Happy Valentine’s Day from the Murphy, NC Mountains.During the late 1800s, postage rates around the world dropped, and the obscene St. Valentine's Day card became popular, despite the Victorian era being otherwise very prudish.  As the numbers of racy valentines grew, several countries banned the practice of exchanging Valentine's Day cards.  During this period, Chicago's post office rejected more than 25,000 cards on the grounds that they were so indecent, they were not fit to be carried through the U.S. mail.  In Victorian times it was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine's Day card.  Here are a few not-too racy Valentine’s Day cards from the past…          Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you! For more information about Buying and Selling in Murphy, NC contact Lee & Carol Barbour ~... 02/14/2012

Another Speechless Sunday in the Murphy, NC Mountains... We’ve finally started to get some winter weather here in Cherokee County, NC and at some of the higher elevations they can get much more snow than the valleys and downtown Murphy, NC.  The views from this cabin of the snow topped mountains are amazing - as they are during all the four mild seasons we get to enjoy living here in the western NC, north GA and east TN mountains. In fact, you can actually see all three states from up here on the mountain ridge.   This Mountain Living Lifestyle can leave you speechless! Lee & Carol Barbour ~ The Mountain Living Team  www.MurphyMountainLiving.com 02/12/2012

  Cherokee LegendsHow The Milky Way Came To Be Long ago when the world was young, there were not many stars in the sky.In those days the people depended on corn for their food. Dried corn could be made into corn meal by placing it inside a large hollowed stump and pounding it with a long wooden pestle. The cornmeal was stored in large baskets. During the winter, the ground meal could be made into bread and mush. One morning an older man and his wife went to their storage basket for some cornmeal. They discovered that someone or something had gotten into the cornmeal during the night. This upset them very much for no one in a Cherokee village stole from someone else. Then they noticed that the cornmeal was scattered over the ground. In the middle of the spilt meal were giant dog prints. ... 02/10/2012

Today our Thankful Thursday is for all the great outdoor activities we have here in the mountains - no matter what season it is. Being surrounded by so many Lakes and Rivers throughout the western NC, north GA and east TN mountains provides unlimited choices to enjoy the surrounding nature.   Hiking is one of our favorites, but Fly Fishing looks like something we might want to try some day too. Whats your favorite outdoor activity?   Lee & Carol Barbour ~ The Mountain Living Team www.MurphyMountainLiving.com   02/09/2012

  Needless to say, I am sure we would all agree that purchasing a home is one of the biggest investments we will make.   Buyers spend time (hopefully) looking for the perfect agent and even more time looking for just the right house. Next comes more time and money spent inspecting it from top to bottom to make sure everything works the way it should and is safe for you and your family to move in to.   Before you know it closing day comes, the papers are signed and the moving truck arrives at the door of your new home.  The sweet little ol' lady next door comes over to welcome you to the neighborhood with a plate of brownies and casually mentions that she’s a little surprised to see a family with children moving in,  after all . . .   Now is NOT the time to find out that there’s a regist... 02/08/2012

    On Sunday February 5th I arrived at Camp LeJuene NC to watch my son embark from a bus full of returning Marines... You see my son was deployed on March 23, 2011 on the USS Mesa Verde and he was part of an historic 10 1/2 month deployment. Emotions were high and Marines for the first time got to see their newborn sons and daughters... I meet my Facebook Marine mom Luann after months of e-mails, Skype sessions and Facebook. Luann son Tyler and my son became the best of friends while aboard ship. I felt like I knew her for years...we supported each other while our sons were away. A friendship I will always treasurer...  It was quite an experience...one I will never forget!!!!!! Thank you to all of our men and women who serve in our Military for your sacrifice and dedication....OOOOOH R... 02/08/2012

February 2nd is Groundhog Day - the day when Punxsutawney Phil will determine if Spring is on it’s way or if we’ll have another six weeks of winter.  This is one of those crazy traditions that got me to wondering how in the world we let a large rodent-looking animal determine our fate.         Well it seems the Germans brought this tradition with them from “the old country” where it was actually a Hedgehog who did the deed.  Finding no Hedgehogs in the good old US of A, they turned to his cousin the Groundhog.   Legend says that if “Phil” sees his shadow then we are in for the second winter but, if there’s no shadow, then Spring is just around the corner.   Personally this makes no sense to me. You see, in order for the groundhog to see his shadow, the sun must be out. So it would seem... 02/01/2012

Coldwell Banker High Country Realty’s Numbers Soar in 2011. Coldwell Banker High Country Realty, sold 49 percent more properties in 2011 than the previous year. The MLS Service, owned by the Northeast Georgia Board of REALTORS®, had increases of 14 percent during the same time period. The Northeast Georgia Board of REALTORS® serves the counties of Fannin, Towns, Union, Gilmer and Pickens in Georgia; Clay and Cherokee in North Carolina; and Bradley, Monroe, and Polk in Tennessee. CB High Country’s results were reviewed and certified by the firm of Jackie E. Seabolt, CPA, PC. Coldwell Banker has a regional footprint and serves the North Georgia, Southeast Tennessee, and Southwest North Carolina area. “I knew this was going to be a better year for us. Our increases were even more dramatic ... 01/30/2012

A few days ago I was on my way to meet some buyer clients looking at homes in Hiawassee, Georgia.  Of course, the camera is never out of reach when I’m riding (or driving) and I was able to get this beautiful shot of the fog that was covering the mountains like a cozy down blanket.  You’ll be happy to know that I actually pulled off to the side of the road (WAY off) so that I could take my time and get a good shot.   If you've ever wondered why they call them the Blue Ridge Mountains, this should answer that for you.  Although I’m still learning what all the buttons and adjustments are for I am totally enjoying my new camera .  Thank you Santa!   Hope you had a great weekend!   Cyndi 01/29/2012

The Spring is a crucial time of the year in real estate here in Murphy, NC and the northeast GA and east TN mountains. There will be buyers who are ready to look for a new home or land in our beautiful mountains and the season offers the perfect time to get a really good view of the surrounding area and lay of the land with most of the leaves still off the trees. For those who are looking to buy as well as sellers who said last year that they would list again "in the spring" - when does the season actually get started?  Although the official start of Spring is March 20th, we would advise our clients to list their property no later than the end of February. Some sellers feel they want to wait until after Easter, but that might be a little too late, especially since this year Easter falls... 01/24/2012

Just a bit ago I was reading a post that got me thinking.To give credit where credit is due the post, Positive Self-Talk,  was originally written by Lou Ludwig and reblogged by Praful Thakkar.  When something “gets me thinking” it usually means there are lots of random thoughts zinging around in my head like a bunch 5-year old kids in a bouncy house. Here’s my attempt to organize those thoughts -       Is there an agent in your office who is just such a “Negative Ned” that no matter what you suggest to them the first thing they come at you with is all the reasons why something WON’T work?   Now think about this, is there an agent in your office who is such a “Positive Paula” that she smiles in the face of adversity and business is attracted to her like a magnet.    Chances are that Neg... 01/22/2012

Q:    Oh no! We haven’t gotten a tax bill for our new home here in the mountains yet. When are our Murphy, NC  property taxes due for 2012?A:     Real property taxes are paid “in arrears” and are due September 1 of each year. This means you won’t be getting your 2012 property tax bill until September of 2012 and have until January 5, 2013 to pay without interest. Interest starts on January 6 with 2% the first month and ¾ % each month thereafter until paid. The current tax rate for Cherokee County, NC is $0.385 per $100 of your assessed tax valuation. In addition, if you live within the city limits there is an additional $0.330 per $100. Depending on the area you live in there is also a fire district tax. The Property owner on January 1 is the responsible taxpayer for that tax year even ... 01/17/2012

Dr. Martin Luther King Day is celebrated on the third Monday in January. On this is day, January 16, 2012, we remember and honor his message, political impact for civil rights and the hope for a better future for all people. This is not only a day for reflection as well as recognition, but also a day of service. So just what is the MLK Day of Service? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities. The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President's national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide s... 01/16/2012

This Speechless Sunday in Murphy, NC starts off wishing Brandon and Brittany Barbour on their first day of being a married couple best wishes! We are so proud and happy to have our two families united and have Brittany Dawn Morrow as our daughter-in-law. They were married January 7, 2012 at Oak Grove Baptist Church and the Reception followed for a Winter Wonderland held at The Ballroom in downtown Murphy, NC. Safe travels and enjoy your time together honeymooning! 01/08/2012

Mountain Living Team JUST SOLD! Overview Maps Photos Description $18,000 Single Family Home Main Features 2 Bedrooms1 BathroomLot: 01 sqft Location 187 Satterfield DriveTurtletown, TN 37391USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Lee & Carol Barbour Mountain Living Team Coldwell Banker High Country(828) 361-9713info@MountainLivingTeam.comhttp://www.MurphyMountainLiving.com Our recent listings Little Money - Great Potential!Gorgeous Creek front land just minutes to Lake NottelySingle Family Residential for $77,900 in Murphy, NCRiver Front Home and USFS Views!Farm House on 30 Acres 2147 Martins Creek Rd Murphy NC Subscribe to our listing feed Nearby properties for sale 01/06/2012

Given the current market conditions we made a decision a couple of years ago to focus on marketing foreclosures.  When working with a buyer who wants to look at foreclosed properties, it is a requirement that they get pre-qualified for a loan with a local lender before making an offer. In order for the process to go smoothly we ask that they provide it up front, in the beginning.        All the marketing efforts we have been doing lately have started to bring in a good amount of buyers, many of whom are looking for fair market (non-foreclosure) properties.   Since we know how quickly a well-priced home can go in today’s market, we now require that ALL buyers get prequalified for a loan before we start looking.   We have a great relationship with a local lender who can qualify a buyer i... 01/05/2012

  Thankful Thursday in the Murphy, NC mountains as we look forward to all the limitless possibilities there are ahead for us!Does it look like you’re headed into a dark and unknowing tunnel? Or, is it entering into new opportunities to take you to places and heights you’ve only dreamed of?Choose to see, and live, this year looking forward to and claiming all the limitless possibilities waiting for you. For more information about Buying and Selling in Murphy, NC contact Lee & Carol Barbour ~ The Mountain Living Teamwww.MurphyMountainLiving.com Licensed and Serving the western NC, northeast GA and east TN Mountains       01/05/2012

So its officially winter here in Murphy, NC since we had our first little covering of snow yesterday! So now is good time to review some Winter Tips for Feeding the Wild Birds in Murphy, NC. As the winter weather fills our days don’t forget to feed your wild bird friends. Not all birdseed mixes will suit all wild birds. Birds will often sort through mixed seed and discard what they do not want. Typically, less waste occurs if you provide only one type of food per feeder, rather than mixed birdseed. Experts recommend black oil sunflower seed as one of the best single seeds to attract a variety of birds to your feeder.Insect-eating birds, such as woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches, will benefit from additional suet in the wintertime. Suet cakes can be purchased at feed and garden stor... 01/04/2012

We recently purchased property in the Murphy, NC area. A friend of ours, here in Florida, had a business card for Lee & Carol Barbour. We sent an email to them and received a reply back the very same day, stating they would be most happy to assist us.Over the next several weeks, Carol helped us with properties we were interested in North Carolina and Georgia and her response to our questions were always prompt. When we visited the area and we met, it felt like we had been friends for a long time. Carol has a friendly smile and personality. Her cheerful voice on the phone would always make us smile, even though it might have been news we didn't want to hear. She remained positive and helped us to remain positive too through the entire process.Our purchase was not a large "money maker" fo... 01/03/2012

Do I need to get Title Insurance in Murphy, NC? Here in Murphy, NC when your Offer to Purchase has been accepted and your licensed NC attorney starts working on the transfer of ownership, he will do a title examination. If there are any issues or defects that arise, Title Insurance is your guaranteed protection against real estate title losses and is one of the best insurance values available. We purchased some land in the Yancey County, NC mountains and even though we paid cash for it our attorney encouraged us to get Title Insurance.  A few years later when we went to sell that same property and the buyers attorney did the title examination they found a defect. It was found that one of the heirs, and there were many, had not signed and our Title Insurance covered the cost to remedy th... 01/02/2012