Why Choose Lake Hickory?

Imagine waking up to the gentle shimmer of water just outside your window, sipping your morning coffee on a private dock, and spending evenings watching the sun set over the lake. Life on Lake Hickory, NC offers all this and more—blending natural beauty, recreational freedom, and a relaxed lifestyle that’s hard to beat.

Natural Beauty & Endless Outdoor Fun

Lake Hickory is one of North Carolina’s most scenic lakes, with over 100 miles of shoreline framed by lush trees and mountain backdrops. It’s a haven for outdoor lovers—offering boating, kayaking, paddle-boarding, fishing, and even lakeside hiking trails. Whether you’re seeking a serene escape or an active weekend on the water, Lake Hickory delivers.

The Best of Both Worlds

While lake living gives you peace and quiet, you’re never far from city conveniences. The nearby town of Hickory offers excellent restaurants, local breweries, shopping, and a vibrant arts and music scene. It’s the perfect blend of small-town charm with modern amenities—ideal for families, retirees, or anyone looking to work remotely in a truly inspiring setting.

A Welcoming, Connected Community

Life on Lake Hickory is more than just the view—it’s about connection. From neighborhood cookouts to dockside gatherings, residents enjoy a close-knit, welcoming community. It’s the kind of place where neighbors become friends and every season brings something special to enjoy together.

Discover Your Lakefront Dream Home

If you’ve been dreaming of living on the lake, now’s your chance. We’re excited to share two incredible properties currently available on Lake Hickory:

4165 54th Avenue NE, Hickory, NC 28601
This gorgeous custom-built home offers stunning lake views, a spacious open floor plan, and a walk-out basement perfect for entertaining. Enjoy relaxing on the covered back porch or heading down to your private dock for a day on the water. With over 4,000 square feet of living space and high-end finishes throughout, it’s truly a one-of-a-kind retreat.

6233 Riviera Run Estates Drive, Hickory, NC 28601
Tucked into a quiet cove, this stunning waterfront home features an elegant kitchen, spacious bedrooms, and beautiful outdoor living areas. Take in the peaceful lake views from your deck, or launch your boat from your private dock and spend the day exploring. This home is perfect for those who want luxury and comfort with direct lake access.

Whether you’re looking for a weekend escape, a forever home, or a smart investment, Lake Hickory offers a lifestyle that’s second to none. Ready to make lake life your everyday life? Reach out to us to schedule a private tour or learn more about these beautiful homes.

Let’s find your place on the lake. 🌊

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills congratulates Gavin Kelly REALTOR on graduating Leadership Catawba.

On Thursday, March 20, 2025, The Chamber of Catawba County celebrated the accomplishments of thirty-five leaders from business, education, nonprofit, and community sectors who graduated from the 50th Class of Leadership Catawba.

Since its inception in 1974, Leadership Catawba has empowered hundreds of Catawba County residents with knowledge about the critical issues affecting our community. Over the course of eight months, participants engage deeply with community challenges across areas such as Reinventing Community, Telling Our Story, Serving Our Community, Building for Jobs, Workforce Connectivity, and Small Business and Entrepreneurship. The program encourages each participant to not only be a strong leader within their own organization but also to take an active role in shaping and leading our broader community through personal dedication and engagement.

Contact Gavin 828-455-1919 for all or your real estate needs,

email Gavin.Kelly@BetterFoothills.com,

or via his website at GavinKelly.com

Nijat Tahirli has lived in North Carolina for about 11 years, specifically in Caldwell and Catawba counties, giving him a good understanding of the local market and what makes this area unique. With prior experience as a REALTOR, he has worked with buyers and sellers to navigate the real estate process with confidence. His goal is to make every transaction smooth and successful.

Outside of real estate, he likes to simply live in the moment. He loves family time, and he enjoys working out and staying active.

“We are thrilled that Nijat is joining our firm,” said Mike Kelly Broker/Owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills. “As one of our agents, Nijat has access to high-quality training, great marketing tools, powerful technology, and an unmatched social media program in the Catawba Valley area.”

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills is a full-service real estate brokerage company specializing in residential and commercial properties in the Foothills of North Carolina. Since starting in 2010, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills has continued to grow to over 40 agents.

Feel free to contact Nijat to help you with your real estate needs.

You can contact Nijat by phone 828-750-2634 or,  
visit his website Nijat.Tahirli.BetterFoothills.com

This year marks a significant milestone for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills as we proudly celebrate 15 years of serving the Hickory/ Catawba Valley Area with dedication, integrity, and passion. From our humble beginnings to becoming a trusted name in real estate, our journey has been one of growth, transformation, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

Our Story: From Humble Beginnings to Remarkable Growth

Founded on February 19, 2010, by Mike Kelly Jr. and Kathleen Kelly, we started out as Hickory Real Estate Group Inc. with just two agents and a shared vision — to provide exceptional real estate services with a personal touch combined with embracing new technology. Through hard work, dedication, and a client-first philosophy, we quickly earned the trust of our community and established ourselves as a reliable resource for all things real estate.

A New Chapter: Becoming Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills

In 2022, we took a significant step forward by joining the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate network and rebranding as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills. This transition allowed us to offer even more value to our clients and our agents by aligning with one of the most recognizable brands known for its commitment to lifestyle, home, and community. Today, we are proud to have grown to a team of over 40 agents, all dedicated to providing the same excellent service that has defined us from the start.

Looking Ahead: Our Commitment to the Future

As we celebrate 15 incredible years, we remain deeply grateful to our clients, agents, partners, and community members who have supported us along the way. Our growth would not have been possible without your trust and confidence.
Looking to the future, we are more committed than ever to helping individuals and families find the perfect place to call home. With our talented team of over 40 amazing agents and the strength of the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate brand, we are confident that the best is yet to come.

Thank You for 15 Amazing Years

Here’s to celebrating our past, embracing the future, and continuing to serve our community with the same passion and dedication that have been our hallmark for 15 years. Thank you for being part of our journey — we look forward to many more years of proving that in our area Nobody Knows Homes Better.

Contact Roseann 828-315-0559 for all or your real estate needs,

email Roseann.Flowers@BetterFoothills.com,

or via her website at RoseannFlowers.com

Emily Burns is a new addition to the real estate world, pursuing her love for people first service. Raised in North Carolina with a dream to become a REALTOR® since she was a child. Watching HGTV and reading Better Homes and Gardens magazines with her grandmother, she always fantasized about making their fun times together into a career.

Her commitment to communication and attention to detail ensures you are informed and supported every step of the way. As your real estate agent, Emily will be your trusted advisor, guiding you through the complexities of the buying or selling process with expertise and transparency. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned investor, she will work tirelessly to achieve your real estate goals.

“We are excited that Emily is joining our firm,” said Mike Kelly Broker/Owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills. “As one of our agents, Emily has access to high-quality training, great marketing tools, powerful technology, and an unmatched social media program in the Catawba Valley area.”

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills is a full-service real estate brokerage company specializing in residential and commercial properties in the Foothills of North Carolina. Since starting in 2010, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills has continued to grow to over 40 agents.

Feel free to contact Emily Burns to help you with your real estate needs.

You can contact Emily by phone 704-308-1506 or,  
visit her website Emily.Burns.BetterFoothills.com

Mike Kelly Jr., Broker in Charge of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills is proud to announce that the following REALTORS® completed our Jump Start New Agent Training Program.

We believe that the heart of our success lies in our supportive yet competitive culture. It’s not just about getting the job done; it’s about creating an environment where our Agents can truly shine and reach their full potential.

We know that growth comes from challenges, and we’re all about providing those opportunities. Whether you’re just starting out or you are an experienced Agent with another firm and not reaching your goals, we would love to talk to you about your future.

One of the core values is the importance of hard work and dedication, paired with a positive attitude. We want everyone in our firm to thrive, no matter their background or experience. That’s why we encourage collaboration and idea-sharing among our Agents.

We also recognize exceptional performance and provide ongoing training and development opportunities. Our goal is to ensure that each Agent has the tools they need to achieve their personal and professional goals. After all, when one of us succeeds, we all do!

The goal of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills is to help our Agents generate and grow their business, by keeping their expenses low and creating a great working environment for them to thrive.

In addition to the tools offered by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate we offer the following:

Great Training and Office Environment:

• New Agent Training Program to help you get your career off to a great start
• Almost 24/7 Broker/Trainer Support to help with Issues
  
• Phone Duty and Office Duty Opportunities
• No Monthly Desk Fees
• Monthly Office Meetings to go over new trends and rule changes
• Monthly Vendor Training opportunities from Lenders, Inspectors, etc
  
• High quality Copy/Scan/Fax Machine for agent use with no fee
  
• Free Coffee, Soda, and Water service for Agents and their Clients
• Flexible Office with Multiple Meeting Spaces for Agent and Client Meetings
• Desk Space for Agents
• Agent Business Planning to help Grow and Sustain your Business

We Give Our Agents the Tools for Succeed:

• Company provided agent website and CRM that is designed to Generate Leads and Maintain Client Database
  
• Company provided Signs
  
• Company provided Lockboxes
  
• Company provided Business Cards
  
• Company provided Professional Headshot
• Company provided Leads to help you Jumpstart your Business
• Access to Premium Dotloop Account
  
• Professional Photography for All Listings
  

Please reach out to Mike and Kathleen Kelly 828-328-9540 to discuss joining our firm.

Jayana Linder a REALTOR® with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills has been awarded the Accredited Buyer’s Representation (ABR®) designation by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC) of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR).

Jayana joins more than 27,000 real estate professionals in North America who have earned the ABR® designation. All were required to successfully complete a comprehensive course in buyer representation and an elective course focusing on a buyer representation specialty, both in addition to submitting documentation verifying professional experience.

REBAC, founded in 1988, is the world’s largest association of real estate professionals focused specifically on representing the real estate buyer. There are more than 40,000 active members of the organization world-wide. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is the world’s largest professional association, representing over 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the real estate industry.

Jayana can help you not only with BUYING your new home, but also SELLING your home.

Feel free to contact Jayana Linder to help you with your real estate needs.

You can contact Jayana by phone 828-238-1004 or,
visit her website Jayana.Linder.BetterFoothills.com

Wesley was born in Greenwood, South Carolina, but he’s lived in Granite Falls since he was three. Wesley has a passion for helping others and enjoys spending time with his friends and family. Real estate is a new adventure for Wesley, and he can’t wait to help people with their dreams of realizing home ownership!

“We are thrilled that Wesley is joining our firm,” said Mike Kelly Broker/Owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills. “As one of our agents, Wesley has access to high-quality training, great marketing tools, powerful technology, and an unmatched social media program in the Catawba Valley area.”

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills is a full-service real estate brokerage company specializing in residential and commercial properties in the Foothills of North Carolina. Since starting in 2010, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills has continued to grow to more than 40 agents.

Feel free to contact Wesley McNeill to help you with your real estate needs.

You can contact Wesley by phone (828) 493-9254 or,  
visit his website Wesley.McNeill.BetterFoothills.com