This Western North Carolina town turns vacationers into homebuyers
Named after its location, the small Buncombe County town of Black Mountain is a place where a morning cup of coffee is often paired with the sight of fog lifting over the Blue Ridge. This popular day-trip spot for Asheville tourists, home to roughly 8,500 people, is growing as a destination for retirement and second homes. “We have a lot of people that we call half-backs,” says Tim Johnson, a Realtor and team lead at Black Bear Realty WNC. “We see a lot of people who grew up or spent most of their lives in the mid-Atlantic or the Northeast. They move to Florida to escape the cold, but after 10 to 15 years, they decide they want something different, so they go halfway back home to the Carolinas.” Johnson describes the people of Black Mountain as outdoorsy and very community-centric.
Two oversized rocking chairs in the town square nod to Black Mountain’s identity as the Front Porch of Western North Carolina. Year-round tourism and manufacturing are key pillars of the economy. The town also hosts the headquarters of Ingles Markets, Inc. Its vibrant downtown, spared from the flooding and landslides caused by Hurricane Helene in 2024, is where small business thrives.
The iconic oversized rockers are a well known feature of Black Mountain's square.
Black Mountain is the home of the headquarters of Ingles Grocery.
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Custom Craftsman builds, cottages and cabins with sweeping views
Single-family homes in Black Mountain often rest on hilly lots with scenic views. The median price is around $560,000, above the national median of roughly $400,000. However, properties in high-end communities like the Village of Cheshire start at around $1 million. Custom Craftsman homes, along with ranch-style homes and cottages, dominate the architectural landscape, with A-frames and cabins dotting the area.
Along with short-term rentals and second homes, Johnson says it’s common for buyers to purchase land with their families in mind. “We get a lot of buyers who want a property that they can build on and have family build on eventually or right away.” He adds that the mild climate is often a selling point. “I tell people who move here we literally live outside 9 to 10 months out of the year,” Johnson says.
Many of the homes in Black Mountain are of the craftsman style.
Ranch homes as one of the 2 main types of homes in Black Mountain
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Outdoor adventures in the Appalachian Mountains
Whether enjoying the sights and sounds of Catawba Falls or climbing to the Lookout Mountain Overlook, outdoor recreation is a way of life, and the Blue Ridge Mountains are at the center of many adventures. “There are about 15 good hikes within 5 to 10 minutes of town,” Johnson says. Pisgah National Forest, which stretches more than 500,000 acres, surrounds nearby Mount Mitchell, the highest peak of the Appalachian Mountains.
Town parks like Lake Tomahawk Park provide escapes to nature close to home. It’s centered around Lake Tomahawk, which features a walking path that offers views of the lake and the mountains in the distance, as well as a seasonal public pool. Other public green spaces range from community gardens to sports-focused spots, such as Cragmont Park, where residents like to play pickleball.
Catawba Falls is not currently accessible after the hurricane but will soon be reopened to tourism.
Black Mountain families can walk around Tomahawk Lake, or play in the playground.
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Scenic shopping and a vibrant art scene in downtown Black Mountain
Mountain peaks rise over the top of red brick buildings in the Black Mountain Downtown Historic District, where art galleries and boutique businesses sit between microbreweries and taverns. The town’s diverse food scene includes German and Thai restaurants, along with pizzerias and brewpubs. A few national retailers dot the town, but most name-brand shopping takes place in Asheville.
Downtown hosts the town’s biggest annual event: The Sourwood Festival. The street fair-style event, celebrating the native sourwood tree and its honey since the 1970s, draws tens of thousands of visitors every August. This town’s well-established art scene, known for its artisan crafts, traces back to Black Mountain College in the early 1900s. The private, experimental liberal arts college produced prominent artists like Cy Twombly Jr. and Ruth Asawa before closing in 1957.
Art galleries, like the one in the converted train depot feature local Black Mountain artisans.
Black Mountain has many murals including the memorial to Roberta Flack on the brewery wall.
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Short commutes to Asheville
Interstate 40, North Carolina’s mountain-to-sea route, passes through Black Mountain. It’s often used for the 15-mile commute into Asheville for work, hospital visits and catching flights at Asheville Regional Airport. Asheville Rides Transit provides bus rides to and from the city. The hilly nature of the town is a welcomed challenge for road cyclists and mountain bikers who can use various bike-friendly routes to get around. The winding Blue Ridge Parkway, offering scenic drives and vistas, is in various stages of repair following Helene.
Buncombe County Schools and several small colleges
Buncombe County Schools serves Back Mountain and gets an A-minus overall rating from Niche. As the largest school district on this side of the state, it has nearly 25,000 students and 45 schools. It’s also one of the top employers in the county, with about 4,000 employees. Three small private colleges are nearby, including Warren Wilson College.
Warren Wilson College is one of several small colleges located near Black Mountain.
Black Mountain Elementary is a well rated school serving the local area.
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Black Mountain Police report decrease in property crimes
The Black Mountain Police Department shared data with the town council indicating that property crime steadily dropped from 2021 to 2023, while violent crime declined between 2021 and 2022, with no change in 2023.
Written By
DeeVa Payne
Photography Contributed By
William Neary
Video By
Adam Lapallo
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Caley Bowman,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Black Mountain, NC sell after 79 days on the market compared to the national average of 56 days. The median sale price for homes in Black Mountain, NC over the last 12 months is $492,812, down 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Come fall in love with this desirable townhome in Mountainbrook Village! This home features single level living at it's finest, featuring 2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms, comfortable kitchen and living room, and a charming enclosed patio space. Take a stroll down the greenway and enjoy the sounds of the creek bordering the development. Sitting just a few minutes to downtown Black Mountain, this home
Discover the possibilities with this exceptional 9.19-acre property in the heart of Black Mountain, NC. Zoned Open Use, this versatile tract offers endless potential for a private mountain estate, family compound, vacation retreat, or commercial development opportunity. Enjoy the perfect blend of privacy and convenience with easy access to Downtown Black Mountain, Interstate 40, and the Asheville
Attention builders, developers, and investors—don’t miss this rare opportunity in the heart of Black Mountain. Tucked away on a quiet, low-traffic street, this private, wooded property is just moments from Lake Tomahawk and the charm of downtown. With public utilities available and short-term rentals allowed, the possibilities here are abundant. Preliminary guidance suggests potential for up to
A rare find in the heart of Black Mountain — this level, 0.23-acre homesite has already had the hard work done for you. The former mobile home has been removed, leaving a clean, buildable lot ready for its next chapter. Existing utility connections remain in place, offering a possible head start on water, sewer, and electric hookups for a site-built, modular, or doublewide home. The level grade
Discover a home that's anything but ordinary at **31 Timber Park Drive**. Thoughtfully designed with an abundance of living space, this property offers a flexible floor plan that adapts to a variety of lifestyles. Whether you're looking for room to spread out, create dedicated work or hobby spaces, entertain guests, or simply enjoy extra elbow room, you'll appreciate the versatility this home
Tremendous opportunity to own a beautiful property in a gorgeous neighborhood very close to downtown Black Mountain! Here is an almost 5 acre tract of mountain land in a peaceful neighborhood of beautiful homes. This parcel has several building sites and there's a beautiful stream as well. The road through the neighborhood is very well maintained and this is a neighborhood where parcels rarely
Discover the perfect blend of privacy, natural beauty, and convenience with this exceptional homesite in the gated mountain community of Laurel Ridge in Black Mountain, NC. Follow the gently winding logging road to a peaceful setting where Laurel Branch Creek flows below, creating the soothing sounds of mountain living. One of the property's standout features is the presence of multiple gently
BLACK MOUNTAIN----COME WATCH THE SUNSET from the privacy of this 10.9 acre ridge-top paradise just outside of Black Mountain, NC. If you want mountains, trees and cool Summer breezes......this beautiful tract set at 3000 elevation offers long range mountain and valley views within a cool picturesque setting. Easy access with paved road and underground power to site. A must see at $160,000.
Welcome home to this beautifully maintained Tudor Croft residence nestled in the heart of highly desirable Black Mountain! This charming home offers an abundance of sought-after features, including a fenced backyard, a screened-in porch, stunning mountain views, ample parking, and energy-saving solar panels. Ideally located just moments from Lake Tomahawk and vibrant downtown Black Mountain,
Perched on a commanding ridgeline in the gated Catawba Falls Preserve community, this exceptional 2022-modern mountain home delivers panoramic and long-range views from virtually every room — sunrise from the east, sunset from the west, layered Blue Ridge peaks visible from the kitchen, living room, bedrooms, back porch, and lower-level patio hot tub alike. The main and upper level offers nearly
SPECTACULAR MOUNT MITCHELL VIEWS from this nearly new 2 bedroom, 2 bath, mountain cabin outside Black Mountain, NC.If privacy and solitude is what you are searching for, this mountain getaway may be just the right place for you. Great Airbnb or investment property! You'll love the open-air floor plan with vaulted ceilings and nature out of every window. If the power goes out, there's no worries
The chance to own a beautiful lot in The Settings of Black Mountain–one of Black Mountain’s most desirable gated communities. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this premier neighborhood was thoughtfully developed in the early 2000s. The Settings was designed to preserve the natural landscape while offering upscale amenities, including a beautifully designed clubhouse, city water/sewer
Property Id: 2473817 Escape to peaceful mountain living at 826 Shumont Road, a charming long-term rental nestled on five private acres just minutes from the scenic beauty of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. This property blends the serenity of nature with comfortable modern amenities, offering an ideal home base for those seeking space, quiet, and breathtaking surroundings. Inside, you’ll
Property Id: 2738108 Spacious Apartment close to Downtown Black Mountain NC and Lake Tomahawk. Well laid out 2 bedroom 2 full bathroom apartment in a 4 plex. This quiet second floor apartment has carpeted floors with an outside private deck on the back and common deck on the front. Walking distance to downtown Black Mountain, Lake Tomahawk, grocery store, bank and other shopping.
Fully Furnished 3BR/2BA Home for Rent – Padgett Place, Black MountainPlease Note – If you would like to schedule a showing of this home, please include the date and time that works for your, in your initial inquiry, giving us 48 hours notice if possible. Showings must be confirmed the day of by phone, email, or text message.Available September 15th | $2,900/Month | $2,900 Security
Spacious Apartment close to Downtown Black Mountain NC and Lake Tomahawk.Well laid out 2 bedroom 2 full bathroom apartment in a 4 plex. This quiet second floor apartment has carpeted floors with an outside private deck on the back and common deck on the front. Walking distance to downtown Black Mountain, Lake Tomahawk, grocery store, bank and other shopping. Washer/Dryer hook-up. Central Air
Two bedroom, one bath apartment in family oriented neighborhood. Washer and dryer located in unit. No pets. Deposit $1350, monthly rent $1350, utilities not included. Application fee of $50, background and credit check applicable.
Spacious house for rent in the East Buncombe County/Ridgecrest area, featuring a large primary bedroom with en-suite bathroom and a Jack-and-Jill bedroom and bath. The main level boasts an open floor plan, while the full basement offers a double car garage with plenty of room for vehicles, storage, and a recreational room or den. The basement is unfinished, and you can enjoy cool summer evenings
Property Id: 2750580 51 Bellegrove Rd — Black Mountain, NC 28711 2 Bedroom / 1 Bath Home for Rent — Available Furnished or Unfurnished Cozy, well-maintained 2 bedroom, 1 bath home tucked into a quiet Black Mountain neighborhood. This one has been cared for and it shows — move-in ready with no deferred maintenance to worry about. The private, level yard is a rare find in this
Welcome to one of the most desirable homes in Sweet Birch Commons! This like-new end unit is ideally positioned as the last home on the street, offering a level of privacy that's hard to find. With no neighboring unit to the right—and none ever planned—you'll enjoy abundant natural light streaming through additional windows, minimal traffic, and an open, airy feel throughout. Set farther back
Eddie ColleyKeller Williams Professionals
$2,595 per month
Charming Brand-New Contemporary Home in Black Mountain
This beautiful, newly constructed single-family residence offers a perfect blend of modern amenities and serene living. Nestled on a private road, this home is less than five minutes from all the conveniences and attractions of Black Mountain from the Main Street to Lake Tomahawk. Access to the highway is also no more than five minutes.Key Features:Spacious Layout: This two-level
You'll love this 3 bedroom/2 bathroom townhome in Black Mountain close to local shops, restaurants and grocery store. The main level has an open kitchen/living area, laundry room and primary bedroom with en suite bathroom that includes a walk-in shower. Upstairs are the two spare bedrooms separated by a jack-and-jill bathroom. One car garage. Lawn care included. Sorry, no pets. Washer/dryer
Welcome to this charming 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom house located in the picturesque town of Black Mountain, NC. This cozy home features a gas fireplace, perfect for staying warm on chilly evenings, as well as a basement for extra storage space. With convenient washer/dryer hookups, keeping your laundry routine efficient is a breeze. Enjoy the comfort of central air throughout the house, ensuring a
Sweet two bedroom duplex with covered front porch and rear deck. Just a mile and a half from downtown Black Mountain and Lake Tomahawk. This tidy neighborhood of apartments, duplexes and single family homes includes landscape maintenance and paved off-street parking. Great mountain views!Hardwood floors throughout the living room and bedrooms. The master bedroom has an en suite half
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