Just being honest: it’s COLD up here. Of course, from the weather maps I’ve been seeing, it’s cold pretty much everywhere in the Southeast this year, so not that noteworthy……

But a fact nonetheless.

But you know what….we live in the mountains….it’s winter….it’s supposed to be cold. And I love it.

One of my colleagues in on vacation right now. She just e-mailed that she’s sitting on a Mexican beach drinking a Margarita with the waves brushing her toes. 80 degrees.

It was three degrees here this morning. It’s 14.5 as I write this (click the “Current Highlands Weather” link on my home page and you’ll see what we’re at as you’re reading this). We’ve been largely white for going on a month. It hasn’t snowed that much–just been cold enough for it to stick around. Harris Lake is frozen solid; tonight people are meeting with ice-skates to build a bonfire and enjoy a Highlands winter in a way that’s been rare the last few years.

80 degrees is nice here in the summer: when it’s 95 in Atlanta and we’re at 80…no complaints. But 80 in January? Just doesn’t interest me…. I went to a bowl game in Orlando a few years ago: damn…too hot. That’s all there is to it. (I kind of enjoyed watching the Orange Bowl fans all decked out in coats last week…That’s more like it.)

The air is crisp: lung-chilling crisp. The sky is really blue (unless it’s all gray and snowy). Town is less crowded. Life is slower. The fire feels great. The big comforter makes home more like home. There’s that crunch when you walk….. It’s nice.

Of course, lots of people are in Highlands and Cashiers in the summer and disappear to warmer climates in the winter. But more and more are calling the mountains their full-time home. And winter is part of that charm…. I met with some clients last week on a 20 degree afternoon with the wind howling. It was like a siren’s song for them.

Business wise: the stability that we’ve been hoping for seems to be emerging. We have people looking around, seriously. We have pendings and closings to a degree we’ve not seen for a while. Buyers are still getting good deals (and likely will for the foreseeable future). Sellers are taking offers if they want (or need) the money for something else: maybe they’re just ready for their next adventure.

Whether you’re a winter person as I am looking for a home in the Southeast–or whether you’re a far more typical client who just wants a place to escape the summer sweltering–get in touch and let’s see what we can make happen.