Headlines say home sales fell sharply in January. We zoom out to reveal what really happened, why Henderson County held steady, and how weather, seasonality, and improving affordability change the picture for buyers and sellers. Along the way, we dig into the real barrier first-time buyers face—upfront cash—and share practical ways families can use home equity responsibly to close down payment gaps without risking retirement.

We walk through current local data: inventory under four months, about 425 active single-family homes, an average price near $541K, and roughly a third of purchases in cash. With rates trending into the fives and seven straight months of better affordability, we see a market recalibrating rather than retreating. Delayed inspections and closings from winter storms likely shifted sales into February and March, aligning with the annual spring rebound we’ve seen year after year.

We also explore a powerful mindset shift inspired by Die With Zero: timing support when it creates the most meaning. The coming $68–$84 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer invites a question—when will help matter most? For many families, a modest, well-structured contribution toward a first home now can change a life’s trajectory, turning rent into equity and uncertainty into stability. Whether help takes the form of a partial gift, a family loan, or covering closing costs, the focus is impact with guardrails: protect retirement, coordinate with advisors, and design a plan that fits your values.

If you’re weighing a move or just want clarity, let’s talk. Subscribe for more local insights, share this episode with someone starting their home journey, and leave a review to help others find the show.

A decade on the air calls for a story that reminds us why local radio matters: it puts neighbors in the spotlight and turns generosity into action. We sit down with Hometown Hero Kris Swiatocho a minister who turned her gift for organization into a lifeline for families across Western North Carolina after the hurricane. What begins as a personal turning point unfolds into a field guide for purposeful service—equal parts heart and logistics.

Kris shares how a single small task became a weekly habit, then a calling that stretched into leadership development, Bible studies, and speaking across 13 countries. When disaster struck close to home, she refused to reinvent the wheel and instead asked, “What can I do that no one else is doing?” The answer was precision. She sourced what others couldn’t: hundred-foot tarps to cover roofs, specific baby formulas, insulin, steel-toe boots, and pricey workwear often overlooked in donations. By publishing exact needs, vetting requests, and closing the loop with donors, she built trust that traveled—checks and supplies arrived from around the country, and some donors even showed up to help on the ground.

Partnership is the engine of this story. Kris teamed with community leaders like Brittany Roland, linked arms with groups in hard-hit Swannanoa, and helped build around a hundred sheds while placing families in campers and small homes. WNC Blessing Box emerged as a smart, lean model: storage through Refuge Baptist Church, targeted delivery as needs arise, and three large public cabinets in Dana, Jackson, and Bat Cave that neighbors can refill anytime. It’s disaster relief tuned to rural realities—mobile, vetted, and relentlessly practical.

We also talk about stewardship. Not every request is honest, and resources are finite. Kris explains how careful vetting protects donor trust and ensures essentials reach those living in tents or paying double housing costs. The takeaway is clear: when faith meets logistics, dignity scales. If you’re nearby, stock the blessing boxes. If you’re afar, visit WNCBlessingBox.org to donate from the wish list or contribute funds. And if you’re moved, share this conversation so help keeps flowing where it’s needed most. You can reach Kris @ WNCBlessingbox.com

If this story inspired you, follow the show, leave a rating or review, and share it with a friend who cares about community resilience and real-world impact. Your support helps more neighbors hear—and join—the work.

Ready to stop guessing and start deciding? We dig into the real tradeoffs behind today’s mortgage rates, refinancing, and timing your next move, with guest expert Patrick Hunt from United Federal Credit Union. Together we unpack why 6% isn’t the villain it’s made out to be, how your first mortgage shapes what “normal” feels like, and when lowering a payment by $300 a month can secretly add nearly $90,000 in interest over time. It’s a candid, practical guide to navigating real estate with a clear head and a steady hand.

We start with perspective: a 50‑year look at mortgage rates that resets expectations and calms nerves. Then we get practical—what to consider before refinancing, how to weigh cash‑flow relief against total lifetime cost, and whether a HELOC or cash‑out refi might help you keep your home through a life transition. Patrick explains locking vs floating in simple terms and shares a useful timing window tied to market repricing and morning jobs reports, giving borrowers a small but real advantage when choosing their rate strategy.

From there we tackle the cost of waiting. When rates dip, demand surges and prices usually rise; when rates are higher, buyers often gain leverage. That push‑pull matters more than headlines. We lay out how lost appreciation, missed equity growth on your move‑up home, and months spent in a space that no longer fits can outweigh a tiny rate win. The takeaway is simple and empowering: if the home fits your life and the payment fits your budget, move forward with confidence—knowing you can always refinance if rates ease. And if the math says hold, that’s a win too. Our job is clarity, not pressure.

Want personal numbers, not noise? Reach out for a no‑obligation, confidential consultation. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who’s on the fence, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your next chapter deserves a clear plan—and a payment that lets you breathe.

Headlines can make the housing market sound frozen, but our boots-on-the-ground view in Henderson County tells a different story. We dig into why local demand remains steady, how limited inventory shapes pricing power, and what January’s numbers reveal about buyer behavior—even as national data points to slower sales and longer days on market. The result is a practical roadmap for sellers and buyers who want clarity, not noise.

We share the data that matters: months of supply hovering near three, a year-over-year rise in local sales, and the gap between homes that sit and homes that sell. Then we connect the dots to execution. For sellers, the edge comes from realistic pricing, tight preparation, and strong marketing that sets expectations early. For buyers, the win is in readiness—clean financing, patient search criteria, and offers structured to reduce risk without overreach. Real estate is always local, and small, precise actions compound into real outcomes.

To frame smart decisions, we borrow lessons from elite performance. Like Michael Phelps’s extra training days, the quiet work—daily market checks, pre-inspection fixes, comp updates, and crisp negotiation plans—compounds into confidence on “race day,” whether that’s listing launch or offer submission. We also walk through life-driven moves: right-sizing, multigenerational needs, and navigating loss. Sometimes the best call is to wait; sometimes it’s to act decisively. Either way, a thoughtful plan that blends local data, tax and estate strategy, and timing reduces stress and protects value.

If you’re weighing buy-then-sell or sell-then-buy, investment repositioning, or a first move in years, we’re here to help you see the full board. Subscribe, share with someone planning a move, and leave a review with your biggest question about timing—we may tackle it next.

A bridge, a problem, and a nine-year-old’s bright idea—this is how a complex highway project turned into a blueprint for kinder infrastructure. We sit down with NCDOT Resident Engineer Kenny McCord to trace the story of an I-40 bridge in the Pigeon River Gorge where a required bat habitat became a breakthrough: instead of bolting on a bulky bat box that complicates emergency repairs, the team sculpted hidden roosts directly into a retaining wall. The spark came from Kenny’s daughter, Harper, whose simple question—why not put the bats in the wall—opened a path for biologists, builders, and designers to collaborate on something elegant and practical.

Kenny takes us inside the CMGC approach that brought the contractor to the table early, cutting red tape and surfacing constructability insights before mistakes got expensive. We talk gantry cranes for high-span beam setting, the art and science of Boulderscape to create natural-looking walls, and how recycled bridge materials became part of a safe, durable bat habitat tailored to real drop distances and microclimates. Along the way, we connect the dots to a larger wildlife strategy in the gorge: fencing that guides elk, deer, and hogs to underpasses, reducing collisions and protecting drivers.

This conversation blends engineering with empathy—roads that move people efficiently while leaving space for animals to live. It’s a case study in how public works can be smarter, safer, and more humane when we invite diverse voices to the table and treat constraints as creative fuel. If you’re curious about wildlife-friendly design, infrastructure innovation, or the power of a child’s perspective to unlock better choices, you’ll come away with ideas worth sharing.

If this story moved you, follow and subscribe, share it with a friend who loves smart design, and leave a quick review to help more people find the show. What everyday fix would you reimagine with wildlife in mind?

Weather slowed listings, but momentum never left. We break down a January where Henderson County saw 32% fewer new listings yet steady pendings and closings, a three-month supply, and prices that continue to hold. The headlines say inventory is up nationwide; our streets tell a different story, and we unpack what that means if you’re planning a move this spring.

We share a clear seller playbook for a normalizing market: how to read showing feedback, when a price adjustment makes sense, and why listing now can capture demand before spring competition rises. For buyers, longer days on market and recent rate dips into the high fives bring back room to breathe—more time for inspections, negotiations, and smart comparisons by neighborhood and price band. We also dig into migration trends that keep local demand resilient, from tax-friendly economics to lifestyle draws that make Western North Carolina a magnet.

Equity is the quiet superpower this year. With two-thirds of owners holding at least 50% equity and many owning outright, we walk through practical ways to use it: right-size to a home that fits, renovate for aging in place, seed a loved one’s down payment, or create a financial reset to avoid foreclosure. Not sure whether to sell before you buy or buy before you sell? We lay out risk profiles, bridge options, and timelines to “thread the needle” with less stress. Through it all, we keep the focus on local data, candid advice, and the human side of big life transitions.

If you’re ready to make a confident move—or just want a no-pressure plan tailored to your goals—subscribe, share, and leave a review. Then call 828-393-0134 or visit realestatebygreg.com to start your personalized market and equity assessment.

Headlines keep saying the market is tough, but our phones and closings tell a different story. We break down fresh Henderson County numbers—January sales nearly matching high-water marks, prices holding steady, and inventory sitting near three months—and explain why this balance creates real options for both buyers and sellers. If you’ve been waiting for a sign that it’s safe to move, consider this the data-backed green light.

We dig into affordability the way it actually works: the interplay between home prices, mortgage rates, and wages. With rates easing from their peaks and wages nudging up, monthly payments are becoming more manageable, even as prices stay stable. Buyers get something priceless back—time. Days on market have stretched to around 60, so you can tour thoughtfully, compare neighborhoods, and work with a local lender to set a budget by monthly payment first, then price. That way, you’re not making a quick decision—you’re ready to act quickly when the right home hits.

Sellers aren’t left out. Limited inventory and informed buyers put a premium on strategy. We share the checklist that works: price to today’s comps, lead with clean presentation, and remove friction with upfront documentation. Homes aligned with the market still spark strong interest and can move fast. We also get practical about real-life moves—right-sizing, estate sales, land, even court-ordered partition scenarios—and outline proven paths for buy-before-sell and sell-before-buy without losing sleep.

Our community matters, too. After a rough winter stretch, supporting local shops and services strengthens the neighborhoods we live in and the market we depend on. If you’re curious about what’s possible, let’s talk through your timing, numbers, and next step. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s on the fence, and leave a review to help more neighbors make smart, confident moves.

Real change often starts with a simple invitation: come see what’s possible. We open with a clear, data-driven look at Henderson County’s housing market—average prices holding near $545K, roughly 135 sales per month, and tight inventory around 430 active listings—while rates hover in the sixes and sometimes dip into the high fives. That mix creates a rare window where buyers gain breathing room and sellers face less competition, especially ahead of spring. We share how timing, not headlines, should guide your next move and why thoughtful planning beats waiting for a perfect moment.

Then we turn to the heart of the show: United Way’s GEM program—Girls Empowered—led by educator turned program manager, Katy Gash. GEM runs across 10 public schools and at the Boys and Girls Club, centering on fifth and eighth graders during pivotal transitions. The format is simple and powerful: a 10-week after-school program with weekly visits from women leaders—surgeons, firefighters, entrepreneurs, and the mayor—who speak about resilience, confidence, inner beauty, and service. The program culminates in a Women in Leadership tour that blends career exploration with meaningful mentorship. For many students, it’s the first time they can see their future reflected back at them by someone who has walked a similar path.

Katy shares why nominations from teachers and counselors matter, how no student is turned away, and how a grant from Dogwood Health Trust accelerated growth from three sites toward a goal of 12 by 2026. We talk candidly about what it takes to sustain a program that schools wish could run year-round: consistent funding, more mentors, and community partners who want their work to count locally. The throughline is simple—stable homes and empowered students are two sides of the same strong community.

If this conversation moved you, help spread the word. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a quick review so others can find it. Want to get involved with GEM or nominate a Hometown Hero? Reach out, volunteer, or donate—and let’s keep the momentum going.