Well, Halloween this year was one for the record books.  First time I ever dressed at the command of a three-year-old, (Ruby insisted I be a pirate) the most trick-or-treaters I have ever had, (we turned out the light after handing out over one thousand pieces of candy!) and it was the scene for the first Hickory Nut Forest M.O.N.S.T.E.R Jam.  If you would like to know what the acronym stands for I will refer you back to other blogs, however I can sum it up by saying that it is all of the good stuff, words like sustainability, eco, and mountain.  We started off preparing for the event by gathering a modest thousand apples or so from the Eco-Communities organic orchard, probably the last major pick of the year.  These delicious little prizes went one after another into the cider press as friends new and old arrived to mingle and play on what was one of the most beautiful fall days this season.  The trail system was being explored by some of the more curious of the guests and the children couldn't take their eyes off the balloons, or the bags of candy they were tied to.  It is hard to have a bad day when there is bluegrass music playing and people laughing, and that was certainly the case at the Hickory Nut Forest M.O.N.S.T.E.R. Jam.

If you were there then you know and if you couldn't make it, well then we hope to see you next year.

        Asheville Eco Community Hickory Nut Forest has been getting people together for various events over the past several months. This November the sustainable community is hosting the inaugural trek along the new Hickory Nut Gorge Trail.  Many people from the Asheville area are expected to attend this exciting event.  The hike will be followed a by a pot luck style dinner as well as bonfire.  To me this sounds like a great chance to get out into the woods and explore with good people; and there are few things I like more then sitting around a bonfire and enjoying nature with my friends and family, there is just something about that glow after twilight especially when accompanied by the sound of a creek running by that seems to tie together an otherwise ordinary night and make it a holiday.  The Asheville area has such a love for things like these; hiking, food, camp-fires, and community; and these are some of the reasons that this is such a special place to live.

Feel free to give me a call if you would like more information about this event, or would just like to know more about sustainability in Asheville, NC.

Hey there this is my spooktacular second installment of a short series focusing on what to do around Asheville, NC this Halloween season.  In the last blog we looked at two of the best trick or treat haunts and talked briefly about events.  This time I want to talk more specifically about events.  Three in particular that seem to focus on fun for the whole family.

One I want toalk about is the MONSTER Jam out at Hickory Nut Forest.  This event features family entertainment in the form of costume contests, pumpkin carving, guided trail treasure hunts, and more.  I think the two chief strengths of this Halloween event is that its location is stunning, nestled out in the mountains of Gerton outside Asheville the setting couldn't be more alluring.  Secondly, the MONSTER Jam is set for Sunday the 26th, leaving Halloween itself open to explore more of the community events.  Another exciting event is held out in Brevard on Halloween day; this event is the Tranysylvania Countys contribution to the season; it features a costume parade, bike rodeo, pumpkin carving and lots of Halloween fun, lastly I wanted to mention the Ghost and Goblins in the Gardens event which takes place on the 28th.  This sounds awesome with costumed guides and spooky Halloween characters along the way as you make your way through UNCA's Botanical Gardens.

I hope to see you all out there at these events and in the neighborhood trick or treating this Halloween in Asheville, NC.

It is that time again in Asheville, North Carolina.  The leaves are changing, the shadows are growing a little longer, and the nights have taken on a certain surreal enchanting indicative of those last few weeks before Halloween.  Asheville Halloween is a wonderful and exciting holiday, the only trouble is people often don't know exactly where to go to enjoy this time of year with their community. And so I wanted to take a moment to write about some of the things that I know are going on and that make this one of my favorite times of year. 

First and foremost on most people's mind when it comes to Halloween is trick-or-treating.  For this time honored night time walk around town I have to suggest heading to either Black Mountain or Brevard, NC.  Black Mountain transforms from the quaint picturesque little village that it is into a Mardi Gras for kids of all ages.  Hundreds if not thousands of children come out with their families, the city closes some of the streets, and lots of spooky and sugary fun ensues.  Brevard also hosts masses of happy trick-or-treaters during Halloween.  And after all it is in Transylvania County!

I also really want to talk about the Monster Jam at Hickory Nut Forest.  This Halloween season outside Asheville, NC Hickory Nut Forest is inviting out the community to come and join them out in the mountains nestled in hundreds of acres of conservation easements for their first annual Monster Jam; Monster being a Green Halloween inspired acronym for Mountain Music, Organic Foods, Natural Building, Sustainable Living, Treasure Hunt, Eco-Friendly, Renewable Energy.  A little wordy maybe but still lots of good stuff.  The event should consist of pumpkin carving, Halloween costume contests, guided trail treasure hunts, and organic snacks throughout the day.  They are also encouraging everyone to brings their instruments and really make it a "Monster Jam".  The event is slotted for the Sunday before Halloween, the 26th, so it should be a great chance to get the family out and really kick off the Asheville Halloween season.  I look forward to seeing you there.

Asheville, Halloween is a great time of year, one that really showcases the fun loving creative spirit that our area is so loved for.  I myself can't wait.

Asheville traditional neighborhood developments are a growing force in the Asheville real estate market.  No surprise there, with so many people moving to the mountains of North Carolina from out of state, developers are taking advantage of every opportunity to receive them.  A substantially large portion of the new arrivals are people moving up from Florida.  The Florida market was more or less the hometown for the concept of New Urbanism, largely put forward by Seaside and than followed by such communities as Rosemary Beach and Celebration.  What are some of the things these traditional neighborhood developments have in common?  Well for one the share a history of massive rates of appreciation, and secondly they share national recognition as groundbreaking concepts, resort communities, and general tourist destinations.  Makes sense that the Asheville area would be open to this relatively new style of development.

There are other reasons for traditional neighborhood developments to do well in Asheville.  Some of the basic principals behind New Urbanism harmonize nicely with some of the mind sets that Asheville has become famous for.  Another name for the traditional neighborhood development is transit minded community, meaning that the planning for these towns keeps in mind making transportation to amenities and work simple,  efficient, and environmentally friendly.  Traditional Neighborhoods are built around a "town center", a sort of hub for the community to gather for events, activities, or just about anything you can think of.  The people of Asheville are well known for loving to get together and have a good time.  Anyone who has ever been to Asheville on a Friday night in the spring has witnessed a town teaming with happiness, life, and enthusiasm.  One more thing that the principals of traditional neighborhood developments have in common with Asheville is the struggle to control sprawling development.  Many people in Asheville have very strong feelings against new sprawling development which they feel threatens to change the wonderful culture and image their fair city enjoys.  New Urbanist communities are intentionally designed to create and draw together communities while preventing urban sprawl.  The lot sizes in TND's are smaller and homes are often built more vertically than horizontally.  The anti-sprawl effect is considered one of the chief virtues of Traditional Neighborhood Developments.  

And so it seems to just make sense that with so many new arrivals to the Asheville area every year that the new urbanist traditional neighborhood development is a great tool to provide communities for the new residents.  With change being inevitable we must do the best we can to make these changes for the best.

Asheville vacation rentals are now a powerful and growing force in the Asheville, NC real estate market.  Why is this?  The answer seems fairly simple and yet is made up of a few different factors.

For one thing the tourism and vacation industry has been growing by leaps and bounds over the last several years.  People now come to Asheville to vacation from all over the world.  They call the city and its surrounding mountains, shangri-la, the Paris of the South, and the happiest city in the nation.  Naturally the Asheville vacation rental business is doing just fine amidst such heavy praise.  The appeal is also multi-faceted.  Some people come for the culture and the history filling their vacation itinerary with tours of the Biltmore house, the Grove Park Inn, and the countless summer festivals.  Some others come to Asheville for the outdoor recreation.  After all, even if Asheville is only recently becoming common knowledge it has long since been legendary among the river kayakers, mountain bikers, rock climbers, whitewater rafters, backpackers, and fly fishers.  It just makes sense that Asheville vacation rentals are in demand.

The other big factor, as far as I can see, is the national market being in something of a "slump" at the moment.  In the last five years or so Asheville has been experiencing an enormous influx of new residents.  Every income bracket was practically forming a wagon train and setting there sights on the blue ridge mountains around Asheville.  The current market however has made it difficult for some potential immigrants to sell property other places.  This has not made them forget there goals by any length.  Every day I talk to several people who are just waiting for the market to turn so they can move to Asheville.  Obviously this has not effected everyone in the same way.  The demographic with free capital is taking full advantage of the best buyers market in years by investing in areas like Asheville, NC, Breckenridge CO, or other desirable parts of the nation.  But for all the rest of us who need to wait before we can buy this is no time to remain idle.  Now is the time to visit and get a feel for the Asheville area, to build relationships, and get an eye for what you really want from such a diverse area.  And once again, the Asheville vacation home owner benefits.

So, it seems that amidst a constantly shifting economy the Asheville vacation rental is a flexible and thriving investment.  And I look forward to meeting you when you get here.

Gabe Swinney 

 
Asheville New Urbanism

New Urbanism is a powerful growing force in the Asheville green real estate market.  In many ways the traditional neighborhood design is a knight in shining armor for the Asheville area during this time of rapid growth.  one of the reasons for this praise is that New Urbanism inherently works against urban sprawl.  This development design standard also tends to attract a demographic who appreciate green development, community, and the great outdoors.  All of these things are values that Asheville is known for.

The amazing growth that the Asheville region has been experiencing has raised many questions about maintaining our unique sense of place as well as our environmental standards.  As growth is unavoidable the best course of action is responsible growth.  This is where sustainable development comes into play.  New Urbanism ties together housing, resteraunts, jobs, and basic amenities.  This type of planning therefore focuses growth in a responsible way while simultaneously enriching the sense of community and therefore the quality of life.  

There are currently some developments who have embraced these standards around Asheville and a few more up and coming.  The Village of Cheshire in Black Mountain and Breakaway just to the north of Asheville are two outstanding examples.  

One thing that is for sure is that life is good here in "the happiest city in the country", and things are getting better all the time. 

Over the years I have been privileged to have lived in and visited many wonderful places.  Asheville, North Carolina is one of the places that I am most proud of having in my life.  Seeing this fair city develop and gain the fame and respect she deserves could be likened to dating a girl in high-school who would one day become a movie star and warmly watching her glowing career assured that she still loves you.  It is true that more and more people continue to move here trying to see what the "happiest city in the country" has in store for them.  And even though this place seems to draw the socially and environmentally conscious it can still be a tad bit unnerving to witness such growth.  Sometimes its enough to make me consider switching careers from sustainable real estate and conservation to straight up conservation.

All in all, Asheville, NC and its surrounding rivers, hills, plains, springs, waterfalls, mountains, and ridges are a dream to live in and having a chance to watch the organic garden of its society grow is a great privilege that I am overwhelmingly grateful for.

 Thanks for giving me a chance to do what I do best.

Asheville Waterfall Properties 

As a green real estate agent I have many workplaces.  Sometimes my office is my car sometimes its the local coffee shop. I could just as easily find myself on a ridge top as the actual office itself.  That being said, some of my favorite places of work are the Asheville waterfalls.  And there are millions of gallons of them.  There are few things I know of in this world that are more relaxing, enchanting, and soul cleansing than the sound of falling water.  Bearing witness to the mountain springs as they tumultuously careen their way down the slopes eventually join the French Broad or Catawba rivers is certainly one of the jewels in the Asheville crown. 

A lot of Asheville's waterfall properties are protected by the state or federal government, set aside for the enjoyment of the public in places like Pisgah National Forest or Dupont State Park.  There are still many waterfall properties on the market today some developed and some undeveloped.  I think that there are probably more substantial Asheville area waterfalls than any one person knows for sure.  They tend to pop up a sometimes unexpected highlight to land and property,

I was recently thinking about my time backpacking in Maine.  I remember that even though I found myself surrounded by pristine peace and beauty there was always something going on in my head.  Some song or stupid jingle from a commercial I heard when I was twelve.  The only thing I know that ever just quieted my mind and smoothed out all of the nonsense was the sound of flowing water.

Now that things are busier than ever I am thankful that the Asheville waterfall properties are one of the places I work...and play.  

black and white courtesy of John Narrin 

Asheville Conservation Land Broker

Lately I have been thinking quite a bit about what an adventure working on land deals around Asheville, North Carolina is.  The familiarity with the land that is demanded by this work makes me reminiscent of my time working in the Alaskan Wilderness.  These days there are so many factors and big players stepping up to the Western North Carolina mountains that it can often be complicated as well as a test of one's ethics.  I believe that it is at times like these that we must cling to our values the strongest.

I can fondly remember so many nights in the wilderness wrapped snuggly inside a sleeping bag and pouring my mind over a map by the light of my head lamp before closing my eyes for a well earned rest.  These days the office has transformed from a tent to a remodeled bungalow in West Asheville.  I get less rest, and I have to leave the head lamp at home.  However, the map is still there.  Sitting around the table with my associates drawing lines with our fingers across the sections of a large topographical map. Climbing its mountains with our finger-nails and getting excited over the hundreds of "pocket-gems" that the map subtly insinuates.  

Asheville real estate, and in particular Asheville land, is in high demand.  And it is in demand by a very diverse demographic.  It is not uncommon to be contacted by serious groups looking to sustainably develop land as a green housing compound or start an organic farm that end up going head to head with other developers with a taste for plastic, clear cuts, and a vulnerability to land slides.  I have heard other brokers say things about how they would love to work with more sustainable developers but the money is the most important thing.  Perhaps that is true to some extent.  I see this mentality as not working hard enough to make your deals work the right way.  I believe that responsible land brokerage means conserving the things that make the Asheville area so desirable in the first place.

So these days my tent and head-lamp have to wait for the occasional weekend excursion.  But the spirit of my adventures in the woods is embodied in my business, and I have every intention of holding true to the values that I learned out there.