The S & W  building in downtown Asheville is one of my favorite art deco buildings in the city.

The building originally opened in 1929 as an upscale dining experience that served locally sourced food. It unfortunately has seen many businesses come and go over the past years.

The idea of the new S & W Market is to offer counter service for people to enjoy their favorite food and beer. Highland Brewery will be here along with 5 food stalls on the main floor. The food stalls will consist of  BUN INTENDED, THE TIMES BAR, BUXTON CHICKEN PALACE, PEACE LOVE TACOS, FARM DOGS and the HOP ICE CREAM. The mezzanine will feature Highlands taproom with seating for people to enjoy their favorite bevvy and food. It will also feature a private event space and street side seating. With its classy exterior I can't wait to see what has been done to the inside.

Looking forward to seeing another great space open back up in Asheville.

Its getting to be that time of year to start sowing  the seeds of love into the ground in order to enjoy a little harvest in the summer before the heat kicks in.  If your fortunate enough to have an avid gardener as a neighbor that starts things indoors for you this will work too.

There are so many benefits of gardening. Family and Community Gardens foster feeling of connection, not only with your people but with your plants. Gardening can give you a sense of empowerment. Nothing screams empowerment more than watching something grow from seed while also giving you a creative calm.

You will also need to take care of yourself while gardening. Gardening invites you to get outside and take charge of your own need for exercise, healthy food and beautiful surroundings. If your digging and harvesting your immune system benefits form all of this. It is also so good for your mental state, your heart and your health.

Life is a garden so DIG IT.

If  you are looking for a spot to take an easy breezy hike or a more difficult heart pounding hike you have come to the right area. The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most beautiful areas in the US. stretching 469 miles. I have lived by the ocean during different times in my life and the way the mountains seem to stretch on forever reminds me of being by the ocean where you can not see the end of it. Depending on which side of the mountain you are on you can catch a glorious sunrise or a gracious sunset, whichever you prefer.  Pull up to one of the overlooks for a picnic or check out the different places to camp. Keep in mind you can only camp in areas that are designated. Below are 2 websites. One is interactive and the other will give you levels of intensity and how far each hike actually is. Enjoy and have a great weekend.

https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/hiking/

https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/parkway-map/

If you are new to the area or you have lived here for a while and you are looking for something to do with your pup. Check out the WAGBAR in Weaverville.  Its a great space to bring your pup to socialize. We are not the only ones who have been cooped up during Covid. You can let your fur baby run free and make new friends. The atmosphere is full of joy with pups playing and people just happy to be outside in this beautiful weather. There are, what I like to call, life guards on site that handle any unnecessary roughness between the puppers which is a nice change from the usual dog park. 

You can also enjoy a cold or hot beverage of your choosing and on occasion you can catch a local food truck as well.  Waggin Meals also makes there own dog food if your are looking for a healthier alternative to store bought dog food. There is a membership fee to bring your pup or you can just stop in and enjoy all the smiles on the dogs faces. The link is below to learn more.  Let yourself and your pup live life at its best.  Go check it out you won't be disappointed.

https://www.wagbar.com/wagbar

Someone asked me the other day what my favorite part of Valentine's day was.

I had to really think about it.  In my home growing up we were never big on the day full of candied hearts and over stuffed bears. I guess the best part for myself was in the past. When my boys were little and we would sit around the table making Valentine's day cards for all their classmates in school. We always loved any excuse to be crafty. Just the process of being with the ones you love and enjoying any moment you can get with them is so precious. Never take it for granted.

What has been one of your favorite moments?

Enjoy Valentine's day however you decide to celebrate it and surround yourself with self love.

Tax time comes every year and it is nothing anyone looks forward to. It is always good to get a professional to help you navigate those taxes to get you the biggest deductions possible. We all work hard for our money and to be able to save even a little bit that tax bill feels great. “The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, your property taxes, and some of the costs involved in buying a home.” - REALTOR® Magazine

That’s just one great reason being a homeowner rocks!

When you Purchase a home you gain roughly about six percent equity in you home after the first year. “No more worrying about landlords, rent increases or the possibility your building will be sold and redeveloped. You’ll be in charge.” - homeadvisor.com Let’s take these worries and uncertainties off your plate by finding the home you’re looking for!

When you think of your ideal living room, do you think A - neutral zen or B - comfy cozy with your bestfriend? Which ever your style is make it your own. #thehelpfulagent #home #houseexpert #house #listreports #homeowner #realestate #realestateagent #thisorthat #homedecor #homestyle #decor #style #dog

It is important that when you are getting ready to list your home that you declutter it. You want to make your space pleasing to the buyers eyes and have it inviting as possible.  Buyers want to feel at home when they walk into a house. They want to imagine where all their furniture is going, where the can sit and enjoy their family or where their pets can play. Having great photos of your home makes a difference too. In the age of Covid it can also help having a virtual tour. People buy with their eyes first. If it looks good on line the buyers will be more intrigued to schedule a showing. Put some good intention into selling your home and in the end you will get top dollar.

In previous years most people selling their home would decide to *wait *until Spring or Summer when the tourist season ramps up in the Asheville area. 

Inventory is normally at its lowest point during the winter months as sellers would normally prefer to list before the Holiday season or wait until the weather is warmer. 

We are in a new *normal* these days in so many ways in WNC. As the past trends of waiting do not seem to be affecting the market in the Asheville area. The biggest problem we have is the low inventory. This can be a good thing for you as a seller but it does not mean that someone will overpay for your home. 

Make sure your home is listed with a great realtor who knows the market in the area your home is located.

There are so many factors in selling your home like accessibility, location, interior and exterior finishes these all make a difference when pricing your home and getting top dollar for it. Knowledge is power and having someone who is knowledgeable and up to speed on what is going on in the market is extremely valuable when listing your home for sale.