Western North Carolina which includes Asheville, Black Mountain, Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Sylva, Clyde, Canton, and their surrounding areas saw a stronger real estate market in 2007 than many other areas. Although the number of homes sold in Western North Carolina in 2007 declined 14%, the average price of a home sold rose 18%! In Buncombe county, which includes Asheville, Black Mountain, and the surrounding areas, the number of homes sold decreased 4% while the average sales price increased 6%. Haywood county, which inlcudes Maggie Valley, historic Waynesville, and surrounding areas, saw a larger drop in the number of homes sold (24%) but also saw an increase in price (4%) even through the fourth quarter. These markets never experienced the huge price increases that other areas around the country saw, and therefore, are more likely to remain stable through the year ahead. Be sure to check back for my first quarter report of the market in early April.