Polk County
Real Estate Agencies

Columbus — Columbus in the county seat and the economic hub of Polk County. Its 'Main Street' is Mills Street. There is a story behind that name but there isn't space for it, here. You'll have to ask a local real estate agent. There are other streets but Mills Street is really Columbus and, except for the new Post Office building, almost everything is on Mills Street. Columbus is also at the intersection of I-26 and US-74 (which is designed to Interstate standards). The residential area? Columbus is in the foothills of the mountains and these rolling hills provide many excellent locations for homes and, something Polk County is famous for, — horse farms. Polk County is horse country and several of the real estate agencies here specialize in horse farms. Some are priced in the millions but some are really quite reasonable.

Real estate agents in Columbus:

• Advantage Realty (RE/MAX ), 816C W Mills St, 800-849-0859

• First Real Estate, 915 W Mills St, 800-447-1304

• ReMax Advantage Realty, 816C W Mills St, 800-849-0859

• Walker, Wallace & Emerson Realty, 21 E Mills St, 800-442-4749

Mill Spring — It has been said that Mill Spring is horse farms and luxury estates. Lake Adger, a private development, certainly fills the bill for luxury estates but horse farms? They're everywhere; this is horse country. The topography and weather make it ideal. Mill Spring also seems to be the center of log home builders. Yes, log homes are very popular in the North Carolina Mountains.

Real estate agents in Mill Spring:

• August Construction, 662 Hwy 9 N, 894-5544
  a/k/a J Avery Associates Realty

• Columbus/Tryon Log Homes, 455 Green Hills Rd, 625-0098

• Creative Cedar Homes, 1795 E NC-108, 888-360-0772

• J Avery Associates Realty (see: August Construction)

• Premier Log Homes, 230 Summer Ln, 877-564-7253

Saluda — Some thirty years ago when I was first assigned to Rosman, we toured the Western North Carolina mountains and found Saluda, — and we fell in love with the place. Then, there was no I-26 and the curvy snake of a highway know as US-176 gave one the impression that Saluda had been tucked away only to be found by the most diligent. Downtown Saluda (isn't that really the whole town?) is officially designated a historic area and it still looks like it did in 1910. If you're looking for property around Saluda — and it is all mountain property — you'd better get a real estate agent to guide you. And there are many beautiful mountain homes and lands and most quite reasonable.

Real estate agent in Saluda:

• Saluda Realty & Construction, 435 E Main St, 800-725-8323

Tryon — Tryon is a synonym for horses. No, you won't see horse trails in town or hitching posts in from of the shops. But this town seems centered on equestrian activities. Their annual Steeplechase, dressage, hunter-jumper, and carriage-driving events fill the town with visitors from all over the world. Additionally, many local organizations, such as the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club and the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center host many other equestrian related events throughout the spring, summer and autumn. Tryon is where the mountains begin and you can find about any kind of property you'd like, - except a beach house on the ocean.

Real estate agents in Tryon:

• Cathryn Lennon Properties, 222 Miller Dr, 859-5979

• Century 21 Tryon Real Estate, 177 N Trade St, 800-321-9722

• Coldwell Banker Town & Country, 951 S Trade St, 800-458-5535

• Earl Thompson Farms & Land, 951 S Trade St, 859-9150

• Foothills Realty of Tryon, 70 N Trade St, 888-259-3391

• ReMax Advantage Realty, P.O. Box 9, 800-849-0859

• The Prass Company, 226 S Trade St, 866-307-7277