Meet Our Brokers

JOCHEN LUCKE

PRESIDENT/BROKER | 828-226-1126 | JOCHENLUCKE.NCLIVING.COM

about me

With a bold entrepreneurial spirit and a firm belief that real estate is in his blood, Jochen Lucke has spent over two decades building his reputation as a skilled realtor, broker, contractor and developer — first in Southeast Florida and now on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau.

His love of the mountains, paired with his love of family and community, brought Jochen to Western North Carolina. The decision to leave the sweltering heat and stressful environment of Fort Lauderdale for the cool, clean air and laid-back atmosphere of Cashiers was an easy one. Since making the move, he has become deeply involved in the community, having served on the board of the Cashiers Community Fund. He is also past Chairman of both the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Foundation and The Village Green boards and served on the boards of the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Fidelia Eckerd Living Center. Jochen and his wife, Adrienne, are members of The Country Club of Sapphire Valley and The Chattooga Club. He is partnered with Haute Residence, an invitation-only luxury real estate portal. When he’s not hard at work at the Silver Creek Real Estate Group offices, Jochen can be found on the golf course or croquet lawn or dining in one of the area's fine restaurants.

Jochen is devoted to the Silver Creek credo of Building Relationships, Delivering Dreams. Whether you are looking for your vacation home, your primary residence or your dream estate, Jochen and his team of brokers are committed to finding the ideal property to fit your vision. Jochen has a firm grasp on the local real estate market while always keeping an eye on national trends. He has an innate understanding of the practice of purchasing and selling properties, both as a broker and a developer. He attributes much of his success to his tenacity and has negotiated and closed many deals that others might have walked away from. Jochen truly enjoys real estate and development and finds great rewards in the accomplishment of finding the perfect home for his clients.

Jochen is licensed in both North Carolina and Florida.

"While we have known Jochen for many years and valued our association and friendship it was only after retaining Silver Creek Real Estate Group that we came to know firsthand what a fine organization you and your team have built. From the start, beginning with the photo shoot, video and sales counseling on through qualified showings and the closing, all services were comprehensive and very professional. Excellent marketing of our property."

- BOB AND CHERYL STARKEY

“There are real estate agents, and then there is Jochen Lucke. From the beginning of the search process until completion of our purchase, I have never worked with a realtor so committed to finding a home that fit our needs. His knowledge of the area allowed us to pinpoint specific homes to review, making our time with him much more efficient and comprehensive. I could not be more satisfied with his representation of us, and would highly recommend him to anyone looking to find their perfect home."

- JUSTIN PARK

about me DAN ALLEN

BROKER | 828-508-2107 | DANALLEN.NCLIVING.COM

As a young boy growing up in Cary, North Carolina, Dan Allen fell in love with the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau over the course of many summertime visits. In 1994, he was able to realize his lifelong dream when he moved here and set down roots at a mountaintop farm near Cashiers. Dan quickly began building a solid reputation as a skilled real estate professional. His success is largely based on his innate understanding of what draws families to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, just as he was drawn here many years before.

A major advocate for animals and the environment, Dan is deeply involved in his community, serving on the board of the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society and supporting the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Nature Conservancy. Always seeking new ways to better himself in the industry he loves, Dan is also an active member of the Highlands-Cashiers Board of Realtors, North Carolina Board of Realtors, and National Association of Realtors. He is SFR-certified and has become well-versed in the intricacies of short sales, foreclosures, and REOs. Dan brings a fresh approach and genuine enthusiasm about our area to each new client he serves. His positive attitude, local knowledge, and proven dedication make him a terrific listing and buying partner.

When Dan is not helping other families realize their dreams of living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, he spends much of his time off with his own family and friends. He can easily be found enjoying a relaxing day at the lake or volunteering. Dan is a respected member of the Plateau community and a welcome member of the Silver Creek Real Estate Group team.

"Dan is a great realtor as well as an upstanding member of the community. He works hard for his clients and gives back to the Cashiers with selfless volunteer work. He has a thorough knowledge of everything real estate, is a good listener and well as communicator. I found him to be personable and professional. Using Dan Allen as an agent is absolutely the best choice."

- DENISA PALINKAS

"My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Dan from initial phone call through visit and property and area tour through offer negotiation and closing. Dan is a quintessential professional. He is highly knowledgeable of the area and of the real estate profession. He is honest and transparent at all times and gives a great sense of honesty and integrity. Dan did an excellent job of identifying properties across the spectrum of our interest and was highly effective at comparing and contrasting them for us as we moved toward a selection. I can not recommend Dan highly enough to anyone interested in real estate within his domain. His personal professional pride shines through and you can be confident in a fair and informed experience."

- STEPHEN BUTLER

PARKER ANDERSON

BROKER | 828-200-2695 | PARKERANDERSON,NCLIVING.COM

about me

Hailing from Northwest Georgia, Parker is a third-generation realtor who is passionate about creating bonds with his clients. He spent six years focusing on and helping to grow the booming residential market in New Orleans before relocating to Cashiers. Parker is extremely steadfast in assisting and representing both buyers and sellers with any of their real estate needs throughout the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau.

As a realtor in the North Carolina mountains, Parker is able to combine his passion for real estate with his love of the outdoors, fine dining, and community involvement. He is no stranger to the mountains as he was a frequent visitor to Southern Appalachia throughout his childhood and lived in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for a period of his adult life. Parker's wife, Caroline, was both a camper and counselor at Camp Merrie-Woode in Sapphire for 13 summers. This, along with a family home for 10 years in Cashiers, is what led them to the Plateau for many extended trips and holidays. They married at High Hampton in May 2017 and decided to leave the Crescent City to make Cashiers their permanent home in 2019. Parker and Caroline are expecting their first child in 2021 and are looking forward to raising their family in the mountains!

Parker is committed to community involvement, from attending Church of the Good Shepherd to serving on his HOA board, as well as volunteering at the Village Green. Outside of the office, you can also find him hiking the many mountains in our area, reading a book, or spending time enjoying this lovely place called home with his wife, Caroline, and their golden retrievers, Jane and Winnie.

"My wife Kim and I had been on a three year journey to try and find the right mountain home for us in Highlands. The journey was exhausting, until we met Parker Anderson from Silver Creek Real Estate Group in September 2020. Parker took the time to get to know us and to find out exactly what we were looking for in a mountain home and the desired area we wanted to be in.

With this information and his extensive knowledge of the Highlands area and the real estate market, Parker found the perfect home for us by the end of October 2020 and we closed within 30 days. Parker helped make our dream of owning the perfect mountain home come true.

As with most real estate agents, once the closing happens you rarely hear from them again, until you're ready for that next sale or purchase. This is not the case with Parker Anderson. Since the closing Parker has followed up with us to make sure we were happy and to see if we needed anything. We had several appointments with service contractors and vendors at our home that we were unable to meet. Parker quickly offered his time to meet these companies and to ensure the service/repairs were done correctly.

I truly believe we not only have an amazing real estate agent but a good friend in Parker Anderson.

When thinking about buying or selling a home in the Highlands, Cashiers, Sapphire or Glenville area, look no further than Parker Anderson. He will truly exceed your expectations!"

- FRANK WILLIAMS

about me

introducing CHRIS DUFFY

BROKER | 828-526-6763 | CHRISDUFFY.NCLIVING.COM

Many denizens and regular visitors of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau recognize Chris' voice the second they speak with him. That's not surprising, as Chris was the voice of the Plateau for a number of years as the morning show host on WHLC FM 104.5. Once you meet Chris, you'll certainly never miss him again, as his 6'9" stature literally makes him stand above the crowd.

Chris was born in Germany and grew up in Washington, D.C. After studying at Georgia Tech and graduating from the University of Maryland, Chris moved to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, where he lived for 22 years. In Canada, Chris worked as an on-air talent on numerous radio stations. He moved to Highlands in 2017 to take the job at WHLC. "I moved to the mountains to become the voice of Highlands, little did I know how much the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau would speak to me."

An avid cook, Chris attended Le Cordon Bleu receiving a Certificat de Traiteur and loves sampling all the culinary delights the Highlands-Cashiers area has to offer. Chris quickly fell in love with the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau and decided he wanted to help other people enjoy our beautiful nature and live in our truly unique and amazing community. While he's no longer on the air, Chris still gets behind the mic as the in-game P.A. announcer for Highlands High School Basketball.

"Living over 500 miles away from our North Carolina property means we are extremely reliant on our realtor. Chris Duffy has been key to our investment in Cashiers. His knowledge of the local communities and the trends and issues affecting them make him invaluable to us."

- ANTHONY AND BARBARA

"We recently purchased property in Highlands, NC with the assistance of Chris Duffy as our realtor. During these pandemic times we had to work with messaging and text services. Whenever we were able to visit the property, Chris provided detailed information to review. Chris was diligent to answer our questions and provide additional information. Calls were quickly returned. When we neared closing Chris worked with the attorney so that we could do a closing without traveling to Highlands. It was a great experience, we would recommend anyone to use Chris as their realtor."

- GREG AND KAREN

introducing RICK JACKSON

BROKER | 404-275-7617 | RICKJACKSON.NCLIVING.COM

about me

The Lake Toxaway, Cashiers, and Sapphire Valley areas have always been a huge draw for Rick and his family. Since the mid-90s, Rick and his family knew that one day they would like to own a second home where they could escape the heat and bustle of Atlanta. In 2008, they purchased a home on Lake Glenville, where Rick, his wife, and three children along with countless friends have enjoyed the cool summers, beautiful fall colors, and the occasional snow during the holidays.

Rick obtained his Georgia real estate license in 1998. He worked at a commercial real estate firm specializing in residential development land in both suburban and in-town land tracts. In 2002, Rick starting purchasing his own investment property in the Atlanta area. His interests in real estate lead him into the Cashiers and Sapphire Valley market, and he obtained his North Carolina Real Estate License in 2014.

When Rick is not busy selling real estate, he can be found outdoors playing golf, boating on Lake Glenville, or enjoying a motorcycle ride. He remains an active member at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, where he has taught Sunday School to four-year-olds for the last 21 years. He enjoys his commitments to his communities and has participated on several boards both in Atlanta and in NC.

Philanthropic support is very important to Rick and his wife Lisa. Areas of specific interest include the University of Texas at Austin baseball program, the Auburn University baseball program, Camp Merrie-Woode, Friends of Lake Glenville, Cashiers-Glenville Volunteer Fire Department, Annandale Village of Suwanee, GA, University of Tennessee at Martin baseball program, the Chautauqua Institution in NY, and First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta.

"Rick was perfect throughout our purchase in Lake Glenville. Knowledgeable, responsive, informed, and helpful at all turns. His contacts and connections within the community make getting answers to difficult questions easy. His demeanor is always friendly, helpful and concerned. We found him to be not only perceptive, but a great listener and communicator as well. From our first contact through to now, it is always nice to deal with such an up-front, consummate professional."

- DAVID & KELLY FEIST

"Rick listed our Lake Glenville home and within days had multiple cash offers, which turned into a bidding war. Rick’s professional guidance and constant communication provided us a smooth process during the transaction. Having an agent that lives on the lake as well has having an office on the lake proved to be invaluable. Rick went above and beyond in handling an abandoned well issue and septic permit discrepancy we were not aware of, he spent several weeks of his time sorting through the issues with the County and various vendors while we were out of state. Without question, Rick’s ability to take perspective buyers to visit lake properties via his boat made all the difference in getting maximum dollar for our home."

- CHRIS AND MARY LYNN D.

BAMBI FAMOUS KAINE

BROKER | 828-200-4040 | BAMBIKAINE.NCLIVING.COM

about me

Raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her five siblings, Bambi spent her childhood years as an outdoor, sports, and animal enthusiast. Creating family memories at their lake home in the Poconos left an indelible impression on Bambi. Fulfilling a lifelong dream of returning to the mountains, destiny led Bambi and her husband Jeff to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau where they own a contemporary home in Sapphire.

Complementing her nurturing personality, Bambi pursued a nursing degree at Villanova University. Upon accomplishing extensive clinical and nursing management expertise in the Tri-State area, Bambi was recruited to the pharmaceutical industry. She relocated her family to Sarasota, Florida, where she excelled as an executive sales consultant with both Merck and Novartis.

Inspired by several family members in real estate, Bambi obtained and has held her Florida license with one of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World since 2007. Drawing from over a decade of experience in real estate, coupled with longstanding pharmaceutical sales, Bambi has built a reputation for her enthusiasm, integrity, and caring nature which is an asset for matching client’s desires. It’s no surprise that she promptly became a reputable owner and property manager of luxury rentals in Sarasota.

Bambi is a dedicated community member who fosters philanthropic endeavors. She established a 501(c)3 scholarship and mentoring program for high school students in Florida. Her genuine love for children and young adults continues to shine on the Plateau, where she serves on the Board of Directors with The Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau and volunteers with Girls on the Run of WNC. Bambi also serves the community through her position on the membership committee at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley.

Having lived in Pennsylvania, Florida, and now North Carolina, Bambi understands the experience of buying and selling homes and the benefits of mountain living. So, when not fulfilling the dreams of her clients, you’ll find Bambi in her outrigger canoe or with Jeff and their two Portuguese Water Dogs (Marina and Tiago) kayaking, dock-diving, boating, fishing, hiking, or entertaining family and friends. If not there, Bambi is jet-setting internationally to visit her son Dane who is teaching abroad or finally relaxing in this heavenly place her family now calls home.

"We recently bought our lovely mountain home in Sapphire, NC. We were very fortunate to have Bambi Famous Kaine guide us through the entire journey. She is extremely professional, knowledgeable and truly passionate about what she does...and Bambi loves what she does...Real Estate! Even though Bambi is extremely successful and very much in demand, she made us feel as if we were her only clients. Bambi works tirelessly in all aspects of the buying process. She excels at identifying her clients' needs, showing the properties with excitement and zest! After choosing the one, Bambi went above and beyond sharing her vast list of service contacts to not only streamline the closing process but to set us up with good, reliable resources to help us run Whisper Wood Lodge, our mountain home, from Florida. On top of all of this, she was fun to be with and we look forward to growing our friendship. Anyone lucky enough to find the beautiful Sapphire and Cashiers area, make sure you seek out Bambi Famous Kaine! Bambi, you are the BEST!"

- JOHN AND KATHIE MUSTO

about me KEVIN KOACH

BROKER | 828-556-9545 | KEVINKOACH.NCLIVING.COM

Born and raised in Sarasota, Florida, Kevin was fortunate his family had the good sense to escape the heat and humidity of Southwest Florida summers and vacation in the cool mountain air of Western North Carolina. Spending time in the Highlands-Cashiers area since he was a young boy led to a genuine appreciation for the miles of hiking trails, gentle lakes, and towering waterfalls, all of which add to the allure of the Plateau landscape.

After graduating from college, Kevin struck out for the open plains of the West where he spent the next six and a half years developing and managing multiple companies in the oil and gas industry in North Dakota. After enduring numerous long winters, the allure of his boyhood summer home proved too strong and, after marrying his wife Lindsey in June of 2019, they moved permanently to the Highlands-Cashiers area. Once settled in their new home, Kevin obtained his North Carolina real estate license with the goal of sharing his love of Plateau-style living.

When not advocating for the lifestyle, Kevin is an avid outdoorsman and can be found hiking with his beautiful wife, fishing, kayaking, playing a round of golf, or simply sitting on the back deck admiring the views.

"Kevin Koach is a very professional, reliable and trustworthy real estate agent who went above and beyond to find my dream home and assist in the closing which was a little difficult especially being from out of state. He was very organized. He was always available for questions or requests. I would not hesitate to use Kevin as your real estate agent if you are in the market for a new home in the Sapphire/Cashiers area."

- STACY KOSCINSKI

"I knew working with Kevin Koach was going to be a terrific experience and comfortable fit from the first time he and I spoke on the phone. Kevin is extremely diligent and is an excellent communicator, which was essential since we live more than four hours away. We find Kevin to be a true professional in every sense of the word. His local knowledge of the area helped us immensely and quickly allowed us to focus on what was truly important to us. He was always available to meet us in person, or for a phone call at our convenience. Our experience was nothing but a pleasure because of Kevin’s expertise and demeanor. We highly recommend Kevin and will continue to use he and the Silver Creek organization for all of our future realtor needs..."

- DAN & KATHY

about me EDDY McDONALD

BROKER | 828-421-8196 | EDDYMCDONALD,NCLIVING.COM

Eddy McDonald's lifelong passion and talent for golf led him to a career as a PGA professional. After relocating from Destin, Florida for a position at Highlands Falls Country Club in 1995, Eddy fell in love with the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau and knew he'd found home.

Looking to follow his interest in development, Eddy embarked on his real estate career at Highlands Cove (now Old Edwards Club at Highlands Cove), where he spent 13 years helping to grow Highlands Cove from its first home to the community it is today. Eddy's knowledge of the area and passion for building relationships with his buyers and sellers have been major factors in his success. He believes in going above and beyond to assist his real estate clients, providing them with a superior level of service and the resources to make informed decisions.

Eddy enjoys spending time with his young daughter, Sara. They can be found on the golf course, hiking trails, or simply out exploring the natural beauty of the Highlands-Cashiers area.

“...Eddy is a fabulous realtor. He has been responsible for our rental home for the last year and has increased our rentals by 200%! He knows marketing and internet advertising. He is always available and responsive to our needs and those of the renters. He has what it takes to make an excellent agent - friendly and smart, a strong work ethic, and salesmanship.”

- JOE AND MARY S.

“Eddy is a busy professional, yet he was always extremely responsive in person, phone, or text, making the process of buying this home from another state seamless. Without a doubt, we found and purchased our home in Cashiers because Eddy was our broker. Both before and after the closing Eddy has gone far beyond what was actually required. Thank you, Eddy McDonald, for being such a great person, professional, and realtor!”

- J.S.

"We had the extreme pleasure of working with Eddy in the recent purchase of our home in Cashiers. Eddy quickly sensed what we were looking for and arranged a nice variety of homes for us to see. Even after the sale was done, Eddy has graciously continued helping us , including suggesting contractors for some renovations and coordinating their comings and goings from our new home. Eddy is the best!"

- CARY AND HENRY KING

CASSIE NEAL

BROKER | 828-226-0383 | CASSIENEAL.NCLIVING.COM

about me

Born and raised in a military family, Cassie Neal has lived in many beautiful places over the years — from Florida to Alaska — but Western North Carolina is her favorite place to be.

Cassie has been part of the local real estate business for over 20 years, starting her career at Village Realty in 2000. She has extensive knowledge of marketing, technology, and the greater Sapphire and Cashiers market and has earned a reputation among agents as someone who is hardworking and extremely competent. Her sense of responsibility to her clients and attention to detail make her an asset to anyone looking to buy or sell property in the area.

Cassie is an active member of the Highlands-Cashiers Board of Realtors and currently serves as a director on the MLS Board. She has also served on the Technology Committee in the past. Her National Association of Realtors Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource Certification has proven to be beneficial in the many short-sale, foreclosure, and REO transactions she has closed over the years.

When Cassie isn’t working with clients, she is spending time with her family. She also enjoys camping, tennis, boating, dining out with friends, and of course, shopping! Her down-to-earth personality, perseverance and willingness to go the extra mile make her a great addition to Silver Creek Real Estate Group.

"Cassie was great for us. After seeing three properties, my wife and I totally flip-flopped on what we wanted to see. She didn’t miss a beat, and we found our house an hour later. She facilitated negotiations and closing from three different locations flawlessly. We really liked her."

- WILLIAM WARD AND ROBIN ALLEN

"To anyone buying or, in particular, selling a home in the Sapphire Valley area, you will not find a broker that will work harder for you. We had our home on and off the market a couple of times over the past two years and experienced minimal activity. With Cassie things really began to click. Due to her marketing efforts showings increased dramatically. Homes only sell when they’re shown to enough potential buyers. She does the little things that make her successful and gets you as a seller results. For example, with cooler weather approaching and us away, we winterize the home. Cassie would take the time to go by ahead of showings, turn on the water and hot water heater, adjust the home temperature to a comfortable level and make sure all was in good order, and then put all back as we left it. She went over and above our expectations based on prior experience. Can’t say enough about her professionalism, courtesy, integrity and work ethic ... a real pro and a joy to work with."

- GAIL AND ROD BRAZZELL

about me LINDA PRIDGEN

BROKER | 828-507-3206 | LINDAPRIDGEN.NCLIVING.COM

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, Linda Pridgen and her family enjoyed cool summers in the Cashiers area. After graduating from college and spending 15 years as a schoolteacher, she decided to live on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau full time.

Linda managed The Chattooga Club for two decades and was also the onsite real estate broker, focusing on The Chattooga Club and Wade Hampton Golf Club. Her extensive knowledge of luxury properties in both of these communities, as well as High Hampton, make her a natural fit for Silver Creek Real Estate Group.

Linda enjoys reading, playing tennis and croquet, and relaxing with her Wheaten Terrier, Phoebe. She is a Board member of the Friends of the Library, on the Vestry Board of The Church of the Good Shepherd and participates in many charity events in the community.

"We cannot say enough nice things about Linda! She is extremely knowledgeable, responsive and a delight to work with. After showing us homes in the Cashiers area for over 10 years (I can't believe she had the patience to stick with us that long), we finally purchased a home with her as our agent. The process was seamless from beginning to end!"

- LESLIE AND DAVID WIERMAN

“Linda Pridgen has been a wonderful advisor in our real estate ventures in Cashiers. Thanks to her, we bought our first home, one we wouldn’t even have looked at without her recommendation. We subsequently sold that property with her assistance, and have moved on with her help to a larger home that makes us so happy, we are spending more time in the area than ever before. Linda is an extremely patient, knowledgeable and kind representative who truly has her clients' best interests at heart. She not only has become a trusted advisor, but now is a dear friend. We recommend her highly as both a buyer’s and seller’s realtor.”

- ANSEL AND JANA DAVIS

“When we made our bittersweet decision to sell our home, we wanted the best person to represent us. We decided to choose Linda Pridgen as our realtor and we were not disappointed. Linda is competent, professional, and responsive. We were pleased with the final result!”

- TOM AND LYNNETTE MOSS

CHUCK SELF

BROKER | 828-734-7302 | CHUCKSELF.NCLIVING.COM

about me

In search of mild temperatures and a place to unwind, Chuck made his first visit to the Cashiers-Highlands area more than 20 years ago on a summer getaway with his wife, Ann, and their two small children. During that short visit, Chuck knew that Western North Carolina was where he wanted to be. The desire for the mountain lifestyle led him to search for property in the area for several years until he found the perfect piece of land for the home of their dreams.

The home was intended to be their second residence until Chuck's retirement. But the lure of the Blue Ridge Mountains soon prompted the Selfs to realize that it was time to say goodbye to the intense pace, traffic and heat of Atlanta, and after the construction of their new home was completed, Chuck and Ann settled in permanently to enjoy the simplicity and splendor of mountain living.

Prior to selling real estate, Chuck enjoyed a successful sales career in the television and entertainment industry, working most recently as Vice President of Sales for both Raycom Sports in Charlotte and Warner Brothers Television in Atlanta.

Spending a moment with Chuck reveals his passion for everything this area has to offer. He finds tremendous satisfaction in matching his clients with their dream mountain home or home site. Chuck also enjoys golf, tennis, hiking, biking, boating on Lake Glenville, and any other reason he can think of to be outdoors. Even the dark night beckons him outside to gaze at the beautiful star-filled sky, bringing back cherished childhood memories so easily forgotten while living in the big city.

Chuck is an active member of the Cashiers-Highlands community, having served in board positions with the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Cashiers, and the Highlands-Cashiers Board of Realtors. Chuck is currently serving on the board of the Blue Ridge School Education Foundation. Chuck and his wife are active members of Mountaintop Golf and Lake Club. Chuck’s wife, Ann, is a United Methodist Minister and also serves as the Executive Director of The Village Green in Cashiers—the 13.2-acre park at the center of town. Chuck and Ann look forward to their visits to the mountains from their daughter who lives in Atlanta, and their son, daughter-inlaw, and two grandsons who reside in Nashville.

“If you want a professional real estate agent to get the job done, list with Chuck Self. His integrity and level of work ethic are beyond any expectation you may have. Our experience with Chuck proved to be easy and pain-free. He sold our house DAYS after we listed with him. After interviewing other agents, we chose Chuck because we felt like he would work hard to get our property sold ... he did just that and also became a dear friend in the process. If we purchase another property in the Cashiers area, it will be with Chuck as our agent as we feel very comfortable with him at the helm. He will surpass all of your expectations as he is a man of character, wisdom and simply someone you will enjoy being with.” - ROBBIE AND KAREN

about me MERRY SOELLNER

BROKER | 828-399-1580 | MERRYSOELLNER.NCLIVING.COM

A broker since 2007, Merry serves the entire Highlands-Cashiers Plateau and has consistently been among the top sales leaders in the area since 2015. She is well-known for her honesty, integrity, and dependability. She brings a profound enthusiasm for listening to clients' needs and for achieving their goals. She places a high value on ensuring that she exceeds the expectations of her buyers and sellers during their experience with Silver Creek Real Estate Group.

A native Texan, Merry is an active member of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church where she sings in the choir, participates on various church committees, and serves on the vestry. In her free time, she enjoys reading, nature walks, and plant-based cooking.

“Not only did Merry help us sell our home recently, but she also helped us purchase it a few years ago. Merry is always accessible. She has gone above and beyond for us when both buying and selling our home. Merry would never let us make a hasty decision, she was wonderful about putting all options, alternatives, and consequences on the table for our consideration and she was dead on each time. Merry is not only our realtor; she’s now a friend as well. A great choice for a realtor!”

- PEGGY F.

“Merry has been so helpful and generous with her time and advice; we are most grateful.”

- K. LASKA

“Of all the Realtors we know in the area, we called Merry. She really listens to what we want, she follows up as she says she will and it’s obvious that she loves what she does.”

- BILL L.

“Merry is the best realtor we have ever worked with. Her knowledge of the real estate market in that area and her attention to our wish list allowed us to narrow our search to homes that would definitely work for us. She spent a very, very long day showing us listing after listing and then went home and did more research for us. Her energy, wisdom, and good nature made the search extremely pleasant and she accommodated us in every possible way. How nice to know we have made our first friend in Cashiers.”

- MAUREEN K.

about me RAY TRINE

BROKER | 828-506-8520 | RAYTRINE.NCLIVING.COM

Ray’s passion for all things real estate blossomed early in his life. After graduating with an accounting degree from the University of North Florida in 1971, his real estate career was launched immediately. Initially employed by Florida National Bank’s holding company, he later became CFO of American Federal Savings and Loan, financing homes and commercial properties and working on building and development projects. He quickly learned that he belonged out in the field making things happen, rather than crunching numbers in an office.

By 1982, the Trine family included five children, five dogs and four cats. His quest for a better quality of life brought him to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, where he immediately recognized what an idyllic existence it would provide. He packed up his entire menagerie and moved from an oceanfront home in Atlantic Beach, FL to his newly acquired farm in Glenville, NC. His family continued to grow, expanding to include llamas, donkeys, cows, goats, sheep, turkeys and chickens. Now with seven children and thirteen grandchildren, he knows he made the right choice!

Once ensconced in North Carolina, Ray wasted no time earning his North Carolina Broker’s license. He went to work for one of the oldest real estate firms in the area, V.C. Smith Real Estate, which he bought outright two years later. He soon made his mark as the number one real estate office in sales and listings in the Cashiers area for many years running. Ray proceeded to shape the area with his active involvement in the sale of land tracts, as well as the development of many residential communities such as Bald Rock, Summerhill, Glenshore, Trillium, Bear Lake Preserve, Bridge Creek, Glen Laurel, and Glen Pointe.

With such a large family, community involvement was also important to Ray. He has been President of the Blue Ridge School PTA, elected to the Jackson County School Board, and served on the Cashiers Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Lake Glenville and many private community boards and architectural review committees.

Coupled with his dedicated community involvement, Ray’s background of accounting, property development, and real estate sales has provided him with priceless insights into this unique area. Ray is the quintessential guide to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, offering personal experience, countless fascinating local narratives and a seemingly limitless knowledge of mountain living. Ray is a seasoned professional who brings enthusiasm, vision and over 45 years of experience to the team at Silver Creek Real Estate Group.

Ray is licensed in both North Carolina and South Carolina.

“My wife and I have moved many times in the last 30 years and dealt with a lot of agents. We have now dealt with Ray on many transactions and believe strongly that he is by far the best. His integrity, professionalism, and knowledge of the mountain market are unparalleled. We are glad we found him and more so appreciate his warm smile and good nature. He is the very best. If you are looking for a superior real estate agent in the mountains ... he’s your guy.” - WILLIAM MONIE

introducing ROB WHITNEY

BROKER | 828-399-1196 | ROBWHITNEY.NCLIVING.COM

about me

Q&A

After growing up in Brentwood, Tennessee, Rob Whitney moved to Knoxville to attend the University of Tennessee. During college, Rob worked for GNC (General Nutrition Company), eventually becoming a franchisee of two store locations. While on vacation at Lake Glenville, he met who would become his future wife, Susanne Moore. Susanne has been a general contractor since she moved to the area in 1997, where her mother had been a real estate broker for some time. After only a week, Rob knew she was "the one", and a year later, sold his stores, moved to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, and married Susanne on Snowbird Mountain.

Rob knew he wanted to be a part of the family business in some manner and earned his real estate license in 2005. Since then, Rob has become a skilled expert in the area's real estate market. Rob's retail background aids him in his real estate career, but Rob loves no longer being confined to a small store, instead spending every day in the beautiful outdoors helping his clients find their next dream vacation property. His clients looking to build or renovate a home can draw from his wife's well of knowledge to make informed decisions. Rob enjoys working with both buyers and sellers, helping them achieve their real estate goals by empowering them with the necessary guidance and support.

Why did you choose Silver Creek Real Estate Group?

I wanted to be with a top producing real estate firm that is constantly finding ways to better serve their clients and the community.

Currently, what is your favorite Plateau restaurant?

I love taking my wife Susanne for a date night at The Orchard Restaurant in Cashiers.

"Rob Whitney is absolutely the BEST. He is so knowledgeable about the area and very easy to work with. We have enjoyed getting to know him and appreciate all of his help in finding us a great house. We HIGHLY recommend him." - SARCAV