About Us
Owners, Kristy & Christian Favalli the day they purchased their first property in 2014. It’s a tradition for the Favallis to hike Whiteside Mountain each time they close on a property. They now hike with their 3 daughters in tow.
We didn't start as a rental company. We started as guests who fell in love. Elevate founder Kristy Favalli grew up spending summers in Highlands, NC and to this day, there's no bigger advocate for this corner of the mountains. "I have the fondest memories of time spent here. The thick fog rolling up the mountains. The smell of firewood in a log cabin. Stumbling upon waterfalls in the middle of the woods. All of it was new to me, and like nothing I'd experienced before. I've seen much more of the world since then — but Highlands? It was majestic then and I still find it just as impressive."
In 2006, Kristy brought her (now) husband Christian to Highlands for the first time. They hiked. They chased waterfalls until dark. Over a bottle of wine at Sunset Rock, they made a decision: one day, they'd own a house here. That day came in October 2014, when they purchased their first Highlands property with the simple intention of subsidizing the mortgage by renting it out.
They had no idea what they were starting.
Within four years, the Favallis owned six properties in and around Highlands — and Elevate was born. Today, the portfolio spans three mountain destinations: Highlands, NC, Cashiers, NC, and Clayton, GA.
What makes Elevate different is simple: we own everything we rent. There are no third-party managed homes in our collection. Every property has been personally selected, renovated, furnished, and maintained by us — and it shows. Whether it’s a legendary Joe Webb treehouse, a cabin in the woods, or a marsh-front lodge each Elevate property has its own distinct character. But all share the same DNA: warm wood walls, intentional design, functional luxury, and a host invested in her guests falling in love with the plateau in the same way she did.
Formerly an Atlanta restaurateur, Kristy brings that same hospitality mindset to every stay. From setting the ambiance before you arrive to sharing her insider list of area favorites — the back roads, the hidden waterfalls, the ducks at dusk on Harris Lake — she's passionate about showing guests the Highlands she loves, not just the one on the brochure.
It's why so many guests return year after year. And why the Favallis have grown to know most of them on a personal level.
