Finding Home
“Not every path in the road needs to be followed. Sometimes it’s smarter to quit and go home.”
The journey to finding a plot of land to build our dream NC mountain home was long. We narrowed our search from the beginning to the Hendersonville, Flat Rock and surrounding area. We dreamt of a flat piece of land with a gentle slope and view out back. It had to have trees and native plants and a feel that we would be isolated, yet conveniently located to a nearby town.
We had visited the area a few times on vacations and had a friend that lived in the area recommend a realtor. Our first visits were occupied with lots of driving to lots that were too steep, too close to neighbors or too far from town. We looked at nearby Lake Adger, and were disappointed at the lack of waterfront and steep prices.
Our realtor was less than helpful. We would ask for lot details and history and were given very little feedback. Any property history, we found on our own. It was up to us to figure it all out. There was a lot that we found in a development that had sat for a few years with little activity. There was some new activity and a new home going up. We thought it was the best we could do and made an offer on the lot. After acceptance of our offer, we quickly found out our preferred floor plan would not fit on the lot with the communities required easements and the only option was to purchase a second lot. Luck would have it that our realtor hadn’t deposited our check yet and we got out of the deal with no loss of funds. In the process we discovered a few other issues with the development, so felt we were grateful to be free of commitment.
A few other possibilities came along. One in Wilson Farms in Flat Rock that was a smaller, confined lot, and one in a development NW of Hendersonville, called Oleta Falls. We put a bid in on the Oleta Falls lot and got a quick response that our bid wasn’t accepted and the buyer wanted to raise the listing price. Quick background check confirmed we weren’t dealing with someone of sound mind and would have to walk away. By now it was November and time to prepare for the holidays.
Early January 2022, we heard of another lot in Oleta Falls. Douglas, whom we met through the real estate company owner, and whom was helping us draw up our house plans, called to say he knew of a lot for sale that was in the second phase of the development, and the owners had received a great deal on it, but wanted to sell because they had decided to build in TN. We saw the lot and fell in love with it. (Well, I fell in love with the lot, and Paul kept his emotions steady and predictable). It was 3.24 acres on a level lot with beautiful plants and trees and a gentle sloping to the back before a drop off overlooking the mountains. They were asking $55,000 over what they said they paid for the lot. We offered $25,000 over what they paid and got a cold response from the wife. She did not want to negotiate their asking price. We let it go.
Now we were at a place of frustration and disappointment. We didn’t feel the Wilson Farms lot was right and it wasn’t easy to top the Oleta Falls lot. We drove some more and walked lots that looked good on paper, but were neither buildable or pretty. One afternoon we stopped at a lot and I wasn’t up for the hike up the hill to see this particular lot, so Paul hopped out and said he would return in a few minutes. After what seemed like twenty, I began to worry. I texted him with no response. I got out of the car and scanned the hill of overgrown underbrush and trees. I knew where he entered the property, but knew it would be hard for me to get through alone. I got back in the car and got a text from Paul that he was a bit lost and needed me to honk the car horn so he could find his direction. After blowing the horn a few times, I called him and luckily he had a bit of signal. I suggested the compass on his phone and tried to point him in the right direction and waited some more while I continued to honk the horn at regular intervals. Noone drove by. My mind was racing and although I was thankful we had connected by phone, I knew he needed to get out before the sun began to set. I was never as glad to see him as that moment he appeared (nowhere near where he entered the property)!
“One road leads home and a thousand roads lead into the wilderness.”
We went back to Chicago to continue our online search. It was safer.
Time went by and I couldn’t stop thinking about the lot in Oleta Falls. I approached Paul with the idea to contact the owners again, but to go through the husband as he seemed to connect with me better and we shared Iowa as our home state. We knew the lot was still available through Doug and we also knew with the market falling, he might be open to negotiate. On April 1st at 9:55 a.m. I emailed the owner and enclosed a photo of Paul and I with our five grandchildren. I figured it couldn’t hurt. At 10:47 a.m. I received an email back saying: Sure, I’m happy to discuss…are you available for a chat? Talk Soon with a smiley face. Paul was on a work call at the time so I wanted to discuss with him before returning the call and sent an email back with times. Before I could talk to Paul, the owner was calling me. I did my best to stall and confirm a price to give with Paul. I told the owner we would send an offer via email. We decided to offer $20,000 below their asking price and I soon got a text back “We have a deal!” (complete with fist bump and beer stein emojis). I could not believe it. Was this a bad April Fools joke? We couldn’t imagine it being so easy and my heart was beating out of my chest. It was time to celebrate! We had found home!
Lot #37 would soon be our future home.
