Samantha Marsh - Howard Hanna Beverly-Hanks Real Estate Broker

Samantha Marsh - Howard Hanna Beverly-Hanks Real Estate Broker šŸ”‘ Asheville REALTORĀ®
šŸ”Helping you buy, sell & thrive in Western NC
šŸ“²803-429-6738
šŸ’»Ready to make your move? Text or DM me. Let’s make a plan.

  šŸ”Ask an Asheville Realtor  #11: "What should I know before buying an older Asheville home?ā€I LOVE an older Asheville h...
09/26/2026

šŸ”

Ask an Asheville Realtor #11: "What should I know before buying an older Asheville home?ā€

I LOVE an older Asheville house. The character. The charm. The original details that you just don’t get in a brand-new build. But before you fall in love with the clawfoot tub and original hardwood floors, there are a few things I want you to think about.

The age of the MAJOR systems is super important.

Roof, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, water heater… knowing when these were replaced can make a BIG difference in your future budget.

⚔ Electrical
Older homes can have older electrical systems that may need attention. This is something your inspection should help you understand.

🚰 Plumbing
The age and type of the plumbing matters, especially in homes that have been renovated over the years.

šŸšļø The foundation & structure
With older homes, you want to understand what you're looking at—not just cosmetically, but structurally.

🧪 Things you can't see
Depending on the age of the home, there may be concerns like lead-based paint or asbestos that deserve additional investigation.

And here's the biggest thing:
Don't let ā€œoldā€ automatically scare you—and don't let ā€œcharmingā€ automatically sell you.

An older home can be an incredible purchase. You just want to go into it knowing what you're buying, what may need attention, and what those improvements could realistically cost.
That's where a good inspection—and asking the right questions—can make all the difference.

Have an older Asheville home you've been wondering about? Drop your question below.

09/24/2026

Know someone who’s glued to Zillow and swears they’re staying put?

The market’s moving faster than their scroll speed, so a quick chat could save them from missing the next good deal.

Send this their way and let them decide.

09/18/2026

$640,000 (the average cost of a home in Asheville right now)

Sounds straightforward, right?

Until you actually run the numbers.

Using a 20% down payment and a 7.24% interest rate, the principal + interest payment on a $640K Asheville home is about $3,489/month.

Then add:
šŸ” Property taxes
šŸ›”ļø Homeowners insurance
šŸ’° HOA, if applicable
šŸ”§ Maintenance
šŸ’” Utilities

And suddenly, the conversation looks very different.

That’s why I don’t want buyers focused only on the listing price.

I want you to understand the REAL monthly cost before you fall in love with the house.

Because ā€œCan I get approved for it?ā€ and ā€œWill I be comfortable owning it?ā€ are two very different questions.

If you’re thinking about buying in Asheville and want to know what your numbers actually look like, DM me NUMBERS and let’s break it down.

***Example only. Actual payment, taxes, insurance and other ownership costs vary by property, loan terms, assessed value, coverage and location.***

There are a few things you should probably know about me…I’m an iced latte person.  A very committed iced latte person. ...
09/17/2026

There are a few things you should probably know about me…

I’m an iced latte person. A very committed iced latte person. šŸ˜‚

I’ve been called the ā€œCoffee Queenā€ more than once, and honestly… I’m not mad about it. šŸ‘‘ā˜•ļø

A few of my Asheville favorites lately:
ā˜•ļø PennyCup
ā˜•ļø Rowan
ā˜•ļø Round Earth Roasters

And before anyone gets offended—I know there are approximately 47,000 other coffee shops I need to try. Asheville makes it very difficult to be loyal.

So, Asheville friends…

Where should the Coffee Queen go next? šŸ‘€

Drop your favorite local coffee spot below. I’m building my list.

What if downtown Asheville wasn’t just somewhere you visited for the weekend, but the neighborhood you called home? šŸ°āœØOr...
09/16/2026

What if downtown Asheville wasn’t just somewhere you visited for the weekend, but the neighborhood you called home? šŸ°āœØ

Originally opened in 1929, the historic Grove Arcade is the ultimate architectural crown jewel of our city center. It perfectly blends Asheville’s rich history with vibrant, modern energy. You can’t walk through or around this gorgeous piece of architecture without saying ā€œwowā€ a few times.

My absolute favorite way to spend an afternoon here:

ā˜• Snagging fresh beignets at Bebettes
šŸ§‹Grabbing an iced latte from Summit Coffee
šŸ“š Browsing the shelves and a sweet treat at the Battery Park Book Exchange
šŸ›ļø Supporting amazing local artists at the Southern Highland Craft Guild shop

From the bustling outdoor Makers Market to the beautiful residences on the upper floors, this landmark is exactly why so many people fall in love with the Asheville lifestyle.

Thinking about making a move closer to the heartbeat of downtown? Let’s grab a coffee at the Arcade and chat about what’s currently on the market nearby! ā˜•āœØ

šŸ“ 1 Page Ave, Asheville, NC

09/15/2026

Everyone is talking about 7% mortgage rates.

But I think buyers should be asking a different question:
Where is the leverage?

Because the interest rate is only one piece of the home-buying equation.

If you’re buying in Asheville right now, I want you thinking about:

→ Purchase price
→ Seller concessions
→ Repairs
→ Rate buydowns
→ Days on market
→ Price reductions
→ And, perhaps most importantly, seller motivation

With more inventory and more options than buyers have had in recent years, the conversation doesn’t have to be:
ā€œShould I buy with rates this high?ā€

It can be:
ā€œIf I’m going to buy, how do I make this the best deal possible?ā€

That’s a very different conversation.

And it’s one I want my buyers to understand—not just have me make decisions for them.

Because my job isn’t simply to tell you what the market is doing.

It’s to help you understand what the market means for YOU.

So before you automatically decide that 7% means ā€œwait,ā€ let’s look at the whole picture.

There may be more opportunity than you think.

DM me ā€œOPPORTUNITYā€ and I’ll show you what I’m seeing in the Asheville market.

No pressure. Just a smarter way to look at your options. šŸ”

Three years ago, I became a mom.For the next two years, my world looked a lot different than it had before. I stayed hom...
09/14/2026

Three years ago, I became a mom.

For the next two years, my world looked a lot different than it had before. I stayed home with my son, soaked up the little years, and honestly… lost a little bit of myself in the process.

About six months ago, I decided it was time to start taking better care of me, too.

Not because I wanted to become a different person. I just wanted to feel better, have more energy, and be more present for the people I love.

So I started making small changes. And six months later, I’m 30 pounds lighter.

But the number on the scale isn’t really the part I’m most proud of.

I’m proud that I started putting myself back on the list.
And in a funny way, that season of my life has also shaped how I look at my career.

I’ve been in sales in some form for more than 20 years, but I’ve never really thought of myself as a ā€œsalesperson.ā€ What I’ve always loved is serving people—listening, figuring out what they need, solving problems, and following through.

That’s what drew me to real estate.

Because buying or selling a home isn’t really about selling a house. It’s about helping someone through a pretty important chapter of their life.

And maybe that’s why becoming a mom and starting this new career have felt like such a natural fit.

I’m still figuring things out. Still learning. Still trying to balance motherhood, work, family, and remembering to take care of myself somewhere in the middle of it all.

But I’m really grateful for where this season has brought me.
And if you’re here in Asheville and we haven’t met yet—Hi. I’m Samantha. šŸ‘‹

I’m a mom, a Realtor, a former stay-at-home mom turned business owner, and someone who believes that taking care of people is a pretty good way to do business.

09/12/2026

If you’ve looked at the same listing 17 times… šŸ‘€

That might be your sign to stop scrolling and go see it.

Sometimes you can’t tell if a home is the one from photos, a floor plan, and a 3D tour. You need to walk through it, stand in the kitchen, check out the backyard, and see how it actually feels.

And if it’s not the one? That’s okay, too. At least you’ll know.

If there’s a home in the Asheville area you keep coming back to, send it my way. I’ll help you take the next step — no pressure, no obligation. šŸ”

09/09/2026



Ask an Asheville Realtor #10: "What exactly does a home inspector look for?"

If you've never bought a home before, you might imagine the inspector walking around with a flashlight saying:

ā€œYep. Looks good.ā€ šŸ˜‚

There's actually a LOT more to it.

A home inspection is a detailed look at the home's major systems and components, including things like:
šŸ  Roof and attic
šŸ’§ Plumbing
⚔ Electrical systems
šŸ”„ HVAC
🧱 Foundation and structure
🚪 Windows and doors
šŸŒ§ļø Drainage and water intrusion
🌲 Exterior conditions

…and plenty of other things you probably don't think about during a normal showing.

But here's something important:

A home inspection isn't a pass/fail test.

Older homes are going to have older-home issues. New construction can have issues too. No house is perfect.

The purpose of an inspection is to help you understand:
What am I buying?
What needs attention now?
What might need attention later?
And what could potentially be a significant expense?

And in Western North Carolina, there can be some additional things worth paying close attention to depending on the property—think steep terrain, drainage, crawl spaces, septic systems, wells, retaining walls and more.

Your inspector's job is to identify and document what they find.

Your Realtor's job is to help you understand what that information means for your transaction.

That's why I don't think an inspection report should simply get dropped into your inbox with a ā€œGood luck!ā€ šŸ˜‚

It's about understanding the information and making an informed decision.

What real estate question should I answer next?

Address

300 Executive Park
Asheville, NC
28801

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