(source)The Western North Carolina Farmers Market on Brevard Road hosts its third annual BBQ Cookoff and Bluegrass Jam this weekend, combining local and regional music with a competitive barbecue cook-off that draws chefs from all over the region.

Admission is free and you can purchase food from the contestants. The musical lineup includes local and regional favorites like Whitewater Bluegrass and Balsam Range plus Ohio-based Rounder Recording artists Newfound Road.

If you live in Buncombe County and are looking for something to do this weekend, why not check out the BBQ Cookoff and Bluegrass Jam? After all, it’s always great to enjoy fantastic food and just to see what’s out there - what your neighbors can accomplish.

Of course, this is also a great event to attend if you’re visiting Buncombe County and thinking about relocating to the area. It’s a great way to get a taste for what living here is really all about!

When you’re going to be buying a home in Buncombe County (or anywhere else for that matter, when you get right down to it), there are going to be a few things that you can do that will simplify the process.

First, when you are going to be buying a home, you are going to want to be in touch with a real estate agent who can help you to find exactly what you’re looking for.

Then, you’re going to want to start looking into different neighborhoods that interest you, the types of activities that you want to have nearby and the style of home that you’re looking for.

Once you have a sense of the type of home that you want to buy - and you have the right person on your side, someone who knows the area and what you’re looking for and can help you to find the ideal property - it’s all just a matter of finding your dream home.

When you’re going to buy in Buncombe County, you’ll find that the right home is there waiting for you, it’s just a matter of tracking it down.

One of the greatest things about living in Asheville (and the the rest of Buncombe County) is the accessibility of the Biltmore. Far more than just America’s largest home, the Biltmore is also garden property, home to shopping and outdoor activities, and home to one of the most frequently visited wineries in the US.

The land, the gardens and spring inspire something beautiful each year - something that draws a crowd each and every year: the Biltmore Festival of Flowers.

Both formal and informal gardens come to life each spring. Hyacinths, forsythia, daffodils, pansies: these are just a sampling of what’s in bloom at the Biltmore now and during the Festival of Flowers.

Not only does the festival help to welcome spring in Asheville, but it’s also a great time to explore the area. When you do, you’ll see for yourself just how special the area really is.

And, of course, if you happen to visit Asheville and think you’d like to put down some roots, be in touch! I’d love to help you find an Asheville home that would suit you perfectly.

Choosing an Asheville home for sale can be easy. Know which neighborhood you would like to live in, work with the right real estate agent and in no time you’ll be on your way into your new home.

For example, if you’re looking for a great home in the Linwood Park area, you are going to want to be sure that you schedule an appointment to see this featured listing that’s located at 535 Fairview.

Located on a corner lot, you can be sure that you’ll have your space out on the lawn. With two bedrooms and two baths and just over 1200 square feet of space inside, you’ll find that you also have plenty of space inside - especially if you are looking for your first home.

A wood burning fireplace helps to add even more to the comfort of the home - providing a sort of warm satisfaction along with the physical warmth when you need it.

One of the great things about living in Buncombe County is that it gives you the chance to explore and experience the arts and culture of the area. While I’m working on putting together some content about the Biltmore Estate and discussing many of the events that take place there throughout the year, I wanted to be sure to mention that, this coming Sunday, North Carolina’s Poet Laureate will be reading in Asheville:

(source)we’re excited about the upcoming reading this Sunday at 2 p.m. by North Carolina poet laureate Kathryn Stripling Byer at the Asheville Art Museum downtown. It’s free, and we’ve never heard her read, so we plan to check it out. She lives in Western North Carolina, just down the road from Asheville.

So, if you live in Buncombe County (or if you’re in the area, checking things out because you’re thinking about relocating to Asheville or nearby areas), why not set aside the time to to check it out yourself? Explore the Asheville Art Museum, maybe enjoy a great lunch somewhere - make an afternoon of it. See for yourself why so many people enjoy the arts experience in Asheville.

When it comes to finding real estate in Buncombe County, one of the things that you will discover is simple: whatever you are looking for is out there just waiting to be found.

Looking for a second home in a cabin with a mountain view? Real estate in Buncombe County will show that one is available to you. Looking for a primary home in Asheville or Hendersonville? Find a single family home that has everything you’re looking for: the right number of bedrooms, the right patio or porch, a living room or family room. It’s all a matter of knowing what you are looking for.

More importantly, finding the right real estate in Buncombe County is all about having the right partner. When you choose the right real estate agent, you’ll find that it’s easy to find what you are looking for. Simply put, with the right agent, you’ll find that she is as committed to finding your dream home as you are.

So, take your time and figure out what you’re looking for in a home. Talk with your real estate agent and in no time, the real estate you’re looking for in Buncombe County will be yours.

One of the greatest things about North Carolina is that it’s a great destination year round:

(source)Those looking for tranquil mountain settings, a relaxing time far from the crowds and many exciting outdoor activities, should consider the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. This picturesque region boasts numerous vibrant cities such as Asheville as well as quaint mountain villages such as Boone. Diverse recreation, scenic hiking trails and historic sites can be found in this part of North Carolina.

The interesting thing is that visits like these to North Carolina aren’t always enough; short vacations to the area often get people thinking about relocating to North Carolina.

If you’re thinking about relocating to North Carolina, it’s always an option to make a trip down to explore the area and to see all that it has to offer. But there’s another option too.

If your plans include relocating to North Carolina, why not get in touch with a real estate agent who can help you to learn more about the area, who can talk to you about schools, activities and everything else that’s important to you? A real estate agent can help you to choose the right spot - a place that you will be glad to call home.

(source)The Asheville Art Museum won best full-color poster in the North Carolina Museums Council’s 2008 Professional Awards competition. The museum won it for its “Stone Roberts: Home is Where One Starts” exhibition poster.

The poster was designed by graphic designer Susan Rhew, who was also honored this fall by the Southeastern Museums Conference with honorable mentions for the “Under the Skin: Tattoos and Contemporary Culture” exhibition poster and the “Make It New: Western North Carolina Artists Exhibition 2007” exhibition catalogue.

“We are delighted that our professional colleagues have once again recognized the work of Susan Rhew Designs, the museum’s curatorial staff and the artists whose excellence is showcased in our exhibitions and publications,” said Asheville Art Museum Executive Director Pamela Myers.

When you get right down to it, living in Buncombe County has a whole lot to offer. Even beyond the subjects of the posters that were recognized and honored after being designed for the Asheville Art Museum, it’s great to live in a place where the arts are that important.

But then, when you live in a place with as much natural beauty as Asheville and the rest of Buncombe County, you’ll find that it’s little wonder that the arts are important here. After all, it’s hard to not be inspired.

With beautiful landscapes and the chance to explore everything that you’re passionate about, living in Buncombe County inspires an artistic streak in everyone.

If you’re planning on buying a home in Buncombe County, one of the best considerations that you can make is to find a green building - a home that’s got everything that you’re looking for and is environmentally friendly. After all, part of the thrill of living in Buncombe County is the preserved natural environment; shouldn’t you make sure that you’re doing your part to make sure that others are able to enjoy it just as much?

Of course, buying a home in Buncombe County and planning to go green doesn’t necessarily mean that you should only look at homes that have solar panels; it also means making sure that the appliances and heating and cooling systems are energy efficient. buying an energy efficient home in Buncombe County doesn’t mean that you need to choose a home that’s already been done up either. Say, for example, one of the things that you ask for in the contract includes replacing the windows; why not ask that they be replaced with more energy efficient windows?

When you are going to be buying a home, it’s important to remember that you are making an investment. Don’t just buy a home to invest in your own future; choose a home that will let you make sure that you’re investing in the future of the environment as well.

When it comes to buying a home, there are some home buyers who are much further ahead of the curve than the others. In part, this is because they’ve been looking at their financial situation and they have a sense about what they are looking for in a home.

In other words, some people are ready to go because they have “done their home work.” Part of that simply comes from knowing what to expect; your real estate agent can help you with this process by give you home buying tips even before you’re officially looking for your dream home.

If you know that you’re going to be looking at a Western North Carolina home in the near future, why not take advantage of a free newsletter that will let you stay on top of what’s going on in Asheville, Hendersonville and the rest of Buncombe County?

That way, you’ll be able to start focusing in on the neighborhood that you’re going to want to live in. You’ll be able to learn more about the home buying process. And, most importantly, you’ll find that you’re able to get yourself ahead of the curve: when you buy a home, you’ll know that you’re ready.