With the worst housing slump in a generation slashing home prices across the country, the dynamics of the market have shifted squarely in favor of buyers. And as the real estate industry grows increasingly Web-savvy, house hunters can now scour through neighborhoods, inspect front porches, and even peek inside bedrooms from the comfort of their desktops. But while this surge of new information can help you find that perfect home, it can also–at times–make the whole process overwhelming. Here are six ways to ensure that your online real estate search is as efficient and effective as possible.
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Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson announced yesterday evening that the Town is purchasing ten acres along the New River for a raw-water intake.
The intake is located near the Watauga/Ashe county line and the purchase will cost the town $850,000. To cover the costs of the project, the town has applied for an 18 to 19 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Town officials say with the new intake and the existing intakes on Winkler’s Creek and the New River’s South Fork, Boone should be able to meet its twenty year needs.
Here’s the article from GoBlueRidge
Update: Ashe votes against tax
The proposal calls for a tax of up to four-tenths percent of value.
Should the tax fail, Ashe County’s property tax rate will increase. The current rate, 39.5 cents per $100, may need to increase by at least 3.8 cents.
County commissioners say more revenue is needed to pay for the new law enforcement center, county library expansions and other projects.
Here’s the Article from Go Blue Ridge.net
Watauga County and Tweetsie Railroad are exploring a proposal that would keep the Wild West theme park at its current location “for the next 50 years and beyond.”
Watauga planning director Joe Furman, who is acting economic developer for the county, presented a proposal to the commissioners Monday in which the county would buy land to support the theme park in exchange for a long-term commitment to keep the business operating.
Here’s the article from the Watauga Democrat
Actress Andie MacDowell has bought land in an environmentally focused mountain community (Balsam Mountain) and plans to build an eco-friendly house there.
Click here for the article from the Wall Street Journal
Click here to see some homes in the neighborhood
Demolition on Grandfather Mountain’s Top Shop, located next to the Mile High Swinging Bridge, began Wednesday, April 23. The crew began tearing down the side of the building located closest to the switchbacks up the Mountain. The new shop is scheduled to be completed in 2009
Click here for the article in the Blowing Rocket
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
Click here for an overview of the proposed ASU facility updates
