Highlights of the High Country
Highlights of the High Country
Podcast Description
A podcast dedicated to celebrating the people and passion behind small businesses in the High Country region of North Carolina.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on small business entrepreneurship, community engagement, and local lifestyle. Topics include personal success stories in business, challenges faced by entrepreneurs, and collaborative community initiatives. For example, episodes may explore the importance of affordable housing and highlight unique local businesses such as Alair Homes High Country, discussing their impact on the region.
Highlighting the lifestyle, small businesses, and beauty of Banner Elk, North Carolina.
Brock Buchanan, Head of Growth at Carolina Cabin Rentals, joins Jeff to talk about the High Country short-term rental market in 2026. Brock was the company's third employee nearly 15 years ago, when it managed about 20 properties. Today it manages more than 400. He walks through the market's ups and downs since 2019: the COVID boom, the supply correction of 2023, and the long recovery after Hurricane Helene. He also shares why 2026 has turned into a strong comeback year. For August through December bookings, reservations are up 40%, nights are up 18%, and revenue is up 27% compared to last year, measured per home.
Brock also gives practical advice for buyers thinking about a vacation home that pays for itself. He explains why Banner Elk is one of the few true four-season markets in the Southeast. He covers why you should ”buy the property, not the projection” and how to plan for mud season. He also makes the case for choosing a property manager before closing rather than after. To request a free rental projection, visit CarolinaCabinRentals.com and click ”List Your Property.”
About the host:
Jeff Hamm is an expert real estate broker with Ivester Jackson | Christie's International Real Estate, serving Banner Elk and the greater high country of North Carolina. He specializes in luxury communities including The Lodges at Eagles Nest, Elk River Club, Farm at Banner Elk, Diamond Creek, and Echota. He focuses specifically on buyer representation and short-term rental and investment purchases, where his relationships with the region's top listing brokers, builders, and designers give his clients a measurable edge.
Jeff is also the founder and host of Banner Elk Living, a podcast, newsletter, and media platform that spotlights the Banner Elk area's most admired small businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs every week. He publishes the annual Banner Elk Guide, regular market reports, and hosts the Banner Elk Business Network.
Contact Jeff:
Jeff Hamm, Real Estate Broker
Ivester Jackson | Christie’s International Real Estate – High Country Office
144 Poplar Grove Rd, Boone, NC 28607
(980) 422-6069 · [email protected]
bannerelkliving.com
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