Ann Cooper

When Ann Cooper shows properties across the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, she brings something most agents simply can't: a lifetime of local knowledge paired with four decades of entrepreneurial experience. As one of the few brokers born and raised in Western North Carolina, Ann offers insights that only come from watching these mountains transform over generations.
"Being from here, I know the area very well," Ann explains. "I like to take people on a tour first, to see which part they want to live in. People not from here wouldn't know that Highlands and Cashiers are only 5 to 10 miles apart, but there's a real difference."
Ann's story begins in Cullowhee, North Carolina, near Western Carolina University, where exposure to diverse cultures sparked her curiosity about people and places. After high school, she embarked on a remarkable entrepreneurial journey spanning multiple industries. She owned and operated Sassy Sunflowers Bakery Cafe for 15 years, serving customers with her mother's recipes. "If you can help America be healthy and put a smile on their face, why not?" She also ran a Christmas shop and managed a family entertainment center, building a reputation for exceptional customer service and community connection.