April 30th, 2008 by 
Helen
OK. I’m apparently picture-challenged. For this next Spring picture, you’ll need to scroll down a bit. I can’t figure out what happened, as when I edit the blog post, the picture is right up at the top, where it’s supposed to be. Ah, one of my very favorite categories, one that explains an infinite number of unknowns, comes into play: “mysteries of the internet.”
Posted in Hiking Trails, What's Fun & Interesting in the NC Mountains | 
No Comments »
April 30th, 2008 by Helen
It’s ALMOST Spring in the mountains. Our frostfree date is May 15, so it’s still a bit soon to count on warm weather. But, the Spring flowers are coming out and the trees are beginning to leaf out. Until this year I hadn’t noticed how many colors the trees have when they are at the very beginning of leafing out. Someone last Sunday I was very intune with these colors and began seeing many shades of red, brown, rust, light yellow, light green, white. I took this picture at Sim’s Pond, mp 294 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Posted in Hiking Trails, What's Fun & Interesting in the NC Mountains | No Comments »
April 30th, 2008 by Helen
Sales in Watauga County continue to show a wide difference between the local area homes and those in the predominately 2nd home areas. Average and median prices are well over $100,000 in difference.
Statistics
(376 listings)
|
|
|
High
|
Average
|
Median
|
Total
|
List Price
|
|
$3,000,000
|
$519,917
|
$396,700
|
$195,488,806
|
Selling Price
|
|
$2,925,000
|
$481,337
|
$375,000
|
$180,982,776
|
List/Sold(%)
|
|
118.76%
|
93.25%
|
94.58%
|
–
|
Days on Market
|
|
771
|
191
|
146.5
|
–
|
Sold, Single Family Residences, 2nd Home area, April 30, 2007 to April 30, 2008
Statistics
(272 listings)
|
|
|
High
|
Average
|
Median
|
Total
|
List Price
|
|
$3,450,000
|
$295,020
|
$249,450
|
$80,245,445
|
Selling Price
|
|
$2,900,000
|
$279,180
|
$235,500
|
$75,936,868
|
List/Sold(%)
|
|
119.74%
|
94.83%
|
95.71%
|
–
|
Days on Market
|
|
1062
|
163
|
127
|
–
|
Sold, Single Family Residences, Local area, April 30, 2007 to April 30, 2008
Posted in The local real estate market | No Comments »
April 30th, 2008 by Helen
Below are sales statistics for the past year and the previous year. They show that both the average and median price of homes has risen considerably. The average price is up 8%. Even though the total number of homes sold is down somewhat, the total volume has risen.
Statistics
(648 listings)
|
|
|
|
Average
|
Median
|
Total
|
List Price
|
|
|
$425,516
|
$329,000
|
$275,734,251
|
Selling Price
|
|
|
$396,481
|
$310,000
|
$256,919,644
|
List/Sold(%)
|
|
|
93.91%
|
95.24%
|
–
|
Days on Market
|
|
|
179
|
135
|
–
|
Sold, Single Family Residences, Watauga Market April 30, 2007 to April 20, 2008
Statistics
(724 listings)
|
|
|
|
Average
|
Median
|
Total
|
List Price
|
|
|
$365,147
|
$287,500
|
$264,366,091
|
Selling Price
|
|
|
$344,648
|
$270,900
|
$249,524,793
|
List/Sold(%)
|
|
|
94.89%
|
95.91%
|
–
|
Days on Market
|
|
|
172
|
134.5
|
–
|
Sold, Single Family Residences, Watauga Market April 30, 2006 to April 20, 2007
Posted in The local real estate market | No Comments »
April 24th, 2008 by Helen
Hawk and plane heading the same way
Out hiking one morning — obviously, a clear gorgeous day — I rounded a curve in the trail. The landscape changed from a canopy of rhodos to an open field. Looking ahead, four hawks rose up, flying helter-skelter above me. I began shooting pictures, simply trying to frame as many shots as I could with a hawk or a couple hawks in them. In about 60 seconds, they’d flown away.
When I returned home, I found this shot. At the time, I hadn’t noticed the airplane.
Location: Cone Park, off mp 294, Blue Ridge Parkway. Walk up from the gate on Shulls Mill Rd. After climbing up for about 10 minutes, you’ll come upon an open field. That’s where this pic was taken.
Posted in Closer Look 2008 Calendar, Hiking Trails | No Comments »
