Carl Beardsworth

Where Leadership, Community, and Housing Come Together

Western North Carolina is growing, but not evenly. Our workers are here. Our families are here. Our communities are here.
The housing… isn’t.

Caldwell and Burke counties are short thousands of homes. That gap affects everything — workforce retention, business recruitment, school stability, and the overall health of our towns. Most people see a shortage. I see a chance to realign the entire system.

That’s the work I do.

I’m a Realtor, but the work runs deeper than real estate. My strength is partnership — bringing together people who don’t always sit at the same table: landowners, builders, lenders, chambers, local leaders, and neighbors who want a voice in what comes next.

My background in mortgage banking, community development, and strategic partnerships taught me that listening matters as much as numbers. One introduction can shift a project, and that’s where I add the most value. I tend to bring people together — the ones who need to meet, the ones who can help, and the ones who can move an idea from talk to action.

Serving as an ambassador for both Caldwell and Burke keeps me close to the ground.
I walk the land, talk with owners, and stay tuned to the business heartbeat of each town. You learn a lot when you show up in person — what’s changing, what’s possible, and what a community is ready for.

Today, that work comes to life in three key ways:

• Helping landowners unlock the real value of their property
with respect for generational ties and an eye toward long-term community impact.

• Guiding builders toward viable, workforce-friendly projects
where zoning, infrastructure, financing, and neighborhood relationships align.

• Supporting buyers who need more than a house — they need a foothold
in a community where they can build a future.

I stay active with the Caldwell and Burke Chambers, the Leads Groups, UUCCV, and our housing and workforce coalitions — not for appearances, but because real progress starts local. Trust is built through steady presence, honest conversations, and showing up for people when it matters.

And when a project finally breaks ground — or when a family closes on a home they didn’t think they could afford — that’s the moment I work for. The moment when possibility becomes real.

If you’re ready to talk about land, housing, partnerships, or the future of our region, I’m ready when you are.
Let’s build something that lasts.