Insight on Black Mountain, NC Please.... (Charlotte, Raleigh: real estate market, credit, how much)

[marc515]

Son and daughter-in-law with 2 children are looking to move to Black Mountain, NC in the near future.

Can you guys provide us some insight on the town, and area in general. i.e., How's the job market for blue collar worker, and Certified Nurses Assistant?
How are the wages in general?
How is the real-estate market- specifically 3 B/R homes under $175K?
What are the real-estate, and local taxes?
How much are the taxes on vehicles?
How are the schools?
What about medical facilities?
What's there to do for a young family?
How much snow do you get?

Any other +/- comments will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,.....marc

[mmccool719]

this summer. We love Black Mountain, especially for families. I don't think there is much of a job market here period, unless you go into Asheville. It is a great town to raise a family in. With that being said, it doesn't come cheap. I am not too well versed on taxes or snow yet, but I know the real estate market having just bought here myself. I don't think that price range will yield them too much unless they go further out. 175 or less will get you a small bungalow on a small lot, near town possibly. This town seems to be a great mix of young and old, wierd and normal, rich and poor, etc. It's a great blend of folks. Hope that helps.

[mmccool719]

Oh and medical facilities and things to do.....well, we needed the ER our first week here and had to go via ambulance to Mission Hospital in Asheville. There is NO critical care here in Black Mountain which is scary if you have young children, it was for us anyways. To do...there's hikes, Lake Tomahawk, Robert Lake park in Montreat, a ton of kids who live here.

[roxors]

Job market in Asheville isn't the greatest, unless you are in the medical field. Otherwise lots of restaurant and tourism related stuff. Wages here are low in general too, compared to other larger NC cities such as Raleigh and Charlotte. Wages certainly aren't in line compared to home prices. Not much snow either, since I've moved here in 2002 we've only had over 4" one time. Maybe 3 or 4 nuisance 1 inch snowfalls a winter, but it usually melts in a day.

[mm34b]

Expect a total of 9-10 inches of snow during a average winter.

BLACK MOUNTAIN 2 W, NORTH CAROLINA - Climate Summary

Property Tax Rates - http://www.dornc.com/publications/Ef...tes2006-07.pdf

[Carolinawit]

Black Mountain is a lovely small town which is part of the much larger Buncombe County/Asheville area. Downtown consists of quaint shops surrounded by the most pictuesque mountains around, the Seven Sisters. Populations swells in the summer time due to national church recreation areas close by and summer home residents. Good elemantary school close-in town. Health care great!! Mission in Asheville is a top 100 hospital and has a new Ruth and Billy Graham Childrens Health Center opened in the last ten years. Any type of nursing is in demand here but it depends on what type of blue collar work. Not much factory work left but some light industrial throughout the area. If they are handy in the building trades, work abounds. Real Estate market is still good here, not much of a hit by the credit debacle as compared to other areas because so many people still want to come here. A tough look for a three bedroom under 175K. burdieboo@yahoo.com

Carolinawit

[jlrich]

Black Mountain is a nice little town with shops catering to the tourists. But, it is a place to "live" not a place to "do", which is not a bad thing being that Asheville is only a few MINUTES away depending on the traffic. If the traffic and weather isn't bad you can drive from Black Mtn. to Asheville in 5-10 minutes. It's not like its 30 miles down the road. As far as living there I couldn't tell you. But it is a nice area and everything you need can be found just a few minutes away.

[gigimac]

Dear Marc,
I live in Asheville for 25 years. I almost bought in Black Mountain one time.

Black Mountain is a small town, 10,000, but very cute and scenic. Tourists like to go there in the summertime. It has a fun downtown area, and a few small neighborhoods that are rather nice, especially the one around Lake Tomahawk. There is also a good-sized assisted living nursing community in Black Mountain, so the daughter can nurse there, Highland Farms Retirement Community, Black Mountain near Asheville, North Carolina. Also, Black Mountain is known for its private Christian conference center, Montreat Conference Center.

Black Mountain is about a 20-minute drive to Asheville, "the big city," which is not very big, but it has a Trauma One medical complex, small baseball stadium, concerts, theater, malls, movies. All the towns up here are in the middle of two forest ranges with rivers, lakes, camping, hiking, horseback riding. Black Mountain has primary, elementary, and high school, and Asheville is part of the UNC university system.

Since WNC is a resort area, housing is expensive, relatively speaking for the South. You put $175,000. In Black Mountain, your son will need at minimum $200,000. Yes, there are several snowfalls in winter, occasionally six inches, sometimes a blizzard, and ice on roadways can be problematic in December and January. The local Blk Mt greybeardrealty.com has house listings for the area.
.......

[jlrich]

Originally Posted by gigimac

Black Mountain is about a 20-minute drive to Asheville,

I must drive faster than you.

[Nawocks2]

I too have been bit by the wnc bug and have been looking into the Black Mountain/Swannanoa area for our new home. I have done a lot of research on the area, through some friends that live there and online, and what they say about the job and real estate market seem to hold true. That is not at all reassuring. I did have an interview with an architecture firm in Black Mountain so I would have at least a job when I came, but the other disappointing thing I've heard is that despite the high taxes, the public schools in Asheville are horrible. Those two major items have me re-considering the move. Or at least moving somewhere close like Greenville, South Carolina. This city, from what I’ve heard, has wonderful public schools, great real estate and job opportunities and is only 1 hour away from Asheville.

Having two small children I want to provide a well rounded education without paying an arm and leg for private school. It is good to hear that there are a ton of kids. I hope, like every other American family, to find an area where my kids can play outside and ride their bikes with others their own age, in a safe, clean, neighborhood. Coming from a major metropolitan area where we have an abundance of choices, from doctors to schools can you tell me how these rate in the Blk. Mtn./Swannanoa area? Also, which areas seem to be more tailored to new/young families? Are there certain areas to avoid (i.e. crime, drugs, just not very pleasant)? I’ve read a lot of the posts in other threads about Asheville and was surprised to hear such negative things about the city. But, to be honest I am grateful I happened across them. I want to know both the good and bad from every perspective. Thanks in advance for your help.