Homesteading in the High Country

Welcome to From Coops to Closings! I’m Lanie, a real estate agent and homestead dreamer here in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina — a place where the land is rich, the views stretch for miles, and neighbors still wave when they pass you on a dirt road.

These mountains have always been a place of self-reliance and resilience. Families here have been raising gardens, keeping chickens, and living close to the land for generations. It’s part of the culture, the history, and honestly, the charm. Today, more and more folks are rediscovering what mountain families have known all along: this is one of the best places to plant roots — and maybe a few tomato plants while you’re at it.

By day, I help people find cabins, farms, and fixer-uppers that fit their vision. By night (and most weekends), I’m out here wrestling with fence posts, planning gardens, and figuring out how to keep my chickens from staging a prison break. This site is where I share both sides of that journey: real estate know-how and real-life homestead chaos.

This is where I share it all: the WINS, the OOPS moments and the expert tips you’ll need if you are dreaming about starting your own Homestead – or just the perfect mountain home.

Whether you’re dreaming of goats and gardens, or simply want a porch where you can sip coffee and watch the clouds roll off the mountains, you’re in the right place.