Eunice Pearson ABR,CRS,GRI,ePRO

People ask me why homes are so expensive in the Asheville area compared to the rest of North Carolina. Of course I tell them it's because it is the BEST place to live and value costs!! But seriously, there are several reasons. We don't have big builders who put up a 1000 homes a year or even 500. A builder buying 1000 toilets gets a better price than one buying 50.

Our lots take more preparation. We live in the mountains. we build on hills. Sometimes there is rock to consider. Public sewer and water doesn't extend throughout the county so you may have the additional expense of a 400' well instead of 200'. The septic system might run into rock!

Several builders have told me that materials are even higher here than in Charlotte or Raleigh. Below is a comparison of Square Footage prices in several areas.

Eunice Pearson ABR,CRS,GRI,ePRO,SFR
CENTURY 21 Mountain Lifestyles
http://www.ashevillehome.com
Eunice@AshevilleHome.com
828-230-4894

I Care About You

It is really nice to have a little bit of "warm" weather - that is - above freezing. Our winter has definitely not been the usual. We have had the longest cold spell on record. For 4 weeks we had only 3 or 4 days that went above freezing in the day time. We would normally expect a lot of days during this time period in the 40's and 50's. You never know what to expect with our weather. We did get to enjoy the beauty of a rare, big snow - anywhere from 10 inches to 20 inches in the Asheville area. Snow amounts can vary tremendously in just a short distance in this area. Here are some of our pictures.

wonderland.

Things are looking up in Asheville. Showings are increasing, houses are selling and the inventory is slightly down. Our hardest hit was from last June through February this year. Now we are seeing very encouraging signs. It won't go quite to normal this year, I don't think, but it is on its way back up and I hope next year will be back to normal. Now is a great time to buy while prices are still a little soft and sellers still nervous.

It's time to look at the communities and towns in Henderson County, NC. Hendersonville is the county seat and the main town in Henderson County. Hendersonville is a unique combination of slowpaced, tourist town and vibrant, growing town. Newly built communities populated with younger people vie for space with active

retirees. Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot and Staples on the edge of town contrast with antique shops, dress shops, restaurants and gift shops on a walkable Main Street. Hendersonville is 22 miles south of Asheville and accessed by I-26. It is the home of Blue Ridge Technical College and numerous beautiful Bed and Breakfasts. http://www.historichendersonville.com is a wonderful resource of everything that is available in Hendersonville. Check it out. You will want to come and visit. Henderson County has a population of 102,142 and Hendersonville 12,751.

Edneyville is a small town about 7 or 8 miles from I-26 east of Hendersonville. Known
primarily for the many apple orchards in the area. Apple packing houses and fruit stands
line the highway. On Labor Day week end all of Henderson county celebrates with an
Apple Festival downtown. The area is primarily rural. Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Park
are within a 30 minute Drive.

West of Hendersonville on Hwy 64 is an area know as Horseshoe which boasts its own
post office and a few businesses but is primarily rural. About 10 miles from Hendersonville is Etowah.
In Etowah life revolves around Golf. There is a golf course is the center of the town and there is a gated
golf community, a few businesses and restaurants and not much else but beautiful countryside.

A little north of Etowah and Horseshoe is Mills River - the latest incorporated town. It is primarily rural with a few small businesses. Mills River is perhaps the flatest area in the whole county.

South of Hendersonville is East Flat Rock and Flat Rock where Carl Sandburg's home Connemara is located. Nearby is the Flat Rock Theatre ( http://flatrockplayhouse.org ) which produces excellent plays. There are several golf communities also.

Laurel Park is an incorporated town adjacent to Hendersonville. It is primarily residential on a mountain with a small business area also. It is south and west of Hendersonville.

Eunice Pearson, ABR,CRS,GRI.ePRO
828-684-2640 Office
828-230-4894 Cell "I Care About You"
Eunice@AshevilleHome.com
http://www.AshevilleHome.com

This is a continuation of information on the towns of Western North Carolina and their location. I will continue with Henderson County in the next installment. I want to give you an update on real estate in our area.

January saw more showings and more under contracts in our office. I heard the same thing from several other agents in different offices. It won't show up in the statistics probably until March, and we can't guarantee it will be sustained, but it is looking encouraging. Interest rates are great and we have mortgage companies with money. Your interest rate is pegged to your credit score. The highest scores are getting interest rates in the low 4's

At this point we don't know what will happen with the Stimulus Bill, but if it is signed as now proposed, it will be a nice tax saving if you have the money to buy a new home. Personal residences only. No investment properties.

The high dollar properties are still struggling. 80% of the homes selling for the last few months are under $300,000.

Enough of the money stuff! Everybody needs a little fun and there are lots of places to have fun in Asheville. Here are a few suggestions. Definitely not a complete list.

Great Music Venues:

The Grey Eagle The Orange Peel

The Asheville Symphony The Asheville Bravo Concerts

WNC Jazz Society The Diana Wortham Theatre

Great Theatre:

The Asheville Community Theatre The Flat Rock Playhouse

The North Carolina State Stage The Brevard Little Theatre

Summer Theatre:

Montford Park Players Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre

If you want to get outside there are many place to bike, hike, kayak, fish, golf, raft, rock climb or mine for gems. Go to the the NC Arboretum to walk, enjoy flowers, see their Bonsai Garden or take a class. There are many parks for walking, picnicking, playing soccer or dog walking. Or check out hiking in the whole Smokey Mountain Park, just a short drive away.

Have Fun!

Eunice Pearson ABR,CRS.ePRO,GRI

828-230-4894 Cell Phone

eunice@ashevillehome.com

www.ashevillehome.com

800-968-3989 Office Toll Free