Beverly-Hanks & Associates REALTORS®

As you wind into downtown Waynesville’s shop-lined streets, you’ll be greeted with virtually everything you’re looking for, including a wonderful day of strolling and welcoming, smiling faces. Stop for an outdoor lunch at The Patio or just pop in for a bottle of wine and scrumptious assortment of meats, cheeses and side dishes at their gourmet deli.

Entertain the little ones at Fun Things Etc, a toy store that offers old fashioned games, puzzles, and recreational toys. Afterwards take them for an old-fashioned milk shake or slice of homemade cake at Pheasant Hill. Choose the perfect pumpkin to carve at the United Methodist Church’s pumpkin patch in the fall. As dusk descends and you’re starting to think about dinner, you have your choice of a prime cut, Argentinean steak at Lomo Grill or a more laid back meal at The Sweet Onion, Nick & Nate’s or Bogart’s.

If you are looking to redecorate or just browsing for ideas, visit High Country for upscale ranch style furniture. Stock up on all of your domestic needs, including fishing gear, at Mast General Store. Dazzle your lady with a piece of hand crafted jewelry from The Jeweler’s Workbench.

While you certainly don’t need a reason to come to town, there are many unique festivals and events the entire family will enjoy. Celebrate the world’s cultural heritage through folk music and dance with Folkmoot, USA. Flushed cheeks will be warmed by fresh, hot cider at the Apple Festival. Taste summertime at the Mater Festival, a celebration of our favorite local produce, sun grown tomatoes. Let the picking of the banjo and fiddle carry you into the summer night at our numerous bluegrass music festivals and Friday night block party’s.

These are only a few of the sights, sounds and tastes that make Waynesville, North Carolina, so wonderfully unique!

One of the best things about the area we live in is the multitude of options for people to do that are free, fun, and outdoors. This is the latest and greatest addition: Splasheville in downtown Asheville, a fountain built to be played in right in city/county plaza. My family and I checked it out this weekend, and although the kids were the only ones to get wet, we all had a blast. It is such a brilliant addition to downtown, mostly because it brings together a large variety of people to the center of the city. The fountain is in a circular design and the water sprays up at various heights and at varying times, much to the delight of the people playing. If you don’t want to get wet, there are plenty of nice benches and a large green lawn where people were playing ball and running around.

Whether you are visiting our amazing area or are already lucky enough to call Western North Carolina home, you will find Splasheville a fun new way to beat the heat.

From American Style Magazine:

Readers flew “the Land of the Sky” into the top spot in the Small Cities category for the first time this year. A walk along the streets of Asheville will prove why it deserves this honor, from the Art Deco buildings seen all over the city (including the town’s city hall) to the more than 50 galleries representing every medium. Reader Mark Flowers, of Alexander, N.C., explains, “Asheville’s creative scene runs from the visual art, the handmade craft arts, the music arts, down to the amazing small brewery arts. It’s a total package that brings me downtown whenever I am near.”

With two new public arts programs, Asheville is undergoing a downtown renaissance. In the city’s historical center, known as Pack Square, a new park opened this spring. Along with lush green space, Pack Square Park features an interactive water fountain (aptly named “Splashville”), an amphitheater decorated with handmade tiles, and original works of art by local artists.

Local artists also inspired the new Asheville signage program. More than 300 signs direct visitors and residents to almost 90 attractions, but what makes these signs special is in the details. The city’s artists were commissioned to create unique sign elements in the form of blown glass, bronze and wrought iron.”

Original article: American Style Magazine:

From Examiner.com

Asheville, North Carolina is BeerCity USA 2010.  While Portland, Oregon organized a healthy challenge against the western North Carolina city of Asheville, in the end the relentless craft beer enthusiasm for Asheville won out.

Full Article on Examiner.com

Click to read the full article at wncfinancingblog.com

Mission Manna is a faith-based organization based in Western North Carolina that provides medical care for malnourished children and continuing health care education for adults in and around the Haitian town of Montrouis.

Mission Manna’s current efforts are focused in three main areas:
• Curbing Malnutrition
• Dispensary Construction
• Medical Missionary Trips

Please visit us at: www.missionmanna.org and join us on May 25th to:
• Enjoy live music by Kellin Watson Band and The Honeycutters.
• Shop at our silent auction featuring Haitian art and local jewelry, art, services and gift certificates.

A benefit for Mission Manna’s work to provide medical care for malnourished children in Haiti.
Sponsored by Siemens Law Office, PA, Beverly-Hanks & Associates, Green Man Ales; and Jack of the Wood.

$10 admission

Consider Haiti at www.missionmanna.org

What a difference a year makes! This time last year we had just finished one of the toughest quarters our industry had faced in nearly a decade. While the closing numbers on the attached page indicate an increase in closed sales of 5.8%, it is the written business (pending sales) that is creating significant enthusiasm for many in our industry. While statistics are not accurately available through the North Carolina Mountains Multiple Listing Service in regards to pending sales, I am happy to share that Beverly-Hank written business is up 33.1% in written units and 19.5% in written volume over the first quarter of 2009. My expectation is that other brokers in the region are experiencing improved sales as well. Written business is obviously the leading indicator for future closed sales so expect that closing numbers in the coming months will show significant increases over prior year.

While our market has been on an upward swing since last July, significant questions have yet to be answered. What will happen when the federal tax incentives for homebuyers expire at the end of April?  Most all predict rising interest rates in the months ahead, what impact will that have upon housing? Will we in fact see an increased supply of distressed and bank owned properties as many are forecasting? My personal belief is that the answer to these questions will largely be determined by the overall trajectory of the economy and at present it is headed in a positive direction. If the economy continues to improve, and unemployment numbers along with it, we will continue to see improving consumer confidence. Consumer confidence may be one of the most important factors to the real estate industry at present. People simply are reluctant to invest in big ticket items when they are uncertain about the future.

The fact is we should see improved real estate statistics for our region in the coming months. I believe the percentage of sales generated from tax incentives has been less in our area than in many parts of the country leading me to believe that the prospects are very good for continued positive momentum in the Western North Carolina real estate sector. The spring and summer months will be very important in determining the course of this recovery. Inventory levels remain at high levels but are declining in some price points and neighborhoods and interest rates remain at very low levels from a historical standpoint. For sellers, pricing remains a critical component in the ability to consummate a sale. For buyers willing to do their homework, there may never have been a better time to buy. In either case, the advice of a seasoned real estate professional is a key component to successfully navigating the real estate waters of 2010. The expert Broker Associates at Beverly-Hanks and Associates stand ready to assist you and would consider a privilege to do so.

Warm Regards,

Neal Hanks

Download the 2010 1st Quater Market Report

Here’s how ABC News describes Asheville:

“The city on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains features a funky and eclectic downtown, more than 30 art galleries, a large culinary scene and one of the most spectacular estates ever constructed in this country. ”

We welcome the First Family to our Area!

Read the entire article here: http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/48HoursIn/president-obama-vacations-asheville-art-galleries-restaurants-history/story?id=10434607

CAMPBELL, CA (April 12, 2010) According to a new Move, Inc., survey released today, interest in real estate as an investment has more than tripled in the past year. In fact, 17.2 percent of potential home buyers today say they plan to purchase a home in the near future as an investment compared to just 5.6 percent in March 2009.

The survey also found just over 10 percent (12.3%) of Americans planning to purchase investment property in the near future say they will pay for the property using 100 percent cash, and 12.8 percent will use cash for more than 50 percent of the purchase price and finance the rest. Almost half (49.2%) say they will buy the property with less than 50 percent cash down and finance the remainder. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that one in three U.S. homes are owned free and clear, without a mortgage.

Read the full article here: http://www.realtor.com/realestate-news/investorinterestinrealestatetriples.aspx

A good informational read from the Keeping Current Matters Blog:

“If you are considering whether or not to purchase a home in the near future, let us discuss why this might be the optimal time to do so. There are five excellent reasons to buy a home now instead of waiting until later. Let’s go over them quickly in this post.”

1.) The Homebuyer’s Tax Credit
2.) Low Interest Rates Currently Available
3.) Location, Location, Location
4.) Real Estate Has Always Been a Good Long Term Investment
5.) The House Is a Home First and an Investment Second

Read the entire post by Steve Harney here.

Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation is a non-profit organization that works to save Haywood County’s adoptable pets. Their mission is to take adoptable pets from the shelter and give them the loving care they need until their forever family adopts them. Sarge’s is able to take these pets to foster animal parents who love on them until they are adopted.  They are always looking for volunteer parents for these precious animals. 

Beverly-Hanks & Associates in Waynesville has teamed up with Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation to host an adoption day on Saturday, April 17, from 10AM-2PM. Stop by our Beverly-Hanks office located at 124 Branner Avenue in Waynesville to find out more information about Sarge’s.  You might also find yourself becoming the forever family of one of these sweet animals.  You can support Sarge’s in various ways including contributions of money, food, or time, becoming a foster family, or adopting a forever friend.  

Beverly-Hanks has been helping families find Waynesville homes since 1976 and we are thrilled to be helping some animals find their forever home as well.  We look forward to meeting you on Saturday!