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As we stated in our post on rivers May 10th, many of Western North Carolina’s towns were centered around rivers to facilitate manufacturing and trade. Today, rivers have become an essential component of the region’s lifestyle. No matter where you are in the greater Asheville, Hendersonville, or Waynesville communities you’ll find happiness near a river.

Our latest episode of Beverly-Hanks TV explores that thought and includes interviews with the director of River Link, a local organization dedicated to the revitalization of the French Broad River, a fly-fishing guide with popular outfitter Hunter Banks, and one of the owners of Southern Raft Supply. Enjoy!

For more videos on the many ways there are to live here, go to beverly-hanks.tv.

One of Beverly-Hanks’ own, the former mayor of Lake Lure and a broker associate at the Beverly-Hanks Lake Lure Arcade office, Jim Proctor, has  published his first book, entitled “Images of America: Lake Lure.”

Proctor, whose family has deep roots in the region, has compiled more than 200 vintage photos of Lake Lure. Arcadia Publishing published the book as part of its “Images of America” Series.

The photo collection captures a region long known for its beauty. The town of Lake Lure, as well as the acreage now part of NC’s Chimney Rock State Park, are a vision created by the Morse brothers who purchased the land in 1902. The town was incorporated in 1927.

Fed by the Rocky Broad River, the mountains of the Hickory Nut Gorge provide a stunning backdrop for the lake. The town of Lake Lure is wrapped around the lake and is a favorite destination for vacationers, many of whom eventually purchase homes, for investment or as second homes. Retirees from all over the US also choose this location lured by the beauty of the mountains and the lake, the easy-going lifestyle, and the reasonable cost of living.

Boating, fishing, golf, and hiking are all popular Lake Lure ways to relax.

An excerpt from the book (p88):

The Ski Club activities diminished in the 70’s but came back strong during the 1980’s. Many of the original founding members came back with their children. The ski club again reformed in 2006. The ski club has had members from age three to over 70. This photograph shows (from left to right) Barbara Taylor, unknown, unknown, Mary Lou Lipinski and Robin Burch. (Photographs by Norman Greig, courtesy of Greig family.)

Visit the Beverly-Hanks office at Suite 109 Arcade Building right in the heart of Uptown Lake Lure near the 1927 Lake Lure Inn and the Lake Lure beach. Call 828-625-8846 to learn more.

You would think we had used them all up by now, but they just keep rolling in. We’re not chest thumping here - these are nationwide awards, recognizing what a spectacular place we live in. Below are some from just the most recent months of 2013:

• Just last week, CNN named Asheville as one of the top 8 beer cities in the US, saying “it’s less the number of breweries or bars here than it is the culture that earns Asheville its cred. There is serious pride in the local craft, and its small-town appeal means all you have to do is roll over and you’ll find yourself in one of the city’s renowned breweries, like Wedge, Green Man and Wicked Weed.”
• Asheville was also named one of “5 of the Healthiest & Greenest Cities in America” by Greener Ideal in March of this year. To watch a video on Wellness in our area, click here.
• And that’s not all. Asheville was named number one retirement community in “100 Best Places to Retire for 2013″ by TopRetirements.com, February 2013.
• And it that wasn’t enough, we were featured as one of eight cities profiled in “Farmers Markets - A Fun Link to the Local Scene” by Where to Retire.
• Southern Living magazine named Asheville one of the “Tastiest Towns in the South.” Asheville was recognized for it’s intrepid casual fare led by a tight-knit group of indie-chefs. (May 2013) Watch a video on the fabulous food we have available here.

Photo credit Cnn.com

These awards are a good reminder to us of how fortunate we are to live the life we choose in Western North Carolina!

The phrase “river of life” is not just about humans — plants and animals  grow and thrive along rivers because water is so essential to life itself. It might seem that rivers happen to run through many cities in the world, but it is not that the rivers go through cities, rather, cities matured and thrived alongside these irreplaceable natural resources (Rivernetwork.com, May 2013).

Small Towns and Asheville Centered On Rivers

Many of Western North Carolina’s small towns and even regional hubs like Asheville were centered around rivers to facilitate manufacturing and trade. Today, rivers have become an essential component of the region’s lifestyle. While many rivers no longer serve manufacturing they’ve been a boon for both enjoyment by residents and tourism. If the rhythmic gurgling of a small mountain stream while you lay a fishing line atop the water or the lazy tug of the French Broad River on your canoe bring you enjoyment, then no matter where you are in the greater Asheville, Hendersonville, or Waynesville communities you’ll find happiness.

With most rivers supporting multiple access points along their banks, there are few places where you’ll find more opportunities to enjoy them than in Western North Carolina. Here are a list of local resources you can use to find that perfect place to fly fish, whitewater kayak, or simply sit beside the river cooling your heels after a walk.

Fishing The North Carolina Mountains

Fishing in the North Carolina mountains is an exceptional trout fishing haven with over 3,000 miles of trout streams open to fishing throughout Western North Carolina. With both wild and stocked trout available for pursuit there is no shortage of places to wet a line.

Fly Fishing Instruction and Equipment

Fantastic Fly Fishing Blog for North Carolina

Read A Great Account of Fishing In Dupont State Forest, Hendersonville, North Carolina

Southeastern Whitewater Paddling

It is often joked the in the Western North Carolina area that you can’t throw a paddle without hitting a paddler. Here are some of the best resources for finding beautiful rivers to paddle along or local outfitters to help get you ready.

Local River Levels and Descriptions for Planning The Perfect Trip

Learn How To Plan A Trip Along The French Broad River Trail through Transylvania, Henderson, Buncombe, and Madison Counties.

Brand New Equipment and River Trip Outfitter located along the French Broad River

Some of our favorite hikes are worth remembering this time of year, when the temperature is just about perfect outside, the last of the pollen has washed away and our souls are begging for a  refreshing spring jaunt in the woods.

What an absolute enclave we are for hikes of all levels of difficulty, each bringing its own special flavor.

One short but real gem is Pearson’s Falls, an exquisitely beautiful hike in a peaceful glen. The quarter-mile Glen Trail takes hikers past the 90-foot Pearson’s Falls and through a native wildflower garden with plants of remarkable diversity, including over 200 ferns, flowering plants, algae, and mosses.Pearson’s Falls is located just off Route 176, four miles north of Tryon or three miles south of Saluda. Look for signs to the Falls.

A wonderful compilation of hikes can be found at blueridgeheritage.com, the official site of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.

Also, check out the BHTV episode on Hiking for some beautiful scenery and more about the incredible resources in our area.

On May 11, 2013 (Mother’s Day Weekend), Beverly-Hanks & Associates is proud to sponsor the water stations for the third consecutive Ramble Run. Starting in Town Square of Biltmore Park, it’s expected that over 1,000 runners and walkers will once again participate in this exciting Asheville, North Carolina race. The “Ramble Run at Biltmore Park” will offer both 12K and 5K races organized by the Asheville Track Club and presented by Mission Health.

Starting and finishing at Biltmore Park® Town Square and running through The Ramble® Biltmore Forest, both races are scenic and enjoyable, yet challenging. They follow a course that one runner compared to “running on the Blue Ridge Parkway without the cars.”

What: Ramble Run at Biltmore Park presented by Mission Health.

When: Saturday May 11, 2013.  5K starts at 8:00 a.m.; 12K starts at 8:15 a.m.

Where: Biltmore Park Town Square at I-26, exit 37 near Long Shoals Road in south Asheville.

Registration: Online registration ends at midnight on Thursday, May 9.  Click HERE to go to the registration page.  On site registration will be held on Friday, May 10 from 4-7 pm and on race morning from 6:00-7:30.  All on site registration will be held at Town Square Park at Biltmore Park.

And for Beverly-Hanks associates who either participate as either walkers/runners or volunteers, you can represent Beverly-Hanks with pride with this year’s “Event Shirt” To order a shirt, email Stephanie Shipman. SHIRT ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY WEDNESDAY, MAY 1ST. For more information about the event, go to ramblerun.com or to volunteer with fellow BH people email Nancy Witek.

Great plug for Asheville on last night’s Late Show with David Letterman. The secret is definitely out, folks!

As reported in our latest Quarterly Market Report, The Asheville MSA (Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison counties) began the year with exceptionally strong employment gains. Up 3.9 percent over the year,
the MSA is the fastest growing metro area in the state and is outpacing both the state and nation.

Source: NC Employment Security Commission

By adding more than 6,000 jobs through the first two months of 2013, our post-recession expansion is up to 31 consecutive months of growth. The pace of growth has accelerated during the last six months, historically averaging an annual growth rate of about one percent; during the last six months rates have steadily risen to near four percent. The surge in new job creation is led by the Leisure and Hospitality sector, up 2,500 new positions, nearly 12 percent over 2012. The sector’s strength confirms the region’s historically strong attraction to visitors and vacationers. Other industries contributing to job growth include Retail, adding 1,400 jobs, and Health Services, up 1,300. The broad based expansion even includes the Manufacturing sector which added 250 jobs in the first quarter.

For an even more in-depth look at the regional economies and how they are affecting the real estate market, go to beverly-hanks.com/reports.

(Source: Tom Tveidt, Syneva Economics)

“It may appear premature to declare a housing boom and chronicle an uneven regional recovery, but Vital Signs indicate a major transition.”

So says Neal Hanks in the latest issue of The Real Estate Report, just released for Quarter One 2013.
Consider these year-over-year metrics for Western North Carolina comparing 2012Q1 and 2013Q1:
•Existing home sales are up 21% percent.
•Existing months of inventory for sale are
down 19% percent.
•Median home prices are up 4.8 percent

Watch below for a quick video of Neal and economist Tom Tveidt as they discuss the major points from the report.

For more stats and a detailed analysis of seven counties, go to beverly-hanks.com/reports.

Our very own Katherine Kaderabek was featured in an article on the “My Move” blog written by Kandy Harris. The article was the fourth part of a series dedicated to ferreting out the best real estate markets in the United States.

Harris writes, “We’ve discovered that there’s more to a great market than numbers pulled from a website. There’s the intangible vibe of a town, not to mention the quality of the schools, the job market and the cost of living. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how fabulous the real estate market is; if the area isn’t appealing to buyers, they’ll buy elsewhere.

This brings us to Asheville, North Carolina. We found the city itself to be quite charming, with a thriving arts community, tons of outdoor recreational opportunities, and enough good food and culture to make it appealing to discerning big city-dwellers traveling from other states. The city’s biggest employers are in the health care industry and education, and there’s not much available in the way of jobs right now. In fact, Asheville seems great for a visit, but the lack of jobs may keep some folks away. However, if you don’t rely on the local job market for your income, you might do well in Asheville.”

Katherine offered the following thoughts on Asheville. “Well-priced homes are now getting multiple offers the minute they hit the market. Buyers seem to sense that with prices down and mortgage rates still very low now is definitely the time to buy,” Katherine explained. And the property taxes? “About $1 per every $100 of the assessed value in the city limits,” said Katherine, “and about two-thirds of that in the county.”

Check out the rest of the article including Katherine’s listing recommended by the writer, Kandy Harris. For more information about living in Asheville and why it is one the best real estate markets in the country, contact Katherine Kaderabek.