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Catherine Garren

Catherine Garren
Real Estate Agent (Broker)
Highlands - NC

Broker (NC: 180014)

27 years experience

REALTOR® 11 Active Listings Serves Macon County, NC
View on Realtor.com

About Catherine Garren

A lifelong resident of Western North Carolina, this real estate professional has been actively engaged in the local market since 1999. Before embarking on a career in real estate, she spent a decade in the banking sector, serving as a Mortgage Loan Officer and Trust and Estate Officer at First Union National Bank. In her role as a Trust and Estate Officer, she oversaw the management of real estate and stock portfolios for her clients.

For nearly two decades, she has focused on the Highlands and Cashiers real estate markets, where she has successfully listed and sold numerous homes and parcels of land. Her commitment to the industry is evident through her extensive involvement with the Highlands-Cashiers Board of REALTORS, where she has held positions such as President and Chairman of the Ethics Committee. Her areas of expertise include fine homes and estate properties, conservation easement acquisition and placement, short sales and foreclosures, large land properties, and investment opportunities. Additionally, she has served as a consultant for the Jackson County Clerk of Court on various property dispute matters.

Her professional credentials include e-Pro, Short Sale and Foreclosure Specialist, Certified Residential Broker, Resort and Second Home Property Specialist, Senior Marketing Consultant, and a designation in Interior Staging and Decorating.

Deeply rooted in the Highlands community, she shares her life with her husband, Gary, a prominent local banker, and their twenty-year-old daughter, alongside their beloved twelve-year-old double chocolate dapple Dachshund. In her leisure time, she enjoys horseback riding, reading, hiking, and fishing.

Now affiliated with Highlands Sotheby's International Realty, she is excited to leverage the extensive marketing resources of this prestigious brand for the benefit of her clients. She serves a diverse range of areas, including Highlands, Cashiers, Scaly Mountain, Sapphire Valley, Lake Glenville, Tuckasegee, Lake Toxaway, Wolf Lake, Bear Lake, and Cedar Creek Lake.

Macon County, NC Real Estate Market Analysis (Single Family Homes)

$680,400
Avg. Listing Price
From Catherine's portfolio
2.8 / 2.6
Avg. Beds/Baths
Typical property size
1,961 sf
Avg. Square Footage
Interior living space
100
Active Listings
Current inventory

Macon County, North Carolina presents a distinctive real estate landscape shaped by its stunning mountain geography and proximity to the Tennessee border. The county's market is anchored by Franklin, the county seat, which serves as the primary hub for real estate activity alongside smaller communities like Highlands, Otto, and Cullasaja. With 444 total actively licensed agents operating in the area, all of whom maintain current email contact information, the market demonstrates a surprisingly robust professional presence for a county of its size.

The real estate dynamics in Macon County reflect the growing appeal of Western North Carolina as both a retirement destination and vacation home market. Properties range from modest mountain cabins to luxury estates perched on pristine ridgelines, creating diverse price points that attract buyers from across the Southeast. The county's elevation changes and varied topography mean that market conditions can shift dramatically within just a few miles, making local expertise particularly valuable for navigating these microclimates of real estate activity.

Major Macon County, North Carolina Real Estate Markets

Franklin dominates the county's real estate scene as the largest municipality and commercial center, offering everything from affordable starter homes to upscale developments. The town's proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and numerous outdoor recreation opportunities has fueled steady demand from both permanent residents and second-home buyers. Highlands represents the luxury segment of the market, known for its exclusive mountain retreats and seasonal homes that command premium prices due to the area's cooler summers and sophisticated amenities.

The county's smaller communities like Otto, Scaly Mountain, and Cullasaja each maintain distinct market characteristics tied to their unique geographic features and accessibility. Lake communities around Lake Glenville and Fontana Lake create specialized waterfront markets, while properties along scenic byways and hiking trail access points appeal to outdoor enthusiasts. These varied submarkets require agents with deep local knowledge to effectively serve clients across the county's diverse terrain and property types.

Market Dynamics and Geographic Complexity

Macon County's real estate market experiences pronounced seasonal fluctuations, with spring and summer months driving peak activity as buyers seek mountain retreats and retirement properties. The county's elevation ranges create multiple climate zones within a relatively small area, affecting everything from property values to insurance considerations. This geographic complexity means that successful real estate professionals must understand not just market trends, but also environmental factors like flood zones, septic regulations, and mountain building challenges.

Inventory levels in Macon County often struggle to keep pace with demand, particularly for well-positioned properties with mountain views or water access. The limited developable land due to steep terrain and protected forest areas creates natural constraints on supply, while increasing interest in mountain living continues to drive buyer competition. These dynamics have contributed to steady appreciation rates and relatively quick sale times for properly priced properties.

Why Businesses Need Macon County, North Carolina Agent Contact Data

Companies serving the real estate industry require direct access to Macon County's 444 licensed agents to effectively penetrate this specialized mountain market. Mortgage lenders, insurance providers, home inspection services, and construction companies all depend on strong agent relationships to generate referrals and build business in this geographically challenging but lucrative market. The fact that all active agents maintain current email addresses provides businesses with reliable digital communication channels for marketing campaigns, educational content, and service announcements.

Marketing to Macon County real estate professionals offers unique advantages due to the county's concentrated agent population and specialized market focus. Businesses can tailor their messaging to address the specific challenges of mountain real estate transactions, from septic system evaluations to flood insurance requirements. This targeted approach, enabled by comprehensive agent contact data, allows service providers to position themselves as experts in the nuances of Western North Carolina real estate while building lasting professional relationships.

Contact Information

Brokerage
Highlands Sotheby's International Realty

Office Website
Office Address
114 N 4th St
Highlands, NC  28741
(Macon County)
Office Phone
828-526-4104
Office Fax
828-787-1201
Mobile
828-226-5870
Email
cathy.garren@************

Service Areas

Cashiers: NC Highlands: NC Scaly Mountain: NC Tuckasegee: NC Lake Junaluska: NC Maggie Valley: NC Waynesville: NC Hazelwood: NC

Current Property Listings

As of 1/31/2026, Catherine Garren has 11 properties for sale in Highlands and surrounding areas. These are the top 10 listings.

$649,000

Listed 2025-04-17

131 Horse Cove Ranch Rd
Highlands, NC  28741

Beds: 2.0
Baths: 2.0
Sq Ft:
Lot: 107,593 sf
Single Family Map
View Full Details

$134,580

Listed 2025-04-23

Lake Osseroga Dr Lot 11
Highlands, NC  28741

Beds:
Baths:
Sq Ft:
Lot: 21,780 sf
Land Map
View Full Details

$1,100,000

Listed 2025-06-24

Hardscrabble Ridge Rd Lot 2
Highlands, NC  28741

Beds:
Baths:
Sq Ft:
Lot: 128,502 sf
Land Map
View Full Details

$125,000

Listed 2025-07-27

King Gap Lot 57
Highlands, NC  28741

Beds:
Baths:
Sq Ft:
Lot: 28,750 sf
Land Map
View Full Details

$146,000

Listed 2025-08-13

High Pond Ln Lot 28
Highlands, NC  28741

Beds:
Baths:
Sq Ft:
Lot: 21,780 sf
Land Map
View Full Details

$575,000

Listed 2025-09-17

Bowery Lot 17
Highlands, NC  28741

Beds:
Baths:
Sq Ft:
Lot: 124,582 sf
Land Map
View Full Details

$450,000

Listed 2025-08-18

108 Mac Lake Rd Lot 11
Glenville, NC  28736

Beds: 2.0
Baths: 2.5
Sq Ft:
Lot: 26,136 sf
Single Family Map
View Full Details

$498,000

Listed 2025-02-06

Zeb Buchanan Rd
Cullowhee, NC  28723

Beds:
Baths:
Sq Ft:
Lot: 348,480 sf
Land Map
View Full Details

$795,000

Listed 2025-02-12

Hardscrabble Rdg Lot 21
Highlands, NC  28741

Beds:
Baths:
Sq Ft:
Lot: 172,062 sf
Land Map
View Full Details

$134,580

Listed 2024-04-18

Streamside Ln Lot 34
Highlands, NC  28741

Beds:
Baths:
Sq Ft:
Lot: 21,780 sf
Land Map
View Full Details

Current Property Rentals

Catherine Garren currently has no rental properties available in Highlands and surrounding areas. Check back later.