Keepin’ it real estate 🏡

2023 predictions for the Asheville real estate market

lakeview community asheville real estate

The Lake View Park community is one of the most sought-after addresses in Asheville. | Photo by Fletching Drone Photography via Looking Glass Realty

There aren’t enough flame emojis on the Internet to describe the Asheville housing market. In 2022, the median home in Buncombe County sold for $450,000, a 12.5% jump year-over-year. Yowza. 🔥

Despite a softening of home sales this fall, prices show few signs of cooling off. But for those hoping to dip their toes in the home buying waters soon, it helps to know what trends to expect. Put on your floaties, and let’s hear what the local experts predict.

Things will cool down… kind of

Neal Hanks, president of Beverly-Hanks, shared in a Q3 Market Report that a big takeaway for 2022 is that “momentum remains strong, albeit at a significantly different pace than at this same time a year ago.” That means “while the days of skyrocketing listing prices and intense competition may be behind us for now, the demand for housing in the region will continue to grow.”

Aaron Kreizman, a real estate agent at Looking Glass Realty, confirms this projection: “Properties are sitting on the market a bit longer and sellers are starting to collect smaller percentages of their original asking price, but only by a little bit.”

Asheville real estate — In 2021, North Carolina saw one of the highest net gains of residents in the US.

Don’t rule out Canton and Woodfin

Buyers hoping to find areas with less competition may also want to think about checking out Woodfin or Canton. Kreizman said there may be some deals in these areas — but he noted “the tide is rising” there, too, since Woodfin is seeing major developments along the French Broad River, including expanded greenway systems and a human-engineered whitewater “wave.”

Since Canton is home to the Champion Pulp and Paper Mill, Kreizman explained, outsiders may scoff at the chemical smell — but it’s “slowly becoming a haven for artistic trend setters priced out of Asheville. And in my opinion, you don’t even notice the smell after spending a day or two in town.”

MORE HOT TIPS

Give us your predictions: Over the next six months, the real estate market here will…

A. Heat up even more
B. Level off and stay about the same
C. Start to cool off a bit
D. I have no earthly idea

BET ON THE HOUSE

Click here to have your event featured.

Tuesday, Dec. 6

2nd Annual Wizards of Mixology - Themed Cocktail & Culinary Competition | Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 7-10 p.m. | Cultivated Cocktails Distillery , 25 Page Ave. #103, Asheville | $45 | Four local restaurants and bars will provide a food and drink pairing for your enjoyment at this themed cocktail and culinary competition.
Pintxo Party | Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 6-9 p.m. | La Bodega by Curate, 32 South Lexington Ave., Asheville | $75 | This first-ever, reception-style event will feature tasty bites from Chef Matt Brown and a selection of De Maison wines — reservations are required.
Free Sewing Repair for All | Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 5-8 p.m. | 1561 Alexander Rd., Leicester | Free | Skilled volunteers will provide free, hands-on instruction in the art of repair.

Wednesday, Dec. 7

Crafting with Corks | Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 10:30-11:45 a.m. | Buncombe County Special Collections at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St., Asheville | Free | Indulge your creativity to create crafts from repurposed corks — supplies and examples provided.
Music to Your Ears Discussion Series: Steely Dan’s Can’t Buy a Thrill | Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr., Asheville | $10 | Gather with music enthusiasts to discuss the groundbreaking 1972 Steely Dan album “Can’t Buy a Thrill.”

Thursday, Dec. 8

The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement PULP | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 7-10 p.m. | The Orange Peel Pulp, 103 Hilliard Ave., Asheville | $13 | Laugh the night away with some of the area’s best standup comics.
No Regular Dog Tour | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 8 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville | $17 | Catch this rising country star on her “No Regular Dog” tour.

Friday, Dec. 9

Velvet Magnum Christmas Party | Friday, Dec. 9 | 6-11:59 p.m. | Burial Beer Co., 40 Collier Ave., Asheville | Free | Reps from Other Half Brewing return once again for Burial’s annual raucous and tropical Christmas Party, featuring guest taps, special beer and merch releases, and a house DJ.

Saturday, Dec. 10

Celebrating Emily Dickinson on Her Birthday: A Benefit for Our Voice | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 3 p.m. | St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 337 Charlotte St., Asheville | Free | Commemorate the famed novelist’s birthday with Chautauqua performer Carol Kessler as Emily and the Asheville Flute Choir.
Asheville Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday Concert | Saturday, Dec. 10-Sunday, Dec. 11 | 7:30 p.m., 4 p.m. | Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Ave., Asheville | $30-$40 | Enjoy a live annual performance from the Asheville Gay Men’s Chorus.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

61º | Showers | 60% chance of rain

Development

ICYMI, AdventHealth has been approved to build a new hospital in WNC. The $254.1 million project — slated for Candler — plans to include 67 acute care beds, a C-section operating room, and five procedure rooms. Construction is estimated to wrap up in January 2025. (Mountain Xpress)

Edu

A new tuition-free public Montessori charter school has been approved for the 2023-2024 school year in Asheville. Mountain City Public Montessori received unanimous approval from the State Board of Education and will serve students from Kindergarten through sixth grade. (WLOS)

Coming Soon

Voodoo Roux, a new Veteran-owned and operated Cajun street kitchen, is preparing for launch in the Black Mountain area. The food truck offers a variety of po’ boys, plus chicken wings, beignets, and croissant breakfast sandwiches. Check out the menu and follow the biz on Facebook for updates.

Concert

Christmas Jam is right around the corner. After a two-year hiatus, the legendary show returns with headliners Gov’t Mule, Phil Lesh & Friends, Tyler Childers, Brothers Osborne, and Dinosaur Jr. on Saturday, Dec. 10. Tickets are sold out, but get pumped for the festivities with this look back at the show’s history. (Mountain Xpress)

Number

$6.7 million. That’s the record-breaking sale recently made at The Cliffs, marking the highest-selling property ever in the group of seven luxury communities across the Upstate and Western NC. Peek inside the 7-110-sqft home known as “The Perch.”

Health

Need help with open enrollment? Pisgah Legal Services is partnering with Mountain Projects to provide free healthcare marketplace assistance on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 12:30-5:30 p.m. at Haywood County Public Library (678 So. Haywood St., Waynesville) and Thursday, Dec. 10, 12-6 p.m. at the Carpenter Community Building (1288 Georgia Rd., Franklin). Learn more.

Learn

The YWCA Asheville will host a seven-week “Empowered Self Defense” course from Thursday, Jan. 11-Wednesday, Feb. 22. The course will teach deescalation strategies + best practices for mental, verbal, and physical responses. Call (828)-254-7206 (Ext. 213) to sign-up. (Mountain Xpress)

Try This

Still need to secure a few holiday gifts? The perfect presents are awaiting you at the Asheville Outlets (gift-wrapped and all). We recently spent the day at this outdoor center, shopping for gifts, admiring holiday decorations, and sampling chocolate truffles at Lindt Chocolate Shop. Here’s what we’re still talking about.*

Shop

We can’t stop thinking about the luxurious floral embroidery on this beautiful red and black dress — and it’s giving us major downtown Asheville at Christmas vibes, too. The best part? It can be in your closet by Saturday with code RTRx6AM.*

Featured Job

Montreat College is hiring for multiple positions, including Residence Life Director, Alumni Director, Financial Services Counselors, Admissions Counselor, and more. Interested in joining the team? Learn more about open positions and apply.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Help decide the future of Haywood Road

Help decide the future of West Asheville’s Haywood Road

Haywood Road from above. | Photo by @overasheville

Haywood Road, a main artery of West Asheville, is set to receive a $7.7 million upgrade from the NC Department of Transportation over the next year.

But just how deep will the makeover go? That’s up to Ashevillians to decide. The NCDOT is seeking input through Fri., January 13, 2023 for a two-mile stretch that spans from Patton Avenue to Ridgelawn Road (that’s roughly from Swannanoa Cleaners to OWL Bakery).

What’s non-negotiable:

Resurfacing the roadway and eliminating potholes.
Bringing crosswalks and curb ramps up to ADA standards.

What’s up for debate:

Whether or not to implement a uniform 25 mph speed limit along the entire corridor
New signage and turn-lane adjustments
The addition of bike lanes
New crosswalks, curb ramps, and pavement markings

Submit your comments via this online portal, email, or at (984)-205-6615 (use the code 2039). Or attend a drop-in session today, Dec. 6, 4-7 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church (587 Haywood Rd.).

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Laura.

Editor’s pick: I’m planning to make some homemade apple butter (to dole out as a holiday gift) in the next week or so. Is anyone local still selling apples? And do you have a special recipe? If so, I’m all ears.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Learn some local facts about mistletoe, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Laura Hackett, Brook Bolen, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Helen Purnell | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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