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Sylva, NC Real Estate News

By Allen Lomax, WNC Mountain Homes & Horse Farms Specialists
(Steed Talker Realty is with two hours of Tryon International Equestrian Center and we offer the best properties in the area.)
Private Investment Opportunity in Jackson County NC Crisis brings private investment opportunity in Jackson County NC.  Crisis or Opportunity?  Paradoxical as it is, where there is crisis there is opportunity.  Or, put another way, "A crisis is an opportunity."  This holds true during downturns in the economy or during economic up-swings.  In this brief case study, the property renewal specialist, using a private investment opportunity in Jackson County NC used the homeowner’s crisis to create an opportunity for a WIN-WIN-WIN.  I like triple WIN scenarios and do my best to create them whenever and wherever possible. Homeonwer WINS This homeowner was in crisis.  They were not facing foreclosure but they had an asset they could not afford to maintain and an illness that demanded that they...
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
  We've had the mixed bag of weather and other occurences here in Balsam, NC over the last couple of days. Sunny days when rain was predicted, rain when clear skies were called for. I chose the "clear" day to do some wood burning, the winds were calm and rain was predicted for that evening. Hah!   I got the fire going...no easy feat since so much of the wood was damp but yes, I got it going well. After a couple hours of burning and making decent headway on the stacks of wood around here the first shower showed up.       That lasted half an hour or so and afterwards I revived the fire. Another good hour of burning and the skies opened up. Mocking me because I could still see a sliver of blue for a short period. This was no shower, this was a deluge. From the protection of the covered por...
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
  Many people have an ideal vision of what life in the mountains of Western North Carolina will be like and they can picture in their head what they would like their house to be like. Nine times out of ten, what so many people are looking for is the "cabin in the woods". The MoonDancer Realty Sylva, NC listing at 2840 Cane Creek Road in Cane Creek Ridge Estates could be exactly what they are dreaming of.   Cane Creek Ridge Estates is located between Waynesville and Sylva in Jackson County, NC off of Blanton Branch Road, making it easy to get to either town. Since Blanton Branch Road connects with Hwy 74, it is also an easy trip (less than an hour) to Asheville, NC. The Cane Creek Ridge Homeowners Association is one of the friendliest and best organized associations I've seen in this are...
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
I already know that Tammy Lankford is very fond of Van Morrison, in fact there have been occasions when I've posted certain songs and she will comment that Van Morrison also recorded that same song. I appreciate that and will always google it.   On the way home on Friday I stopped and had a conversation with a musician who also happens to own the coolest fresh fish market in Western North Carolina, Eric's Fresh Fish Market. He wrote down the name of a song and suggested I listen to it. That song happened to be "Rave On, John Donne". I listened to it several times before I started exploring more Van Morrison offerings.   Later that same night, at the poetry reading at the City Lights bookstore in downtown Sylva on Friday night, one of the poets, George Ellison, kept referring to Van Morr...
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
    Some of our favorite houses to list are the ones that we know the sellers have kept up with all aspects of maintenance. It was a pleasure to list the house at 812 Safari Drive, Sylva, NC in the Wildcat Cove neighborhood. This house looks almost exactly like it did when the seller bought it a few years ago when it was brand new. We should know, we were his Buyer's Agent. I say almost exactly because it actually looks better now. The seller has a true green thumb but since he'd rather be on a golf course that anywhere else, he made sure that maintaining the landscaping wouldn't take much time away from his game. He's also made a great capital improvement by paving the drive and adding a roomy parking area to accomodate multiple cars.     The lot is 1.72+/- acres and has a little of ev...
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
  So many buyers are looking for a house that is ready to go, no alterations needed and that is exactly what we have with the MoonDancer Realty listing at 404 Ivy Ridge Circle in the Greens Creek area of Sylva, NC.           The sellers designed and built the house in 2002 to be as easy maintenance as possible. The design of the home is attractive yet sensible. The high quality vinyl exterior means never having to paint again! An occasional power washing keeps the house looking as good as new. The large attached double garage makes additional storage area convenient and simple to organize. The detached workshop complements the design of the house, is fully finished and has electricity making it a perfect workshop, craftroom, or private home office. There is also a separate storage area ...
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
Good things do come in small packages and Sylva, NC is just like that. Leslie caught an announcement in our local weekly newspaper, The Sylva Herald, the other day about a poetry reading being hosted by Sylva's thriving independent bookstore, City Lights. We felt like having a little culture shock so we decided to have a night on the town in Sylva, NC.   After closing up the MoonDancer Realty office in Dillsboro, NC for the day, I stopped off to see my friend Eric Hendrix and pick up fresh salmon from Eric's Fresh Fish Market on the back street of Sylva. The name of the street is actually Mill Street but everyone knows it as Back Street. I lived here for probably five years before I knew its real name. Anyway, lucky for me Eric was in a chatty mood. I rarely get a chance to visit with h...
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
  One of the showier aspects of spring here in the mountains near Jackson County, NC would be all the varieties of flowers bursting forth and I love that. My camera loves those flowers as well. But even more dear to my heart is watching the woods come alive with the thousand hues of green.   The timing of the changes in seasons has always been fascinating, especially that metamorphosis from winter to spring. There's nothing like a great winter...the crispness of the air, the clarity of the views, the lack of insects and humidity plus the silence. Exactly at the moment that we all start to crave greenness in the hills, the season changes to spring. In the beginning the change is so subtle that it almost doesn't get noticed. Once we do notice it though, it feels as if only a couple of wee...
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
  After a weekend of non stop rain since Saturday afternoon, you'd think we'd be all bummed out. But, you'd be wrong. We did have a good time at the Greening Up the Mountains Festival in Sylva on Saturday seeing all kinds of friends out doing the same thing. In spite of the torrential downpours yesterday, I had a good day of showing property and still had several hours for good stuff.  So, I think it seems safe to say we are pulling out of the rain and into the mystic.   There are several projects I'm working on...continuing to work towards the IMSDesignation (Internet Marketing Specialist) and the inclement weather allowed me to finish homework that I've had to put off while real estate cranks up. I also have a new obsession...hooping. That's right, hooping as in hula hooping. A friend...
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
  Today will be full of shopping local...in spite of the rain. I'm headed out shortly to Bypass Power and Equipment in Waynesville to get repair parts for the John Deere Mower. Then I'll go to the Tractor and Supply in Waynesville (yes, they are nationwide but they do employ a lot of local people) for rear tires...I guess 20 years is all I can expect out of the current tires.     After I get the John Deere stuff out of the way, I get to go to the Historic Waynesville Farmers Market. Time for good locally grown veggies and to start picking up some plant starts for our own garden. I'll have to hurry though, last time I missed them because I didn't get there before noon.   The real heavy rain is supposed to come in after 3pm today but we're all hoping it waits until tonight. The Greening o...
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
We were starting to wonder if we'd see spring at all this year, it seemed like eternal winter lately.  The last two days though have shown us that the sun does know where Western North Carolina is.  The flowers and bugs are responding accordingly and finally we are seeing the break through of little blossoms on the roadside weeds.    Within the next couple of weeks we'll get to see the return of the leaves to the trees.  The annual "Greening Up the Mountains" festival will be held in Sylva on April 27 to celebrate not only Earth Day but the return of the foliage that decorates the mountains and the vapors of which puts the "Smoky" in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.   Not a moment too soon!     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~    
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
  We have a new listing in the Holly Hills neighborhood of Sylva on Joe Pye Lane that we're very excited about.  The seller has done the right thing, making all the repairs and updates first before the listing goes "live".  The landscaping is getting rediscovered and shown off to its best advantage.  There are all kinds of special plants and trees on the property.     What do you suppose this tree is?  The limbs and branches are so curly.  I'm glad I got to see it before the leaves started growing.
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
Just when we think that it's safe to pack away some of the sweaters, Mother Nature decides it is time for a practical joke on the humans. Tomorrow afternoon into evening, we can expect a little snow overnight here in Sylva, NC.   Until Spring decides to fullyburst forth..I'll have to be content to look over some of the spring and summer shots from last year.  This little barn has been on Greens Creek for longer than we've lived here.       The barn never ages and the whole property is just as immaculate as it was 28 years ago. It's pretty obvious that someone takes a lot of pride in their property and the barn is pretty as a picture no matter what season.  This photo was taken on the kind of spring day that I wish was happening tomorrow. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
  Sometimes if you don't go ahead and take advantage of a good photo op, then you might as well look at yourself in the rear view mirror, call yourself a horse's ass and just get it over with.  Some things won't happen more than once and you'll end up cussing yourself out later.   This photo was taken in the Betty's Creek area and originally posted in 2011.  I remember being so tickled to catch the shot and to not be calling myself a horse's ass today (at least not for this reason).  When I drove by this same area last week the horses were gone and the little building was a shambles.       Timing is everything.
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
  On the way up to a house to pick up our lockbox and sign, I passed Buchanan Farms.  There's almost always something going on around there with either cows, horses or goats.  This time, there were goats with kids.  I pulled over and walked to the fence and immediately the mom goat and two kids walked over.  Within seconds all the goats came to join them and visit for a minute.       Only the bold Buchanan Billy actually stepped on the fence!  Guess there was no electrical current passing through or else that was one tough goat!  Buchanan Billy was taller than me and looked me right in the eye as I was taking the photos.  I remember hearing from friends with goats that goats are natural athletes and great jumpers.  Whoa...that would be awkward to have Buchanan Billy join me on the roads...
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
  Out of a dozen sheep and lambs on the farm on East Cope Creek Road yesterday, there was only one black sheep. Seeing that there was only one black sheep reminded me of a bad riddle...       Why do black sheep eat less than white sheep?  There are less of them!  Buh dum cha.                
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
  Yesterday was a beautiful day to show houses.  The sun was out for the first time in days and the temperature was in the 50s.  Everywhere we passed pasture land, there were farm animals out enjoying the sun too.   As we headed out on East Cope Creek Road in Sylva, my client and I spied little sheeplets with their mothers and extended families.  I'll have to get back out there again in a couple of days before they grow up to be sheepnagers...  ;-D   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
  Only another REALTOR will understand that sometimes the less expensive listings can turn out to take the largest investment in time.  For the right sellers, it is worth the effort.   We've had the listing at 58 Shadow Ridge, off and on, for quite a long time.  I say off and on because our seller had been the beneficiary of a less than stellar developer so every time we came up against an obstacle to a successful sale, we'd pull it off the market until the issue was resolved.  I can't begin to tell you all of the On The Job Training we got with this listing.  The seller wasn't even aware of any of these issues....she honestly thought that she had completely legal access to well and septic.  How could she know that she didn't have the proper road right of way to her property?  This type...
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
  The New Year began with a bang this year...very high energy, lots of real estate biz going on.  I needed music today that captured that high energy and it's here with Blood, Sweat and Tears.  Teenage years are complicated memories, most often you remember the separation between the teen and the family...complete disagreements about the teen's choice of friends, fashion and music.  Certain things though clarify memories, music being one.  I can remember being in the family car and my Dad liking music like Blood, Sweat and Tears...Chicago...Sergio Mendez, groups that crossed over from teen "pop" charts to apparently young parents!   It's been years since I thought about Blood, Sweat and Tears...the group anyway...I often feel like I'm expending the same liquid profusion in the course of...
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By Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.
(MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)
  When I showed our new listing today at 100 New Hope Drive in Sylva, I was thinking about how close this house is located to Western Carolina University and all the school has to offer.  Not only could someone who worked or went to school at WCU get there in about 10 minutes, but WCU offers all kinds of fine entertainment on campus.  Later this month, I'm going to go see Savion Glover who is considered to be one of the best tap dancers in the world at the Fine and Performing Arts Center.  WCU also offers all kinds of plays, music, lectures and movies.   The house at 100 New Hope Drive has been completely refurbished by the seller who just happens to be a general contractor.  From floor to ceiling, everything got a new face!  New flooring, paint, deck and stairway.  There are three bedr...
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