Looking for any info on these two areas. We’ll be empty nesters in the fall so we’re taking some time to look for a new nest. My W really likes these two area, so I though I’d check in to get some recommendations. Thoughts?
Need more info from you about your likes and dislikes.
Looking for:
Green (we’ve been living in the desert for too long)
Views
3-4 BR (expecting visits from kids and eventually their families)
3,000 - 4,000 sq ft
1/2 to a few acre lot (want neighbors, but not too close)
gated is fine
anything else?
Do you care about politics or does it permeate your life?
One is super cool, mountainous granola, lots of great places to eat, etc.
I haven’t been to Seneca but I’m guessing the vibe is vastly different based on its location.
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What is “Mountainous granola” ?
I do not care about politics, and it certainty does not permeate my life. I like quiet, privacy, great food, great ingredients (farmers markets), a great kitchen, and small batch bourbon. 
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Sorry - Asheville is in the mountains and hippy-ish - very cool downtown, brew pubs and all that. In it’s outskirts, you can get what you seek. Asheville is a bastion of liberalism in an otherwise conservative place.
Living in the South, you won’t escape politics.
I’d personally choose the Asheville area - you have an aiport, the city if you want, quiet if you want, etc.
Seneca shows 8K population- so is much smaller.
Can you go stay at an air bnb for a few weeks or month in each and live there a bit?
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Thanks, I’m using “Asheville” and “Seneca” as place holders for general areas. Also, looking in the Texas hill country, but I know that area pretty well.
I’ve been using Zillow to see whats popping up for sale and it looks like there is a pretty good range.
And yes, our plan is scout out locations in fall, then have extended stays in maybe two areas to get a better feel (most likely in the summer).
If I was retiring and had time, I’d go spend a week or preferably a month in each…I’m sure they’ll have very different vibes - from access to things like malls and food stores to lakes and hiking, etc.
It snows and you can even ski near Asheville…not good skiing…but skiing nonetheless.
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We considered Asheville as a potential retirement location, but we decided we might get tired of it after a fairly short time. (We currently live in the “suburbs” but between 2 fairly large cities).
They do have a lot of really good restaurants, and lots of green space. Stating the obvious, it’s in the mountains, so there are lots of places to hike, but long bike rides could be difficult.
As others have said, it’s pretty liberal - some people actually “judge you” a certain way/may make assumptions if you’re from there.
If you’re looking to be close to town, it has been “found” and housing is not cheap.
I don’t know anything about Seneca.
Sounds like I need more research 
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U r making a life altering decision. You need to invest time and visit imho. And preferably for a month at least.
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Time is not an issue. We can easily spend months in each area if we want. I just want to try to optimize out efforts.
Reading between the lines of what I’ve heard so far it sounds like Asheville may be a little judgmental? I’ve been looking at a few properties in Biltmore Forrest. Any experience there?
If u want to trust the opinions of people you don’t know so you don’t know their biases…sure 
It’s definitely bigger, more fun vibe, and more Wintery….I’ll leave at that. Can’t tell u about the forest.
Did u Check out Boone NC ?
I am familiar with both. You’ve gotten some good feedback on Asheville. Fun, liberal (haven’t noticed any judgment per se), a little hippyish. You have to like the mountains, of course, but if you do, it’s a great place. I’d recommend going at different times of the year for weather and tourist reasons.
Regarding Seneca, very different. I’d recommend looking for places on one of the lakes. That’s really the highlight of the area. Small quaint downtown, but most of the shopping is down the main highway. The area is certainly more conservative, but people probably talk football (Clemson) more than politics. Church also has a huge presence. There is an airport only 45 minutes or so away, in Greenville. That small city has some amazing restaurants and is gaining in popularity. I’d recommend taking a look there as well unless cities aren’t your thing.
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Thanks for the info. I appreciate all the info people post on CC, but they are all taken with a grain or two of salt. In general, I think we’d rather live near a city than in one.
We plan on investigating both areas this fall. Then investing more time in a few locations in 2023. That’s the good thing about not having a schedule 
Also looking in the area between San Antonio and Austin Texas.
When in Asheville, check out the neighborhood around Grove Park Inn. I love some of the houses in that area.
Thanks. That’s inside one of my Zillow search areas. Can’t wait to get out in that area and drive around…
When I mentioned judging, I was thinking that if you tell people you are from Asheville they would likely assume you were liberal, because it’s kind of known as a liberal, hippy kind of place.
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Ah, got it, and I did some
more research and, yes indeed, it’s an island of blue in a sea of red. I’m hoping we can find a transitional area where we can find a happy medium
I used to live in Austin Tx. Also a blue island so maybe it won’t be any different??
We really don’t want to live in a city, but want to be close enough that we can enjoy city offerings. This will be interesting………
Not sure if you have a tax liability. But if you do you might also look at TN for a similar climate to NC and/or SC depending where and no state income tax.