Barron's: It's safe to invest in AVL

Got a lot of extra dough and just not sure -- in this economy -- what is the safest thing to do with it?

Well, you could do much worse than buying a second home in Asheville, according to Barron's in its latest issue.

The publication lists Asheville as among places to buy a second home, along with places like Aspen, Colo., and Pebble Beach, Calif.

The weekly says lower prices and increased interest among bargain hunters make now a good time to buy an upscale vacation home, says the Citizen-Times.

Asheville has “a four-seasons lifestyle with just enough culture and good restaurants to keep urban-withdrawal pangs at bay,” Barron's says, recommending that buyers look at Biltmore Forest or what it called “funky Grove Park” in North Asheville.

If that description seems a bit odd for an area more likely to be called stately, or historic, keep in mind that the article appeared in Barron's “Penta” section, directed at families with at least $5 million in net worth.