Land of the Sky: International buyers discover Asheville, North Carolina
Aug 13th, 2007

It’s a great time to leap aboard the US property bandwagon, especially if you look off the beaten track. CATHERINE DESHAYES reports from Asheville, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

THE BRITISH pound is worth about double an American dollar and, for home-hungry Brits looking for that dream pad across the pond, now is the time to buy. By heading for such less well-known spots as Asheville, North Carolina, could mean you get even more bricks for your bucks. Romantically nicknamed “Land of the Sky”, due to its setting in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Asheville has been pushed into the spotlight by property website RelocateAmerica, which named it the top place to live in America for 2007.

Buying a second home or investment property in a market as developed as America does not throw up the headaches often associated with less established areas and there are no restrictions on purchase of property by non-US citizens.

Colette Hapgood, from East Sussex, bought a holiday cottage a stone’s throw from downtown Asheville for £125,000 in 2005.

“My husband Tom loves skiing but I am not so keen, so we felt Asheville offered the best of both worlds – great skiing plus culture, shopping and walking, too.”

The house is now worth around £150,000 but they have no plans to sell, as it was never intended as a money-spinner. “We never planned to rent it out,” adds Colette, “and we love it here far too much to ever sell! The icing on the cake would be direct flights from London to Asheville.”

A mecca for skiers, hikers and active adventurers, the city also attracts culture vultures with its rich architectural legacy, a mix of art deco, beaux arts and neoclassical styles plus the historic Biltmore Estate, the largest private home in America.

The Carolinas are on America’s Atlantic coast, midway between Washington DC and Florida. The two million tourists who flock to Asheville each year are drawn by incredible displays of seasonal colour in Craggy Gardens plus fishing, hiking, horseriding and an annual Spring Herb Festival.

The downtown area has experienced huge rejuvenation in the past 15 years, with restaurants, boutiques, galleries and theatres springing up, providing vibrancy rare for such a small city.

The premier attraction is the 175,000sq ft Biltmore Estate. Built in 1888 by George Washington Vanderbilt II, a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family, the house is still owned by his descendants, who lived in it up until 1956, when it was opened to

CURRENTLY, Brits must fly first to Charlotte, North Carolina’s largest city. British Airways and US Airways both fly direct to Charlotte and flights start at about £600. US Airways runs nine domestic flights from Charlotte to Asheville each day, which take 50 minutes and cost around £100.

There are no plans for direct flights from Britain and this may put off some investment buyers who are concerned about ease of access for maintenance and security.

A way around this is to consider buying a property in a gated community. Elisabeth Miller-Fox, of PrivateCommunities.com, a firm specialising in such schemes across America, says: “Second homes in exclusive communities make sense for overseas buyers, allowing them to relax knowing that the security and maintenance is being taken care of.”

While the weak dollar presents a fine opportunity to purchase a property, it is vital to consider recurring costs such as property taxes and homeowner insurance. “North Carolina and Asheville in particular, are great choices because quality of life is high while taxes and insurance remain low,” adds Elisabeth.

The Cliffs at Walnut Cove is a private, gated golf course community bordering the Pisgah National Forest and the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. Set in meadows but only 15 minutes from downtown Asheville, it offers tennis, swimming and nature trails and the architecture is evocative of French and English country manors.

Purchasers can choose from large home sites set high above the golf course to elegant townhouses and streamside cottages, with lots priced between about £200,000 and £1million, and ready-built homes from £400,000 to £1.5million.

Land for sale in Black Mountain, North Carolina is some of the most coveted real estate in all of North Carolina and the country. Catawba Falls Preserve, a Bluegreen Community®, offers large acreage homesites to build your custom home among the dense woods of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Spectacular vistas and pristine mountain views greet you from high atop ridges in this gated community.

Residents enjoy an abundance of outdoor activities and amenities. You’ll find the proximity to Black Mountain and Asheville, North Carolina an added bonus. There’s skiing nearby as well as a variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment in neighboring Asheville.