Cashiers Note

Building May Make Sense If…

• You have a clear long-term vision (10+ years) for life on the plateau.
• You care deeply about design, wellness, and efficiency and don’t see it in current inventory.
• You already own (or have an eye on) a special lot—view, lake, or club-adjacent.
• You have the patience for a 18–30+ month journey (land + design + build).

Buying May Make Sense If…

• You want to be on the plateau within 3–12 months, not years.
• You’re flexible on floorplan and finishes, but firm on budget or club choice.
• You’re more worried about time than about having a fully bespoke house.
• You’d rather invest in a great existing location and renovate over time.

For context on inventory and firms, see
Real Estate on the Plateau.

Statewide Benchmarks (North Carolina)

Statewide analyses of North Carolina new construction often quote:

• ~$100–$180/sq ft as a broad statewide average for building,
  based on a 3,000 sq ft home. (Source:Houzeo NC build cost guide
• $180–$250/sq ft for a “standard” quality build and
  $250–$450/sq ft for high-end custom homes in North Carolina
  according to a regional contractor guide South Eastern General Contractors

These figures do not include land, and they assume easier sites than steep
plateau lots with rock, retaining walls, and miles-from-town logistics.

Highlands–Cashiers Plateau Reality

In practice, mountain custom homes on the plateau—especially in club or lake
communities—often land significantly above statewide averages:

• Local professionals emphasize that there is no meaningful “average” because
  nearly everything is custom and topography-driven.
  Landmark Realty cost-per-square-foot explainer
• Anecdotal reports from recent buyers and builders in Western NC frequently
  reference $300–$400+/sq ft for quality custom homes, with some
  quotes in the $500–$600+/sq ft range for complex or ultra-luxury
  projects around Highlands/Cashiers.
• These numbers typically exclude land, well, septic, and long drives /
  retaining walls.

Translation: if you’re imagining a high-end club or lake home with complex
architecture, it’s wise to sanity check your budget at $350–$450+/sq ft
as a starting point and refine from there with your architect and builder.

Local Plateau & Western NC Trends

• Recent Highlands market commentary notes limited inventory,
  with development constrained by geography and a strong desire to preserve natural
  beauty. That keeps quality resale prices firm.
  Meadows Mountain Realty market trends
  
• Regional overviews of Western NC and the Highlands–Cashiers plateau describe
  a steady market with ongoing demand from out-of-area buyers and
  constrained supply.
  
  Landmark Realty market landscape
  
  Mountain Life Properties plateau outlook
  
• Translation: if you find a well-located existing home that fits 80–90% of your
  wish list, buying can be a very rational move here.

National Trends: Building vs. Buying

• National data often shows new homes priced above existing homes—one study
  found new homes averaging ~37% more expensive than existing
  homes across the U.S.
  LendingTree new vs. existing analysis
• At the same time, recent work from mortgage and housing analysts notes the
  price gap has narrowed or even briefly flipped in some periods,
  as existing-home supply dried up and builders adjusted pricing and incentives.
  
  National Mortgage Professional new-vs-used overview
• Builder surveys highlight high interest rates, inflation, and labor /
  material costs as major headwinds, affecting both timelines and bids.
  NAHB 2024 builder challenges

The upshot: nationally, building is often pricier than buying—but local supply,
your time horizon, and builder incentives can change that calculus.

Living Stone Design + Build

Award-winning design–build firm with a focus on wellness, energy efficiency, and
green building. Living Stone specifically highlights work in:

• High Hampton
• Wade Hampton
• Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club
• Lake Glenville area
• Sapphire Valley

Dillard-Jones Builders

Luxury custom homebuilder with a Cashiers–Highlands Plateau focus and a
Design–Build–Dwell–Maintain model. Communities they specifically note include:

• High Hampton
• Lonesome Valley
• Lake Toxaway
• Pinchot
• Lake Glenville
• Sapphire Valley
• Wade Hampton

Loudermilk Homes

Custom luxury builder with active projects in Cashiers, Highlands, and Western NC.
They highlight work in neighborhoods such as:

• Saratay Falls
• Lonesome Valley
• Cedar Hill
• Bear Mor
• Other plateau communities

Lehotsky & Sons

Unlimited licensed general contractor based in Cashiers, specializing in custom
homes, remodels, and additions across the Highlands–Cashiers Plateau.

Green Mountain Builders

Plateau-focused custom builder constructing homes on the Highlands–Cashiers Plateau
since 2002, with long-standing relationships with local trades and clients.

Chinquapin Builders

Cashiers-based builder (founded 2005) specializing in custom homes that blend
into the natural surroundings of the Blue Ridge, including the Chinquapin
community and other local neighborhoods.

Design South Builders

Custom builder emphasizing collaboration with clients to bring mountain homes to
life on the Highlands–Cashiers Plateau.

Other Notable Builders

A curated list of additional builders active in and around Cashiers and Highlands
includes firms like The Berry Group, Morgan-Keefe Builders, Buchanan Construction,
Fern Creek Builders, Mountainworks Custom Home Design (design), Rembrey Custom
Homes, and Glennwood Custom Builders. Use that article as a jumping-off point for
further research.

Cashiers & Club Communities

• High Hampton – Projects by Dillard-Jones, Living Stone, and others.
• Wade Hampton – Work by Living Stone, Dillard-Jones, and plateau builders like Lehotsky & Sons and Green Mountain Builders.
• Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club – Highlighted by Living Stone and other high-end builders.
• Lonesome Valley – Dillard-Jones, Loudermilk Homes, and other custom builders.
• Saratay Falls / Cedar Hill / Bear Mor – Loudermilk Homes and local contractors.

For club descriptions, see the main
Clubs of the Highlands–Cashiers Plateau page.

Lakes & Wider Plateau

• Lake Glenville area – Projects by Living Stone, Dillard-Jones, and other plateau builders; mix of waterfront and view lots. See our
  Lake Glenville Guide for lifestyle context.
• Lake Toxaway – Dillard-Jones and other regional custom builders, plus lake-focused local contractors.
• Sapphire Valley – Dillard-Jones, Living Stone, Fern Creek Builders, and others working in amenity-driven communities.
• In-town Highlands & surround – A mix of custom builders (Living Stone, Loudermilk, Morgan-Keefe, Green Mountain, and others) depending on lot, HOA, and design.

Builders’ portfolios change over time; always confirm current community approvals
and preferred-builder lists with both your builder and the HOA/club.

Questions That Point Toward Building

• We’ve looked at resale inventory for 6–12 months and nothing feels “right enough.”
• We’re committed to this region for at least 10–15 years.
• We’re okay with a 18–30+ month process and the possibility of surprises.
• We want specific features (wellness systems, ultra-efficient envelope, unique architecture) that are rare in existing homes.

Questions That Point Toward Buying

• We want to be actively using the plateau within the next year.
• We’d rather trade perfect layout for perfect location and club fit.
• Our budget is tight enough that construction cost overruns would be painful.
• We like the idea of renovating over time rather than doing it all at once.

No Matter What You Choose…

• Follow local pros for context—start with the
  Real Estate on the Plateau page.
• Use the weekly
  Cashiers Note as your “plateau dashboard”
  for real-time examples of pricing, building, and club trends.
• Talk to at least two builders and two agents before deciding.