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
Property values in college towns are holding strong and can make a good investment whether you’re a parent, an investor, or just looking to relocate
Click here to read the article
Rates on 30-year mortgages dropped below 6 percent two weeks ago for the first time in more than a month, reflecting aggressive efforts by the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates to protect the economy from a serious recession.
Click here to read the article from Business Week
“Coman and other land conservationists believe the housing slump is creating a window of opportunity for land trusts as development slows down and people either desire tax breaks from donation easements or are willing to sell their land at a reduced rate in order to conserve it.”
Click here for the article in the Watauga Democrat
Click here to visit the Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust website
For those of you visiting for the first time, here is a brief overview of dirt.
Click to read more
Ashe County Board of Commissioners Chairman Richard Blackburn pitched the Land Transfer Tax referendum at the monthly meeting of the Comprehensive Land Use Committee last week, but a statement from the committee stressed that the group’s work would focus on strategies for future land use planning in the county. What do you think? Leave a comment.
Here’s the article from the Mountain Times
Yahoo has an interesting article about ways to improve your homes value, here’s the list of the top 6
1. Replace Your Siding
2. Build a Deck
3. Spice Up the Kitchen
4. Install Energy-Efficient Windows
5. Give the Bathroom a Facelift
6. Crown Your Walls
Read the article from Yahoo
