by Maxine Williams Bahr | Nov 13, 2022 | Blog
Hundreds of people of all ages converged on Main Street in search of fun and candy during Robbinsville’s Halloween Trunk or Treat event Monday, October 31, 2022. Southland Realty was delighted to participate, hosting an open house at their listing at 136 Main Street (see the listing) as well as handing out candy to those adorable skeletons, goblins, witches, super heroes and Disney princesses!
Owner of Southland Realty, Maxine Williams Bahr and Broker in Charge, Jonathan Smith were so impressed with the Black Knights Wrestling Team during the Lake Santeetlah Clean Up as well as their successes on the mat, Southland Realty made a large donation to the group to offset many of their expenses. Also in attendance was Mark Rogers, of Moonshiners fame, loaned his skills for the three cash drawings for the adults Southland Realty had also contributed.
Smiles abounded as the costumed kids played and visited the decorated trunks of the volunteers to collect handfuls of coveted Halloween candy! Thank you to the volunteers who made this event a huge success.
by Maxine Williams Bahr | Nov 13, 2022 | Blog
The Lake Santeetlah Preservation Group is a nonprofit, community-driven organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the ecology of Lake Santeetlah, its tributaries and watershed through advocacy and program development.
On Saturday, September 24, 2022 the group supported a clean-up on Lake Santeetlah. Around 80 volunteers gathered at Cheoah Beach and Massey Branch.to clean up shoreline. Volunteers spent time cleaning up remote parts of the lake from the private boat armada that had been organized by Randall Veal, a Lake Santeetlah Preservation Group board member.
“One of our most valuable resources here in Graham County is our waters,” says Maxine Williams Bahr with Southland Realty as well as co-founder of the Lake Santeetlah Preservation Group. “Not only is it beneficial from an environmental standpoint, but also for recreation, for tourism, therefore most importantly for the economy. If the lakes, rivers, and streams are beautiful and clean, then it’s really a benefit for all of us.”
The Lake Santeetlah Preservation Group partnered with businesses and local organizations that facilitate this volunteerism and connect those who want to come together to make a positive difference in the health of our lake. Partners included 
Robbinsville Black Knight Wrestlers and their Coaches, Phillips and Jordan, Herve Cody Contractor, Santeetlah Marina, Brookfield Renewable Energy, Graham County Commissioners, the United States Forest Service, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Cody Law Firm, Lovin Equipment & Sales, Blue Waters Mountain Lodge and Smoky Mountain Kayak Fishing Guide Service.
Life is beautiful when you appreciate others, especially those who volunteer to help. The Lake Santeetlah Preservation Group’s Board of Directors would like to acknowledge several members of our community that went above and beyond. Edd Satterfield, Chris Waldroup, Tony Millsaps and Jared Schuster, we thank you and appreciate your extraordinary efforts.
As a co-founder of the group, Avis Phillips with Phillips and Jordan generously provided heavy duty disposable gloves to protect the volunteers, as well as a wonderful bagged lunch to keep them fueled up as they picked up and removed almost 6,000 pounds of trash.
“It is the small things that can make one large impact,” says Williams Bahr. “If we’re all doing something, it 
may not seem like a big thing, but when it all comes together it really makes a difference.”
Lake Santeetlah Preservation Group is always working to make our lake the center of our community, and these volunteer events can have far-reaching benefits for the health and wellness of both our lake and the people that live, work, and play around it. A huge thank you to our volunteers and partners for their dedication to our lake and being a part of Volunteer Day!
For information on making a donation or volunteering for the next event, please contact Southland Realty 828-479-3991.
by Maxine Williams Bahr | Nov 13, 2022 | Blog, Latest News
Is now a good time to sell a home? It is a topic that many potential house sellers are pondering, especially following last year’s rapid increase in home values. It might be tempting to delay the sale for an additional year or two but the majority of real estate experts think yes, this is a good time to sell your house. There are several causes for this, including persistent buyer demand and a lack of available homes. The mortgage rates are increasing and show no indication of slowing in the near future.
Some first-time buyers may be compelled to leave the market if mortgage interest rates continue to rise. In other words, if you are considering whether to sell a house now or wait until 2023, it may be prudent to do so before interest rates close. The intense competition for housing results in fewer options, higher prices, and faster sales. In a seller’s housing market, there are more interested buyers than available homes and that makes it a difficult time to buy a house, especially for first-time buyers.
According to the National Association of Realtors, the national median price for existing homes sold in June was $416,000, up 13.4% from the same month in 2021. This is the longest streak of year-over-year growth ever recorded, spanning 124 months. Also, the price exceeded $400,000 for the second time. 88 percent of homes sold were on the market for less than one month and they typically remained on the market for 14 days, down from 16 days in May and 17 days in June 2021.
In the first week of October 2022, new listings, a measure of sellers placing their houses on the market, were again 8% lower than one year earlier. This week represents the fifth consecutive week of year-over-year reductions in the number of new listings, indicating that fewer homeowners are ready to offer their homes for sale in this market that is rebalancing.
Many of the indications we monitor reflect that the housing correction has already begun, and sellers appear to have gotten the message. If sellers hesitate to enter the market due to a diminishing perception that now is a good time to sell, the housing market might be slowed, and it could take longer for equilibrium to recover. With home equity at a historic high, homeowners on the fence about selling should realize that they are likely in a good position.
With persistent supply constraints and high buyer demand, now is an excellent time to sell your house. And with borrowing rates on the rise, it may be preferable to sell sooner rather than later; if rates go substantially more, prospective buyers may abandon their property search.
Find a good broker to sell your house now. A skilled real estate agent’s assistance may be vital, especially in a hot housing market. According to NAR’s most recent Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 90 percent of sellers worked with an agent, and it’s easy to see why. NAR data shows that the typical home sold with the help of a real estate agent in 2021 went for $318,000, while homes without an agent on board went for $260,000. Agents have access to the multiple listing service (MLS), which organizes listings for real estate professionals and web portals like Zillow. An agent can assist distinguish between serious buyers and those who are just looking. Give us a call today at 828-479-3991 today to discuss the possibilities.
