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Short sales are finally being seen as a viable alternative to foreclosure by both the banks and the consumer. Brandon Moore, CEO of RealtyTrac, just explained that short sales are skyrocketing:

“Short sales hit a three-year high in the first quarter (up 25%). Lenders are approving more aggressively priced short sales, which in turn is resulting in more successful short sales.”

In order to help our readers decide whether this is the proper option for them and their families, here is a list of recent posts on the subject:

Short-Sale-vs-Foreclosure-10-Common-Myths-Busted
Are You a Buyer Looking to Purchase a Short Sale?

For more information about the short sales process and finding distressed property opportunities in the Buncombe, Haywood, and Henderson Counties call 866-858-2257 or email customerservice@beverly-hanks.com.

By MARILYN ALVA, INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY

When the housing market falls, vacation homes fall harder. They’re discretionary purchases that can be put off for another day.

That day may be here or near. Sensing a possible bottom, second-home buyers are returning, say real estate agents in vacation spots from Cape Cod to Lake Tahoe.

Nationwide, vacation sales rose 7% in 2011 to 502,000 homes, according to the National Association of Realtors. They made up 11% of total sales. And commentary from the NAR’s resort and second-home committee indicates continued momentum this year, says NAR spokesman Walter MolonyHigher-End Homes Sell

While the number of transactions is on the rise, home prices are still not generally appreciating. But many second-home buyers are opting for upper-end properties.

“We’re seeing significant increases in sales of homes in excess of $500,000,” said Neal Hanks, president of Beverly-Hanks Realtors in Asheville, N.C., a second-home market in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Read more about vacation homes and luxury homes are making up more of the closed sales.

Take a visual stroll through the various lifestyles available in Western North Carolina.

Entirely surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Western North Carolina provides a setting like no other for rambling along mountain trails. With what seems like thousands of miles of hiking trails found throughout the greater Asheville, Hendersonville, and Waynesville communities finding just the right mountain stroll can overwhelm even the most avid rambler.

The Classic Hikes of WNC

For me selecting a hike really depends upon my mood. Sometimes spending time with an old friend is the perfect way to spend a warm summer day. Here are a couple of classic hikes to consider if you don’t mind sharing a well worn mountain path with a few other folks.

Craggy Gardens Perfect for an early morning stroll with a cup of coffee. The short 1.4 mile hike offers visitors unrivaled views to the east, Recognized by the state of North Carolina as a National Heritage Area. It is home to a multitude of rare plants and wildlife and easily accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Graveyard Fields A popular hike thanks to its beauty and ease. The trail leads to Lower Falls as well as through open, grassy areas and past nice pools for wading on a hot summer day. BTW, there is no better place to pick mountaintop blueberries in late summer. You’ll need to get there just as they come ripe because hundreds of your fellow berry hunters will be joining you for this Sound of Music experience.

Mount Pisgah Known for its commanding views of the surrounding counties of Buncombe, Henderson, and Haywood. The 5,721 foot summit is clearly visible from around the region and even includes a beautiful drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway.

A Few Lesser Known

If you are ready for a slightly more adventurous jaunt, here are some suggestions for enjoying the wild side of the WNC region. Many of these hikes are strenuous and require good backcountry skills, please be careful. We would much rather hear about your adventures via and email from you and not on the evening WLOS news.

Panthertown Gorge At least eight major waterfalls emanate from the area’s streams. You’ll also find hikes that take you to cliff-top views of the surrounding mountains, or to sandy beaches on deep, clear swimming holes. This area is not for the unadventurous, a confusing network of trails branches off with few signs or blazes. Hiking here requires you to be competent with a map, a compass, and spending an unexpected evening under the stars. But, if you are looking for one of those unique places that are well revered by hiking and outdoor enthusiasts, as well as ecologists, Panthertown Gorge is the cats meow.

Art Loeb Trail The 30.1 mile Art Loeb Trail is one of the longer and more difficult trails in the state, and it’s also one of the more popular. This trail is a memorial to Art Loeb, an activist from the Carolina Mountain Club. Traveling mainly along peaks and ridges, it skirts along the southwestern rim of the Davidson River valley, then skips across some of the highest peaks in the area before descending Cold Mountain which inspire the bestselling book and movie.

Green River Gorge The remote Green River Gorge, southeast of Hendersonville, North Carolina, is a rugged landscape of steep ravines, coves, and old-growth boasting some of the most popular whitewater rapids in the eastern United States. At its most impressive point, the Green River drops 400 feet in a distance of one and a half miles and runs through a six-foot wide crevice known as the Narrows. An incredible experience if you are up to navigating the steep and rugged trail that includes a few stream crossings.

More Resource For Hiking In The Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson County Region

blueridgeheritage.com

hikewnc.info

exploreasheville.com

Our associates are some of the most knowledgeable people around about the Asheville, Hendersonville, and Waynesville communities. If you would like to learn more about the hiking opportunities in our incredible area or how you could become more than a visitor, contact us today.

Homebuyers now gravitate to smaller places with shorter commutes.

When my husband and I bought our first home, we finally came to the conclusion that as caffeine addicts, we needed to be within walking distance of a coffee shop. That revelation crystallized what we were looking for, and we then almost instantly found a place that gave us a choice of a major chain with a green logo, a local place and the less ubiquitous smaller chain decorated in coffee-toned hues.

According to a new report by the National Association of Realtors, we are part of a growing movement that cares more about being close to shopping than having vaulted ceilings and a two-car garage. A home’s “walk score” has increasingly become a factor for buyers tired of long commutes and having to hop in the car just to get a gallon of milk.

The NAR study found 56% of those surveyed preferred smart growth communities, and nearly three out of five would choose a smaller home if they could have a commute of 20 minutes or less.

Read more about people are preferring walkable communities. All Beverly-Hanks listings include a Walk Score if the walk score is over 50 (Somewhat Walkable). To search for walkable communities go to beverly-hanks.com.

To learn more about Living The Life You Choose check out these videos on living the “Urban Lifestyle” in Western North Carolina and see what it would be like to live in a downtown condo in the heart of Asheville.