2nd home information (Charlotte, Spruce Pine, Jefferson: house, buying, school)

[Sharpcarolina]

My family and I have visited Blowing Rock several times over the past couple of years. My question is this...we are looking for some mtn. land or cabin, around Blowing Rock that is developed but still more affordable than Blowing Rock. We live just south of Charlotte, so we are looking to stay within a couple of hours drive.

Any great small towns or areas that you can suggest would be very helpful. I have been told to look in West Jefferson, spruce pine and a couple of others.

We are in our late 30s with two school age children, so close to various activities would be great.

Thanks

[Southlander]

Try the Spruce Pine area. If you don't mind not having a view, housing is fairly cheap. The weather's there, even if the view is not.

[LiveLoveLaugh]

I have 2 suggestions Go on realtor...com and click Blowing Rock and do advanced search and look at all the surrounding areas. Also Homes and Land magazine has an online edition for EVERY area!!!! OMG!!! Lol...you can spend hours looking at properties! Good luck!

[mdp_az]

West Jefferson/Ashe County advice you got was very good IMO. My wife and I are in our mid-30s with one young child and have now owned a log cabin in northern Ashe County for just over a year. It's about a 50 minute drive to Blowing Rock, but we really don't head down that way very often. West Jefferson has a few decent restaurants, a great coffee shop, and some cool galleries. There are two state parks, lots of water for canoeing/tubing, and quick access to some of the best hiking and biking on the East Coast in the Mt. Rogers Nat'l Rec. Area just 30 min. north across the NC/VA line. The Jeffersons are different from Blowing Rock in that they are still real mountain towns with real mountain people, not a lot of retirees and yuppies from Florida and Charlotte like you find in BR. Another plus for Ashe County is that you can find great cabins and land for a fraction of what you'd pay in and around Blowing Rock. PM me if you have specific questions.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by mdp_az

West Jefferson/Ashe County advice you got was very good IMO. My wife and I are in our mid-30s with one young child and have now owned a log cabin in northern Ashe County for just over a year. It's about a 50 minute drive to Blowing Rock, but we really don't head down that way very often. West Jefferson has a few decent restaurants, a great coffee shop, and some cool galleries. There are two state parks, lots of water for canoeing/tubing, and quick access to some of the best hiking and biking on the East Coast in the Mt. Rogers Nat'l Rec. Area just 30 min. north across the NC/VA line. The Jeffersons are different from Blowing Rock in that they are still real mountain towns with real mountain people, not a lot of retirees and yuppies from Florida and Charlotte like you find in BR. Another plus for Ashe County is that you can find great cabins and land for a fraction of what you'd pay in and around Blowing Rock. PM me if you have specific questions.

shhhhhh....don't give these great secrets away so freely around here!

[flipster]

Originally Posted by mdp_az

.....not a lot of retirees and yuppies from Florida and Charlotte like you find in BR.

....yet. Floridians have been buying land there for 20 yrs, btw.

[Sharpcarolina]

Thanks. I will probably PM you in the next couple of weeks. See what 3rd quarter finishes like

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by flipster

....yet. Floridians have been buying land there for 20 yrs, btw.

Yeah, a couple from Florida bought my grandfather's house in 1974 or 1975.