Coldwell Banker King recently announced the firm’s merger with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage and Coldwell Banker Advantage, The Advantage Family of Companies. This new alliance will provide added value for clients and will expand the Advantage Family of Companies’ presence into Asheville and the surrounding areas. The firm’s leaders expressed that the move is a facet of their business model, which ensures that buyers and sellers experience the ultimate in local knowledge and customer service, along with the backing and support of a brand that is recognized and respected worldwide.

    The merger will ultimately deliver added value to local agents, as well as their clients. “A few of the resulting synergies include a vast referral network, advanced technology to streamline transactions, and an elevated market presence in the area,” said Terri King, President of Coldwell Banker King. “We could not be more excited for this new partnership—it is a win for everyone involved.”

    “Coldwell Banker King is a very successful company with a great reputation. We look forward to building on that success,” said Tim Milam, CEO of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage and Managing Partner of the Coldwell Banker Advantage Family of Companies. “By joining forces, we can offer a comprehensive suite of resources and tools for the agents and the clients they serve. We consistently look for opportunities to add quality people to our organization and this merger does just that.”

    Coldwell Banker King’s Senior Vice President of Administration & Finance, Bridget Adams, also pointed out the additional benefits of specialized training and professional development, an increased marketing presence, and revitalized campaigns for their agents. “We are very excited for this merger and what all of these additional resources will mean for our agents’ success.”

    The merger will add approximately 75 sales associates and five additional office locations to the Coldwell Banker Advantage Family of Companies’ network. “With this network of offices, we can provide local insight and market-specific knowledge for our clients from the western part of the state to the Triad, Triangle, and various locations up and down the North Carolina and South Carolina coasts”, said King. “The managers, leadership team and support staff are the best in the business. Our focus is always on adapting and refining our systems to meet the needs of our agents, so that they can provide clients with the highest level of customer service.”

    To contact a REALTOR® in your area, or learn more about the firm and career opportunities, call (828) 398-5778 or visit www.CBAdvantage.com.

    About the Coldwell Banker Advantage Family of Companies The Coldwell Banker Advantage Family of Companies includes Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage serving southeastern North Carolina and South Carolina’s Grand Strand; and Coldwell Banker Advantage serving major markets including Raleigh and the Triangle, Fayetteville, Southern Pines, Greensboro, Winston Salem, and the Triad. Together, all regions closed $6 Billion in sales volume and over 19,000 transactions in 2023.

      For the second consecutive year, business news channel CNBC has ranked North Carolina the top state for business, based on a host of key metrics.

      North Carolina ranked number one in workforce – the most important category in this year’s study – as educated workers are flocking to the state and worker training programs are rated among the best in the country. North Carolina also boasted the third-best economy with solid growth, stable state finances and a healthy housing market.

      “Companies in desperate need of skilled workers are going where the people are, and people are going to North Carolina,” CNBC special correspondent Scott Cohn said. “The state’s well-balanced economy is handling the growth well. Rising political tensions could create issues down the road, but for now, North Carolina seems to have the winning formula—for the second year in a row.”

      All 50 States Scored on 86 Metrics

      CNBC’s study scores all 50 states on 86 metrics across 10 categories of competitiveness. The methodology grades the states based on factors companies consider each year when making site selection decisions, and that states pitch in their efforts to win business.

      Here’s where North Carolina ranks in each category for 2023:

      Overall: 1

      Workforce: 1

      Infrastructure: 16

      Economy: 3

      Life, Health & Inclusion: 34

      Cost of Doing Business: 18

      Tech & Innovation: 6

      Business Friendliness: 10

      Education: 7

      Access to Capital: 6

      Cost of Living: 27

      North Carolina Claims Other Top Business Awards

      Earlier this year, North Carolina also won Site Selection magazine’s Prosperity Cup for the third year in a row, which recognizes the competitiveness of state-level economic development agencies and their success in landing capital investment projects.

      In June, North Carolina won for the second consecutive year Area Development magazine’s 2023 Platinum Shovel Award that recognizes states that went above and beyond the gold standard for investment and job creation. Business Facilities magazine named North Carolina its State of the Year for economic development and job growth.

        happy-girls-jumping

        For the second time in 2020, a national magazine has ranked Asheville among the best places to retire in the nation. This time, Money.com listed Asheville seventh in its article, "The 10 Best Places to Retire in America."

        Earlier this year, Forbes.com ranked Asheville one of "The Best Places to Retire in 2020." Acknowledging that it's not always easy to decide the best place for retirement, Money combed through about 47,500 data points and considered factors such as housing, climate, diversity and safety to create a list of destinations to suit every taste and budget. And here's what Money singled out about Asheville:

        Population: 94,000
        Population 50-plus: 35.8%
        Days of sunshine a year: 212
        Median home price: $328,000

        You’re probably not looking to retire in the largest privately-owned house in the country, but if you were, you’d head to Asheville, N.C. The Biltmore House, now a museum, has 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces.

        Biltmore aside, the cost of living is relatively low in Asheville. You can get a hamburger at Tastee Diner for just $5, and the bus fare for those aged 65 and older is just 50 cents (or $110 for an annual pass).

        At the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at University of North Carolina (UNC) Asheville, older adults can take classes from UNC faculty on everything from economics to photography (classes have moved online during the pandemic). You can also take advantage of the local Blue Ridge Mountains with Senior Treks, low-impact hikes run through the Asheville Parks and Recreation Outdoor Programs. The hiking opportunities don’t stop there — Asheville is less than an hour-long drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Pisgah National Forest.

        And once you’re comfortable dining out again, you won’t run out of new restaurants to try. Asheville was on The Daily Meal’s 2019 list of top foodie towns in America, and its visitor’s bureau Explore Asheville refers to it as a “Foodtopia.” It seems to live up to the name. Asheville has the highest numbers of bars and restaurants per capita among our winners.

        There are also 12 retirement communities in the area.

        The Money accolades come along with several over 2020 superlatives for Asheville. Livability.com ranked Asheville sixth on the “Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S.," while BestCities.org ranked the city fifth in its Top 50 of “America’s Best Small Cities." Travel & Leisure ranked Asheville No. 3 in its "Top 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020."

        To find out even more about all Asheville and the surrounding areas have to offer, contact a CBK agent.

          Oprah Magazine's website recently included Asheville in its "15 Best Thanksgiving Getaways for Families or Couples" as Thanksgiving vacations are under consideration this year more than ever. According to the article:

          "It might be the understatement of the century to say that Thanksgiving this year will be different. Adjusting our expectations of the holiday is, unfortunately, just one more of the wrenches thrown at us due to COVID-19. Many of us, due to travel restrictions or tightening budgets or high-risk family members, won’t be able to spend the holiday enjoying our favorite traditions with our usual crew of family and friends.

          But, that doesn’t mean that all is lost: 2020 might be the perfect year to finally take that Thanksgiving vacation that you’ve always daydreamed about. After all, we’ve certainly spent enough time in our kitchens this year (see: hundreds of fall desserts). And, think about how incredible it would be for someone else to do the holiday cooking, not to mention cleanup."

          Asheville made the list for its charm, foodie scene and outdoor recreation. According to Oprah.com.:

          "This charming city in the Blue Ridge Mountains has long been known for its bucket-list breweries, thriving art scene, stunning drives, hikes, and Biltmore, America’s largest home, built by George Vanderbilt. The winter is an ideal time to visit: temperatures are mild, the travel rates are the best of the year, and it’s easier than any other season to land hard-to-get restaurant reservations, with plenty of outdoor seating available for those looking for it. Snag a room at Kimpton’s Hotel Arras, a 128-room boutique hotel that's perfectly located downtown so you can easily stroll to the area's many breweries, but has a romantic outdoor bar with a fire table so couples who prefer cocktails can say in. If you are in town for the microbrews, don't skip the pumpkin ale at Catawba or the taco truck at Rabbit, Rabbit."

          Asheville-Skyline-Dusk-CVB0247

            Coldwell Banker King president and owner Terri King was spotlighted in the 2020 "Women in Business" issue of the popular Mountain Xpress weekly news magazine. In fact, she was featured on the cover.

            The article, headlined "The Gender Divide," focuses on women involved in business and, in particular, the local real estate industry. Terri's comments emphasize the need for women to seek out and take advantage of opportunities to own and manage businesses:

            Not long after Terri King set up her real estate brokerage in Asheville in 2011, a salesman stopped by the office while King was talking with an employee at the front desk.

            “He said, ‘I’d like to talk to Mr. King,’ and I just turned to him and stuck out my hand and said, ‘I’m Mr. King,’” she recalled recently.

            These days, however, female real estate agents seem to be the norm rather than exceptions.

            Nationwide, women account for 65% of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors says, up from 57% in 2010. A look at the online rosters of agents at the largest firms in Buncombe County suggests that women make up a majority of brokers here also, although many top-level jobs are still held by men.

            Local women in the business say the job requires good listening skills, the ability to motivate yourself, knowledge of the community and the housing market and, yes, hard work. Those interviewed for this story said their gender hasn’t been a barrier to them in the field.

            In addition to earnings, they cited rewards such as being your own boss, having schedule flexibility and the satisfaction of guiding clients through what’s often the largest financial transaction they will ever make.

            King, a Buncombe County native, began her working life as an agricultural extension agent. Seven years later, she was working with tobacco farmers in Madison County when changes in the federal tobacco program portended big changes in her job. She switched to real estate sales in 2003 and later started her own small firm.

            The 2008 housing crash wiped out her business, and King, who by that time had a master’s degree in entrepreneurship, began producing and selling furniture made of reclaimed wood from old barns. Each piece came with a written description of the wood’s provenance and a photo of the barn. In 2011, King bought the local Coldwell Banker franchise — the previous owner had gone out of business — and started a brokerage practically from scratch. She transferred the furniture company to her business partner in order to focus on real estate.

            “This was when everybody thought real estate was over; they thought real estate was never going to come back,” King recalls. “When I told family and friends and other businesspeople … everybody was like, ‘Oh, Terri, don’t do this.’”

            Today, Coldwell Banker King has five offices and about 90 brokers. After the crash, says King, there were fewer firms and brokers in the market, creating more of an opportunity for her company as real estate did indeed come back.

            “There’s no substitute for luck and timing,” she observes. “I just believed I lived in an area where people wanted to live, and boy, has that proved true.”

            For Terri, this type of exposure is fundamental to her goal of helping more women succeed. "It's always an honor to be able to promote women in business and encourage them, especially younger women, to seek out opportunities," she says. "Whether it's in real estate or another endeavor, women need to look for ways to flourish and succeed."

             

              The Foundry Hotel

              Condé Nast Traveler recently announced its 2020 Readers' Choice Awards for the best hotels in the world, and Western North Carolina was well represented in these respected rankings.

              The Foundry Hotel in Asheville was ranked #30 among the “Best Hotels in the World.” You have to let that sink in for a moment and note this recognizes the best hotels in the world. That’s impressive stuff, and the Condé Nast Traveler description is equally glowing:

              “Opened in November 2018, the Foundry Hotel helped cement Asheville, North Carolina as a bona-fide travel destination. Modern and hip but still grounded in the town’s history, the hotel is housed in a former steel factory. Details nod to the buildings’ past, like steel star fastenings, the original elevator pulley system, and lots of exposed brick incorporated into the design. The lobby bar is perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail, and the restaurant, Benne on Eagle, is led by James Beard-nominated chef John Fleer. Do yourself a favor and order the pork chops for dinner.”

              Therefore, also no surprise The Foundry was ranked #2 in the “Top 20 Hotels in the South.” Joining The Foundry on this list is the Grand Bohemian Hotel, which is situated in Asheville’s Biltmore Village and ranked #9.

              Western North Carolina also was well represented in the ranking of the “Top 20 Resorts in the South,” with the Greystone Inn at Lake Toxaway ranked #6, The Swag in Waynesville #14 and the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville #19.

              So, it’s fair to say that Asheville and the surrounding area offer some great places to stay, as well as wonderful places to live. Whenever you’re ready to learn more, the experienced agents at Coldwell Banker King are ready to assist.

                "Quaint" is a perfect word to describe Burnsville, a mountain town nestled in the beautiful Black Mountains that are home to six of the highest peaks east of the Mississippi, including the tallest, Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet. While perhaps not one of Western North Carolina's better known communities, Burnsville is starting to gain attention for its iconic small-town charm, outdoor experiences, and plenty to see and do.

                In fact, the town is featured in the Annual Mountain Issue of the popular Our State Magazine as a destination where "artists, chefs and makers find inspiration in the beautiful Black Mountains that surround this charming Yancey County town." The article provides plenty of compelling reasons to plan a visit, and maybe even to consider the area for a getaway or retirement home.

                If after reading the article you're interested in learning more about life in Burnsville, contact our CBK office and agents situated right on Main Street.

                  The popular Kiplinger newsletter recently featured North Carolina as a top retirement destination and included CBK’s Terri King’s assessment of the state’s mountains as a place to consider. North Carolina ranks in the top five for net migration of people 60 and older, according to the Census Bureau. In 2018, North Carolina was number three, behind Florida and Arizona.

                  In “Head for the Hills in North Carolina,” Kiplinger writer Bob Niedt singled out Asheville and other adjacent communities as an attractivecouple dining pic area for retirees to consider, offering the following:

                  Asheville’s ceaseless charm, laid-back vibe, and four distinct seasons atop the Blue Ridge mountains make the artsy town a perfect (and popular) place to lay down retirement roots.

                  “The city of Asheville and the surrounding area of western North Carolina have long attracted retirees for the natural beauty, welcoming vibe and active lifestyle. . . consistently ranking among America’s top retirement choices,” says Realtor Terri King, president and owner of Coldwell Banker King in Asheville.

                  UNC-Asheville is a small campus of about 3,700 students, but it has an outsize influence on retirees (students will be returning to campus this semester for in-person teaching with rigorous guidelines in place because of the pandemic).

                  The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute offers more than 350 courses a year, usually in six- to eight-week terms, when face-to-face learning is back in place. In the past, one of the institute’s most popular programs, says director Catherine Frank, was its Creative Retirement Exploration Weekend (it is canceled this year because of the coronavirus). When it's up and running, the weekend is designed for working people who are considering relocating when they retire. It’s an influencer, though fewer than 10% who attend the weekend end up moving to Asheville, Frank says, but they are “our most faithful volunteers” (Osher is online-only currently, as “we just don’t feel face-to-face is very safe right now,” says Frank).

                  Housing choices in Asheville are wide: Historic neighborhoods, eclectic downtown condos, and retirement communities.

                  But mountain-loving future retirees shouldn’t limit themselves to Asheville. Nearby small towns are also charming and extremely affordable, including Hendersonville, Weaverville, Black Mountain and Brevard.

                  For more information on retiring to Western North Carolina, contact a CBK agent or office.

                    If there was anything predictable about the first half of 2020, it was that nothing was predictable. The ill effects of the pandemic and ensuing economic decline, combined with ongoing political turmoil, resulted in an environment that was at best uncertain, and, at its worst, downright unsettling. Yet, to the surprise of many, the second quarter saw residential real estate flourish rather than falter.

                    For an overview of the local real estate market for the first six months 2020, here's the CBK report for your review:

                    CBK Six-Month Local Market Report

                    Please contact us if you have questions, would like more information or would like to speak to a CBK agent.