Forbes recently recognized the growing flavors of Asheville in its list of top five secret foodie cities. In its blog, Forbes highlights the interesting and widely varied types of cuisine and presents a list of festive restaurants sure to please the palate.

Asheville menu sample

In addition to Curate, a restaurant featuring Spanish tapas, the blog mentions the French Broad Chocolate Lounge which serves liquid truffles and Looking Glass Creamery that pairs fresh cheese with wines. Just reading through the listings should be enough to make you head out for a nosh.

The Forbes top five list preceded the recent USA Today Travel listing of "6 Small Cities with Big Tastes." That list of top six also mentions Curate as well as Rhubarb and Seven Sows Bourbon Larder. One of our Facebook followers suggested Strada Italiano and Zambra should be added to this list as well. About a year ago, Greybeard Realtors and staffers suggested their favorite family restaurants as well. Regardless of what list you choose, it should be apparent that Asheville has an incredible palate for cuisine choices.

With its cultural offerings and natural beauty, Asheville doesn't really need another reason to be the place to live. A look at these recent lists, however, may have you salivating for your own home. If you're ready to make the move, look over Greybeard's Asheville homes for sale listings and contact us. And in the meantime, let us know about your favorite dining spot.

Imagine yourself lakeside in the western NC mountains with gorgeous mountain peaks in the distance. If that picture fits your dreams, you'll want to see Greybeard's listing on Bear Cliff Village Drive. This well-maintained townhome on Lake James is a short walk from the Bear Creek Marina and will go a long way toward meeting your aspirations of owning a mountain escape.

A western NC mountain home with a cool lake and blue mountains.

This 4-bedroom, 3 bath townhome has a gas fireplace and cathedral ceilings, creating a warm open area for gathering. The master suite is located on the main level with 3 large bedrooms and 2 full baths on the lower level. From the covered porch, you can enjoy lake views.  With the meticulous upkeep on this home, it is move-in ready. And with no yard to maintain, you really can make this the ultimate vacation home.

Lake James, located in McDowell County, has more than 150 miles of shoreline. The lake is the focal point of Lake James State Park, nestled between Marion and Morganton.  This state park is one of the youngest in the state, established in 1987 by NC general assembly. With its boating and fishing, its abundant wildflowers, and its forest creatures, this mountain lake area makes the ultimate backyard without the required upkeep.

For more information on this restful townhome or to see our other listings, please visit the Greybeard Realty website. Or contact Greybeard for more information. It's a good time to make your dream of owning a lakeside mountain home a reality.

Asheville homeowners who wonder which home improvement project has the best return for the money only have to recall the trite but true adage, "you only make a first impression first." If you go by that saying and a recent study presented on the website houselogic, you will know that exterior projects are among the most valuable to consider.

Solid exterior projects sell well.

The website mentions that 8 of the top 10 most cost-effective projects, for people hoping to recoup their costs, are exterior projects. Specifically, replacing a front door with a steel door entry and adding a wooden deck top the list for projects. The two interior projects that make the list are adding an attic bedroom and making minor kitchen adjustments.  The idea that a home's exterior is a huge selling point is not a new one.  A Greybeard blog on how to prepare your home to sell pointed out that the so-called curb appeal goes a long way toward making that all-important first impression.

Another important factor to consider when planning any home improvement project is the timing of it. While some sellers often wait until they are preparing to put their home on the market to tackle that home project, it seems better to move forward with it when you can. After all, doesn't it make more sense to complete the home improvement project as soon as you can so you can enjoy the latest project for a while prior to moving on to your next home?

That being said, as recent market numbers indicate, the supply of homes on the market is tightening. Right now could be a great time to tackle that long-planned project so you can list your Asheville home by summertime. For more information on how to prepare your home for listing, please visit Greybeard's sellers' page for some tips. And don't forget; when considering home improvement projects, it is important to think outside the home!

While some people consider 13 to be unlucky, followers of the Asheville real estate market will have to agree that 2013 was a very positive year for sales. Buncombe County and Black Mountain sales figures indicate that residential home sales have rebounded solidly from the lows several years ago.

Enjoy the twinkling evening lights and the train whistle from the valley below from the deck of this newly listed Montreat home. This 3-bedroom home, located on a larger than average Montreat lot, has exquisite landscaping including stone walls and walkways as well as a perennial garden with a small, man-made waterfall. With this [...]

While we previously have outlined the benefits of an Asheville retirement in our blogs, we also want to highlight the various family activities that are happening in the western NC mountains. These activities, adventures and sites can be enjoyed by all ages and cover the gamut from hikes to museums to special musical performances.

Make your list of Asheville activities

The wide range of these attractions makes Asheville appealing for the retirement community as well as for young families who are relocating. For outdoor activities, there are numerous well-marked hikes including Parkway Trails and Montreat hikes. For the arts, the list includes Altamont Theatre and the Asheville Art Museum.  In addition, specials events such as the Drum Circle and the River Arts Studio Stroll are included. Please see our list of Family Fun on our Greybeard Rentals page to see the links for these and other suggested activities/events.

If you're thinking of relocating, trying a rental first can be a great way to sample the local atmosphere prior to deciding which local neighborhood is best for you. Check out our long-term rental listings to find the house that's just right for you. If you want more information about the area or want assistance in selecting a great long-term rental to tryout a particular neighborhood, please contact Greybeard Guest Services.

Also, we would love to hear your suggestions on other special activities and happenings that you would like to share on our Family Fun web page. Please let us know other items we should include on our list, and we will continue to update the page as we get new information.

The Asheville area has made another "best of" list, making it as one of the top six best winter drives in North America. While often recognized for its spectacular autumn colors, the Blue Ridge Parkway receives less attention for its winter splendor. An article by Terry Ward on Centurion's online site highlights this local splendor.

Idyllic Snowy Views from the Blue Ridge

In making her recommendation, Ward points to Mount Mitchell State Park, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, as a particularly scenic spot in the snow. She rightfully notes that the Parkway is closed when conditions merit. The Parkway updates its road closings regularly on the Blue Ridge Parkway website. While driving during the snow may not be possible, the snow always lingers on the mountain tops long after the snow has stopped falling, so there's always time to take in the snow-capped scenes.

For locals, it is often easy to overlook the uniqueness of where we live. In the bustle to get where we are going to work or to shop, for example, we don't always take the time to appreciate the natural beauty around us. And for those of you who wonder what it's like to live here year-round, we highly recommend a trial run. As Ward points out in her brief piece, there are abundant mountain rental cabins in the Asheville area that will let you give living here a try. Why not make a reservation now to see our idyllic views first hand.

Greybeard Realty announces the opening of an additional office, in Eastwood Village in the growing Fairview community. With its proximity to historic Asheville, this full real estate sales office will provide personal service from staff and Realtors who are all NC natives with extensive experience in the western NC real estate market.

Greybeard's staff and Realtors have local roots.

When Greybeard Realty opened in 1999 in Black Mountain, founder Chip Craig made a commitment to providing individualized service in the rental market and then the real estate market as well. At present, Greybeard ranks in the top 10 for Buncombe County real estate companies and also manages more than 300 rental properties. For Chip, the additional office location is a natural fit for his company. "We felt it was time to expand our real estate offerings, and the growing Fairview community was a good fit for us." To see Greybeard's current listings for Fairview, please see our Fairview listings webpage.

Rosie Johnson, managing broker at the new office, grew up in Black Mountain and has worked at Greybeard for the last 12 years. As she has worked in the last few months establishing Greybeard's office in Fairview, she has been struck by the strong sense of community she has encountered. "I am very excited to be a part of Greybeard's expansion into Asheville and the Fairview area. I have already been very impressed with the communities and networking here."

If you're in Fairview or the Asheville area, please stop by Greybeard's newest office, located in Eastwood Village, Suite 207G (upstairs). Rosie and her staff are excited to share their expertise in the area and continue the diligent work they have been doing for Greybeard Realty. And keep an eye out for the January Open House; plans are currently underway with an announcement forthcoming shortly.

In another sign of steady real estate growth in the Asheville area, statistics for land sales and residential building permits rose for the first three quarters of 2013.  These figures, when matched with the recent local residential sales figures in a recent Greybeard blog, indicate that the market continues on its positive trend.

Asheville area land sales on the rise.

In the Asheville area, land sales increased 74% over the same period last year. That number shows strong growth but still lags 44% behind the land sales peak of 2007. The 420 units sold today account for $45 million in sales, a 68% increase over last year this time, but, again, still 57% below the 2007 peak. At present, there is a 3% increase in the number of units on the market.

In Black Mountain, the number of units sold is much smaller, 22 so far in 2013, versus 23 in 2012 which accounts for a 4% increase. This figure is well below the 70 units that sold in the peak year of 2007. The $1.7 million in dollars sold year-to-date represents a 2% increase over sales in 2012. Again, this figure is well below the peak of $8 million in sales in 2008, the peak year. At present, there is a 15% increase in the number of units on the market.  The figures used for land sales were provided by Western NC MLS.

For residential building permits year-to-date, Buncombe County saw an increase of 566 permits over the 460 pulled for the same period last year, an increase of 23%. These statistics are provided by The Market Edge. Of interest is the number of residential permits taken out for units more than 4000 sq ft or with permit value of more than $400,000. Statistics provide numbers for the total 2012 residential permits, 75, while numbers are only available for year-to-date for 2013, 58. It will be interesting to track that statistic to the year end to see if permits for larger, more expensive homes will increase at year's end.

To stay on top of land sales and residential building permits, as well as area real estate sales, please see our market reports which are updated regularly.

Black Mountain Merits Special Attention

Western NC has many special towns to live in, but we feel a special affinity for Black Mountain, home to our Greybeard Realty office. Whether it's the large variety of available restaurants and shops or the quiet, small-town atmosphere so close to Asheville, Black Mountain is a very special place.

While we may seem biased as many of our Realtors live in Black Mountain, we recently received some comments from a rental guest that reminded us of the special qualities of the town. A guest, staying at Byrd's Nest Cabin through Greybeard Rentals, commented that they had fallen "in love with the town and its people!" They went on to add: "They were charming and friendly...seemed to love life. They were doing what they love to do. I haven't seen so many beautiful crafts in one place! I am anxious to have my family join us for a great summer vacation!"

A couple of our Realtors recently made a few observations pointing to the special attention and quality Black Mountain has. One day recently, the Black Mountain Chamber of Commerce had more than 120 hits on that day, indicating a very high level of interest in the town. And another Realtor recently noted that there can't be many towns with a population of 7,000 that has so many local breweries including Pisgah Brewing and Lookout Mountain Brewery

.If you are considering relocating to our area, we encourage you to check out Black Mountain. Check out Greybeard's webcam regularly and get an idea the weather and the activity level in the town. Select one of Greybeard Rentals' Black Mountain rentals and come try it out for a month or a weekend. Whether you see Black Mountain as the "front porch of Western NC" or the "Little Town that Rocks", we think you will find something special in this town we call home.