Archive for the 'Montreat' Category

For people choosing an Asheville cabin to get away from it all we have added a new rental to our listings, one that offers the desired ambiance and the basic amenities.  This Montreat home really recalls the simpler days and offers renters a chance to escape from the hubbub of today’s technology.  Absent are the wi-fi and the big screen TV.  Available is the peace and serenity that comes with simple mountain living.

Beautiful Day at Lake Susan

Built in the 1920s and completely renovated in 2009, the Lancaster House boasts period charm with high ceilings, tall windows and vintage bead board.  With a new second floor and all new kitchen appliances, renters can experience a fresh, updated home that still has the mountain character they want. 

 Just a 10 minute walk from Lake Susan, this charming home sleeps 14.  In this home, you can quiet the everyday buzz of electronics and really enjoy the solitude of Montreat.   Contact us and we can give you more details on this and other rental homes from our extensive listings.

When renters contact us, they often come with their list of criteria, and often that list includes a mountain view.  We recently added two mountain homes to our rental listings that meet that need, each with a different perspective.

NC Mountain Views

Cooper Cottage represents old Montreat.  This charming, rustic home has a wonderful view of Big Piney Mountain, yet it is within walking distance of the Montreat Conference Center. This home sleeps 11.

Linton’s Mountain Top, perched high on a ridge overlooking Black Mountain, has views from all sides.  This 4,800 sq. ft. home features six bedrooms and five baths, making it an ideal home for large gatherings.  Just a five minute drive from Black Mountain, this wonderful home sleeps 18, and linens are provided.

For other homes with a mountain perspective, please contact us for more information.

If you consider rocking on the front porch as the quintessential mountain experience, then we have two new rental homes that will interest you. Both homes, located in Montreat, have porches and rockers,  and can fulfill your dream of biding time relaxing in the fresh mountain air.

Porch Rockin'

Log Cabins features an authentic log cabin and bunk house right in Montreat. The 100 year old main cabin has the porch and rockers. The smaller cabin has an efficiency kitchen. The two cabins combined sleep 13.

Ransford’s Roost, an updated colonial, offers plentiful natural lighting through its skylight and features a large stone fireplace. Its large front porch has rockers and a porch swing. There is also a stone patio with a picnic table and grill. This rental sleeps 14. For more information on these cabins or to hear about other rentals where you can rock and relax, please contact Greybeard.

Last month I cited my father’s advice in saying “if you can’t say something nice then don’t say anything.”  This month, I would like to point to the wisdom of Albert Einstein when I say, when considering the annual numbers for homes sales for Black Mountain, just remember, “It’s all relative.”

A quick glance down the column of percent change for the annual home sale statistics for Black Mountain homes in 2009 (provided by MLS) would seem to indicate a slow market.  The largest positive percent change is in (more…)

The Fourth of July celebration in Montreat has become a traditional day of homecoming. Extended families come home to Montreat to enjoy time-honored festivities and fun with family and friends. (If you are bringing your best friend along, you might consider one of our pet-friendly vacation rentals.)

The day kicks off with the Montreat Gait, a  5K race 7am at the Montreat Gate. The Parade begins at 10:30 and travels along Lookout Road, Assembly Drive and Assembly Circle.  Montreat’s own, Charlie Caldwell, is grand marshal for this year’s parade. Come early to find a great spot along the parade route.

A Barbecue lunch follows the parade. At 2:00, the Old Timers’ Softball game begins at Welch Field. Throughout the day there is Library Book sale at the L. Nelson Bell Library and free Boat Rides. The event wraps up with a Barn dance (by the post office).

Contact us for more about this sweet family event. For more photos and information, check out the Montreat Conference Center.

Montreat Real Estate Sales
While the national economy has impacted Montreat real estate sales, our mountain cove has been protected from most of the economic storm. Montreat Property continues to sell.

Click here for a complete list of closed home sales in the last 12 months.  Click here for the closed lot sales in the last 12 months.

For currently listed properties in Montreat, click for Montreat homes for sale and Montreat lots for sale. (more…)

“Trouble is only opportunity in work clothes.” Henry J. Kaiser (1882 – 1967)

At first sight it is hard to see the opportunity in a difficult time, but more often than not we may find that it is the very time to reevaluate and make plans for the future. From the outset of the economic downturn, Greybeard Realty has intentionally used our time to do just that.

We are honing our website so that when we market your properties or you search for properties to buy, we are in the lead with user-friendly links for the seller and buyer.

One of our best characteristics is the personal service we offer buyers and sellers. We know that it is of utmost importance right now to give careful attention to our listings and to be creative in looking for the best options for our buyers. One way we do this is to communicate regularly with each other about properties we know about. And we are genuinely excited about the area we “sell.”

One of our buyers recently said, “Once again, you were so very helpful and so proud of your area it made us really not want to rule this place out.” We are seeing the results in the increase in market share that Greybeard Realty is experiencing.

In the first quarter of 2009, Greybeard Realty has sold 37% of the Black Mountain real estate market – up from 19% market share in 2008. 19% is the next largest of any other local firm.

If you include Montreat sales, Greybeard Realty accounts for 49% of the Black Mountain and Montreat real estate sales for the first quarter of 2009.

We hope you will take advantage of our “opportunity” in troubled times and make it yours as well. And give us your feedback…we want to hear from you!