Martin Burson, RE/MAX Executive

09/19/2026

Chocolate has a way of bringing people together. So do good local businesses. When you stop in, tell them Martin and Denise sent you.

Denise Shelton - Mortgage Loan Officer and I stopped by the Dillsboro Chocolate Factory - Waynesville, NC in downtown Waynesville and visited with Mary. This is exactly the kind of place that adds character to Main Street.

Locally owned businesses like this matter. They give people a reason to walk downtown, stay awhile, spend locally, and enjoy the community beyond just running errands. That is one of the reasons the work of groups like the Downtown Waynesville Commission matters too.

That is part of what makes Western North Carolina such a great place to live. The homes matter, but so do the places, people, businesses, and community organizations that make a town feel like home.

I’m proud to be part of Re/Max Executive Waynesville and RE/MAX Executive, and I enjoy getting out into the community with people like Denise who are helping local buyers and homeowners every day.

If you have not been by lately, this is a good excuse.

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What do handmade chocolate, Waynesville, NC real estate, and mortga...

09/17/2026

Fall color season in Western North Carolina is one of those things you can watch move down the mountains.

The highest elevations usually start changing first, then the color works its way into the mid elevations, mountain towns, and lower valleys through October and into early November.

That is why there really is not one single “peak weekend” for the North Carolina mountains. If you know where to look, there is usually good color somewhere for several weeks.

For 2026, the general pattern looks like this:

Late September into early October: highest elevations

Early to mid October: upper mountain areas

Mid to late October: mid elevations

Late October into early November: lower valleys and towns like Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Asheville, Cherokee, and Bryson City

Weather can move the timing around, but that elevation change is what makes our fall season so much fun to follow.

Here is the part I want everyone to help with:

Upload your fall color pictures in the comments and tell us where you took them.

Let’s turn this post into a real-time Western North Carolina fall color report.

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09/17/2026

These builders do it right.

Our latest project is here!

Built in the Black Mountain Creston neighborhood, this home blends rustic and modern elements throughout.

Check out the project page to see more images of this home, along with a testimonial straight from the clients who have "no regrets."

09/16/2026

09/15/2026

Haywood County is changing, but not in a simple way.

This is an older mountain community with deep roots, strong local identity, and people who pay close attention to what happens here. At the same time, the county is working through a real economic and demographic transition.

Tourism remains important, but it also creates tension around housing, traffic, taxes, and community character. Traditional industry has declined, and we still have an open question about what kind of economic development should replace it. Development pressure feels very visible, even though overall population growth remains relatively modest.

County government appears financially sound, but residents are increasingly sensitive to taxes, infrastructure capacity, and how public decisions are made. Online, a relatively small but vocal civic network can make every controversy feel even larger.

What is easy to overlook is the other side of Haywood County.

Schools, nonprofits, churches, arts organizations, volunteers, local businesses, and community institutions continue to create a lot of social strength. Those relationships matter, especially during periods of change.

For anyone thinking about buying, selling, investing, or building here, understanding Haywood County means looking beyond headlines and individual controversies. The real story is a community trying to balance growth, affordability, tradition, infrastructure, and opportunity without losing the character that makes this place different.

That tension will shape the real estate market, local development, and quality of life here for years to come.

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Photo credit goes to Google Maps

09/15/2026

September is showing off a little.

Haywood County has a packed stretch coming up, and it is a good reminder of how much is happening here beyond the usual routines.

You can spend the weekend meeting local artists during the Haywood County Studio Tour, visit working farms during the ASAP Farm Tour, catch a live comedy at HART Theatre, and wrap things up with Darren Nicholson in Canton.

That is a pretty good mix of art, agriculture, theater, music, and mountain community life all in one place.

This is one of the reasons I enjoy living and working in Haywood County. There is always more going on than people realize, and the best part is that so much of it is local.

Save this post and pick one event you have never been to before.

Then come back and tell me which one you chose.

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09/14/2026

Another great event in Maggie Valley. I used to drive a VW Rabbit convertible. Tesa Burson

This weekend at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.

**Representatives of The Town of Maggie Valley communicate via this website. Consequently, any communication via this site, whether by government employee or the general public, is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be subject to monitoring and disclosure to third parties.**

09/14/2026

The details you don’t see after a home is finished are often the ones that matter most.

A properly installed exterior door pan is a good example. If water gets past the door, threshold, or caulk, the pan helps catch it and direct it back outside instead of allowing moisture to reach the subfloor, framing, and wall cavity.

That matters in any home, but especially with mountain homes and new home construction in Waynesville and Western North Carolina, where rain, moisture, and freeze-thaw cycles are part of the environment.

Whether you are looking at a design-build project, a custom home, a luxury home, or working with a custom home builder, good construction starts with details like drainage, flashing, waterproofing, and proper integration with the home’s weather barrier.

The same is true with green building, sustainable homes, energy-efficient construction, eco-friendly design, green construction, sustainable building, Energy Star homes, green living, eco building, and sustainable design. Those ideas only work when the basic construction details are handled correctly.

Good home design is more than what you can see in the finished kitchen or living room. A quality homebuilder pays attention to the parts that eventually get covered up.

That is one of the reasons I enjoy learning more about how homes are actually built. When you understand the details, you look at a house differently.

If you are thinking about building in Western North Carolina, I can help bring the pieces together. I have access to building lots, relationships with builders who pay attention to details like these, and lending connections that can help you explore construction financing. From finding the land and evaluating the site to choosing a builder and understanding financing options with the help of Denise Shelton - Mortgage Loan Officer. I can help you put together a practical path from raw land to finished home.

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09/11/2026

Waldo is doing some off-roading.

09/11/2026

Denise Shelton - Mortgage Loan Officer, and I stopped by the Waynesville Fire Department to thank the people who show up when our community needs them most.

As part of our September 11 First Responder Appreciation Initiative, Denise Shelton with Primis Mortgage and I spent a little time with Fire Chief Chris McHaffey and members of the Waynesville Fire Department. We learned more about what they do every day, and even picked up an important piece of firehouse knowledge about ketchup.

We also have something special for first responders who are considering buying a home.

During September, eligible first responders who begin a mortgage application with Primis Mortgage and meet the program’s closing requirements may receive reimbursement for their appraisal cost up to $750 at closing.

I’m adding up to $500 toward an eligible buyer’s home inspection, paid at closing.

The program discussed in the video includes firefighters, law enforcement, EMS and paramedics, and active-duty and retired military, including buyers using VA financing.

Most importantly, we at Re/Max Executive Waynesville thank you to the men and women who serve our communities every day. We appreciate what you do.

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