Among the spectacular view is Asheville: the Blue Ridge Parkway

Among the spectacular view is Asheville: the Blue Ridge Parkway

Anyone with an Asheville cabin hoping to keep Asheville's special appeal a secret will be disappointed to learn that the fall issue of Ideal Living magazine cited the city as one of the top five retirement cities in the United States.

The article describes Asheville as "the Paris of the Southeast" and points to its appeal to artists, adventurers and romantics alike.

It highlights the Biltmore Estates and the Biltmore Village, as expected, but it also covers the city's commitment to going green.  In particular, it discusses the discounted building permits the city offers for LEED buildings as well as the effort underway for Caterpillar to retrofit city buses.  In addition, it covers market analysis of the area as well as the unique architecture within the city.

For more information on annual events in Asheville such as "Shindig on the Green", an annual summer ritual, and to read the article firsthand, click on contents on Ideal Living, a digital magazine.

For some people, simply choosing an Asheville cabin for a romantic getaway is just the beginning.  For people looking for the ultimate romantic experience, Guest Services of Greybeard Realty now has a romantic vacation package that assembles all the elements needed for the perfect escape. 

First of all, our experienced rentals staff can assist you in choosing the best Asheville cabin for your needs.  For some that may be an incredible view, a beautiful stone fireplace, a small brook adjacent to the rental, or perhaps an outdoor hot tub.

The romance begins upon your arrival at your selected cabin where you will find flowers, truffles, and champagne waiting for you.

Our Asheville Romantic Getaway includes dinner for two at The Blackbird or Tupelo Honey and a 60 minute couples' massage at The Wild Rose Healing House.

For more information and to take advantage of this romantic escape package, please contact Greybeard Guest Services.

Punxsutawny Phil is not the only one making predictions and prognostications this time of year. Industry experts  have noted the trends within the Asheville real estate market of the last few months, and for these observers, the future appears to be one of [...]

Among our Asheville homes for sale, this farmhouse stands out. It is unusual to find an antique farmhouse of this caliber in the Asheville area, particularly one on such a generous lot.

Built in 1901, this charming home was renovated and [...]

Building a green home in Asheville just got easier. The North Carolina State Energy Office, the NC Solar Center, the NC Home Builders Association and other professional building organizations joined forces to create the North Carolina Green Built Homes Program.

A statewide voluntary certification program, Green Built Homes offers a [...]

Greybeard Realty of Black Mountain announces the opening of Greybeard Realty Commercial, with offices at 706 N Highway 9 in Black Mountain.  Jane Shockey, a Black Mountain native with more than 20 years of commercial brokerage experience in Western North Carolina, has joined Greybeard to oversee the operations of this newest area for the real estate company.

For Chip Craig, president and founder of the 10-year-old company, the move into the commercial property business is a natural progression for Greybeard.

"With our rental management division and our real estate sales office, we already have the marketing infrastructure in place needed for a successful commercial division," he explains. "And we are very fortunate to have Jane Shockey joining us as she brings more than two decades of local commercial real estate expertise to our firm."

For Jane, it represents a chance to come back to her home town and work with an established team of Realtors.

"I'm excited to be able to focus on commercial property in the Black Mountain area," she says.  "Greybeard is a natural fit for me, and I look forward to working in the community I grew up in."

The commercial division, open immediately, will provide both rental and sales services for Greybeard clients.  Greybeard Commercial is a member of Western North Carolina Regional MLS (Multiple Listing Service), Karnes-Western North Carolina Commercial Property Exchange, and Loopnet.

It's never too early to start planning some fun in Asheville. We've got just the ticket:

Let's start your Asheville vacation at the North Carolina Apple Festival, in historic downtown Hendersonville. The festival includes the famous Apple Festival Street Fair that brings 150 vendors to 9 blocks of Main Street. The King Apple Parade starts at 2:30 and features floats bands, youth groups, and fire trucks. There is something about the combination of kids, apples and fire trucks that just makes you smile.

Then come to downtown Asheville for Shindig on the Green at MLK Jr. Park. A proper shindig, this event features banjoes, bluegrass, and uncontrollable dancing.

All that dancing will warm you up for a mountain bike ride in the Pisgah Ranger District. The Pisgah Ranger District is south of Asheville on either side of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Rent a bike or bring your own and explore the greatest mountain bike trails in Western North Carolina. Some of these great Blue Ridge trails can be tricky, so don't be shy to take some good local advice. First time Pisgah mountain bikers should consult a guide.

Recover from biking with a walking tour of the beautiful Biltmore Estate Gardens. The historic Biltmore House is the largest private residence in America. Built for the Vanderbilt family and completed in 1895, the Biltmore Gardens were design by the revered landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted.

Wrap up your weekend at the Biltmore winery. Tasting and tours here rival anything you'll experience in Napa Valley.

And now we come to the crux of the vacation - which Asheville cabin suits you best?  Begin your search for available Asheville cabins here, and have a great vacation!

Sanctuary, an Asheville vacation rental condo located in the Biltmore Village Villas, lives up to its name, providing Asheville renters with a beautiful getaway within close proximity to Asheville.  This professionally decorated condo features two bedrooms, each with a private bath and ample closet [...]

The Blue Ridge Dream is a one of our new Asheville vacation rentals. Just thinking about this place makes me dreamy. It is a beautifully renovated authentic log cabin and it's nearly 4000 feet of heaven near the Blue Ridge Parkway. The floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor decks make for panoramic views of the Mountains.

This rental has all the amenities such as Satellite TV, wireless internet & a Wii, but once you're on the porch, you'll forget what those things are. The views from the deck are the best I've seen in this part of North Carolina: Blue Ridge Mountain panorama!

Renting this cabin makes you feel good about yourself in other ways, too: A portion of the rental proceeds are donated to Blue Ridge Forever, a land conservancy dedicated to preserving land in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains.

Image via Wikipedia

Whether it's a choice to bring sustainability and healthy living indoors or the desire for energy efficiency, there are countless reasons to buy "Green." For a home to be certified requires third party verification. ENERGY STAR homes have met the requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes have energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than standard homes. Benefits for homebuyers and New Home Features can be found at www.energystar.gov. By clicking on the "Take the Tour" icon at the bottom of the page you can actually look behind the walls of an Energy Star home.

An Energy Star townhome in Black Mountain, NC

NC HealthyBuilt Homes have met criteria established by ENERGY STAR plus additional requirements which can be seen at https://wncgbc.org/healthybuilt/checklist.php. Points are awarded for builders completing the various items on the checklist. There are four levels of certification depending on how many features the home has. For a list of homeowner benefits go to https://wncgbc.org/healthybuilt/benefits.php.