Jeanne Robinson Carriage Square Realty

To quote my favorite Beatle, "have to admit it's getting better, getting better all the time!"

Since we are a resort area, our house values have not declined. We just have more on the market than I've ever seen, and I've been selling here 30 years.

Unfortunately, we do have our share of overpriced listings, but a good Realtor can guide you there. Banks have improved their jumbo mortgage rates and limits so it really is a good time to buy. Consumer confidence is improving and should continue to do so because real estate is always going to be there. And real estate in the High Country is a little slice of heaven.

Lots of people are really interested in the new Watauga High School.

Here's some facts:

• The town has set a price tag of $60 Million
• The groundbreaking began September 20, 2007
• The town will borrow $70 Million
• The school will be 274,000 sqft
• the new campus is 94 acres (20 more than current site)
• the estimated traffic flow is 40% west and 60% east
• Students that live outside watauga county will pay tuition
• There will be 972 parking spaces.
• The project is scheduled for completion spring of 2010
• Classes begin fall 2010

I live in the mountains of North Carolina, known as the High Country. The elevation ranges from 3,000 feet above sea level on up. Driving in my area today, I saw two deer, about 15 wild turkey, a raccoon, a fox, a red tail hawk and a beaver. Don't I have great neighbors? If I'd wanted to see a bear, an otter, a bald eagle or a cougar, I could have driven a few miles to Grandfather Mountain. This place is gorgeous, even on a misty, rainy day like we had today. Told my brokers about the creatures when I got back to the office and we all agreed that we are lucky to live here.