Coleen is the Broker-In-Charge at McKee Properties.

Coleen joined McKee Properties in 2017 as Broker-in-Charge. Serving as the company’s chief administrative officer, she oversees day-to-day operations, from reviewing contracts and agreements to supporting Brokers’ professional development and continuing education. Additionally, she serves as the company’s primary liaison to state and local real estate professional organizations.

At a Glance

  • Bachelor’s in marketing from Florida State University
  • Board of Directors, Highlands-Cashiers MLS
  • Native of St. Cloud, Florida

A native of St. Cloud in central Florida, Coleen holds a bachelor of science in marketing from Florida State University, making her a third-generation Seminole. She earned her NC real estate license in 1996. Her professional designations include Certified Residential Specialist (CRS); Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI); Green; Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS); Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES); and Luxury Home Market Specialist (CLHMS).

Coleen and her late husband Miles moved to the area in 1995 — making a “dream come true.” Prior to joining McKee Properties, she served two other real estate companies in Cashiers.

She serves on the Board of Directors for the Highlands-Cashiers Multiple Listing Service and is a member of Friends of Lake Glenville, Cashiers Historical Society and Friends of Panthertown.

Coleen has one son — Jake, a Western Carolina University graduate, currently working for the Southwestern Commission. An avid outdoors woman, Coleen enjoys traveling, hiking, boating, biking, camping and her newly-discovered sport, kayaking. She can also be found bowling, making pottery or taking in a movie.

Get to Know Coleen

What is your favorite thing about the Cashiers area?

The mountains and small village got me here; the wonderful people I have met and the friends I have made over the years have kept have me here.


Of what moment in your real restate career are you most proud?

I found the perfect home for my Mom. Ann Austin was hosting an Open House at one of her new listings, and our entire office decided to go and preview it. It was a cute, two-bedroom, two-bath cottage, sitting on a stream next to a pond — a lovely setting. The owner had beautiful gardens all around the property, and an art studio overlooked the stream.  I raced back to the office and called my Mom. At the time, she was not quite ready to move up here from Florida; that plan was about three years away. I told her this was the house for her and she needed to buy a plane ticket and come up within a week.  We would make an offer contingent upon her seeing the house. By gosh, she got up here and loved the home. But there was one kink: the only way she was going to buy the home, was if she got a wooden bear piece — Buster Bear — that was hanging in the carport. So, I had to put my real estate talents together and negotiate for this bear for my Mom. Today, Buster Bear still hangs in the carport.


What is one of your favorite Cashiers-area memories or traditions?

Each year, our family goes to one of the many Christmas tree farms in the area to cut down a tree. That is where we take our annual family photo. We also host a Thanksgiving gathering, inviting friends and family and those who have no plans. Even friends of friends come along. All we ask is that guests bring a favorite covered dish to share. We cook the turkeys — fried, baked and smoked — maybe a brisket or two or even a ham. We’ve been known to host more than 70 people at our Thanksgiving gatherings. Another great memory is watching my son, Jake, graduate eighth grade from the Summit Charter School. Many of the kids he graduated with we watched grow up over the years, since pre-3 and the Hampton School.


What is something folks might not know about you?

My grandfather on my Mom’s side was born in an area that is now a part of the Smoky Mountains. There is a ridge named after the family — Hughes Ridge — which sits just inside the park, close to the entrance on the Cherokee side.