Another Speechless Sunday in the Murphy, NC Mountains as we’re out previewing properties today this first day of January 2012. This field has some huge old Oak trees that reminded us why we love living here in Murphy, NC and the mild four seasons and winter when the leaves are all off the trees and you can see their “bones”. As we start off this new year its a reminder that in no time this might oak will start sprouting out the many green leaves to give the cows in the fields shade as Spring arrives. As the lazy days of Summer arrive it becomes a cool spot to get get out of the sun beating down and in the Fall that amazing burst of color and acorn nuts soon to be gathered up for the next coming Winter. Looking at this mighty oak now that all seems so far away, but time passes quickly ... 01/01/2012

So you’ve got your Pre-Approval letter from your Lender and we’ve seen some of the best priced homes in the Murphy, NC and surrounding Blue Ridge and Blairsville, GA mountains.  You’ve narrowed them down to your top three and we’ve revisited them so now you’re ready for the next step...Now you’re ready to make an offer on that perfect home. We’ve looked at a lot of homes on the market and we’ll do a Comparative Market Analysis of the recent homes sold in the area.  This is when having a Realtor working for you with negotiating experience is essential. We’ll research all the factors that affect the offer and sale of the home such as: How long has it been on the Market? Have there been any previous offers? If so, why weren't they accepted? Has the home been permitted for the proper septic... 12/29/2011

Does the social media for a business convey? We have a deal in the works for a local Business in the tri-state area and our Buyers wanted to add into the contract that the current Facebook page for the store convey. The Listing Agent responded “I am not sure that a FB business page (if that's how it is set up) can be transferred.  It is normally tied to your personal account.  If you don't mind, can you check into that and let me know.” Interesting question and we’ve never come across this in a sale either... I thought you could set someone else as the administrator of the page (and change the email), then the current “owner” could be demoted to a regular fan and then they, the “buyer” would become the new "owner" the page.Have you come across this in a commercial business or rental cab... 12/27/2011

Happy First Day of Winter in Murphy, NC - something to celebrate! Happy Winter Solstice and First Day of Winter on this December 22, 2011. The December solstice marks the longest night and shortest day of 2011. After the winter solstice, the days will get longer. More daylight hours during winter here in Murphy, NC are something to Celebrate!  So what exactly is a solstice? The earliest humans knew that the sun’s path across the sky, the length of daylight, and the location of the sunrise and sunset all shifted in a regular way throughout the year. They built monuments, such as Stonehenge, to follow the sun’s yearly progress.But today we see the solstice differently. We can picture it from the vantage point of space and we know that the solstice is an astronomical event, caused by Earth... 12/22/2011

Are You Ready to Buy a Home in Murphy, NC? So you’re ready to buy a home in Murphy, NC, then you’ll want to get pre-approved for a mortgage and not just pre-qualified.To get pre-qualified, you only submit credit, income and debt information to a mortgage broker or lender. That means the resulting estimate of the maximum mortgage and home that's affordable is exactly that - an estimate.Before you can get pre-approved, however, you must allow their lenders to pull credit reports, check debt-to-income ratios and perform other underwriting steps. That puts you much closer to obtaining a loan and locking in a rate and term.The pre-approval letter demonstrates your financial strength and shows that you have the ability to go through with a purchase. This is important to owners when considerin... 12/20/2011

Nursing Home Presents and Hugs deliveredin December’s Season of Celebrations and Sharing! You might have read our last blog about the Wrapping Party at the Mountain Lakes Board of Realtors where a bunch of us got together to wrap 360 fleece blankets for the four local nursing homes in our area. Well, the best part of that night of furious wrapping was the getting to deliver them!      We had caravans of Realtors loaded down with all the packages heading out to the Murphy, Andrews, Hayesville and Robbinsville Nursing Homes. It might have been raining all day outside, but inside smiles were beaming and we had such a blessed day meeting, hugging and talking with all the wonderful residents.       Our local Mountain Lakes Board of Realtors holds fundraisers throughout the year to raise fund... 12/18/2011

If you drove by the Mountain Lakes Board of Realtors office last night and saw the lights on after dark, cars in the parking lot and were wondering what was going on...It was your local Realtors there just busy as bees wrapping blankets for our four local Nursing Homes. We wrapped 360 blankets to be distributed to the Murphy, Andrews, Clay and Graham Nursing Homes.  We even had to send our President, Bonnie Smith, out for more wrapping paper. It was a lot of fun wrapping, but the real fun is going to be when we all get back together and deliver them! Stay tuned for our next Mountain Living post on that to see all their smiling faces.       Our local Board of Realtors have fundraisers throughout the year for giving back to the communities in ways such as this. We are also collecting for ... 12/15/2011

Here is your Murphy, NC Market Snapshot for November 2011.  We’ve also included the previous month’s stats for comparison.  If you’re looking to purchase a home or land in Murphy, NC or the surrounding western NC, north GA or east TN areas to start enjoying Mountain Living then please contact Lee & Carol Barbour at www.MountainLivingTeam.com and we’ll get started right away on finding you your perfect “peace of the mountain” in NC, GA or TN too.   All statistical information used to create this report was obtained from the Northeast Georgia Board of Realtors MLS and includes Cherokee and Clay County, NC as well as Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Towns, Union County, GA and Polk County, TN. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. 12/13/2011

The POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul group gives you the opportunity to share your creative side during the holiday season with a creative writing challenge. Join in on the challenge with the  ActiveRain Holiday Greeting Card Contest! This is one of our favorite photos from last years snow here in Murphy, NC.  We usually don’t get this much snow all at once and not usually over Christmas week either. Nothing could be better than snow at Christmas in the mountains! Merry Christmas from the Murphy, NC Mountains! May the peace and quiet of the mountain countrysidefill your hearts and homes this season. Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year - no matter where you call home. Lee & Carol Barbour ~ The Mountain Living TeamColdwell Banker High Co... 12/12/2011

It's the season of giving and our local Food Banks can use your help.  Please drop off non-Perishable Food Items at the Mountain Lakes Board of Realtors office or to Lee & Carol Barbour at Coldwell Banker High Country.  All items will be divided up and delivered before Christmas to the Food Banks in our area. Lets try to out do our donations from last year!   In addition, we are collecting items for the local Animal Shelter.  Please don't forget to give to this worthy cause too if you can.  Drop off items at the Mountain Lakes Board of Realtors office or to Lee & Carol Barbour at Coldwell Banker High Country we’ll make sure the items you donate will be delivered to the Animal Shelter.  Some of the items needed are listed below.   -any Purina dry food product-dogs, cats, kittens, puppies... 12/12/2011

Back in 1997 when we moved to Murphy, NC our son, Brandon Lee, was just nine and this was his first snow and Christmas at our new home in the mountains. We never had a Christmas like this back in Florida! There is nothing like your first snow and building a snow man. Next it was off to pump up the tire tube for tubing down the hill! 12/11/2011

Another testimony for a happy and satisfied seller in Murphy, NC... We interviewed two other companies before we talked with Carol Barbour. Her competent answers and examples for all our questions ended our search. Carol continued her professional approach by providing step by step suggestions and directions from the listing through the closing. Her experience and focus allowed her to anticipate questions and provide answers, often before we were aware of them. This removed much apprehension and anxiety for us during the time our Murphy, NC house was on the market and settled us during the final steps of leaving the house prior to closing. There were so many times we appreciated her attention to our specific needs. After seeing the fliers she prepared at the beginning of the process, we... 12/08/2011

I was very happy that Thanksgiving at our house was busy and hectic.  All the activity was keeping my mind off the fact that our oldest daughter, in the Navy and stationed only nine hours away, couldn’t make it home for Thanksgiving for the second year in a row. We had company in from Florida, dinner at Mom’s on Thursday and our first Black Friday excursion in search of tv’s for the new camper/satellite office at the lake.  We took the company to cut Christmas trees and then out to dinner on Friday evening.  For some unknown reason our guests then decided we need to go home and roast marshmallows and fix s’mores!  Once we got home,  we sat around the kitchen table and just visited since none of us had the energy to actually build a fire  Fortunately, the kids were happy with graham crac... 12/06/2011

Things To Do in Murphy, NC - Cherokee Lake  Even though we might not be out at some of the many Lakes around Murphy, NC swimming or canoeing; it’s still a great place to get out and take a nice walk around the lake and over the dam where we took this photo.   Just out Hwy 294, about 10 miles from downtown Murphy, NC is Cherokee Lake.  This small lake is the perfect place for having a picnic under the covered areas or the scattered picnic tables looking out onto the lake. You’ll always find someone fishing from the docks or finding their favorite spot along the lake. Cherokee Lake is always full year round and is formed from the Persimmon Creek where it then runs into Hiwassee Lake. This is a great little spot to check out in Cherokee County, NC! There are so many great places and fun Th... 12/05/2011

This is part of a series introducing student writers from Tri County Community College   Located in the western-most part of North Carolina Hiwassee Dam is an excellent community site for visitors and locals alike. You can see wildlife of all species and find out about the background of the dam and the history behind Tennessee Valley Authority River Systems. Hiwassee Dam is off of Highway 294 on Hiwassee Dam Access Road. When turning at the intersection off of Highway 294 one can see the historical marker for the Hiwassee Dam. Located about five miles from the 294 intersection Hiwassee Dam is extremely difficult to avoid because one has to drive over this 307 feet high and 1,376 feet wide handmade dam that took nearly four years to build to continue down the road.   After crossing the D... 12/05/2011

This is part of a series introducing student writers from Tri County Community College Have a memorable event to plan and no where to host it? Plan your event in the mountains at McGuire’s Millrace Farm. Escape with in the colorful colors and all the history of this impressive venue when you come to see the McGuire’s Millrace Farm - owned by Tommy and Linda McGuire. This farm, located in the Peachtree area of Murphy at 600 Hendrix Road, was inherited from Tommy’s grandfather, John Jacob McGuire, and can still be used as a running farm. Owned by Linda and Tommy McGuire, McGuire’s Millrace Farm has been around since the Civil War. Still standing on the property is the original McGuire’s house but just like the old McGuire’s Country Store that John Jacob McGuire ran during the Great Depres... 12/05/2011

  Each day we are introducing you to students from Catherine Rayburn-Trobaugh’s English 111 Class at Tri-County Community College in Murphy NC. Today meet Stefani Saeger, a member of the “TCCC Scribes” as they call themselves.  Hey, I’m Stefani Saeger and I am a 19 year old freshman student at Tri-County Community College. I recently finished the cosmetology program at Tri-County and am now proceeding in a degree to become a Cosmetology Teacher.  I enjoy creating fun designs with hair and hair color. In my spare time I like to try new and exciting things.   As part of being a freshman student at Tri-County, I have had to take an English class and part of the English class was to write two blogs to attract tourism. Please take a moment to read the offerings from Stefanie.  McGuire Millra... 12/05/2011

This is part of a series introducing student writers from Tri County Community College When thinking of a small town the first scenarios that probably come to mind are parks, flea markets, an original restaurant or some small historical establishments. Well, what about a zoo? This is a real zoo that houses plenty of unique and exotic animals ranging from lions, tigers and bears. “Oh my” is right because here in our small town of Murphy, North Carolina we certainly have a wonderful and unique local zoo: The King Kong Zoo. Murphy North Carolina is quiet, small, yet incredibly beautiful with its ever changing scenery and mountainous climates makes it one of the more perfect places to hold a local zoo. With all definite four-seasons to be assured in our area, the weather is most suitable to... 12/04/2011

  This is part of a series introducing student writers from Tri County Community College When adventuring to the calm surroundings of the beautiful, mountainous, small town of Murphy, North Carolina it’s always a nice time to stop and enjoy your surroundings. Whether it’s taking a drive through the mountains, taking a calm walk through the woods or even a ride down one of our famous rivers in our state.  If it’s just a visit or there’s plans to stay awhile, one of the places that’s a ‘must see’ is our very own Nantahala River White Water Rafting near Cherokee and Bryson City.   The beautiful scenery, daring waters and breathe-taking Nantahala River is something to not miss out on. With high quality service with over 40 years’ experience of guided adventures that range among South Caroli... 12/04/2011

  Over the next few days we are introducing you to students from Catherine Rayburn-Trobaugh’s English 111 Class at Tri-County Community College in Murphy NC.Today meet Alura Oberg, a member of the “TCCC Scribes” as they call themselves. Hi there, I’m Alura Oberg or Ali and I’m a student at Tri-County Community College. I’m twenty years old, and on my way to becoming an art teacher.   As you might have guessed, I love the arts so of course I love to draw (both traditionally and digitally) paint, color or even just doodle. I love to read, travel and spend time with my friends and family.   One of my hobbies is that I love to make costumes and attend yearly conventions which I go to with my closest friends.  Writing these blogs,  Nantahala River: White Water Rafting and King Kong Zoo, has ... 12/04/2011