SIP WALLS (PUR) 210 % MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT THAN  2X6  ( R19 ) WALLS While this statement is hard to believe, I think it's close to true after reading a lot the green info out there. As an NAR Green and earning a GRES (also Green) I am amazed that Green is not the only way to go when building new and or remodeling. Saving energy is just smart. Even if my return on investment  does not come for 6 years after building, the ROI COMES eventually and saves me money and comfort for the rest of the life of the home. Not to mention helping the planet and not supporting big oil. The old argument that building green costs more, does not hold water anymore either. It does cost a BIT more sometimes, but getting hold of a contractor and or designer who understands green will save you not only money ... 08/26/2013

Bed and Breakfast in Boone, North Carolina, AAA Four-Diamond Rated!   When you want to get out of the hectic lifestyle of Northern Virginia and treat yourselves to a weekend at a quite country retreat situated in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lovill House Inn Bed and Breakfast in Boone, North Carolina is the place to go!  Beautiful accommodations and surroundings will greet you at the eleven acre wooded estate just one  mile from Old Town Boone, North Carolina off the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Lovill House Inn Bed and Breakfast in Boone, North Carolina has consistently been awarded the AAA Four Diamond Award, which assures you only the best in the way of accommodations, service, food, and hospitality.  The Inn is perfect for a leisurely long weekend vacation, a romantic getaway, or ... 03/21/2011

Let me start by stating that I don't write blogs about listings very often (and this one isn't even mine). In this case I felt compelled to at least post a few pictures of this "cute as a button" home for sale just outside of Blowing Rock. "Winterhaven" has been featured in Southern Living Magazine four times and it's easy to see why. No stone is left unturned when it comes to the architectural design or the aesthetic details. Entering through the stone columns and down the short driveway you will be amazed by the beautifully detailed white brick home with matching garden cottage set around a landscaped circular drive. When you walk through the door, you feel like you've stepped back in time and yet the home still has all of the modern finishes that you would expect from a home of this... 12/02/2009

Boone Cabin Rentals NC - Mast General Store  When staying in a Boone cabin rentals NC a must on my agenda is the Mast General Store. When I visit Boone  or Blowing Rock from my home in Cary NC I always stay at Serenity Falls Rental Cabin one of the many Boone cabin rentals NC.  The hardest part is deciding what to do when we go to "town".  Town of course being Boone.   The Mast General Store is always on the top of our list.  Established in 1883, it's like walking back in time entering the doors of an authentic General Store.  My kids first run to the barrels of loose "penny" candy. (Of course, now its $5.95 a pound) Candy I remember from my youth.   Let's see if you remember: candy dots on strips of paper? wax bottles filled with "sugary syrup"? Zots? Razzle Dazzles? candy cigarettes ... 11/20/2009

Boone Cabin Rentals NC-  Boone All Year-Round Boone all year-round is bustling with activity that is why Boone cabin rentals NC are available all season.  Log cabins such a Serentiy Falls Rental Cabin offer a serene atmosphere for relaxing and taking in the mountain air while offering a short drive to all the local attractions Boone has to offer. Boone all year-round is known as the "Heart of the High Country".  Home of Appalachian University, one of the top 15 universities for the south, Boone benefits from the college enegry.  Art festivals, and shopping from boutiques to antique stores attract "Ladies Weekend Get-Aways". Skiing, hiking, hunting, historing landmaks, and of course Christmas Tree picken' are family favorites.  Christmas Tree Pickin' is what brought my family to Serenit... 11/19/2009

Boone Cabin Rentals NC: Serenity Falls Rental Cabin I just spent the weekend in a Boone cabin rentals NC.  It was a perfect weekend, sunny 65*, crisp cool nights, perfect for a bonfire, and dip in the hot tub, Serenity Falls Rental Cabin is truly a serene place to visit.  It was a perfect get-away from my home in Cary NC.     Serenity Falls Rental Cabin offers:  10 acres of mountain with a spectacular view  a trickling waterfall that flows inches from the back deck private hiking trails creek side horse shoe pit rock lined bonfire pit hot tub However, "secluded" Boone cabin rentals NC doesn't mean bare necessities.  Serenity Falls Rental Cabin has all the modern conveniences you've come to expect: fully stocked kitchen linens provided firewood for the wood burning fireplace charcoal gr... 11/19/2009

  This cozy 2 bedroom cabin is a rental powerhouse! All furniture is included in the sales price and it currently rents for $175 a night. What an amazing investment! An opportunity to have a unique mountain getaway for yourself and have the peace of mind that it already has a solid vacation rental history.     Features include everything that you'd expect from a mountain cabin: open floor plan in the living room and kitchen with tongue and groove ceilings and a beautiful large stone fireplace. Each bedroom suite has a bathroom with a shower as well as a large whirlpool tub. Outside is great for entertaining: the front porch is covered and looks out over the serene partially wooded lot. There is also an open deck out back great for dining/grilling out and relaxing in the hot tub.   The ... 10/24/2009

1. Have a tall margarita on the deck at Canyons and watch the sunset - best view in the "High Country". 2. Walk downtown Blowing Rock and check out all of the unique shops. While you're there spring for some ice cream at Kilwin's. 3. Catch a play by the Blowing Rock Stage Company at the Hayes Performing Arts Center. Many times they have traveling acts as well (music, comedy, dance etc.) Always worthwhile and the venue is beautiful. 4. Go fishing at Grandfather Trout Farm. Rods are provided and bait and tackle are free! You only pay for what you catch... and they'll even clean 'em for ya. Can't beat that! 5. Go tubing. There are several local outfitters that will set you up, drop you off and pick you up. It's a great way to relax on a sunny day. We always put in on the New River in Todd... 05/09/2009

Boone has a wonderful NAHB Green Building Committee. I'm so thrilled to see people in this area coming together to make something happen. I'm just trying to keep up with everything that they're doing. Now, more than ever, it's relevant to the real estate industry. They have a great website with a blog, local resources, and upcoming events. A fun event to check out if you're in the area is Green Drinks at Boone Saloon every first and third Thursdays at 5:30. It's an informal laid back gathering for anyone interested in networking and brainstorming.   Often times before Green Drinks, the group will hold walk through's of homes that are built in the area with "green" elements. I finished my EcoBroker designation recently and am currently facing the "now what? stage" of my green journey. Se... 04/13/2009

After a long gorgeous weekend to start off the month of April, Old Man Winter is about to strike again. That's what April is all about up here in the High Country. We go from 70 degrees and sunny to 25 degrees with a blizzard and winds howling in 24 hours time. The spring teaser is a cycle that takes some getting used to. On one hand,it brings a much needed reprieve from the long winter months. On the other, it strikes back again so hard that it's depressing because you realize there's at least a month till it's time to pack up the parkas and open up the house for good. Usually you can count on being safe by the 2nd week in May. Trout fishing opened this past Saturday. Blowing Rock marked the event with the annual Trout Derby. We had some friends and family over to cast out a few lines ... 04/08/2009

    Well I've never been one to blog listings on ActiveRain but I feel compelled to put the Riverstone Condos that our company has listed out to the universe. The condo's are located right outside of Boone on Hwy 421. They are great for a small family, second home or students. Phase I is already sold out and the builders are about to break ground on Phase II. They are currently preselling them and the projected completion is August of this year. There are two different floor plans but all units are 2 bedroom 2 bath. . These are extremely affordable condos ranging in price from 149K to 179K. A great price for the Boone and Blowing Rock area. Upgrades to granite and hardwood floors are also available. Here are a few pictures but I've got plenty more if anyone wants to see them. Feel free ... 03/28/2009

Well I'm sorry to report that the completion date for the Goshen Bridge is moved back to June 1st. The bridge which is located between Boone and Blowing Rock on the Blue Ridge Parkway has caused travelers to detour since early 2008. The previous completion date was this past December but construction was delayed due to the weather as well as a change in the original plans.   Hopefully they won't have to push the date back any further. It really does throw a wrench in everyones travels. I know for me if I'm driving from Blowing Rock out to 421 towards Wilkesboro, the detour tacks on an extra 15 minutes and extra traffic when it used to be so easy just to hop on the parkway and get to 421 without ever having to hit Boone. The construction also adds to the already congested of traffic in B... 03/18/2009

To quote my favorite Beatle, "have to admit it's getting better, getting better all the time!"   Since we are a resort area, our house values have not declined.  We just have more on the market than I've ever seen, and I've been selling here 30 years.  Unfortunately, we do have our share of overpriced listings,  but a good Realtor can guide you there.   Banks have improved their jumbo mortgage rates and limits so it really is a good time to buy.  Consumer confidence is improving and should continue to do so because real estate is always going to be there.  And real estate in the High Country is a little slice of heaven. 02/17/2009

Rent To Own! 50% rent credit! Brand new 2 bedroom / 2 bath 1000 square foot home. It sits on a lot that is .20 acres and its front deck has incredible views and the walls and ceilings are tongue and groove. The floors are oak hardwood. There is slate flooring in the bathroom and kitchen and granite countertops in the kitchen. The home has central heat and A/C. The appliances are all stainless steel and the home is only 10 minutes from Appalachian State University! Rent is $1000/mo and first months rent and low down required to move in. Please contact us with any questions or visit us at http://www.50statesrent2own.com  Until next time... Pete Olsen Rent To Own Homes, LLC www.50statesrent2own.com www.activerain.com/blogs/peteolsen01   02/10/2009

I'm working on finishing up my Ecobroker course this month so I thought I'd share some of the simple things that I'd never thought of. It's freezing cold here in Blowing Rock so I'm taking in all of the energy saving tips I can get to heat out house effectively. Did you know that a comfortable humidity level in your home is around 50%. Because the water particles in the air actually conduct heat better,  it's more efficient to heat your home if you don't let it get too dry in the winter. Did you know that heating and cooling a home accounts for almost half of the homes energy bills. Did you know that dark colored houses conduct the suns heat while light colored houses actually reflect more of the heat away. Did you know that a grass covered lawn is actually around 10 degrees cooler in t... 01/15/2009

We have a client that has had great success in 2008 selling real estate in Boone, NC. Usually people are suspect of the numbers and think that Echota must be doing something like huge discounts or some secret incentive program. The reality is that their secret is staying positive, having a good product for the right market and continuing to spend marketing dollars. And when I asked Mark Harrill, the developer of Echota, how he became the most successful community in North Carolina in 2008 he told me "2008 success started in 2001 by listening to what the market wanted." You see Mark never set out to build a monument to himself or make gazillions to have the lavish lifestyle of his developer peers. He wanted to create a special place for the largest segment in the market. A place that peo... 01/13/2009

DREAM Cabin in the Mountains of North Carolina....YOUR own LOG HOMEIf you have even longed for the perfect Log Cabin in the cool North Carolina Mountains, this is it! Offering a Full Covered Front Porch and Double Covered Decks perched above a Community Lake! The Lakes Community in Seven Devils is a secluded, meandering neighborhood located within the settlement known as Seven Devils. In winter, ski and tube to your hearts content on the slopes in Seven Devils called hawks nest. In summer, rock on one of the two covered back decks and watch the children play, ducks glide in the pond below or sip Lemonade. Need more? Walk the little path outside your back door to the fun times Firepit beside the water, where you can tell stories, roast marshmallows or just BE! This Immaculate Hand Hewn H... 01/08/2009

C:\Documents and Settings\Judy Wagner\My Documents\Maximizer Home selling Tips_guide.pdf 01/08/2009

This winter is predicted to be a cold and snowy one. Good news to all the local Ski Slopes and skiers. Me? I prefer ice Skating. Mostly on a sunny 32 degree day absent of wind. What can I say? I am a wuss! At least that's what my grandson says. They have been making snow at Appalachian Ski Mountain, Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain for a couple of weeks. We have actually had three snow storms this year too. Things are actually beginning to pop around here. Phone is ringing and rates are dropping. Our home finance thru our company, Weichert Realtors, Weber Hodge Group is actually offering as low as 4.5% rates. Unheard of. And I got an email yesterday which says Fannie Mae is soon to follow. Did I say buyers market? We have several contracts right now and a few other buyers in the middle... 12/06/2008

I just love the beauty of these beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.  Having lived here fourteen years I have driven or walked most of these counties in northwestern NC.  The sublime beauty of the high country is almost impossible to clearly convey.  There are moments you experience on top of ridge where you're suddenly struck by how magnificent is this place on Earth!  It can be a moment of weather with wispy clouds wending their way as the wind whispers in the river valley.  It stops me in my tracks this exquisite beauty.  It can be something as simple as awakening to the fresh forest fragrance or as humbling as a mountaintop moment under the garland of diamonds we have for a night sky.  I've never known anything as sublime as these mountains.  Come look with me and we'll find perfection i... 11/28/2008