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Spring has come to the Mountains!
After a Winter that was here, then not here, then here again, Spring has finally arrived. Cataloochee Ski Area has closed for the season, but the Summer visitors are not here yet. This is a great time to be in the mountains. Wild flowers are starting to bloom with the arrival of Spring. The crowds and traffic are light this time of year.
I was asked to speak about my favorite wildflower trail. This time of year, that would be an easy choice, although there are many from which to choose. My favorite this time of year would be Porters Creek Trail, in the Greenbrier section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, just north of Gatlinburg (a little over 3 miles) off highway 321. There are beautiful flowers all along this trail. Dwarf Crested Iris, Bloodroot, Hepaticas, White Fringed Phacelia (shown in the picture above), Violets, Trillium, and others. About 2 miles up the trail is a 60 foot waterfall, Fern Branch Falls. Most of the trail follows Porters Creek, a beautiful, rushing mountain creek strewn with boulders. This is probably the most prolific wild flower trail in the park for April.
Another trail I like from late April into May is the Big Creek Trail that begins at the Big Creek Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To get to this trail, take I-40 from Waynesville west toward Tennessee. As soon as you cross the line into Tennessee, it is the first exit. Take exit 451, turn left across I-40, then left again at the bottom of the hill. Follow the river up to the Waterville Power Plant, then on into the national park to the Big Creek Campground. Park there, and take the trail that begins near the campground restrooms, then goes up the hill to meet the main trail. This is an easy trail, with loads of Trilliums just past the campground. The trail follows on the right side of the creek all the way up to and past Mouse Creek Falls on the left. About a mile and a half up the trail, there is a large swimming hole in the creek called Midnight Hole. I have seen lots of trout swimming in this hole, and fished for them to no avail. They are extremely wary. About a half mile past Midnight Hole, look for a horse hitching post on the left. Just past the hitching post you will find Mouse Creek Falls on the opposite bank. This water fall seems to emerge from the forest and feeds into Big Creek. This is a nice spot for lunch. If you are really into hiking, about 3 miles past Mouse Creek Falls, you will come to Walnut Bottoms. There you should find lots of Spring wild flowers.
Happy hiking, and be sure to take your camera.
Spring Has Come and Gone- Winter Again
The above is a picture of the woods behind my house yesterday afternoon. We have had 60 and 70 degree weather almost every week the entire Winter, but now, snow and 13 degrees at the house this morning. Have no fear though; the weatherman says it will be back to 60 degrees this Friday and Saturday.
After a challenging year, Cataloochee Ski Area is open again to the top of the mountain with a 20 to 34 inch base. They have had an additional 7 inches of snow in the last 3 days combined, and are open for day skiing from 8:30AM until 4:30PM. Cataloochee plans on staying open through March 26th if the weather cooperates.
The weather has been crazy this year, but that’s what makes living in the mountains so interesting. The weather here is anything but boring.
The Fed is meeting again soon, and the consensus is rates will again rise. 30 year fixed rate mortgages are still available in the high 3’s (3.93% APR) with good credit, and 15 year fixed rates can be had in the low 3’s (3.2% APR). These rates are not going to last. All indications are the economy is still improving. If you are considering a second home in the mountains, or moving to the mountains to avoid those hot summers, now is the time to act.
Home inventories are at lower levels than they have been for years. Shop early for the best choices. Also, if you are considering selling your home here, let us know. We need your listing.
Come on up. The weather here is like “a box of chocolates”.
The Current Single Family Home Market In Our Area
The number of single family homes sold in Haywood County (Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Clyde and Canton areas) was about flat for February 2017 compared to February 2016. The good news is the median sale price rose 42 percent from $150,000 in February 2016 to $213,000 in February 2017. This does not mean that every home price in the county rose 42 percent. One of the reasons for the median sales price increase was because inventories of lower priced homes have tightened considerably. In February 2016 there were 87 homes for sale under $120,000. In February 2017, there were only 53 homes on the market in this lower price range, a 39 percent decrease in available homes. Accordingly, the median sales price per square foot has increased 20 percent from $95 in February 2016 to $114 in February 2017.
On the supply side, our inventory has decreased from a 7.7 month supply in February 2016 to a 5.8 months supply in February 2017. Average days on market has decreased from 124 days in February 2016 to 92 days (about 3 months) in February 2017.
I realize that it can be boring to read a lot of dry numbers, so I will “cut to the chase”. Sales are rising and the last few months have been very good. It seems the limiting factor on sales at this time is inventory. If you are considering selling your home, now would be a great time to list. Please call us for a totally free home evaluation. We will come to your home, talk with you, and make some notes. We will then come back to the office and prepare a Comparable Market Analysis that will let you know the proper price to list your home in the current market.
Also, if you are a potential buyer, we do specialize in working with buyers. As commissions are paid by the seller, our buyers have never had to pay us for representation. We will provide you with exclusive representation, assist with inspections and financing, offer our honest opinions based on our years of experience, and help you negotiate your purchase.
Footnote: All above figures are based on sales through the NC Mountains MLS and its Statistical Analysis Module.
Spring is Coming- Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
We are rapidly approaching the time of year when many homes come on the market for sale. It can add many dollars to your pocket, and make a home sell quicker, if you properly prepare for selling and staging your home. I have made a list of 3 of the most important items for staging a home for a quicker, more profitable sale.
1. Repairs- Fix that roof, clean the gutters, seal those cracks, repair those leaky faucets. If you are unsure what should be done, you may want to hire a home inspector. For between 300 and 400 dollars, a home inspector will inspect your home with a critical eye. The inspector will provide you with a list of those needed repairs. The advantage to doing this before the sale would be no surprises after the sale when the buyer does their own home inspection. Homeowners often become “blind” to the small items needing repair because they live with them daily.
2. Declutter- You may need to remove furniture, knick-knacks, family photos, etc. This makes your rooms look more spacious, and allows a potential buyer to envision a room with their own possessions on display. After decluttering you may find you need a fresh coat of paint. It also goes without saying, clean, clean, clean.
3. Curb Appeal- Trim shrubs, mow the grass, rake the leaves, spread fresh mulch in your flower beds. Think about planting some new annuals for a fresh pop of color in those beds. Also, check your front door. Is it freshly painted and sparkling clean? Does the entry to your home look inviting?
The above 3 items, if given proper attention before a sale, will put money in your pocket. Nothing turns off buyers like maintenance items that have obviously been neglected, a cluttered and unclean home, or an unkempt yard.
Lastly, when you’re ready to list your home, please call us!
Why You Should Work With a REALTOR®
I have posted the below article previously, which is reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine. I still find that many prospective sellers and buyers do not realize the difference between a REALTOR® and a real estate agent who is NOT a REALTOR®. Here at Mountain Dreams Realty, all of our agents are brokers and REALTORS®. We strive to do our best to represent our clients with honesty, integrity and ethical treatment. The six REALTORS® in our office have over 125 years combined experience as REALTOR® and have lived in the area for a combined 190 years. (Needless to say, we are familiar with the area.) Contrary to many real estate offices, our REALTORS® are a close-knit group who tend to work together on sales to help each other help our clients. We also have in-house professional photography and virtual tours to present your home in its best light to prospective buyers. If you are considering selling or buying a home or property, let our experience work for you.
7 Reasons to Work With a REALTOR®
REALTORS® aren’t just agents. They’re professional members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict code of ethics. This is the REALTOR® difference for home buyers:
- An expert guide. Selling a home usually requires dozens of forms, reports, disclosures, and other technical documents. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes. Also, there’s a lot of jargon involved, so you want to work with a professional who can speak the language.
- Objective information and opinions. REALTORS® can provide local information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They also have objective information about each property. REALTORs®can use that data to help you determine if the property has what you need.
- Property marketing power. Property doesn’t sell due to advertising alone. A large share of real estate sales comes as the result of a practitioner’s contacts with previous clients, friends, and family. When a property is marketed by a REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.
- Negotiation knowledge. There are many factors up for discussion in a deal. A REALTOR® will look at every angle from your perspective, including crafting a purchase agreement that allows you the flexibility you need to take that next step.
- Up-to-date experience. Most people sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each sale. Even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS®handle hundreds of transactions over the course of their career.
- Your rock during emotional moments. A home is so much more than four walls and a roof. And for most people, property represents the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on the issues most important to you.
- Ethical treatment. Every REALTOR® must adhere to a strict code of ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. As a REALTOR®’s client, you can expect honest and ethical treatment in all transaction-related matters.
Maggie Valley Rated #2 on Charming Small Towns!
FLIPKEY by tripadvisor recently did an article titled “12 Charming Small Towns to Escape it All”. Maggie Valley, NC was number two on the list! FLIPKEY stated that Maggie Valley has trickling streams, rugged mountains, a vibrant town center and much more. High-energy mountain adventures or a relaxing stay amidst nature, this town should be on your bucket list. They mentioned hiking trails in the area, wine and dine at local restaurants and breathing the fresh mountain air as benefits. The article did not mention the Cataloochee Ski Area, the Blue Ridge Parkway, historic downtown Waynesville, or Harrah’s Casino in Cherokee as nearby attractions. You can read the article yourself, and read about the other towns in the list, at this website: https://www.flipkey.com/blog/2017/01/07/12-charming-small-towns-escape/
Having lived in this area for the majority of my life, I thoroughly agree with the article. I believe the Maggie Valley and Waynesville areas are among the very best in the state and even the nation. When you’re ready for the “mountain lifestyle”, let us know. We’ll help you find the perfect cabin for your mountain home.
State of Real Estate in our Area
As we transition from 2016 into 2017, I wanted to take a moment to look back on last year, and maybe look ahead a bit at 2017. Sales of residential homes in Haywood County increased about 8.4% in 2016 as compared to 2015. Currently there are 581 homes for sale in the county. Based on 2016 sales of 1022 homes, that represents less than a 7 month supply of homes currently on the market in the county. This is the fewest homes on the market in years. We really need new listings. If you know of anyone wanting to list their homes for sale, please let us know.
Vacant land and lots, however have not recovered as much as residential homes. Sales of vacant land and lots in Haywood County increased about 14% from 139 parcels sold in 2015 to 158 parcels sold in 2016. (These are pretty poor sales numbers.) Currently we have 1089 parcels of land for sale in the county. This represents almost a 7 year supply. That is not good. Buyers are still finding it less expensive to purchase an existing home, rather than buying a lot and building a new home. Hopefully as the inventory of existing homes declines, at some point buyers will be forced to buy vacant land and build a home because they cannot find what they want on the market. Until this happens, land prices are still depressed in this area. The good news, if you are a buyer, is you can get one heck of a bargain on vacant land currently.
By the way, the weatherman says we should get a bit of snow this Friday and Saturday. So, come on up and ski with us.
(Note: all sales figures per NC Mountain MLS.)
Cataloochee Ski Area is Blowing Snow Like Crazzzzzzy!
For all you ski and snowboard fans out there, Cataloochee Ski Area is open and blowing lots of snow. Beginning Saturday, December 17th, night skiing begins and continues each night through the end of the season, except for Christmas Eve. Cataloochee is currently operating on a base of 24 to 44 inches on 9 trails, and open to the top of the mountain. As I am writing this, in the middle of the afternoon, it is 28 degrees in “downtown” Maggie Valley, and 21.9 degrees at the ski area. Needless to say, the snow guns are going full tilt to get as much base down as possible with this great weather for snow-making.
The weather forecast for Cataloochee is a high of 33 degrees on Friday with some late night snow, changing over to a bit of rain on Saturday. Morning showers on Sunday, and cooler again Monday, with a high of 40 degrees on Monday.
So, bottom line, come on up to Maggie Valley, stay awhile, and ski or board awhile. We’ll be watching for you.
Photo Credit and thanks for the lovely night photo of Cataloochee Ski Area goes to Luke Sutton Photo.
Cataloochee Ski Area Opening and News about the Wildfires
Above is a picture from the Base Webcam at the Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley. The photo is from the morning of December 1st. As you can see, they have lost some base due to the very welcome rains we had on Tuesday and Wednesday. Snowmaking temperatures are scheduled to return tonight, and the ski area hopes to reopen on Friday, December 2nd. Before the rain, the ski area was open to the top of the Rock Island Quad. Considering the extremely warm weather we’ve had this Fall, the snow magicians at Cataloochee have done a fantastic job to have the area open that far up the mountain.
Many of our customers have called about the wild fires in the area. Luckily, we have not had any fires really close to Maggie Valley or Waynesville. We have had a relatively small fire near Cherokee, and larger fires in Jackson and Macon counties to the south. There was also a very large fire near the Chimney Rock/ Lake Lure area to the east of us. The worst damage from fires has, of course, been in Tennessee. Fires fanned by 80 mile per hour winds on Tuesday evening burned from the Smoky Mountains National Park into Downtown Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. It would seem that the area along Highway 321 North of Gatlinburg toward Cosby had the most damage. The last count I heard was over 700 homes and structures destroyed and 7 lives lost due to the horrific fires. Our thoughts and prayers are with our neighbors in Eastern Tennessee as they deal with this disaster.
The Super Moon has Come and Gone
This is a photo of the “Super Moon” over Lake Junaluska taken November 14th. The last time the moon was this close to earth was in 1948. The next super moon is November 25, 2034.
The weather has been extremely warm here. Most days are still in the low 60’s. The forecast is for colder temps this weekend with highs in the mid-40’s on Saturday, and around 40 degrees on Sunday. Lows this weekend will be in the mid to low 20’s. Highs next week are in the 50’s according to the weatherman. If you are a part-time resident here, it is definitely time to winterize your home. Some residents leave their heat set on 40 to 50 degrees to avoid frozen pipes, but the only sure way to prevent freeze-ups is to have your home winterized. A good plumber will open an outside faucet at one end of the house and hook an air compressor to another faucet to blow all the water out of the pipes. Also be sure to drain icemaker and dishwasher supply lines. A little RV antifreeze in toilet bowls will keep them from freezing and cracking.
I certainly hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family. If you’re coming to the mountains for Thanksgiving, stop by and see us. We will be closed on Thanksgiving day, but will be here Friday and Saturday.
