Highlands, North Carolina

Highlands, North Carolina, is where you'll write your story.

Vignette Realty brings the narrative imagined in the mountains to reality. 'Established as a resort town in 1875,' says its website, 'Highlands, North Carolina is one of the most sought-after luxury residential communities in Western North Carolina, nestled at  4,118 feet in the Southern Appalachian foothills at the western end of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a place where large-scale development has not yet touched Highlands' sacred spaces. At just 1,321 residents, Highlands can be appropriately described as small but with an air of grandeur.'

Why Highlands?

Life in Highlands, NC, is tranquil and mixed with all the activities one would expect to find in a small, vibrant town. What sets Highlands apart is its four distinct seasons, each with its unique charm. We do not endure extreme weather conditions, but rather, we enjoy a temperate climate that offers comfort to homeowners and travelers who visit year-round. This climate, combined with a wide assortment of activities, from strolling, shopping, and dining to hiking and nature, makes Highlands a unique and appealing destination.

Highlands, the Aspen of the East, is a prime, picture-perfect town for the high-end buyer who wants to get in on a mountain getaway. It's also an ideal relocation choice for retirees, second-homeowners, or year-round town residents. 

Highlands is a magnet for prospective buyers of every type. Luxury home developments snuggle up against the mountainside, surrounding trails with custom homes, estates, and cottages that'll have you living the good life. Your home will sit high with a soothing, year-round breeze sweeping through. Head down towards the town, and things get equally exciting.

The Highlands Real Estate Market

Home prices in Highlands are higher than those in nearby mountain communities, reflecting the desirability of the area. Most houses offer a modern hybrid of old-world rusticity and elegance, with new moving parts like stone fireplaces, expansive decks with vistas, and gated entry to golf courses and country clubs. The market is characterized by a shortage of inventory, which, coupled with high demand, makes finding the right home a time-sensitive and personal process. However, this limited inventory and high demand also speak to the stability of our property values.

We pride ourselves on offering our clients a boutique approach to real estate. We understand that procuring the right home can be very time-sensitive and personal. Highlands is desirable for investors and homeowners due to its inventory and high demand in our real estate market. Securing a prized home is an art form mastered in this small part of the city, and the limited inventory and high demand speak to the stability of our property values. 

Mountain Living with Modern Comforts

Ultimately, what makes Highlands unique is its ability to bring contemporary conveniences to the mountain town, a lively downtown district rich with boutique shops, gourmet restaurants, and fine art. Surrounded by waterfalls and national forests, within easy reach of popular hiking and fishing spots, and to the ends of the earth, Highlands offers the very best in outdoor pursuits. 

Highlands homes range from contemporary-like buildings to A-frame mountain cabins and estates, each offering a unique living experience. The area provides a quiet and peaceful environment, coupled with the opportunity to attend the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival, the Highlands Food and Wine Festival, summer concerts, and mingle with elegant people. These events and the unique lifestyle they offer make a living in Highlands a genuinely enriching experience.

Vignette Realty: Your Trusted Highlands Real Estate Partner

We understand the lifestyle here because we were raised here and have been selling Highlands real estate for many years. We know EVERYTHING there is to know about the Highlands AND will provide you with local, personalized service with your real estate experience that will make it easy, seamless, and a pleasure to work with us. We are dedicated to finding you or your family the home that will create your lifetime of memories.

Our new approach to marketing properties, as well as the lifestyle and the experience they contribute to living in Highlands, distinguishes us from realtors as it encapsulates our commitment to your goals (either as sellers, buyers, or investors) for each of our clients. Our high standards provide clients with the Vignette Difference that sets us apart from other brokerages.  

Start Your Highlands Story Today 

Ready to write your story in the mountains? Condensing everything you need about the Highlands real estate market into one story would rival "Gone with the Wind." There are so many channels to navigate, and the amount of factors to consider before even getting started can feel daunting – and for good reason. This isn't a transaction you can approach lightly. But our team can be ready – and waiting – to help start your story in the mountains, but only if you act today. Are you ready? 

What to Love

Dining

• For a casual lunch, visit Highlands Smokehouse open year-round, Primary Restaurant + Bar for pub-style dining, or Wild Thyme (which has the best sandwiches in Highlands according to Southern Accents Magazine). The Secret Garden offers takeaway options like fresh soups and charcuterie boards to-go.
  
  
• The options for dinner are seemingly endless, and you should try them all for yourself. Our favorites include Madison’s Restaurant and Wine Garden, Ristorante Paoletti for fresh pasta, and Oak Steakhouse at Skyline Lodge. Make sure you make reservations during the summer season.
  

Things to Do