The exclusive circle of homes on Lake Keowee that have sold for more than $6 million has added another member.
The 6,000-square-foot home at 104 Gnarled Pine Court, located in The Reserve at Lake Keowee, closed Sept. 19 for $6.1 million, according to Realtor.com. It’s the fifth Lake Keowee home to sell for more than $6 million, joining 107 Waterfern Court ($6.267 million), 126 Waterfern Court ($6.237 million), 129 Bright Water Trail ($6.195 million) and 125 Waterfern Court ($6 million).
All of those homes are about to be overtaken by 124 Mountain Shore Trail, a $12 million listing that is currently under contract and is expected to close in October, according to Joan Herlong and Associates Sotheby’s International Realty, the listing agency. It will become the biggest sale not just on Lake Keowee, but in all of the Upstate when it closes.
The Gnarled Pine home sits on 6.4 acres, and was built in 2022 by a team that included Brad Wright of Wright Design, Ridgeline Construction Group, and Ashton Acosta of In-Site Designs. Interior elements include hand-chiseled stone walls and arches, four full masonry fireplaces, authentic reclaimed timber beams, reclaimed barnwood throughout the home, and wide-plank French oak floors from Belgium. The outdoor entertaining area includes a spa and six radiant heaters for year-round enjoyment.
The home also features an elevator, custom motorized window treatments, a wi-fi controlled lighting and electrical system, a lightning suppression system and a generator. A stone breezeway leads to a four-car garage. David Hurst and Hilary Hurt of Coldwell Banker Caine were the listing agents on 104 Gnarled Pine Court, while David Hurst also represented the buyer.
Home sales up 7.8 percent in August
Year-over-year closed residential sales in the Greenville market rose 7.8 percent in August, marking the second consecutive monthly increase for the region according to the Greater Greenville Association of Realtors.
The 7.8 percent increase followed a 19.4 percent surge in closings in July. Year-over-year sales in the Greenville area have now been on the rise in six of the past eight months, and closings are also up 7.2 percent for the year. There were 1,543 residential closings in the Greenville area in August, up from 1,432 in the same month the previous year.
August sales metrics were buoyed by year-over-year inventory numbers that have increased by double-digits for eight consecutive months. The 4,947 homes for sale in August was the Greenville area’s highest total since September of 2019, before the pandemic-fueled buying frenzy that sunk regional inventory levels to near historic lows.
The median sales price in the Greenville area in August was $320,000, down slightly from the all-time high of $324,990 recorded in July. Sellers received an average of 98.4 percent of their lost price in August, and homes were on the market an average of 45 days.
Ashton, The Commons partner
Ashton, one of the largest owners of retail properties in the Greenville area, has announced a partnership with The Commons, a food hall in Unity Park.
“The Commons has become a dining destination for both locals and visitors to the Greenville community,” said George S. Dewey IV, president and CEO of Aston. “Our goal is to support The Commons in maintaining its unique charm while bringing our expertise in retail management to ensure its long-term success.”
Poised to mark its five-year anniversary in November, The Commons recently launched its Phase II expansion with a variety of new dining options. Four of seven new tenants have already opened, including LaRue Fine Chocolates, Indigo Kitchen, MooHogz Craft BBQ, and Kuka Juice. The remaining three will debut this fall alongside Prisma Health’s Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital Community Health and Wellness Space.
The seven new tenants join the five original establishments at The Commons, including Automatic Taco, Bake Room, Golden Brown & Delicious, The Community Tap, and Methodical Coffee.
Aston owns and manages several key properties in the Greenville area including North Hills Shopping Center, Verdae Village, McBee Station, McDaniel Village and Powdersville Plaza. The company brings decades of experience in managing high-traffic shopping centers while maintaining gathering spaces that patrons have come to enjoy.
“We’re proud of what The Commons has achieved during the past several years, and looking forward to building on its success,” said Drew Parker, co-owner of The Commons and founder of Parker Group Development. “Partnering with Aston allows us to leverage their experience and resources to deliver exceptional experiences to our tenants and guests.”
Cliffs Realty welcomes Nix
The Cliffs, the Travelers Rest-based company that operates seven private, luxury residential mountain and lake communities located in the Carolinas, has announced Frank C. Nix as the newest sales associate at Cliffs Realty. He joins the Asheville office focusing exclusively on The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in Arden, N.C.
Nix brings experience from a successful career at several exclusive private golf and residential club communities across the country. Having worked as a PGA golf professional at The Cliffs for five years, he possesses unique insight into life at these communities which will be an asset as he moves into the real estate sector.
“We are very pleased to welcome Frank to our Cliffs Realty team,” said Richard Seay, director of sales at The Cliffs. “He brings a wealth of experience about The Cliffs and an invaluable ability to answer questions and counsel clients to find the best fit for them amongst the incredible — but varied — opportunities offered by The Cliffs’ communities.”
An Upstate native, Nix most recently served as a golf professional at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls near Six Mile. After expressing an interest in real estate, Nix was promoted from within. His realty team serves the lone Cliffs property in North Carolina; the other six communities are located in the Upstate mountains and along Lake Keowee.
CBRE’s Smith passes at 63
The commercial real estate community in South Carolina is mourning the loss of Steve Smith, the former managing director for Palmetto State operations at CBRE, who died on Sept. 15. The Greater Greenville Association of Realtors announced his passing.
Smith, 63, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family after a courageous battle with cancer, according to his obituary. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Deborah Segler Smith, their two sons Stephen Daniel Smith and Michael Brian Smith, as well as five siblings.
“An early riser and avid runner, he embraced life’s challenges with vigor and resilience,” his obituary read. “Throughout his battle with Parkinson’s and cancer, Steve’s unwavering spirit, strength and grace remained constant. He was able to find joy and peace in the companionship of family and friends who never stopped visiting, and his steadfast faith knowing that this world is not our home.”
Based in Greenville, Smith had executive oversight over all CBRE operations in the Charleston, Columbia and Greenville-Spartanburg offices, including the Advisory and Transaction Services and Capital Markets teams. The College of Charleston graduate had more than 30 years of commercial real estate experience, moving from Charleston to Greenville to join The Furman Co. in 1993.