http://www.coerealty.com/blog What's fun & interesting in the Blue Ridge Mountains & also local real estate market conditions Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:30:03 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Dates: 08/18/2008 to 8/18/2009 Property Types: Sold Single Family Residences     Current   Avg Avg % Of   Active Sold Sales $ Days List $         1-Boone and close by 196 123 $244,286 164 92.59         2-Meat Camp, Green Valley, Todd 74 19 $265,771 175 91.45         3-the Parkway area 111 30 $305,633 196 92.01         4-the Blowing Rock area 331 95 $480,557 202 88.62         5-Foscoe and Valle Crucis 263 52 $388,720 210 90.71         6-Beech Mtn & Bethel 199 31 $273,858 235 90.06         7-Cove Creek 62 19 $170,973 191 93.05         8-Banner Elk 169 41 $440,521 217 80.60         Area Totals 1405 410 $341,297 194 89 http://www.coerealty.com/blog/?p=330 Wildflowers and grasses in a meadow on the Blue Ridge ParkwayI had learned a new photographic technique at the Grandfather Camera Clinic that creates this effect -- the flowers and grasses in sharp detail, the background blurry.  I've had great fun trying it out.  I like the random wildness displayed ... http://www.coerealty.com/blog/?p=328 Horse on Blue Ridge Parkway Price ParkWhen I became interested in photographing the heart-shaped tree, this fellow and his companions were in the field.  They always stopped their grazing and came over, probably to see if I had apples or such to offer them.  They are not shy and hovered ... http://www.coerealty.com/blog/?p=325 Canada Geese Regatta on Trout Lake, mp 294 Blue Ridge ParkwayThe Canada Geese stop by Trout Lake on their way north and south.   A few sometimes stay for the summer.  It's especially fun to hear them talking back and forth right before they rise up off the lake and fly ... http://www.coerealty.com/blog/?p=321 [caption id="attachment_317" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Moses Cone Servants Quarters Rose Arbor"][/caption]  The early morning sun is catching the rose arbor.  Moses Cone himself did not plant any non-native species on his estate.  That's because one of his missions on the estate was to awake visitors [and he had in mind his estate ... http://www.coerealty.com/blog/?p=318   2009-april-newsletter The link, above, will take you to the 2009 April Find A Mountain Home newsletter.  I hope you enjoy it. 2009-april-newsletter http://www.coerealty.com/blog/?p=314 [caption id="attachment_310" align="aligncenter" width="386" caption="Spring Trees in front of the Cone Carriage Barn catch the early morning light"][/caption]  Spring is titillating us in the mountains.  April is that way here -- glorious sunshine and 65-degrees one day, then snow and 22-degrees the next.  Most days are damp and chilly.  That makes ... http://www.coerealty.com/blog/?p=308 [caption id="attachment_305" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Fawn on Flannery Fork"][/caption] How did I get this pic?  I was driving back very early from my walk on the Rich Mountain Trails.  As I rounded a curve on Flannery Fork Road [a gravel road], ahead was a doe who'd obviously heard my approach.  She stared ... http://www.coerealty.com/blog/?p=306 Now is a fantastic time to purchase a home, especially for first time home buyers.  Why?  Interest rates are at an all time low.  More homes are on the market to choose from.  For first time home buyers, USDA has a new loan program offering as much as 102% of ... http://www.coerealty.com/blog/?p=301 Taken on the Rich Mountain Trail above Trout Lake Parking Area, Blue Ridge Parkway, mp 294.  What can I say?  I love the aura of mystery that foggy days bring to the woods, and the muted colors. http://www.coerealty.com/blog/?p=299