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NC - Best Mountain Town?
Posted on 5/25/20 at 10:03 pm
Posted on 5/25/20 at 10:03 pm
We are thinking about buying a mountain vacation/short term rental home in NC. We have been looking at the Bryson City/Highlands areas or Boone/Blowing Rock. I don’t have a good grasp on which are the more traveled towns in the area from a short term rental perspective.
I like Boone/Blowing Rock having App State right there, but figured I’d see what insights the Travel Board might have. Ideally I’d buy some property (~10-20 acres) with a mountain view and a creek, then build out a 1750-2000 sqft cabin with tons of windows and a lot of outdoor living space.
I like Boone/Blowing Rock having App State right there, but figured I’d see what insights the Travel Board might have. Ideally I’d buy some property (~10-20 acres) with a mountain view and a creek, then build out a 1750-2000 sqft cabin with tons of windows and a lot of outdoor living space.
6
Posted on 5/25/20 at 11:19 pm to NOFOX
Wow. I love both areas.
Boone is typically a great deal colder, snowier, and has more skiing options. Is that appealing?
Highlands is a bit closer to Asheville and GSNP. Is that appealing?
I await more answers. I love learning more about western NC.
Murphy is smaller and near GA/TN
Waynesville isn’t bad...
I also love the Little Switzerland area. So many great areas...all a bit different.
Boone is typically a great deal colder, snowier, and has more skiing options. Is that appealing?
Highlands is a bit closer to Asheville and GSNP. Is that appealing?
I await more answers. I love learning more about western NC.
Murphy is smaller and near GA/TN
Waynesville isn’t bad...
I also love the Little Switzerland area. So many great areas...all a bit different.
Posted on 5/25/20 at 11:27 pm to bayoubengals88
quote:
Boone is typically a great deal colder, snowier, and has more skiing options. Is that appealing?
Highlands is a bit closer to Asheville and GSNP. Is that appealing?
Personally speaking GSNP is more appealing than east coast ski options, but I also want to look at it from a rental perspective as what is more popular year round I guess?
My wife spent a lot of time in Murphy growing up. It’s difficult to pick a favorite in the Western NC region, but I am leaning towards the Highlands area. I just didn’t know what the market was for rentals in that area.
Posted on 5/25/20 at 11:41 pm to NOFOX
quote:
It’s difficult to pick a favorite in the Western NC region, but I am leaning towards the Highlands area. I just didn’t know what the market was for rentals in that area.
Highlands/Cashiers is a wealthy area. No Gatlinburg vacationer types there... great spot but more selective clientele??
Have you considered Bryson City?
This post was edited on 5/25/20 at 11:43 pm
Posted on 5/25/20 at 11:49 pm to bayoubengals88
quote:
Have you considered Bryson City?
Yes. We are doing a trip there in July. It’s been more difficult to find waterfront property near downtown Bryson City. Mostly Lake Fontana sites keep popping up.
Posted on 5/26/20 at 6:17 am to NOFOX
Leatherwood Mountains.
Our favorite place in the whole world! At least NC.
Don't know nowadays about lots. And it's probably a 45 minute drive to Boone / Blowing Rock (which is also my favorite place in the whole word. At least NC!).
My guess will be generally NC is going to be fairly expensive to do that. How about North Georgia? Look around Blue Ridge/Cherry Log. Our happy place. And it seems much cheaper to build. Same kind of ambiance. Lots of lakes, hiking, rivers to fish/tube, access to amenities and dining (socially distancing of course!).
Our favorite place in the whole world! At least NC.
Don't know nowadays about lots. And it's probably a 45 minute drive to Boone / Blowing Rock (which is also my favorite place in the whole word. At least NC!).
My guess will be generally NC is going to be fairly expensive to do that. How about North Georgia? Look around Blue Ridge/Cherry Log. Our happy place. And it seems much cheaper to build. Same kind of ambiance. Lots of lakes, hiking, rivers to fish/tube, access to amenities and dining (socially distancing of course!).
Posted on 5/26/20 at 7:11 am to NOFOX
Lake Toxaway, just outside Cashiers. It will set you back some $$$, but it will be a vacation your family remembers. Highlands is a good afternoon trip from there, and Ashville a day trip. Lots of great state and national parks nearby as well.
Posted on 5/26/20 at 8:50 am to bayoubengals88
quote:
Highlands is a bit closer to Asheville and GSNP. Is that appealing?
One other thing that may be in Highlands' favor is its proximity to Atlanta. It's only an easy 2-3 hour drive from most parts of Atlanta, so I would think that would make it a pretty appealing short term rental investment location.
Houses there are pricey though.
I have recently grown to love Brevard. It's a little more granola, whereas Highlands is a little more champagne and caviar. I also love Bryson City and Sylva.
Posted on 5/26/20 at 9:10 am to The Spleen
Came to say that.
Highlands is highly desirable for Atlanta which would obviously feed renters.
But, Highlands/Cashiers proper is very expensive and I expect you'd be paying considerably more than some other areas for any decent tract in an area close enough to pull the Highlands crowd.
Highlands is highly desirable for Atlanta which would obviously feed renters.
But, Highlands/Cashiers proper is very expensive and I expect you'd be paying considerably more than some other areas for any decent tract in an area close enough to pull the Highlands crowd.
Posted on 5/26/20 at 9:10 am to NOFOX
We bought some property in Cashiers (Chinquapin) a couple of years ago and plan to build in a year or so. Our lot is in a 2000 acre development and 2/3rds is national forest. The property has 24+ miles of hiking trails and 8 or so waterfalls. It sits at 4000-4500 elevation so stays cool even in August.
It sits midway between Highlands and Brevard and we have a very nice Ingles grocery store about 10 minutes down the mountain(a rarity in most mountain areas).
I like the proximity to Atlanta and Asheville for civilization. Lake Glenville is 10 minutes away on the backroads if you like boating and fishing activities. Lots of golf courses nearby as well but the private ones are $$$$$$$.
I was pleasantly surprised how good the restaurants are in Cashiers/Highlands and they are reasonably priced.
It sits midway between Highlands and Brevard and we have a very nice Ingles grocery store about 10 minutes down the mountain(a rarity in most mountain areas).
I like the proximity to Atlanta and Asheville for civilization. Lake Glenville is 10 minutes away on the backroads if you like boating and fishing activities. Lots of golf courses nearby as well but the private ones are $$$$$$$.
I was pleasantly surprised how good the restaurants are in Cashiers/Highlands and they are reasonably priced.
Posted on 5/26/20 at 10:36 am to Pettifogger
quote:
Highlands is highly desirable for Atlanta which would obviously feed renters.
But, Highlands/Cashiers proper is very expensive and I expect you'd be paying considerably more than some other areas for any decent tract in an area close enough to pull the Highlands crowd.
This is what has me leaning towards Highlands/Cashiers. It is also a closer drive and easier flight (Atlanta vs Charlotte) for us from New Orleans than to the Boone/Blowing Rock area.
My total budget is probably around $750-800k so I think I can find something eventually. The biggest issue is going to be finding the right piece of land. I’d like a unique aesthetic for short term rental purposes, but most of the houses/cabins for sale in the area are pretty generic or well over $1M.
I have a couple calls set up with some local agents, but I am strongly leaning towards building something in the Higglands area with Bryson City as a fallback option.
Greatly appreciate all the advice. I love the area, but haven’t visited enough places to really know the ins and outs of the market. This has been very helpful.
This post was edited on 5/26/20 at 10:40 am
Posted on 5/26/20 at 10:38 am to ruzil
quote:
We bought some property in Cashiers (Chinquapin) a couple of years ago and plan to build in a year or so. Our lot is in a 2000 acre development and 2/3rds is national forest. The property has 24+ miles of hiking trails and 8 or so waterfalls. It sits at 4000-4500 elevation so stays cool even in August.
That’s awesome. This is my plan now: try to find a great piece of land now while people are selling off and then build in a couple years.
Posted on 5/26/20 at 10:55 am to NOFOX
If I was looking for rental income, I'd consider some of the modern prefab designs. There are a million Orvis-d out homes in the area and I suspect that a nice piece of property with the modern/industrial aesthetic will print money.
That said, it's your place so it'd be silly to build something that didn't appeal to you.
That said, it's your place so it'd be silly to build something that didn't appeal to you.
Posted on 5/26/20 at 11:29 am to Pettifogger
quote:
If I was looking for rental income, I'd consider some of the modern prefab designs. There are a million Orvis-d out homes in the area and I suspect that a nice piece of property with the modern/industrial aesthetic will print money.
That is my exact plan. I want to do something rectilinear with a wall of bifold glass doors leading out to a deck with huge views. Too many generic a-frames available to rent already. Something along these aesthetics:
This post was edited on 5/26/20 at 11:47 am
Posted on 5/26/20 at 1:04 pm to Pettifogger
quote:
If I was looking for rental income, I'd consider some of the modern prefab designs. There are a million Orvis-d out homes in the area and I suspect that a nice piece of property with the modern/industrial aesthetic will print money.
You'd definitely need to do this if you end up in Highlands. We've stayed in over a dozen homes there over the years, and only one would I classify as a stereotypical mountain cabin. All the others have all had unique designs, and higher end decor and furnishings. Those are the things that I think would keep renters coming back. Our favorite one stays constantly booked, but it's also walking distance to town so that may be a bigger reason. It is very well appointed though with comfortable furniture, quality appliances, good cooking utensils, huge deck with outdoor fireplace, etc. Even has heated bathroom floors. I had never even seen such a thing.
Posted on 5/26/20 at 1:08 pm to ruzil
quote:The worst Ingles I've ever been to was nice.
we have a very nice Ingles grocery store
That's probably the Cashiers, NC location?
Seems to be a well-run grocery chain.
Highlands has a bunch of Louisiana folks, horse people especially.
OP: Make sure you spend some time looking at raw land: specifically things like the hydrology, soil (or lack thereof), the trees, and what can potentially can happen to properties nearby.
Posted on 5/26/20 at 3:12 pm to soccerfüt
quote:
That's probably the Cashiers, NC location?
Not this one, our's is nice.
Posted on 5/26/20 at 3:20 pm to NOFOX
quote:
This is what has me leaning towards Highlands/Cashiers. It is also a closer drive and easier flight (Atlanta vs Charlotte) for us from New Orleans than to the Boone/Blowing Rock area.
I have been every which way: drive, fly through Atl, fly through Charlotte, Asheville, Spartanburg (each of these require connections from NO)
Best route for me time wise and convenience is Ashville from NO with a connection of course.
quote:
I have a couple calls set up with some local agents, but I am strongly leaning towards building something in the Higglands area with Bryson City as a fallback option.
Did this a few years ago, not much to build on with nice views in Highlands and $$$$$$.
Go check out chinquapinask for Katie, she will take care of you.
Posted on 5/26/20 at 5:24 pm to NOFOX
I love both areas. If you jump across the state line from Boone you can save some money. Watauga Lake or Mountain City area are both nice. If I was going to pick something near Boone I would look around Seven Devils or Banner Elk.
Damascus Virginia is a fantastic area as well not too far from Boone. Grayson Highlands VA is one of my favorite places. You also have the Virginia Creeper Trail and the Appalachian Trail going through it. Great fly fishing too.
Damascus Virginia is a fantastic area as well not too far from Boone. Grayson Highlands VA is one of my favorite places. You also have the Virginia Creeper Trail and the Appalachian Trail going through it. Great fly fishing too.
Posted on 5/26/20 at 5:39 pm to NOFOX
No mention of Maggie Valley? That's a beautiful mountain town
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