Jon Tharp

My family has roots in these mountains, so selling real estate here never felt like moving into a market. It felt like helping people find their way into a place I already cared about.

I'm Jon Tharp. I lead the Jon Tharp Homes team at Keller Williams, with offices in Franklin, Waynesville and Asheville. I've been licensed since 2018 and in real estate since 2001, when I started buying and flipping homes, and I help people buy and sell homes and land across Western North Carolina. If you're reading this because you're thinking about a move to the mountains, here is a little about who I am and how I work.

Where we work

We cover 13 counties: Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey. That takes in Asheville and Hendersonville, Waynesville and Sylva, Bryson City, Franklin, Highlands and Cashiers, Murphy and Hayesville, and a lot of hollows and ridgelines in between.

Each of those places buys and sells a little differently. A cabin outside Bryson City, a lot in Highlands and a farmhouse in Madison County come with different questions about water, roads, rentals and resale. Knowing those differences is most of the job.

How I work

The part of this work I care about most is the research. Before a client writes an offer, I want to know what the listing doesn't say: what the deed and plat show, where the well and septic are and what's on file for them, who maintains the road, and what restrictions come with the property.

In the mountains, those details matter more than the photos. A beautiful view can come with a shared gravel road and no maintenance agreement. A great price can come with a septic permit sized for fewer bedrooms than the house has. I would rather find that out for you before you're under contract than after.

That matters most for buyers who live somewhere else. If you're coming from Florida, Georgia or the Midwest, you can't drive past the house three times or knock on the neighbor's door. I can, and I'll tell you plainly what I find.

Why the mountains

People come here for the same reasons my family stayed: the long views, the creeks, the small towns where people still wave, and four real seasons. On a free day you'll find me on the water at Fontana Lake or on a trail up toward Wayah Bald. It's hard to sell a place you don't love, and I've never had that problem here.

Want to hear it from clients? Read our client reviews, word for word from Google and Realtor.com.

Let's talk

If you're starting to look, or just want to know what a part of the mountains is really like, call the office at (828) 347-9055 or my cell at (828) 347-9474. I'm glad to help you figure out where you'd fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Jon Tharp Team based?

The team works out of Keller Williams offices at 1573 Highlands Road in Franklin, 38 N Main St in Waynesville and 48 Grove St in Asheville, and covers 13 Western North Carolina counties: Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey.

What kind of buyers does Jon Tharp work with?

Locals moving up or down, families relocating for work, and a large share of retirees and second-home buyers coming from out of state who need someone on the ground to check what they can't see from a distance.

How do I reach Jon Tharp?

Call the office at (828) 347-9055 or Jon's cell at (828) 347-9474, or email jon@jontharphomes.com.