Kathy Garrett is a High Country real estate specialist with a refined understanding of North Carolina’s luxury mountain market. With deep roots in Blowing Rock and extensive experience throughout Boone, Banner Elk, and the surrounding areas, she brings firsthand knowledge of seasonal dynamics, second-home ownership, and the nuances that define both full-time and lifestyle-driven mountain living. Her approach blends market intelligence with lifestyle alignment, ensuring each client’s goals are met with strategy, precision, and care.
Before moving to North Carolina full-time in 2017, she spent more than seven years dividing her time between properties in the NC mountains and in Destin and Miramar Beach, Florida. She and her husband owned and managed investment and short-term rental properties in one of the Southeast’s most competitive coastal markets. Operating in both the Gulf Coast and Blue Ridge Mountain regions has given her unique insight into vacation-driven economies, rental performance, and luxury second-home buyers. She understands the strong connection between salt air and mountain air — and strategically guides clients who invest, relocate, or diversify between these complementary lifestyle markets.
A former business owner and entrepreneur, Kathy brings strong negotiation skills and a sharp financial lens to every transaction. Her experience as a short-term rental owner and renovation investor allows her to identify value, assess revenue potential, and position properties for long-term appreciation. Alongside her husband, a residential developer and partner in a modern mountain development company, she is actively involved in land acquisition, spec home, and custom builds throughout the High Country.
An accomplished artist and designer, Kathy views real estate through both an analytical and creative perspective. From collaborating on finish selections in new construction to preparing resale homes for market, she recognizes how thoughtful design, presentation, and strategic improvements elevate value. As a member of The Dearing Team at SERHANT., she delivers elevated service with integrity, discretion, and confident negotiation — helping clients secure not just a property, but a lasting investment and legacy in the mountains.
