Terri Orr, REALTOR®, Western North Carolina Real Estate

Another favorite place in Asheville,NC--
The Grove Arcade.

Millionaire E.W. Grove believed in doing things in a large and luxurious way. His dream for the Grove Arcade was an opulent indoor city, complete with skylights and spiral staircases. He built some of it, died (as mere men are prone to do), and a partial dream was opened in 1929. In 1942, this grand venue was comandeered by the govt., then restored and reopened in 2002.

We now have the privilege of experiencing the Grove Arcade--a completely unique restored mall in downtown Asheville. The Grove Arcade is like an architectural art festival! It houses some favorite Asheville boutiques and eateries surrounded by Renaissance decorations and Gothic geometrics. Grotesques and gargoyles stare at you inside and outside the Grove Arcade. Look for royal shields with Gothic arches and canopies above the windows near the elevator. Be sure to look up at the Baroque ceiling and notice the Renaissance-inspired grapevine friezes at the East entrance.

No doubt, Asheville is a fascinating place--restored architectural gems, hidden waterfalls, green-living... If you aren't here already, you should move here... or... look into investment property in Asheville, NC. And here is another...

Home Buyer’s Tip:

How To Choose A Home:

You have a buyer’s agent, you've been pre-approved, and now you are ready to start shopping for your new home! Your buyer’s agent will be asking you some questions: How many bedrooms/bathrooms do you want? Inside the city limits? Subdivision or rural setting?

To avoid stress and wasted time, you and your significant other should write down, separately:

1) What you MUST have about your home (all one level...open kitchen...particular school district...)

2) What is important to have.

3) What you would like to have about your home.

Now, come together and have a meeting of the minds!

While your minds are meeting together, look at your papers and focus on the items that you both MUST have and then, identify things that CAN be changed and things that CANNOT be changed.

You cannot change that a particular property is not by a creek, but you can add wood flooring. You cannot change zoning regulations, but you can add another bathroom or change the heating system.

Next, go shopping with your buyer's agent and note the changeable and unchangeable features of each home you view. Regroup and get an idea of what it might cost to make any changes by using this great free online tool: costhelper.com. Make sure you take these costs into consideration when you and your buyer’s agent decide upon a price to offer and the highest price you are willing to pay.

The Best Waterfall Hike Near Asheville, NC!

Our favorite place, this week, is... Catawba Falls.

My husband, a native Ashevillian, has taken me, and our children and myriads of friends, on this hike to Catawba Falls many times.

In the past, we would park our car and quickly zip around the gate with the threatening sign. Fortunately, and with many thanks to The Foothills Conservancy, access to Catawba Falls is now officially legal! (Whew!) There is even a yellow lab who sometimes hovers about the entrance of the trail with a collar designating him as the official guide dog for the Catawba Falls.

The trail begins at the end of Catawba River Road, which is a bit hard to find. From Asheville, take I-40 east to exit 73 (Old Fort). Catawba River Road connects to the exit road--you will miss it if you go all the way to the intersecting road (Bat Cave Road). So, before the “exit” ends, look for the sharp right onto Catawba River Road.

Go to the end of this road, park on the left, and look for the guide doggie. If you don’t see him, you’re on your own!

Walk around the gate that blocks the road and continue around the barn and onto the trail. Don’t let the first part of this trail fool you--this hike is no walk in the park.

There is a completely wonderful and refreshing pool at the base of the waterfall--please do not bring children past this point. There are multiple falls beyond, but even my adventurous daughter says that it requires impressive navigational skills. As far as I'm concerned, going farther is just plain dangerous (disclaimer--not that the first part wasn't dangerous...)

And, most importantly--DO NOT bring children who will not listen to you when you tell them to hold your hand!

While you are enjoying that refreshing pool, consider investing in Asheville, NC.

It’s a great time to buy in Asheville--interest rates are still low and there are still lots of great deals out there. Right now, you don't have to be rich or famous to buy property in Asheville, NC...

but that may change :) So, here is your next...

Home Buyer’s Tip:
You have decided to enter into a buyer’s agency agreement with a Realtor and now have a buyer's agent--great decision! And now you are spending all your waking moments looking at a home search website for your dream home. Hold on.... your next step should be to become pre-approved for a loan. Seriously, in this economy, sellers aren’t really interested in an offer from a buyer who has not been pre-approved. This will also let you know how much house you can truly afford (and you don’t HAVE to spend THAT much!) As far as finding a mortgage broker/mortgage consultant/loan officer--the best advice anyone can give you is to find someone you can trust. Ask friends and family... and, learn a bit about mortgages. Go to a website like bankrate.com and put in your info and do a search that will compare rates. Ask your realtor for recommendations and speak to a loan officer at your local bank. Shop around! ...ask if they offer FHA loans and bring your online info to compare what they tell you. They make their living by commission, or by marking up rates, or adding fees... so, be sure to ask about fees as well as interest rates. Also, if you end up unhappy with your loan officer, you can switch--getting pre-approved does not obligate you to work with that person when you find your home.

Living Green and Eating Clean in Asheville, NC

Living green and eating clean is the direction of the future and as previously said, Asheville is leading the way--which is why you should move here or invest in Asheville real estate. Our favorite place, this week, is Greenlife Grocery.

Greenlife, in downtown Asheville, is a great place to buy whole foods, local foods, and to just enjoy the community.

It’s interesting and inviting--from the unusual signs and community-friendly feel outside...

to the isles of healthful foods,

the to-die-for bakery, and their locally focused butcher shop, inside.

I love this store! And, in typical Asheville form, there is almost always a talented musician in front of Greenlife to make beautiful music for you while you are simply going to get your milk and bread. You could spend your whole day there! (Actually, a lot of people seem to be doing that!)

The bottom line is, Asheville is a great place to live or to invest...so, consider it! Asheville is beautiful on the outside AND on the inside--because it is moving fast towards goals that are becoming very important to more and more people--goals like living green and eating clean.

For those of you who are looking to buy property in Asheville, NC, here is another...

Home Buyer’s Tip
Last time, your buyer’s tip was to use a Buyer’s Agent. And, as previously noted, the seller pays for this service for you! Here’s how it works: when a seller hires an agent (who then becomes the seller’s agent or listing agent) a commission is agreed upon. This amount is built into the sales price. When that house is sold, the listing agent’s firm receives that commission. If the buyer has a buyer’s agent, the listing agent splits the commission with the buyer’s firm. There is no additional fee to the buyer for using a buyer’s agent and if the buyer is not represented by a buyer’s agent, there is likely no discount for him/her.

Any licensed real estate agent can act as a buyer’s agent OR a seller’s agent--or even, a dual agent--representing both sides. The bottom line is, if you are a buyer and have no buyer’s agency agreement with the agent you are speaking with-- you need to be cautious about any information you give. Read the “Working With Real Estate Agents” brochure and communicate with the agent you are speaking to about this to be sure you are all on the same page.

As we continue our journey to favorite places in Asheville, NC, we are quickly compelled to call attention to the Blue Ridge Parkway...

How many people in the world get to experience such glory on their way to work? Ahhhh... the life of an Ashevillian.

Every year, since the Parkway’s beginning in 1946, it attracts more visitors than any other area in the National Park Service system. And have you been to the new Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center? This building is an environmental masterpiece. It was built using materials from local vendors. It has a Green roof--the plants improve the air and provide natural insulation for the building. It’s thick Trombe walls and the overhang on the outside of the building are strategically designed to minimize the heat. And for cold days, It has an energy saving radiant floor--tubes of water underneath release warmth that emanates upward. (Oh I want one...no more cold feet in winter!)

So, Asheville leads the way, again. This is one ambitiously GREEN city. (Check out GO--Asheville's green community based development organization.) Asheville is serious about planning for her future!

So that's why, if you are a wise investor, you should consider investment opportunities in Asheville! Asheville is a smart city, as well as amazingly beautiful. If you would like to know about homes for sale near the Blue Ridge Parkway or real estate investment opportunities near the Blue Ridge Parkway, including foreclosures in Asheville and Buncombe county--please let me know.

Home Buyer’s Tips:
I’ve decided to add some helpful info for buying your first home or second or third... Here’s the first home-buyer's tip:
As a home buyer in NC, you need to be aware that the typical real estate agent works for the seller. For instance let’s say that you see a house you like on a website, like realtor.com, and you call the agent associated with that house. That agent is working for the seller and is obligated to try to get the highest price for his client... which would mean informing his client of any info about a buyer that will help him get a higher price. So, you would not want to tell that agent about your motives or eagerness. And be aware that, in general, real estate agents are trying to sell any of the homes listed in the MLS... whether it is their own listing or another agent's listing.

You can protect your interests by having an agent represent you as a Buyer’s agent--this legally obligates the agent’s loyalty to you and commitment to get you the lowest price for a property. And the great news is that the seller will pay for your buyer’s agent! More about that next time....

Question: Where can you find a bakery that caters to the health conscious? In Asheville, of course! And more specifically, West Asheville...

West Asheville's West End Bakery is the place!

I had heard a lot about this bakery. So, I visited and discovered that this is a BAKERY where...a health-minded person can enjoy freshly baked treats and desserts and breads made with organic and whole grains...ahhhhhhhh... what a find! Who would have thought such a place could exist! Besides my delight at the thought of my own personal benefits from such a place, this is a great place to bring my little boy and let him choose whatever scrumptious goodie he wants and not worry about reactions in his little ADHD brain from colored dyes and white chemically processed sugar. The West End Bakery uses only natural cane juice to sweeten their treats--hooray! It's also a kid and people friendly place...the atmosphere is warm and inviting.

The West End Bakery has just celebrated 10 years of bringing wholesome treats and healthful, tasty lunches--and now, even wedding cakes!--to West Asheville (and beyond). It's owned by Krista Stearn, hubby Lewis Lankford, and Cathy Cleary. Nan Kramer and Katie Good were working there the day I stopped by. Katie has been working there for a year and says she loves it. She says that the West End "really IS a special place". I agree.

And, are we surprised that this especially kind and healthful bakery is in WEST Asheville? No, we are not! West Asheville is at the forefront of a trend that's all about living locally and being neighborly. (Check out Haywood Rd., the main street.) People actually walk around this town...or ride a bike. It's nice to see a town acting like a town--instead of everyone going to work and then shutting themselves up in their houses. Its a unique and growing place and it should be attracting interest from those who may want to invest in Asheville. It's a great place to buy your first home...or buy your second home... (life is very interesting here :)... or, maybe you might want to consider investing in rental property.

At the very least, come browse West Asheville and the West End Bakery and enjoy some wholesome goodies!