Tag Archives: Real Estate

Tips for Selling your Cashiers, NC Area Home

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You’ve been hearing it for months: Recent economic conditions have created a buyer’s market in cities across the country.

Although it’s true that sales prices and the total number of home sales are down in many U.S. cities, it doesn’t mean that home sellers can’t still get a great price on their home.

The key to selling your home for the best price possible in as little time as possible is a strategic marketing plan.

Continue reading to learn more about what you as a home seller can do to maximize your success on the Cashiers area real estate market.

Selling Homes in the Cashiers, NC Area

Here are some suggestions that I often give to interested home sellers:

  • Emotionally Detach from your Home: Making the decision to sell your home can be a stressful process for a lot of home owners.  After all, you and your family have likely made plenty of memories in your home and it may be hard to say goodbye to them. But as a home seller, it’s best to view your house as a product you’re trying to sell rather than your home. After all, the goal is to help buyers visualize themselves living in your home. Thus, the sooner you can detach from your home emotionally, the smoother your experience on the Western NC real estate market will be.
  • Be Flexible With Buyer Schedules:  The current economic climate has meant that there are fewer buyers navigating local real estate markets.  Thus, it’s critical that you as a home seller are as accommodating as possible when it comes to showings.
  •  Be Honest About Problems Issues.  Be as forthcoming with your Cashiers real estate agent as possible about such things as restrictions, structural issues, boundary disputes and covenants.  Your agent should know about these issues upfront.  You don’t want to wait until closing time to reveal these things to your agent and the home buyer because it may be a deal that kills the deal in the eleventh hour.  And that can end up being costly in terms of legal expenses.
  • Don’t Forget Curb Appeal.  When buyers come to check out your home, the exterior will surely be their first impression.  So make sure it’s in top condition by trimming hedges, cleaning out gutters and maybe even applying a fresh coat of paint.
  • Use Plenty of Light to Showcase Your Home’s Features.  This includes natural and artificial light.  Open windows and turn on lights (even in closets) throughout the home.  You may also consider recommending day-time showings to buyers.
  • De-Clutterize Your Home.  Remember: You’re trying to sell your home, not the items in your home.  And the more things you have piled in each room, the more it distracts buyers from appreciating the structure of your home.  Plus, too much junk in a room can make it appear smaller than it actually is.

Cashiers, NC Real Estate

I hope you found the above tips helpful as a Cashiers area home seller.

For more tips on how to sell your home for more money in less time, contact me, Dorothy Swearingen.

I’ll be happy to offer you my expert advice as well as my many home selling resources, including:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Cashiers NC Real Estate Market Report for December

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The Cashiers real estate market held pretty steady between October and November, as evident by the most recent real estate data.

If you’re thinking about purchasing a Cashiers NC home for sale, I recommend you continue reading to learn more about what homes are selling for in the area.

This information will make you better prepared as you continue to navigate the market looking for your dream home.

Cashiers Homes for Sale

Here’s an overview of the current state of the Cashiers real estate market:

  • Currently there are 589 resale and new homes. Last month, there were 598 homes on the market.
  • During the week ending on Nov. 16, the average listing price for a Cashiers home was $1,029,505.
  • Compared with the week before, the average listing price increased by 0.3 percent, or about $2,965
  • For the week ending on Nov. 16, the average listing price for a 1-bedroom home was $283,000.
  • The average listing price for a 2-bedroom home was $331,000.
  • And the average listing price for 3-bedroom and 4- bedroom homes was $803,000 and $1,300,000.

Relocate to Cashiers NC

If you would like some help interpreting the most recent data and understanding how it affects you as a home buyer, contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today.

As your Cashiers area real estate expert, I have experience working in several area markets, including:

What’s more, over the years I’ve created a fantastic set of tools for home buyers to use.  These resources help make navigating the market easier and include:

Until next time,

Dorothy

More Tips on How to Successfully Stage Your Cashiers Area Home

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As I mentioned in a previous blog, wintertime may be an ideal time to sell your Western NC home since home buyers during this time of year are typically more eager to buy a home than any other time of the year.

But since it’s also true that there are fewer home buyers are the market, it’s important to stage your home in a way that leaves a lasting impression.

One thing that many home sellers do is create curb appeal.  This includes trimming the bushes, sweeping the front porch and cleaning the shutters.

After all, many home buyers will first judge a home by its exterior.  Thus, it’s critical that your Western NC home has plenty of curb appeal.

Continue reading to learn more tips on what you can do to increase your chances of selling your home in a reasonable amount of time.

Homes for Sale in Cashiers, Highlands, Sapphire and More

Here are some suggestions for preparing your home for upcoming showings:

  • Mentally Let Go of Your Attachment to Your Home: This is something that’s easier said than done for many home sellers.  After all, your current home may very well be where you started your family, and certainly where you made many precious memories.  But trust me, mentally preparing yourself now for the day when you hand over your house keys to another family will save you a lot of heart ache and stress in the long run.  Because that day will come and you don’t want to be blindsided when it does.
  • De-personalize Your Home: As I’ve said in a previous blog, you want home buyers to be able to see THEIR family in your home, not your family.  Thus, remove distracting details like the dozens of family portraits on the walls and tables.  While a few accents will create a warm ambiance in your home, too many can prove to be overwhelming and off-putting for interested home buyers.
  • De-Clutterize: Remember, you’re not selling the items in your home, you’re selling the home itself.  So remove excess clutter that distracts from your home’s rooms and layout.  A good rule of thumb is to get rid of anything you haven’t used in more than a year. You may also consider reorganizing furniture in a way that maximizes a room’s space and makes it look bigger.
  • Organize Your Closets and Cabinets: Home buyers are often judging every little detail of your home, maybe without even realizing it! And disorganized storage areas suggest to potential home buyers that you may have not taken the best care of the rest of the house.  Avoid sending that message by cleaning and organizing closet and cabinet space.  One way to start is to make sure all your closets are hanging the same way in your closet.
  • Store Irreplaceable Items: Buyers and sellers will often negotiate throwing in certain items and appliance with the home sale. So if there’s something in your home that you would never want to see end up on the negotiation table, then put it away so the home buyer doesn’t even know about it.  Otherwise, you risk giving the home buyer a reason to pull out on a deal just because you won’t throw in the item they want.
  • Address Minor Repairs:  Remember, home showings are all about leaving a lasting first impression on home buyers.  So you want to make sure your home is in the best shape possible.  Help get it in tip-top condition by addressing minor repair issues, such as a leaky faucet or a cracked bathroom tile.  While making these repairs may not cost much money, it can mean a world of difference on how a home buyer sees your home.

Selling Your Home on the Western NC Real Estate Market

I hope these home staging tips help you to sell your home in less time and for a better price.  These tips have certainly helped plenty of other home sellers in the past!

To learn more about how you can improve your outcome on the Cashiers area real estate market as a home seller,  contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today.

As your NC Mountain REALTOR, I’ll be happy to walk you through my comprehensive marketing plan for sellers as well as give you a number of home selling tools, such as:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Fun Things to Do in the Highlands, Cashiers, and Sapphire Areas during the Holidays

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It’s no secret that Western North Carolina is a popular place to be during the holiday season.

After all, this area serves as a huge draw for those residents interested in ski vacations, white Christmases and breath-taking winter vistas.

The Western North Carolina communities also do a great job of planning a variety of community events during this time of year.    These events help residents get in the holiday spirit and truly enjoy the season.

Continue reading to learn more about some of these fun activities that you and your family may enjoy.

Enjoy These Family-Friendly Events in the North Carolina Mountains This Month

Here is just a sampling of all the fun community events you and your family could be enjoying this month if you lived in Western N.C.:

Art Gallery Walks: Every 4th Friday, the town of Brevard hosts an art, wine and food event in its downtown. This is a great way to get out and enjoy the winter weather while appreciating all the talent we have on the local art scene.

  • When: 5 to 9 p.m. on December 16
  • Where: Downtown Brevard
  • Admission: FREE

Craft Show: Have some last minute holiday shopping to do? Why not pick up a unique present for someone at the Henderson County Crafters Association show, held at Blue Ridge Mall.

  • When: December 16 to 18; Times vary
  • Where: Blue Ridge Mall in Hendersonville, NC
  • Admission: FREE
  • More Info: Call (828) 684-6097

Holiday Reading: The Highlands-Cashiers Players will present their Holiday Reading at Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center.  This show is guaranteed to put your entire family in the holiday spirit!

  • When: 7:30 p.m. on December 15
  • Where: Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center, 507 Chestnut Street in Highlands
  • Admission: Prices Vary
  • More Info: Call (828) 526-9047

Christmas Celebration: Come to the Highlands Civic Center for “La Noche Navidena,” which will feature a holiday dinner and a visit with Santa. Invitations are available through the International Friendship Center.

  • When: 6 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 17
  • Where: Highlands Civic Center
  • Admission: FREE
  • More Info: Call (828) 526-0890, extension 290

Investing in Highlands Area Real Estate

As your Highlands area real estate expert, I work hard to provide interested home buyers with all the information they need to make educated decisions on the local housing market.

That’s why I regularly tell buyers about events going on in the area.  I believe that the best way to get to know an area is to get out and attend a community event.

By doing so, you gain a better understanding of what quality of life is like here in the Highlands, NC area.

Thus, I hope you get a chance to check out at least one of these community events in the Highlands, NC area.  If you do, please let me know what you thought of it!

If you’ve been considering relocating to Western North Carolina area lately, contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today.

I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have and tell you about current real estate market activity.

I’ll also provide you with a number of real estate tools that have proven invaluable to home buyers just like you.  These include:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Lake Toxaway NC Real Estate Market Update for December

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Unlike its neighbors, the Lake Toxaway real estate market recently saw a drop in its average listing price, according to the most recent real estate data.

Meanwhile, the number of available homes for sale in Lake Toxaway – which we call the home inventory – has eked up as well.

Continue reading to learn more about recent market activity in this Western NC community, and what it means for home buyers.

Lake Toxaway Homes for Sale

Here’s a look at the most recent market activity in Lake Toxaway, based on real estate website Trulia:

  • There are currently 432 resale and new homes on the market.
  • For the week ending on Nov. 16, the average listing price was $996,788, which is a 1.4 percent decrease when compared to the week before.
  • During that previous week, the average listing price was $1,010,721.
  • During the week ending on Nov. 16, the average listing price for a 2-bedroom home in Lake Toxaway was $353,000.
  • The average listing price for a 3-bedroom home was $753,000.
  • And the average listing price for a 4-bedroom home was $1,686,000.

Investing in Lake Toxaway Real Estate

Although interested home sellers won’t be too pleased with recent activity on the Lake Toxaway real estate market, interested home buyers should be thrilled.

After all, not only is the average listing price dropping, but the number of homes for sale is increasing.

This is great news for home buyers because it means that supply is exceeding demand.  When that happens, prices will typically drop.

Thus, you have the opportunity to invest in your dream Lake Toxaway home for less right now!

To start searching for your next home today, contact me, Dorothy Swearingen.

I’ll be happy to let you know about available listings as well as provide you with such helpful home buying tools as:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Lake Glenville NC Real Estate Market Update for December

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Today I’ll continue my weekly series on real estate activity in the mountains of North Carolina by telling you about Lake Glenville.

During the last several months, Lake Glenville has seen its average listing price climb and its home inventory fall.

If you’re an interested home buyer, I suggest you continue reading to learn more about the current state of the Lake Glenville real estate market.

This information will provide you with a helpful idea of what you may be able to get for a Lake Glenville home for sale.

Lake Glenville Properties

Here’s an overview of the recent real estate activity in Lake Glenville, NC

  • Currently there are 236 resale and new homes on the Lake Glenville real estate market
  • During the week ending on Nov. 16, the average listing price for homes was $632,366
  • Compared with the week before, the average listing price increased by 0.7 percent.
  • For the week ending on Nov. 16, the average listing price for a 2-bedroom home was $416,000.
  • The average listing price for a 3-bedroom home was $576,000.
  • And the average listing price for a 4-bedroom home in Lake Glenville was $765,000.

Your Lake Glenville Real Estate Experts

The Western North Carolina real estate market is a constantly evolving and complex arena. Thus, it helps to work with an experienced REALTOR who can not only tell you what current market data is, but also tell you where the market is headed.

To talk more about the state of the Lake Glenville area real estate market, and how it may affect you as a home buyer, contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today.

In the meantime, feel free to also check out some of my home buying resources, which has proven invaluable to others.  These include:

Until next time,

Dorothy

 

Sell Your Western North Carolina Home Before the New Year!

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Most home sellers in the Cashiers area of North Carolina believe that winter is the absolute worst time to sell their home.

The figure that between holiday planning, work and family life, interested home buyers aren’t going to have the time to navigate the market looking for their next home.

Although this is a valid concern, it’s still possible to sell your Western North Carolina home during the wintertime, as long as you market it correctly.

Continue reading to learn about steps you can take to ensure that you’re home leaves a good impression on interested home buyers.

Stage Your Home for Success During the Winter

The first thing that home sellers should know about wintertime home buyers is that these people mean business!

After all, why would you even both juggling holiday planning, house hunting and day-to-day obligations unless you were serious about investing in a piece of mountain real estate.

Thus, home sellers should be aware that first impressions are going to be critical.

Here are some steps you can take to ensure that interested home buyers won’t be able to get your Cashiers area home for sale out of their head:

  • Create an environment where home buyers can visualize themselves living in your home.  Do this by adding a few warm and welcoming accents around your home, such as a holiday wreath on the door or by setting the dining room table.
  • But remember: less is more.  Too many accents may prove distracting to home buyers. Or worse, it may cause home buyers to envision YOUR family living there.  That’s certainly the last thing you want when you’re trying to sell your home.
  • Accommodate the home buyers schedule as often as possible.  These individuals are taking the time out of their busy holiday season to tour your house and see if it’s a good fit for their family. So be flexible and work with their schedule as best you can.  You never know – it might lead to you selling your home!
  • Let there be light.  A few selectively placed lights can do wonders for making a room feel bigger and more inviting.  The same goes for open curtains.  Add even more emphasis to your home’s great features by using porch lights or other exterior lights.  After all, winter is the time of year when natural light is lacking, so you’ll need all the extra lighting you can get.
  • Just say “No” to Seasonal Home Aromas. While the smell of apples and cinnamon might be one of your favorite holiday aromas, it might be off-putting and distracting to an interested home buyer.  With such aromas, you risk leaving a bad impression on a home buyer, causing a prospective deal to fall through.  To avoid that, put away the holiday aromas for showings.

Your NC Mountain Real Estate Experts

Selling your home in the Cashiers NC area doesn’t have to be an impossible task if you know how to market your home successfully.

For more tips on how to stage your home, contact me, Dorothy Swearingen

As your NC Mountain REALTOR, I’ll provide you with expert advice, as well as such helpful home selling tools as:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Sapphire NC Real Estate Market Update for December

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Activity has remained pretty stable on the Sapphire real estate market lately, according to recent data.

For instance, the average listing price has only edged up slightly when compared to the last year.

If you’re thinking about investing in some Western North Carolina real estate, I recommend you continue reading to learn more about home prices in Sapphire NC.

Sapphire Homes for Sale

Here’s a look at the current state of the Sapphire real estate market, based on the most recent information:

  • Currently there are 658 resale and new homes on the market
  • For the week ending on Nov. 16, the average listing price was $491,108 in this Western NC community.
  • Compared with the week before, the average listing price has decreased by about 0.5 percent.
  • During the week of Nov. 16, the average listing price for a 1-bedroom home in Sapphire was $106,000.
  • The average listing price for a 2-bedroom home was $250,000.
  • And the average listing price fora 3-bedroom and 4- bedroom homes in Sapphire was $469,000 and $900,000, respectively.

Relocating to Western North Carolina

For right now, the local housing market here in Sapphire looks like it’s fairly stable, although that can change from week to week.

The prices also suggest that it’s a good time to be a home buyer since prices are relatively low, and list prices continue to drop.

If you’re an interested home buyer ready to start searching for your dream home, then contact me, Dorothy Swearingen.

As your Sapphire area real estate expert, I’ll answer any questions you might have as well as tell you about available listings in our various mountain communities, including:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Highlands NC Real Estate Market Update

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It was an interesting month on the Highlands real estate market, according to the most recent data on real estate website Trulia.

Evidently, both home sales prices and the number of home sales decreased, while the average listing price actually increased.

Continue reading to learn more about real estate activity in the last month on the Highlands real estate market, and how it may affect interested home buyers.

Invest in a Highlands Home for Sale

Here’s an overview of the current state of the Highlands real estate market, based on the most recent market data:

  • Currently there are 792 resale and new homes, including 2 in the pre-foreclosure, auction or bank-owned stages.
  • Between August and October, the median sales price for a Highlands home was $325,000.
  • Compared to the same period last year, the median home sales price decreased by 22.1 percent, or about $92,257.
  • Meanwhile, the number of home sales decreased 96 percent.
  • During the week ending on Nov. 16, the average listing price for a Highlands home for sale was $842,830, which is a 0.8 percent increase when compared to last week.
  • During that same week, the average listing price for a 1-bedroom Highlands home was $347,000.
  • The average listing price for a 2-bedroom home was $457,000
  • And the average listing price for 3- and 4- bedroom Highlands homes was $617,000 and $1,143,000.

Your N.C. Mountain REALTORS

The recent market data suggests that the housing market in the N.C. Mountains is still very much a buyer’s market.

After all, both home sales prices and the number of home sales has fallen, meaning that home sellers will likely to be willing to bargain with home buyers in order to sell their home.

If you’d like to learn more about how to use the current state of the market to your advantage as a home buyer, then contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today.

As your Highlands area REALTOR, I’ll be happy to provide you with expert advice as well as such helpful tools as:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Highlands NC Real Estate Market Update for October

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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