Archive for January, 2008
What new luxury and second-home developments are being built in Maggie Valley, NC?
January 29th, 2008 Categories: Developments and Subdivisions, Luxury and Second Home Market
Maggie Valley, NC has about 12 new developments in the works. The real estate market in Maggie Valley caters to the second-home buyers as it is a town that people want to come back to time and time again, until they can move here to live full time. Most of the new developments are comprised of upper-end luxury homes and condominiums, some featuring creekside living, some featuring mountain views. Here is a recently-compiled list of the new developments:
• Katua Falls: Residential development at Cardinal Drive and Melody Lane. Size: 28 single-family lots. Price: $60,000 to $100,000.
Status: Final approval, no building permits issued.• Smoky Mountain Creekside Villas: Condominium complex on Soco Road. Size: 48 units. Price: Unknown. Status: Final approval, no building permits.
• Brookside Villas: Condominium complex on Moody Farm Road. Size: 42 units. Price: starting at $325,000. Status: Final approval, no building permits.
• Newland Condominiums: Condominium complex on Soco Road. Size: 36 units.
Status: Preliminary approval.• Mountain Watch: Single-family lots on Brannon Forest Drive. Size: 33 single-family lots. Status: Preliminary approval.
• Twinbrook: Single-family lots on Twinbrook Drive. Size: 64 single-family lots.
Status: Preliminary approval.• Whisper Creek: Single-family lots on Range Drive. Size: 21 single-family lots. Price: Between $109,000 to $300,000.
Status: Preliminary approval.• Olde Towne Village: A planned unit development on Moody Farm Road. Size: 23 lots. Status: Preliminary approval.
• Maggie Valley Club: Chestnut Cove Phase II: Cottages at the Maggie Valley Club. Size: 20 cottages. Status: Final approval, no building permits.
• Maggie Valley Club: Scarlet Oaks Phase II: Small subdivision at Maggie Valley Club. Size: 6 lots. Status: Final approval, no building permits.
• Mountain Joy: Small planned unit development on Setzer Cove Road. Size: 12 lots.
Status: Preliminary approval.• Wolf Creek: Single-family lots on Driftwood Loop. Size: 12 single-family lots. Price: Homes from $300,000 to $550,000.
Status: 92 percent built out.• La Bella Vita: Small duplex development on Caldwell Drive. Size: 6 units. Status: Preliminary approval.
Source: Maggie Valley Planning Department.
Bucking the Real Estate Trend will keep you advised of the progress of the new developments, with pictures soon to follow.
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January is National Radon Action Month.
January 28th, 2008 Categories: Radon
Radon testing when buying or selling a home in Maggie Valley or Waynesville, NC or surrounding cities that comprise all of Haywood County, NC, is an important aspect of due diligence. Based on a North Carolina State survey, 6.7%, or 1 out of 15 homes, have radon levels that exceed the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L. For this reason, it is important that your due diligence, whether buying or selling, includes testing the home to determine the radon levels. Should the levels be above the EPA Action Level, radon mitigation is recommended, which prevents radon from entering the home through the soil beneath the home. Costs involved with reducing radon levels vary of course; however, the cost to install preventive systems in homes under construction is much less expensive than mitigation.
For those Selling a Home.
Test the home before putting it on the market.
Lower radon levels, if necessary.
Save results of all tests, and any steps taken to mitigate.
For those Buying a Home.
Know radon levels of any home you are considering.
Obtain radon test results from seller.
Inquire about the presence of a radon-reduction system.
Have house tested if it hasn’t been tested.
Radon-resistant new home construction is a good investment.
Outside Links to Radon Information.
Environmental Protection Agency
Certified NC Mitigation Providers
See Haywood County, NC Real Estate Information Archive.
Search the Haywood County, NC MLS.
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Waynesville, NC Town leaders have sex and booze on their retreat agenda.
January 23rd, 2008 Categories: Hot Local Topics
Priorities for the coming year as well as legal issues relating thereto were recently reviewed and discussed at a Town of Waynesville ‘retreat.’ The always controversial liquor-by-the-drink issue is something Mayor Gavin Brown would like to see included on the May primary election ballot. A public hearing is scheduled for May 6, 2008.
In addition to the liquor issue, sex offenders being prohibited from town parks and recreation areas in Haywood County, NC is one of the most important matters to be addressed and eventually acted upon, most specifically with regard to sex offenses against children.
“No official action is taken at board retreats, but aldermen signaled an interest in pursuing an ordinance prohibiting sex offenders from being in town parks and recreation areas, developing a skateboard park if there was a community buy-in, postponing action to place more than 600 acres of town property in a conservation easement and addressing a liquor-by-the-drink vote at tomorrow’s meeting.”
BuckingTheRealEstateTrend searched for minutes from the retreat; however, the most recent minutes posted by the Town of Waynesville were for the January 8, 2008 Town Hall Regular meeting. An important issue discussed at the January 8th meeting involved a home for Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation. No sex or booze discussed at that meeting. Read the minutes of the January 8th meeting.
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How do the Haywood County, NC County Commissioners feel about growth in Jonathan Creek, setbacks and windmills?
January 20th, 2008 Categories: Cataloochee Wilderness Resort, Hot Local Topics
Haywood County, NC growth issues were the subject of a few discussions during last week’s Board of County Commissioners‘ retreat. Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Canton, Clyde, and Lake Junaluska and surrounding areas are all experiencing growth, and the problems inherent therein. No votes or formal actions are taken at the retreats… the informal discussions at the retreats lead to more formal actions at future Board meetings. The Cataloochee Wilderness Resort in Jonathan Creek, referred to as the ‘proposed mega development,’ was the subject of a few discussions at the retreat, needless to say.
“Commissioner Mary Ann Enloe said it is important to remember not a single parcel of land has yet been acquired in the Jonathan Creek area for the proposed mega development, and if landowners wanted to sell their land, it was their choice.
My suggestion is to figure out a way property owners who want to sell can sell it to a conservancy where it won’t be developed, and they won’t lose money, Enloe said. “
Check back for a report on the next County Commissioner’s meeting (January 22nd).
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Tips to help you sell your high-end, luxury home in Haywood County, NC.
January 19th, 2008 Categories: Luxury and Second Home Market
There have been 12 new residential real estate listings priced between $500,000 and $9,000,000 during the past 7 weeks (December 1, 2007 through January 18, 2008) here in Haywood County, NC. There were 2 new listings in this same category during the same period last year. These homes offer amenities such as absolutely stunning views from every direction, rushing creeks, ponds, golf course views, long range views, tennis courts, and guest houses, to name just a few.
Forbes presented soft-market secrets to selling a home which provide strategies to consider when considering selling a home in this market, and with the increase in the number of high-end homes for sale here in the mountains of beautiful Western North Carolina, this article was very interesting and timely.
“Generating interest through luxurious throw-ins is another effective strategy in the high-end market, especially if you’re selling a prime property, as opposed to a McMansion or median-range home. Increasingly, sellers are including cars, stereo systems, gym memberships and other high-end perks as signing bonuses. While these incentives might not be enough to seal a deal, they can serve to lure buyers who might have otherwise passed by a property.
“The price of a stereo is almost irrelevant–and so is a car, when the apartment price is several million dollars,” says Harrio DiOrio, a broker with Prudential Douglas Elliman in New York City. “I don’t think anyone would buy an expensive piece of property just to get a free stereo system, but the lure of the price may be the catalyst for the sale.”
Their number 1 tip? Pricing. If you would like to read the rest of the article, here it is.
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What new homes have come on the real estate market in Maggie Valley, NC since January 1, 2008?
January 16th, 2008 Categories: Maggie Valley Market Reports
Wondering what new log home or mountain home listings have come in for Maggie Valley, NC since January 1? This morning I pulled new residential (only) listings in Maggie Valley, Ivy Hill and Jonathan Creek, (Haywood County, NC), for the period covering January 1 through January 16, 2008. These “2008″ Maggie Valley area listings range from a low of $174,900 to a high of $549,999. The Google map provided pinpoints the location of these new listings (some hidden behind another).
If you want to see more information on any of these listings, just go to my MLS search tab at the top of this page and put the MLS number in where indicated.
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List of 6 things to know about North Carolina’s largest non-alcoholic dance club (located right here in Maggie Valley!).
January 15th, 2008 Categories: Polls and Hot Lists, Things to Do
1. The name of North Carolina’s largest non-alcoholic dance club is The Diamond K Dance Ranch.
2. Their band plays a variety of music for all dancing tastes, ranging from Classic to Top 40 Country music.
3. The name of their band is the Full House Band.
4. The Diamond K Dance Ranch is located next to the Maggie Valley Community Center at 1 Playhou
se Drive, Maggie Valley, NC. Call them at 828-926-7735.
5. They have Free ‘Line Dance’ Lessons. Come and learn the Love Train from “Wild Gerald,” who has choreographed several line dance hits.
6. The band only plays on Saturday night.
People who love the mountains, the creeks, the outdoor activities, the log cabins, the fireplaces, the long range views, and the ’slap yo mama’ barbecue unique to Maggie Valley, NC, can’t help but love line dancing Saturday night away at The Diamond K Dance Ranch. Moonshine not allowed.
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What will determine future land use, and how and where growth and development in Maggie Valley, NC will occur?
January 12th, 2008 Categories: Hot Local Topics, Maggie Valley Market Reports
The escalating increase in the development of Maggie Valley, (Haywood County) NC during the past 10 years has necessitated the implementation of the Maggie Valley Land Use Plan to “identify future land use patterns, establish recommendations for directing and managing growth, and preserve areas of environmental importance.”
“Maggie Valley is a tourist destination. Much of the housing is seasonal and there is urrently no grocery store within its boundaries. The tourism industry has overcome the closing of its largest attraction, Ghost Town, in 2003, which re-opened in May 2007.Smaller attractions have located to Maggie Valley since the closing of Ghost Town; however, Ghost Town’s reopening is expected to create a boom in the number of visitors that will be visiting in the future.
Maggie Valley is approximately five miles long, generally encompassing only two major roads, Soco Road (US-19) and Jonathan Creek Road (US-276). Development along Soco
Road is primarily made up of land uses that cater to the seasonal or tourist crowds. There are approximately 35 motels, hotels, and inns in Town. There are a number of large campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks in the area as well. Most of the housing that is currently being constructed is seasonal. Tourism is the primary employer and is the lifeblood of Maggie Valley.”
Construction of single family homes is most prevalent in Maggie Valley, mostly new log homes, in subdivisions such as Crockets Meadow, Campbell Woods, Smoky Mountain Retreat, Linson Ridge, Rovingwood Drive, Anglers Ridge, Eagles Nest, Brannon Forest, Tanner Trail, Panoramic Loop, and Trinity Cove.
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Who has taken aim at John “Thunder” Thornton relative to the Cataloochee Wilderness Resort in Jonathan Creek, NC?
January 10th, 2008 Categories: Cataloochee Wilderness Resort
Haywood County, NC’s own Z. Dean Moses struck back at Tennessee’s John “Thunder” Thornton. A response and counter-claim for damages, to the tune of $5mil plus, were filed in December, 2007 by Z. Dean Moses, after being sued by Thornton in November, 2007 and accused of fraudulently misappropriating money that belongs to Thornton relative to a Cataloochee Wilderness Resort Joint Venture Agreement.
“In a response filed in December, Moses denied that Thornton’s consent was required for the transfer of funds from escrow and denied that the transfer was either wrongful or fraudulent. In last month’s filing, Moses argued that money loaned by Thornton is not due for repayment because the condition for repayment has not occurred.
In addition, Moses filed a counter-claim in which he alleged that Thornton has refused to be involved in meaningful decision-making regarding the project and failed to perform duties of his position as an officer or member of entities involved in it. The counterclaim also alleged that Thornton has not participated in negotiations to obtain financing commitments for the project.”
Stay tuned for the next salvo!
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Free help for Haywood County, NC homeowners faced with foreclosure.
January 9th, 2008 Categories: Community
While perusing my favorite blogging sites this morning, I found information on the Homeownership Preservation Foundation which had recently been posted on PortOrangeJuice.com. The Foundation home page states, in part:
“Through our 888-995-HOPE hotline, the Homeownership Preservation Foundation has a single mission: to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. We are an independent nonprofit that provides HUD-approved counselors dedicated to helping homeowners.
The help we offer is free.”
If you feel you may be facing foreclosure on your Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Canton, Clyde or Lake Junaluska home, please contact them through their website, or their hotline (888-995-HOPE).
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