I love to explore old homes and old properties, especially houses that used to be the home of people and families that made huge impacts on the world as we know it today.  For example, it would be so surreal to be able to walk through the home where Abraham Lincoln grew up or where George Strait spent his boyhood.  What about the opportunity to OWN the house that was once the home or retreat of a difference-maker?

According to a story by TopTenRealEstateDeals.com, the Asheville, North Carolina home of world-famous evangelist Billy Graham is now on the market.  Graham preached the gospel to more people than anyone else in the history of Christianity. Known as “America’s Pastor,” he served as a spiritual advisor to every U.S. President from Harry Truman to Barack Obama.  He died in 2018 at the age of 99.

The Montreat, North Carolina cottage in which Graham and his family lived during his monumental movements is now on the market for the first time at $599,000. Graham's  daughter, Ruth, serves as the owner of the property, unfortunately, Ruth’s own daughter is gravely ill, and she has made the heartbreaking decision to sell the residence to pay for her medical treatments. Her daughter suffers from Lymphangioleiomyomatois, a rare, progressive multisystem disorder.

The four-bedroom, two-bath home sits on one-third of an acre of beautifully manicured grounds with mature trees and a paved patio for entertaining or relaxing with family. Stone steps lead to a stream with a wooden bridge and walking paths through the surrounding forest. The house’s charming stonework exterior matches the garden walls. Inside, stunning blonde hardwood floors and wall paneling provide an atmosphere of rustic charm. The living room features a fireplace with more lovely stonework. Big windows bring in lots of light and picturesque forest views. Unique built-in furnishings match the wood paneling. With two levels of living space, the home has been lovingly maintained. “This cozy cottage presents a unique opportunity to own a piece of history. Showcasing the legacy of Billy Graham, it maintains a historic charm while offering modern comforts,” says agent Brian Etheridge.

The area around Montreat is best known for the Presbyterian-affiliated Montreat Conference Center, Montreat College, and the Graham home. More than half the town’s land is under a conservation easement, with 30 miles of trails winding through the wilderness as well as ample opportunities for outdoor recreation, including paddle boating, canoeing and fishing.

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The listing is held by Brian Etheridge of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s Asheville office.

 

Billy Graham home

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Every beach town has its share of pluses and minuses, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best one to live in. To find out, Stacker consulted data from WalletHub, released June 17, 2020, that compares U.S. beach towns. Ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read the full methodology here. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn that many of towns featured here are in one of those two states.

Keep reading to see if your favorite beach town made the cut.

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