Hendersonville Snow Tubing

Chilly weather doesn’t mean you always have to stay indoors. How about a ride down Moonshine Mountain? No…there’s no actual “moonshine” involved, just pure, snow tubing joy. You won’t find skiers, snowboarders or even sledders there since only snow tubing is allowed on this Hendersonville mountain!

Moonshine Mountain in Hendersonville offers 500 feet of steep, tubing bliss. While they currently have a five foot base, they do make their own snow when needed. The tubers lift will take you to the top of the mountain. There is a 250 lb weight limit for the lift, though. If you exceed this limit, one of the helpful Moonshine Mountain employees will be happy to pull your tube up the hill for you while you walk with them. It’s also the only place in the entire southeast that allows trains (more than one tuber going down the hill in a row together). You must be at least 48″ tall and sign a liability release beforehand. If you are under 18, you will need to have your parent or guardian sign the release form. Trains cannot be longer than eight people max.

Also new for this year is Dino World. Yes, Hendersonville now has dinosaurs! This free attraction showcases life-sized replicas of several different dinosaurs. There’s also a jump castle slide that provides fun for all ages. When you’re hungry, feast on mouth-watering BBQ or warm up with a nice hot chocolate at the award-winning Pit Boss Bar-B-Que. For more information on Moonshine Mountain’s hours and prices, please click here.

Get out of the house and enjoy some fun, healthy exercise with the family. Go snow tubing at Hendersonville’s Moonshine Mountain. They provide the tubes while you create lots of great family memories.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina real estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2013/02/07/hendersonville-snow-tubing/.

Historic Hendersonville Cookie Caper

Ahhh! Can you smell that? Christmastime is in the air. It seems everywhere you look, decorations abound. That even includes our cherished historic Hendersonville inns. For anyone who enjoys history and the holidays, you’re in for a real treat. Hop in your car this Sunday, December 9th, to join in on the Historic Hendersonville Cookie Caper.

From 1pm to 5pm, six of Hendersonville’s beautiful turn-of-the-century inns will waiting in anticipation of your arrival. They have all been decked out in classic holiday fashion. Since this is a self-guided tour, you can come and go as you please and visit the inns in any order you wish. Each inn will provide visitors with a special Christmas treat. So, make sure you stop inside instead of just driving by.

Tickets are $20 per person. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Hendersonville Historic Preservation Commission’s special projects. They can be picked up anytime before Sunday at the Historic Courthouse’s Heritage Museum, Fountainhead Bookstore and City Hall’s Planning Office. On Sunday, you can purchase your tickets at the Hendersonville Visitors Center.

The Historic Hendersonville Cookie Caper celebrates three things: history, holidays…and COOKIES! Pick up your tickets today for your trip back in time. Your brain and your taste buds will thank you. Happy holidays!

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina real estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2012/12/06/historic-hendersonville-cookie-caper/.

Hendersonville Fall Harvest Days

Fall has definitely landed in Hendersonville. The leaves are changing. The air is coldly crisp. Can you believe we’re already in the middle of October? That means that Hendersonville Fall Harvest Days are almost here.

From October 25th through the 27th, the Apple Country Antique Engine & Tractor Association will holds it’s 27th Annual Antique Engine and Tractor Show at the Western North Carolina Fall Harvest Days. Gates will open at the WNC Agricultural Center in Arden, NC promptly at 6pm on Thursday and 8am on Friday and Saturday. In addition to the antique tractors, there will be an antique peanut roaster, a sawmill, crafts workers, blacksmiths, corn milling demonstrations and food vendors on-site throughout the entire three days. More than 250 vendors will be selling tractor and gas engine parts, toys, collectibles and other items as well. On Saturday, Hendersonville area residents can participate in the kiddie and adult pedal pulls at 12pm. The big boys will be competing in a tractor pull using farm tractors from 1964 and older at 10am the same day.

Admission is just $8 per day for anyone ages 12+ or $20 for all three days. Children under 12 will get in free with a paid adult. Come to the Hendersonville Fall Harvest Days October 25-27, 2012 in Arden, NC. It’s old fashioned country fun for everyone!

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina Real Estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2012/10/18/hendersonville-fall-harvest-days/.

Bearfootin Auction in Hendersonville

The 10th Annual Bearfootin’ Art Walk will come to an end with the Bearfootin’ Auction in Hendersonville on Saturday, October 20th, 2012. This is your chance to bid on the public bear art that has been on display in the downtown Hendersonville area since May of this year. Festivities begin at 1pm in Historic Henderson County Courthouse Square.

Shelley’s Fine Jewelry, located in historic downtown Hendersonville, will be conducting the live auction this year. Registration for bidders begins at 1pm. All attendees will enjoy live musical accompaniment from the Russ Wilson Quartet for the afternoon beginning at 1:30pm. A special meet and greet with the actual artists whose works are up for auction will take place at 3pm. The actual bidding will begin when the auction commences at 3:30pm. The auction will only finish when the last bear is sold.

If you’ve enjoyed seeing the bears decorating the Hendersonville landscape over the last several months, now’s your chance to actually own one. The Bearfootin’ Auction takes place at the Historic Henderson County Courthouse Square on October 20, 2012. Not only will you be owning a piece of art created by local Hendersonville artisans, but you will also be supporting local community projects in the process with the money raised from the auction. That’s definitely art that matters!

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina real estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2012/10/11/bearfootin-auction-in-hendersonville/

Fall Leaf Collection Begins in Hendersonville

The seasons are a’changin’ here in Hendersonville. The leaves have begun to change color and will soon be parting ways with the trees they’ve resided on since Spring. Let the raking begin!

Fall leaf collection begins in Hendersonville on Monday, October 15, 2012. This is a separate service from the regular brush and lawn clippings pickup that normally takes place. Beginning on October 15th, Hendersonville residents can rake their leaves into piles curbside and the City will pick them up for proper disposal. They don’t need to be placed in bags either. The only request from the City is that the piles of leaves are not placed either in the street or on the sidewalk.

Leaf collection services will continue every 10-14 days (more or less depending on volume) through December. Hendersonville residents don’t need to call to take advantage of this service. It will be done automatically. Remember, if you have brush and leaves to be picked up, please make sure they are in separate piles. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Tom Wooten with the City at (828) 697-3084.

Fall leaf collection begins in Hendersonville on Monday, October 15, 2012. Rake ’em up and put ’em to the curb. The City will take care of the rest.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina real estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2012/10/04/fall-leaf-collection-begins-in-hendersonville/.

Fall Into the Farm in Hendersonville

The Carl Sandburg Home, a National Historic Site, will be celebrating Fall Into the Farm in Hendersonville this Saturday, September 22, 2012. From 10am to 3pm, visitors will be treated to what life on the farm was like for the Sandburg family during the 1940s and 1950s. This family-friendly event is absolutely free to the public.

Included in the day’s free events are a tour of this historic Hendersonville home, which would usually cost $5 for adults and $3 for seniors. A professional storyteller will be on site to entertain guests. Take a tour of the garden and join in on some toe-tappin’ square-dancing fun. Cheese-making demonstrations, a goat judging contest and children’s crafts round out the rest of the day.

Schedule of Events

• 10:00am to 12:30pm – Garden Tours
• 10:30am to 11:30am – Storytelling and Music Making
• 11:30am to 12:00pm – Cheese-Making Demonstration
• 12:00pm to 1:00pm – Storytelling and Music Making
• 1:00pm to 1:30pm – Square Dancing
• 1:30pm to 2:00pm – Goat Judging
• 1:30pm to 2:00pm – Cheese-Making Demonstration
• 2:00pm to 2:30pm – Square Dancing
• 2:30pm to 3:00pm – Goat Judging

Two activity stations will be set up and will remain open throughout the entire day. The Farm Life activity station in the barn will provide a hands-on interactive experience of Hendersonville farm life in the 1940s and 1950s. The Rootabaga activity station will be set up in the amphitheater, where the storytelling and music making events will be held. Bring the family to the Carl Sandburg Home for Fall Into the Farm in Hendersonville this Saturday, September 22nd. Experience a bit of history in a fun, interactive way with the family.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina real estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2012/09/20/fall-into-the-farm-in-hendersonville/.

How is My Credit Score Calculated?

Banks use your credit score (aka FICO score) to help determine whether you are a worthy risk for a Hendersonville home loan. It’s also one of the deciding factors regarding your interest rate on a mortgage loan. Most likely, you already know WHAT a credit score is. But have you ever asked yourself, “how is my credit score calculated?” That’s a much more complicated answer.

Lenders like it when you have several different types of credit. That includes not only revolving credit, like credit cards and department store accounts, but also previous mortgage notes on other Hendersonville area homes, installment loans, student loans, car loans, etc.

Most Hendersonville home owners have debt. It can sometimes be unavoidable. But, too much debt makes you look risky. Make a concerted effort to pay down as much debt as you can before you apply for a mortgage loan.

Banks live by the mantra “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Your payment history says a lot about your creditworthiness. Late payments on any bill, including the cable, cell phone, electric bill, etc., may be reported to the credit reporting agencies, reducing your score and your chances of scoring a home loan.

Not only is your payment history important, but the length of time you have had credit can affect your score as well. The longer you’ve had a history of credit accounts and payments, the more complete a picture a mortgage company will have at your spending and repayment habits. A long history of credit with faithful payments makes your Hendersonville home loan a much more attractive risk than someone who just received a credit card two months ago and is applying for a home loan.

Finally, opening new credit while trying to purchase a Hendersonville home is a definite “no-no”. First of all, your credit is hit by 5-10 points every time someone makes an inquiry. When you purchase a car, for example, the dealership may try to find you the best deal by shopping around at a few lending institutions. That could mean three to four different hits on your credit at one time. Secondly, a mortgage company could look at this as someone who is set on a spending spree, which makes you look less fiscally responsible and can cost you approval on your home loan.

Knowing how your credit score is calculated can help you stay on top of your credit in a more effective manner. Keep these tips in mind before you apply for a mortgage on your Hendersonville home. A good score not only means loan approval, but can also determine how much it will cost you for any loan you take out.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina Real Estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2012/09/13/calculating-credit-score/.

Hendersonville’s Water Efficiency Rebates

Water conservation is a subject many Hendersonville residents are well aware of. Luckily, the City of Hendersonville has initiated a water efficiency rebate program to help make water conservation even more profitable. When you upgrade your old toilet, clothes washer or irrigation system with a more energy efficient model (those with the WaterSense or EnergyStar labels), you may be entitled to a rebate from the city’s water rebate program.

The City of Hendersonville has allocated enough funds to offer a total of 240 rebates for clothes washers and irrigation systems. Qualifying purchases will receive $75-$150 for EnergyStar labeled clothes washers and up to $200 for WaterSense labeled irrigation systems. Replacing your old toilet with a WaterSense labeled high-efficiency one can get you a $25-$100 credit.

A lot of water is wasted every time you flush with a regular toilet. Low flow toilets can save up to 5 1/2 gallons a flush over a regular toilet. Using an EnergyStar washer can save users around $70 a year. With a smart irrigation system, your Hendersonville lawn is only watered as often and as much as is needed. You never have to worry about overwatering your lawn again. Also, keep in mind that these are excellent selling points when you decide to put your Hendersonville home on the market in the future.

Only property owners or those individuals who are legally responsible for paying the water bill through Hendersonville Water and Sewer are eligible for any rebates. Each household is limited to two toilet rebates and one clothes washer and smart irrigation system upgrade per household. You can either pick up a rebate form at the City of Hendersonville’s Operations Center (305 Williams St) during regular business hours or download it online by visiting the City of Hendersonvile’s website here.

In an effort to encourage its residents to conserve water whenever possible, the City of Hendersonville is offering water efficiency rebates. Now, you can get rid of the old water-guzzlers, save water using more water efficient varieties and even make a little pocket change in the process. It’s a win for you, a win for the city and a win for the environment. You just can’t go wrong!

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina real estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2012/09/06/hendersonvilles-water-efficiency-rebates/.

Hendersonville’s Music on Main Season Finale

Every summer, the City of Hendersonville hosts a free music event every Friday in the historic downtown area. Tomorrow, August 17, 2012, will mark Hendersonville’s Music on Main season finale. The big band stylings of Tuxedo Junction will close out this season in style. The Hendersonville Antique Car Club will also be sponsoring a classic car show to bid adieu to summer.

Seating will open up at 5:30pm so you can pick your spot. Make sure to bring a lawn chair and/or blanket for comfort. The concert itself will begin at 7pm. If the Hendersonville weather is uncooperative, the concert will be postponed until 8pm. However, if Mother Nature is still being ornery, the event will be canceled altogether. There is a slight chance of rain tomorrow, so, please keep this in mind.

Hendersonville‘s Music on Main season finale is scheduled take place in the downtown area tomorrow night from 7pm to 9pm. Take the family to see classic cars, listen to great music, munch on goodies from local restaurants and just have a good time. This will be the last free Music on Main event until next summer.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina real estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2012/08/16/hendersonvilles-music-on-main-season-finale/.

Hendersonville Bike and Moped Registration Available

The Hendersonville Police Department recently announced a new service in an effort to help recover lost or stolen property. As of July 25th, all Hendersonville residents can register their bicycle or moped information online. Your information will be stored in a data base for easy access by law enforcement officers if your bike or moped is stolen or found abandoned.

The registration form is simple. All you need to do is fill out your name and address, what you are registering (bike or moped), phone number, make, style, color and serial number of the item you’re registering and any other information you would like to keep on file, including distinctive marks, decoration, etc. Finally, submit your email address and that’s it. It’s free and only takes a few minutes. If you don’t want to register online, you can always call the Hendersonville Police Department directly at (828) 697-3025.

Bicycles can sometimes run into the thousands of dollars, especially if you’re an enthusiast. Mopeds are a great means of transportation because they are so cheap to operate. Unfortunately, these are exactly the reasons thieves may target your property. Hendersonville bike and moped registration is now available. Registering your property may help the police recover it quicker if it ever rides off without you.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina real estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2012/08/09/hendersonville-bike-and-moped-registration-available/.