About Silver Creek Real Estate Group

Each of our talented brokers is carefully selected and shares a great love of the area – as well as extensive sales and marketing experience, a proven track record and an unwavering commitment to client satisfaction. As a full-service brokerage firm, we’re with you every step along the way, from the initial phone call to the closing table. We take pride in being both friends and neighbors with the clients we serve.

Jochen Lucke

His love of the mountains, paired with his love of family and community, brought Jochen Lucke to Western North Carolina. The decision to leave the sweltering heat and stressful environment of Fort Lauderdale for the cool, clean air and laid-back atmosphere of Cashiers was an easy one. Since making the move, Jochen and his wife, Adrienne, have become deeply involved with the Cashiers community. Jochen serves as President of the Cashiers Village Green and on the boards for the Village Conservancy, Cashiers Village Council, and the Greater Cashiers Area Merchant Association. He and Adrienne are active members of the Country Club of Sapphire Valley. When he’s not hard at work at the Silver Creek Real Estate Group offices, Jochen can be found on the golf course with friends, dining in any one of the area's fine restaurants with his wife, or strolling with his dogs – Winston, a rough collie, and Tucker, a Papillon.

Jochen is devoted to the Silver Creek Real Estate credo of "Building Relationships, Delivering Dreams". Whether you are looking for your vacation home, your primary residence or your dream home, Jochen and his team of brokers are committed to finding the ideal home to fit your vision. Jochen has a firm grasp on the local real estate market, while always keeping an eye on national trends. He has an innate understanding of the practice of purchasing and selling properties, both as a broker and a developer. He attributes much of his success to his tenacity, and has negotiated and closed deals that others might have walked away from. Jochen truly enjoys real estate and development and finds great rewards in the accomplishment of finding the perfect home for his clients.

Lesley Howard

Annual summer vacations to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau with her sons ultimately led to a permanent move, as Lesley traded the heat and fast-paced Florida lifestyle for the mild climates and leisurely way of life promised by the mountains of Western North Carolina. It was here that she immediately felt accepted by the "natives" as one of their own, as evidenced by her marriage to local golf professional Dick Howard. Over the course of the past decade, Lesley has worked with the renowned architectural design firm Greene & Associates and has built a solid reputation as a realtor, often achieving the ranking of number one agent in both sales and listings.

When not hard at work matching buyers with sellers or on the hunt for the perfect site for her client’s dream home, Lesley enjoys playing golf at the Country Club at Sapphire Valley or traveling. She can often be found beaming with pride over her sons — Alex, in advanced intelligence training with the United States Army, and Zack, a freshman at Clemson University.

Lesley's background in interior design, architecture and real estate, paired with her zeal for helping others find their own little slice of heaven along the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, make her an integral part of the Silver Creek Real Estate team.

Ray Trine

Over 40 years ago, Ray Trine got his first taste for real estate from the financial side of the table. After graduating from The University of North Florida with a degree in accounting, he went to work for the Federal Reserve Bank in Jacksonville, followed by a position at the holding company of Florida National Bank. Eventually, Ray became the CFO of a large savings and loan. It was here that he had his first dealings in property development and quickly realized he was drawn to the "out of the boardroom" lifestyle that a career in real estate had to offer. He earned his real estate license in 1972 and became a proud Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI) in 1984.

In 1982, Ray moved his family from an oceanfront home in Atlantic Beach, Florida to a farm in Cashiers, North Carolina. Ray quickly acclimated to his new surroundings, taking a position at one of the oldest firms in town, V.C. Smith Real Estate. After just two years on the roster, Ray bought the company and concentrated its efforts on Sapphire Valley and Lake Glenville, leading to many successive years at #1 in sales and listings. Ray's keen entrepreneurial spirit spurned him to participate in the development and sales of many of the area's premier communities. He also served four years on the local school board, functioned as PTO President of the highly rated Blue Ridge School, and had a hand in forming the first Chamber of Commerce in Cashiers.

Ray and his wife, Claudia, proudly enjoy a rich family life, with seven daughters and eight grandchildren. They are also animal lovers, a fact reflected in the pet population at the Trine farm, which currently consists of four dogs and 20 llamas.

As an established and well-revered member of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau community for three decades, Ray proves an excellent brokerage partner to any discerning home buyer or seller. With his solid background – a unique blend of accounting, property development, and real estate sales – Ray is a seasoned professional who brings enthusiasm, vision, and 40 years of experience to the team at Silver Creek Real Estate Group.

Pam Nellis

With almost 30 years in the real estate business, Pam Nellis has a wealth of experience upon which to draw when serving her clients. Locally, she spent five years as broker-in-charge at Trillium, a premier golf and lake community in Cashiers. For the past four years, she has been a principal at Nellis Realty in Highlands. Pam has enjoyed selling the fine communities that her husband, Bill Nellis, and his partners have developed, including the Cottages at Old Edwards Club at Highlands Cove, Old Highlands Park and the Birches of Wildcat Cliffs.

Early in her career, Pam discovered that one of her greatest passions is helping her clients find the home of their dreams — the one that truly matches their personalities, family life, wish lists and budgets. Pam's clients often tell her that her ability to listen to them is her best asset. She also excels at home staging, knowing that proper placement of furniture, decluttering, and a few select enhancements such as color, can make a home much more appealing to potential buyers. Pam's expert staging advice and extensive knowledge of feng shui can give her client's home a key advantage in today's competitive market. Pam has studied and practiced the art of feng shui since 1998.

Pam is active in the Highlands community as a board member of both the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and the Literacy Council of Highlands. She strongly supports the vital women's services provided through REACH of Macon County, as well as the former REACH of Jackson County.

Pam's decades of experience, strong work ethic, and in-depth knowledge of local real estate – along with her positive attitude and warm smile – make her a valuable asset to Silver Creek Real Estate Group.

Dan Allen

A major advocate for animals and the environment, Dan is deeply involved in his community, serving on the board of the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society and supporting the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Nature Conservancy. Always seeking new ways to better himself in the industry he loves, Dan is also an active member of the Highlands-Cashiers Board of Realtors, North Carolina Board of Realtors, and National Association of Realtors. He is SFR-certified and has become well-versed in the intricacies of short sales, foreclosures and REOs. Dan brings a fresh approach and genuine enthusiasm about our area to each new client he serves. His positive attitude, local knowledge and proven dedication make him a terrific listing partner.

When Dan is not helping other families realize their dreams of living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, he spends much of his time off with his own family, working on their property or relaxing at the lake. His greatest joy comes from introducing his little girl to all the things he fell in love with as a child – turning over rocks in the stream, climbing trees, building forts, and endlessly exploring mountainsides. Dan is a respected member of the community and a welcome member of the Silver Creek Real Estate Group team.

Chuck Self

In search of mild temperatures and a place to unwind, Chuck Self made his first visit to the Cashiers-Highlands area more than 20 years ago on a summer getaway with his wife, Ann, and their two small children. During that short visit, Chuck knew that Western North Carolina was where he wanted to be. The desire for the mountain lifestyle led him to search for property in the area for several years. After scouring listings, looking at nearly every house and homesite available, he found the perfect piece of land for the home of their dreams.

The home was intended to be their second residence until Chuck's retirement. But the lure of the Blue Ridge Mountains soon prompted the Selfs to realize that it was time to say goodbye to the intense pace, traffic and heat of Atlanta, and after construction of their new home was completed, Chuck and Ann settled in permanently to enjoy the simplicity and splendor of mountain living.

Spending just a moment with Chuck reveals his passion for everything this area has to offer. When not working with clients, Chuck enjoys golf, tennis, hiking, biking, boating on Lake Glenville, and any other reason he can think of to be outdoors. Even the dark night beckons him outside to gaze at the beautiful star-filled sky, bringing back cherished childhood memories so easily forgotten while living in the big city.

Ann is a minister serving churches in Western North Carolina. The couple have two grown children who both live and work in Atlanta. Chuck and Ann enjoy the mountain life with a true highlander, their border collie named Phoebe. Chuck has always enjoyed real estate and finds tremendous satisfaction in matching his clients with their dream mountain home or homesite.

Carol Mathews

After visiting many times and falling in love with Highlands, Carol relocated from south Louisiana in 1986. The saying "Come for a visit, stay for a lifetime" really applies to Carol and her family.

The first step on her real estate career path led Carol to Arvida, where she began working as the assistant project manager to help create and nurture the prestigious mountain golfing community of Cullasaja Club. Following completion of the Cullasaja Club project, she moved on to become the project manager of Signal Ridge Development in Lake Glenville (now Trillium). She was the first Broker in Charge at Highlands Cove Development (now Old Edwards Club).

In January of 2009, Carol moved her license to Harry Norman Realtors in Highlands. Working with their brokers gave Carol a new insight to the dynamic professionals attracted to the Highlands-Cashiers area from metropolitan Atlanta and beyond. By fulfilling their expectations with her knowledge of the area along with her professionalism, diligence and a caring attitude, she reaches a multi-generational demographic.

Carol's expertise in commercial and residential development and investment opportunities on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau makes her a unique asset to any real estate client. Her vast knowledge of the real estate market encompasses private communities, farms and land, high-end luxury homes and the small weekend refuge. As a real estate broker for more than 15 years, Carol has seen all the changes in the new and old private clubs, communities and neighborhoods. She knows the area — the people, the best restaurants, galleries, shops, waterfalls and hiking trails, schools and local organizations.

Carol's business principle is to build lasting relationships and provide exceptional service to her clients with ethics, loyalty and integrity. Whether you are purchasing a new or existing home or looking for investment property, Carol Mathews will work hard to make the transaction a smooth and rewarding process. There have been many changes in this mountain area since Carol first moved here in 1986, but one thing still remains the same — Highlands and Cashiers are still the best places in the world to live. Home is where the heart is, and Carol's heart is here on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. She delights in helping others find a special place to hang their hearts here in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

Carol served on the Highlands Cashiers Board of Realtors, and is active in the community through Highlands Mountaintop Rotary Club, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society, P.E.O. and Church of the Incarnation.

Ken Dingler

Ken Dingler grew up in sunny California and has lived in cities across the United States, including Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta and Nashville. In 1992, after a 25-year career in corporate real estate and reaching the position of Vice President of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, he retired to Sapphire. Ken has invested extensively in large tracts in Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina and has particular expertise with land and lakefront properties. His extensive knowledge of the market and keen insight into understanding what people want in a property have helped him fulfill the dreams of many clients. Ken's strength is creativity and understanding the "art of the deal" — he knows how to make things happen!

Ken and his wife, Andi, have three children and six grandchildren, all of whom live in the area and love the beauty of our mountains and lakes. Ken and Andi also have a farm in Upstate SC, where they raise cows, horses and hay and and enjoy farming the old fashioned way, using horses to cut and bale hay, pull logs and plant corn. The grandchildren enjoy long rides on the farm's horse drawn wagons and carriages. Ken is strongly committed to Silver Creek's credo of outstanding customer service and promises to exceed your expectations when you entrust him with representing your real estate interests.

Eddy McDonald

Eddy McDonald's lifelong passion and talent for golf led him to a career as a PGA professional. After relocating from Destin, Florida for a position at Highlands Falls Country Club in 1995, Eddy fell in love with the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau and knew he'd found home.

Looking to follow his interest in development, Eddy embarked on his real estate career at Highlands Cove (now Old Edwards Club at Highlands Cove), where he spent 13 years helping to grow Highlands Cove from its first home to the community it is today. Eddy's knowledge of the area and passion for building relationships with his buyers and sellers have been major factors in his success. He believes in going above and beyond to assist his real estate clients, providing them with a superior level of service and the resources to make informed decisions.

Eddy enjoys spending time with his young daughter, Sara. They can be found on the golf course, hiking trails, or simply out exploring the natural beauty of the Highlands-Cashiers area.

Annetta Mull

An astounding seven generations mark Annetta Mull's deep roots to the Highlands-Cashiers area. Her grandfather helped establish beautiful Lake Glenville in the early 1940's, and her great uncles aided in early road construction along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Blessed with her forefathers' same vision for the future of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau and great love of the region – Annetta now serves those hoping to carve out their own special family memories on the mountain for generations to come.

Annetta's career in the real estate industry spans more than two decades. She is both a highly skilled office manager and knowledgeable closing coordinator, having worked in an attorney's office and local real estate firms. Today, she is a valued member of the Silver Creek Real Estate Group team. Clients are often greeted by Annetta's friendly voice when calling our offices, and she is the first person many meet upon arrival at Silver Creek. She doesn't just view callers and visitors to the Silver Creek offices as potential clients, but also as future neighbors. Annetta lives with her husband Jim and youngest son Ryan on 17 acres of the original family farm. Jim and Annetta have four children and two grandchildren, all of whom live in the Western North Carolina Mountains. Annetta has always had strong ties to the community, particularly with her church and local community center. She has also been extremely active with Jackson County Youth Sports for nearly twenty years.

The appeal of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau doesn't merely rest in the beauty and majesty of the natural landscape, or in the unique shops and world-class restaurants that line our village streets – it also lies in the special brand of people who reside here year round. They believe strongly in their duty to uphold the concept of southern hospitality. Annetta is one of those people. She looks forward to the opportunity to welcome you to this very unique "slice of heaven."