Kathy Hendricks
Owner/Broker

I'm a western N.C. native from Brevard in Transylvania County. I first came to Madison County in the early 1970's and I have called this beautiful place HOME ever since. I have owned more than one farm in the county but my contractor husband, Richard, and I now have 60 wonderful acres and we are actively building a "new old" house. It's been a 17 year (still counting) process!  Along the way we also landscaped, created lots of gardens and perennial beds, built barns, outbuildings, a workshop (my side + his side) and managed to create a somewhat sustainable lifestyle for ourselves.  We have been living off the grid since 1985.  Active solar panels and a hydro system have always been on our list of things to do but somehow never make it to the top of the list. We enjoy a simple life.  I welcome questions about our lifestyle and have lots of knowledge and opinions to share.

I love to garden, starting my own seeds.  Some years are more successful than others so a hoop house is now on our list.  I use heirloom & organic varieties and I now have my own seed stock of some stuff.  I have also been blessed to receive seed varieties from old gardeners who have saved them in the family for years. I have been a member, off and on, of Seed Savers since it began in the early 80’s.  Right now I am evolving from planting “by the signs” the old mountain way to planting by the signs the biodynamic Rudolph Steiner way.  This is quite a transition for me but I am getting in to it!  I am so lucky to quilt on occasion with a group of exceptionally talented women (check out the book "Community Quilts").  We have made many quilts for people in our community and are still in the process.  Other interests of mine include wildflower walks, reading, playing with my horse and dogs, cooking and canning all that produce, flea markets and garage sales, and collecting way too much flea market stuff.  E-Bay selling is a new interest I’m exploring.

I am also passionate about music-bluegrass, old time , singer/songwriters, country, gospel, jazz- I enjoy it all.  Richard and I listen to a lot of music at home.  I love to hear it live and go to MERLEFEST Every Year. Plus I try to go to as many of the festivals in the area as possible.  There is just so much music here! I enjoyed hosting a jam at the old real estate office for a couple of years.  That jam has now moved to Marshall’s super cool coffee house, Zuma’s, on Thursday nights.  Although I don’t work actively in the field anymore, I still keep my Veterinary Technician license active and work some with the Friends of the Madison County Animals.  When I was active in the field I worked with exotics at Duke University and then the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo.  I still love all animals and enjoy showing them, and their owners, property in this gorgeous place.  I guess my most favorite thing to do is to drive around the mountains and tell my clients about the history and stories of the many quaint communities in these mountains.  Oh!  And hopefully show and Sell a few listings while I’m having fun!

Watch for my new blog on my new Facebook page.  Due to high demand I guess I will come down from my mountain and enter the social networking world.  It is, they tell me, a part of the real estate world these days. 

I enjoy listing the old farms and finding new people for them. I have experience with the possibilities of raw or grown up land. I also enjoy showing houses with or without land and I will go anywhere to help you find that perfect place. I'm familiar with many different areas and counties of western North Carolina.

My main goal in real estate from the beginning 17 years ago has been to protect these mountains from too much development. By that I mean supporting the land use regulations of all the mountain counties and getting people to think about their impact on our fragile environment. (Hopefully before they build that huge house right on the top of the ridge with the steep paved driveway!)  As a Realtor I think it’s my duty to point out a different prospective on building in the mountains. I like diversity and want to encourage it where I live.  New people come with new ideas and talents.  Everyone prospers.  My little company has been as large as seven agents and as small as one. I demand a high standard from the people who work here-the Golden Rule is The Rule.  We strive to give personal but professional service to everyone.  We value community and the small town way of life. My company offers a lot of service after the sale.  We will not leave you standing with your deed in your hand in the middle of your land!  We have a list of reputable people to build roads, homes, drill wells, put in septic systems, and dowse for water or energy, whatever you need!  You will have a friend at Country Places Realty, maybe your first one in your new place!

Deb Burks
Broker Associate

I always knew that someday I would live in the mountains.  Both of my parents were from West Virginia and I used to spend my summers in the Appalachians, staying with my Grandparents.  As a child, the end of a long drive from my native Alabama was rewarded with cool temperatures, the most delicious fresh picked fruits and veggies, plus the wonderment of nature indigenous to southern Appalachia.  It took longer than expected to finally move up here, but, I did make the move and am rewarded with the splendor of the mountains each day.

 Madison County was love at first sight for my husband, Jeff, and I.  We had traveled to Hot Springs to camp and hike a bit and were simply awestruck with this beautiful area, so we bought some land and built a cabin.  I feel as if I am on vacation, even after 4 years of living here.  There is always something to do and somewhere to go, festivals for art, music, food, culture and nature seems to occur every weekend…and sometimes more than one in a weekend.  Music and art are as much as part of the culture as breathing.  I continue to be amazed at the talent of my friends and neighbors who are from this area.

 I am excited about working at Country Places Realty!  I look forward to helping people  find their home or land in Madison County.  My husband and I have bought, fixed up and sold several houses and also built several of our own homes.  I love to look at houses and I feel I have a talent for seeing the possibilities!  Come for a visit and let me  take you for a look around; I imagine that you, too, just might want to stay.