The outlook for owners of “prime property” – “the most desirable, and normally most expensive, property in a defined location” – notably for vacation homes, is much more optimistic, according to the 2008 Annual Wealth Report by property consultants, Knight Frank, and Citi Private Bank.

“The boom in second home ownership over the past decade will be nothing compared with the growth we will see over the next decade,” the report says.

Here’s the Article from the Wall Street Jounral

Cosmetic fixes that can put a prettier face on a plain-Jane home will pay for themselves - and then some.

Here’s the article from Yahoo

…and heres some ways to fix up your kitchen on the cheap

Buncombe County existing home sales dropped dramatically again in March, and the average price of a home sold, which has risen during much of the current housing slump, fell significantly.

According to figures from the N.C. Association of Realtors, there were 221 county homes sold through the Multiple Listing Service last month, 27.3 percent fewer than in March of last year. The average price fell 10 percent to $265,797.

Click here for the article in the Asheville Citizen Times

The Boone Town Council has unanimously approved a lease agreement with Wal-Mart for the site of the Leola Street Community Garden, an arrangement that will give the company the green space it needs to expand the store in compliance with the town’s development ordinance. In return, the town will receive $60,000 per year for 45 years, and Wal-Mart will continue to allow the space to be used as a community garden.

Click here for the High Country Press article

Several projects are set to begin pretty soon around the High Country, here’s a list:

Bamboo Road — Pavement through gravel area
Payne Branch Road — New bridge over Middle Fork
Baird’s Creek near Willow Valley — New bridge
US 321 (phase II) — 6.6 mile section (est. May 15, 2009)
US 321 (phase III) — 4.3 mile section between Blackberry Rd. and Tanger Outlets (est. May 15, 2010)
King Street — Widening Grove St./Hardin St.
King Street — 6 lane divided highway between NC 105 Ext. and NC 194

Click here to read more in the Watauga Democrat

Spring has always been busy for real estate. Even though buyers and sellers remain cautious, now could be a good time to make a move

The spring home-buying season is upon us. In small towns and big cities alike, “Open House” and “For Sale” signs are sprouting like crocuses. But it will take more than pleasant weather to thaw the ice-cold real estate market.

Click here for an article in Business Week

If many home buyers have never shopped for their own title insurance, will they use a Web site that not only helps them do that, but also select their own appraiser, home inspector, surveyor, or termite company?

Jeff Lazerson thinks they will, and armed with a $100,000 Ford Foundation grant, he’s building Fairclosingcosts.com, a Web site that he says will allow not only consumers but real estate and mortgage professionals to shop for settlement services.

Click here for the article

Click here to visit FairClosingCosts.com

Lots of people are really interested in the new Watauga High School.

Here’s some facts:

• The town has set a price tag of $60 Million
• The groundbreaking began September 20, 2007
• The town will borrow $70 Million Read More
• The school will be 274,000 sqft
• the new campus is 94 acres (20 more than current site)
• the estimated traffic flow is 40% west and 60% east
• Students that live outside watauga county will pay tuition Read More
• There will be 972 parking spaces.
• The project is scheduled for completion spring of 2010
• Classes begin fall 2010

Click here to see exactly where the campus will be via Google maps

Click here for a blog dedicated to the new highschool

Update: Concrete being poured 4/13/08

Beginning in April 2008, and continuing until December 2009, part of the Blue Ridge Parkway will be closed while renovations occur on The Goshen Creek Bridge. The bridge is located between Aho road and Bamboo road.

Update: Goshen Creek Bridge changes

Here’s the Watauga Democrat article

Three-time U.S. Open champion Hale Irwin is bringing his golf course design expertise to Caldwell County.

Irwin will design a new golf course at The Coves at Round Mountain development, according to information released by The Archer Group, the company behind the 3,600-acre project that stretches from Collettsville toward Gamewell.

Click here for the article in the News Topic

Zillow.com has entered the mortgage arena with the launch of an online marketplace allowing consumers to request quotes on purchase, refinance and home-equity loans.

Click here to read more

Here’s a link to the Zillow Mortgage tool

Blue Ridge Parkway facilities open on a staggered basis beginning in April. It should be noted that Spring is a transitional time weather-wise in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Warm days can be followed quickly by a cold front that brings the return of winter conditions. It’s important to check weather forecasts prior to your drive.

Some Parkway facilities are open year round. These include the Museum of North Carolina Minerals (MP 331), Folk Art Center (MP 382) and Parkway Headquarters in Asheville.

Click here for the calendar on Virtualblueridge.com

In the midst of all the gloom and doom on the housing front, one remarkably-bright statistic has just been announced: Last week the National Association of Realtors reported that 12 percent of all existing home sales last year were not primary residences, they were instead vacation homes.

Click here for the article from Realty Times