In some real estate markets today, it is very expensive to buy a detached single family home. What 's more, many people do not want the responsibility and work associated with owning a home and surrounding land. A great solution to these problems in many cases is the purchase of a condominium. Condos allow people to be homeowners without many of the pricy drawbacks. There are several things to consider though before deciding whether a condo is the right choice for you. First, take a look at the benefits of buying a condo. Condos are almost always more affordable than single family units. This is because you are essentially splitting a lot of the home-owning costs with your neighbors. Individually you own the space within your own walls, but collectively you own the exterior and common a... 09/09/2008

If you're selling your home, you're probably aware that there are more homes for sale in Hickory, NC than there are home buyers, giving buyers the opportunity to be a little selective about choosing a new home. Price, location, and quality are important, but when checking out your home, buyers are also looking at the style of each room. Not all buyers possess the ability to see past your decor to envision renovating your home to fit their individual style. The following home staging ideas will help buyers see themselves living in your home. What Style is Your home? If your home has "gone country," "high-tech modern," or any other specific style, it may be costing you the sale. Buyers usually shy away from homes decorated in a too specific style. The only thing worse to buyers than a hom... 09/09/2008

Think you are ready to buy a new home? It 's not as easy as visiting a few open houses and rifling through pictures online. Before you take the plunge, consider some of the following questions to help guide you through the complex process of buying a home. home buying is a big financial investment. There are a number of things you can do to make the buying process enjoyable and successful. 1. Is this the right time for me to buy? Besides taking the current real estate market into account, give some intense thought to your own situation and lifestyle. Buying a house is one of the biggest financial investments you will make. Not only that, but it 's a time investment as well. If you're unhappy at your current job or in your current city of residence, buying a house might not be a wise opt... 09/09/2008

In the world of real estate, there seem to be basically two types of markets that fluctuate with time. These are the sellers market and the buyers market. If you lived through the housing boom of the early twenty-first century you will be familiar with a sellers market, a time when there are more home buyers than sellers and plenty of competition for properties. Prices tend to be elevated and homes sell very quickly, sometimes even within hours of a listing. But what is a buyers market and how can you make the most of it? A buyers market occurs when there are more home sellers than there are buyers. This means that there is an excess of inventory on the housing industry with longer selling periods. Consequently, sellers must compete against each other and new home builders for precious ... 09/09/2008

Buying a house and relocating is exciting. There 's just something about those first weeks of exploring your new neighborhood. It 's just one of the many things the adventure of house buying offers. Location is important, and it 's one of the first things you should think about when choosing a home. Of course, the value of the property is an important consideration with location, but where you live is just as important as the property itself. So, the first thing you should ask yourself is, "Where do I want to live?" The City, The Country, Or Somewhere In Between Your number one consideration is whether you're a city dweller or a country lover at heart. Don't let romantic ideas cloud your vision; you have to live here for a number of years to come. The city is convenient, but it has its ... 09/09/2008

It was a great weekend in the Hickory area as the owners of the new Century 21 American Homes office in Hickory NC opened its doors to the public for the first time. There was food, giveaways and lots of fun to be had at this wonderful celebration. Mayor Rudy Wright and the Catawba Valley Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark this great event on Friday evening and the party continued through Saturday. Hopefully this will be a great location for us since the new office is strategically placed on US HWY 70 in Hickory close to I-40. The office is located right across from the Olive Garden and next to the "famous" Hickory Furniture Mart" If anyone is in the area and would like to stop by feel free to check out this great new facility. 09/06/2008

NW Hickory Townhouse 2433 1st Street NW Unit 12, Hickory, NC 28601 View Map Lovely two story townhouse with two bedrooms, each with their own private bath, and one half bath. Living room has prefinished hardwood floors and crown molding. All kitchen appliances are included. This home is READY TO MOVE IN ! Details Asking Price: $ 94,900 MLS: 9541576 Sq. Feet: 1276 Lot Size: .02 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2.1 # of Floors: 2 HOA/Maintenance Fees: 79.00 Garage Size: n/a Subdivision: North Pointe Year Built: 1982 Contact InfoMichael Kelly, Jr. REALTOR/EcoBroker, GRI, CRS Dir 828-234-0479 Email | Website 09/05/2008

With the Olympics now over in Beijing, I'm reminded of how in real estate there can be both winners and losers.  Certainly today in my local market BUYERS are supreme.  Why....because: 1) BUYERS have more inventory in which to choose from in order to make the right selection. 2) BUYERS can buy MORE home for the same amount of money. 3) BUYERS have greater leverage in which to negotiate the offer to purchase. 4) BUYERS can ask for more incentives and/or personal property, etc.. 5) BUYERS can better dictate the conditions of closing. But why can't there be TWO winners?  In this highly competitive (Buyer's) market we as seller's agents are tested as to how well we navigate our clients to a reasonable conclusion.  I believe that agents who have learned finesse and assurance can successfull... 08/25/2008

Early in 2008, the City of Hickory's Public Art Commission began the search for local artists to participate in a new program called "Art On The Bench". Artists submitted designs for the benches and the PAC made 21 colorful choices.  The benches are now complete and placed at various locations around Hickory. Here are the first 4 benches located in beautiful downtown Hickory on Union Square.  I will be sharing the other benches in Part 2 and Part 3 since I am still trying to locate them all..   Vickie Jo Franks created this folk art sun and floral design. It's hard to see in my photo but it reads  "Please Do Not Litter" on the bottom of the bench.         Matthew Ninemire painted this bench with musical symbols and overlapping concentric circles.           This is probably one of my fav... 08/23/2008

I have just returned from a trip to Park City, UT and discovered that the real estate market there is somewhat depressed.  I was amazed to see numerous developments that had begun brisk construction a couple of years ago, only to come to a "grinding halt" today.  But I must admit the agent I spoke with merchandised market conditions beautifully by saying that homes in the development were in "varying degrees of construction", so I could purchase one based upon my current needs.  ( She must have taken PUFFING 101 ).  Nevertheless, I returned home to our mediocre market here ( NORTH CAROLINA ) and resumed my pursuit of  listing and selling in order to help stimulate this market.  So the question is......................WHERE ARE THE ACTIVE REAL ESTATE MARKETS???  I would love to hear from... 08/22/2008

What is the average home price in your market? The average price homes sell for in Hickory, NC is $149,900. Are there any new developments or trends in your area? Hickory, NC is an ever changing, growing, and developing area! One of our more recent accomplishments in Hickory, NC is that Hickory has been recognized nationally as the "All American City" in the entire United States! While winning this prestigious award once would be an honor, receiving this national award three times is a testament to the great city that Hickory, NC really is! Residents of Hickory, NC graciously receive this honor, and are proud to be a Hickory, NC resident! Being named an All-America City brings many benefits to a community including national recognition and helps build the economic base. Why do you enjo... 08/14/2008

It’s impossible to channel surf without seeing at lease a dozen shows about “flipping” houses! But before you “flip out” on flipping, consider the pros and cons of flipping vs. renting. Both flipping and renting are excellent ways to build wealth. The main difference between the two is whether your are looking for “quick cash” from a flip, or whether you seek to build equity through the long-term ownership of renting your property. The first step of a flip is to purchase a home in need of some minor repairs, at a bargain price. Once the offer has been accepted, it is wise to develop a timeline by which to adhere to after closing. After closing, the real work begins! Ideally, the changes you make to the property will be primarily cosmetic, and will require very little structural changes.... 08/12/2008

QUESTION: We are from North Idaho (Coeurd'Alene). The winters here are soooo long, grey, cold and with a lot of snow. We dont have a lot of humidity here an average of about 30-40 % all year long. We've never been to the south east. We started going on line and looking up towns with more sunshine, mild winters and not a lot of population. We came up with Hickory NC . It looks so beautiful there. I have several questions and hope someone can answer them. First of all is there any snow in the winter, does it get below freezing, is there a lot of cloudy days in the winter, a lot of rain, how many sunny days in the winter??? As far as summer months...........It looks as if it rains about 4-5 inches every month all year long. Is this true??? On average, how ... 08/11/2008

Whether your are thinking about moving a family or business, Hickory, NC has it all – calm climate with four seasons that are as distinct as they are mild, excellent employment opportunities, low cost of living, diverse culture, and an endless array of recreational opportunities. Living in any area local to Catawba is simply an unparalleled lifestyle. Regardless of what brings you to Hickory, one thing is for sure – very few people choose to leave Hickory! Hickory, NC is an excellent place to relocate to! With Hickory's low cost of living, there is a good chance that your dollar goes further in Hickory than you are used to! We recommend researching the Hickory area via our website to choose which part of Hickory you would like to live in. There are many types of homes in the Hickory are... 08/07/2008

Hickory NC is a pretty diverse area, a medium sized city with small town charm and friendly folks. Beautiful surroundings at the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains but still an easy commute to Charlotte NC. We have recreation areas, Lake Hickory and a short drive to Lake Norman and Lake James. The community and the Economic Development Commission has certainly been seeking new markets to bring jobs and divesity to our area.. Catawba County NC which includes Hickory, Newton and Conover recently landed a large Target warehouse which is currently under construction  and Convergys - a 450 person call center.  My personal fave since I am a decorator is  - Sutter Street  Mfg - a subsidiary of the national home furnishings retailer Williams-Sonoma Inc., that will open a product development, regi... 07/31/2008

    In Hickory, NC there are two things that you will find more prevelant than in many other cities - history and cultural arts.There are plenty of opportunities to feed your soul in Hickory. Escape into the magical world of theatre, music and dance by attending one of our many arts performances. Sit back and let your heart be enlivened. Acoustic Stage 828-324-5951 This all-volunteer, non-profit organization annually presents 25 concerts and performances by nationally known artists. Recognized nationally as one of the country's top 10 legendary performance venues by USAirways' Attaché. Performances are held at the Arts & Science Center Auditorium, or for smaller crowds, at the Hickory Community Theatre Firemen's Kitchen. The Green Room Community Theatre 828-464-6128 Performing in the N... 07/25/2008

    Hickory Metro Chamber of Commerce Websites Catawba County Chamber of Commerce Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce Alexander County Chamber Of Commerce Hickory Metro City Websites City of Conover City of Hickory City Of Maiden City Of Morganton City of Newton Catawba County Websites Catawba County Catawba County Council for the Arts Catawba County Economic Development Corporation Catawba County Genealogical Association Catawba County Historical Association Catawba Valley Community College Catawba Valley Heritage Alliance Local Area Website Resources Burke County Travel And Tourism Downtown Morganton Greater Hickory Metro Hickory Downtown Development Association Hickory Metro Higher Education Center Hickory Metro Sports Commission Hickory Public Library Hickory Regional Airport Lenoi... 07/25/2008

      Geography Catawba County and Hickory, NC are located in Western part of North Carolina situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Official elevation of the county is 1140 feet. We are one hour east of the Mountains and 4 ½ hours west of the Atlantic Ocean. General Information Largest City: Hickory Avg. Annual rainfall: 49 inches Avg. annual snowfall: 9.6 inches Avg. relative humidity: 74% Avg. January High Temp.: 48 degrees Avg. July High Temp.: 87 degrees Sunshine an avg. 300 days a year County Seat: Newton Population (October 2005) Catawba County: 149,032 Hickory Metropolitan MSA: 351,715 Median age: 36.4 Minority population (2000 Census): 25,359 *Includes Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba Counties Source: NC Office of State Planning 2004 Economic Indicators A... 07/25/2008

      Planning a Meeting or Convention is as easy as 1...2...3   1.  Big City Amenities! The Hickory Metro area is the ideal full-service meeting destination in North Carolina. We offer more than 1950 hotel rooms, the 75,000 square foot Hickory Metro Convention Centers and a variety of other meeting sites. An abundance of local attractions, a large selection of restaurants and cultural sites and events will help to complement the activities you have planned for your group. The ease and accessiblity of Hickory is also very attractive. Located on Interstate 40 in western North Carolina, the ease and accessibility of Hickory means your function should be well attended. They offer the finest in full and limited-service hotels, which means there are accommodations to fit every budget. 2.  T... 07/25/2008

      Holiday Inn Select Hickory-I-40, Nc 1385 Lenoir Rhyne Blvd. SE Hickory, NC 28602 Nightly Rates: ($95.00 - $141.00) 3 Star Holiday Inn Select Hotel of Hickory is by far the most prestigious hotel property in the thriving Hickory area of North Carolina. As both a lodging and a meeting facility, the award-winning hotel sta... Click for More Info Comfort Suites Hickory 1125 13th Ave Dr SE Hickory, NC 28602 Nightly Rates: ($103.49 - $103.49) 2 Star An all suite property, each with a microwave, coffee maker, hairdryer, refrigerator, sleeper sofa, and iron and ironing board. A FREE hot buffet breakfast is served each day. Hotel is adjacent to the ... Click for More Info Fairfield Inn By Marriott Hickory 1950 13th Avenue Drive Southeast Hickory, NC 28602 Nightly Rates: ($84.00 - $104.00)... 07/25/2008