According to an article in RISMEDIA dated 12/21 posted by Suzanne, nationally 2012 will be similar to 2011 with modest gains in prices and sales units…historically an election year is good for real estate. The investor segment continues to increase. Consumer confidence in 2012 will depend on the press. If the press continues to pump out negative information on the economy and housing instead of putting a positive spin on what is happening, and jobs are not restored, consumer confidence will stay low.  Each market is different and consumer confidence will be a key to continue to drive sales locally.

North Carolina home sales are trending upward as home prices continue to sink slightly. However, the dip in home values isn’t nearly as large in most areas of the state as other regions of the country according to HousingPredictor.com. The increase in the Florida market through out the state along with the Miami area by International buyers from South American and Europe that are paying cash for more than half of all homes and condo purchases will help to increase our North Carolina market.

Drilling down even further to Western North Carolina Mountains with a high concentration of second home and retirement purchases, a high level of consumer confidence is the key. The latter part of 2011 saw a surge in second home purchasers as well as buyers having sold their homes in other parts of the country and as we enter 2012 the trend is continuing. 

What better place to have a home but in the mountains of Western North Carolina specifically Transylvania County where there is over 250 waterfalls, over 50% of our land mass is state and natural forest and so many things do it would take way to long to list them. Connestee Falls has it all from 4 mountain lakes, to a George Cobb 18 hole golf course, to over 10 miles of hiking trails to tennis, pickle ball, and over 50 clubs not to mention the Overlook Clubhouse with it’s Fine Dining and Sports Grill.

Give us a call today to learn more about our home – we are all Vested Locally while we are Marketed Globally.

It is possible to reduce your stress levels by looking for positive things in other people and situations.

We have entered into the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season. With the passing of each day as we approach Christmas the potential for stress rises. In an effort to manage the stress level of the season I ran across this article by John Boe in a November 27th article in RISMEDIA.

Structural engineers get paid big bucks to design buildings strong enough to withstand the damaging impact brought on by Mother Nature’s fury. They use computer simulations to help them identify and mitigate stress-fatigue factors, which might contribute to the collapse of the building. Ironically, people, like buildings, are also susceptible to stress-fatigue factors and physical collapse brought on by the crippling affects derived from excessive fear, anxiety and worry.

Research indicates that a person will react to stressful situations based upon the temperament style that he or she was born into. For example, aggressive people have “anger management,” expressive people have “emotional management,” passive people have “self-esteem management” and analytical people have “stress management.” In other words, people who tend to be extremely detailed, organized, critical and shy attract stress into their lives like metal shavings are drawn to a magnet.

The major behaviors associated with people under stress include; aloofness, increased sadness, panic attacks, overly sarcastic humor and extreme negative self-talk. Stress occurs when an analytical or “melancholy” type of person is overwhelmed by his or her attempts to balance their physical, financial, personal, spiritual and career interests. The long-term affects of prolonged stress are accumulative and can be physically and mentally damaging over time. Stress manifests in the body as TMJ / teeth grinding, tension headaches, neck / shoulder pain and lower back pain. Here are several practical ideas that you can use to help you dramatically reduce your stress level and live a much more productive life.

Stress Management Tips

1. Get plenty of sleep.

2. Eat balanced meals and avoid eating junk food.

3. Drink plenty of water and avoid nicotine, excessive caffeine and other stimulants.

4. Avoid drinking alcohol in excess.

5. Learn to make decisions quickly and let go of the need to over-analyze everything.

6. Express your feelings appropriately and don’t bottle up your emotions.

7. Avoid trying for perfection and don’t sweat the small stuff.

8. Maintain a positive mental attitude by utilizing affirmative “self-talk.”

9. Stop worrying so much and look at situations more optimistically.

10. Smile and laugh frequently throughout the day, don’t take yourself so seriously.

11. Mix leisure with work: take breaks and get away when you can.

12. Make a point to spend quality time with your friends and family.

13. Become more tolerant and don’t be overly critical of yourself or others.

14. Always be kind and gentle with yourself.

15. Listen to upbeat music or watch your favorite movie.

16. Exercise for cardiovascular fitness three to four times a week.

17. Set written goals, plan your time and prioritize your activates.

18. Keep a list of “things to do” and stay focused on short-term accomplishments.

19. Get a massage or take a warm bath.

20. Do something nice for someone else.

I hope you, your family and friends take time to enjoy each day leading to Christmas and may your Holiday Season be Joyful and STRESS FREE!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family to your family!

Last month Peggy and Mike Badger and myself were October’s guest speakers of the Connestee Fire Rescue  Auxiliary meeting speaking on the state of the current real estate market.  We divided the topic in three areas – Real Estate Statistics, Today’s Buyers and Sellers, and Marketing taking into account the economy, today’s buyers/sellers, and marketing in and around the internet.  The methods of buying and selling real estate of 10/15 years ago are gone as we become un-tethered as we all carry our smart phones & tablets everywhere we go.  Recalling 15 years ago we had MLS PAPER BOOKS while today we are marketed globally across the internet.

This is the first of three posts with Lynda Hysong reporting on Real Estate Statistics.  Mike Badger will report on Internet Marketing. Peggy Badger will report on Today’s Buyers and Sellers.

REAL ESTATE STATISTICS:

To answer the first part of the question, we reported the number of homes closed began dropping between 2006 and 2007 with 2009 being the bottom. We saw a slight increase in 2010 with 2011 following suit. While the median selling price has decreased from 2007 highs, we find ourselves at 2004/2005 levels. Median selling price is defined as the point at which half of all homes are sold for more and half are sold for less.

National Association of REALTORS reported in mid October our southern region saw the least amount of slippage compared with the rest of the country:

In the Northeast, the median price dropped to $244,100 from $245,600 in July, and it fell 5.1 percent since August 2010;  The median price in the Midwest declined to $141,700 in August from $146,300, and fell 3.5 percent from the previous year;  In the South, the price inched down on a monthly basis to $151,000 from $152,600, and also slipped down 0.8 percent in a year-over-year comparison; The median price in the West took another big hit, falling to $189,400 from $208,300 in August and fell 20.6 percent from the year before.

For the second part of the question how many of the listings are Foreclosures? According to a November article in the Charlotte Observer North Carolina ranks among the states with the lowest number of foreclosures, coming in at No. 34 with South Carolina raking 13th. Filings were issued on 2,939 homes statewide last month.

Drilling down a bit more notice the chart above illustrating  Transylvania County having the least number of foreclosures in comparison to its neighboring counties of Henderson and Buncombe.

Stay tuned for the continuation of our report by Peggy and Mike Badger over the next few weeks.

The U.S. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed an Armistice Day for 12th November, 1919. And TheUnited States Congress conceded a parallel resolution after 7 years on 4th June, 1926, applying for a President issue another declaration to survey 11th November with proper ceremonies. An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) permitted 13th May , 1938, made 11th of November in every year an authorizedholiday; “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day’.”

In the year of 1953, an Emporia, Kansas, shoe store holder named Al King had a plan to increase Armistice Day to commemorate all veterans, not presently those who provided in World War I. the king had been keenly occupied with an American War Dads throughout World War II. Then he started a crusade to turn the Armistice Day into “All”Veterans Day. And The Emporia Chamber of Commerce assumed the reason after resolving that 90% of the Emporia merchants with the Board of Educationsupported finishing their doors on 11th November, 1953, to tribute veterans. And with the help of then-U.S. Rep. Ed Rees, from Emporia, a bill forholiday was push through Congress. The President Dwight Eisenhower marked it into law on 26th May, 1954.

Congress modified this act on 8th November, 1954, replacing “Armistice” with Veterans. It has been recognized as Veterans Day since.

Even though originally planned for commemoration on 11th November of each year, opening in 1971 compliant with the Uniform MondayHoliday Act, Veterans Day was shifted to fourth Monday of October. And In the year of 1978 it was retreated to its original commemoration on 11th November.

My Dad served in the Air Force in the Korean War, My Father-in- law served in the Navy during WW II and was in the pacific during the bombing of Pearl Harbor & my Mother-in-law and her family served in the Army and were stationed at Pearl Harbor during the bombing. I stand up and salute all of our brave men and women that have taken the oath to protect our freedom in this great land – for the families who have lost loved ones in battle abroad and at home!

Thank You for YOUR Service & May God Bless ALL of You and Your Families!

A recent Marketwatch story written by Amy Hoak points out that housing markets in the Great Plains, including those in North and South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming, Nebraska, Louisiana and Iowa, are showing the most signs of strength these days, according to a recent report from Veros, a risk management and valuation services firm.

Hoak notes that Bismarck, North Dakota., is expected to be the strongest market in the country in the year ahead, with housing values appreciating at a 5.6% clip, according to Veros. Other markets projected to be among the strongest in the year ahead include Honolulu; Fargo, North Dakota.; Harrisburg/Carlisle, Pennsylvania; and Pittsburgh. Washington, D.C., and Boston remain strong city markets.

Hoak writes that while not many markets are fully rebounding, at least a good number of them likely won’t see values fall at quite as rapid a pace as in recent years, according to the report.

“Overall, the recovery in the housing market is limited to just a few markets and is taking a long time to occur. The encouraging news is that many markets are no longer expected to be rapidly declining,” says Eric Fox, vice president of statistical and economic modeling for Veros.

The weakest U.S. markets are in Nevada, inland areas of California, Washington and Oregon, according to the report. The weakest market in the year ahead: Bakersfield, California, where foreclosures have been a huge problem.

Hoak wraps up the story with words of assurance; While prices aren’t on the upswing in many places, at least they’re not expected to fall that rapidly in the coming year.

In Western North Carolina, we have experienced an increase in sales over this time last year with the SECOND HOME buyer coming back into the market. Being a mountainous area rich with all nature has to offer, it is the place to have a home to get away from the south’s summer heat or the north’s winter blast.  Our part of the Blue Ridge Mountains has over 250 waterfalls, State and National Forests along with every active outdoor activity you can imagine.

This is Pickleball

In addition to the experiential exhibits which are unique to this sesquicentennial event the day will also offer more traditional activities like bingo, square dancing, and children’s games. The 150th Cake Cutting Ceremony is a birthday tradition and this one offers fun and surprises. Trapp says that there will be plenty of music, free popcorn, ice cream and lemonade on hand as well.

Schedule of Events for September 3rd:
Downtown Brevard: 10am-5pm

9am-2pm 3rd Annual Farm Fair: Celebrating Our Local Producers at The American Legion Building (55 East Jordan Street)

10am-5pm Founders Day at the Transylvania Heritage Museum:
Cherokee Presentations, Genealogy Displays, Crafters, Civil War Re-enactment Camp, and more! (189 West Main Street)

10am-5pm Experience Transylvania: A series of interactive exhibits where you
can experience our history

10am-4pm Bingo

10am-5pm Heritage Pavilion: Demonstrations and Performances

Square Dancing • Live Heritage Music All Day

11am-2pm Traditional Kids’ Games

11pm-3pm Free Popcorn, Ice cream and Lemonade

2pm 150th Cake Cutting Ceremony
Brevard College: 7pm-10pm

You are invited to come down to Brevard College early to picnic. Free music will begin at 6:30pm

7:00pm FREE Edwin McCain Concert
Sponsored by the City of Brevard

9pm Multi-Media Fireworks Extravaganza sponsored in part by Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company
Featuring Brevard Community Band and Brevard College’s Music Department Students