Best Place to Live in the North East?

"Ideally, we wanted to narrow it down to five locations."

After we started going thru the list, we quickly narrowed it down to five locations:

• Highlands, North Carolina
• Cashier, North Carolina
• Pine Mountain, Georgia
• Brevard, North Carolina
• Salem, North Carolina

Below are the highlights I found for each:

1. Highlands, North Carolina
   • Absolutely stunning! If you want to live in a beautiful mountain retreat, year round, this is the best place to go. The downtown is very quant and has lots of little artist shops. It is a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. The weather is diverse and you will experience multiple weather changes.
   • This location was originally my first pick. But after picking through the code of ordinances, it came to our attention the town does not permit commercial work in residential areas. Also, there are restrictions on owning farm animals. This was a deal breaker for us because we are looking to build a woodworking shop which my husband could start his business from. And I am looking to acquire some farm animals.
     • “If you are interested in adding to or remodeling your residence, you should be aware that the Town of Highlands enforces a Zoning Ordinance which regulates setbacks and size of residential buildings. Commercial activities are generally not permitted in residential neighborhoods. Construction of any kind requires a Zoning Certificate and a Building Permit from Macon County. Most of Highlands is in a water supply watershed which means that run-off from your land could eventually enter the Town reservoir. In some areas of town, the amount of land that can be covered with impervious surfaces is regulated, and a natural buffer must be maintained along many lakes and streams. The use of paints, weed killers, and fertilizers must be done with care. Land-disturbing activities are also regulated in order to prevent soil erosion and resultant sedimentation, which has caused serious problems in Town lakes. Copies of the Zoning Ordinance, the Zoning Map, and the Soil Erosion Ordinance are available at the Town of Highlands.”

2. Cashier, North Carolina
   • This is our second pick. Located in Jackson, county. Cashier is an absolutely stunning location. Pretty much every direction you look, you will see beautiful mountains and nature.
   • This would have been our next pick but sadly, the cost of moving here is high. Homes are fairly expensive. I am also unclear if you can own farm animals. You can see the rules here: Jackson County Planning and Development.
   • The homes in the area (as of 2024) seem to start at $400k and go up from there. $400k being on the very low end.

3. Pine Mountain, Georgia
   • This was our third pick. But not for the reason you may think. The reason it was on our list is because we love Callaway Gardens. This Resort is located in Pine Mountain, Georgia. The town itself is pretty small but the idea of living near such a beautiful place to take day trips, was inspiring.

4. Brevard, North Carolina
   • After watching some videos on this town, I was ready to list our house for sale and pack up immediately. This town is a Christmas lovers dream. Close to nature, adorable downtown, close to the Blue Ridge Parkway, near multiple water falls, and known for white squirrels. The downtown lights up for Christmas and is a “Christmas town.” The location is super cute and really comes to life for all the seasons. December at Brevard looks like a Harry Potter Film during Christmas. (And who would not want to move near that?!)
   • I can’t say anything bad about this place. Even the nature around the town is inspiring. The amount of hiking trails and waterfalls, is just stunning.
   • If it was up to me, we would be living here already….. Homes in this area, as of 2024, also started at about $400k. There are some cheaper homes but they are in the more populated sections. If I am going to move to the wilderness, I would like to not see my neighbor from my kitchen window.

“December at Brevard looks like a Harry Potter Film during Christmas”