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$1,325,000
3 Beds ⋅ 4 Baths ⋅ 1004028 MLS
NO DRIVE-BYS, PLEASE REACH OUT FOR AN APPOINTMENT. HOME IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Introducing 70 Cottonwood Drive, a new-construction home along the Highlands-Cashiers corridor. Estimated for completion in Fall 2026, this residence offers 3 beds, 3.5 baths, main-level living, seasonal views toward Shortoff Mountain, and 1.47 unrestricted acres with future-use potential. Set in a private wooded setting, the home's bark siding, board-and-batten exterior, heavy timber accents, and covered entry give it the character of an established Highlands cottage with the comfort and efficiency of new construction. Inside, the open living area connects the kitchen, dining space, and great room. The kitchen features a Wolf dual-fuel range with handcrafted hood, Viking refrigerator, KitchenAid dishwasher and microwave, and custom cabinetry. Beyond the kitchen is a scullery and laundry room with cabinetry, countertops, sink, washer and dryer, and exterior entrance. The main level also includes a wet bar with wine cooler and sink, powder room, and great room featuring a stone-surround gas fireplace, wood beams, shiplap detailing, hardwood floors, and expansive windows overlooking the wooded mountain setting. The main-level primary suite includes a walk-in closet, private bath with walk-in shower and well-appointed vanity, and direct access to the covered porch. Accessible from the great room, the porch provides inviting outdoor living for enjoying the cool mountain air. Upstairs, a handcrafted wood staircase with distinctive custom railings leads to a versatile loft between two private guest suites, each with its own full bath. The loft offers space for a media or recreation area, reading nook, home office, or gathering space. Planned native landscaping, terraced boulder accents, a backyard stream, and circular gravel driveway complement the natural setting. A second gravel driveway provides access to the encapsulated walk-in crawlspace, additional parking, and storage. The unrestricted property offers potential for short-term rental use, subject to applicable regulations and permitting. A completed survey for potential subdivision, if pursued by the buyer and approved by the appropriate authorities, could create an additional homesite. This home combines distinctive architectural character, quality new construction, covered outdoor living, private guest accommodations, and future-use potential between the Highlands and Cashiers corridor.

70 Cottonwood Dr, Highlands
$1,499,000
2 Beds ⋅ 2 Baths ⋅ 1003941 MLS
Welcome to "Secret Waters," a breathtaking opportunity that captures the essence of tranquility and luxury. As you approach the gates, the stunning tower house greets you, its elegant architecture harmonizing seamlessly with the soothing sounds of cascading waters that beckon you to explore. This extraordinary property boasts two standout features: a beautifully designed tower house featuring 2 spacious bedrooms and 2 modern bathrooms, alongside a spectacular natural wonder that embodies the artistry of Mother Nature. At the heart of Secret Waters lies a mesmerizing waterfall, flowing gracefully beside the residence and providing a serene, enchanting backdrop. Every detail of this retreat has been meticulously crafted, showcasing exquisite cherry millwork, sleek granite countertops, and expansive glass walls that bring the breathtaking views to life from the top floor. The enchanting grounds invite you to wander across charming bridges that span the tranquil waters. Spanning 5 lush acres, this property offers everything you desire for a perfect mountain getaway. Short-Term Rental Allowed! This property is currently an active short-term rental (STR) with proven rental success, presenting an excellent investment opportunity. Don’t miss your chance to own this extraordinary hideaway. Your secret oasis awaits!

685 Gold Mine Rd, Highlands
$2,200,000
3 Beds ⋅ 2 Baths ⋅ 1003711 MLS
A rare combination of end-of-road privacy, long-range mountain views, and 33.53+/- unrestricted acres, this Highlands-area log cabin offers the kind of usable mountain land that is increasingly difficult to find. Surrounded on two sides by USFS land, the property feels quiet and protected, with a private pond, ample parking, a cleared trail across Flat Mountain Rd, and multiple potential homesites where selective tree limbing or clearing could open additional view opportunities. The 3-bedroom, 2-bath log cabin captures the character buyers seek in a true mountain retreat while offering the comfort and function needed for everyday use. Inside, warm wood walls, soaring ceilings, expansive windows, and layered natural textures create a relaxed, collected atmosphere. The great room is a dramatic yet welcoming gathering space, equally suited for intimate evenings or easy entertaining, with direct flow to a large deck wrapping three sides of the home. One side is covered and includes a porch swing, creating a quiet place to take in the ridgelines. The main level includes two guest bedrooms, a shared full bath, a laundry room, and an open kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Upstairs, the primary suite offers a brand-new shower, walk-in closet, three attic access points for generous storage, and a small loft office area just outside the suite. The walkout basement adds meaningful flexibility, with a large unfinished area opening to a covered patio and a separate workshop with barn-style exterior doors for bringing equipment and materials in and out with ease. With no HOA and no restrictions, the land invites a wide range of uses: create a private mountain compound, explore additional homesites, enjoy hiking, camping, gardening, hunting, or simply preserve the acreage as a quiet retreat surrounded by nature. The original house remains on the property and could offer renovation potential as a guest house or short-term rental. Approximately 15 minutes to Highlands and 30 minutes to Cashiers, the property offers access to dining, shopping, Saturday Music on Pine, Bear Shadow, Groovin' on the Green, Plein Air events, nearby trails, waterfalls, and the refined mountain lifestyle of the Plateau. Rare acreage with this setting is limited; schedule your private showing soon.

4435 Flat Mountain Rd, Highlands
$4,000,000
4 Beds ⋅ 4 Baths ⋅ 1003462 MLS
A once-in-a-generation opportunity to own one of Highlands' most cherished legacy properties. Just blocks from downtown, the historic Whittle House has been lovingly maintained by the same family for over 100 years and five generations and offers an extraordinary combination of history, privacy, and location. Set on 2.88 gently rolling acres framed by towering pines, rhododendrons, and a gentle stream, this 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath farmhouse captures the timeless charm of Old Highlands. Built in the late 1800’s and on the National Historic Registry, the home includes tongue-and-groove ceilings, a stone fireplace, expansive living spaces, a detached garage with a loft, and beautifully preserved grounds that have remained largely unchanged for nearly a century. Rich in character and surrounded by nature, this remarkable estate offers endless possibilities as a private family retreat, legacy property, or future investment opportunity. Properties of this significance and proximity to downtown Highlands rarely become available. Schedule your private showing today and become the next steward of one of Highlands' most treasured homes.

760 N 5th St, Highlands
$1,200,000
1003395 MLS
For those seeking privacy, acreage, and the freedom to create something truly personal in the mountains of Western North Carolina, this 30+/- unrestricted acre tract offers a rare and exciting opportunity. Offered as a portion of a 33.35+/- acre parcel, the property is privately tucked at the end of the road and bordered on two sides by USFS land, giving it a peaceful, protected feel while remaining approximately 15 minutes from Highlands and 30 minutes from Cashiers. The land unfolds with a private pond, native rhododendron, wooded trails, gentle natural beauty, and several potential homesites where long-range mountain views may be opened with thoughtful tree limbing or clearing. A trail has already been cleared so the property can be toured with ease, allowing you to walk the land, take in the setting, and visit the charming old one-room cabin built when the current owner was a child. The cabin is not livable and is conveyed at no value, but it adds a nostalgic sense of history and character to the property. With no HOA and no restrictions, the possibilities are unusually broad. Create a private mountain retreat designed around the views, develop multiple homesites, establish a quiet compound, enjoy the land for hunting or camping, explore timber or agricultural use, or hold it as a legacy property in a highly desirable mountain market. The combination of acreage, privacy, pond frontage, USFS adjacency, and potential view sites makes this offering especially compelling. Beyond the property, the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau offers a celebrated lifestyle shaped by cool mountain air, outdoor adventure, cultural events, boutique shopping, dining, music, and year-round community gatherings. Spend the day exploring nearby trails and waterfalls, then enjoy Highlands events such as Saturday Music on Pine, Bear Shadow Concerts, and Chamber activities, or Cashiers favorites like Groovin’ on the Green, the Plein Air Festival, and seasonal social events. This is more than land; it is a canvas for an elevated mountain life, with room to dream, build, gather, explore, and preserve.

4419 Flat Mountain Rd, Highlands
$250,000
1003378 MLS
This exceptional Macon County property of 19.45+/- acres sits above 4,000 feet elevation, offering cool summer days and crisp mountain air. The unrestricted property features mature hardwoods and shares a border with the United States Forest Service land for over 1600 feet for ultimate privacy. Enjoy sweeping winter views today, or select-cut trees to unlock breathtaking, year-round summer vistas. A natural spring and an old concrete reservoir add unique, self-sustaining water infrastructure to the land. There are multiple potential home sites with a couple of roads already within the bounds of the property that need some improvements. The property is directly off of a state maintained gravel road for easy access. Perfectly positioned between Highlands, Cashiers, Franklin & Sylva, this rare mountain tract blends complete freedom with convenient access to Western North Carolina's premier destinations. If you're searching for a place to build your special mountain hideaway where the flora and fauna are plentiful, this might just be what you've been looking for.

000 Cold Mountain Rd, Highlands
$950,000
1002869 MLS
Unrestricted property with no zoning. The only unrestricted property in this area. The existing road network on-site offers easy access throughout the tract. Great development or conservation easement potential. This is your chance to own THE KNOB of Buck Knob—a truly rare opportunity to claim a wanted mountaintop. This 32.58 acre mountaintop tract delivers gorgeous, long-range views in every direction, with a gentle topography and multiple level building sites ideal for a primary residence, guest house, gardens, or small pastures. Tucked away at the end of the road, the property offers exceptional privacy and tranquility. It's further enhanced by bordering National Forest land on the North & West side. Buck Knob is notated on all regional maps—owning it means owning a piece of local geographic significance. This is literally the western edge of the Plateau. Uniquely positioned as the only property in the area with views of both the Appalachian Trail and the Bartram Trail. Convenient to Highlands and within easy reach of Atlanta, Asheville, and Athens, this is a legacy-quality property—perfect for a private mountain retreat or long-held family compound.

Tbd Buck Knob Rd, Scaly Mountain
$3,250,000
3 Beds ⋅ 3 Baths ⋅ 1002779 MLS
This is a rare opportunity to own acreage and one of the most unique homes in the area, and with views of Shortoff Mountain! 16.43 acres with two ponds, a custom-built house by Tommy Chambers, pump house, a large garage and an additional building. From the covered front porch, enter into a unique foyer with a wood-burning stove, stone floors and access to stairs leading up, the laundry room, a large game/viewing room and full bath. There is an elevator off the laundry that also can access the second level. As you walk up the stairs you are greeted with a generous family room with a large stone fireplace, and open to the kitchen and dining areas. Note the details like wood ceilings and beams, bay windows, stained glass windows, custom wood cabinets, old doors with transoms and unique lighting fixtures. The primary suite is located on this floor as well as a second bedroom and bath. Enjoy views of Shortoff Mountain from the dining area or primary bedroom. The upper level has a room that could be a studio, office or playroom and the third bedroom. The antique pine logs (circa 1865) are from a cabin in Thomasville, Georgia and the antique heart pine wood (circa 1875) is from a railroad station in Charlotte. The roof is a standing-seam metal, there are copper gutters with antique scuppers and lightning protection. Outside is a stone terrace and a covered area perfect for outdoor dining. The house overlooks a meadow with fruit trees, bushes and vines, and a double-door garage with workshop and unfinished second floor. Follow the asphalt drive that borders the property to view the 16-acre property, two ponds, an additional building and underground utilities. Use as a private mountain retreat or subdivide the acreage up to 4 additional estate lots. Only minutes to downtown Highlands, ranked America’s Best Small Mountain Town by Travel & Leisure Magazine in 2021.

439 By Way, Highlands
$499,000
1002289 MLS
You will not find a parcel this large and this close to Highlands, NC at anywhere near this price! This estate-sized, 16.52-acre parcel is a mere 10 minutes from the highly desirable downtown Highlands. The land features multiple springs and an active creek with several small waterfalls. Several potential homesites on the property could offer wonderful, long-range mountain views. An existing logging road runs from the road and winds through the property, and with nearly one-half mile of frontage on Buck Creek Road, there are several more potential access points. A trail has been cut to a partially cleared potential homesite that would take advantage of potential short-range views of Black Rock, Cole, and Yellow Mountains. The lot has minimal deed restrictions and can be subdivided into five parcels. Build your private, legacy estate or family compound just minutes away from the elevated shopping, dining, and entertainment of charming Highlands.

Trct 3 Trct 3 Buck Creek Rd, Highlands
$1,380,000
3 Beds ⋅ 3 Baths ⋅ 1002115 MLS
Nestled on 9.4 wooded acres, this beautiful home is reached through a gated entrance and a winding paved driveway that leads to sweeping, long-range panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The residence features 3 bedrooms and 2½ baths, offering both comfort and charm. Enjoy cozy evenings by one of the four fireplaces—two wood-burning and two gas—while relaxing in the spacious family room with its dramatic two-story windows framing the scenic landscape. The primary suite, located on the main level, includes its own wood-burning fireplace and a private deck—perfect for quiet mornings or starlit nights. This unrestricted property also offers a porte-cochère with an attached workshop, providing flexibility for hobbies or storage. Conveniently located on the west side of Highlands, it offers easy access to shopping.

369 Ritchie Rd, Scaly Mountain
$1,750,000
2 Beds ⋅ 1 Baths ⋅ 1001330 MLS
Steeped in Highlands history, this charming 1920s cottage sits on over 13 acres of wooded land, perennial gardens, and native flora. Built by Henry Wright—a noted naturalist and contributor to the Highlands Botanical Garden—the home showcases enduring craftsmanship. The kitchen features original wormy chestnut cabinetry, while the living room is clad in chestnut paneling milled from the property. A granite fireplace anchors the space, and herringbone red oak flooring, laid by Wright himself, adds character and warmth. The land is a haven for native species, including Turk’s Cap Lilies, Pink Ladyslippers, several rare Trillium varieties, and the elusive Shortia (Oconee Bells). The current owners, dedicated and knowledgeable gardeners, have carefully stewarded this botanical legacy—preserving genetic lines that trace back to the original plantings from Wright’s time on the property. The main level includes the kitchen, living room with wood stove insert, and primary bedroom and bath. Upstairs offers a second bedroom and office or study. A covered front porch overlooks the serene setting. Additional features include a small pond, dual streams, a vintage garage used for storage, and a detached shop with maple flooring reclaimed from the old Highlands School gym—perfect for a studio, office, or future guest house. Located just minutes from downtown Highlands, this private, well-insulated property offers incredible potential as a family compound or legacy estate using the existing home as a guest residence!

539 Cheney Ln, Highlands
$595,000
4 Beds ⋅ 4 Baths ⋅ 1000353 MLS
These two cottages have had many, many years of summer love. The 2.55 acres has big open yard space, thick with the kind of Moss only old parcels have. The land is tucked up under N Old Walhalla Rd. Complete privacy. A short path over two small bridges cross the creeks and bring you to the smaller 1/1 cottage. Repairs and renovations began throughout the house in 2019 but ran off track as the pandemic derailed so many plans. It's time these cottages get some year round love and attention. While they are not in Highlands City Limits they do have Public water and Town Electric. A great investment as short term rental or employee housing project. It could be a very sweet spot to live. *Don't miss how well the basement and foundation work has been done in the Main House. Entry from inside is under stairway. Light switch is on right.

101 Brooks, Highlands
$1,095,000
1000034 MLS
A truly extraordinary and rare opportunity - 18.92 breathtaking acres, almost entirely surrounded by United States Forest Service land, offering unparalleled privacy and natural beauty. This remarkable property boasts cleared pastureland, interior roads, gently rolling wooded areas, and picnic pavilion with captivating views to the south and west. Access is UNIQUELY PRIVATE, as the USFS road access is exclusively to USFS tract and this parcel. A pristine stream runs almost the full length of the property, featuring multiple waterfalls and ideal locations for trails, gazebos, or serene overlooks by the water. Electricity is already on-site, previously servicing an old home, with easy availability to support multiple potential homesites. This property is perfect for creating a private retreat or a dream home immersed in nature but less than 3 miles from Main Street. Un-zoned and unrestricted. Deer and turkey abound!

Off Off Neely, Highlands

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