Couple go heavy on real estate investments

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Couple go heavy on real estate investments
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Robert and Lori Morris have a portfolio heavily concentrated in real estate.
By John C. Fletcher for USA TODAY

The heart of Robert and Lori Morris’ investment portfolio is a little town he describes as “very Mayberry.” A Main Street. Shops and merchants. Waving neighbors. A great view.

The town is Black Mountain, N.C., in the Blue Ridge Mountains, about five miles from the Biltmore House, the 19th-century home of the Vanderbilts and still the biggest house ever built in America.

“There’s hiking and backpacking and rafting and horseback riding, and everyone knows everyone else,” Robert says.

He and Lori, who attended the same high school, were married seven years ago.

Since then, the 35-year-old couple have bought, renovated and rented four homes and one commercial strip in Black Mountain.

Their primary residence, which they built themselves, is down the road in Swannanoa.

And they have a vacation condo in Gatlinburg, Tenn., just across the state line.

Couple go heavy on real estate investments - Gatlinburg Cabins