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High Country Real Estate: Get Your Home Ready for Spring

March 14, 2024 While Spring has not quite sprung, it is wending its inevitable way towards us. Honestly, it is so hard to say what season is more beautiful in the High Country, Spring or Autumn. I think winter and summer can be seasons of extremes in their own way, so Spring and Autumn each offer a bit of respite from that. A change of color, along with the change of seasons. By Elizabeth Steele, REALTOR

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High Country Real Estate: Snap Shot

February 22, 2024 Snapshot is a monthly feature to keep you in the know! Showcasing three sold properties in the same general price point, but in different locations around the High Country, we compare the basic features of each property to give you an even better snapshot of what’s selling in the current local real estate market.BRRI’s latest Snapshot features three residential listings, sold by in January of 2024; located in Blowing Rock, Beech Mountain, and Sugar Mountain.By Breanna McKay, REALTOR, Blue Ridge Realty & Investments, LLC

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High Country Real Estate: Home Video

February 15, 2024 Do you have a video of your home for insurance purposesFor years loss experts have recommended videoing the contents of your home in case of burglary, fire or other catastrophic event. A video helps prove ownership of electronics, art, antiques, and other valuable personal property, making it easier for you and your insurance company to come to terms on the monetary value of what you have lost. But what about your house itself? As technology advances, more and more homes have special features and upgrades added for comfort and aesthetics that may not be reflected in the value of “sticks and bricks.”strong> By Stephen Holland,REALTOR

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High Country Real Estate

February 8, 2024 Hope your first month of 2024 has you off to a good start. That’s certainly the case with Real Estate in the High Country, as we take a look at January’s statistics.All information and statistics were gathered from the High Country Multiple Listing Service.For the month of January for the counties of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery and Watauga, there were 124 closed residential properties.The minimum List Price was $89,900, the maximum List Price was $2,529,000, the average List Price was $640,978 and the median List Price was $525,000. The minimum Sold Price was $95,000, the maximum Sold Price was $2,600,000, the average Sold Price was $616,548 and the median Sold Price was $491,500.  By Mark Tyburski REALTOR

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High Country Real Estate: SnapShot!

February 1, 2024 Every month or so we like to take a look at value and communities in the High Country by doing what we like to call a “snapshot.”  Showcasing three sold properties in the same general price point, but in different locations around the High Country, we’ll compare the basic features of each property to give you an even better snapshot of what’s selling in the current local real estate market. 
By Todd Duncan, REALTOR

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High Country Real Estate: 2023 Stats

January 25, 2024 The final word on 2023. Today we’re looking at the final numbers for 2023 for High Country Real Estate (Allegheny, Ashe, Avery & Watauga counties). All data, as usual, comes from the High Country Association of REALTORS Multiple Listing Service. There were a total of 2051 residential sales in 2023. That’s an average of 170.9 sales per month. Of course, if you’ve been following Real Estate in the High Country, you know some months it was well into the 200s and some months well below the 170 mark.   By Andrew Plyler, REALTOR

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December Real Estate Reports from High Country Realtors; Numbers Up from Last Year

January 18, 2024 During December, the High Country MLS reported 160 residential sales closed in the High Country Counties of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga, that number is slightly up from this same me a year ago. The combined closing total was $100.8 million in sales, up from a year ago when the combined total was $78.8 million. The median sales price for December sales was $471,500, up 23.3% compared to the median sales price in December of 2022. The median days on the market for the month were sixty-two days, holding steady compared to 2022

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High Country Real Estate: Permit Me to Speak to You About Permits

December 28, 2023 Well, Christmas 2023 is in the books and New Year 2024 is rolling towards us at a pretty fast pace. It’s hard to believe it’s all coming around again. Once the holiday season is completely over, you may be looking for your next project; if the project you settle on happens to be finishing an unfinished basement let’s talk about the importance of permits… Many people think that finishing unfinished space in their homes by doing everything themselves and avoiding getting permits is a faster, smarter, cheaper way to get the job done. While it might be faster, it is seldom smarter, and in the long run, often ends up costing more than taking the necessary steps to pull the permits. Not to mention it is technically illegal to finish an unfinished basement (or other space) without the proper permits from the local government.  By Michelle Hammond, REALTOR

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Water Detection Can Save Your home and Your Wallet

December 13, 2023 Water is one of the most valuable resources on the planet. If you’re familiar with the rule of threes you know that the human body can go (roughly): three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food. Using that metric, water is second only to air in importance to the lives of human beings. You know the kind of difference water can make to your body (after a run or after a few too many adult beverages) and a plant (I swear I wasn’t trying to kill you…I just kept forgetting to water you! Drink up!) and the flammability of the surrounding landscape. We use water to clean (our environment and our bodies) and we use water to cook (have you ever considered the magic that happens when water is applied to a potato to first clean it, then to cook it?). Water, in short, is life. By Tim Gentry, REALTOR

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Who are the real winners in the real estate class action lawsuits?

November 21, 2023 As the CEO of the High Country Association of Realtors® and Multiple Listing Service (MLS), representing more than 800 members and 1,100 MLS subscribers, I felt it imperative to address the current legal landscape in our industry. While there are a number of cases being litigated across the country, none of which are in North Carolina or South Carolina, the outcome of these cases will negatively impact the consumer. By Cheryl Smith, Chief Executive Officer

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October 2023 MLS Report

November 15, 2023  The Natonal Associaton of REALTORS® recently released its 2023 Profile of Home Buyes and Sellers. The report states, “that reliance on real estate professionals remains strong. Although 100% of respondents said they used the internet in the home search process, a vast majority—89% of both buyers and sellers—said they worked with a real estate professional on their sale or purchase. Only 5% of sellers cited the “agent’s commission” as an important factor in choosing their agent: Reputa􀆟on of the agent, whether the agent was “honest and trustworthy,” and knowledge of the neighborhood ranked as the most important factors”.

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High Country Real Estate: Winterization Wonderland!

November 1, 2023 It’s STILL fall, y’all. And will be until a few days before Christmas. But we tend to think of winter starting when freezing temperatures begin visiting on the regular. While we’re only about five and a half weeks into autumn, the consistent and persistent chill is upon us and it’s time to think about protecting your property from winters icy fingers. Merriam-Webster defines winterizing as to make ready for winter or winter use and especially resistant or proof against winter weather. By Lisa Stewart, REALTOR

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High Country Real Estate: September Snap

October 19, 2023 We talk a lot about real estate in concepts and statistics, and we’ll throw some economics in there once in a while, if you look like you really need some sleep. But once a month or so, we also like to give you some perspective with what we like to call our SnapShot. We take three properties that closed in the previous month around the same price point in different areas of the High Country and compare what kind of bang there is for the buck with those homes in those areas. By Natalie Fogle, REALTOR

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High Country Real Estate: September Statistics

October 5, 2023 Welcome to October in the High Country, also known as the closest thing to heaven known to humans. It’s not just about pumpkin spice and sweater weather that accompany the dropping  temperatures. With the  leaves changing daily, every ride in sight of trees is a burst of glorious color that is different with every single trip. There is a golden quality to the light that kisses these slightly shorter days but it only lasts such a short time. By Karen Cleghorn, REALTOR

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Allen Tate Realtors® Announces West Jefferson Office

October 4, 2023 Allen Tate Companies, the Carolinas’ leading real estate company, is proud to partner with Ashe High Country Realty on the opening of its West Jefferson, N.C. office. The Allen Tate West Jefferson/Ashe High Country Realty office is located at 7 S. Jefferson Avenue in downtown West Jefferson. The office is home to 13 agents and serves the High Country region, specializing in Ashe, Alleghany, Watauga and Wilkes counties in North Carolina and Grayson County, Va.

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August Sales Snap Shot

September 29, 2023 Once in a while it’s good to take a look around the High Country and see what is selling in different areas in similar price ranges.So many things can impact a home’s value…it’s more than bedrooms and baths; it’s also about features, location, age, condition, view, size of the lot…really, dozens of factors can play into what a house will bring on the market.

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August 2023 MLS REPORT for the High Country

September 18, 2023 August in the High Country was a time of vacationing before heading back to school, especially with continued summer like temperatures. Fall is in the air and our High Country REALTORS® are preparing for the busy fall season of real estate. During August, our realtors brought 223 Residential Sales to the closing table for a combined total of over $125 million in sales. The combined median sales price in our four county area of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga Counties was $460,000 and the median days residential properties were staying on the market was 54 days.

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High Country Real Estate: Housing and the Economy

September 12, 2023 On August 2, 2023 The National Association of REALTORS® held its Real Estate Forecast Summit: Residential Update virtual event. The meeting was open to all members of the National Association of REALTORS® and was recorded for review by both members and the media. The speakers were Kevin Sears, NAR’s 2023 First Vice President, Lawrence Yun, NAR’s Chief Economist and Jessica Lautz, NAR’s Deputy Chief Economist. By Michelle Hammond, REALTOR

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High Country Real Estate: Adieu August

September 7, 2023 The official, astronomical end of summer isn’t until Saturday, September 23, though the meteorlogical  summer ended August 31. While the mercury is still spending a lot of its time in the upper range of the thermometer, pumpkin spice has hit the coffee shops and if you look you will notice the leaves are beginning to change. We are 2/3 of the way through 2023 and it won’t be long before the temperature is dropping and the leaves are  displaying their most glorious season of splendor. By Sandi Dascoulias, REALTOR

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High Country Real Estate: Best Upgrades to Add Value to Your Home

August 31, 2023 When most people think about “The American Dream,” homeownership is always a major component of that dream. But purchasing a home is just the first step of homeownership. Homeownership is a living investment, not a static one. It’s more than just making your mortgage payment. Well, theoretically, a homeowner could simply make their mortgage payment (along with taxes, insurance and utilities) and still maintain their investment. Theoretically.   By Breanna McKay, REALTOR

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High Country Real Estate: July Snapshot

August 24, 2023 While we look at statistics at least once a month, occasionally we like to take a look at what we call a “snapshot” of the market. Looking at three different homes in different areas in similar price ranges and compare their characteristics. By Stephen Holland, REALTOR

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July 2023 MLS Report From High Country Realtors

August 16, 2023 During July High Country Realtors® have been busy. There were 187 closed sales on residential properties for a combined worth of just over $103 million in the four county High Country Association of Realtors® area of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga Counties.

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High Country Real Estate: Summer Maintenance and Reminders

August 3, 2023 Summer is for fun! Vacation! Enjoyment! Easy living! Trips to the beach and the river. Go to the park. Take a trip to the zoo. Take the kids on a picnic. Take the grandkids to a parade. Live it up! August is the last full month of summer and the start of school is looming. Frankly, in my world, once Labor Day hits, the rest of the year is a blur. By Hope Harvey, REALTOR

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High Country Real Estate: Underground Storage Tanks

July 27, 2023 Human beings have been living in houses since before they were human beings. Well, let me clarify. There is archaeological evidence of house constructions by a proto-human species from a site in Tanzania known as Oldupai Gorge from 1.8 million years ago. That is approximately a million and a half years prior to the appearance of modern humans.  By Rick Goodwin, REALTOR

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High Country Real Estate: Second Quarter Real Estate

July 25, 2023 Brace yourself…there are  only about 157 shopping days left until Christmas. Shocking, right? I know, I could have chosen a better way to remind you that the first half of 2023 has already passed and in the past, and we are almost 1/3 of the way through the third quarter already. What did Real Estate in the High country look like in the first half of 2023?  By Jim Lewis, REALTOR

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