The fastest way to lose options is to wait until you are forced to act. We sit down with Attorney Justice Mullen to talk about the real cost of waiting, especially when real estate, estate planning, and taxes collide for families in Western North Carolina and the Upstate. If you own a home, land, or investment property, there are default rules already written for you, and they may not match what you want for your spouse, your kids, or your legacy.

We get practical about timelines and pressure points: how pricing ties to urgency, why commercial and residential properties move differently, and why long-term planning conversations often start years before a sale. From there, we dig into the tax side that keeps so many owners stuck, including capital gains tax, low basis, depreciation, and the primary residence exclusion. We also explain step-up basis in plain English and why it can be a game-changer for heirs who inherit real estate.

Then we talk strategy. We break down 1031 exchanges and why “like-kind” does not always mean swapping one apartment building for another. We also discuss Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) as a potential replacement property option for people who want less management while preserving real estate exposure. Finally, we cover the legal realities that families run into: who must sign when a spouse loses capacity, why powers of attorney matter, what happens when guardianship is required, and how trusts can reduce conflict and paperwork when multiple heirs are involved.

If you are thinking about selling, exchanging, or simply getting your documents in order, listen now and share this with someone who needs a nudge. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what planning question you want answered next.

Eighty years is a long time to earn a community’s trust, and WHKP has done it by showing up, day after day, with local voices and local service. We’re celebrating WHKP’s 80th birthday with a special conversation featuring Art Cooley, WHKP president and owner, and we dig into what longevity in broadcasting really takes when you’re committed to Hendersonville and Western North Carolina.

We talk about the roots of radio history, from the earliest commercial stations to the first signals in North Carolina and the mountains, then bring it back home to WHKP’s story since 1946. Art shares the kind of behind the scenes perspective you only get from decades in the business, including a personal twist that still makes us laugh: he agreed to “try” the station for six months, and 69 years later, he’s still there. We also share the details of the WHKP open house celebration, including the studio tour, ribbon cutting, birthday cake, and live music.

You’ll also hear why the George Real Estate Group is proud to sponsor the Hometown Hero Award and how our real estate work fits a bigger idea: life keeps moving, so real estate decisions keep coming. To round it out, we preview a special multi week radio and podcast series with Attorney Justice Mullen on 1031 exchanges, Delaware Statutory Trust options, tax planning, estate planning, charitable giving, and real life strategies that connect your money, your family, and your legacy.

If you enjoy local Hendersonville NC stories, practical real estate insight, and community driven radio, subscribe, share this with a neighbor, and leave a review so more listeners can find us.

If you’ve ever wanted to give a bigger gift to a charity but felt stuck with the same old “write a check” playbook, this conversation opens a door most donors and nonprofits don’t even realize exists. We sit down with Matt Hayes, cofounder of EnGiven, to unpack how complex giving actually works and why the next wave of generosity is coming from appreciated assets, not spare cash.

Matt explains how EnGiven partners with 501(c)(3) nonprofits to help them accept cryptocurrency donations and stock donations through simple, branded online widgets. We talk about what happens after a donor clicks donate: how transfers work, why nonprofits typically want to liquidate speculative assets, and how a platform can handle donor support, receipting, and transparency so charities can focus on relationships instead of paperwork. We also break down donor-advised funds (DAFs) in plain English, including why donors use them for tax planning and how DAF-style workflows can make gift acceptance easier for nonprofits.

Attorney Justice Mullen helps connect the dots to charitable planning and estate planning. We dig into why donating appreciated stock, crypto, or real estate can be so powerful, especially when capital gains tax would otherwise take a bite out of the value. We also touch on larger strategies that may come up alongside giving, including 1031 exchanges and charitable trust options designed to align generosity with long-term income and legacy goals.

If you’re a donor, a nonprofit leader, or someone thinking about legacy protection, listen through to the end and share this with a charity you care about. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what kind of asset would you consider donating if the process were truly simple?

Waiting can feel like the safest move, but what if it is quietly costing you money, peace of mind, and options you do not get back? We unpack the real “cost of waiting” in real estate and in life, from homeowners delaying a move to investors postponing a tough decision about a property that no longer fits. Sometimes waiting is the right call, but we keep coming back to one honest filter: are you intentionally waiting, or are you avoiding the conversation that would bring clarity?

We walk through real examples that show how delay compounds. Deferred maintenance can turn a simple repair into a major expense, and hesitation around pricing or preparation can leave a listing stuck while the market moves on. We also dig into tax strategy that homeowners and families often overlook, including the primary residence capital gains exclusion and why timing matters when major life changes happen. If you have lost a spouse, we discuss an important two-year window that may affect how much you net after taxes, along with the practical reality that grief and logistics rarely follow a neat schedule.

On the investment side, we connect estate planning, legacy goals, and real estate portfolios. We explain step-up basis at inheritance, why shared ownership among heirs can create conflict, and where tools like a 1031 exchange may fit. For investors tired of active management, we also preview Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) options that can provide fractional ownership in professionally managed real estate, which can simplify both income planning and future inheritance for the right situation. We close with a quick Henderson County market update and an invitation to learn more at upcoming events with Troy Wada.

If this conversation helps, subscribe for more local real estate insights, share it with a friend who is stuck in “maybe later,” and leave a review so more people can find the show. What decision are you putting off right now, and what question would help you move forward?

Ten years on local radio teaches you something: communities run on people who keep showing up. We’re celebrating a decade of the George Real Estate Group Radio Show on WHKP, and we start with a clear update on the Henderson County real estate market. Yes, interest rates are higher, but homes are still selling, inventory is still tight, and the biggest shift many folks feel is time, with longer days on market and a longer path from listing to closing. We talk through what those local numbers can mean if you’re buying, selling, relocating, or planning an investment move.

Then we spotlight a Hometown Hero who’s putting gratitude into action. David Lewkowicz joins us to share the story behind the Seventh Annual First Responder Day of Thanks, a community effort that provides free breakfast, a catered lunch, and a family meal for first responders across Henderson County. David explains how the idea took shape in 2020, why it resonated, and how it has grown into a well-run event powered by sponsors and more than a hundred volunteers.

We also dig into a practical model that goes beyond one day: a 24-hour responder room designed as a place of rest, food, and encouragement, now expanding into Buncombe County and available for other churches to replicate. If you’ve ever wondered what meaningful first responder appreciation looks like on the ground, this conversation makes it real.

Subscribe for more local stories and real-world real estate guidance, share this with someone who loves Hendersonville, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

Real estate gets talked about like it’s only a market story, but most of the time it’s a life story. We’re seeing it every week in Western North Carolina: people are right sizing, upsizing, downsizing, handling family land, and making investor decisions even when interest rates feel loud. We walk through what’s happening in the Henderson County real estate market and why price point matters so much, using absorption rate and months of inventory to show how one neighborhood can act like a seller’s market while another feels like a buyer’s market.

Then we go deeper into the planning side, because many owners don’t actually have a property problem. They have a tax, income, or legacy problem. We break down homeowner capital gains rules, and we talk through investor strategies like the 1031 exchange, including the challenge of finding replacement properties. We also revisit Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) as one possible option for passive real estate ownership when you’re tired of landlording but still want real estate exposure.

We also tackle the issues that sneak up on long-term owners: depreciation benefits fading, equity getting “stuck” in an underperforming asset, and the fear of a big tax bill that keeps people from selling. From step up basis planning to preventing conflict when multiple heirs inherit one property, we share the questions we use to help clients coordinate their real estate plan with their tax advisor, estate attorney, and financial team.

If you’re thinking about your next move, subscribe for more weekly real estate market updates and planning conversations, share this with a friend who owns property, and leave a quick review so more WNC homeowners and investors can find the show.

A town’s story is told in the details most people never see: the water system that stays on during a crisis, the fire station that becomes a command center overnight, and the hard budget calls that keep services reliable without pricing residents out. That’s why we’re proud to spotlight former Hendersonville City Manager John Connet as our Hometown Hero, and to celebrate 10 years of the George Real Estate Group on WHKP at the same time.

We start with what listeners ask us every week about the Hendersonville real estate market: are people still buying and selling with interest rates up? The answer is yes, because life keeps moving. We also share open house updates, from acreage in Edneyville near Point Lookout to a wooded, large-home setting in Kenmure, plus why certain homes simply look better in person than online.

Then John joins us for a clear, behind-the-scenes look at what a city manager actually does and what changed across 13 years of growth, emergencies, and constant demand. He explains his move to the North Carolina League of Municipalities and how cities across the state share operational know-how, risk management support, and advocacy. We talk resilience and infrastructure planning, including water supply strategy, wastewater improvements, and what Helene taught about preparedness. We also dig into today’s toughest challenges for local government, from political friction to staggering cost increases like million-dollar fire trucks with multi-year wait times.

Subscribe for more local insight, share this with a friend who cares about Henderson County, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.

You can own great real estate and still feel trapped by it. The value is up, the taxes feel scary, and a 1031 exchange sounds like signing up for another round of landlord work under a brutal 45 day deadline. We sit down with estate planning attorney Justice Mullen and financial advisor Troy Wada of Impact Wealth to explain how Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) can change the options, especially for investors who want tax deferral, more passive income potential, and less day-to-day management.

We walk through what a DST is, why the IRS treats it as like-kind property for a 1031 exchange, and how investors can exchange out of a rental or commercial building into fractional ownership of institutional-grade real estate. Troy breaks down practical details people worry about, including debt replacement through non-recourse financing, minimum investment ranges, and how DST availability can reduce the stress of finding a replacement property fast. We also talk about the 721 UPREIT approach, where a DST can later convert into REIT ownership and potentially introduce liquidity planning that traditional 1031 exchanges do not address.

Estate planning stays front and center. Justice explains the real family problems that show up when multiple heirs inherit property together, or when the properties are unequal in value. DST interests can be divided proportionally, which may reduce conflict and simplify beneficiary decisions. We also address the risks honestly: vacancy, market shifts, tenant issues, debt terms, and the fact that income is never guaranteed. Troy shares the due diligence lens used to vet sponsors, properties, micro-market drivers, cash flow sources, and upcoming capital needs.

If you’re thinking about a 1031 exchange, retirement, or a long-term wealth plan built around real estate investing, listen closely and bring your advisor team together early. Subscribe to the podcast, share this with a friend who owns rentals, and leave a review so more investors can find it.