Greybeard Realty is pleased to announce the launch of a new site dedicated to meeting your Asheville Vacation needs: Greybeard Guest Services. This new service provides everything from golf packages to spa days to rock climbing adventures.

Make your next Asheville vacation stress-free. Rent a cabin, Sign up for Guest Services, arrive, relax...

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

If you are a first time homebuyer, now is the time to invest. Real estate prices are down, interest rates are low, and the $8,000 tax credit that can help you make a down payment or simply reduce home-buying expenses is still available until November 30th.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has helped many people-- this year-- purchase their first home, and [...]

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!

The Fourth of July celebration in Montreat has become a traditional day of homecoming. Extended families come home to Montreat to enjoy time-honored festivities and fun with family and friends. (If you are bringing your best friend along, you might consider one of our [...]

Montreat Real Estate Sales While the national economy has impacted Montreat real estate sales, our mountain cove has been protected from most of the economic storm. Montreat Property continues to sell.

Click here for a complete list of closed home and lot sales.

For currently listed properties in Montreat, click for Montreat homes for sale and Montreat [...]