Unique Homes Blog

The equestrian real estate market is slowly showing signs of recovery.

For many of those who enjoy being in the saddle, an exclusive equestrian property, whether bought as a second home or as an investment, is a way to spend time in remote, peaceful and quiet horse-riding destinations.

Equestrian-centric communities, of course, are anything but new; South Carolina and western North Carolina long have been the winter epicenters of international sporting horse enthusiasts. What’s changed over the years are the amenities: luxury properties include outdoor arenas, modern stables, licensed trainers and miles of riding trails.

The recession hit horse country hard over the past few years, but the market, by all accounts, seems to be showing signs of recovery.

“We’ve been down, but we’re not out,” says Sheelah Clarkson, owner of the Sheelah Clarkson Asheville Real Estate Agency in Asheville, N.C. “The luxury end of the market in our area has been really slow for at least a year. But lately, we’ve been able to see some upward movement.”

Luxury equestrian properties in western North Carolina are still a bargain, at $1 million to $3 million, and buyers seem to understand that these prices might start inching up.

“I’m optimistic,” Clarkson says. “Buyers are still cautious, but they are starting to come back into our market, and why not? If you are a horse enthusiast, North Carolina offers a climate where you can ride year round.” In the region around Tryon, in the heart of horse country, there are hunter pace events, dressage and carriage clubs, fox hunting and an annual steeplechase.

Over the state border in South Carolina, the equestrian market is also improving, says Bruce May, owner-broker of Jocassee Real Estate, which has an office in Seneca. The company specializes in property on and around Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee, in upstate South Carolina.

“The difference between now and 12 months ago is that last year, buyers were almost paralyzed by fear,” May says. “They didn’t even come out to see properties. They looked at their stock portfolios and were fearful. Now they want to buy, but they don’t want to make any mistakes.”

May believes that people are looking for “those unique, once-in-a-lifetime homesites.” He cites an equestrian property on Lake Hartwell with more than 2,000 feet of lakefront shoreline.

“Those kinds of properties don’t come along often,” he says. Luxury properties in the Lake Jocassee area range from about $1 million to $7 million.

Another area in South Carolina that is showing signs of recovery is Aiken, one of the country’s most important equestrian centers.

Aiken and surrounding areas also suffered during the recession, says Melissa Major, an office manager at the Carolina Real Estate Company, in Aiken.

“The market here, which has been very active since the early 1900s, took a downturn over the past few years, like the rest of real estate in general,” Major says.

But in recent months, there has been increased interest in equestrian properties, which range in price from a small horse farm at $300,000 to an expansive $4.5 million winter colony estate on 7 acres in the heart of Aiken’s historic horse district.

There is a reason horse enthusiasts have come to Aiken for more than 100 years, Major says. And it has to do not only with the moderate climate, but also with the features of the land, making it excellent for polo, fox hunting and racing thoroughbreds.

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