The Clouds Have lifted-Finally! We have had a dark and gloomy week here in the mountains of Western North Carolina, and one with so much rain we experienced substantial flooding for a few days. This morning is sunny and bright, but I am still seeing water standing in places where water does not belong, days after the rain stopped.
When it rains in the mountains, it really rains. It comes down in torrents, it is relentless, in that it continues for 24 to 48 hours, non-stop. Sure we have the nice light rains, and the steady little rains as well, but at least a few times a year we have relentless rains that cause flooding, and always, stories about homes sliding down mountain side, or being pushed down stream from flash flooding.
This years storm was no different. We had road closings, making navigation in some areas difficult. We had soggy yards. And we had reports of homes coming down. This year a small home along a creek, just south west of downtown Hendersonville, was pushed from it's foundation and broken apart, from a flash flood in a nearby creek.
This is certainly not an article to bring fear to those anticipating a move to the area. Rather it is a cautionary note warning of the dangers of mountain living. When I am preparing to show a perspective buyer homes in the area, I do my best to avoid showing homes that may have the potential for this kind of problem. Often, people come to this area looking for that dream home, one with a long range view and a bubbling brook. One must understand that both of these can be a pleasure and a nightmare. So, if we do our research, and I mean both the buyer and me as the Realtor, these things can be a plus and not the future nightmare.
A long range view almost always comes with a very bad private road. But they don't have to be that way. Being in a developed neighborhood can be a better choice, with well maintained roads put together by real engineers. And choosing a home that sits properly on the lay of the land can substantially help to avoid watching your home (and possibly you with it) slide down a mountainside. And always be realistic in choosing a home with that stream. Where is it in relation to the home you are looking at is crucial.
Buying a home anywhere has it's risks. As a buyer you just have to know what those risks are, and how to avoid them. Make living in the mountains a pleasure, not a nightmare. Do your homework, and get a Realtor that understands the potential for nightmares, as well as the pleasures of choosing a home in the area you are looking to buy. When a Realtor says, this looks risky, listen. That way, your move to our great Mountain Community will be one of pleasure and not horror. With the right choices, you too can live in this great community and enjoy all of those wants and needs you are looking for in a home.
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