Real Estate Blog - Home Away From Home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia

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Home Away From Home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia

A second home provides an escape from the day to day stresses and that is one of the reasons the second home market is thriving. The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia has become a popular second/vacation home destination in recent years. Since I sell real estate in a second home market and primarily work with second home buyers, baby boomers, future and current retirees, I hope this post will provide a few tips for the potential second home/vacation home buyer based on questions I have gotten from previous buyers.

Climate is important when choosing the location for your second home but so are your personal interests. It is your personal interests that should be the driving factor. Get to know the area, spend some time driving around and mingling in local shops. Check out locations of interest at different times of the day. Subscribe to local newspapers in the area of interest to you in order to become more familiar with the area and talk to local residents and other vacationers when visiting an area. Research as much as possible online. Visit the local Chamber of Commerce or Visitor's Center for additional information about the area such as: events, recreation, amenities, places of worship, hospitals, amenities, pet care, etc. Contact the local police department for information on crime.

How far will you need to travel, can you drive by car, do you have to fly
How often will you use your second/vacation home
Pets and their needs
Taxes and insurance, maintenance and travel costs in addition to the mortgage payment. Consult with a professional tax advisor and the local county's tax assessor's office. In some instances, interest and property taxes on second/vacation homes may be tax deductible as well as, some rental expenses.
What type of property is best for your wants and needs, i.e., single family detached; attached housing; active senior adult communities; town homes, condominiums, studios. Talk to a local realtor about the area and have the realtor explain the types of housing choices in the area and the advantages or disadvantages, whichever the case.
What your financing choices are. Financing terms are changing frequently in today's market so keep in touch with a trusted mortgage broker or Realtor who can refer you to local lenders who will understand the nuances of the area of interest to you. Be sure to calculate the down payment and closing costs and any other additional fees when financing a second/vacation home. Don't forget to include monthly utilities, yard maintenance, and security
Who will care for your second home when not in use? Property management is a great option while you are away.
Resale ! This is an important component that can often be overlooked. You may be purchasing your second home for a future retirement home which will become your primary home at some point in time and you think you will retire and be there from now on. But be sure to consider that life is all about change and the day may come when you decide to sell. Keep these resale factors in mind when purchasing your second home:
Homes convenient to shopping, restaurants, recreation and hospitals may be more desirable but privacy and seclusion is also an important factor to some buyers. However, a property that is too remote could be more difficult to sell.
Easy driving distance may have greater sales potential
Properties that can be used year round or at least more than one season per year will appeal to a greater number of potential buyers
Properties with good rental history will be more appealing to a potential investor

Featured Second/Vacation Homes

The Secret of Mountain Charm in the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains

North Georgia Mountain Custom Log Cabin for the Buyer Who Demands Quality and Luxury!

Mountain Homes

North Georgia Multiple Listings

Donna Yates, Georgia Realtor primarily serving the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains located in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Donna is dedicated to the real estate profession full-time and is ready to help home buyers nationwide. Want to market your property; need buyer representation? Email: Donna@ellijay.com Call 706-633-0644 cell. Visit Donna's website to view great mountain properties: www.move2northgeorgia.net

Posted by Donna Yates, Georgia Realtor Georgia Real Estate,Blue Ridge Mountains on 04/01/2008 04:01 PM

Comments (23)

north georgia blue ridge mountains, second homes, vacation homes, mountain charm, jim barna log cabins, localism, donna yates real estate

Originally posted at: North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains Real Estate Blog, Donna Yates, Realtor: Home Away From Home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia

This post has been included in Georgia Information
Post is included in group: North Georgia Real Estate
Post is included in group: Investing in Real Estate
Post is included in group: Second Homes
Post is included in group: Posts to Localism

23 Comments on Home Away From Home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia

APR

2008

Sigh!!!! You almost make me like mountains! Of course I am an Ocean girl! :)

Hi Donna, this looks awesome!! Love the slide show.

Hi Karen: I love the ocean too! I think having a place at the beach and one in the mountains is the best of both worlds. It's great to hear from you. Thank you for your comment.

Keith & Robin: The slideshow is of an awesome Jim Barna custom log home in Suches. It overlooks the Toccoa River Valley and the Toccoa River! Really awesome. Thank you for your comment.

Hi Donna,
Like Karen, I'm a beach girl but the mountains are very nice too and who wouldn't be "sold" by your wonderful video. Beautifully done.

Donna, I love your slide show and of course, your unique homes....until I started reading your blog I never knew there were gorgeous homes like that! And in such a beautiful place.

Donna: Great post! Packed with good information and I LOVE the slide show!! Keep showing the world what a wonderful place we live in!!

APR

2008

Cynthia: Let's me and you pay Karen a visit and hang out at the ocean for awhile! Thank you very much for your comment and stopping by to check out this post.

Carole: I'm falling behind on AR lately but trying to catch up. I'll be paying your posts a visit soon. I miss reading them. I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment. Thank you.

Kim: There's something magical about our mountains and I'm sure a lot of it has to do the majestic beauty that surrounds us. Thank you for your comment.

APR

2008

How cool. I never heard of or even would have thought to have a second home in North Georgia. What great info! What a great niche for you!

APR

2008

Dave: I really enjoy the second home market. I have great fun with the buyers who visit our area. Actually Blue Ridge was ranked #5 in the nation for second homes. Thank you for your comment.

Good Post Donna,

I love the slide show.

APR

2008

Jason and Deanna: Thank you for your comment.

Great information, great slide show, great, great, great. Donna, your localism posts get better ever time I see one! Congrats on your gold star in the Posts to Localism Group.

Donna, as I have said before, we love your area very much-now even more! Great presentation and slide show! We are convinced, North Georgia Blue Ridge area is where our goal for a second home is. Thanks.

Hi, Donna, this is a very nice presentation for agents as well as buyers. I sell a lot of second homes in Mesquite, too. Your point on resale is so well put. I bring that up to all 2nd home buyers - so many have never thought it, especially retirees. Thanks for another great post.

APR

2008

Beautiful country Donna,

I took my wife there for the first time last fall and she fell in love. We know now would be a good time to find a bargain there but given the current market we are cautious about dipping to deeply into savings. Looking for 2009.

APR

2008

Hi Scott: We have had some price corrections and sellers are motivated to sell. However, it seems many buyers have the impression that they can get a cabin for 50% off list price. Not true and I've seen many buyers go home disappointed recently. I think we have great deals compared to a year ago but fortunately our market has remained fairly constant and buyers won't find the kind of deals they hear about on the news or in other hard hit markets. With low interest rates and a lot of inventory, now is the time to pick the best of the best. Thank you for your comment.

Hi Donna I agree with everyone great presentation-super slide show. I was so happy to see someone actually talking about there locality. This is exactly what I want to do but can not get any answers to my questions. On your "My home page" how do you get into the section that says news and events, local information? How do you write the articles to go on that page or is that a blog. I have put photos of landmarks on local ism but can not figure out how to put in the stats for our real estate market. I want what you have done so beautifully, to inform all about the area that I come from in Pa Tell me please the difference between an article, a blog and a post. Am I the only one that can't figure this out??

APR

2008

Hi June: I will try to address your questions in a separate email directly to you rather than in this comment section. I appreciate your comment very much and am happy to help you if I can. I will be in touch with you very shortly. Thank you.

Hi Donna, just wanted to leave this comment.

Thank you so much for the detailed instructions addressing my questions.

I am sure, I speak for not only myself, but for many others that you have

been of help. you are truly APPRECIATED.

June: You are very welcome and I hope I was able to help some. Just email me anytime and I'll be happy to do what I can. My best to you and I'm looking forward to your blogs :-)

Margaret: I am so sorry I missed your comment before. Looks like I missed a few others. I appreciate your thoughts as always and I didn't know about the gold star. Goodness, I really need to get with the program don't I. Many thanks.

Hey Denise: I think you will be making a very wise choice to choose Blue Ridge for a second home and I know just the Realtor who can help you!!!

Keith and Robin: Looks like I missed you too. So sorry. Thank you for your devoted readership and I appreciate your comments always.

APR

2008

Donna, great job on the slide show, my mom and dad have a place outside of Ellijay, and I just spent last week there. There is something about the mountains that will cause you to leave everything behind and just enjoy the peace that it presents to you. I'm always able to come back from mom and dads refreshed and rejuvenated. During the summe we tend to play all afternoon in the river behind moms and that is when we really relax, it washes all the stress away, so beware to everyone down river. :-)

Bonnie

TheHomeInspectorsWife

APR

2008

Virginia: I'm sorry for the delay in responding to your comment. I've been a bit sidetracked lately. Yes, I do think resale is an important point and you are right, a lot of buyers do not think about that sometimes. I appreciate your thoughts very much.

Bonnie: Sounds like sheer heaven to play all afternoon in the river and to have it behind your mom's house is extra special. Life is just too short not to have as many moments like these as possible. Thank you for your comment.

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