Highlands-Cashiers Plateau

Highlands-Cashiers Plateau

Mel on the Mountain-Area Information

The Highlands-Cashiers plateau of North Carolina is truly a remarkable area and because of this, it is no longer a best-kept secret in the second-home real estate market. Located on some of the oldest mountains in the world, the Appalachian destination is only a days drive from anywhere on the eastern seaboard.

To understand real estate on the Highlands-Cashiers plateau and surrounding area you first have to understand a little history and why people are drawn to this area.  Of course the climate is cool in the summer but the mountains, waterfalls, hiking and golf enhance the glorious temperatures with unstoppable views. It has been referred to as the “Yosemite” of the east.

Good news! Many real estate experts indicate that it is a sellers market throughout most of the rest of the United States, but here, it’s still a buyers market.

Life in this Western NC mountain area is as multifaceted as its landscape. Envision a small enclave of charming mountain communities set in the southwestern corner of North Carolina and the beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains. Highlands, Cashiers, Glenville, Sapphire Valley, & Lake Toxaway are some of the larger areas in the Highlands-Cashiers Board of Realtors market and affectionately called “little Switzerland” by some.

Highlands is situated on a plateau, which stretches about 5 miles wide and 4 miles long with an elevation of 4,000+ sea level. One of the highest incorporated towns east of the Rockies, the Plateau is classified as a “temperate forest”. Highlands-Cashiers are two “Old World” villages that pride themselves in creating nostalgia for all those who seek nature and refined Appalachian living. The area features some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world and has always been a mountain retreat for southerners and northerners looking for cool, clean air and adventure.

Cashiers is a beautiful village in western North Carolina that some refer to as the “heart” of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Located in the southern end of Jackson County, Cashiers is perched at 3500 feet on the Eastern Continental divide at the crossroads of highways 107 and 64. The highest peak in the area rises to 5127 feet at Yellow Mountain and it drops to 1020 feet along the Horsepasture River.

Sapphire Valley, a resort area, is one of the oldest valleys in North Carolina and is located between Cashiers and Sapphire. One of the greatest features of Sapphire Valley is called Bald Rock that looms above Fairfield Lake for swimming and canoeing.

Lake Glenville, about 6 miles north on 107, is one of the highest man-made lakes in the eastern USA with wonderful fishing, boat rentals and guided lake tours.  The lake has 26 miles (42 km) of shoreline and is the highest elevation lake east of the Mississippi encompassing 1450 acres.

Lake Toxaway has 14 miles of shoreline making it one of North Carolina’s largest private Lakes. Surrounded by 4000 acres of underdeveloped land and 10,000 acres of United States forest with wonderful mountain views and wilderness areas.

Who could resist buying here? Combining increased number of sales, low inventory, low prices, and the lowest interest rates in history, the logical conclusion is that now is the time to buy.

This month spring will slowly emerge as buds come out on the trees and daffodils spread sunshine as they sneak out to greet the refreshing mountain air. The area that moves a little bit slower in winter will start to stretch, open it’s eyes and throw back the covers as the glory of springtime arrives in the mountains of Western North Carolina in the Blue Ridge Mountain.

Future articles will focus on topics related to real estate such as; tips for buyers and sellers, home inspections and construction, along with information on area waterfalls, hiking, and golf courses.

I’ve been coming to the Western North Carolina Mountains for over 30 years and built my home in 2000. Life Under Construction…a work in progress is a book I wrote about becoming my own general contractor and building my mountain home.

Maryellen Lipinski was the # 1 individual Broker @ Keller Williams Realty in Sapphire, NC in 2013. www.melonthemountain.com  828-507-1171.  

She is also a Life Coach: www.maryellenlipinski.com