IT'S FINALLY GETTING WARMER IN THE  MOUNTAINS--TODAY'S TEMPERATURE SHOULD BE 65 AND SUNNY!  AND THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IS HEATING UP, TOO!  SINCE JANUARY, WE ARE NOTICING ANXIOUS BUYERS READY TO LOOK SERIOUSLY!  THE INTEREST RATES HAVE DROPPED, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW 1031 EXCHANGES THAT ARE IDENTIFYING PROPERTIES, AND THERE ARE CASH OUTS FROM REFINANCING AT THE LOWER RATES.  THOSE PEOPLE WITH CASH OUTS ARE TAKING THEIR CASH AND BUYING SECOND HOMES. PRICING IS HOLDING STEADY FOR TWO REASONS--OUR COUNTY IS 70% NATIONAL FOREST--USFS--WHICH INCLUDES GA. POWER LEASE LOTS ON OUR THREE BEAUTIFUL LAKES, AND WE DON'T HAVE MANY SUBDIVISIONS, SO THERE ARE VERY FEW NEW HOMES JUST SITTING AND WAITING FOR A BUYER.  A BUILDER WILL BUILD ONE HOME AND NOT BUILD ANOTHER UNTIL THAT ONE SELLS.  I AM TROUBLED HOW THE MEDIA DEPICTS ALL MARKETS THE SAME--BIG CITIES, HUNDREDS OF SUBDIVISION HOMES NOT SELLING--WHEN I WOULD BET AMERICA IS VERY MUCH LIKE OUR TOWN--SOME SLOW DOWN LAST YEAR BUT A NOTICEABLE CHANGE OF ATTITUDE THAT STARTED WITH THE NEW YEAR. HERE'S TO 2008--A YEAR TO REMEMBER AS THE TIME TO BUY REAL ESTATE IN RABUN COUNTY, GA!