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-Perfect size for my family
-Good schools
-Great outdoor activities
-Great music
-Cycling friendly
-The public generally cares about the environment
-Friendly, walkable downtown
-Safe
-The Blue Ridge Parkway
-Mountain views in every direction
-Very good University and tech. college
-Perfect size for my family
-Good schools
-Great outdoor activities
-Great music
-Cycling friendly
-The public generally cares about the environment
-Friendly, walkable downtown
-Safe
-The Blue Ridge Parkway
-Mountain views in every direction
-Very good University and tech. college
Every day I live in Asheville I love it more. If you pick up a copy of the local alternative paper that comes out free every Wednesday it is incredibly full of things to do. And there are groups to get involved in for just about any interest from poetry & knitting to ice climbing & white water kayaking. Just about the only thing we don't have is Trader Joe's and the Ocean - the Ocean is just 4 hours away and I'm not sure where the nearest Trader Joe's is. And in general, the people seem so friendly. I'm from New England - so that can be a relative thing. But when driving, people are sane and even curteous, sometimes. In stores/shops/offices people genuinely seem nice. Well, I could go one, but I think you get it.
How affordable is housing and are there any old sections?... Google Montford, NC - they have their own web site. West Asheville does, too. There are a bunch of old sections - I forgot how many historical neighborhoods there are. Some are expensive and some not terribly - expensive and cheap are very relative.
Some people who come here think it's outrageously expensive and some think it's so cheap! If anyone would like me to send them the weekly real estate market overview for the Asheville area, I would be happy to. It usually comes out weekly. It breaks down all the price ranges and give info about each one like how many houses are for sale in that price range right now, average days on the market before selling, number of closings in the last 6 months, etc.
Its'a buyers market right now because there are lots of homes on the market, but in general they are only for sale for about 3 months before they sell and the average selling price this week is $304,771. There are a total of 2,303 homes on the market and they range in price from under $50,000 to well over a $1 million.
Usually the less expensive ones are manufactured homes. Once you get over $225,000 you can find some pretty nice places. Under that, they are either small, just one bathroom, in a funky location, have a strange floorplan or something like that. But if you are patient and keep a very close eye on what is coming on the market you can find something under that. Or if you don't mind small or one bathroom. Or if you don't mind a townhouse or condo.
They are actually taking reservations now ($1000 - refundable) for some "lofts" right downtown to be completed in 2008 in a new building from just $122,000. They are only about 500 to 900 square feet. The buiding is going to comply with "HealthyBuilt" green standards and even have a live roof.
There are also some other fairly affordable "green" options being built right now like some townhomes in West Asheville that should be ready this fall fro about $197,000. They are about 1000 square feet.
Whew, I got a little long winded. I hopw this was helpful. Feel free to ask more about this stuff and don't forget to let me know if you want me to Moderator cut: Realtor soliciting
Wow, Tree, that was a lot of good info you gave! Where do you get the market reports? It seems the market is still moving pretty well, especially certain desirable areas. We bought our little house in Kenilworth Forest - modest but a good price in a convenient and beautiful little neighborhood! Things sell very quickly here, especially since they are affordable compared to the rest of town. I've seen some good buys in Beverly Hills and Haw Creek as well (all on the east side of town)
Some day I would like to live on the north side of town, like around Beaver Lake but those houses are pretty expensive and getting more so by the year due to that being such a popular area! But at least we have a place in this little paradise!
Thanks for all the comments.
I've been to Asheville a few times, and my family and I would spend time in the summer in areas such as Highlands, Franklin, Dillard, GA, Clayton, GA, and I even went to summer camp as a kid in Brevard. I honestly love it...for it's aesthetic reasons and for nostalgic reasons too. I am sure I will be back.
The housing information was especially helpful...so thank you "treehouse".
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You forgot one...
But at least we have a place in this little paradise!
