Asheville News

Real estate blog: Is Western North Carolina the new Florida?

Jason Sandford February 14, 2009

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Loyal reader Sparkdog blogs at AshevilleRealEstate.net that as the housing market in Florida continues to implode, many of those folks might be looking to permanently relocate to Asheville and surrounding Western North Carolina.

There’s already a strong linkage, both in terms of Floridians’ travel and second-home ownership here. But is there going to be a longer-lasting shift or migration? From Sparkdog:

I think it may be that as money leaves Florida, as it did in 2008, some of it may actually come to rest in Western North Carolina, even in the recession. In this way, instead of our two economies moving in lockstep, I see them moving only in related ways.

People sure do seem to like the Sunshine State’s warm weather and beaches. But after all the hurricanes and congestion and real estate fiascos, are people ready to really cash in their chips and move to Asheville?

What do you think? Click here to read Sparkdog’s post.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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1 Comment

Jenny Graves February 14, 2009

There is a linkage for sure and WNC is suffering badly from Florida’s real estate woes. Let’s face it, Asheville and Western NC are already way overbuilt.

Asheville already has ample housing stock for the considerable future. If people in Florida continue to be unable to sell houses, then they will also be unable to purchase homes here.

No matter how you look at it–WNC real estate will not recover for several years at least! And with the perpetually dismal economic conditions and already weak job market in WNC, things will be weak for along time.

The best time to purchase a home in WNC was around 2001. If you sold that same home in 2005/2006 then chances are you did really well. After that point, you are most likely stuck in FL or in WNC.

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