If you are thinking about renovating your Cashiers real estate there couldn’t be a better time.  Interest rates are low, there is a surplus of materials (driving prices down), and contactors are vying for work which is making their costs less expensive than they have been in years.  In other words, if you have the money or the means to borrow the money, renovating your Cashiers home today could make sense.

Kitchens and bathrooms remain popular rooms for remodeling.  If you are going to remodel any part of your home it might be a good idea to look at current trends, especially if you are looking to sell your Cashiers home.  Clean, sleek lines as well as energy efficiency are popular in today’s newer homes.  Sit down and do some research before remodeling to get the best return on the investment that you have in your Cashiers NC real estate.

Click here to read a recent article from Realty Times regarding current remodeling trends for the kitchen.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the Highlands/Cashiers NC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

Go hiking with the Nantahala Hiking Club in Cashiers NC this weekend. The hike will begin mid morning on Saturday, August 21st, with all interested hikers meeting at the Cashiers Wachovia Bank at 10 a.m.  This hike will be on the historic Chattooga River Trail, a hiking trail that extends into South Carolina and Georgia.  The hike will be six miles in length, spanning from Whiteside Cove Road to the Iron Bridge.  Call 828-743-1079 for more information or to reserve your spot on the hike.  All hikers are welcome to join this fabulous Cashiers hike.

Cashiers North Carolina is a beautiful setting in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains.  Hiking in Cashiers offers spectacular scenery, including mountain tops, flora and fauna, waterfalls and rivers.  A spectacular spot for a vacation, Cashiers also offers a wonderful lifestyle for those who choose to call it home.

For more information about Cashiers NC and the opportunities that exist here please do not hesitate to give us a call today.

Click here to learn more about the Chattooga River Trail.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the Highlands/Cashiers NC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

There is free music outdoors in Cashiers NC every Friday afternoon.  Rain or shine, Groovin’ on the Green is a happening event on the Village Commons from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. each Friday through October 1st.  Whether you live in Cashiers or are visiting the area feel free to bring your blanket and/or chairs, a picnic and your family and friends to enjoy this weekly community event.

Cashiers is a wonderful place to spend the summer and Groovin’ on the Green is just one way to experience the sense of community that is alive in this special place.  Many of the local restaurants offer meals to go for these special Friday afternoons.  For more information on Groovin’ on the Green call 828-743-1630 or click here.

Want to learn more about life in Cashiers North Carolina?  Contact us today.  Cashiers offers a fabulous quality of life in a naturally beautiful mountain setting.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the Highlands/Cashiers NC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

If you have a vacation home that you had hoped to retire to some day but have since changed your mind, don’t jump to sell it…consider renting it out instead.

For many, it seemed like a great idea to buy that vacation home or condo 20 years ago.   The plan was to vacation in the mountains as often as possible, then some day sell your primary residence and retire  to Highlands or Cashiers.   But lifestyle changes or financial situations might now be causing you to consider selling it instead.

However, as a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have seen many clients successfully rent their retirement home instead of selling it.  Author Christine Karpinski, director of Owner Community for HomeAway.com (HomeAway.com), offers some good reasons to consider renting your second home:

1. Circumstances have changed. Maybe grandchildren have arrived on the scene and you can’t bear the thought of moving hundreds of miles away from them. Or your parents are in poor health and need you nearby.

2. You’ve suddenly realized there’s no place like home and you’ve simply changed your mind. You’ve decided you like being near your friends and you don’t want to leave your current community.   Renting your second home out during the time you are not staying there makes it financially feasible to keep both homes.

3. You’ve decided to “retire” from retirement.   Nowadays, it’s not unusual for people to test-drive retirement and find that it’s just not for them.   Work can provide many rich rewards—structure, social interaction, mental stimulation, a sense of purpose, and so forth—that people keenly miss when they retire. And, let’s be honest—sometimes people simply can’t afford to retire.

4. Your fixed income hasn’t kept up with your lifestyle.  Even when you’re happy to give up the daily grind of your job, losing the paycheck that comes with it can be pretty painful.  Factor in inflation, rising taxes, and unexpected “new” expenses, and you may find that what seemed like a manageable cost of living five years ago doesn’t seem that way anymore.  Your second home, even if it’s paid for, may start looking like a liability due to property taxes, homeowner’s association dues, and maintenance costs. Not if you rent it out, says Karpinski. Then it becomes a source of new income.

So don’t give up and seek to unload your Highlands or Cashiers second home just yet!    There are still many ways to make this investment pay off. For more information on renting or buying a second, potential retirement home, please send an email to info@meadowsmtnrealty.com or give us a call at 828-526-1717.    We have a great rental department with a rental website at www.renthighlandsnc.com.

If you’re looking to sell or refinance your home, you know that a home appraisal is a necessary step in the process.  Even though the value of your home may not be as high as it once was, it is important for homeowners to be realistic when it comes to getting their home appraised.

As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I know how vital it is to list your home at the right price.  Although price is only a part of marketing, it is important and having an appraisal done is the first step toward making the  pricing decision.

Here are 10 ways to prepare for a home appraisal:

1. The appraiser will need approximately 30 minutes to one hour to complete the inspection phase of the appraisal process, which includes: exterior photos of the front and rear of the home and a photo of the street in front of the property; measurements of the exterior of the home, garage and any outbuildings; a walk-through inspection of all rooms and levels of the interior of the home, including the basement.
2. Get organized. Put together a checklist that will help you get ready for your appraisal.
3. Be flexible when scheduling the appointment.
4. If possible, have a copy of your home’s floorplan to help verify measurements and lot size.
5. Provide a list of improvements made to the property since the purchase.  Include improvements like adding a deck, updating your kitchen or bathroom, and any room additions, etc.
6. Allow your appraiser access to the entire property, including access to any crawl space or attic areas.
7. Keep in mind that a clean home makes a good impression. Be sure to trim the lawn, clean our garage, repair cracked windows or torn screens, check for leaky faucets and secure gutters and down spouts before your appraisal.
8. Point out any amenities that may not be obvious to the appraiser:  patios,  security systems,  vacuum, etc.
9. Provide a copy of last year’s tax assessment information.
10. Know what year the house was built and when improvements were made.
Following these steps will go a long way toward making the home appraisal process a bit easier.  For more information on home appraisals and preparing your home for sale, please email us at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com. 

If you are looking for your real estate  in Highlands NC or Cashiers NC, please give any of the brokers at Meadows Mountain Realty a call at 866-526-3558.  Visit our website at www.meadowsmtnrealty.com

Antique your heart out in Cashiers NC this weekend.  Running through Sunday, July 25,  the 34th annual Cashiers Benefit Antique Show is taking place at the Blue Ridge School, today from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The annual show has some of the finest antiques form around the country and represents exhibitors from 13 states.  There is an $8 donation at the door which is good for all three days of the show.

Cashiers North Carolina is an area of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains with a great deal going on.  On any given weekend there is a music festival, culinary event, art show, workshop or outdoor event, certain to entertain, educate or elate.  If you like antiques this particular show in Cashiers is a great opportunity to widen your exposure.  Make a last minute trip and get to know Cashiers NC.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the Highlands/Cashiers NC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

The Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival kicked off  Friday, July 9, with a performance at the Highlands Performing Arts Center.  The Attacca Quartet & William Ransom played  in the Highlands NC venue.  

This is the 29th annual Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival and there is no greater venue for a chamber music festival than the gorgeous setting that Highlands and Cashiers provide.  The majestic backdrop of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains offer incredible outdoor activities by day, whether you choose hiking, biking, horseback riding or golfing, and wonderful dining and music by night.  The Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival runs through August 15th.

Click here to see a full schedule of concerts and learn more from the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival website.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the Highlands/Cashiers NC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

Stopping at a farmers market in Cashiers North Carolina is a must-do.  The Cashiers Farmers Market has been in operation since 1995, quickly becoming an area favorite.  Offering local fare and everything that one would expect to find at a farmers market, Cashiers is accented by this great place to buy simple food and gourmet items.

Who doesn’t love a farmers market, a place to stop and pick up fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, breads, dairy products, fresh cut flowers and unique items.  Each farmers market is similar yet unique and always fulfilling to stop and check out.   In addition to fresh produce, the Cashiers Farmers Market also offers the best barbeque in the area and a great selection of fresh baked breads and sweets.    If you are in Cashiers NC, the Cashiers Farmers Market is well worth a stop.  Open for business on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, April through December, there is plenty of opportunity to peruse fresh fare in Cashiers North Carolina.

Click here to visit the website for the Cashiers Farmers Market.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the Highlands/Cashiers NC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

Cashiers North Carolina is an ideal location for listening to music, the natural backdrop better than any theatre could possibly provide.  On Saturday and Sunday, July 2 and 3, Cashiers will come alive musically for the annual Cashiers Mountain Music Festival, a feast for the ears for any bluegrass lover.  This year’s musical talent includes the Steep Canyon Rangers, Corduroy Road and Lizzy Long to name a few. 

The Cashiers Mountain Music Festival is a family event, complete with a “Kids Zone”, car show, and food.  The event will conclude with a fantastic fireworks display on Saturday evening.  Proceeds from the music festival help promote music for the youth of Cashiers NC through the Cashiers Preservation Foundation.

Click here to purchase tickets or find out more information about the Cashiers Mountain Music Festival.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the Highlands/Cashiers NC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

Art will be abundance in Cashiers NC next weekend, June 26 through 27.  The Sapphire Valley Athletic Field will host the 20th annual SVMA Arts & Crafts Show Series that showcases a variety of art, food, and music.  Folk art, jewelry, contemporary art, stained glass, wood carvings and more will be a part of this festival, one of three annual art shows a year held at the Sapphire Valley Resort.

Sapphire Valley Resort is a spectacular setting for an art show, with the stunning beauty of the Blue Ride Mountains as a backdrop.  Make a weekend of it and incorporate hiking, mountain biking or horseback riding into your festive schedule.  Mark your calendar and head to Cashiers for the weekend of June 26 and 27.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the Highlands/Cashiers NC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.