Broker (VA: 027415)
26 years experience
Highland County, Virginia represents one of the state's most unique and intimate real estate markets, characterized by its rural mountain setting and remarkably small professional agent network. With just 7 actively licensed real estate agents serving the entire county, this market operates on a deeply personal scale where relationships and local knowledge carry exceptional weight in property transactions.
The scarcity of licensed professionals in Highland County creates an environment where each agent typically maintains extensive territory coverage and develops specialized expertise in mountain properties, agricultural land, and seasonal recreational homes. What's particularly noteworthy is that all 7 active agents maintain email connectivity, suggesting a market that has embraced digital communication despite its rural character and small scale.
Highland County's real estate activity centers around the county seat of Monterey, which serves as the primary hub for residential and commercial transactions. The surrounding communities of McDowell, Hightown, and Blue Grass represent smaller but significant markets, particularly for agricultural properties and mountain retreats that attract buyers from urban areas seeking rural escapes.
Unlike Virginia's larger metropolitan markets, Highland County operates as a single, cohesive market area where agents regularly work across municipal boundaries. The county's position along the West Virginia border and its reputation as "Virginia's Little Switzerland" creates unique cross-border dynamics, with agents often handling properties that appeal to buyers from both states seeking mountain recreation and farming opportunities.
The extreme concentration of licensed agents in Highland County creates fascinating market dynamics where competition operates differently than in larger markets. With such a small professional network, agents often collaborate rather than compete directly, and referral relationships become crucial for handling the diverse property types that characterize this mountain region, from working farms to vacation cabins.
Geographic complexity plays a major role in Highland County real estate, with elevation changes, seasonal access issues, and varying agricultural productivity affecting property values significantly. The limited number of agents means each professional must develop expertise across multiple property categories, from livestock operations to timber land to recreational properties, making local knowledge and experience exceptionally valuable in this market.
For businesses serving the real estate industry, Highland County's small but complete agent network represents a manageable and highly targeted market opportunity. With only 7 agents to reach, companies can develop personalized relationships with the entire professional community, making it an ideal testing ground for new services or a focused market for specialized real estate tools and resources.
The fact that all active agents maintain email addresses indicates a receptive audience for digital services and communications, despite the rural setting. Financial services companies, property management software providers, and marketing services can efficiently reach the entire Highland County market while building deep relationships that often extend beyond county boundaries as these agents frequently network with colleagues in adjacent Virginia and West Virginia markets.
As of 2/13/2026, Charlotte Stephenson has 15 properties for sale in Monterey and surrounding areas. These are the top 10 listings.
$25,000
Listed 2024-09-26
$19,000
Listed 2023-12-04
$35,000
Listed 2024-09-26
$19,900
Listed 2025-02-24
$19,900
Listed 2025-02-24
$19,900
Listed 2025-02-24
$19,900
Listed 2025-02-24
$25,000
Listed 2025-06-13
$195,225
Listed 2025-12-27
$25,000
Listed 2025-06-12
Charlotte Stephenson currently has no rental properties available in Monterey and surrounding areas. Check back later.