Archive for October, 2007

Western North Carolina - A Luxury Mountain Getaway

Monday, October 29th, 2007

North Carolina is known as a golfer’s paradise, and although Western North Carolina (WNC) is filled with mountains there are plenty of quality golf courses to pick from. With courses always a few miles from your home, you will have no trouble spending an entire day on the green. The Cliffs, probably the most famous of the golf courses in the area, is a community with pro-played golf courses. It also has courses that have been designed by golf masters including Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.

There are also seven ski slopes in WNC, and one more not too far away in Gatlinburg, T.N. With terrains available for all abilities there is the perfect ski resort for you.

If you’re more into fishing or boating, there are over ten lakes in the area and four major rivers.

But what if you’d rather shop than get your hands dirty? Then you can take your pick of quaint mountain towns and cities to shop in. WNC is a hot spot for mountain arts and crafts, so much of what you find in the area is locally-made products.

With golf courses, ski slopes, and lakes abundantly dotting the area, WNC is a prime spot for luxury mountain real estate. And Your Dream Community is here to help you find the right spot for you.

While much of the nation’s real estate is declining in value, Asheville, N.C. and the surrounding areas’ real estate values are remaining steady. If you have ever considered buying real estate in WNC, now is the time to make your move.

There has been a steady rise in the amount of luxury mountain communities in the area, so there are plenty of choices to pick from. Pick a location in the area and there will be the right luxury community for you.

How’s Brevard sound? Home to an annual White Squirrel Festival, this small mountain town is a hub of arts and crafts and waterfalls. Or how about Balsam Mountain Preserve? This 4,400-acre preserve will never have anymore than 354 homes in it, so time is of an essence when looking for a home in this community.

Take your pick of locations, and you will find the luxury mountain community that you have been dreaming of. And Your Dream Community will be there to help you find it with ease and pleasure.

Asheville, N.C. - Best Of The City & Country Combined

Monday, October 29th, 2007

Asheville offers the best of both worlds: the city and the country.

Downtown Asheville is a pedestrian-friendly city that features mostly independently-owned businesses. These businesses offer a variety of services and products, ranging from a college-student’s to an upscale traveler’s budget.

And, yet, when you’re in Asheville, you’re always a hop, skip and a jump away from an outdoor adventure.

To the east of the city lies Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain peak east of the Rocky Mountains. This peak is named after the professor who calculated the mountain’s height and died on a second trip to the mountain.

To the west are the Great Smoky Mountains. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States, with eight to ten million visitors a year.

To the north, less than 100 miles away, is Blowing Rock. Blowing Rock, North Carolina’s oldest travel attraction since 1933, is an immense cliff 4,000 feet above sea level. Also to the north is Grandfather Mountain, a globally-recognized nature preserve. Known to many as a refuge for the human spirit, this preserve is also the highest mountain peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

To the south, is the Chimney Rock State Park and Lake Lure, where the famous 80s movie Dirty Dancing was filmed. Chimney Rock, which is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is a 315-foot granite monolith accessible by foot or elevator.

At all of these outdoor attractions are inns, chalets and other lodgings nearby that offer concierge and other upscale services, which assures that your stay will be exciting as well as luxurious.

A Guide to Leaf Looking in Western NC

Friday, October 26th, 2007

One of the great things about Asheville, N.C. is its relatively easy access to all kinds of nature. No matter where you are in Asheville, you are only miles away from driving onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. And the Blue Ridge Parkway is the best spot to watch the leaves change colors.

When you decide to have a day of autumn leaf changing, make sure you and your vehicle are properly prepared for the trip. Have a full tank of gas and your car in tip-top condition. And have lots of water and snacks in your vehicle so that you’re hydrated and full of energy. Also make sure that you have layers of clothing because the weather can change suddenly in the mountains.

Some of the highest peaks in the Appalachian Mountain Chain are in Western North Carolina. Grandfather Mountain (5,938 feet) and Mount Mitchell (6,684 feet) are just a few of them. The color season typically lasts from late September until early November, depending upon the weather.

Most leaf-looking trips are all day ventures. If you don’t want to spend the rest of the night driving back to your hotel, then it’s advisable to book a room in a local hotel located off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

One good day-long trip is to take the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville to Cheroke, N.C. Then from Cherokee take US-19 to Gatlinburg, T.N. This is a good leisurely trip that winds around mountains and gives you many opportunities to pause at outlooks and gaze over trees, leaves, and mountains. There are also many trails along the parkway that you can hike if you get tired of setting in a car all day. Cherokee is a good resting spot, but don’t get stuck there too long, there is plenty more leaves to be seen. The drive from Cherokee to Gatlinburg is a bit different from the first half of the trip. The tiny winding roads put you right beside rivers and falling leaves, and the slow speed limit of 35 makes it easier to really look at the scenery.

Or, if you don’t want to spend all day in a car, then you can take a leaf-gazing tour. These tours are set from the comfort of river boats. The tours are six to eight hours long and take you along rivers in Western North Carolina.

Why Asheville, N.C. is always voted in the top 10

Friday, October 26th, 2007

On “Top 10″ lists ranging from Frommer’s to Conde Nast, to Relocate-America.com to Southern Living, Asheville is becoming everyone’s ultimate destination.

And there is good reason for this; Asheville has lots to see and to do.

There’s the 112 year-old Biltmore House made in the style of French chateaus, the Thomas Wolfe House where the author spent his youth, and the North Carolina Arboretum where you can stroll around for hours gazing at the changing flora.

In downtown Asheville there art galleries, coffeehouses, music venues, and restaurants, which reminds you of a bustling metro but without the rude locals.

Then there is the leaf season. Taking a ride along the Blue Ride Parkway during the fall months will open your eyes to the changing colors of the season and the breathtaking views of Asheville and the surrounding areas.

If you fall absolutely in love with the place, like many people often do, and decide to stick around longer to look at houses, then you will want to know other facts about Asheville.

Much of what makes Asheville popular, other than the great sites to see, is the high quality of life there is in the city. The quality of life is measured by many things, including the job market and the crime rate of the city.

The average house price ranges between 250,000 and 350,000. The main source of income for the city is from its tourist industry, but there are also many other kinds of jobs.

The crime rate is relatively low, the health and environment quality fares pretty well, and there are a range of options to pick from when looking into schools (private, public, charter, and community schools).

So the next time you get tired of the regular hum-drum of your city, take look in to Asheville, N.C.

Your Dream Community is here for you when looking for the right community to fit your specific needs and wants. They are changing the way in which you look for Your Dream Community.

No longer will you have to spend countless hours scouring websites, newspapers and roads looking for Your Dream Community. All you will have to do is tell Your Dream Community what you are looking for: what you want in Your Dream Community. And they will do the searching for you. The final result will be you at ease and in comfort in Your Dream Community as quickly and easily as you desire.

Welcome to Your Dream Community

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

Relaxing, you look over your panoramic view of the range of mountains. The mountains are turning shades of red, orange and crimson. Off in the distance you see the silver, blue and white hints of a waterfall still going strong in the last weeks of the autumn months. Not another house in sight. Just nature.

This is Your Dream Community.

Have you ever wished you could wake up one morning, look around, and realize that you were living in pure comfort?

Your Dream Community will make your dreams come true. No longer will you wake up realizing those orange and crimson mountains were only in your dreams. You will wake up seeing that mountain range surrounding you.

Your Dream Community is changing the way real estate is handled. Working directly with you to find out what exactly it is that you want in a dream home, Your Dream Community is dedicated to making you happy.

We want you to spend less time and energy looking for a home, and more time doing things that you love and enjoy in Your Dream Community.

Let us make your dreams reality.