North Carolina is known for its wide variety in landscapes: pristine coastline, bustling cities, and prolific lakes. However the “Old North State” is most identifiable by the Blue Ridge Mountain Range that wraps around the northwest of the State. The mountains and surrounding rolling hills provide ample real estate and make North Carolina a great state to co-own a mountain house.
In recent years, coveted mountain land has caused a spike in its subsequent real estate market, with prices on a steady increase. Due to market changes and a shift towards a shared economy, there is no better time to co-own a vacation home. North Carolina has always been the go-to southern state for purchasing a mountain house, but now it has pivoted to the number one state for co-owning your mountain home.
ASHEVILLE
Asheville is the perfect compromise for those who want to co-own a mountain house with an urban feel. The hip downtown is mere minutes from untouched, protected forests and quiet scenic vistas. Nicknamed the “land of the sky” by the locals, the city boasts breathtaking views for all four distinct seasons. Even though there are lush summers and white-dusted winters, the climate is fairly temperate, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. Pisgah National Forest and Mount Mitchell State Park are both ten to twenty minutes from downtown and have miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking.
In addition to excursion opportunities, Asheville has a rapidly growing art scene with over 30 galleries in its River Arts District, innovative breweries and bakeries, and live music ranging from casual street performers to bigger names, like Bob Dylan, at the venue Orange Peel. Asheville’s housing market is very competitive with the median home price up 17.3% from 2021 to 2022. Co-ownership cuts these rising prices into quarters or eighths making Asheville both affordable and accessible.
CASHIERS
Only a few hours from Atlanta, Charlestown, and Asheville, the Cashiers is the perfect location for a second home-getaway. Cashier’s residents can partake in a laid-back lifestyle with access to boutiques, festivals, farmers markets, and more. Like most mountain residences, hiking, fishing, golfing, and mountain biking are close by. Cashiers’ homes have an elevated rustic personality, encapsulating a true modern cabin with extensive hardwood floors and high exposed wooden beams.
BANNER ELK
Positioned high in the mountains in between Sugar and Beech Mountain, Banner Elk boasts mild summertime temps, and white winters with low humidity, a year-round destination perfect for perpetual porch sitters. Twenty-five minutes from the youthful city of Boone, Banner Elk offers a secluded serenity with nature not far from a city-center.
Banner Elk provides opportunities for adrenaline junkies as well. There are two ski areas, ziplines over four miles long, snow tubing, the first alpine coaster in North Carolina, and a mile high swinging bridge that looks over black bears, bald eagles, otters, cougars, and of course true to the area’s namesake, elk. For those who prefer a more relaxed approach to nature, there are wineries, galleries, trails, restaurants, and music venues right in town. There is considerable diversity in its real estate, with a wide range of budgets and buyers, creating a co-ownership opportunity for everyone.
LAKE LURE
This location is perfect for those who are debating between lake and mountains for a co-owned second home. The lush Blue Ridge mountains provide the perfect backdrop for a day out on the lake. Even if you are not a fan of boating, there is year-round golfing, fishing, mountain biking, tennis, rock climbing, and spectacular views. A destination for autumn leaf peepers, the sheltering mountains provide cooler summers and warmer winters for a temperate, livable climate.
Lake Lure is the one of the fastest growing locations for a second home, with the median listing price doubling in the last year. Its houses range from historically quaint to state of the art modernity and everywhere in between. While the competitive market might deter other potential buyers, Plum’s co-ownership allows for an affordable Lake Lure vacation home.
BOONE
Most people are drawn into Boone by its vibrance and spectacular views. Being a college town, locals say that you feel the energy and youth pumping through the town. Not only do people frequent the vintage breweries and acclaimed farm-to-table restaurants, but they also snowboard, ski, hike, rock climb, fish, and everything else outdoors. There is no better time to co-own a vacation house in Boone as population and house appreciation continue to rise.
Why settle for just one paradise when you can have two? With Plum co-ownership possibilities, you can revel in the tranquility of mountain living and soak up the sun at the beach. Explore our handpicked list of NC’s finest coastal co-owning locations and unlock the ultimate coastal-mountain combo!