The Seventh Annual Quick Draw Benefit supporting Art in Haywood County NC Schools, sponsored by the Waynesville Gallery Association, was held last night (April 26th) at the Waynesville Country Club. Local artists set up shop and were given one-hour to create a fresh piece of work while those in attendance were able to wander and watch the works in progress.  Being inspired by the artists, I enjoyed artistically dripping chocolate sauce all over my fresh strawberries and an apricot bar at dinner. Read more of the story HERE.  Mark your calendars for Quick Draw 2009, Saturday, April 25, 2009! Search the Haywood County, NC MLS. BuckingtheRealEstateTrend.com COLDWELL BANKER Kasey & Associates Maggie Valley, Waynesville and beyond Cell: 828.550.3767 Email: susieblackmon@msn.com 04/27/2008

As a follow-up to my Earth Day story the other day about spending several hours with members of our Rotary Club of Waynesville on Earth Day, giving out 1,000 free ‘green’ reusable bags at Ingles Grocery Store in Waynesville, NC, to replace the plastic bags that end up littering our streets, communities, highways and waterways, there was a story this morning about our ‘Earth Day Reusable Bag Giveaway’  that was featured on page 2 of our local newspaper, The Mountaineer. The article is not posted on the paper’s website yet, but I photographed the featured picture for posting… and not just because I was in the picture! Please click right here to see the  Earth Day SLIDE SHOW.Please read more about our Reusable Bags Project on the Waynesville Rotary Club’s website. Read the Citizen-Times A... 04/25/2008

Starbucks will soon (April 28th) be open in Waynesville (hey, this is our very first Starbucks in Haywood County!) and the caffe-aholics are swarming to Ingles to keep an eye on the progress. Practice your ordering - - “I want a triple venti mocha latte with only about half double the chocolate syrup you normally use, with whipped cream, please.” Real Estate Buzz for the day. So far this month we have had 38 closings, 17 homes have gone into escrow, and there are 1,073 active listings in the Haywood County MLS. See the Market Update Chart for 04/24/08.Click here to see the Comparison Market Report for 04/22/08. See First Quarter 2008 Statistics for Haywood County, NC.See Haywood County, NC Real Estate Market Archive. Search the Haywood County, NC MLS. BuckingtheRealEstateTrend.com COLD... 04/23/2008

It was my pleasure yesterday, as a proud member of the Waynesville Rotary Club, to spend several hours with members of our Club yesterday morning (Earth Day), giving out 1,000 free ‘green’ reusable bags at Ingles Grocery Store in Waynesville, NC to replace the plastic bags that end up littering our streets, communities, highways and waterways. Not only did many Haywood County residents come to Ingles on Earth Day, some just to pick up their free ‘green’ reusable bags from us, we were very pleased to be treated to the attention of the local media, including The Mountaineer, Asheville’s Citizen-Times, and WLOS TV. “The Reusable Bags Project is a special project of the Waynesville Rotary Club falling into the Community Service category of the Four Avenues of Service in which all Rotary clu... 04/22/2008

A few blocks from downtown Main Street along Richland Creek in Waynesville, NC you will find a quaint area called Frog Level which is in the midst of a welcome spurt of revitalization, development and entrepreneurial activity. Originally developed as a train depot back in the 1800's, Frog Level is now 'hopping' with new entrepreneurs, and you can now enjoy freshly-brewed coffee, shopping, a massage, visiting the Waynesville Welcome Center, as well as getting a tattoo if you are so inclined! Here are some 'charming' Frog Level sights. A water garden store would be a great addition, don't you think? See another Haywood County (Maggie Valley) slideshow.Search the Haywood County, NC MLS.Broker/RealtorBuckingtheRealEstateTrend.com COLDWELL BANKER Kasey & Associates Maggie Valley, Waynesville... 04/07/2008

Waynesville, NC recorded 20 residential real estate sales in March 2008 as of 03/31, and the numbers reflect higher average listing prices and higher average selling prices than recorded in February 2008, but slightly lower than January 2008 prices. The number of homes on the market in Waynesville as of March 31 is 494. Absorption Rate Click here to read about Waynesville's absorption rate/inventory numbers. Source: MLS. Data deemed reliable but, not guaranteed. See the Waynesville, NC Homes on Market by Price Range as of 03/22/08. See other Waynesville, NC Real Estate Information. Search the Haywood County, NC MLS. Broker/RealtorBuckingtheRealEstateTrend.com COLDWELL BANKER Kasey & Associates Maggie Valley, Waynesville and beyond Cell: 828.550.3767 Email: susieblackmon@msn.com 03/31/2008

It's Easter Sunday, 2008. Easter arrived very early this year, and it seems like a lot of us were not quite prepared. I found myself running around at the last minute, getting the ingredients together for Easter dinner. We elected to go non-traditional this year. My mother was Italian, and I make a great homemade sauce, so I am making meatballs, Italian sausage, pasta and a nice salad. It takes a lot of preparation, so I had to start early in the morning. I lke for the sauce to simmer for at least six hours, so the meat absorbs all of the goodness, so I started early. Once in the pot, it simmers on it's own so I can go about the normal Easter morning activities. Without getting too preachy, it is, after all, a time for spiritual reflection. When I think of the beauty of creation, I alwa... 03/23/2008

Real estate information for Waynesville today, with 490 homes in the active listings, reflects that the demand for homes in Waynesville at the present time, as in Maggie Valley, equates to a Buyer's Market.  There have been 49 closings in Waynesville since January 1, 2008, and at the moment there are 5 Waynesville homes in escrow.  Will the Easter Bunny bring a basket full of Buyers? Source: MLS. Data deemed reliable but, not guaranteed. See Waynesville Homes for Sale by Price Range as of 03/22/08. See other Waynesville Real Estate Information. SEARCH THE Western North Carolina MLS! BuckingtheRealEstateTrend.com COLDWELL BANKER Kasey & Associates Maggie Valley, Waynesville and beyond Cell: 828.550.3767 Email: susieblackmon@msn.com 03/22/2008

Waynesville, NC closings during 2008 are down 32.9% compared to the same period in 2007. Average listing and selling prices for the closed transactions are down only 2.1% and 5.2%, respectively, when compared to the same period of 2007. However, the average listing price of the 478 active listings today in Waynesville is $385,886. Wow… the most recent average selling price figure (01/01/08 - 03/19/08) is $243,332. When the current listing prices more correctly reflect today’s market, the sales will increase.See the numbers: Waynesville NC March 2008 Real Estate Statistics.See the Maggie Valley NC March 2008 Real Estate Statistics. See the Haywood County NC Residential Real Estate Sales Update of 03/17/08. Search the Haywood County, NC MLS.  BuckingtheRealEstateTrend.com COLDWELL BANKER ... 03/19/2008

Last week I walked into Ingles Grocery Store in Waynesville (off of Russ Avenue) and was shocked to find a big sign, and a designated “future Starbucks area,” loudly announcing the imminent arrival of Starbucks. For those who think Waynesville, NC is not going to be a progressive town with a delicious small-town flavor… here’s your sign!Read more about Starbucks coming to Waynesville NC.BuckingtheRealEstateTrend.com COLDWELL BANKER Kasey & Associates Maggie Valley, Waynesville and beyond Cell: 828.550.3767 Email: susieblackmon@msn.com 03/07/2008

There were 22 residential real estate sales in Waynesville, NC during the month of February 2008. The average asking as well as average selling prices in Waynesville were the lowest for Waynesville of the 6 months reflected on this report. The number of homes on the market in Waynesville this morning totals 470. The listing prices of homes on the real estate market in Waynesville today range from $59,000 to $3,950,000. The average asking price of all 470 active listings in Waynesville today is $384,157, with an average of 190 days on the market. See the Absorption Rate for Waynesville, NC. Source: MLS. Data deemed reliable but, not guaranteed. Maggie Valley, NC Residential Real Estate Sales - February 2008. Haywood County, NC Residential Real Estate Sales - February 2008. Search the Ha... 03/06/2008

Beautiful downtown Waynesville, NC is quaint, charming, and unique, and the shopping on Waynesville’s downtown Main Street is easy, convenient, pleasant, entertaining, and tempting, and can certainly work up an appetite! One of my favorite places to satisfy that shopping appetite is Whitman’s Bakery.Whitman’s Bakery is located at 18 N. Main Street in Waynesville, and their phone number is 828-456-8271. Call in an order! Read more and drool more here.    BuckingtheRealEstateTrend.com COLDWELL BANKER Kasey & Associates Maggie Valley, Waynesville and beyond Cell:  828.550.3767 Email:  susieblackmon@msn.com Search for Haywood County property!  02/27/2008

The chart located on the link below reflects how long the 388 homes that sold in Waynesville, NC in 2007 were on the market, by sold price range, according to the Haywood County MLS. The lowest priced home that sold in Waynesville, NC in 2007 was $66,100; the highest priced home that sold in Waynesville, NC was $1,250,000 (there were a total of 2 homes that sold in the $1mil and up range in Waynesville, NC in 2007). The average listing price in 2007 for Waynesville, NC was $283,277, and the average selling price was $269,077. The average number of days on market for homes that sold in Waynesville, NC in 2007 was 146.See the chart:   As of Monday morning (February 18), there were 456 homes for sale in Waynesville, NC.  BuckingtheRealEstateTrend.com COLDWELL BANKER Kasey & Associates Magg... 02/18/2008

 $269,000 for this home? You will have to see it for yourself to believe what kind of deal this is! Join Broker Lorrie Jenkins for an Open House on Monday February 4, 2008 from 11:30-2pm. Homemade Lunch will be provided!Location! Location!! This beautiful contemporary home is close to downtown Waynesville. Offers a private feel. It is like NEW on a generous size lot of almost 1 acre - so there's lots of room to roam. 3BD and BONUS ROOM! Nice level yard, custom painted walls, granite counter tops, large pantry and custom cabinets. Contact us for more information on this baragain! 02/03/2008

01/16/2008

Last night was "Wrap packages for Sarge's" night in downtown Waynesville. Sarge's is an animal rescue operation... they find foster homes for animals until a new home can be found.  A cause close to my heart.  While my friend Bonnie and I were wrapping presents, we 'met' a beautiful puppy (named "Tiny") who was rescued by Sarge's!  Here she is in her red Christmas sweater!!The quaint charm of Waynesville's downtown Main Street was twinkling everywhere with lights and musicians and special treats in the stores... yes, more food for the Holidays!  While we were visiting Deja View Gallery (a "must see"), we enjoyed "several charming critters...." Soon after we wrapped gifts and garnered donations for Sarge's, and shopped a little, off we went to Nick and Nate's for a delicious dinner (more... 12/16/2007

We have a famous candy maker right here in Haywood County, and sometimes the locals are so low key that they do not tout the praise and accolades heaped on this special business.  It is worth the trip to drive to Waynesville, NC to visit Steeplechase.  Great Thanksgiving and Christmas offerings to share with friends, family, and loved ones.     10/28/2007