Help with STRs in Highlands/Cashiers NC area??

[Stephen Gooding]

Hi all,

My wife and I are looking to purchase a STR investment property in Western NC and we really like the Highlands and Cashiers area. Curious if anyone here can help us with a few questions:

- Any recommended realtors in that area with STR experience?

- Highlands recently banned STR rentals, effective in Jan '22, but only for properties in R1 zoning. For any current investors in that area, are you concerned with that rule expanding outside of that zone and into surrounding areas?

- How is occupancy? is it seasonal? I am looking at AirDNA and using the enemy method on AirBnB but there isn't as much data as in other markets and harder to get a read on it.

Thank you!

Stephen