As fall brings color to our mountains and we look toward the holidays, we’re reflecting on a real estate season that gained momentum later than we expected.
Lake Lure’s Memorial Day reopening brought welcome excitement, but the boost in buyer activity took time to follow. In early summer conversations with people in Hendersonville, we found that many still hadn’t heard the lake had reopened or that access through Edneyville and Bat Cave had been restored.
For our business, activity picked up noticeably around the Fourth of July and remained strong through Labor Day. Those conversations reminded us that awareness of Lake Lure’s recovery is still growing. Visits, community outreach and word of mouth will continue to help people discover that progress firsthand.
The broader market adds perspective. According to the MLS, 49 homes and 28 lot/land parcels sold in ZIP code 28746 from July 1, 2026, through October 10, 2026, compared with 38 homes and 22 parcels during the same period last year.
The more pronounced change is in available inventory. As of October 10, 2026, there were 149 active home listings and 249 active lot/land listings, compared with 6 homes and 23 lot/land listings on the same date last year. While sales increased, buyers have substantially more properties to choose from, making competitive pricing and presentation especially important for sellers.
As summer ends and families return to school routines, activity typically eases. Fall foliage brings visitors back, including some discovering the area as a potential place to live or own a second home. Borrowing costs and economic uncertainty has been influencing how quickly buyers move forward.
One encouraging sign is the online attention our listings continue to receive. We monitor activity through the MLS and major real estate websites, alongside showing requests, buyer feedback and competing properties.
Views and saves tell us a property has caught someone’s attention. Showings, feedback and offers help us interpret whether that interest is turning into action. Together, these indicators can provide sellers a clearer picture of how their listing is performing.
Pricing remains central to that conversation. We recommend a price range based on comparable properties and current conditions, while considering each seller’s goals and timeline. We then review the market’s response together. A competitive price can give buyers a reason to move from browsing to scheduling a visit.
Homes and land listings also tell different stories. Homebuyers may focus on condition and potential updates, while land buyers often need time to investigate access, utilities and suitability for their plans. Anticipating common questions and providing reliable information can help a property stand out when buyers are weighing several options—and help them move forward with confidence.
We’re encouraged by the interest we’re seeing and remain hopeful that more people will experience the community’s progress for themselves. Often, that first visit is where the connection begins.
If you’d like to receive market updates or want to take a deeper dive into the statistics to discuss what the numbers mean for your property or have a topic you’d like us to cover in a future column, please reach out – we’d love to hear from you.
Wes & Cathy Cleary are Broker/Owners of Team Cleary Real Estate, Inc.
Lake Lure Homeowners Since 2002
