,762 and the average selling price was $205,907, which means that homes sold for roughly 92% of the asking price.

There were 8 land sales in May. The average listing price was $239,862 and the average selling price was $183,562 or roughly 76% of asking. It’s important to note that these averages were up because of one transaction that was a foreclosure on a 76 acre tract. It was listed for $975,000 and sold for $701,000. The average days on market was 274 days.

For more information about buying and selling homes and land in the Brevard, NC area, give us a call at 828-551-6290 or 828-551-6291.....or visit us online at BrevardNCProperty.com.

The strangest thing happened today. Robert stopped at our local BP station to top off his car. He swiped his card as usual, but as the purchase amount approached $19.00 the pump began to slow down and when it reached $20.00 even, it stopped. Strange. So he went inside to see what the situation was. Was it his credit card? The lady behind the counter explained that whoever was there before had prepaid. Did they prepay then forget to put $20 worth of gas in their own car? Or could it be a good Samaritan paying it forward?

I've heard of stories where people go through a drive through, or to their dry cleaners, and prepay an amount for whoever comes in after they leave...but I've never been on the receiving end of it.

Robert left his name and phone number in case the person came back and wanted to "claim" their $20 of gas. We would gladly pay back the $20. There are a lot of blue collar construction guys who travel through our area and I'd hate to think that one of these hardworking guys somehow forgot they had prepaid for their gas and lost $20. But if it was someone who just wanted to offer a little bit of help during these difficult times...well the thought of that just warms my heart.

We'll see if we get a phone call or not.