Reflecting on Real Estate Triumphs and Community Generosity in Henderson County

Discover the heartbeat of Henderson County's real estate market and the community's philanthropic pulse in our latest podcast episode. We're celebrating a monumental year with nearly $350 million in sales and the joy of guiding over 1,400 families to their new homes. Amidst a slight dip in home sales, we unpack the resilience of our local market, where the average home price has climbed to an impressive $531,000. Our seasoned team stands at the ready, discussing the potential for price increases and providing unparalleled client advocacy. But it's not just about property; we delve into the profound impact of community service, shining a light on a local food pantry's extraordinary efforts in addressing a staggering 86% spike in demand, all from their modest facility.

As the conversation flows, we share insights into the enriching partnership with Henderson County Schools, working hand in hand to uplift families in need. Listener, prepare to be inspired by the transformative role of volunteers, whose diverse skills and dedication are crucial to the success of these initiatives. We map out the journey of the pantry's vision for expansion, aiming to triple their space without shouldering debt, and how every donation fortifies this mission. Moreover, we reveal the upcoming events designed to rally support, such as the Mail Carrier's Food Drive and the 4th of July Matching Fund, reinforcing the community's spirit and the ever-present need for contributions. Join us to explore the profound effects of volunteering on mental and physical well-being and learn how you can be part of these impactful endeavors.

Quality Home Consultants
Over 35,000 Home Inspections since 1998, Quality Home Consultants are ready to serve you.

Pure Haven Photography
Pure Haven Photography offers real estate visual solutions including photography, videography, drone

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hello friends, thank you so much for being here. This is the George Real Estate Group podcast, which is a production of our live weekly radio shows hosted on multiple radio stations here in Hendersonville, north Carolina. The George Real Estate Group serves Western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina and it is a privilege to share positive news about our local real estate market and community. Thanks so much for subscribing and, of course, if you have any real estate questions or if we can help you in any way, be sure to reach out. Visit us at georgerealestategroupradiocom for more information. Good morning and welcome to the George Real Estate Group live radio broadcast here on WHKP every Thursday morning, bringing you positive news about your local real estate market and community. Excited to be here with you. It's our first show of April, which is exciting. Going to jump into the news. Jump into the numbers. Jump into the news. Jump into the numbers. I have to say thank you, though, to our radio show sponsors, which I'm just so grateful for have quality home consultants. They are incredible. They've done over 35,000 home inspections throughout the years I mean they've been doing this since the 90s and just incredible the work they've done and they're definitely a partner with us as they've helped our clients navigate through. You know buying and selling and what they do to. You know to help buyers understand what they're buying. But I mean they have an incredible team. They do all of West North Carolina with us and you know Jim Rawlings quality home consultants, and they also do septic. They also do pest radon. You know all all the things and so, again, it's a wonderful, wonderful uh organization and we're grateful for for what they do, as, as they've helped us, you know, navigate through um, you know our clients from the ground up, from the ground ground up, you know, and so, and then grateful to have, grateful to have Lynn Staggs with us this morning. But I also have to mention our, our new radio show sponsor, pure Haven.

Speaker 1: 2:15

Pure Haven photography. We've been working with them. They bring our properties to life. They're our professional photographer. They also not only do the professional photography, they just captivate the. They really capture our properties. When we put our properties on the market, you know whether you're putting your house for sale. They also, if you have a Airbnb or maybe you're wanting to advertise a rental property or, you know, would like to have a portfolio of your property. They do drone photography. They do floor plans. They can do virtual walkthroughs. Again, professional photography, videography, the innovative perspectives that they have of the drone. So if you want to drone your land you can get some aerial photography. So again, they do an incredible job. We work with Pure Haven Photography and we're grateful for their sponsorship of the radio show where again, every photo and video really tells a story for our sellers and again you might just be wanting property. You don't have to be buying or selling to utilize these guys, pure Haven Photography. You can go to georgerealsetigroupradiocom and see you can connect with our sponsors there. You can reach out to our office. We'll connect you. But again, pure Haven Photography grateful for their partnership. I mean they do an incredible job. When we put our properties for sale, I mean we're working with them to I mean everything Land, large land, tracts, it could be residential. So again, grateful for Pure Haven Photography and grateful for Quality Home Consultants. They're definitely partners in our team and grateful for their sponsorship of the radio show.

Speaker 1: 3:53

If you're tuning in, for the first time ever, the George Real Estate Group's located in Flat Rock. We serve all of Western North Carolina, we serve upstate South Carolina. We have an incredible team. We're quickly approaching and I got my real estate broker's license in 05, and then started my career and then five years ago, in 2019, we started the George Real Estate Group. We're quickly approaching over $350 million of real estate sold in my career, so I'm thankful for that.

Speaker 1: 4:20

Over 1,400 families served and we're here to advocate for our clients, so we have a lot of experience. We have incredible systems. We have incredible people. We know people do business with people, not companies, and so we're grateful for the relationships. Most of our business is word of mouth and even though the market's been down, we're actually up. We're actually our numbers. We're helping more people this year than we did last year, and that's in spite of the market having a softening. But the other interesting thing is prices keep going up. Our average single-family home price in Henderson County. Lynn Staggs, who's my co-host this morning, do you want to take a guess at what our average single-family home price is?

Speaker 2: 4:57

I'm going to go $558.

Speaker 1: 4:59

Oh, you're very generous. Actually it's only $531. Oh, $531. But I mean you would think, but we've had over 7% appreciation.

Speaker 2: 5:09

I was thinking inventories.

Speaker 1: 5:12

Well, that's true too. There's only 287 active single-family homes on the market in Henderson County and we're averaging 120 homes a month selling, so I mean the market keeps moving, prices keep going up. Another fascinating thing is 37, 38% of the homes sold in Henderson County in the last 12 months were cash. So I mean cash is king, and so that's another fascinating thing Even though interest rates are higher, buyers are still buying. We have had a decline about 13% decline in the number of homes selling this year versus last year year to date. But again, the market's still moving.

Speaker 2: 5:50

Oh yeah, they say you marry the price, you date the rate.

Speaker 1: 5:52

That's right. You can always refinance later and that's a great piece of advice, If you can afford to buy today. I mean, I think what's going to happen is, when interest rates go down, you're actually going to see prices go even further up, which might seem how is that possible? But it's the supply and demand. So if you're thinking about buying, think about selling. We'd love to interview for the job. There's no pressure, there's no cost, there's no obligation to have a confidential consultation. Give us a call at 828-393-0134. Find us online at realestatebygregcom. You can also go to georgerealestategroupradiocom. We'd love to interview you for the job. We're also growing, we're hiring more agents and if you're thinking about a career in real estate, give us a call too, or just stop by our office at 2720 Greenville Highway. So there's the beginning of this is a live radio show on WSKP and, thankful to have again. You could be my co-host, Lynn Staggs, if you're not busy enough, as the executive director of the storehouse of Henderson County.

Speaker 2: 6:49

I'd be selling real estate.

Speaker 1: 6:50

You'd be selling real estate or you could be a radio host, but, lynn, we're so always grateful to have you on the show to give just some spotlight of the incredible work you and your organization are doing in our community. I mean there's a lot going on, and I've said this many times before. I mean there's a lot going on and I've said this many times before. I mean there's two sides of the coin. With great prosperity there's also great need and because of the prosperity we have here and again, it's a very generous community that's stepping up to serve. I mean there's a lot. It's so fascinating. A lot of times, if you're not looking forward or aware, you might not be aware of the great needs in our community, and that's something you're on the front lines of every day.

Speaker 2: 7:29

Every single day. I mean people. Yes, this is a wonderful community to live in. Very prosperous People are coming in paying cash coin. Are all the people that work at the menial jobs, the fast food restaurants, the um, just janitorial services, cnas, people who are just making ends meet?

Speaker 1: 7:51

there's a huge gap between that group and the group buying houses there is and, and so there's, there's, and that's a whole another conversation about, about affordable housing, yes, uh, and then a lot of people are on fixed incomes and then you got the the, our senior citizens, you know and some of them are just making ends meet barely um.

Speaker 2: 8:12

We have a senior delivery route where we go all through henderson county and our average just the average income is between 650 and a thousand and $1,000 a month.

Speaker 1: 8:25

Wow.

Speaker 2: 8:25

And $16 to $32 in food stamps a month.

Speaker 1: 8:31

The numbers don't work. There's no wiggle room. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 8:33

There's no wiggle room in that. If you miss your ride, if you miss the bus, anything happens out of the ordinary. It can throw their budget off for months.

Speaker 1: 8:44

Yeah, and it can. Yeah, I mean, it's devastating, right and again, things we take for granted. And so, lynn, 24 years ago, you had this vision.

Speaker 2: 8:56

Well, it really. This is God's vision. He just lets me work for Him and I'm very grateful for that. But there were little old ladies. I grew up here, so I've seen all the changes for the past oh, how old did I say I am? No, for the past. For all these years that I have been here, I have watched all the changes and the gap got bigger. And the people who grew up here, who were born and raised here some of the seniors now they're just making ends meet. So that is the crowd that we started catering to, that we started taking care of because that was what was put on my heart and it quickly expanded to families and their single parent families. And then we got involved with the public schools helping out with Christmas. So it's just grown and grown and grown.

Speaker 1: 9:51

Yeah, and then how many volunteers do you have now?

Speaker 2: 9:54

I have about 75 a week. People come in and do different jobs. Some people just come in and drive trucks. Some people come in and put the food away. Some people come in and drive trucks. Some people come in and put the food away. Some people come in and pack boxes. We have three different days. We have four or five different office positions um, in the food packing, the carrying out, talking with people, just being there for people. I mean, it's the relationship.

Speaker 1: 10:22

I mean I know you're serving a physical need, yes, but it's the, it's the relationship. I mean I know you're serving a physical need, yes, but it's the connection in the community that is equally as important.

Speaker 2: 10:30

Absolutely, especially with our senior delivery route. We have six routes that go all over Henderson County. We may be their only contact with the outside world. Wow, our drivers and stuff. So these people are very important, our drivers and the people who are in the office that greet them at the door. That may be your friendly face for the day, for the week. You just never know what people are going through. They can become very secluded in their own world, just due to isolation.

Speaker 1: 11:04

Yeah, yes, is there any stories that come to mind about some of your deliveries or your? I know I'm putting you on the spot well they.

Speaker 2: 11:14

They do span a range from oh my gosh, I can't believe that happened to oh my gosh, I can't believe that happened sure oh my gosh, I can't believe that happened.

Speaker 2: 11:28

Sure, that's real, you know it's. We had one set of guys and I'm thankful that it was the guys who were delivering and, you know, the man just showed up at the door in his birthday suit. It was like your food's here, yay. So we have it from that end of the extreme to. You know, somebody couldn't get their phone to work and they were able to step in and help them.

Speaker 1: 11:50

Yeah, you know, just fix something small at their house, but for them, I mean, it's a vital.

Speaker 2: 11:55

Yes, they were stranded pretty much without this one thing working, and our drivers were able to take care of it for them while they were there. Wow, so Wow. So, one extreme or the other.

Speaker 1: 12:10

Now something I know your organization. You run a lean organization. I mean there's only two staff, 75 volunteers, two and a half Two and a half staff, but I mean majority of the money stays. I mean again, that's when I say from a lean operating. You know organization. But I mean that's the thing when you give to the storehouse of henderson county, I mean the money goes right back into the community and and most of it, I would say more than half of it, goes to buying the food.

Speaker 2: 12:41

Food is not free. Everybody thinks you well, you get it from manna.

Speaker 1: 12:45

Well, manna doesn't always have everything that we need, so you're supplementing your needs through With Aldi's and Ingalls and.

Speaker 2: 12:53

Save More and Go Grocery Anybody who will get us a deal. The Landon Post out in Mills River has been great about calling us hey, we've got a big load of this, we've got a big load of that, and they've been wonderful. What a gift they definitely are.

Speaker 1: 13:09

So this brings up an interesting topic is because your current location has limitations on how much bulk food you guys can purchase and store and whatnot. I mean you have an exciting new capital campaign and building project.

Speaker 2: 13:26

Yes, and that's the thing people don't understand. The money can go even further, but our capacity of our space limits what we can do right now. Not the fact that we don't have the heart or the volunteers or you know the means to buy food cheaper, but our space dictates a lot of what we can do. We're in 4,200 square feet and we're serving over 385 families per month.

Speaker 1: 13:57

Wow.

Speaker 2: 13:58

And that's a lot, because we're open Wednesday, thursday and Friday. Monday is the truck comes in Tuesday. All the food gets put away. Wednesday, thursday and Friday. Mondays the truck comes in Tuesday. All the food gets put away. Wednesday, thursday and Friday we give it all away.

Speaker 1: 14:09

Wow, every week, every week. How many pounds of food did you guys go through? I know you brought some numbers.

Speaker 2: 14:15

I have no idea on the poundage, but I mean tons. Yes, absolutely tons and tons. We were doing the numbers for our board meeting next week. So from last year to this time this year, our numbers are up 86%, 86%.

Speaker 1: 14:35

And when you say up, you're saying demand or servicing or helping.

Speaker 2: 14:38

People coming and asking for food, more people in the door wow so we can't squeeze any more out of our volunteer time and the amount of food we're able to purchase and keep. Um, when I left the office, roxy, one of the volunteers, she's headed out going to try to find more tuna, peanut butter and pinto beans.

Speaker 1: 15:01

Again just the basics.

Speaker 2: 15:03

Just basic proteins.

Speaker 3: 15:05

Wow.

Speaker 2: 15:06

So keeping the shelves stocked is the trick right now.

Speaker 1: 15:11

Wow, because as soon as you get it in, it's leaving.

Speaker 2: 15:14

So you know, I tell people hey, we're building this building. And they're like okay, you're building a building, but it is so that we can better serve, it's so we can store more food, well, dollars can go further. Because we can buy it by the truckloads instead of by the carloads.

Speaker 1: 15:30

Right.

Speaker 2: 15:30

Big price difference.

Speaker 1: 15:32

So, again, dollars can go further, which means you can help more people. The demand has increased, and so here's this opportunity to give for the building campaign and this vision. You guys already have the land.

Speaker 2: 15:44

We have the land, we have a lot of the stuff, we have the steel we have. We're about 550 000 into this that's incredible as far as how much we have, and everything that we have is paid for and everybody's like. You know well, you can. You can go to the bank and you can do this.

Speaker 1: 16:04

Well, then you're again. That impacts your overhead every month.

Speaker 2: 16:08

Well, because a loan for the remainder of what it would take to finish the building. That would be $13,000 a month. Right, I can buy a lot of food for $13,000 a month, and this ministry has been built on faith. We've never been in debt. We are not in debt now. We own everything we have and I really feel like that's the path we need to stay on.

Speaker 1: 16:31

Right and again being a good steward of the resources and again with a building free and clear. Again, this is a legacy, this is something that's going to be around, I mean, way past you and I, and that's where, again, having this legacy you know of and the impact I mean again, if people want to give, they're giving something that's going to be, you know, around for a long time, way past all of us.

Speaker 2: 16:56

That's the goal. We've been here 24 years. If we were going to fail, I think it would have happened by now, right?

Speaker 1: 17:01

Well, and it's incredible. So how can people give? How do right? Well, and it's incredible. So how can people give? How do they get involved?

Speaker 2: 17:08

I mean, you have a lot of things going on right now. We do, we do, um. You can always give online. You can always stop by the office, come take a tour, see what we do. I'm not, I'm on the radio, you can hear my words, but come see it, um, we'll stop. Whatever we're doing, we'll walk through the building and show you how it's done. If we're busy, I may put you to work that day. Who knows, I've done it to you. Hey, carry this box for us. You know, we do have a lot going on in the building and it is a good building and we have a great landlord and I have no complaints about where we're at, other than it's just not big enough.

Speaker 1: 17:50

Right.

Speaker 2: 17:50

So moving up the road one mile, you know.

Speaker 1: 17:55

Yeah, you're just going a mile down the road.

Speaker 2: 17:56

We're going to triple our space.

Speaker 1: 17:58

Right, well, and again, this isn't just growth for the sake of growth. This is in direct correlation to the demand. You said you're up 86% this year.

Speaker 2: 18:09

Yes, so I mean overall. Last year it was about the same numbers. We just keep going up and up and there's other things that go in conjunction with the food that we need to be doing, but our space limits us being able well, you talked about having like a teaching kitchen yes, and there are so many resources in the community that are not going to cost us anything.

Speaker 2: 18:35

You, we can partner with the other. You know the Four Seasons. They have a cooking person who works out of Jackson Park. That co-op office has that there. They can send somebody there to cook. We have women in the community of different ethnic backgrounds. We could give different cooking classes. Because you give somebody an eggplant, what are they going to do with it? Well, here you know, the Ukrainians do this with it, the Italians do this with it. Let us figure out some things and teach people how to do different things with vegetables.

Speaker 1: 19:13

Right.

Speaker 2: 19:14

There's just a lot that can be done in a teaching kitchen that people just don't have basics on how to cook rice.

Speaker 1: 19:22

Right.

Speaker 2: 19:23

So let's just start at the beginning and get it going from there.

Speaker 1: 19:30

So this is again. It's not just a new facility. There's so many things that are going to be impacted by having this new facility, Absolutely. And so, again, so people can donate online. Yes, they can stop by.

Speaker 2: 19:42

They can stop by, they can drop it in the mail. We're PO Box 6146 in Hendersonville, 28793. And I only need 12,500 of my closest friends to donate $150 each.

Speaker 1: 19:57

There you go.

Speaker 2: 19:58

And the building's paid for.

Speaker 1: 20:00

It's very obtainable. It's very obtainable, Well, because there's what? Is there? 120,000 people, so that's only 10% of the community doing $150.

Speaker 2: 20:07

$150 each. It is a doable number and some people, of course, can do more. Some people can go in with a friend and do half.

Speaker 1: 20:16

Sure, well, every dollar counts.

Speaker 2: 20:18

Yes, every single dollar counts and I really feel like being a good steward over every single dollar and not being in debt over this is a good focus, a good example, and it's also a teaching lesson to the people we're serving.

Speaker 1: 20:32

Right, yeah, just being good stewards of the resources. Yes, you guys helped over 2,000 kids this past Christmas.

Speaker 2: 20:41

Woo-hoo, yes, 2,005 kids in 2023. Christmas Woo-hoo, yes, 2005 kids in 2023. And we will be gearing up in October and getting ready to go out and do Christmas again. And that's the fun time and you love coming in the room, everybody loves coming in the room. You walk up on the stage.

Speaker 1: 21:00

It's unbelievable, it's just an ocean of stuff and again, all the volunteers. So partnership with Henderson County Schools, and then identifying families that are in need, and then your Christmas program. I mean it's incredible You've been doing that since the beginning as well.

Speaker 2: 21:15

Yes, and the partnership with the schools has been the best game changer for us. Because you know, then, as a donor, I say you know, george, hey, your ticket I can verify. These kids are here right in school and there's a need because the schools send the social workers and the counselors to work with us. They know their people and it just makes everything work out good for the donor. It's just good stewardship, again, of information.

Speaker 1: 21:45

Right and again. The Christmas gifts go directly to a Henderson County family and the things that are identified for the children are specific to them.

Speaker 2: 21:55

Yes.

Speaker 1: 21:55

Which is amazing too. I mean, it's just a powerful it's a lot of coordination. Right, but again that's where it's taking it to another level of not just you're not just bringing Christmas gifts, it's specific per child, per family.

Speaker 2: 22:09

Per child, per family, and we've often described it it's a hurricane riding a roller coaster drinking Red Bull Right, and you've been out there, so you've seen it.

Speaker 1: 22:20

Oh yeah, it's an incredible and every year you keep improving the operations and just like you're doing on everything else, and of course, there's volunteers needed for that as well. So again, year-round you can volunteer. You can also volunteer during Christmas, and I know your volunteers are, I mean, the heartbeat of your organization.

Speaker 2: 22:37

Well, they're the heartbeat of this community, not just my organization, but many others too. This community is filled with amazing people, and they've all done many different jobs, and so they bring their skill sets with them, and to me that's been my winning combo. I can kind of figure out what people are good at by what they did, and you put them in their sweet spot and they just thrive.

Speaker 1: 23:04

And then they're again. They're bringing their, their gifts, their resources, their again, all the things.

Speaker 2: 23:11

Right to the table with them, cause some people will come in and be like I don't want to do this. I'm like, okay, fine, let's go do something else. And you know, sometimes they find their way back to their original thing, which is okay, but it has to be their decision.

Speaker 1: 23:27

Right, and that's where, again, if you are considering volunteering, come talk to Lynn. Yes, and I know they'll find a. You know people might have hesitation about volunteering just for a lot of reasons, I mean if they've never done it before or, you know, depending on their experiences with it. But again, you're really trying to set up everyone for success, to love what they do?

Speaker 2: 23:52

We have everything in our building, from a CEO to a stay-at-home mom. Everybody volunteers and they're in between those two things.

Speaker 1: 23:58

Which everybody brings their gifts to the table.

Speaker 2: 24:00

Exactly. I have some people who they just want to pack boxes, but their secret power is proofreading papers. So fine, while you're on your break here, read this for me Make sure. I didn't make a mistake and you know we joke about it, but it is very much like a big family and it's a big family. We have fun, we laugh, laugh. This is not a dead dry place, this is a lively place it's a family and, and it's a lot of laughter well, yeah, you're connecting with others.

Speaker 1: 24:33

You're not just connecting with the people you're serving, you're connecting with the other volunteers from all different backgrounds and walks of life. Again, it can be a. It's a lot of people. Again, the volunteering community is its own connection, and then of course, people have different reasons why they're volunteering, but I think everybody's driven by making a difference, like making a difference in one person's life. You never know how far that goes.

Speaker 2: 25:03

We have one guy and I'm picking on him. His name is mike. He comes in on wednesdays and he's very quiet, unassuming, but every wednesday he's so faithful, he comes in, he checks all the refrigerators and logs all the temperatures, which is something we have to do to stay compliant these are details that matter I don't have the capacity to remember that all the time, but he's taken that on as his project. So he comes in every Wednesday morning, logs all the fridges and freezers.

Speaker 1: 25:32

That's amazing.

Speaker 2: 25:33

And it's right there on the front.

Speaker 1: 25:35

So if when anybody comes in, well, the health department does their checks everything.

Speaker 2: 25:40

The fire marshal, he comes in, everything's in order because everybody's doing their job.

Speaker 1: 25:51

Yeah, it takes a village to keep up a storehouse. They also you know it's interesting they've also done studies that show volunteering can actually improve mental health, because they say it reduces stress, combats depression. It actually provides a sense of purpose. I mean like there's a physical health benefit and mental health benefit to volunteering.

Speaker 2: 26:10

There's so much laughter going on at the office most all the time, and you know a lot of us will meet outside of work. We'll have dinner together. It's just. It really is a big family.

Speaker 1: 26:22

Yeah, again, not only can you impact and transform the lives of those you're serving, but again, also the people serving.

Speaker 2: 26:30

Yes, and the churches in this community have been amazing by how they've plugged people into us.

Speaker 1: 26:37

That's amazing. I mean time flies when we're having fun. Do you have any upcoming events we need to be aware of, or things like? Or again, your numbers are up significantly.

Speaker 2: 26:48

Our numbers are up Well, mail Carrier's Food Drive is coming up in May and 4th of July Matching Fun is coming up in June.

Speaker 1: 26:56

And then again opportunities to give for the building, opportunities to give just regular giving for the I mean the ongoing.

Speaker 2: 27:02

Yeah, all the time, all the time, all the time.

Speaker 1: 27:05

That's amazing. Well, Lynn, we're always grateful to have you here on the show, and we'll be having you back again as the year continues. As long as you'll have me, no problem Of course, and again, it's amazing the work that's being done. Again, the community that we live in is so generous. I mean so many people want to be involved and give. And again, making sure our listeners are aware of the storehouse of Henderson County and where's your location Spartanburg Highway.

Speaker 2: 27:28

We're 1049 Spartanburg Highway and our phone number is 828-692-8300.

Speaker 1: 27:35

And then your website.

Speaker 2: 27:37

Storehouseonlineorg.

Speaker 1: 27:38

That's awesome. Again, always grateful to have you here. Thank you Just sharing the incredible work you guys are doing and your volunteers as well. It's exciting to see the progress you're having on the building.

Speaker 1: 27:50

I'm excited about that it's happening Well, always grateful to spend time on the radio with our listeners and providing some perspective on what's happening in the community. And of course, we're here every day. We're helping our clients with buying and selling. The real estate market continues to move, prices continue to go up and that's because of supply and demand. I mean homes are still selling in spite of these interest rates Interest rates actually, if you look at the last 40 years are. I mean it's pretty average, which you know. I know we got spoiled with the twos and the threes and the fours. But guess what? What you know? If you can afford to buy today, you should, because most likely when interest rates go down, you're going to see a higher demand, which means there's going to be even more competition for homes. Already with the low inventory levels Again, less than 300 homes in the market in Henderson County right now, and so you know it's amazing because we see it's almost 38% of the homes sold in Henderson County in the last 12 months were purchased with cash and so cash buyers are still out there. And then again, you might think this is counterintuitive, but I'm so grateful we're growing at the George Real Estate Group in spite of the market going down. We're growing because we believe we can help more people when we are helping more people. We're actually, year to date, we're up over 100% this year versus what we did last year, and that's just truly because of the incredible agents and because of our incredible clients and just the teamwork that makes it all possible. So if you're thinking about a career in real estate maybe you're thinking about investing in real estate or just looking to buy or sell we'd love to interview for the job. There's no pressure, there's no cost, there's no obligation. Give us a call at 828-393-0134. Find us online at realestatebygregcom.

Speaker 1: 29:28

Again, I want to thank our radio show sponsors. Pure Haven Photography they do an incredible job with all our professional photography and drone work. Maybe you just want to have your property droned and photographed. You can have that done, whether it's land or a house, or maybe you're doing a rental property. Pure Haven Photography and also Quality Home Consultants Thankful for both of them and you can find their information on our podcast.

Speaker 1: 29:52

We podcast all of our radio shows. You can find that at your favorite podcast platform, george Real Estate Group Radio Broadcast, and you can also go to georgerialestategroupradiocom. And then, finally, I want to remind everyone, every Friday morning at 845, we sponsor the Hometown Hero series and the salute this week goes out to Berkeley Mills as it celebrates its 100th birthday. And all the thousands of people have worked at Berkeley Mills since the mill opened actually here in 1924. And they're going still strong as Kimberly Clark Manufacturing and tomorrow morning we're going to have the conversation as they are 100 years young in the Balfour community as our Georgia Real Estate Group hometown hero and of course if you know people making a difference in the community, reach out, you can nominate them here at WHKP. But thank you so much for tuning in. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, grateful to be here every Thursday morning. No-transcript.

Speaker 4: 30:59

Hey guys, it's Lucy Miller George, your favorite nine-year-old and I'm here to talk about the George Real Estate Group. Are you ready to sell your home and move on to bigger and better things? Well, let me tell you, my family knows a thing or two about selling houses. We have the experience of helping over 1,300 families and, let's be real, selling your home is a big deal, but with our expert guidance and our terrible dad jokes and Lucy jokes we will make the process as easy and painless as possible. Want to hear a joke? Why did the real estate agent cross the road To get to the other listing? Okay, maybe our jokes aren't the best, but our selling skills are definitely are. Give us a call today 828-393-0134. Have a nice day.

Speaker 3: 31:52

Thank you for listening to the George Real Estate Group podcast. Tune in next time for more industry news updates and real estate tips. You can reach Greg, the George Real Estate Group, at 828-393-0134 or at realestatebygregcom.