Carolina In Your Mind?
By Jamie Grill

WIth log homes, mountains, creeks, golf, football, watersports and more, who wouldn't want to be "goin' to Carolina"? Listening to the whisper of a creek from your log home, unwinding in communities that feel like state parks with amenities, hearing the clink of your golf ball as you tee off among the sweeping views of nature….With dreamlike realities it's no wonder the Carolinas are a hot spot for vacation home buyers and those looking to relocate.

"I'd say about 50 percent of buyers are second-home buyers," says Gael Paschall of the Gael Paschall Group in Maggie Valley, N.C. One hot locale is the North Carolina town of Asheville, which came in at number one on Relocate-America.com's "America's Top 100 Places to Live for 2007." According to the site, the average home price in Asheville is $265,000 and it's the "ideal active getaway." One of the highest recent sales in the area was a $1.925 million home on 4.5 acres nestled on a high mountain ridge offering views of Maggie Valley, Lake Junaluska and the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.

"People who come here really want a little elbow room," says Paschall. Second-home buyers come to the Asheville region looking for a log home in the Smokey Mountains, she explains. They want the sound of bold creeks and mountain vistas combined with privacy. Condos and townhomes are not prevalent in the area.

Golfing and mild weather makes the Highlands a desirable place to purchase a second home in a community. With six golf-course communities within a few miles of each other and average high temperatures only reaching the 70s in the hottest month of the year, the Highlands are a perfect getaway, according to Terry Potts of Country Club Properties on Highlands, N.C.

The newest resort, Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club, features a Tom Fazio course that flows seamlessly with Mountaintop's dramatic terrain and is reserved for play solely by Mountaintop's 350 equity members, their families and invited guests. Only 75 cabins and lodges, and 251 spectacular custom home sites are available throughout the 731 acres. Currently only seven homes are available for sale and prices range from $2 million to more than $4 million.

If you crave the duality of water-skiing in October on a serene mountain lake one minute and attending a rowdy Clemson University football game the next, than purchasing a second home in the area of Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee in South Carolina should appease you. Clemson's accessibility makes it easy to take a break from nature and enjoy cultural activities. The area's location on the southeast side of the Blue Ridge Mountains means it benefits from almost perfect weather. "Anywhere north of here you get some winter…anywhere south of here, the heat in the summer becomes an issue for some," says Bruce May of Jocassee Real Estate in Seneca, S.C.

The Reserve at Lake Keowee will have more than 3,900 acres and 1,500 homesites. Homesites start at $200,000 and custom-built homes start at $1 million. The Reserve is home to a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and features a resort-style pool pavilion with an interactive water playground, fountains and Jacuzzi, in addition to fishing and tubing. "It's like Disney World for the outdoor set," says May, who owns a home there.

The Jocassee Club, a private residence club, has four of the less than 35 homes on the entire lake. The lake's shoreline is 95-percent protected and one-eighth fractions of deeded ownership are available for $450,000 on the pre-release. Membership includes boats, furnishings and a full-time concierge.

"In my mind, [Lake Jocassee] is the prettiest lake in America. To have this lake in our backyard is incredible," says May.

At a Glance
  • $1 million+ Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee, S.C.: 58; Highlands: 153; Asheville area: 375
  • Most expensive listing: In the area of Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee, S.C.: $5 million, with more than 1,000 feet of shoreline.
  • Luxury price range Highlands: $1 million to $5.9 million
  • Highest recent sale: Ashville: $1.925 million
  • Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee, S.C.$4.4 million