103 Franklin Street · Stem, NC 27581

This sold listing represents a completely different property category, offering a historic turn-of-the-century farmhouse that sold 'as-is' with rustic finishes, older wood-paneled surfaces, and aged systems. In contrast, 106 Franklin Street offers an updated, functional ranch layout alongside substantial exterior infrastructure, including an insulated, climate-controlled Morton workshop and a finished detached guest office. While this property provided significant acreage and vintage character at a lower upfront price, it comes with the ongoing maintenance demands typical of a home over a century old. The significant price premium for 106 Franklin Street reflects its finished outbuildings, attached two-car garage, and much more turnkey living spaces.

This sold listing is a newer suburban ranch situated on a standard 0.31-acre subdivision lot, featuring contemporary crisp finishes, quartz surfaces, and modern gray cabinetry. While 106 Franklin Street has slightly more traditional 1990s elements like extensive carpeting, it offers over 600 square feet more main interior space on a sprawling 1.56-acre lot. More importantly, 106 Franklin Street includes exceptional standalone infrastructure with its finished detached office building and massive Morton building workshop, which a standard neighborhood home simply cannot offer. The higher cost per square foot for 106 Franklin Street directly accounts for that valuable acreage and auxiliary building square footage.

This sold listing offers clean, modern ranch living on a quarter-acre lot with neighborhood pond views, open-concept living, and granite countertops. When looking at 106 Franklin Street, you gain considerably more space inside the main home, plus well over an acre of additional yard space and privacy without HOA restrictions. Furthermore, the specialized outbuildings at 106 Franklin Street—particularly the heated and cooled Morton workshop and detached office—add extensive utility that would cost tens of thousands to construct from scratch. The price difference between the two properties neatly balances the scale of the land and outbuildings against straightforward subdivision living.