LAKEFRONT RETREAT

Veteran Keller Williams real estate agent Melanie Parsons now divides her time between Barrington and the stunning shoreline of Lake Norman, North Carolina, and she’s helping others do the same.

Imagine a place where the winters are mild and temperate, centrally located within hours of both the mountains and the ocean—all with 520 miles of lakefront shoreline stretching out before you. Realtor Melanie Parsons discovered this bucolic North Carolina paradise several years ago after her daughter and son-in-law relocated there.

Not only did Parsons and her husband buy a Lake Norman retreat but she was so captivated by the region that the long-time real estate professional pursued a dual license so she could sell dream properties to her Barrington area neighbors.

“We purchased a second home there a few years ago, during the pandemic. We like it because it’s a central, waterfront location—only one and a half hours to Asheville, two hours to Boone and Banner Elks for skiing and snowboarding, and three hours to Charleston and the Atlantic coast,” explains Parsons, who continues to work as a real estate agent at Keller Williams Success Realty in Barrington and now also holds a dual license to sell real estate for Ivester Jackson Christie’s International Luxury Real Estate in North Carolina. “Lake Norman offers an active lifestyle, including everything from boating, boat surfing, skiing, pickleball, and hiking to wine tastings, concerts, festivals, and gourmet restaurants. We love the milder winters and now we have two grandbabies there—a 3-year-old named James and a 2-year-old named Boston.”

With a long-established real estate career here in Illinois, this is still where she spends the majority of her time. However, she says it’s rewarding to help the same clientele she’s served for more than two decades find and purchase a second home in North Carolina or South Carolina.

“Many of my past clients and friends have decided to either work remotely ever since COVID, or retire to a location they prefer,” explains Parsons, who specializes in boutique real estate services for the luxury market and high-net-worth individuals. “Many of my clients are done with harsh Chicago winters and are looking for a milder climate or want an area with lower taxes.”

While the market in the Chicago area has remained relatively stable, she says it’s been “wild and crazy” in North Carolina for several years as more people discover all that this part of the country has to offer. Unlike Florida or Arizona, you can still experience four seasons there, including the very occasional snowfall.

“You are also only 20 to 30 minutes from Uptown Charlotte, a vibrant city with a major airport. Plus, Lake Norman is the largest lake in North Carolina with a wide range of home options,” Parsons continues, adding that you can find everything from a beautiful lakefront condo starting at $400,000 to a luxury waterfront estate in the multimillion-dollar range. “You can purchase a modest home on the far side of the lake for just $650,000 or an upscale home in one of the exclusive communities with high-end amenities. There are so many choices.”

Everything you could possibly want is right there on Lake Norman. The area boasts several outstanding golf courses along with abundant country club and yacht club options. Gourmet waterfront dining is also a regular activity and upscale shopping is everywhere.

Similar to the Barrington area, the biggest challenge in purchasing a Lake Norman retreat is lack of inventory. The good news is that Parsons believes that will soon change as people get tired of being in limbo and putting their plans on hold.

“After all, they can always refinance, should the interest rates change,” she says. “Life is too short to wait. Whether it’s exploring lake life on a boat or just the serenity of a beautiful sunset, Lake Norman delivers the lifestyle of your dreams.”

For more information about Melanie Parsons, call 847-772-7179 or visit melanieparsons.com.