If you're looking for a private mountain getaway, take a look at 22 New Lite in Fairview. Located just minutes from Asheville, this two-bedroom, two bath log home has spectacular views. Enjoy your morning coffee on the spacious covered front porch and take in the quiet nature of the area.

This newly-listed log cabin is an Asheville paradise.

This well-kept Asheville area log cabin, now known as "Annie's Cozy Cabin" also can continue as a vacation rental. Currently managed by Greybeard Rentals, this home has an excellent rental history with numerous return guests. With its wood paneling interior and its log exterior, this smaller home fits nicely in the natural setting. Constructed in 2007, this one-story home with a private well has just been listed and should sell quickly.

For more information on this newly-listed home, please contact Greybeard Realty. Take a look at Greybeard Realty's vacation homes for sale and read over Greybeard's information on buying a vacation rental home. Isn't it time for you to have your own mountain escape home?

If spectacular views and privacy top your list for an Asheville area vacation home, you'll want to take a look at 92 Mountain Lily Ridge in Alpine Valley. This 3-bedroom contemporary one-level home in the greater Asheville area has fantastic long-range mountain and valley views. It has to be seen.

Magnificent Views From Mountain Lily Ridge Home

In addition to the main house, there's also a new one-bedroom, one-bath garage apartment for guests and family. The gated community where this lovely home is located has waterfalls and creeks and does not allow rentals. Mature landscaping around the home includes roses, irises and flame azaleas, all of which add to the sense of peacefulness in the home. Watch gorgeous sunsets, see the storm clouds drop into the valley, and take advantage of the best view around of the July 4^th fireworks.

While this home cannot be used as a rental income property, it can serve as a fabulous second home. With nearby waterfalls, incredible vistas, and remarkable privacy, it meets the requirements of most people seeking solitude for their second home. For more information about this home or other Greybeard vacation homes for sale, please contact Greybeard Realty. To see how Greybeard assists buyers in the home-buying process, check out our buyers' webpage. It's not too early to think of watching dogwoods bloom in the distance from this gorgeous home.

As this holiday season comes to a close, it is time to start working on the next family reunion. And what would be better than having that gathering in your own western North Carolina vacation [...]

At Greybeard Realty, we monitor Asheville market news, always looking for indicators of how the housing market is growing. In the last month, we've seen some very interesting numbers that may foretell of further area growth in the coming [...]

Greybeard Realty tries to convey the special qualities of Asheville and its environs. In our blogs we talk about art, food, and outdoor activities. If you want to hear more of the same message from a variety of people, check out this YouTube video we ran across.

Asheville Drum Circle

The video, first aired in 2009, shows the drum circle, a few local galleries and the gorgeous scenery around town. More than that, however, it also has the people of Asheville speaking for themselves about what makes this city so great. We can talk about Asheville's unique flavors, but there's nothing like hearing it from the people who live here.

If you've been thinking about making Asheville home, this video might just be what cinches it for you. And if you're not that familiar with Asheville and want to know more, consider renting an Asheville area rental to try out living here. Or perhaps you've been vacationing here and know it's where you want to settle. Please see our listings for western NC homes for sale. Isn't it time to get into the Asheville spirit?

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.

If you already live in NC or if you just think you might like to, check out this list we ran across of "The 21 ways to know you're a real North Carolinian." The list mentions Andy Griffith and James Taylor which are fairly self-explanatory. For a few of the other items listed, you really do need to have at least visited here to know what it's all about.

Cheerwine makes the list.

If, for example, you've never been to North Carolina, you probably haven't enjoyed a cold Cheerwine on a warm day, used to wash down a moonpie, but they forgot to mention the moonpie. They talk about getting rained on during Merlefest, another event you sort of have to live here to know about. And they also make the observation of the obvious: If you are from NC, "you think 'sweet tea or unsweetened tea' is the dumbest question ever". We couldn't agree more!

But what really caught our eye at Greybeard was #21 on the list. It claims you know you're from NC if "you've reminded people that you saw the Avett Brothers at the Orange Peel." Whoa, the Orange Peel! We talked about the Orange Peel and the Asheville Music scene a while ago, and we appreciate the high quality music they bring into the Asheville area. We were still proud to see an Asheville-based music venue made the list.

If you're ready to make your home in western NC and live the NC dream that is detailed in this 21 item list, then check out the Asheville Real Estate listings on the Greybeard website. If you just want to come for a visit, Greybeard Rentals vacation listings are worth checking out. And don't forget to see what's happening at the Orange Peel while you're here.

Greybeard Rentals Management Team Receives Recognition

How many of you enjoyed your western NC vacation this summer so much that you're ready to purchase your own vacation home in the Asheville area? If one obstacle that makes you hesitate is managing your property, Greybeard Rentals can help you with that.

Greybeard's management team was recently recognized again by FlipKey and Trip Advisor as one of their most outstanding companies. In addition, Greybeard Rentals received their "Rated Excellent" badge which is awarded based on past guests' reviews. And while some awards are given based on reviews by a few people, the "rated excellent" is based on reviews by more than 1000 guests, indicating a consistency of service by our management team.

At Greybeard Rentals, we carefully select our rental homes, only listing those we would vacation in ourselves. And we pay careful attention to details as well. Each home is inspected prior to our guests' arrivals, a freshly-baked loaf of pumpkin bread is awaiting each guest, and a Greybeard Rental management team member is on call 24/7 to personally answer each call from our guests who may have an issue or a pressing question.

Another unique aspect of Greybeard Rentals property management is our Guest Services division. The vacation packages and a la carte offerings offered on our guest Services webpage caught the attention of the NY Times, as noted in our 2010 rental blog. So check out our vacation homes for sale listings at Greybeard Realty and find the home of your dreams. When you've made your home selection, we can assist you with the rest. Leave the rental details to us.

A recent readers' choice survey in Conde Nast Traveler rated Asheville one of the friendliest towns in the United States. The survey asked readers to rate US cities on a number of qualities including "friendliest", and Asheville placed fourth in the survey.

Won't you be our Asheville neighbor?

Asheville visitors who participated in the survey not only ranked the cities but also provided comments as to their choices. Glancing over their observations, it is very difficult to disagree with their statements.  One reader observed the city has "hidden treasures around every corner." Another credited the high scoring with Asheville's great combination of "free thinkers and Southern hospitality." The magazine itself points to our remarkable local art scene and local microbreweries as another compelling reason to visit the city.

With our own experiences in the River Arts District and our research for our blogs on microbreweries in the area, we have to say we agree. The magazine goes on to talk about our "great locally sourced food and friendly people".  And while the survey respondents were Asheville visitors, the greatest attraction seems to be the city residents. According to Conde Nast, "above all, it's the "conscientious locals" who truly make this "welcoming" metropolis a "fun, quirky place to visit."

To that, we at Greybeard Realty say, "hear, hear!" We couldn't agree more that Asheville locals are what make this place so special. For those of us who already live in this area, give yourselves a pat on the back for making Asheville such a friendly place to be.  And for those of you who are considering Asheville as an option for relocation, what are you waiting for? Come on! Won't you be our neighbors?