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$710,000
3 Beds ⋅ 2 Baths ⋅ 1004039 MLS
Highlands area quality single-level home nestled in a peaceful setting. It features 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms on a substantial lot. Built by the renowned builder John Lupoli, the bright, spacious open living area includes a large gourmet kitchen, a big fireplace, and a generous dining room, making it an ideal space for entertaining. It also includes a second "catering kitchen" and a laundry area. The inviting main suite includes remote-controlled blinds, walk-in "his and hers" closets, and a substantial bathroom equipped with a jetted tub and a shower. The home features large deck areas, including one that is covered and screened, complete with a modern wood pellet fireplace/heater. The other deck is open and wired and plumbed for a future hot tub. Both decks offer lovely views of a tranquil pond and a recirculating waterfall. Storage space is abundant, with an attached one-car garage and a partially finished two-car garage located underneath the home. This additional space can serve various purposes. The property sits on approximately 2.5 acres of relatively level land, semi-cleared to maintain the natural landscape, including several beautiful specimen walnut trees. For those interested in outdoor activities, nearby forest trailheads are ready to explore. This ideal setting is perfect for professionals or families and is just about ten minutes from downtown Highlands. The home is being offered with its contents included.

611 Blue Valley Rd, Highlands

$2,300,000
3 Beds ⋅ 3 Baths ⋅ 1003231 MLS
Butternut Cottage is a rare offering on Lake Sequoyah. The cottage is a masterfully reimagined historic residence where timeless mountain craftsmanship meets refined modern living. Originally built in 1940 and meticulously renovated in 2020, this home preserves its authentic soul while elevating every detail for today’s luxury lifestyle. From the moment you enter, the home reveals its character through extensive use of reclaimed wormy chestnut, thoughtfully integrated throughout the interior. Custom cabinetry in the downstairs kitchen and secondary bathrooms showcases this storied wood, preserving the warmth and patina of the original structure while giving it new life in a sophisticated, curated design. A striking live-edge staircase crafted from butternut wood serves as both architectural centerpiece and sculptural art piece, setting the tone for a residence defined by organic elegance and craftsmanship. Throughout the home, four wood-burning fireplaces create inviting focal points, offering warmth and ambiance across multiple living spaces. Designed to dissolve the boundary between indoors and out, the home features a seamless flow to expansive outdoor living areas where nature becomes an extension of daily life. The setting is enhanced by a beautifully terraced and landscaped yard, thoughtfully planted with mature apple and pear trees, blueberry bushes, and an established perennial garden that provide color and texture throughout the seasons. Outdoor living is elevated by two private docks, offering direct access to Lake Sequoyah—perfect for paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, or simply enjoying quiet mornings on the water. The lakefront lifestyle is peaceful, private, and deeply connected to the surrounding natural beauty. Butternut Cottage is more than a home—it is a legacy property where history, design, and landscape converge. Every detail has been intentionally preserved or elevated, resulting in a residence that feels both grounded in heritage and unmistakably refined. A truly unique opportunity to own a one-of-a-kind mountain lake retreat where craftsmanship and nature exist in perfect harmony.

311 Sequoyah Dr, Highlands

$475,000
2 Beds ⋅ 1 Baths ⋅ 1003102 MLS
Sky High Cottage presents a unique opportunity to enjoy mountain living from a peaceful, elevated setting at approximately 4,100 feet above sea level — higher than Main Street in Highlands. Tucked at the end of the road, this private retreat offers a true sense of escape while remaining just minutes from town. Surrounded by mature, native landscaping — rhododendron, weeping cherry, and blooming hydrangeas — the home blends seamlessly into its natural surroundings, with Scaly Mountain providing a beautiful backdrop. Protected National Forest land borders the property, and a Forest Service road just beyond the driveway leads directly to the Bartram Trail, offering effortless access to hiking and outdoor adventure. And yet, it remains conveniently connected to the local community — only about 15 minutes to Highlands and 30 minutes to Clayton. Outdoor living is a standout feature, with both covered and open decks designed to take full advantage of the cool mountain air and treetop views. A charming stone patio below creates an inviting space for gathering, relaxing, or enjoying quiet evenings in nature. Inside, the home is warm and inviting, centered around a Malm gas fireplace (with the option to convert to wood-burning) in the main living area. The layout flows comfortably between the living, kitchen, and dining spaces, making it ideal for both everyday living and casual entertaining. Two spacious bedrooms share a well-sized bathroom, and the metal roof adds to the cozy mountain ambiance — especially during a passing rain. Practical upgrades such as HardiePlank-style siding, an encapsulated crawl space, and a tankless water heater provide low-maintenance, efficient living. The property also offers flexibility for future expansion or customization, giving the next owner the opportunity to enhance and grow the home over time. Offered furnished, the cottage is ready for immediate enjoyment. With its privacy, elevation, and direct access to outdoor recreation, it also offers excellent potential as a short-term or seasonal rental investment.

551 Bob Long Mountain Rd, Scaly Mountain

$4,900,000
4 Beds ⋅ 4 Baths ⋅ 1001584 MLS
Welcome to "Thistlewaite" - a European-inspired masterpiece in the heart of Highlands, North Carolina. Born from the vision of a creative Atlanta couple, Thistlewaite was modeled after an English country house designed in 1900 by renowned architect Edwin Lutyens in the Arts and Crafts tradition. To bring this dream to life, they assembled an extraordinary team: close friend and celebrated classical architect Norman Davenport Askins, legendary builder Tommy Chambers, and acclaimed landscape designer Alex Smith. The result, completed in 2009, is an architectural and garden jewel unlike anything else in Highlands. The property was originally part of the seven-acre site of the adjacent 1930's Joe Webb cabin and still includes its original spring house. To create the home's setting, a small clearing in the forest was sculpted into a flat homesite with a dramatic 24-foot retaining wall. Stone blasted from the site now forms the garden walls, seamlessly tying the residence to its natural surroundings. Cross the stone bridge over a rushing creek and be immediately captivated by the approach garden, a lush entryway that feels like a world apart. Nestled within virgin forest off Big Bear Pen Road, and bordered by Highlands Land Trust property with views of the historic Kelsey Trail, the home welcomes you through a distinctive gatehouse crowned with a zinc ornament salvaged from a circa-1900 Denver building. The gardens act as an extension of the home, with terraces, an outdoor fireplace, and a formal parterre. Two porches - an inviting entrance porch and a "drinking porch" off the living room and primary suite - overlook the gardens and enclosed courtyard. Inside, warm and gracious living spaces unfold: A keeping room with a stone fireplace shared with the kitchen. A scullery kitchen with ovens, dishwasher, and sink, keeping the main kitchen always ready for entertaining. A built-in bar leading to a light-filled room with courtyard views. A formal living room with another fireplace connecting to the luxurious primary suite. Upstairs, three to four additional bedrooms and a cozy second great room provide comfort for family and guests. Materials were chosen with artistry and authenticity: native North Carolina granite, rough-hewn siding milled from hemlock felled on the property, reclaimed beams and barn wood from Pennsylvania, and antique accents such as milestone at the gatehouse.

424 Big Bearpen Rd, Highlands

$860,000
3 Beds ⋅ 3 Baths ⋅ 100585 MLS
Welcome to Stonehedge! This beautifully-built, round-on-round log home is the perfect mountain retreat! The terrace level is the perfect in-law suite with everything your guests will need including full kitchen, laundry room, spacious living room, and radiant heated floors. Enter the main floor through the custom, slumped-glass door to the open den with stone fireplace and vaulted ceilings. The well appointed kitchen flows perfectly into this space making for great entertaining with family and friends. The open, upstairs loft is a perfect office space where you can take in the long range mountain views while working from home. The upstairs master suite allows for plenty of privacy and optimal views of our beautiful mountain landscape. Soak your cares away in the garden tub. Situated at the end of the road with more than four acres of privacy, this home is great for entertaining guest and making lasting memories with ample parking and a three-car garage! The custom stone firepit and grilling station is the ideal spot to relax after a long day of hiking or sightseeing. If the firepit gets too hot, you can cool off in the Ledford Branch which runs through part of the property. Whether you are looking for a large home for personal guests or a successful investment property, this house must be seen in person to truly appreciate its full potential. This home can easily accommodate a large group or family with its 500 gallon propane tank and extra water heater for master suite.

286 Stockton, Franklin

$800,000
3 Beds ⋅ 4 Baths ⋅ 106465 MLS
This Beautiful Post and Beam home at 3,219 feet elevation with panoramic long range mountain views await the new owner. Enjoy our casual mountain lifestyle while warming by the fire by the large stone fireplace or by dining in the Carolina room. The spacious primary bedroom with ensuite jetted bath opens to the deck with limitless views from the main level. The open loft with ensuite bath is perfect for sleeping or an in-home office. Providing guest privacy, the large second primary bedroom with ensuite bath has a second entrance. The adjoining den with large screen tv is a favorite spot while warming by the fire. Following dinner, the dining area leads to the screened in porch to watch the evening sun setting. 2 additional decks provide privacy off both bedrooms. The large kitchen is always the popular gathering spot for family and friends. The great room with floor to ceiling windows provides limitless unparallel panoramic views that everyone wants in their mountain home. Currently the double car garage has been used as an additional game room with plenty of storage for those shop tools. Do you need extra covered space for your cars or toys? There is car storage for 4 cars plus lots of parking space for those family gatherings. . Interested in short-term rentals? This home has no rental restrictions. This home comes fully furnished ready for a mountain getaway for two or a family. In additional it has been a successful investment property. Come check out the mountain lodge with its majestic views! With the national forest next door, it is the perfect escape from this busy world.

719 Bear Paw Rdg, Franklin

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Macon County, NC · Curated MLS Search

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