If buying a vacation cabin now for a later Asheville retirement is on your to-do list, you may appreciate knowing that Greybeard Rentals, the rental arm of Greybeard Realty, just passed a major milestone.  Greybeard, a home-grown company that only lists homes they would like to rent themselves, just surpassed the 30,000^th reservation mark.

Retire or retreat, Asheville can't be beat.

Greybeard Rentals has received recognition for its fine quality property management and strives to prepare each Asheville rental cabin with meticulous care for its guests.  Prior to each new guest arrival, each rental home is given a personal inspection to ensure it is in pristine condition.  To welcome each guest, Greybeard Rentals leaves a loaf of freshly-made pumpkin bread. Their commitment and attention to detail are only one aspect of Greybeard's property management plan.

So, why would a real estate buyer want to know this information?  First of all, as noted before, renting an Asheville home is a great idea if you are considering buying a home to help you assess each community's assets.  In addition, if you have been thinking about buying a home in Asheville for retirement later, now could be a great time to do so.  As these Asheville real estate market statistics indicate, the market is solid and headed upward. It's a great time to consider buying an Asheville home.

So why does it matter that Greybeard Rentals has reached this milestone? It shows that Asheville renters appreciate Greybeard's quality rental homes. And it may just be the impetus you've been looking for to head on up this way and buy a piece of property in the happiest city east of the Mississippi.  Come see what 30,000 other renters have already come to learn:  Asheville and its environs are a great place to be.

For more information on renting an Asheville home or to speak with a member of our property management team, please contact Greybeard Rentals.  And if you're ready to invest in your own Asheville home, then contact Greybeard Realty.

If you've been scheming about finally opening the business of your dreams, one of these commercial properties in Asheville could just fit the bill. Perhaps you already have a successful business but need to expand your office space.  Or maybe you want to start a second, auxiliary business of a more seasonal nature.  You will want to check these properties out.

Asheville Commercial Properties Like This One Can Fulfill Dreams

The first, 101 Black Mountain Ave, is a historical gem with incredible possibilities. Think office space, retail property, condominiums, or dining establishments. This historic brick building that still has the original hardwood floors from its 1902 construction could satisfy any of those business plans.  With new HVAC and plumbing systems and off-street parking, this building will appeal to anyone with a discriminating eye for architectural excellence.

Greybeard's 66 Great Aspen Way has potential as well, just of a more seasonal nature.  This summer camp facility, built in 2002, has a large main activity building including storage, office, and a kitchen as well as a large area of covered deck. The 12 independent cabins with covered porches are all in proximity meaning that much of the 83-acre property site is available for expansion. Best of all, the property adjoins more than 4,000 acres of watershed/conservation land.  With its recent price reduction, this property is ideal for someone thinking of starting a seasonal business.

So if you're firmly established in the Asheville business community and looking to expand, come look into these properties.  Or if you've vacationed in Asheville and dream of relocating to the area and opening your own business, then contact Greybeard Realty and find the commercial property to make that dream a reality.  These could be the properties you've been looking for all this time!

Buying a home in Asheville requires understanding the area and appreciating the various communities that make up our real estate market.  One great way to experience the Asheville area is to rent a home within one of the communities and venture out from there to explore what the area has to [...]

If you need one more reason to invest in Asheville real estate, a recent study may just provide you with that extra incentive.  A recent study by a University of Vermont mathematician ranked US locales by using  a happy meter, and Asheville landed in the top 10.  Not only was Asheville in the top ten, but it was the only city east of the Mississippi to make the top 10.

Study proves Asheville is happy place!

By using a device called a "hedonmeter", analysts considered national tweets and noted the number of happy words used by residents of different areas.  In fact, all they needed was to take a trip to Asheville, and they could have experienced the goodness of the town firsthand. In fact, the recent study was only the latest recognition of Asheville as a great place to live.  Even President Obama got into the conversation recently when he noted he and Michelle would like to consider living here after the White House.

One option to discover Asheville's charms firsthand is to take advantage of one of Greybeard Rentals' long term rentals which lets you sample retirement before you settle in.  If you want, you can look into Asheville vacation homes and invest now for your future retirement.  If you're thinking about moving here while still raising children, you will want to check out our school report blog.

Regardless of your level of readiness, it's always a good time to check out the Asheville real estate market.  As our economic statistics indicate, the Asheville real estate market is on the upward track. For more information about buying a home in Asheville contact Greybeard Realty.  And head on up here and check out Asheville; Come on, get happy!

During his brief visit to Asheville last week, President Obama eluded to a possible retirement in Asheville.  "Love coming to Asheville.  Michelle and I always talk about how, after this whole presidency thing, we're looking for a little spot to play a little golf, do a little hiking, fishing, barbecue."

Obama may vote for an Asheville retirement.

If you want to beat the President here, it may be a good time to head up this way and see what Asheville real estate has to offer.  If you, like the President, still have some work to do before you can move here, consider purchasing one of Greybeard's vacation homes for sale.  With these homes, you can find the perfect home for retirement and rent it until you're ready to retire.

If you like the idea of Asheville but haven't had a chance to experience it first hand, check into one of Greybeard's rental cabins and see for yourself what Obama is talking about.  Our Guest Services can set you up with tee times and our staff is always willing to share some of our favorite hiking and picnic spots for our rental guests.

If you are familiar with the area but would like just a little bit more time to see if it's a good fit for your retirement plans, Greybeard's long term rentals can provide you with an extended stay to really let you try out an Asheville retirement.

If you have any questions about whether retiring in Asheville NC is right for you, now is the time to look into it. If the Obama-to-Asheville rumors are true, you will be able to beat the rush. For more information about Asheville homes for sale or the best rental homes for trying out retirement, contact Greybeard Realty.

Western North Carolina real estate offerings vary as much as the various mountain views in the changing sunlight. To get an idea of the wide range of Asheville area homes for sale, all you need to do is take a quick sampling of Greybeard Realty's listings.

Newly built 8 Robin Ridge Lane in Black Mountain has southern and western views with one level living possible. The master suite is located on the main level, and the views are some of the best in town.  The two lower level suites offer a screened porch and an office. This three-bedroom, three-bath home with more than 3,000 sq. ft. has impeccable details including the kitchen tile work. Add the natural landscaping and the flat driveway in the small mountain community, and you could have the house of your dreams.

Lovely new cabin with traditional touches.

Or consider another newly-built cottage listed by Greybeard Realty.  29 Rhododendron Road is in Christmount within Black Mountain and offers many special touches including hardwood flooring, concrete counters, and meticulous landscaping. This two-bedroom, three-bath home with more than 2,000 sq. ft. includes a finished basement with a separate entrance. The beautiful mountain cottage also has an unfinished second floor with expansion possibilities. The stone fireplace and wooden beams in the living room create the mountain ambiance making this home a very special offering.

In nearby Ridgecrest, 2 Knox Drive has the charm and character one expects from a century-old mountain home. The wood paneled walls, stone fireplace and narrow stairway to the second floor make this an ideal mountain getaway, reminiscent of olden times. The quaint kitchen and claw-foot tub in this four-bedroom, two-bath home are elements that will appeal to anyone looking for the perfect mountain escape.

While each of these homes provides something special and different, they also demonstrate the range of offerings and price range of Greybeard Realty's listings. Greybeard appreciates that home buyers are not looking for cookie-cutter homes. For more information about these homes or any of our other western North Carolina real estate listings, please contact Greybeard.

Asheville real estate sales show strength in numbers.

Even a quick glance at the Asheville real estate numbers for 2012 indicates positive signs for the western NC market.  In Buncombe County, the number of homes sold increased 21% for the year while in Black Mountain homes sold moved up 8%.  In addition, total sales volume increased 25% for the County and 17% for Black Mountain. These numbers confirm what Realtors in our market have been feeling all year.  The Asheville real estate market is back in business.

It is easy to see in the numbers provided by MLS that units sold and sales prices have bottomed out and are definitely rebounding.  What's even more impressive is that, for the first time since 2007, sales volume, price and median price for Asheville area homes all improved. While still not at the peak of 2007, the picture painted by the 2012 real estate market numbers is certainly a positive one.

While the numbers show that 2012 was a very good, solid year, the statistics also bode well for the 2013 real estate market as well.  One example to support this positive outlook is the sales to list price improving to 94%, indicating that homes are regaining value.  In addition, inventories of homes on the market decreased which indicates that supply is tightening a bit which should lead to higher prices if that trend holds true.

In assessing the 2012 numbers, the only statistic not showing improvement is Days on Market, but it is anticipated that that number will improve in 2013, particularly with the decrease of homes on the market.  For anyone waiting until the market bottoms out to enter into the buyers' market for Asheville, it's time to move forward.

Overall, the Asheville real estate market was very positive in 2012. For the most recent Asheville market numbers, check out our latest market statistics and trends. Yes, prices are still below peak prices before the recession, but almost all of the numbers indicate a very impressive upward trend.  And with the decrease in number of homes on the market, the prices should continue rising. In short, with the basic economic theory of supply and demand as support, the market is well on its way toward recovery. For more information on western NC real estate listings, contact Greybeard Realty.

With our commitment to continually improving service, Greybeard Realty is happy to announce its website redesign, completed in time for the New Year.  With a fresh look and even simpler selection options, we look forward to assisting you in making your selection for a new home in western North Carolina.

Greybeard Wishes you Happy 2013

In addition to more prominently offered selection options, we also increased our one-click options so that you can now check out our mountain homes with views or our homes near Asheville's River Arts District, for example.  In addition to our new website, our Realtors, all with North Carolina ties, can assist you as search for your Asheville dream home.

If you're considering purchasing a home for later retirement, check out our vacation rental homes for sale.  Perhaps you have a special community in mind such as Black Mountain log homes or Weaverville.  If you need a new home for your Asheville business, check out our commercial property listings.

We hope we've made your search for a western North Carolina property even simpler.  For more information about our listings, please contact Greybeard Realty.  And when you've had a chance to check out the new Greybeard website, please let us know what you think. We're aiming to make things simpler as we move forward into 2013.  Happy New Year from Greybeard Realty.

Horse lovers looking for greener pastures should check out Greybeard's Asheville horse properties for sale.  Many of these properties include mountain views and streams in addition to different styles of barns and riding rings. These equestrian properties are in various communities including Asheville, Black Mountain, and [...]

Real estate buyers in Asheville can benefit from a few simple steps to ensure that when they find the house of their dreams, it won't become a nightmare. For every handful of happily-ever-after buyer stories, there is one house-that-got-away tale.  To be sure a buyer is prepared for house hunting, Greybeard Realty has assembled The ABCs for Buyers, six simple steps to get ready for a home purchase.

Simple steps to assist buyers.

In short, buyers should know what they need and what they can afford.  Very often, house hunters set off without taking into account they need a first floor bedroom or can only afford a fixer-upper home. Doing a brief assessment of needs and assets can shorten the list of homes a prospective buyer needs to check out.

Also, home buyers in western NC should do their homework about where they want to live. Are they heart set on city life in a home in Asheville or do they crave a peaceful mountainside home in Montreat? Regardless of the home's location, buyers can benefit from having a Realtor they know and trust to show them the various options.

For more information about how to prepare to buy a home, check out our buyers' notes.  To meet Greybeard's Realtors and get more information about the Asheville real estate market, please contact Greybeard Realty.