From an early age, my father taught me that if you can't say something nice then don't say anything.  This is my first article in a while.  In the last 12 months there hasn't been much nice to say about the Black Mountain real estate market.  Statistics from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) indicate that the real estate market in our area [...]

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 [...]

While Black Mountain may have been one of the last markets hit by the economic downturn, we believe it is one of the first markets to begin recovering.  While sales in Black Mountain and Buncombe County are down from the previous year by an average of 30%, statistics from the Western North Carolina Regional MLS show that we have may have reached the bottom and are beginning to rebound.

For the first time since March 2008, home sales (# of units) in Black Mountain have exceeded the sales from the same month in the previous year, and currently, 22 homes are under contract. And while the average cost of homes significantly dropped from last year, we are finally seeing an upswing --- the median price of homes in Black Mountain has increased by 2% year-to-date.

The good news continues for August.  In August 2008, there were 3 homes sold in Black Mountain.  As of the date of this posting (August 29, 2009), there have been 7 closed sales this month.

Greybeard Realty has become the leader in high-end home sales in Black Mountain and Montreat.  Having sold 50% of all homes in the $400,000 and above market since August 2008, Greybeard's success testifies to our experience, knowledge, and, most importantly, to the trust of buyers and sellers alike.

"We have increased marketing expenditures by 30% in a down economy, resulting in our website has seeing nearly double the traffic from the previous year, and our vacation rental reservations have increased dramatically over the last several months," noted Chip Craig, owner of Greybeard Realty.

According to sales figures from the Asheville Board of Realtors, Greybeard is ranked #1 for total market share in Black Mountain and #11 for the entire Board.  Says Craig, "We are thrilled to be competing so well with larger firms.  We have 9 full-time agents, while the firms ranked ahead of us in terms of market share have dozens, if not hundreds."

Just a few of the Luxury Homes sold by Greybeard Realty

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.

Greybeard Realty, Black Mountain's largest real estate office, announces the opening of their new auxiliary office at 706 NC Highway 9 South in Black Mountain. In conjunction with Creston Community, this additional office location will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. A Greybeard sales agent will have information [...]

"Trouble is only opportunity in work clothes." Henry J. Kaiser (1882 - 1967)

At first sight it is hard to see the opportunity in a difficult time, but more often than not we may find that it is the very time to reevaluate and make plans for the future. From the outset of the economic downturn, Greybeard Realty has intentionally used our [...]

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.

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.

When it comes to quintessential mountain living, most people think of beautiful views.  Of course, to get those views, you usually need to gain elevation, which often involves negotiating a steep driveway or gravel road.  But that's not always the case.  Laurel Ridge, a neighborhood just north of Black Mountain, is home to some of the most incredible mountain views in Western North Carolina, and you may be surprised how easy they can be to access.

39 Great Aspen Way

This home in Laurel Ridge offers many of the features that vacation home buyers desire - great year-round views, a fireplace, and easy access to town.  In this case, we are talking about downtown Black Mountain, which features a wide variety of restaurants, shops, and galleries.  For folks looking to retire, other requirements usually include one-level living (including the master suite on the main level), a garage, and easy entry to the house (few steps).

This home is unique in that it has a very flat driveway (and the road to the house has a gentle grade), as well as a 3-car garage, which is a bit of rarity in the Asheville area for a home with a view.  Above the garage is 700 square feet of unfinished (studs in place) apartment space and another deck.

Inside, the wood flooring and beadboard ceilings give the home a very "mountain home" feel.  And what mountain home would be complete without an expansive deck to take in the view!

To view more available homes in the Laurel Ridge community, click here.

Despite the downturn in real estate markets across the nation, Greybeard Realty experienced growth in 2008. Our market share within the Asheville Board of Realtors has increased, as our firm climbed from 19th overall to 11th. In 2008, we represented buyers or sellers in 49 home sales transactions. By comparison, we represented clients in 50 [...]