Another Moving To Asheville Thread (Henderson, Hendersonville: for sale, real estate, apartments)

[LAMusicGuy]

Hi - I've spent the last few days reading all the threads about Asheville, since I think I might want to move there for the next twenty years of my life. The first 20, I lived in Miami, the next 20 in Boston and the third 20 I've lived in L.A.

Asheville seems like it might be a perfect fit for my needs, at least from what I've read about the people, places and things to do. I want to get away from all the asphalt and exhaust and enjoy a slower pace for once in my life and Asheville seems like a simply beautiful place to live.

The past 20 years I've been working in the tv and film industry as a music editor, while composing music on the side. I'd like to semi retire and compose full time in my home studio. With the aid of my connections in the entertainment industry and the Internet, I should be able to supplement my fixed income and be able to survive nicely around Asheville.

I have a family member who has lived and worked in Asheville for 12 years and an old music friend who is moving there now, so I will have a place to stay and check it out before making any permanent decisions, as well as some sources to get some good feedback.

I've been looking at real estate via the web and realize that I should probably rent for about 6 months to learn where I would want to buy a home. My house in LA will sell for about 600k and that would buy me way too much square footage in Asheville. I may be looking to buy a home for myself and one to rent for extra income.

My ideal spot would be one with an inspiring view, not too close to neighbors, in an educated, well kept neighborhood. As an aside, if anyone knows of a home for sale that has a small recording studio, please PM me.

Any ideas on the best area to live? I don't have to be too close to town, but I don't want to be in the boonies either.

Do I really want to lead the quite life as much as I think I do, that is the question. I've never lived so far away from an ocean before and I love the water, so that's another consideration. But I do want to get away from the high costs and crowds of So. Cal., not to mention not having to buy earthquake insurance anymore. Which brings up another question, forest fires. After suffering through the fires and floods - not personally, knock on wood, I'm sensitive to natural disasters. Looking at Asheville and surrounding areas, using google satellite views, it's all forests. When was the last time there was a forest fire in that area - well I can google that.....it seems that area gets an average of about 3 inches of rain a month which seems really healthy.

After living in melting pots my whole life, the one thing I will have to adjust to are all the white people that make up the majority of Asheville. I'm white too, but have grown to love ethnic diversity and will find it strange not to have to have a translator all the time.

Ok, I'm rambling at this point, but I think I've given enough information for someone to possibly suggest some questions I may want to ask myself that I may not have thought of, or even some suggestions on where I might find a home.

Thanks,

[Cofga]

Just move here and rent for a year and that will allow you time to answer all your questions to your satisfaction. We have a friend who moved here a year ago and is already selling the first house and moving to a closer and more convenient location. Being out in the boonies can sound inviting but it gets old fast when you need a gal of milk and the closest store is a 30 in drive or your friends don't want to drive way out in the country for drinks after work. It can get to be a lonely existence--great if you're a hermit. There are tons of musicians around here so you won't be alone one that one either. Good luck

[Tanya Donaghy]

I agree that you really should come to the area to get a feeling for the areas that you might like to live in. You have mentioned Asheville, but I'd like to suggest that you take a look at some of the areas around Asheville. You've mentioned that you love the water... there are several nice lakes within a 45 minute drive of Asheville that you might like also... For example: Lake James, Lake Lure and Lake Junaluska to name a few.

[Catbirds]

Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers recorded their album in Asheville. If you are here April 28 thru May 1st, Merlefest, considered one one the best music festivals in the country will be going on in Wilkesboro, just a couple of hours from Asheville. Check out the schedule to see who all is playing. Robert Plant will be there as well as many others.

[LAMusicGuy]

Thanks everyone, good tips. It's so easy these days to project yourself into another place, with the aid of google earth and such, but there's nothing like being there.

I've looked at about 50 houses for sale around Asheville and it's amazing how much you can see with a satellite and street view of the properties. The nicest house I've seen was only 10 miles from downtown, but, according to google maps, was a 45 minute drive. Yikes, must be some twisty mountain road.

I can actually see myself being somewhat of a hermit, locked in my studio with my music, which is kind of what I am now, so living in the mountains might work.

Anyway, I think that after tourist season ends, I'll come out and look around. My music friend who's moving there also said the surrounding towns are worth looking into and I think he's not actually moving to Asheville. He wont be completely moved until the end of the month, so I look forward to his assessment after he's been there awhile.

[queenofbavaria]

I agree, I have found it amazing, how many details you can see online !! house hunting is SO much easier than it was years ago. but at the same time I was surprised a lot, how different houses and most of all lots look (and FEEL) in real as they looked online.
besides google I really love using bing's bird's eye view ! good luck to your plans

[motordavid]

Indeed it must be; we live ~35 miles from 'downtown' A'ville and it takes us 35-40 mins, which includes wandering down a 4 mile road off of our mountain.

As I am no xpert on where to live in/around 'metro Asheville', you might do some looking in the towns west of A'ville when you wander out this way:
Canton, Clyde, Waynesville, (where we live), Sylva, et al.

If you don't need/want a daily 'downtown' Asheville experience, some of the western areas are beautiful, remote but not solitary, and the Orange Peel is < 40 mins.

GL, mD

Originally Posted by LAMusicGuy

Thanks everyone, good tips. ... The nicest house I've seen was only 10 miles from downtown, but, according to google maps, was a 45 minute drive. Yikes, must be some twisty mountain road.

I can actually see myself being somewhat of a hermit, locked in my studio with my music, which is kind of what I am now, so living in the mountains might work.

Anyway, I think that after tourist season ends, I'll come out and look around. My music friend who's moving there also said the surrounding towns are worth looking into and I think he's not actually moving to Asheville. He wont be completely moved until the end of the month, so I look forward to his assessment after he's been there awhile.

[LAMusicGuy]

Yea, it looks like there are a lot of nice towns in the general area around Asheville, motordavid. It will certainly take some time to educate myself about the area, but I look at it as an adventure, so I'll take my time.

Btw, I think I've seen you in pictures with a motorcycle (forgive me if I remember wrong). Most of my life a bike was my main vehicle of transportation, except, strangely enough, while living in California. One of the first things I'll do after a move to the area is get a bike.

I've been everywhere in the country on a bike, except for your area and Washington State. One trip, my longest, started in Boston, then out to LA, up to Oregon, back to Boston, down to Miami, out to Colorado, then back to Boston. I raced for a few years at the track in Loudon NH, after losing my license for speeding infractions on liter class sport bikes.

Western NC has some of the best roads for riding year round in my book and I will look forward to exploring them.
The problem in LA county now, is people texting and running into things. My lord, do they really need a law against this? I mean isn't it just common sense that this isn't something you do while driving? So many people here drive without insurance too. I hope the population there is more responsible, but I ride like everyone is trying to hit me, so I'm always on the lookout for careless drivers.
I think it's time to put away the liter class sport bikes and settle into a nice VFR for a change. What's the used bike scene like around Asheville?

I shouldn't have started talking about bikes, I could go on forever.

[BigJon3475]

I like it in the Arden/Hendersonville area. Currently I live in Arden at the new apartments behind Lowe's but the owners of this place are building a new place off Hendersonville Road next to Applebees that I believe I think I'll move to. It will be nice being brand new, again.

[motordavid]

LAMG...that was me.
We have been cross country on 5 trips, plus upper Quebec, the Maritimes, et al.
But, for day to day riding, Western NC is right up there with some of the best roads I've ever been on. The best part is, on weekdays, the fabulous 2 lane black tops are nearly deserted.

There are lots of sleds/scoots for sale in the area...when you get closer, I can point you toward the papers that hump them. Also, a couple three brand name dealers that always have left overs, and a handful of Indies. M'cycle Heaven, imo.

Same crappy drivers though, comparable to any metro area with phones, in car vid, texting, and very few driving skills; the favorable part is there is less traffic anywhere here, than there is on the 405 at midnight.

Take your time, look around, and most 'anywhere' in western NC is a great place to live, imo.
GL, mD