Highlands Blog

Is Confidence Coming Back?

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 09:50:28 -0400

It has been a long time since home sales in Highlands have been on the positive side of anyones conversation.
After four years of virtual stand-still, real estate in Highlands seems to be on the upswing.
Thankfully the foreclosures and short sales have been at a minimum when compared to the rest of the country, but we have had our share. Those homes are just about cleared out of the inventory, and well priced, non-distressed homes are now starting to move at a good pace.
Land and lots are still weathering through some tough times, but when you can buy a home for less that the price to construct, many folks are finding the “instant gratification” hard to resist. If you are looking for that perfect piece of dirt to call your own there are plenty of GREAT BUYS on raw land.
Highlands has always been the place to escape, and for many reasons now seems to be the right time.

A White Christmas

Sat, 25 Dec 2010 12:06:07 -0500

There is a special feeling when it snows...
That feeling of quiet, of things nestling down to keep warm, and the acknowledgement of just how beautiful and magical our world really is.
It is a great time for family, for sitting in front of a crackling fire and drinking cider, for enjoying the little things that make it special.
To each of you we wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Most of all we hope you make time to enjoy the quiet and special moments that make life so memorable.

Great Days for Soup!

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:08:15 -0500

These cold winter days and nights are the best times for snuggling up with a bowl of soup, and one of our favorites is potato - it “almost” makes itself...
Ingredients:
6 to 8 large potatoes, peeled & chopped 1 large onion, chopped 1 tbsp. diced garlic 1 cup 2% milk 1/2 stick of butter Salt & pepper to taste Pinch of basil and 1/2 tsp. parsley, chives
 Directions:
1. Boil the potatoes & onion in a small amount of water (covered) until almost done, (add garlic after 3 minutes). Drain 1/3 of water.
2. Add: the milk, butter, salt & pepper & spices. Mash (preferred) or blend, adding additional milk to reach desired consistency
3. Simmer - do not boil - to blend.
4. Garnish with chives and....... Serve

“Over the River and Thru the Woods”

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:38:07 -0400

Look no further than your back yard to see the beautiful hues that Mother Nature has bestowed on our wonderful mountain plateau.
Numerous drives abound that take you through the color palate of our lives, and none that surpass the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Only a short drive from Highlands, the Parkway begins on the southern end at Mile Marker 468 just inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the Oconaluftee Visitors Center. It winds quickly upward in elevation to the highest point on the Parkway at Richland-Balsam, where Whiteside Mountain is clearly distinguishable.
Along the way you will past from temperate hardwood forests to dense evergreen stands like those found in Maine and Canada. At the top, the smell of Balsam fir reminds you of Christmas year-round. The range of plants, shrubs and trees in bloom can easily vary a month within a 20 mile drive.
Drive our scenic roads to your hearts content, but always remember that Highlands is not only the best place to start, but the greatest place to end!

Forget the Cheese

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 11:53:05 -0400

That saying seems to apply to more situations this day and age that we would like to admit, and particularly to homeowners with “upside-down/underwater” mortgages. Mortgages and other over-commitments are putting pressure on people across the globe. Highlands and the surrounding areas are not immune to the increasing need for cash.
One of the local chuckles over the years is that there have been three lines of investment thought: The Dow, NASDAQ and Highlands. It has always seemed, and rightly so, as if Highlands was a sure bet when it came to realizing a profit, but our over-heated real estate market has come to a time of correction.
What we as sellers of Highlands real estate must admit is :
#1 Future need or desire does not affect current value. Just because we want to retire with a million dollars, does not make our “investment” in Highlands worth a million.
#2 There are bank foreclosures and short sales on the market and every buyer wants the best deal available (you would, wouldn’t you?) Therefore, if you have competition in your market from a REPO or “short” sale, you must offer the better deal – otherwise be prepared to wait until all the “sales” are sold.
#3 Second and third homes are luxury items for most. But, just like primary homes, over the past decade that luxury was made available to many. That leap of faith probably should have not have been taken by some.

Has the bottom fallen out as it has in numerous other communities across the country? – NO.
Are there still buyers for real estate in Highlands? - YES

Thankfully Highlands is a very unique environment, and what made us so desirable for so many years has not changed. Unlike other markets that are affected by business swings and industry changes, Highlands is graced by its unchangeable altitude, limited availability, change of seasons and gracious people – all four of which are in great demand by those who live almost anywhere else.

A quick take on the title of a book called I Don’t Want Any More Cheese, I Just Want Out of the Trap by Richard Templar.

Spring can’t be far

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:26:05 -0400

It seems every year about this time we hear people saying they are tired of winter and ready for spring. Spring is indeed right around the corner because the calendar says so, but the potential for another beautiful snow (or two) lingers on.
When thinking about the snow we have had this year it feels like spring has been a long time in coming, but actually it is on our doorstep. The crocus are blooming, the tulips are up and starting to bud and the buds on the trees are really beginning to swell.
Existing business owners in Highlands are making their moves to get ready for a new season and new shop owners are beginning to pull off the “For Rent” signs that have been in windows since the fall.
Highlands is and always has been a seasonal town and summer is the season most people flock back. Not because merchants don’t try to entice them in the “off season’, but for numerous reasons, not the least of which is the potential for rough weather and all the problems that it can bring.
Now is the time to make plans to come to Highlands, and any time of the years is great, just come ready for fun - and remember... if you run out of milk at 10:00 p.m. there is no place to go!

It’s Snowing in Highlands

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 11:19:09 -0500

Did we say Fall was beautiful here in Highlands?
Well........ You haven’t seen anything until you see this wonderful town wrapped in a blanket of fluffy snow.
Highlands is such a magical place all 365 days of the year, but it doesn’t get any better than when the town is covered in snow. Everything is so quiet you can hear the sound of snowflakes falling through the trees, and nothing beats the smell of wood fires in the air.
As you walk through the woods you can hear the birds looking for something to eat before they retreat to that sheltered branch for the evening.
This winter has also provided enough cold weather for Harris Lake to freeze over, thereby allowing an old Highlands winter pastime of skating on the lake. When you get cabin fever, the majority of shops are open for business during this slower time of the year, and warmly welcome anyone who drops by.
Don’t miss the the spectacular seasons - all four of them - in Highlands.

Christmas in Highlands

Wed, 2 Dec 2009 09:51:54 -0500

One of the greatest things about Highlands this time of year are the activities. The Chamber of Commerce and others have events planned (usually multiple) almost every day during the month of December.
The list is far to long to be included here but includes multiple free activities and events, along with those requiring a small fee. A very short list of events are: Gingerbread Man Decorating, Holiday Culinary Demonstrations, Wine Tastings, Christmas Parade, Basket Weaving, Christmas Showhouse, Turkey Basics Demonstration, Napkin Folding Classes, Ceramic Ornament Making, Cookbook Tour of Local Inns, Christmas Chorales, Chamber Music Concert, Art Gallery Gift Stroll, De-stress Yoga Class, Gingerbread House Contest and dozens more.
For a complete list of events and a printable PDF of the calendar go here:
http://www.holidaysinhighlands.com/
Maybe with a little luck and a nod from Santa, we will have a white Christmas!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

These are the beautiful times!

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:40:23 -0400

Fall is in full swing in Highlands and the mountains of Western North Carolina.
The colors are good this year and cooler weather has come at last. The leaf color is just about at its peak for some trees and others will follow in the next week or so - if we don’t get a lot of wind, which will strip the leaves from the trees.
The crisp fall air and smell of the wood fires are always invigorating to the spirit and soul.
Don’t miss this annual treat.

Real estate has also begun to pick up quite a bit.
It seems like buyers are realizing that interest rates will not go any lower, and many of them are stepping into the market. There are certainly some fabulous homes and deals to be had at this particular time. If you are in the market to pick up that second home for prices that have not been seen in years, now is the time to strike.
Don’t miss this opportunity.

Don’t Miss Highlands in the Fall

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 10:53:56 -0400

One of the most beautiful times of the year to visit or live in Highlands is the fall. The air and the atmosphere is clear and crisp, the smell of the fireplace, and the leaves!
Usually our leaves peak right around October 15 but that can extend until the first week or so in November. The largest factor influencing the timing of the leaves is a cold spell we usually get in September. This gets the juices flowing in the trees and can speed up or delay the actually peek depending on when it happens.
The weather “authorities” have many ideas about what will make a good color season, and most of them are well placed in science, but rarely pan out. For instance, numerous people will say that a wet summer and fall will produce good color while others will say that less rain produces better color and more rain rots the leaves. I have seen great leaf color in both scenarios and horribly drab color in both. I guess it is up to a higher power than the prognosticators.
No matter what the weather, there will always be great spots that are breathtaking even in the worst of years. So, don’t miss the opportunity to visit Highlands at one of it’s most glorious times - it is right around the corner.