Greybeard Realty has two historic treasures, both located on Magill Drive in Montreat, for sale, and both properties have been recently renovated to capitalize on their captivating charm. Anyone looking for a traditional mountain home in western North Carolina should make the effort to look into these two homes.

Historic interior of Greybeard's 533 Magill in Montreat.

The 533 Magill home, built in 1907, has been in the same family for more than a century.  This two-story Montreat home was renovated in 2004 with a new roof, water heater and appliances.  In addition, the fireplace was restored to working order.  You can read about the historical significance of this home on Greybeard's website page.

Built in 1909,the 531 Magill home recently underwent a kitchen renovation with new cabinets and a dishwasher as well as all new plumbing and updated electricity, along with new wood floors. This home features a large lot and a delightful screened porch which enables residents to hear the roaring creek below.  The history of this special home can also be accessed on Greybeard's webpage.

Again, for buyers interested in owning a piece of historical western North Carolina real estate, these Montreat properties are unmatched.  Both the 4-bedroom 533 Magill home and the 5-bedroom 531 Magill home are not heated, but both properties would make remarkable vacation homes for people who crave a true mountain home getaway.  For more information, please contact Greybeard Realty.

Buyers interested in Western NC homes will find solid information and facts on the Putting Students First website which provides recent statistics about the Buncombe County School District. Buncombe County encompasses a number of communities including Black Mountain, Montreat, Weaverville, Fairview, and Biltmore Forest.

Buncombe County Schools Moves Western NC Real Estate to Head of the Class

A national survey of Realtors ranked quality of schools as one of the top five reasons people select a particular neighborhood. Greybeard Realty understands the importance of our school quality, and our Realtors are knowledgeable about Buncombe County Schools. Our Realtors send their children to these schools, and our founder serves as Vice-Chairman of the Buncombe County School Board.

In the last four years, Buncombe County Schools has achieved a 35% decrease in dropouts. On SAT scores, Buncombe County School district students rank third highest among NC school districts with more than two high schools. Also, the Buncombe County School  district is one of only 381 school districts in the country on the Advanced Placement Achievement List for student participation and high scores in AP classes.

For Asheville home buyers with children moving into the area, the high quality of Buncombe County Schools is a real plus. For more information about Buncombe County Schools within particular communities and for assistance in selecting a new home in Western NC, please contact Greybeard Realty.

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The western North Carolina real estate market has begun to show signs of growth, as outlined in Greybeard's mid-July blog. And the latest figures for the national real estate market indicate that nationally, positive real estate signs are increasing.

In numbers released this month by the National Association of Realtors, existing home [...]

While the Asheville real estate market has shown positive signs of growth, selling Western North Carolina real estate still requires presenting the property for sale in pristine condition.  Staging a home for sale goes beyond cleaning the home, and the process can be completed without a large financial investment.

Prepare a to-do list for staging an Asheville home for sale.

To assist sellers in preparing their homes for sale, Greybeard Realty has assembled some simple home staging steps for getting a home in good shape prior to placing it on the competitive Asheville real estate market.  Buyers of Asheville homes are looking for homes they can imagine themselves living in, not imagine themselves visiting.  Often, sellers neglect to remove the numerous photographs and personal items which make it more difficult for buyers to envision the home as their own.   In addition, special attention should be paid to preparing the outside of the home, as potential buyers often will not even ask to look inside a home that has no curb appeal.

One very simple step for readying a home is to have a good friend come over and do a walk through for you, just as a potential buyer will do.  Often, a homeowner is so acclimated to their surroundings that they may not notice the personal items or the animal smells or the other items that can detract from a home's appeal.

For more information on staging a home, please refer to our full list of home staging ideas or contact Greybeard Realty with any questions.

Anyone considering buying an Asheville vacation home within Western North Carolina real estate will be interested in the latest figures on tourist spending in Buncombe County.  State figures indicate that Buncombe County had the fifth highest amount of tourist spending of North Carolina counties. Tourists to this county that includes Asheville, Black Mountain and Montreat homes spent $783 million in 2011.  That figure represents a 7.4 percent increase from 2010 North Carolina tourist spending.

Tourism Dollars Can Strengthen Asheville Real Estate Market

So why would that concern people interested in buying a Western North Carolina home? First of all, those tourist dollars impacted 9,070 jobs in the county with a payroll of $165.2 million for 2011.  An increase in tourist dollars indicates the strength of the tourist economy in the Asheville area. And secondly, with tourism spending up, people interested in purchasing an vacation home in Asheville to rent when they are not in residence can gain confidence that the tourism industry had a good showing for 2011.

Potential buyers of second homes in the Asheville area should be encouraged by these latest figures. In some instances, buyers may want to buy a home now for later Asheville retirement.  For other buyers, an Asheville real estate purchase may be strictly for investment. Regardless of the reason, buying a second home and renting it until time to take residence or recoup an investment is an option.

If an Asheville rental property is the buyer's goal, be sure to contact Greybeard Rentals, an award-winning property management team with 14 years of western North Carolina rental property experience. For more information about investing in Asheville real estate or for assistance in selecting an Asheville vacation property, please contact Greybeard Realty.

As indicated in Greybeard's 2012 mid-year market report blog, Western North Carolina Real Estate has begun to show signs of recovery. This month features a blue moon, meaning two full moons in one month, a very rare occurrence. Similarly, the Asheville market, with near record low interest rates available and a good supply of homes, may offer buyers an unusual chance to buy that perfect home.

Asheville Real Estate in August's Blue Moon

It continues to be a good time to consider purchasing an Asheville home. If a small-town atmosphere appeals, be sure to consider Weaverville homes, Black Mountain homes, or Montreat homes when searching for that special second home. One option when trying to decide which Western North Carolina community is right for you is to consider an Asheville long-term rental which will give you the opportunity to tryout an area prior to making a purchase commitment.

While the Asheville real estate market has not been as hard hit as some other housing markets, Greybeard Realty does have a listing of Asheville foreclosures presently available.  As described on our foreclosure page, buying a foreclosed home takes a few extra steps, but Greybeard Realty's staff can guide you through the purchase process if you find the home of your dreams.

With the seasonal nature of the Asheville real estate market, now is a good time to find that second home in Western North Carolina. For assistance in making your home selection, please contact Greybeard Realty.

Anyone interested in Western North Carolina real estate should check out 66 Timber Park Drive in Black Mountain (MLS# 518956). This meticulously-kept home, built in 1996, provides the spectacular views from its decks considered requisite by many buyers. This spacious 3,930 sq. ft. home features five bedrooms and three baths.

Enjoy NC Mountain Charm in this Black Mountain Real Estate Listing

While many Asheville homes offer incredible mountain views, this home has easy access without a steep-sloped driveway that is often characteristic of a home with a view. To appreciate the magnificent view from this home, you really need to come take a look for yourself.

Black Mountain homes offer the proximity to Asheville within the town limits of a charming small mountain community.  In addition to arts and music, Black Mountain also has several successful small businesses including the micro-brewery, Pisgah Brewing Company. Take a look at Greybeard's Webcam any time to see what's going on in this remarkable little town.

For information about this Black Mountain home or for assistance in finding other incredible homes for sale in Black Mountain or the Asheville area, please contact Greybeard Realty.

Western North Carolina land can provide owners with a chance to be creative and design the mountain home of their dreams.  Buyers should be knowledgeable, however, of the various considerations presented by building in the [...]

The Asheville Real Estate 2012 mid-year statistics have been released, and both Buncombe County and Black Mountain markets show positive signs of growth.  While still not to the peak market numbers from 2006-2008 in most categories, the 2012 Asheville Real Estate Sales Market report gives reason for [...]

Western North Carolina homes have long been valued for retirement. Now, the area is receiving national recognition from Forbes which recently named Asheville as one of the 25 best places to retire in 2012. The list cites Asheville's abundant physicians and good climate as just two of the reasons to choose our area.

Retire to Asheville

There is an excellent variety of homes for sale in Asheville that would be perfect for anyone considering retiring to the area. Greybeard has several long term rentals which can give potential home buyers a chance to sample our communities before making a commitment to purchase a piece of Asheville real estate.  In addition, long term rentals or vacationers can enroll in a retirement workshop and get some professional advisement on what to consider before retiring.

If retiring to Western North Carolina is on your bucket list but not on the immediate horizon, why not purchase an Asheville rental home.  Greybeard Rentals, an award-winning property management firm, can manage all aspects of renting your new home until you are ready to move here yourself.

While the Forbes article focused on Asheville, several other local communities offer a more low-key, small town flavor while still providing access to Asheville's amenities such as the Biltmore Estate and the Asheville Art Scene.  Why not take a look at Black Mountain real estate or a Montreat  property which each have a flavor of their own. Our real estate agents know the area well and are happy to answer your questions about retiring to Western North Carolina.  Contact us today!