December 1, 2025 • 29 mins
The headlines say “wait,” but our local numbers point to a different truth: homes in Henderson County are still moving, prices are holding near recent highs, and buyers and sellers both have smart plays to make in December. We dig into fresh data—average monthly sales up from 122 to 134, a four and a half month supply that still favors sellers, and longer days on market that create space for thoughtful negotiations. Then we translate those stats into decisions you can use right now, whether you’re buying your first place, right‑sizing for a new season, or optimizing an investment property.
We talk candidly about fear versus facts. While many people expect a recession, fewer economists agree, and that gap can freeze good plans. Our approach is simple: confirm job stability, set a clear budget, choose payments you can live with, and let your life—not the news cycle—set the timeline. If you can qualify today, you can own the home that fits your needs and refinance later if rates improve. We also share practical holiday strategies, from flexible occupancy so you can celebrate before closing to negotiating concessions like rate buydowns or closing costs when the match is right.
Along the way, we explore how story shapes value, drawing a surprising lesson from van Gogh: context turns decisions into meaning. Your next move is a chapter in your story—family changes, new opportunities, a desire for more freedom—not a reaction to headlines. We coordinate with lenders, tax strategists, and attorneys to protect your wealth, plan for taxes, and align your real estate with your goals in Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina.
If you’re weighing a move, let’s review your specifics and map a plan that fits your life. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who’s on the fence, and leave a review with your top question about timing your next step.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
Hello, friends.
Thank you so much for beinghere.
This is the George Real EstateGroup Podcast, which is a
production of our live weeklyradio shows hosted on multiple
radio stations here inHendersonville, North Carolina.
The George Real Estate Groupserves Western North Carolina
and Upstate South Carolina, andit is a privilege to share
positive news about our localreal estate market and
(00:22):
community.
Thanks so much for subscribing.
And of course, if you have anyreal estate questions or if we
can help you in any way, be sureto reach out.
Visit us at George Real EstateGroup Radio.com for more
information.
Good morning and welcome to theGeorge Real Estate Group live
radio broadcast here on thequeue every Monday morning.
(00:44):
Can you believe it's December1st?
Wow, time flies when you'rehaving fun and finishing up the
year with the last month.
And hope you had and trust youhad a wonderful Thanksgiving.
And you know, Christmas isaround the corner.
And here we are in December.
And guess what?
The real estate market iscontinuing to move.
We'll dive into what's happeningwith the local real estate
(01:05):
market and what's going on andgive you some perspective.
I mean, it's I'm sure, and itcertainly was around our
Thanksgiving table.
Everybody's asking about thereal estate market.
I'm sure I wouldn't be surprisedif it came up at your
Thanksgiving table.
What's going on?
You know, there's uh you know,people are curious about what's
happening in theirneighborhoods.
Homes are staying on the marketlonger, and you know, you hear,
(01:26):
you know, just you hear things,right?
You see the news.
You know, what's going on?
What's actually going on in thereal estate market?
We're gonna dive into some ofthose conversations here.
But before we do that, theGeorge Real Estate Group's
located in Flat Rock.
We're located right next to theFlat Rock Bakery, Hubba Hubba
Barbecue, the new Hubba Loo.
It's celebrated recently itsyear anniversary, and then
(01:47):
Campfire Grow.
All those great local andindependent restaurants and
businesses.
The George Real Estate Group islocal and independent as well.
We've had the privilege ofhelping uh some 1,600 families
throughout the years, uh, andagain, grateful to serve the
community through real estate.
This is my 20th year with myNorth Carolina broker's license.
And if you're just curious aboutthe real estate market, maybe
(02:10):
you're curious about a career inreal estate.
We have those conversations allthe time and glad to have the
conversation.
If you're curious about what todo with maybe some uh land that
you own or land that you or realestate that you've inherited or
you know, anything, it's notjust we're not just helping our
clients with the buying andselling of their personal home,
which we certainly do everysingle day.
(02:32):
We've had, I think we had justlast week, uh, you know, the
short week of Thanksgiving, Ithink we had four or five
closings, and so grateful.
I mean, you might think that themarket's slowing down this time
of year, but it's not.
The market is still moving, andwe'll dive into some of those
things.
Uh like I said, we serve all ofWest North Carolina and the
upstate as well.
We can help you with yourpersonal home, we can help you
(02:53):
with your investment property,we can help you with a second
home we have, or we can helpyou.
Maybe it's an investmentproperty that you have.
Maybe you have something that'sfully depreciated.
You're trying to think taxstrategically on it.
You know, again, taxes, youknow, we're coming up to the end
of the year.
There's a lot of decisionspeople are making.
So find us online atrealestatebygreg.com.
(03:14):
Find us online atrealestatebygreg.com.
Follow us on social media,Facebook and Instagram.
We also podcast all of our radioshows.
You can find us on find us onyour favorite podcast platform.
And again, just glad to connect.
We have incredible staff,incredible agents, we have
incredible clients.
Uh, it was uh it's always fun.
Every year, right beforeThanksgiving, we do our annual
(03:36):
client appreciation pie daygiveaway, and that was so much
fun.
Our clients coming in and uhgiving away hundreds of uh apple
and pumpkin pies just as a thankyou to our clients and just
grateful, small token of ourappreciation.
But you might think thatnothing's happening uh you know
this time of year, but that'snot true.
Uh we continue to see demand, wecontinue to see the market
(03:58):
moving.
I mean, just in the last 12months in Henderson County,
there's been some sixteenhundred homes closed, single
family.
I mean, and I'm not even noteven including uh condos or
townhomes or land.
I mean, just using thesingle-family homes as a as a
litmus or as a barometer.
I mean, just in the last 12months, we've been averaging
(04:19):
134, 134 single-family homes amonth selling.
We've had an increase comparedto the previous 12 months.
That's almost uh 12 more homes amonth.
In the previous 12 months, we'reaveraging only 122 homes a month
(04:41):
selling in Henderson County,single family.
So significant increase there.
Uh, I think that's some 8 or 9%increase in the number of single
family homes sold in the current12 months versus the previous 12
months.
That is significant toacknowledge.
The other fascinating thing isthe average single family home
price in the current 12 monthsversus the the previous 12
(05:03):
months is not that far off.
The average, as of this morning,the average single family home
price is at 540 and change theprevious 12-month price was 548.
So again, the market is holding.
Uh, days on the market areincreasing, you know, taking a
little bit longer uh for homehomes to sell.
(05:24):
We also have low inventorystill.
There's there's only 612 activesingle-family homes on the
market as of this morning.
So it's the competition, there'snot much competition compared.
Again, that number fluctuates.
We have, you know, really,again, if you look at the the
number of homes available versusthe number of homes selling, I
(05:45):
mean, we have about a four and ahalf month supply in Henderson
County.
The economists say a six-monthsupply is considered a balanced
market.
Less than six months is aseller's market, more than six
months is a buyer's market.
So, I mean, the the numbers tella story.
And in and your unique home,your unique situation.
We look at your situation andyour home in the on into the
(06:09):
lens of what's going on in themarket, in your specific
location, your yourneighborhood, your price point,
and we are selling homes.
Homes are still selling.
Uh, we are selling, and we'rewe're seeing, we're so grateful
for the opportunity to serve ourclients through real estate.
We're able to provide clarity inwhat's going on.
(06:31):
And again, the news, gotta becareful.
Uh, again, the news can tell astory, but this, our particular
community, our particularneighborhoods, our particular
area where we live in.
I mean, and again, the there'sthe thing that you'll see
though, of course, home buyersare watching what's going on in
(06:54):
the economy.
They're you know, they'rethey're seeing the price of
groceries, the price of gas, andand buying a home is one of the
largest purchases people willever make in their lifetime.
And and because, you know,again, when the news is telling
a story about, oh, we're goinginto recession or the media is
(07:17):
talking about, you know, youknow, be careful and and don't
do anything.
Again, the fear can paralyzeanybody from making a decision.
And so a lot of would-be buyersare now second-guessing their
plans.
In a latest uh survey byLindingtree, almost two in three
(07:39):
Americans said they think arecession is coming, and 74% of
respondents say that it's havingan impact on their financial
decisions.
But here's the good news theexperts aren't nearly as
concerned.
You know, most Americans expecta recession, but the experts
don't.
(08:00):
You know, according to anOctober report from Wall Street
Journal Journal, only one inthree experts surveyed saying we
may be headed for recessionsometime in the next 12 months.
It's only one in three versustwo in three Americans think a
recession is coming.
So if the expert economistsaren't super worried, should you
be?
(08:20):
I mean, we're not in a recessionright now, and there's no
guarantee we're heading intoone.
And so, of course, uncertainty,you know, is what we're facing.
And so the best way to handlethat is by leaning into the
facts not to fear.
And so you can make sure whenyou're making the decision, you
(08:41):
have the information.
The information can guide yourdecision, you know, not our
emotions.
And again, you know, certainlybuying a house if is one of the
biggest financial decisionsyou'll make.
Here what it Warren Buffett saysthis you know, be fearful when
everyone is greedy, and begreedy when everyone is fearful.
It's counterintuitive.
(09:03):
And so, right now, again, a lotof people are are fearful.
The thing is, watch the here'sthe thing the the overall
economy.
We've always said, regardless ofthe interest rates, regardless
of the economy, regardless ofwhatever's happening
politically, you know, buyingand selling a house is what's
about what's going on in yourlife.
And buying when it's right foryou, you're not buying the
(09:27):
market, you're not buying theinterest rate, you're not
buying, you know, you buy whenit's right for you as a client,
as a as a as a as a homeowner,as a home buyer.
Same thing about selling.
You know, timing your movearound real life, not the news
cycle, is actually what matters.
You know, it's about your maybeit's your job stability uh
(09:51):
that's what matters.
It's about, you know, do youfeel confident in your income?
Are you comfortable managing themortgage payments?
I mean, if you can qualify for ahome right now with today's
interest rates, just imagine,again, being able to refinance
when interest rates are, youknow, their interest rates are
always, you know, there's athere's always fluctuations in
interest rates.
(10:11):
And so here's the thing youknow, if your job is secure and
you've built a cushion ofsavings, experts say you don't
necessarily need to delaywaiting.
Again, when you have a budgetand you stick to it, obviously
you're not gonna, you don't wantto overextend.
Making sure your mortgagepayments are affordable and
(10:31):
making sure your savings cancover surprises.
And again, owning a home is oneof the biggest financial
decisions you make.
And we see that buyers are stillliving their lives, their
families are growing, people aregetting new jobs, maybe you're
moving into retirement.
So these things going on in yourlife, maybe it's your personal
(10:54):
or your lifestyle needs, youknow, these considerations can
can outweigh the short-termeconomic uncertainties.
Of course, right now, with themarket being a little bit
softer, buyers have have moreoptions.
Uh, you know, there's a few morehomes available.
You know, buyers right now havea little bit more leverage than
(11:15):
previously when you were havingto come in above asking price
with multiple offers.
Can do we still see multipleoffers happening here?
Uh occasionally, certainly whenhomes are priced uh to sell,
we're still seeing that.
Also, you know, again, as abuyer, you know, being strategic
about your your payments and themortgage rates, and then finding
(11:36):
out what you can afford andwhere you're comfortable at, you
know, again, the prices infinding a home that meets those
criteria.
And then another consideration,a lot of clients you know, can
can buy without selling.
Some clients you know thatalready own a home, you know,
might decide to sell first andthen reduce that financial
(11:57):
pressure.
And and again, again, yourspecific situation, your unique
uh you know, circumstances andhome and situation, again, we
come alongside you to helpprovide clarity and information
and and numbers so you candecide.
And so, you know, again, havinga trusted team around you.
And this is true whether you'reyou're buying and selling your
(12:17):
personal home.
Uh, it's also true when you'reyou know planning with your
planning for your estate andyour retirement.
You know, we work withincredible uh tax strategists,
we work with incredibleattorneys, we work with
financial advisors, we have ateam uh ensemble together to
help our clients, you know,again, whether it's their their
(12:38):
personal home or theirinvestment property.
Again, it's so fascinating.
Again, when we put all the cardson the table and provide
information for our clients,it's making a big difference.
So here's the thing, too.
We and we're headed into theholidays.
I mean, a lot of people arethinking nothing's selling or or
(12:59):
nothing or no one's buying.
I mean, that's that's far fromthe truth.
We've we've actually seen justas much activity from our team
in in December and January.
We've actually some cases hadsome of our best months.
You you hear all the time peopleare taking time off during the
holidays, but we're just as busynow as we are year-round.
(13:20):
But you know, a lot of buyerswant to get in before uh the new
year, and we can help you dothat.
We have some sellers that say,hey, we want to maybe we want to
stay in our home before you knowstill through through Christmas.
You can do that.
I mean, you can again, we can wecan put together a plan that's
specific for you and specificfor you know what works with
(13:42):
your life and what's going onwith you.
So the holidays, you know, weare still working, the market is
still moving.
Again, maybe you want to havethat peace of mind going into
the holidays, you know, knowingthat you have your home under
contract and you can say, hey,we're we're gonna be able to
close right after the new year.
I mean, you can do this.
So here's here's the thing.
(14:03):
Again, with the news, with themedia, you know, even though and
and it's and it is feeding thefear, you know, a lot of
Americans think a recession'scoming, but most experts don't.
So again, you don't necessarilyhave to put your move on, your
moving plans on hold.
You know, again, if yourfinances are solid, your job is
(14:25):
stable, and again, you have areal need to move.
Again, life happens, thereforereal estate happens.
It's not about the interestrates, it's not about the
economy.
Again, your life is happeningand therefore real estate's
happening.
And so, you know, we are happyto provide clarity, provide
information so you can decidewhat's ultimately right for you
(14:45):
in the buying and sellingprocess.
And again, maybe it's yourinvestment properties.
Maybe you're thinking about,hey, am I getting uh the best
cash on cash return for my realestate investments?
We we have those conversations.
And again, in concert with yourfinancial advisor, in concert
with your tax strategists, inconcert with your attorneys, we
(15:05):
work with everyone to ultimatelyprovide clarity for clients.
I know there's a lot ofinformation there, and we've
covered a lot already in thisfirst segment of the show.
We have so much more to cover inthe second segment.
You're listening to the GeorgeReal Estate Group live radio
broadcast here in theCUBE.
We're here every Monday morningright after the 9 o'clock news.
We podcast all of our radioshows.
(15:26):
You can be sure to follow us onyour favorite podcast platform.
Uh we have more open houses uhcoming up this year.
You can see that on our socialmedia.
Uh, you can follow us onFacebook and Instagram.
You can stop by our office.
We're located in Flat Rock onRainbow Row.
Like I said earlier, we serveall of Western North Carolina
and the upstate South Carolina.
So, however, we can help you,we're passionate and
(15:48):
enthusiastic about helping ourclients navigate through how
real estate impacts their lives,whether it's your personal home,
whether it's your investmentproperties, whether it's
planning ahead with your estate,however, we can help you.
Stay tuned in.
Stay tuned in right after thisbreak.
We'll be right back.
Good morning and welcome back.
(16:09):
You're listening to the GeorgeReal Estate Group live radio
broadcast here in the queueevery Monday morning.
Things are great.
Just grateful to be here withyou and just having fun.
Uh, we love uh sharing with youabout what's going on in the
real estate market and justhaving a conversation about
life.
We love meeting with our clientsand hearing their stories.
Um, and stories, everybody's gota story, right?
(16:30):
Everybody's got uh, you know,it's fascinating to hear uh
where people have moved from, ormaybe again, we have we love
hearing stories of people thathave been here you know for
generations.
Again, it's it's fascinatingwhen you can hear parts of
stories, and again, maybe youone of my favorite quotes is uh
don't compare your insides tosomeone someone else's outsides.
(16:53):
You might see someone's, youknow, maybe their success or or
not, but you might see someonewhere they're at now.
But maybe the the path that theygot to get there or how they
arrived or the price that theypaid to accomplish what they've
accomplished and to get whatthey've had.
Again, a lot of people uh youknow see what someone has, but
they aren't necessarily willingto pay the price of what someone
(17:14):
did to get there.
I I heard the story recently,um, and this is and maybe you've
already maybe maybe you've heardthis story, but I recently was
hearing the story behind of ofVincent Van Gogh.
Okay, and talk topical whiplashhere, right?
So, you know, everybody is heardof Vincent Van Gogh now.
(17:37):
You you might and I've even seenin person the the starry night.
Maybe you can picture the thesunflowers.
Um maybe you again this is sofascinating to me.
Everybody in the world todayknows about Vincent Van Gogh.
But here's the part of the storymost people don't know.
(18:01):
There was one person quiet,overlooked, never famous,
without whom Vincent Van Goghmight have disappeared
disappeared into historycompletely, and this was his
sister-in-law.
So when Vincent Van Gogh died in1890, he was 37 years old, and
(18:23):
he believed deep in his bonesthat his life work had failed.
He had actually only sold onepainting.
One he was sick, he was broke,he was discouraged, he wrote
that his art might never matter.
And six months later, hisyounger brother Theo, the only
(18:43):
person who believed in him, alsodied.
And what was left, you know, waswas now became the
responsibility of Theo's youngwidow, um, a 28-year-old woman
named J Johanna van Gogner witha baby on her hip and with a
apartment filled with paintingsno one wanted.
(19:06):
And and you may or may notrealize this, but but it was
really Theo, uh Vincent VanGogh's uh brother that that
actually financially you knowsupported him.
So here we go.
She inherited hundreds ofpaintings, thousands of
sketches, and almost 900 lettersbetween Vincent and Theo.
(19:30):
These are these letters werefilled with doubt, the longing,
the insight, the hope.
And the art world, you know, atthe time saw Vincent as
unstable, untrained, andunimportant.
Johanna could have sold thepaintings cheaply, she could
have locked them away, she couldhave moved on, but she made a
decision that would changehistory.
(19:52):
She decided she would protectVincent's work until the world
was ready to see it.
She also did something no oneexpected.
She didn't just show thepaintings, she told the story.
You know, she actually publishedhis letters, and it was the
(20:14):
letters that changed everything.
It wasn't just this, it wasn'tthat the the world, it wasn't
the world you know, thinkingVincent was just crazy.
He was actually he wasbrilliant, he was thoughtful, he
was deeply intentional, he wroteabout color like a poet, and
suffering like a philosopher,and then hoped like a man who
(20:35):
refused to let go of the light.
So without those letters, thepaintings would have been would
have just been beautiful, butbut with the letters, they
actually became human.
And so the story that that youcan the again the story behind
(20:56):
the paintings is what issignificant.
You might think the sunflowerswere were just beautiful, and
and they're not just thedecorate, you know, it's not
just a beautiful uh painting ofa decorative still life.
It was actually painted duringthis season of hope and grief.
(21:17):
And so he actually prepared theflowers for his friend, Paul,
who he imagined sharing thislife with, collaborating and
companionship, belonging, butthe flowers were meant to
welcome him.
It was a season of uh it was agesture of warmth, of
admiration, of hope.
(21:38):
But his friend didn't stay.
And so the friendship collapsed.
Vincent spiraled, the seasonended up in deep the emotional
pain.
And so what we might see, again,when someone sees the the
painting of sunflowers, it wasactually born from longing and
loss, and there was this attemptto hold on to light while
(21:59):
something meaningful wasslipping away.
So without the letters, we mightnot never have known that.
So the letters tell the story.
And so the thing is again aboutwhen you see success, when you
see where people have come fromand and what they where they're
(22:20):
at, again, it's it's the storywhat's behind the story, right?
Uh also the starry night, right?
Pro perhaps his most famouswork.
And it actually wasn't paintedin freedom, it was actually
painted while Vincent wasconfined in a mental hospital.
You know, the the view of thesky came from his window.
He wasn't painting a peacefulnight.
(22:42):
He was painting from insidedepression, anxiety, mental
illness, you know, the swirlingstars, the restless movement,
the you know, the the it wasn'ta fantasy of beauty.
It was this man you knowreaching for meaning while
imprisoned in his own mind.
So again, without the letters,it's easy to to miss that
(23:04):
entirely.
So again, perspective and thestory, the store the stories
matter.
Your story matters.
And so Johanna realized, again,without the story, the paintings
actually didn't mean anything.
This the letters changedeverything, and so it's just
(23:26):
fascinating.
Uh, Vincent Van Gogh, he helpeddefine modern art.
Again, his paintings hang insome of the greatest the
greatest museums in the world,they sell for tens of millions
of dollars.
You know, it never it none of ithappened overnight.
And it actually happened becauseone woman refused to let his
life be misremembered.
(23:47):
So greatness doesn't alwaysrecognize itself, and sometimes
the world doesn't see your valueuntil someone else believes in
it first.
You know, Vincent painted beautyin the middle of pain.
Johanna carried the beautyforward.
It's again, it's again when youlook at things, what's what's
(24:08):
the story behind it?
The starry night, you know, it'sit's again the sister-in-law who
refused to give up.
It was the brother who believedin him.
And so, again, the the power ofyou know telling your story, you
know, it's in the context.
Context is actually context iseverything, uh, and it's the
(24:28):
context, you know, createscharacter.
And so now we all get to enjoyuh the the paintings, but the
context of them and and your ownstory, how it can inspire
others, again, it's it's it'spowerful.
So don't be afraid to tell yourstory.
And and actually that goes tobeing vulnerable.
Uh, I love Benet Brown and herif you've not seen her TED talk
(24:53):
on vulnerability, highlyrecommended.
Actually, highly recommend herbooks.
Uh, she wrote a book uh calledDaring Greatly.
Uh again, it's the thevulnerability of your story.
And even though I mean he tookhe was brave enough to write
about his his story and hisfeelings and all the emotions he
was experiencing.
(25:14):
And then again, being his and ifit wasn't for Johanna that that
told and shared the story,again, you never know.
And again, so many people liveuh their lives quietly, and and
again, no one might ever hearyour story, but you know, it's
the power of telling your storyand and again what happened with
Vincent Van Gogh.
(25:34):
I love that story.
Again, recently came across it,and it was it's a it's amazing
uh to think again now the againwhere those paintings are and
how they inspire so many people.
And again, your story caninspire so many others.
Time flies when you're havingfun, and again, we I here's the
(25:57):
thing.
Your your own home is is like apainting, and and where you you
have your family, you have yourhome.
Home is what you make it, it'snot tied to a particular uh
place.
And so again, and we have theseconversations uh so many every
almost every day where theseason maybe is past with your
(26:18):
current home, but you're gonnamake a home in the next place.
Again, you might be upsizing ordownsizing, and it's and it's
and it's the thing that we loveto do, help walk alongside our
clients.
We love hearing their stories.
People are creating new stories,they're creating the new chapter
in their lives, and it might beagain, you might not it might
not be wanting to buy or sell.
(26:39):
Maybe, again, maybe it's aseason of life where, okay,
because of what's going on, Ineed to sell my home or I want
to sell my home.
Again, because of whatever isgoing on, again, those the the
we take it, um it's a it again,it's a very it's an honor to
help our clients navigatethrough when they're walking
through life.
And again, regardless of theinterest rates, regardless of
(27:01):
the economy, regardless of youknow the housing market, and
that's where it's a it's aprivilege truly to walk
alongside with our clients asthey're navigating through what
their home means to them andwhat their again, what their
next chapter is.
And so we're here to help youfind the place to tell your next
stories, to share your nextmemories.
Again, we're grateful to serveour community through real
(27:24):
estate.
Thank you so much for being herethis morning.
Again, grateful to share thestory.
And again, if we can help you inany way, we'd love to hear your
story.
You can call us directly at828-393-0134.
Find us online atrealestatebygreg.com.
Be sure to podcast, find ourpodcast on your favorite podcast
platform, follow us on Facebookand social media.
(27:45):
Have a wonderful day, have awonderful week, and we'll see
you next Monday.
You've built a lifetime ofstrength, wisdom, and
independence.
And here's the best part (27:53):
you still have it.
Every decision, every step,every next chapter is yours to
choose.
Selling your home isn't aboutletting go, it's about opening
the door to more freedom, moretime for what you love, more
energy for the people andpassions that matter most.
(28:14):
At the George Real Estate Group,we believe independence isn't
behind you.
It's right here, right now.
Our team goes beyond buying andselling.
We're here to help you protectyour wealth, preserve your
legacy, and make sure Uncle Samdoesn't become your biggest
benefactor.
We'll guide you every step ofthe way towards your next
(28:36):
chapter, your next opportunity,and your freedom on your terms.
Call us at 828-393-0134.
Find us online atrealestatebygreg.com.
SPEAKER_00 (28:49):
The George Real Estate Group has the experience
of selling over 1,200 propertiesand serving over 1,200 families
with their real estate needs inHenderson County and throughout
Western North Carolina.
The George Real Estate Group islocated in Flat Rock, North
Carolina, near Hendersonville inHenderson County.
(29:11):
You can find them online atrealestatebygreg.com.
The George Real Estate Group canbe reached at 828-393-0134 or
stop by their office at 2720Greenville Highway, Flat Rock,
North Carolina.
Tune in live each week on Mondaymornings at 905 on WTZQ FM 95.3
(29:34):
and 1600 AM, or stream online atWTZQ.com.
Hello, friends.
Thank you so much for beinghere.
This is the George Real EstateGroup Podcast, which is a
production of our live weeklyradio shows hosted on multiple
radio stations here inHendersonville, North Carolina.
The George Real Estate Groupserves Western North Carolina
and Upstate South Carolina, andit is a privilege to share
positive news about our localreal estate market and
(00:22):
community.
Thanks so much for subscribing.
And of course, if you have anyreal estate questions or if we
can help you in any way, be sureto reach out.
Visit us at George Real EstateGroup Radio.com for more
information.
Good morning and welcome to theGeorge Real Estate Group live
radio broadcast here on thequeue every Monday morning.
(00:44):
Can you believe it's December1st?
Wow, time flies when you'rehaving fun and finishing up the
year with the last month.
And hope you had and trust youhad a wonderful Thanksgiving.
And you know, Christmas isaround the corner.
And here we are in December.
And guess what?
The real estate market iscontinuing to move.
We'll dive into what's happeningwith the local real estate
(01:05):
market and what's going on andgive you some perspective.
I mean, it's I'm sure, and itcertainly was around our
Thanksgiving table.
Everybody's asking about thereal estate market.
I'm sure I wouldn't be surprisedif it came up at your
Thanksgiving table.
What's going on?
You know, there's uh you know,people are curious about what's
happening in theirneighborhoods.
Homes are staying on the marketlonger, and you know, you hear,
(01:26):
you know, just you hear things,right?
You see the news.
You know, what's going on?
What's actually going on in thereal estate market?
We're gonna dive into some ofthose conversations here.
But before we do that, theGeorge Real Estate Group's
located in Flat Rock.
We're located right next to theFlat Rock Bakery, Hubba Hubba
Barbecue, the new Hubba Loo.
It's celebrated recently itsyear anniversary, and then
(01:47):
Campfire Grow.
All those great local andindependent restaurants and
businesses.
The George Real Estate Group islocal and independent as well.
We've had the privilege ofhelping uh some 1,600 families
throughout the years, uh, andagain, grateful to serve the
community through real estate.
This is my 20th year with myNorth Carolina broker's license.
And if you're just curious aboutthe real estate market, maybe
(02:10):
you're curious about a career inreal estate.
We have those conversations allthe time and glad to have the
conversation.
If you're curious about what todo with maybe some uh land that
you own or land that you or realestate that you've inherited or
you know, anything, it's notjust we're not just helping our
clients with the buying andselling of their personal home,
which we certainly do everysingle day.
(02:32):
We've had, I think we had justlast week, uh, you know, the
short week of Thanksgiving, Ithink we had four or five
closings, and so grateful.
I mean, you might think that themarket's slowing down this time
of year, but it's not.
The market is still moving, andwe'll dive into some of those
things.
Uh like I said, we serve all ofWest North Carolina and the
upstate as well.
We can help you with yourpersonal home, we can help you
(02:53):
with your investment property,we can help you with a second
home we have, or we can helpyou.
Maybe it's an investmentproperty that you have.
Maybe you have something that'sfully depreciated.
You're trying to think taxstrategically on it.
You know, again, taxes, youknow, we're coming up to the end
of the year.
There's a lot of decisionspeople are making.
So find us online atrealestatebygreg.com.
(03:14):
Find us online atrealestatebygreg.com.
Follow us on social media,Facebook and Instagram.
We also podcast all of our radioshows.
You can find us on find us onyour favorite podcast platform.
And again, just glad to connect.
We have incredible staff,incredible agents, we have
incredible clients.
Uh, it was uh it's always fun.
Every year, right beforeThanksgiving, we do our annual
(03:36):
client appreciation pie daygiveaway, and that was so much
fun.
Our clients coming in and uhgiving away hundreds of uh apple
and pumpkin pies just as a thankyou to our clients and just
grateful, small token of ourappreciation.
But you might think thatnothing's happening uh you know
this time of year, but that'snot true.
Uh we continue to see demand, wecontinue to see the market
(03:58):
moving.
I mean, just in the last 12months in Henderson County,
there's been some sixteenhundred homes closed, single
family.
I mean, and I'm not even noteven including uh condos or
townhomes or land.
I mean, just using thesingle-family homes as a as a
litmus or as a barometer.
I mean, just in the last 12months, we've been averaging
(04:19):
134, 134 single-family homes amonth selling.
We've had an increase comparedto the previous 12 months.
That's almost uh 12 more homes amonth.
In the previous 12 months, we'reaveraging only 122 homes a month
(04:41):
selling in Henderson County,single family.
So significant increase there.
Uh, I think that's some 8 or 9%increase in the number of single
family homes sold in the current12 months versus the previous 12
months.
That is significant toacknowledge.
The other fascinating thing isthe average single family home
price in the current 12 monthsversus the the previous 12
(05:03):
months is not that far off.
The average, as of this morning,the average single family home
price is at 540 and change theprevious 12-month price was 548.
So again, the market is holding.
Uh, days on the market areincreasing, you know, taking a
little bit longer uh for homehomes to sell.
(05:24):
We also have low inventorystill.
There's there's only 612 activesingle-family homes on the
market as of this morning.
So it's the competition, there'snot much competition compared.
Again, that number fluctuates.
We have, you know, really,again, if you look at the the
number of homes available versusthe number of homes selling, I
(05:45):
mean, we have about a four and ahalf month supply in Henderson
County.
The economists say a six-monthsupply is considered a balanced
market.
Less than six months is aseller's market, more than six
months is a buyer's market.
So, I mean, the the numbers tella story.
And in and your unique home,your unique situation.
We look at your situation andyour home in the on into the
(06:09):
lens of what's going on in themarket, in your specific
location, your yourneighborhood, your price point,
and we are selling homes.
Homes are still selling.
Uh, we are selling, and we'rewe're seeing, we're so grateful
for the opportunity to serve ourclients through real estate.
We're able to provide clarity inwhat's going on.
(06:31):
And again, the news, gotta becareful.
Uh, again, the news can tell astory, but this, our particular
community, our particularneighborhoods, our particular
area where we live in.
I mean, and again, the there'sthe thing that you'll see
though, of course, home buyersare watching what's going on in
(06:54):
the economy.
They're you know, they'rethey're seeing the price of
groceries, the price of gas, andand buying a home is one of the
largest purchases people willever make in their lifetime.
And and because, you know,again, when the news is telling
a story about, oh, we're goinginto recession or the media is
(07:17):
talking about, you know, youknow, be careful and and don't
do anything.
Again, the fear can paralyzeanybody from making a decision.
And so a lot of would-be buyersare now second-guessing their
plans.
In a latest uh survey byLindingtree, almost two in three
(07:39):
Americans said they think arecession is coming, and 74% of
respondents say that it's havingan impact on their financial
decisions.
But here's the good news theexperts aren't nearly as
concerned.
You know, most Americans expecta recession, but the experts
don't.
(08:00):
You know, according to anOctober report from Wall Street
Journal Journal, only one inthree experts surveyed saying we
may be headed for recessionsometime in the next 12 months.
It's only one in three versustwo in three Americans think a
recession is coming.
So if the expert economistsaren't super worried, should you
be?
(08:20):
I mean, we're not in a recessionright now, and there's no
guarantee we're heading intoone.
And so, of course, uncertainty,you know, is what we're facing.
And so the best way to handlethat is by leaning into the
facts not to fear.
And so you can make sure whenyou're making the decision, you
(08:41):
have the information.
The information can guide yourdecision, you know, not our
emotions.
And again, you know, certainlybuying a house if is one of the
biggest financial decisionsyou'll make.
Here what it Warren Buffett saysthis you know, be fearful when
everyone is greedy, and begreedy when everyone is fearful.
It's counterintuitive.
(09:03):
And so, right now, again, a lotof people are are fearful.
The thing is, watch the here'sthe thing the the overall
economy.
We've always said, regardless ofthe interest rates, regardless
of the economy, regardless ofwhatever's happening
politically, you know, buyingand selling a house is what's
about what's going on in yourlife.
And buying when it's right foryou, you're not buying the
(09:27):
market, you're not buying theinterest rate, you're not
buying, you know, you buy whenit's right for you as a client,
as a as a as a as a homeowner,as a home buyer.
Same thing about selling.
You know, timing your movearound real life, not the news
cycle, is actually what matters.
You know, it's about your maybeit's your job stability uh
(09:51):
that's what matters.
It's about, you know, do youfeel confident in your income?
Are you comfortable managing themortgage payments?
I mean, if you can qualify for ahome right now with today's
interest rates, just imagine,again, being able to refinance
when interest rates are, youknow, their interest rates are
always, you know, there's athere's always fluctuations in
interest rates.
(10:11):
And so here's the thing youknow, if your job is secure and
you've built a cushion ofsavings, experts say you don't
necessarily need to delaywaiting.
Again, when you have a budgetand you stick to it, obviously
you're not gonna, you don't wantto overextend.
Making sure your mortgagepayments are affordable and
(10:31):
making sure your savings cancover surprises.
And again, owning a home is oneof the biggest financial
decisions you make.
And we see that buyers are stillliving their lives, their
families are growing, people aregetting new jobs, maybe you're
moving into retirement.
So these things going on in yourlife, maybe it's your personal
(10:54):
or your lifestyle needs, youknow, these considerations can
can outweigh the short-termeconomic uncertainties.
Of course, right now, with themarket being a little bit
softer, buyers have have moreoptions.
Uh, you know, there's a few morehomes available.
You know, buyers right now havea little bit more leverage than
(11:15):
previously when you were havingto come in above asking price
with multiple offers.
Can do we still see multipleoffers happening here?
Uh occasionally, certainly whenhomes are priced uh to sell,
we're still seeing that.
Also, you know, again, as abuyer, you know, being strategic
about your your payments and themortgage rates, and then finding
(11:36):
out what you can afford andwhere you're comfortable at, you
know, again, the prices infinding a home that meets those
criteria.
And then another consideration,a lot of clients you know, can
can buy without selling.
Some clients you know thatalready own a home, you know,
might decide to sell first andthen reduce that financial
(11:57):
pressure.
And and again, again, yourspecific situation, your unique
uh you know, circumstances andhome and situation, again, we
come alongside you to helpprovide clarity and information
and and numbers so you candecide.
And so, you know, again, havinga trusted team around you.
And this is true whether you'reyou're buying and selling your
(12:17):
personal home.
Uh, it's also true when you'reyou know planning with your
planning for your estate andyour retirement.
You know, we work withincredible uh tax strategists,
we work with incredibleattorneys, we work with
financial advisors, we have ateam uh ensemble together to
help our clients, you know,again, whether it's their their
(12:38):
personal home or theirinvestment property.
Again, it's so fascinating.
Again, when we put all the cardson the table and provide
information for our clients,it's making a big difference.
So here's the thing, too.
We and we're headed into theholidays.
I mean, a lot of people arethinking nothing's selling or or
(12:59):
nothing or no one's buying.
I mean, that's that's far fromthe truth.
We've we've actually seen justas much activity from our team
in in December and January.
We've actually some cases hadsome of our best months.
You you hear all the time peopleare taking time off during the
holidays, but we're just as busynow as we are year-round.
(13:20):
But you know, a lot of buyerswant to get in before uh the new
year, and we can help you dothat.
We have some sellers that say,hey, we want to maybe we want to
stay in our home before you knowstill through through Christmas.
You can do that.
I mean, you can again, we can wecan put together a plan that's
specific for you and specificfor you know what works with
(13:42):
your life and what's going onwith you.
So the holidays, you know, weare still working, the market is
still moving.
Again, maybe you want to havethat peace of mind going into
the holidays, you know, knowingthat you have your home under
contract and you can say, hey,we're we're gonna be able to
close right after the new year.
I mean, you can do this.
So here's here's the thing.
(14:03):
Again, with the news, with themedia, you know, even though and
and it's and it is feeding thefear, you know, a lot of
Americans think a recession'scoming, but most experts don't.
So again, you don't necessarilyhave to put your move on, your
moving plans on hold.
You know, again, if yourfinances are solid, your job is
(14:25):
stable, and again, you have areal need to move.
Again, life happens, thereforereal estate happens.
It's not about the interestrates, it's not about the
economy.
Again, your life is happeningand therefore real estate's
happening.
And so, you know, we are happyto provide clarity, provide
information so you can decidewhat's ultimately right for you
(14:45):
in the buying and sellingprocess.
And again, maybe it's yourinvestment properties.
Maybe you're thinking about,hey, am I getting uh the best
cash on cash return for my realestate investments?
We we have those conversations.
And again, in concert with yourfinancial advisor, in concert
with your tax strategists, inconcert with your attorneys, we
(15:05):
work with everyone to ultimatelyprovide clarity for clients.
I know there's a lot ofinformation there, and we've
covered a lot already in thisfirst segment of the show.
We have so much more to cover inthe second segment.
You're listening to the GeorgeReal Estate Group live radio
broadcast here in theCUBE.
We're here every Monday morningright after the 9 o'clock news.
We podcast all of our radioshows.
(15:26):
You can be sure to follow us onyour favorite podcast platform.
Uh we have more open houses uhcoming up this year.
You can see that on our socialmedia.
Uh, you can follow us onFacebook and Instagram.
You can stop by our office.
We're located in Flat Rock onRainbow Row.
Like I said earlier, we serveall of Western North Carolina
and the upstate South Carolina.
So, however, we can help you,we're passionate and
(15:48):
enthusiastic about helping ourclients navigate through how
real estate impacts their lives,whether it's your personal home,
whether it's your investmentproperties, whether it's
planning ahead with your estate,however, we can help you.
Stay tuned in.
Stay tuned in right after thisbreak.
We'll be right back.
Good morning and welcome back.
(16:09):
You're listening to the GeorgeReal Estate Group live radio
broadcast here in the queueevery Monday morning.
Things are great.
Just grateful to be here withyou and just having fun.
Uh, we love uh sharing with youabout what's going on in the
real estate market and justhaving a conversation about
life.
We love meeting with our clientsand hearing their stories.
Um, and stories, everybody's gota story, right?
(16:30):
Everybody's got uh, you know,it's fascinating to hear uh
where people have moved from, ormaybe again, we have we love
hearing stories of people thathave been here you know for
generations.
Again, it's it's fascinatingwhen you can hear parts of
stories, and again, maybe youone of my favorite quotes is uh
don't compare your insides tosomeone someone else's outsides.
(16:53):
You might see someone's, youknow, maybe their success or or
not, but you might see someonewhere they're at now.
But maybe the the path that theygot to get there or how they
arrived or the price that theypaid to accomplish what they've
accomplished and to get whatthey've had.
Again, a lot of people uh youknow see what someone has, but
they aren't necessarily willingto pay the price of what someone
(17:14):
did to get there.
I I heard the story recently,um, and this is and maybe you've
already maybe maybe you've heardthis story, but I recently was
hearing the story behind of ofVincent Van Gogh.
Okay, and talk topical whiplashhere, right?
So, you know, everybody is heardof Vincent Van Gogh now.
(17:37):
You you might and I've even seenin person the the starry night.
Maybe you can picture the thesunflowers.
Um maybe you again this is sofascinating to me.
Everybody in the world todayknows about Vincent Van Gogh.
But here's the part of the storymost people don't know.
(18:01):
There was one person quiet,overlooked, never famous,
without whom Vincent Van Goghmight have disappeared
disappeared into historycompletely, and this was his
sister-in-law.
So when Vincent Van Gogh died in1890, he was 37 years old, and
(18:23):
he believed deep in his bonesthat his life work had failed.
He had actually only sold onepainting.
One he was sick, he was broke,he was discouraged, he wrote
that his art might never matter.
And six months later, hisyounger brother Theo, the only
(18:43):
person who believed in him, alsodied.
And what was left, you know, waswas now became the
responsibility of Theo's youngwidow, um, a 28-year-old woman
named J Johanna van Gogner witha baby on her hip and with a
apartment filled with paintingsno one wanted.
(19:06):
And and you may or may notrealize this, but but it was
really Theo, uh Vincent VanGogh's uh brother that that
actually financially you knowsupported him.
So here we go.
She inherited hundreds ofpaintings, thousands of
sketches, and almost 900 lettersbetween Vincent and Theo.
(19:30):
These are these letters werefilled with doubt, the longing,
the insight, the hope.
And the art world, you know, atthe time saw Vincent as
unstable, untrained, andunimportant.
Johanna could have sold thepaintings cheaply, she could
have locked them away, she couldhave moved on, but she made a
decision that would changehistory.
(19:52):
She decided she would protectVincent's work until the world
was ready to see it.
She also did something no oneexpected.
She didn't just show thepaintings, she told the story.
You know, she actually publishedhis letters, and it was the
(20:14):
letters that changed everything.
It wasn't just this, it wasn'tthat the the world, it wasn't
the world you know, thinkingVincent was just crazy.
He was actually he wasbrilliant, he was thoughtful, he
was deeply intentional, he wroteabout color like a poet, and
suffering like a philosopher,and then hoped like a man who
(20:35):
refused to let go of the light.
So without those letters, thepaintings would have been would
have just been beautiful, butbut with the letters, they
actually became human.
And so the story that that youcan the again the story behind
(20:56):
the paintings is what issignificant.
You might think the sunflowerswere were just beautiful, and
and they're not just thedecorate, you know, it's not
just a beautiful uh painting ofa decorative still life.
It was actually painted duringthis season of hope and grief.
(21:17):
And so he actually prepared theflowers for his friend, Paul,
who he imagined sharing thislife with, collaborating and
companionship, belonging, butthe flowers were meant to
welcome him.
It was a season of uh it was agesture of warmth, of
admiration, of hope.
(21:38):
But his friend didn't stay.
And so the friendship collapsed.
Vincent spiraled, the seasonended up in deep the emotional
pain.
And so what we might see, again,when someone sees the the
painting of sunflowers, it wasactually born from longing and
loss, and there was this attemptto hold on to light while
(21:59):
something meaningful wasslipping away.
So without the letters, we mightnot never have known that.
So the letters tell the story.
And so the thing is again aboutwhen you see success, when you
see where people have come fromand and what they where they're
(22:20):
at, again, it's it's the storywhat's behind the story, right?
Uh also the starry night, right?
Pro perhaps his most famouswork.
And it actually wasn't paintedin freedom, it was actually
painted while Vincent wasconfined in a mental hospital.
You know, the the view of thesky came from his window.
He wasn't painting a peacefulnight.
(22:42):
He was painting from insidedepression, anxiety, mental
illness, you know, the swirlingstars, the restless movement,
the you know, the the it wasn'ta fantasy of beauty.
It was this man you knowreaching for meaning while
imprisoned in his own mind.
So again, without the letters,it's easy to to miss that
(23:04):
entirely.
So again, perspective and thestory, the store the stories
matter.
Your story matters.
And so Johanna realized, again,without the story, the paintings
actually didn't mean anything.
This the letters changedeverything, and so it's just
(23:26):
fascinating.
Uh, Vincent Van Gogh, he helpeddefine modern art.
Again, his paintings hang insome of the greatest the
greatest museums in the world,they sell for tens of millions
of dollars.
You know, it never it none of ithappened overnight.
And it actually happened becauseone woman refused to let his
life be misremembered.
(23:47):
So greatness doesn't alwaysrecognize itself, and sometimes
the world doesn't see your valueuntil someone else believes in
it first.
You know, Vincent painted beautyin the middle of pain.
Johanna carried the beautyforward.
It's again, it's again when youlook at things, what's what's
(24:08):
the story behind it?
The starry night, you know, it'sit's again the sister-in-law who
refused to give up.
It was the brother who believedin him.
And so, again, the the power ofyou know telling your story, you
know, it's in the context.
Context is actually context iseverything, uh, and it's the
(24:28):
context, you know, createscharacter.
And so now we all get to enjoyuh the the paintings, but the
context of them and and your ownstory, how it can inspire
others, again, it's it's it'spowerful.
So don't be afraid to tell yourstory.
And and actually that goes tobeing vulnerable.
Uh, I love Benet Brown and herif you've not seen her TED talk
(24:53):
on vulnerability, highlyrecommended.
Actually, highly recommend herbooks.
Uh, she wrote a book uh calledDaring Greatly.
Uh again, it's the thevulnerability of your story.
And even though I mean he tookhe was brave enough to write
about his his story and hisfeelings and all the emotions he
was experiencing.
(25:14):
And then again, being his and ifit wasn't for Johanna that that
told and shared the story,again, you never know.
And again, so many people liveuh their lives quietly, and and
again, no one might ever hearyour story, but you know, it's
the power of telling your storyand and again what happened with
Vincent Van Gogh.
(25:34):
I love that story.
Again, recently came across it,and it was it's a it's amazing
uh to think again now the againwhere those paintings are and
how they inspire so many people.
And again, your story caninspire so many others.
Time flies when you're havingfun, and again, we I here's the
(25:57):
thing.
Your your own home is is like apainting, and and where you you
have your family, you have yourhome.
Home is what you make it, it'snot tied to a particular uh
place.
And so again, and we have theseconversations uh so many every
almost every day where theseason maybe is past with your
(26:18):
current home, but you're gonnamake a home in the next place.
Again, you might be upsizing ordownsizing, and it's and it's
and it's the thing that we loveto do, help walk alongside our
clients.
We love hearing their stories.
People are creating new stories,they're creating the new chapter
in their lives, and it might beagain, you might not it might
not be wanting to buy or sell.
(26:39):
Maybe, again, maybe it's aseason of life where, okay,
because of what's going on, Ineed to sell my home or I want
to sell my home.
Again, because of whatever isgoing on, again, those the the
we take it, um it's a it again,it's a very it's an honor to
help our clients navigatethrough when they're walking
through life.
And again, regardless of theinterest rates, regardless of
(27:01):
the economy, regardless of youknow the housing market, and
that's where it's a it's aprivilege truly to walk
alongside with our clients asthey're navigating through what
their home means to them andwhat their again, what their
next chapter is.
And so we're here to help youfind the place to tell your next
stories, to share your nextmemories.
Again, we're grateful to serveour community through real
(27:24):
estate.
Thank you so much for being herethis morning.
Again, grateful to share thestory.
And again, if we can help you inany way, we'd love to hear your
story.
You can call us directly at828-393-0134.
Find us online atrealestatebygreg.com.
Be sure to podcast, find ourpodcast on your favorite podcast
platform, follow us on Facebookand social media.
(27:45):
Have a wonderful day, have awonderful week, and we'll see
you next Monday.
You've built a lifetime ofstrength, wisdom, and
independence.
And here's the best part (27:53):
you still have it.
Every decision, every step,every next chapter is yours to
choose.
Selling your home isn't aboutletting go, it's about opening
the door to more freedom, moretime for what you love, more
energy for the people andpassions that matter most.
(28:14):
At the George Real Estate Group,we believe independence isn't
behind you.
It's right here, right now.
Our team goes beyond buying andselling.
We're here to help you protectyour wealth, preserve your
legacy, and make sure Uncle Samdoesn't become your biggest
benefactor.
We'll guide you every step ofthe way towards your next
(28:36):
chapter, your next opportunity,and your freedom on your terms.
Call us at 828-393-0134.
Find us online atrealestatebygreg.com.
SPEAKER_00 (28:49):
The George Real Estate Group has the experience
of selling over 1,200 propertiesand serving over 1,200 families
with their real estate needs inHenderson County and throughout
Western North Carolina.
The George Real Estate Group islocated in Flat Rock, North
Carolina, near Hendersonville inHenderson County.
(29:11):
You can find them online atrealestatebygreg.com.
The George Real Estate Group canbe reached at 828-393-0134 or
stop by their office at 2720Greenville Highway, Flat Rock,
North Carolina.
Tune in live each week on Mondaymornings at 905 on WTZQ FM 95.3
(29:34):
and 1600 AM, or stream online atWTZQ.com.
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