Market Report - Cashiers, Sylva & Waynesville North Carolina
Our journey last month continued to perhaps the prettiest part of Western North Carolina. Is it the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park or the Land of Waterfalls that we find the most irresistable during the fall foliage season? Living in this region offers incredible scenic beauty year round. If you're searching for Waynesville real estate, here's what's happening at gated North Carolina mountain communities in the area:
BALSAM MOUNTAIN PRESERVE - SYLVA
We couldn’t help but eavesdrop when we heard a property owner at a different community describe Balsam’s golf course as “the finest mountain golf course he’d ever seen”. Balsam Mountain Preserve's golf course is private, so unless you know a member or own property there, you’ll miss the opportunity to see it and play their mountain golf course. Balsam Mountain Preserve is a large gated North Carolina mountain community spreading across 4,400 acres yet only about 400 families will call this neighborhood home. That's because over 75% of the community's acreage has been placed in a permanent conservation easement, providing residents with the feel of living in a state park while protecting the land from future development. As they say at Balsam, “you might get lost driving around, but you won't miss a meal”. Speaking of meals, we dined several times at The Boarding House, Balsam’s restaurant. Bravo, outstanding, and delicious! Balsam also passed my litmus test of a community’s friendliness. During the second night at the Boarding House, a couple observed me dining by myself again and asked me to join them. Image that, inviting a total stranger to dinner? To us, actions speak louder than words and we left impressed with the friendliness of the residents at Balsam.
Over 70 homes are now completed with two more homes under construction and four more in architectural plan review. Balsam Mountain Preserve had just replaced its fleet of golf carts. We had the pleasure of riding around the golf course to learn more about it, while taking updated pictures. Balsam is reporting 25 closed sales in 2012. What you may not know, Balsam Mountain Preserved received our 2012 Bliss Award as Best Equestrian Community of the Year. If you’re searching for a gated North Carolina mountain community, ask about being our guest at Balsam in one of their ten Boarding House cabins. This will give you the chance to see first hand, the level of attention this community pays to its guests and property owners. By the way, Balsam Mountain Preserve is close to an entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
LAUREL RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB - WAYNESVILLE
Not much was new at Laurel Ridge Country Club, since our visit last year. This Waynesville golf community was established in 1986. The majority of the homes built here are at high elevations, facing out towards the twinkling city lights of Waynesville. Some homes can be found at lower elevations, near the country club and the golf course. Laurel Ridge Country Club is a semi-private golf club. This year, the club ran a membership drive in the spring reducing initiation fees from $6K to $1K to spark interest in the club. Dues have only slightly increased from last year, from $3,250 to $3,450 for full golf privileges. Club social events take place from March through October and include derby races, Twilight Nine & Dine, tournaments and themed events. According to the MLS, 3 homes have closed since January and the average sold price was $836K. People are drawn to Laurel Ridge because of its close proximity to the west end of Waynesville. Our trusted colleague in Waynesville can put you on a watch list for Laurel Ridge Country Club homes or any other Waynesville real estate. Just ask us to connect you.
SUNSET FALLS AT BALD CREEK - WAYNESVILLE
This year was a pleasant surprise, after learning how close this gated North Carolina mountain community is to Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s back door. After touring the community again, we scooted off to see the bugling elk in Cataloochee Valley in the park. Sunset Falls at Bald Creek is an intimate community offering stellar high elevation long range mountain views at the mountain's summit. We observed bulldozers clearing the ground on lot 30, as the new owner prepares to build their home. This will be the 5th home built to date at Sunset Falls at Bald Creek of the 52 planned.
Within 10 minutes, there are excellent restaurants, the 54,000 square Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center, and Cataloochee Ski Resort. New retail stores continue to open on the west end of Waynesville such as Belk, PetSmart, Michaels, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Rack Room Shoes and more. Long term thinkers who want to avoid the fast growing city of Asheville would be smart to consider mountain homes in Waynesville North Carolina. Let us know if you’d like to see more pictures of Sunset Falls at Bald Creek and meet the real estate developer.
THE ASCOT CLUB - WAYNESVILLE
We're had our eye on The Ascot Club for a number of years now because of its proximity to downtown Waynesville. Formerly, this gated North Carolina mountain community was known as Highland Forest. The real estate developer’s representative informed us that The Ascot Club is still ‘laying beneath the radar’ waiting for market conditions to improve. He stated the real estate developer is in the process of providing underground power to 50 lots and is constructing their 2nd cottage home out of a series of 5. Last year, we had to sneak around the gates to access this community which is when we got another glimpse of their incredible clubhouse, originally a private residence. The views from The Ascot clubhouse could easily be the scene of a postcard. This year, we felt our time was better spent elsewhere looking for Waynesville real estate, so we did not visit The Ascot Club. We’ll keep you posted on the community’s progress.
BURLINGAME COUNTRY CLUB - SAPPHIRE
This North Carolina golf community is the second best selling community this year in the Highlands/Cashiers area. As of September 2012, 8 homes, 1 lot and 3 condo’s have been sold to date. To attract new interest in the club, Burlingame Country Club has relaxed its dress code and modified the clubhouse adding a billard’s room, consolidated the kitchens and have added The Club, the clubhouse’s cozy new lounge. Burlingame’s elegant dining rooms have a beautiful bird’s eye view of the golf course and surrounding mountains. Burlingame also recently completed construction of their new regulation quality croquet courts.
Early in December 2009, the club members took ownership of the club, golf course and sales center incurring $1.5 million debt to acquire the assets. Club members are now being assessed $120 a month until the long term debt is retired, causing a slight bit of friction between the non-club and club members. From what we can see, overall property owner’s are pretty happy at Burlingame. Most property owners are second home owners. If you would like to learn more about Burlingame, ask us to send you an information package.
LONESOME VALLEY - CASHIERS
Perhaps the most distinctive mountain community we’ve seen in Western North Carolina, granite faced Laurel Knob commands your attention as you pass through the community’s entrance. Laurel Knob is a 1,200 foot granite vertical wall, the tallest rock climbing wall in the Eastern United States. This gated North Carolina mountain community began in 2005 and has two intriguing lakes: Trout Lake stocked with trophy size trout and Long Lake, the community’s natural swimming, fishing and boating amenity adjacent to the clubhouse. 18 homes have been built to date. One home was under construction during our visit and four more are going through the architectural plan review process. The community is reporting 5 closed sales in 2012 with two more under contract. Lonesome Valley is a debt free community funded through a private friendly investment.
Canyon Kitchen is the community’s restaurant, seated in the valley, featuring well known Cashier’s Chef John Fleer. Lonesome Valley has 10 miles of hiking trails linking to neighboring Panthertown Valley, boasting 6,000 additional acres of Nantahala National Forest. The community’s gentle topography is ideal for buyers seeking a walkable mountain community in a spacious farm like setting. Ask us for more information and to send you photos.
PRESERVE AT ROCK CREEK - CASHIERS
It is always a pleasure to re-visit this charming gated North Carolina mountain community. From the community’s summit, you can see long range layered mountain views for miles and miles that will steal your breath away. Preserve at Rock Creek recently joined Residence Club Partners offering fractional interests in the million dollar Ridgeline Villa home. A 1/6 share is priced at $259K and includes Burlingame Country Club privileges. The Mountain Chalet and Sunrise Cottage are both new homes designed by Travis Mileti and are available for purchase. Preserve at Rock Creek has one of the best North Carolina waterfalls on property and is the focal piece of Rock Creek Falls Park. The community offers larger 5 acre, easily build-able homesites which can accommodate two homes. If you’re looking for a home with stellar mountain views, this is a community you’ll want to see. Ask about being our guest at Preserve at Rock Creek.
SUNDROPS ON CANEY FORK - CULLOWEE
We were immediately attracted to this 42 acre charming gated North Carolina lake community from the first time we toured it several years ago. Sundrops on Caney Fork borders the rushing Caney Fork River and has private access to Bear Creek Lake at the community’s Laughing Trout Camp, a timber framed pavilion with kitchens, showers, and Glamping Yurts overlooking Bear Creek Lake. The core of the community is positioned in a spacious open valley just minutes from Western Carolina University. Some of the homes are seated up above on the ridgeline. Real estate developer Joel Sowers has created a scaled down masterpiece, reflecting his decades of experience building resort-style communities. Community amenities completed include a clubhouse, outdoor swimming pool, and jacuzzi. Only 44 homes are planned and 16 twin townhomes. Eight homes have been built to date. Sundog Custom Homes had one home under construction during our visit, a 1,663 square foot home with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. This high energy efficient home is located in the valley, close to the clubhouse, community garden, and trout stream. This home is priced at $319,900 and is available. Ask us to send you the floor plan and feature list.
To date, we have visited 193 master planned communities in the Southeast, searching for the best places to retire. Our expertise can streamline your search quickly. Send us your criteria by telling us what you're looking for and we will send you back a list of communities which match your desires. Our list of the best Waynesville real estate, Cashiers and Sylva, costs you nothing. When you visit, don't miss taking a ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway, America's Favorite Scenic Drive. Write info@communityfinder.com or call us toll free at 866.384.1799.
