Category Archives: Jackson County

Highlands NC Real Estate Market Update for October

access_timeOctober 31, 2011personDorothy Swearingen

Happy Halloween everyone from your friend on the Highlands NC real estate market!

Whether you’re helping the kids carve the pumpkins or simply enjoying a quiet night in while you hand out candy to trick-or-treaters, I hope you find yourself surrounded by family and friends tonight!

Today I’d like to continue my watchdog series on the various Western North Carolina real estate markets by telling you about the latest status of the Highlands real estate market.

This information – which includes average list prices, sold prices, and more – will prove invaluable as you navigate the Highlands NC real estate market.

Continue reading to learn more!

Highlands NC Properties for Sale

Here’s an overview of the Highlands NC real estate market, based on the most recent data from the real estate website Trulia.

There are currently 840 resale and new homes on the Highlands NC real estate market, including 2 homes in the pre-foreclosure, auction or bank-owned stages.
Between July and September, the median sales price for a Highlands NC home for sale was $425,000.
Compared with the same period last year, the median sales price for a Highaldns, NC home for sale has increased by 9 percent, or about $35,000.
During the week ending on Sept. 28, the average listing price for a Highlands NC home for sale was $812,360.
When compared to the prior week, the average listing price for a Highlands NC home for sale has increased by 1.3 percent, or about $10,500.

Highlands NC Real Estate Experts

I hope you find the above Highlands NC real estate market information helpful as you navigate the Highlands, NC real estate market.

If you’d like to talk with an expert Highlands NC REALTOR about what the recent data means and how it affects you as a Highlands home buyer, then contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today.

As your Highlands real estate expert, I’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have as well as provide you with such helpful Highlands home buying tools as:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Cashiers NC Real Estate Market Update for October

access_timeOctober 24, 2011personDorothy Swearingen

I can’t believe it’s already the end of October! It seems like just yesterday that I was seeing people set out Fourth of July decorations in the stores and now it seems like all the stores are focusing on Christmas before Halloween has even arrived!

If you’re an interested Cashiers home buyer navigating the Cashiers area real estate market, I’m sure that your year has flown by faster than most. After all, it can be a rather time-consuming feat searching for your dream Cashiers NC home for sale in the price range you want.

Before you continue your search on the market, I recommend you take just a few minutes to check out the recent statistics on the Cashiers NC real estate market. This information will prove invaluable to you as it will give you a realistic overview of market conditions.

Continue reading to learn more!

Cashiers, NC Homes for Sale

Here’s an overview of the current state of the Cashiers NC real estate market, based on data from the real estate website Trulia:

There are currently 598 resale and new homes on the Highlands, NC real estate market.
During the week ending on Sept. 28, the average listing price for Cashiers NC homes for sale was $1,023,702
When compared to the previous week, the average listing price for a Cashiers NC home for sale increased by 0.3 percent, or $3,128.
For the week ending on Sept. 28, the average list price for a 2-bedroom Cashiers home for sale was $344,000.
The average list price for a 3-bedroom Cashiers home for sale was $764,000.
During that same week, the average list price for a 4-bedroom Cashiers home for sale was $1.35 million.

Cashiers, NC Real Estate

If you’d like help navigating the Cashiers NC real estate market, I’ll be happy to assist you with your Cashiers home buying needs.

As your Cashiers NC real estate expert, I’ll interpret the recent Cashiers NC real estate market data and tell you how it affects you as a Cashiers area home buyer.

Contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today and I’ll also be happy to tell you about the current state of other area real estate markets, including:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Now is a Great Time to Invest in Cashiers, NC Area Real Estate

access_timeOctober 17, 2011personDorothy Swearingen

This month is simply THE most amazing time to be living in the Cashiers, NC area. That’s because fall foliage is at its peak – with splashes of crimson red, vibrant orange and radiant yellow everywhere you drive in the area.

It truly is remarkable! Tourists from all over the state and region seem to agree, as evidenced by all the cars I’ve seen lately winding on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Autumn may be what makes people fall in love with the Cashiers, NC area but it is the community-centeredness in this area that make people want to stay.

If you’re an interested Cashiers area home buyer, then continue reading to learn about some fantastic Cashiers area log cabins and homes available on the Cashiers area real estate market.

Investing in a Cashiers, NC Area Log Cabin

Whether you’re looking for a cozy log cabin for you and your spouse or a large one in which you can raise a family, you’ll find plenty of options on the Cashiers NC real estate market.

Here are some helpful pre-defined searches that I’ve created for those Cashiers area home buyers who know what they’re looking for in their dream Cashiers NC home:

Cashiers NC Real Estate

I hope you were able to find my Cashiers NC pre-defined home searches helpful as you navigate the Cashiers NC area real estate market.

If you saw a home you liked and would like more information on it, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today!

As your Cashiers NC area REALTOR, I’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have, set up a showing appointment for you or just talk with you about what it’s like to live in the Cashiers NC area.

Until next time,

Dorothy

Property Values Addressed on HIghlands, NC Area Real Estate Market

access_timeOctober 10, 2011personDorothy Swearingen

I recently read an interesting article in the Smoky Mountain News about property valuations in Western North Carolina.

Evidently, Macon County officials may decide to postpone their property valuations from 2013 to 2015.

Macon County includes the communities of Flats, Franklin, Highlands, Smithbridge, and Sugarfork.

Continue reading to learn more about why officials are considering delaying the revaluation – and how it may affect Highlands area home sellers.

Highlands, NC Homes for Sale

According to the recent article, the proposed delay in revaluations is in response to the sluggish housing economy.

According to Macon County’s tax assessor, not enough properties have been sold to new owners to create meaningful property value levels.

What’s more, inaccurate property revaluations may result in a lot of property value appeals from residents, which could be costly to the county.

It’s the county’s hope that if they wait to complete the county-wide revaluation, more Macon County properties will change hands between buyers and sellers, creating for a more accurate reading property values county-wide.

Macon County’s proposed response to the sluggish economy is a stark contrast to Jackson County’s.

Jackson County includes the communities of Cashiers, Scotts Creek and Webster.

Jackson County is still planning to move forward with its property revaluations in 2013, even though the county has a similar housing market as Macon County.

The last time Jackson County and Macon County did their property revaluations was in 2008 and 2007 respectively.

According to state law, every county must complete a property revaluation at least every 8 years.

Your Highlands, NC Area Real Estate Experts

In Macon County, commissioners are expecting that property values on more expensive homes and undeveloped land will decrease while property values on the homes in the $150,000 range will increase.

The proposed delay on property revaluations may actually be good news for those Highlands area home sellers who own high-end homes.

After all, property valuations is a good point of reference for many Highlands area home buyers trying to decide how much they’re willing to pay for a home.

Thus, if property values on higher-end homes are expected to decrease after the next property valuation, it behooves Highlands area home sellers to sell their home before that revaluation happens.

Thus, if you’re a Highlands area home seller, contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today.

As your Highlands area real estate expert, I’ll work hard to sell your home in as little time as possible for the best price possible.

I’ll also provide you with a number of helpful Highlands area home selling tools to help you navigate the market. These include:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Lawmakers Addressing Future of Community Colleges in Highlands, NC Area in Western North Carolina

access_timeAugust 11, 2011personDorothy Swearingen

Recently, a joint state legislative committee recommended merging the leadership of community colleges in the state that have fewer than 3,000 fulltime students.

But local and state officials in Western North Carolina have recently taken a stand against this measure, saying that it would hurt the education system in the area.

Continue reading to learn more about this developing story in the Highlands, NC area – and how it might affect Highlands NC area residents.

Continue reading →

Cashiers NC Area County to Vote on Whether to Allow Alcohol Sales

access_timeAugust 8, 2011personDorothy Swearingen

The Smoky Mountain News recently had an interesting article about a proposed alcohol referendum for Jackson County during this year’s elections.

Jackson County, which is located in Western North Carolina, includes the Cashiers community.

Continue reading to learn more about this proposed referendum and what it means for Cashiers, NC area home owners and interested Cashiers home buyers.

Living in Cashiers, NC

According to the recent article, four of five county commissioners in Jackson County told the paper that they would support an alcohol referendum – although no formal action has been taken yet to do so.

It remains unclear whether this referendum would be on the ballot during the May primary or during the general election in November.

Sylva and Dillsboro are the only two communities in Jackson County that have alcohol sales right now. The referendum would open up the sales to all parts of the county.

Currently, Buncombe and Clay counties are the only ones in the western part of the state to allow the sale of alcohol countywide. Henderson County residents will address the issue during their May primary.

Restaurant and store owners in Cashiers praised the proposed referendum because they say it will bring new energy to the local Cashiers economy.

Others are saying that it would help breathe new life onto the Western Carolina University campus, which is located in Cullowhee in Jackson County. Allowing alcohol sales near the campus would certainly stir economic activity, advocates say.

Investing in Cashiers, NC Area Real Estate

Voters in Jackson County will have much to decide on should the commissioners vote for an alcohol referendum. They’ll have to address whether they want to allow beer, liquor, wine or all of them. They’ll have to take a stand on whether to allow the sale in grocery stores or gas stations or simply keep it to sit-down restaurants.

What do you think of the proposed referendum? Should alcohol sales be allowed in Jackson County or not? Let me know what you think!

Thinking about relocating to the Cashiers, NC area? I can help!

As an experienced Cashiers, NC area real estate expert, I pride myself on keeping up with the latest news in the area so I can help interested Cashiers area home buyers make informed decisions on the real estate market.

Contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today to learn more about all of the helpful Cashiers home buying resources I can provide you, including:

Until next time,

Dorothy

State Decided to Cut Landslide Hazard Map-Making in Highlands, NC Region

access_timeJuly 11, 2011personDorothy Swearingen

State lawmakers recently decided to cut the state’s landslide mapping unit, which was created to assess which mountain slopes are most likely to create a landslide.

The Smoky Mountain News reported that five state geologists who were working on the maps were laid off this week.

The state’s decision will save about $355,000 a year.

Continue reading to learn more about what this means for Highlands, NC area home owners and buyers.

Living in the Highlands, NC Area

Since the landslide mapping unit began working on the landslide hazard maps in 2005, they have completed studying four counties:

Macon County, which includes Highlands
Buncombe County
Henderson County
Watauga County

The team was in the process of studying Jackson County’s mountain slopes when the state cut their funding.
The state’s landslide mapping unit has faced controversy since the beginning because many critics felt that mapping the landslide hazard zones would make it harder to sell property in those zones.

Critics of the mapping unit also questioned whether the unit’s conclusions were accurate.

But others thought that the landslide unit was a great public safety initiative – providing mountain residents with vital information about at-risk areas.

Since landslides typically follow predictable paths, proponents also said that the landslide maps wouldn’t hurt property values, but rather help people figure out on which side of a lot to build their home.

In fact, experts say that mapping where old landslides happen is the best way to predict where future slides will take place.

The geologists working on the landslide project relied heavily on old landslide sites to predict whether a slop was at a low, medium or high risk for a future landslide.

Macon County officials hope to use the findings by incorporating them into a new steep slope ordinance. A handful of other Western North Carolina counties – including Jackson and Haywood – already have such an ordinance.

To view Macon County’s landslide map, visit www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/Landslide_Info/MaconCounty.html.

A partial map for Jackson is expected to be posted soon to wfs.enr.state.nc.us/fist/.

Highlands, NC Area Real Estate

What do you think of state lawmakers’ decision to cut funding to the landslide hazard map-making unit? Let me know!

And if you’re thinking about entering the Highlands, NC real estate market as a Highlands area home buyer or home seller, then contact me, Dorothy Swearingen.

As a Highlands, NC REALTOR, I strive to keep up-to-date on the news that affects Highlands area home buyers and Highlands area home sellers so I can help them make educated decisions on the Highlands area real estate market.

Until next time,

Dorothy

Cashiers, NC Could Get New Recreation Center Soon

access_timeJune 28, 2011personDorothy Swearingen

Jackson County commissioners are currently in talks about approving an $8 million recreation center for Cashiers, NC.

This concept has been in the works since 2006 and now it finally looks like some progress might be made on this development.

Over the past three years, the county has prepared the site for the recreation center by working on water, sewer and grading. This has cost the county about $3 million.

Officials estimate that the recreation center will cost about $5 million to construct. The county may start taking bids on the project in as little as a couple of months, the recent article in the Smoky Mountain News reported.

The proposed recreation center in Cashiers, NC is expected to be about 25,000 square feet and will feature:

Basketball courts
A walking track
A weight-lifting room
A dance/aerobics room
Showers
Lockers

Purchasing a Cashiers, NC Area Home for Sale

The proposed recreation center is great news for Cashiers home buyers and home owners alike.

Not only will it stimulate the local economy by bringing more jobs to the area, but it will also provide Cashiers residents with even more recreational options.

Of course, as it is now, Cashiers residents have plenty of recreational amenities to choose from, including:

But this new recreation center is sure to make living in Cashiers, NC that much greater!

Navigating the Cashiers, NC Area Real Estate Market

If you’ve been thinking about moving to the Cashiers, NC area, then contact me, Dorothy Swearingen.

I’ll tell you everything you need and want to know about living in the NC Mountains as well as provide you with such useful Cashiers home buying tools as:

Until next time,

Dorothy

A Good Idea for Hendersonville and Why Highlands NC Area is an Amazing Place to Call Home

access_timeMay 2, 2011personDorothy Swearingen

The city of Hendersonville is thinking about converting an old rail line into a multi-purpose trail that can be used by bicyclists, walkers, joggers and even equestrians, according to a recent article.

The 18-mile Norfolk Southern Ecusta rail, which travels from Hendersonville to Brevard, was built in 1894. At one point, the line ran all the way from Hendersonville to Lake Toxaway.

Over the years, however, the rail has become obsolete and is currently inactive. While portions of the line in the Brevard area have already been converted into a multi-use trail, the Hendersonville side remains unused.

The city is using a grant from the Federal Highway Administration to pay for the majority of the study, which costs about $65,000.

The final report is expected to be released in January 2012.

Living in the Highlands NC Area

This new development in Hendersonville is a fantastic thing for all who live in the North Carolina mountains.

It also highlights the general philosophy in this area that celebrates outdoor recreation.

Here in the Highlands, N.C. area, residents constantly have an array of recreational amenities from which to choose, including:

Have a family member that doesn’t necessarily enjoy being outside too much but does enjoy the mountain environment? No worries! There are plenty of indoor recreational attractions that the N.C. Mountains offer as well!