Archive for June, 2009
Asheville High makes Newsweek list of top schools
June 10th, 2009 categories: Interesting Tidbits
Two Buncombe County schools made Newsweek’s list of the nation’s top 1,500 high schools.
Asheville High came in at No. 773 and Roberson High ranked 1,134. The magazine compiled its rankings by using the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge tests taken by all students at the school in 2008 divided by the number of graduating seniors.
No other Western North Carolina schools made the list, which included 50 high schools statewide. Asheville High earned a spot on the list in 2008, 2006 and 2005. Roberson has been on the list for the past two years.
Asheville Citizen-Times, June 10, 2009
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Why you should consider an urban loft in Asheville.
June 8th, 2009 categories: Real Estate News
Sited on a hill five blocks from downtown proper, Skyloft Asheville puts you steps fom what Wallpaper magazine crowned the #1 Urban Haven in the World.” Here the scene walks the line between edgy and elegant, with a single city block housing everything from five-star eateries and high-end galleries to arthouse films and experimental dance performances.
Overlooking one of the most electrifying metropolitan areas in the Southeast is an exciting new concept in urban living. Skyloft Asheville is at once modern and practical, with sleek lines, natural finishes and renewable resources. Inside and out, these condominiums were engineered with the most innovative, eco-friendly processes. As a result, Skyloft Asheville will hold the prestigious North Carolina HealthyBuilt Homes certification.
The condominiums at Skyloft Asheville range in size from one to three bedrooms and from 850 to more than 1,900 square feet. Details include:
Open floor plans with oversized windows
Durable bamboo and cork flooring
Handcrafted concrete countertops
Energy Star appliances and cherry cabinets
European lighting and plumbing fixtures
Private balconies and decks
Elevator access to a private garage.
The community has the feeling of a small village, with courtyards landscaped with native trees and flowers and sidewalks winding down the hill into Downtown. Skyloft Asheville was crafted with the innovative modular construction method embraced by contemporary design magazine Dwell. By building each condominium in a state-of-the-art, controlled evironment, weather damage is eliminated, construction time is reduced, and material cost and waste are minimized.
As a North Carolina HealthyBuilt Homes development, Skyloft Asheville meets or exceeds an extensive list of standards that focus on being both environmentally-friendly and budge-conscious.
Take a look at the view!! I took all of these photo’s myself from unit 302, Skyloft really does have LOCATION, LOCATION! I think it’s a great place and I’ll be holding Open Houses here several times this month. Want more info? Very economically priced, prices range from mid $200,000’s to mid $500,000s. Email or call me and I’ll get a packet out ASAP!
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Pending home sales up for three months in a row!
June 7th, 2009 categories: Market Updates
Do you want to know what’s going on in the housing market? Here is a great conversation about the status of home sales as of June 2, 2009 from Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist with the National Association of Realtors. He goes into great detail on a number of subjects that can affect you as a seller or buyer. CLICK HERE for the video.
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5 Easy Upgrades Buyers love
June 4th, 2009 categories: Sellers
You know you need to do something to spif up your home before putting it on the market, but low on cash? Here are five retrofits that most homeowners can do themselves that can make a huge impact on selling your home quicker.
TILE A BACKSPLASH – Use a bright color or a metallic with a stainless steel or bronzelike effect.
ADD UNDERCOUNTER LIGHTING – Improve safety and ambience.
PAINT THE UPPER KITCHEN CABINETS – Choose a different color for a custom look. You’ll see this a lot in newer homes.
ADD DOORS WITH GLASS PANELS TO SOME CABINETS - Or create open shelves to display a few lovely dishes.
CHANGE THE HARDWARE – For a fresh and updated look, install new knobs and pulls, or reface the cabinet doors. I recently found cabinet hardware on Overstock.com for only $3.00 each that I paid $8.00 for only one year ago!
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How Seller’s can benefit from Job Loss Protection!
June 2nd, 2009 categories: Financing Programs
In today’s economic environment, a lot of buyers are concerned that if they take the “big step” and buy the home of their dreams, something might happen to their jobs. Whether it be a cut in hours or the worst scenario – a job loss, you just never know what’s going to happen these days. Well, someone has been thinking about this and figured out what could be done about it.
Enter The Rainy Day Foundation Homeowner Education and Loan Protection service (HELP). They include a Mortgage Protection Program that protects homeowners if they experience a loss of their employment. The unemployment coverage included in the Rainy Day Foundation’s HELP service assists in keeping homeowners current on their mortgage payments each month so homeowners can minimize their financial stress while they are looking for a job. This coverage is underwritten with an A-Excellent by A.M. Best ranking.
OVERVIEW:
* The Mortgage Protection Program will provide up to six months of mortgage payments if the borrower (or co-borrower) becomes involuntarily unemployed.
* This program provides mortgage payment coverage for the first 24 months of the loan.
* Up to six months of Mortgage Payments
* Coverage up to $1800 per month.
* Easy enrollment process
* Employed full-time (min. of 30 hours per week)
* Vesting period is 60 days.
As a Realtor, I’m so excited that this type of coverage is being offered, so much so, that I made sure to get certified in being able to offer this program to my sellers. A Seller can offer this program as an incentive, just like offering a home warranty, to any buyer considering their home. This may be just the edge needed for many buyers who want to buy, but are thinking about “what ifs”. For the full details, Program Benefits and Eligibility requirements, click here.
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