Regardless of whether you’ve looked at one house or fifty. If you’ve been searching for months or found the perfect house right away.  When the Seller says “YES” there are some important steps to take to ensure a smooth closing.       Review all important dates (deadlines) with your agent and make sure you BOTH have them marked on the calendar.  Depending on the state in which you’re buying some dates are “time is of the essence” and some are not.  It’s important to know the difference.  Know when you must have your inspections completed, when you must have mortgage approval, etc.  While a good agent will not let you miss a deadline, ultimately it is YOUR responsibility. Remember, you can typically get a date extended but you need to get it BEFORE the deadline passes.   If you’re payin... 11/03/2011

In Southern Louisiana there’s a Creole word that means “a little something extra” - Lagniappe. Like the 13th donut the baker gives you when your order a dozen or those delicious garlic knots you get at your favorite Italian Restaurant.     Today several of us loaded into an SUV and headed across the state line into Tennessee for a caravan.  We should have known there was a problem when we turned on to “Kimsey Mountain HIGHWAY” and the “highway” was a narrow, one-lane gravel road going up the mountain.     After traveling about 6 miles up the winding mountain road the listing agent started to get a little worried.  We quickly determined we were not where we should be and shortly thereafter encountered a hunter.  After asking if he had any idea where we were he just laughed and told us th... 11/01/2011

The Panther Top Fire Tower in Murphy, NC was open to the public this weekend so we took advantage of the great fall weather and headed out into the USFS roads. Located about 12 miles west from downtown Murphy, NC this was a great opportunity to climb the tower for spectacular some amazing 360 degree views!  There was a USFS Ranger and a Volunteer there to point out where the other fire towers used to be, water towers, mountain ranges and where the Bald Eagles were nesting. Another neat item inside the tower was the Osbourne Fire Finder that was used for triangulating where the fires were.     The 30 ft. former live-in Panther Top lookout tower was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1940.  Standing atop a 2,293 ft. summit it is the westernmost tower in the state. The Fore... 10/31/2011

Next to Christmas, Halloween is probably one of the favorite holidays for all kids - BIG and SMALL!  Why not, you get to dress up in silly costumes, go to peoples homes and ask for candy.  What other time of year will parents allow that??   We’ve told you What’s Happening in Murphy NC for Halloween 2011. Now here are some tips to make sure everyone enjoys the holiday. Pumpkin Safety:   Have younger children draw faces on the pumpkins and then parents do the carving.  Cut a hole in the bottom and use a small electric light instead of a candle.       Costume Safety: Make sure costumes are flame retardant and that they fit properly.  Avoid loose clothes, high heels or long costumes with parts that hang or drag. These could cause a child to trip and skinned knees are no fun.  Incorporate r... 10/29/2011

Are you looking to have some SPOOKTACULAR fun in Murphy this Halloween Weekend?    Well you’ve come to the right place. Here a list of What’s Happening in Murphy NC for Halloween 2011 Friday and Saturday Nights (28th & 29th) Hiwassee Dam High School Haunted Hayride at the Cherokee County Industrial Park on Hwy 64W in Ranger (7-11pm) Haunted Forest at Jim Twigg’s Garage 1.5 miles out Hwy 294.  Starts at Sundown - Admission $5 (6 and under FREE) “Prison Break” Haunted Trail at Tri-County Early College US Hwy 64 Alt in Peacthree - Starts at 8pm - Admission $5 Haunted Hayride/Fall Festival in Marble off Maltby Road. Saturday 29th Only All-Saints Day Trunk or Treat New Life Church on Aquone Rd in Andrews at 5pm. Monster Mash Bash at The Learning Center Charter School in Murphy 6:30 - 10:30 ... 10/28/2011

  Looking for something fun and scary to do this Halloween weekend????   Come on out to the Haunted Forest in the Hiawassee Dam area of Murphy, NC. Starts tonight (October 28, 2011) and continues tomorrow night. The tours begin at dark and people can take tours up until about 11PM or midnight (depending on the crowd). The tour is a 2.5 mile walk through the woods, so wear comfortable shoes. Admission is $5 per person, under 6 free. From Murphy, NC, take Hwy 64W to right onto Hwy 294. Go about 2 miles to Jim Twiggs Garage on right. There will be lots of signs!   The HauntedForest is put on by the Twiggs Family (Jim, April & kids) of Murphy, NC. They do a fabulous job and it is well worth the $5 admission.   10/28/2011

Getting your Murphy, NC home ready for Winter in the Mountains. Fall is here and the temperatures are dropping. If you haven't already started getting your home ready for the changes in weather make sure you've done these....   * Check gutters and clean them if necessary. * Have your heating system checked by a licensed heating/air-conditioning professional. Most manufacturers recommend annual inspections. * Have your chimneys inspected by a chimney service and cleaned if necessary. * Be sure there are no flammable materials stored close to your furnace. * If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees. * Check the foundation for areas where water may puddle. * Drain garden hoses and turn off any outdoor water faucets. * Insulate any water pipes that are exposed t... 10/26/2011

  COFFEE, TEA OR YOUR DREAM HOME So you took our post to heart about the time being right to buy and jumped off the fence.  You searched and finally found the perfect home.  Your absolutely fabulous Buyer’s Agent researched the recent comparables in the neighborhood and you’ve presented what you thought was the perfect offer.     After negotiating back and forth, the sellers have determined that THEIR bottom line is several thousand dollars higher than YOUR maximum comfort level.            Now what do you do?  If you read our post last week LIVE WITHIN YOUR HARVEST, you’ll know the first thought is to make sure that you stay within your budget.   But do you REALLY know what that extra few thousand dollars is going to cost you in terms of REAL dollars??       Let’s say that you and the ... 10/26/2011

My Neighbor’s Cousin Vinnie Says......   If you’re one of the many people still sitting on the fence trying to perfectly time the market, let me tell you - it’s time to jump down.  Every day people ask us if we are at the bottom.  There’s only one way to tell when you’ve hit the bottom of the market - when it starts to go back up.    By then, it’s too late!   Prices have been going steadily down over the last 18 to 24 months and interest rates are at an all-time low.  So there you sit on the fence hoping that the prices will drop just a little bit more.  In the meantime, you hear there’s a rate increase.  Do you know how much affect a slight shift in the interest rates will mean to YOUR buying power?       Let’s take a look.    You’ve picked out the perfect 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch in th... 10/24/2011

An Unlikely Marriage....... We've driven by this sign several times and finally stopped to photograph it.  The combination of businesses is a little odd, but it really gets you thinking about your own business practices.  Are you a Listing Agent or a Buyer’s Agent?  Or, perhaps you try to do both.     But what happens when you’re a great listing agent and you find yourself blogging and getting lots of traffic to your website and now you’ve got all these buyers calling.  Can you really effectively work those buyers AND list properties.  The answer really depends on you.  Because we work as a team and there are TWO of us - for Bill and I, the answer is yes. We have a great system.  I handle most of the paperwork, blogging and communicating with Buyers until they are ready to start looking... 10/23/2011

Live Within Your Harvest     Last week while conducting site visits on our REO properties, I saw this sign and it truly spoke to me.   It reminded me about our ancestors and how they lived off the land.  They grew the food that went on their table - vegetables, meat, milk, eggs, everything.  If they didn’t have something they needed they had two choices - either barter something they did have or do without.     Those that worked harder, planted more and harvested more had more.  Pretty plain and simple.  Those that chose not to plant as much, didn’t have as much.  Again, pretty plain and simple.  They saved for the little extras and paid cash for the things they got. They did not have credit cards or equity lines.  In essence, they LIVED WITHIN THEIR HARVEST. Fast forward to today.  Eve... 10/19/2011

FALL COLOR REPORT FOR NORTHEAST GA AND WESTERN NC   Several clients have called over the last week looking for a Fall Color Report for the mountains of Northeast GA and Western NC.  “When will they peak?” they ask.  The answer today is - HURRY!!!!   The rains of the last few days will make the colors more brilliant.  Of course, following the rain is a cold front so this weekend may prove to be quite chilly.  The front will also bring some high winds over toward the Asheville area which may whisk away the beautiful foliage we all love to see. While out doing some property inspections today, I took the opportunity between rain showers to look for some colors to share.             I drove through two states, three counties and covered about sixty miles today. Then I took the next picture I... 10/13/2011

"IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BUY" - REALLY??? The real estate “boom” that took place between 2001 and 2006 priced many individuals out of the market for a home purchase.   College graduates found themselves heavy in debt with student loans and moved from the campus dorm back into the nest with Mom and Dad. However, the vast majority turned to the next best thing - RENTING.       With more than four million homes lost to foreclosure in the last five years, the American dream of home ownership has been in trouble.  It goes without saying that those who have faced foreclosure are having no choice but to rent.  According to a recent study by Harvard University one-third of all US households is a rental.  Yet a recent study by Fannie Mae shows that 75% of all the households that ARE renting felt li... 10/12/2011

The Day The Doughnuts Died....   Today was the day for our quarterly Company-Wide Meeting.  We knew something was up when the normal offering of doughnuts and coffee was replaced with orange juice, granola bars and fresh fruit.       We moved quickly through the announcements, birthdays, bonus checks (we get a quarterly bonus when we have both sides of a transaction) and Top Agents For September. We had a great discussion about Short Sales and when to pend a foreclosure.     Then our guest speaker was announced - America’s Fitness Coach Dave Hubbard.   Great, I thought, someone else to tell me what I need to do to lose weight and stay fit. Dave told us of his start as a youngster on a farm in Napa Valley and how he knew that, without a scholarship college was not in his future.  How he ... 10/11/2011

         Murphy, NC welcomes Fall to the Mountains.  Everyday the leaves are bursting out with hues of red, orange and yellows and so are the seasonal decorations. We celebrate all the seasons and love to decorate here in Cherokee County so everywhere you go you’ll see piles of pumpkins, gourds and hay bales and maybe even a scarecrow or two smiling back at you.Come visit the NC, GA and TN Mountains! www.MurphyMountainLiving.com 10/10/2011

What could be better during this cool Fall weather in Murphy, NC than and bowl of Chili? Well, you’re in luck because this weekend is the 16th Annual Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce Chili Cook-Off!Held Saturday, October 8, from noon - or until the chili is gone,at Pavilion No. 3, in Konehete Park in downtown Murphy.   A panel of judges will select the first, second and third place winners in a blind taste contest and will also select the winner of the Showmanship Award.  Members of the public will purchase an empty bowl, a spoon, a napkin and a ballot for $6.00 ($3.00 for children under 6).  Then you’ll taste each type of chili and vote for your favorite toward  the People's Choice winner.  A soft drink or bottle of water, plus an ice cream treat, are also included in the price.Ther... 10/06/2011

The weather just couldn’t have been better in the NC mountains than it was this past weekend for the 38th Annual Fall Festival at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC!Held every year, the first weekend in October and one the most longed for events in the tri-state area. Lee and I hadn’t been in a few years and were really looking forward to attending this years Fall Festival and we certainly weren’t disappointed. There were over 200 booths filled with some of the most beautiful arts and crafts from so many talented artisans. Oh, what a great place to find some really unique gifts too. We got a great piece for our brother-in-law and can’t wait to give it to him for his birthday in December and Carol can't wait to take a Rug Hooking class with Laura Schnelker. Here are some p... 10/03/2011

PAY IT FORWARD - A FAVOR FOR MY MOM I received a call from my Mom last week asking if I could do her a favor.  She and Dad were out of town and an “Aunt” needed to go to the hospital for a pre-op appointment a couple of days before her surgery.     Needless to say we’ve been incredibly busy and I knew, even as Mom was saying “it will only take you 30 minutes”, that this was going to really eat into my schedule.  It wasn’t like I was going to buzz up to her door where she’d quickly hop into the car and off we’d go.  Oh no.  You see Lorra lives in an Adult Care apartment facility here in Murphy, North Carolina and is in a wheelchair.  This meant wheeling her out to my SUV,  getting her UP into it and driving to the hospital where the process is repeated in reverse.       As you can probab... 10/01/2011

Leaf Season In The Mountains of Western North Carolina and Northeast Georgia Wow - October is literally just around the corner and, If you’ve been planning a trip here to enjoy leaf season in the mountains, you won’t be disappointed.  The Dogwoods and Sourwoods have already started to show a tinge of red and the rest can’t be far behind.   While there’s no real way to predict when the absolute perfect color will happen, it’s typically around the third week of October.  But don’t dispair, if your plans have you arriving during the second week you will still see some lovely color.  Likewise for the end of the month.     While you’re in the area there’s plenty to see and do.  October 1st - 2nd you can enjoy the Georgia Marble Festival in Jasper, Georgia or the Fall Festival at the John C. ... 09/30/2011

Okay Murphy, it’s time to get ready for this weekends Fall Festival! One of the largest and most popular events of its type in the region, the Fall Festival is a celebration of our rich Appalachian heritage.Fine craft, craft-making demonstrations, music and dance performances, kids' activities, tasty food, and a visit to the John C. Campbell Folk School’s Craft Shop and History Center make the annual Fall Festival a great way to begin the autumn season! Check out this link to the Fall Festival Program to plan your weekend. October 1 - 2, 2011   10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday & SundayAdmission:Adults: $5.00, Kids 12-17: $3.00, Under 12: Free            Location:Folk School Campus                                                Handmade Craft for SaleOver 200 juried and non-juried crafts... 09/30/2011