"Being lifelong residents of Florida, we have always enjoyed our vacations to the mountains of North Carolina and have often discussed owning a summer home here.
"In 2005 our discussions turned to the possibility of living in North Carolina full time. Since we’re in our mid-forties and have a daughter, Kelsey, entering ninth grade, there were lots of requirements — quality education, good health care, close proximity to metropolitan cities, regional airport, and last but not least, an outstanding golf course for me.
"After looking at several communities and almost buying in one, I made one more trip to the Hendersonville area and found a school similar to the one Kelsey was attending in Tampa. I then visited Champion Hills. From the moment I drove into the entrance I was thoroughly impressed. Karen and Kelsey flew up the next day and Kelsey spent part of that day at the school “shadowing” while Karen and I visited the town and the community. They both immediately fell in love with the beauty of Champion Hills, the surrounding towns and the school — that is if a 15-year-old can actually like school.
"Being a little apprehensive about making the decision to move to Hendersonville permanently, we decided in June of 2006 to rent a home for a year. During the first six months here, we have met so many wonderful people who have made us feel welcome. We also have been impressed with the club, amenities, staff and management, not to mention, the golf. This is Tom Fazio’s home course; he calls it his “Mountain Masterpiece” and it’s been rated one of the top 10 best courses in North Carolina.
"We were also hesitant about living in a cooler climate, but we’ve found it ideal. A very hot summer day is in the low 80s with very little humidity, and surprisingly, the winter was very mild with fewer cold days than we expected. In retrospect, it has been nice to have four very mild seasons in comparison to the climate in Florida — brutal summers and dare I say the word “hurricanes.”
"We continue to own a business with the corporate offices in Florida and have found that having two regional airports within 45 minutes of our home is very convenient. In fact, we were so impressed during the first six months here that we have recently purchased a home and will live here year-round.
"It’s funny that now when we travel back to Florida to visit family and friends, we soon start missing the beauty of the mountains and look forward to returning to our new home here at Champion Hills. Our only regret is that we didn't find this community and move sooner.