Hendersonville Fire Dept Scam Warning

ATTENTION: Hendersonville citizens.  Earlier this week, the fire department issued a scam warning.  Recently, the department was made aware that someone has been calling Hendersonville residents claiming they are with the Hendersonville Fire Department and soliciting money on their behalf.  The fire department wants area residents to know that they do not actively solicit money.  They receive their funding from the City of Hendersonville’s general fund.

If you do receive a phone call from someone claiming to be with the Hendersonville Fire Department and asking you for money, do not give them any of your financial information.  Instead, get their name and contact information.  Then, call the Hendersonville Fire Department at (828) 697-3024.  Don’t ever give your personal financial information to anyone asking for money over the phone.  It is too easy for identity thieves to use this information to ruin your credit.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina real estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2013/02/13/hendersonville-fire-dept-scam-warning/.

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 Gingerbread House Contest

The holidays are upon us. Thanksgiving is just two weeks away and Christmas will soon follow. Decorations are going up, holiday sales are already being advertised and it’s almost time for Hendersonville‘s Gingerbread House Contest.

The National Gingerbread House Contest will take place on Saturday, November 17th. Judging will take place in four separate categories: Child (ages 5-8), Youth (ages 9-12), Teen (ages 13-17) and Adult (ages 18+). To enter, you must send in your entry form with a description and/or photos of what your entry so that it is received by the Grove Park Inn before 5pm on Monday, November 12th. Entries can be sent via fax or mail. Just make sure it is received before the deadline. You will not be able to enter a gingerbread house into competition without pre-registering. Beginning November 20th, The Grove Park Inn will be displaying the winning entries for visitors to see. Of course, the rest of the hotel will be decked out in all its holiday glory as well.

Thousands of dollars in cash and prizes are up for grabs for the winners of Hendersonville‘s Gingerbread House Contest. The top three winners declared in each category will receive cash and prizes, with the top 10 winners each receiving a ribbon. While this is a gingerbread “house” contest, entries are not strictly limited to a house-type structure. The only restrictions are that the entry is no bigger than 24″ x 24″ x 24″, including the board base required. If you’re interested in participating, please download an entry form here or call The Grove Inn’s Special Events Department at (800) 438-0050 ext 8045.

Put a bit of fun in your holiday step by visiting The Grove Inn in Hendersonville to see the winning entries of the National Gingerbread House Contest beginning November 20th through January 2nd. The holiday season is in full swing here in Hendersonville. I love it!

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina real estate blog here: http://rich-cooke.com/2012/11/08/hendersonville-gingerbread-house-contest/.

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/.

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/.