Tour Asheville from your Living Room!!

The DVD is here! If you have always wanted to take a tour of the neighborhoods here in Asheville and see the area, this is the best way to do it from the comfort of your living room. The Buyer's Agent of Asheville has produced a DVD that gives you a great look at Asheville and the homes and neighborhoods that you will see here. You can see downtown Asheville, as well as, all of the surrounding areas in the county.Learn more about Asheville while you are at home. If you would like a copy of the DVD please respond in the "comments" section under this post and we will send you one FREE!

Business Week Names Asheville one of the Best Places to Buy

On MSN Real Estate you can find a wealth of information about the state of the housing market all over the United States. Asheville seems to be popping up on these lists on a regular basis. The links below will provide you with some idea of where Asheville ranks with other cities across the US in terms of afforabilty and investment potential.

The first link is to a slideshow of the Top 10 housing markets for the third quarter of 2007. Asheville ranks as #9 and is the only Southeastern city named on the list.
See the slideshow by clicking here : http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=5892595&imageindex=1

Next look at the list here for the Best Affordable Suburbs in the US. This list includes 50 Suburbs in the US and Arden, a small suburb of Asheville, is lited as #34. http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/12/1213_bestaffordable_subs/index_01.htm?campaign_id=msn

All things considered Asheville is still a strong market to purchase in. If you are considering relocation or would like additional information please don't hesitate to call or e-mail.

Office: (866) 645-8797 Toll Free
e-mail: jason@ashevillehomebuyer.com

Green Homes Mark Milestone in Region

Asheville – While home sales slump nationwide, the market keeps growing for houses that can save money for homeowners and perhaps help save the planet.
“Green builders are all staying busy,” said Greg McGuffey of Earthtone Builders.
McGuffey’s latest project outside Black Mountain will be certified as the 100th N.C. HealthyBuilt home for Western North Carolina. Homes earn the certification by fulfilling a long checklist of details that include raising energy efficiency and using recycled materials while cutting down on waste and damage to the environment.
HealthyBuilt homes in the region priced from $150,000 to $500,000 spent between two and 75 days on the market, compared with an average of 108 days for conventional homes, real estate agent Mary Love said.

Read more by clicking post title.

Apartments get county OK

Buncombe postpones decision on 2nd project

"A county board Wednesday approved a 380-unit apartment complex proposed for the Erwin Hills area but postponed a decision on another that would bring 308 units to Reynolds. The Buncombe County Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to approve plans for Springs of Asheville, a complex to be located on more than 33 acres at 906 and 912 Leicester Highway, immediately to the west of the Leicester Village development.
Paul Sakalosky, an official with Milwaukee-based Continental Properties Co., said the Erwin Hills complex would be landscaped, surrounded by a privacy fence and have units with garages and more upscale architecture. Rents in the companys complexes typically average about $900, he said."

-For the entire article by Mark Barrett, check out the Business Section of Thursday's Asheville Citizen-Times, or click the above title.

Asheville Moves to Obtain Parkland

City spent $876,000 [on parkland] in last 5 years...

"Haw Creek [a community in East Asheville] residents say they like the 'country in the city' feel of their valley. But they also say their neighborhood is losing its bucolic character as pasture and woodland give way to new subdivisions. They are now urging the city and Buncombe County to help preserve some land as a park. 'Open spaces and the opportunity to preserve them are becoming less frequent,' said Chris Pelly, president of the Haw Creek Community Association.

The situation isn't unique to the East Asheville neighborhood. With recent increases in construction around the city, residents are calling for more land preservation. One way officials have responded is to use city taxpayer dollars and other money to create parks. Since 2002, Asheville has used $876,000 from city coffers to acquire parkland. It has also received millions in donations from oraganizations and individuals, as well as state grants. Total parkland acquired by Asheville or by other entities that intend to give the land to the city for parks is 80 acres..."

-For the entire article by Joel Burgess, check out Monday's edition of the Asheville Citizen-Times, or click on the above title.

Buncombe County Spends $1.6 Million on Easement Purchase

Buncombe County commissioners voted Tuesday to spend 1.6 million dollars on conservation easements to prevent the development of 852 acres of land. Conservation easements give property owners either parcel compensation for the value of their land or tax benefits in return for giving up their right to develop or subdivide the land. While buying these easements does not give the county actual property rights to the land, it is far less expensive than an outright purchase and still protects Asheville's beautiful mountain landscape. For more on this topic, check out the 12/5 Business Section of the Asheville Citizen Times or click on the above title.

Condo Conversion Underway in West Asheville

The Canturbury Heights apartment complex located off Pisgah View Rd. in West Asheville is currently being renovated and revamped into Canterbury Heights condominiums. The apartments, built in the 1970's, are undergoing a major interior overhaul including new cabinets, flooring, doors, woodwork, countertops, and fixtures with a projected completion time of 12 to 18 months. Prices range from $74,ooo for a 1-1 to $129,000 for a 4-2. For more information call The Buyer's Agent of Asheville at 828-210-4663 or visit http://www.canterburyheightscondos.com/.

Mission Among Nation's Top 100 Heart Hospitals

I know that many people who are considering Asheville as a place to re-locate are also considering what type of health care is available. This article in the Ashevlle Citizen-Times helps to give that answer. The Mission Hospital complex has been named a "Top 100 Hospital" for the sixth consecutive year.

You can learn more about this by clicking on this post title and reading the article from the Citizen-Times.

State of the Market Here in Asheville

I would guess that many of you are wondering how the real estate market is holding up here in Asheville. We have slowed somewhat in the past month. Most of buyers come from other large metro markets which, quite frankly, are doing hooribly. A fact that I'm sure I don't have to point out to many of you.

Florida, in particular, drives our local market to a great degree. Things have certainly taken a turm for the worse there this year and so buyers are scarce here. For those of you how may be considering a move in the very near future, the time couldn't be better. Many local builders and larger developers have resorted to giving some really great incentives for purchasing now and dumping inventory. Most of those incentives do not show themselves in pricing and are passed in the form of free upgrades. So, local prices aren't falling on paper, but there are great deals to be had.

I assume that most sellers will hold out as long as they can through the winter and get more agressive in the spring and summer. Re-sale units at that point, barring a major movement in the number of buyers in the market will more than likely not see any major movement until springtime.

We are working very hard here in our office to stay ahead of the curve with respect to the overall market. If you have specific questions please feel free to contact us toll free.
1(866)-645-8797

New Hotel Slated for Asheville

ASHEVILLE — As debate continues over a 23-story hotel and condominium building downtown, developers of a similar, 13-story structure are already laying plans for construction to start early next year.
The boutique Hotel Indigo will be built where the former Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce building now sits on Haywood Street. The building will contain 100 hotel rooms and 12 condominium units.

It will apparently be the first new hotel construction downtown since the Haywood Park Hotel opened at the corner of Haywood Street and Battery Park Avenue in the mid-1980s.

The NY Times Loves Asheville Too

Touting Asheville as an Appalachian Shangri-La, the New York Times gives tourists everywhere 36 jam-packed hours of all things Asheville...

The Times features Asheville's obvious must-sees such as the Grove Arcade, the Biltmore Estate, and the Blue Ridge Parkway, but also highlights many local favorites starting with Mela's, Old Europe Bistro, and Early Girl Eatery, just to name a few. Other popular spots mentioned are Woolworth Walk, the Flatiron Building, and the Orange Peel, while even such hidden treasures as the River Arts District and Western North Carolina Farmer's Market received shout outs. From the heart of downtown to the top of Mt. Mitchell, the Times' 36 Hours in Asheville, N.C. lets Asheville's proverbial cat out of the bag.

For the complete 36 hours of sight-seeing, exploring, and, of course, eating, click the above title.

Tipping point for US housing market...unless you live in Asheville, NC

Financial publication Money Week articulates the woes of the current housing market but highlights strong markets like Asheville:

• In July, existing home sales fell for the 5th straight month.
• The number of homes on the market hit a 16-year high.
• The Natl. Association of Realtors says if no new homes were built, it would still take over 9 mos. to sell all existing houses on the market.

To put it mildly, this is one tough environment...UNLESS you're lucky enough to own a home in a strong market like Austin, TX or Asheville, NC...

*For the entire article found in Money Week, click the above title.

Home prices still rising locally

Echoing the last post written earlier this week the Asheville Citizen-Times published this short blurb in Wednesday's edition. Obviously, if you are looking to buy here rising prices aren't what you want to hear. However, it does point to the fact that the local market is still strong and people are still buying. So if you are wondering if buying here now is the right decision and wondering if the market is going to collapse - here is some evidence that things are holding steady at the very least.

Click the post headline to be linked to the full Citizen-Times article.

Asheville Ranks 10th on City Appreciation List

The following is an excerpt from an article that was shown to me by one of our brokers here in the office that is on MSN Money. It ranks 287 metro areas according to their respective appreciation rates. Asheville ranks 10th on this list this year. If you would like detailed information about statistics about the real estate market here in Asheville feel free to respond to this post or call us at (866) 645-8797.

Appreciation in U.S. housing prices stayed just barely in positive territory in the second quarter, according to the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.
Of 287 metro areas, however, 131 recorded decreases in house prices during the quarter, the OFHEO reported today. More than 60 recorded year-over-year decreases in prices. But over a five-year period, no metro area shows a decrease in prices.
Nationwide, prices were up 0.1% compared with the first quarter, the OFHEO said, and up 3.2% from the first quarter of 2006.
Findings of the report include:
Florida and California are bearing the brunt of the current declines. Of the 20 worst-performing markets over the past year, 18 are in those states. Prices in the Merced, Calif., area have fallen 8.7% over the past four quarters, worst of any metro area.
As a region, New England performed the worst for the quarter and for the past year, declining 0.6% in the second quarter and rising just 0.51% over the past four quarters. Over five years, though, the upper Midwest has shown the smallest price growth, up just 22%, compared with New England's 44.5% and the West Coast's 83.7%.

Click the post headlne to see the entire article and the table of appreciation rates for the 287 metro areas.

Buyer's Agent of Asheville Broker finalist for National Award

Every year the National Association of Realtors names a group of "Good Neighbors." They are a group of Realtors that really strive to make a difference in the community that they live in. This year one of our own is a finalist for that award. Randall Barnett has been a consistent performer in our company since the day he started and continues to serve his clients with the same enthusiasm that he exhibits with the community. Below is the copy from an article released in our local paper, The Asheville Citizen-Times, on Randall.



Asheville Realtor finalist for national award
CHICAGO — The National Association of Realtors recently announced 10 individuals as finalists for Realtor Magazine’s 2007 Good Neighbor Awards. Randall Barnett of The Buyers Agent of Asheville was one of the finalists.
The Good Neighbor Awards program, now in its eighth year, recognizes Realtors who volunteer countless hours to improve the quality of life for others. This year there were more than 320 entries — an all-time high.
For 26 years, Barnett has been a Boy Scout leader for a unique troop of boys with mental and physical disabilities, the only troop like it in the state. Barnett holds weekly meetings for 27 boys, teaching them typical scouting skills like knot tying, building campfires, and how to properly fold an American flag. He also takes them on outings and camping trips.
Five winners will be selected from among the 10 finalists and will receive travel expenses to the Realtors Conference & Expo in Las Vegas in November, national media exposure for their community cause, and a $10,000 grant for their charity. Five honorable mentions will each receive a $2,500 grant. The winners will be announced in the November issue of Realtor Magazine.

Tiger Woods to Build His 1st US Golf Course in Asheville

Located just outside of Asheville in the heart of the Carolina Preserve, the master-planned, private golf community The Cliffs is about to add a famous new name to their already impressive list of links designers. The world's number one ranked golfer, Tiger Woods, is set to join Jack Nicklaus and Tom Fazio as one of The Cliff's premier course designers.

The Charlotte Observer reported Woods confirmation Tuesday that he will attend a press conference next week in Travelers Rest, South Carolina, where an official announcement of the new course is expected to be made. Invitations to the press conference referenced a new development called The Cliffs at High Carolina which will be located east of Asheville.

For the rest of the Observer's article or for more information on The Cliffs click the following provided links:

http://www.charlotte.com/sports_breaking/story/227375.html
http://www.cliffscommunities.com/

Asheville Keeps it Green

Asheville is looking to reduce emissions and use of fossil fuels by switching to alternative fuels. City vehicles as well as partner agencies, such as Asheville City Schools, the Asheville ABC Board, and Asheville transit buses have switched to biodiesel and ethanol blends, a press release from the city said.

Based on software developed by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), the city’s use of the new fuels will result in a 7.2 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, the release said. The change is projected to achieve an annual reduction of 525 tons in carbon dioxide emissions, (The Asheville Citizen-Times).

New Life for West Asheville Church Site

What: Mixed-use development on the former site of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in West Asheville.

Where: 919 Haywood Road, between Blue Ridge and Mitchell avenues on the western end of West Asheville’s traditional business district.

When: Demolition work began recently. Project plans are working their way through Asheville’s approval process. The first building should be open in early 2008, developer Kevin Crump said. Crump said he hopes the entire project will be done by the end of next year.

To read the entire Asheville Citizen-Times article, click the above title.

Where to Live Now - The 30 Best Towns in America

Not only did Asheville make Outside Magazine's list as one of the 30 best towns in America, it made the cover of the mag's August, 2007 issue. Hailed as "fit, fun, and packed with adventure" Asheville truly has something to offer everyone. From its plethora of outdoor activities to its vibrant downtown, it's no wonder Asheville is once again featured as the place to live in the Southeast.

"You can learn a lot about a town from the stickers on local cars. One that's always nice to see: KEEP ASHEVILLE WEIRD. An island of liberal alternative culture, the town attracts artists, musicians, and, of course, plenty of outdoor funhogs. Cradled in a lush green bowl anchored by 5,721-ft Mount Pisgah and surrounded on all sides by the Appalachian Mountains, Asheville serves up more than 2,000 miles of hiking and mountain-biking trails and some of the nation's finest whitewater creeking. In downtown's compact grid, infused with art-deco brick buildings, it's not uncommon to see a "suit" in deep confab with a natty dread about the past evening's mountain-bike ride at Cane Creek..."

For more about Asheville and the rest of this article, click the article title above.

The Ellington

Here is a great article from the Mountain X-press talking about the new high-rise slated for dontown Asheville.


A group of investors on Monday unveiled plans for a new, 23-story luxury high-rise in downtown Asheville. And while the sucker is big, it stands apart from the rather pedestrian new condos and other major construction that has taken place downtown in recent years.
The Ellington, dubbed a luxury-boutique hotel by the investors — which include the Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa — honors the legacy of Art Deco maestro Douglas Ellington, the man behind some of the city’s most intriguing buildings, including City Hall, First Baptist Church, S&W Cafeteria, and Asheville High School.

Spring Home-Buying Guide: Six Ways to Do It Right

One of our brokers her ein the office found this great article on Yahoo.com that outlines some really good steps to take when you are in the market to purchase a home.

When you read te article pay close attention to Step #2. It outlines how and what to look for when you are hiring an agent. Specifically, for those of you buying a home it makes perfect sense to hire a buyers agent. If you ask us we believe that every buyer should have an "Exclusive Buyer Broker" working only with them and representing a company that has no listings. That way the "client" would have the representation that they need and deserve.

Also, the article mentions that buyers should be aware that when wrking with an agent representing them it is recommended that the buyer pay close attention to ensure that the home they are looking at does not offer some type of bonus to their agent. If it does then there is the idea that the agent would obviously steer the client towards this home in hopes of gaining that bonus. Here at The Buyer's Agent is has been policy since our inception that any bonuses offered by the seller or listing agent on a property that our clients contract on be passed directly to our clients. We take no bonuses!! We will happily direct them to our clients.

I hope that you enjoy the article. If you ahve specific questions you can visit our website at www.ashevillehomebuyer.com, or call me directly: (828) 210-4658 office, (866) 645-8797 toll free.