This short post was inspired by Charles Buell. He did a post on fire places chimneys etc. it got me thinking and so here goes. You have a fire place or a wood burning stove. You can either buy wood , or do likeIi do scavenge and help neighbors clear. Now comes the question. Most would say leave the wood out to dry and then split it up in the winter. The old saying is , "Wood warms your twice. "  But what you should do is split the wood after it is cut while it is wet. This does 2 things.  One, it will help it dry faster. The second thing , which I like is ,it is EASIER to split. And I mean a lot easier. Why? all you Paul Bunyan's ask. Because as wood dries out it shrinks. It becomes more dense and that makes it harder to split. Wet wood is less dense and it is easier to go through sap t... 08/12/2010

I posted about this a while ago . But recently I have felt the need to post it again. Many out there are looking only at foreclosures and short sales. But truth be told what they should be looking for is VALUE. Value can be found in short sales and foreclosures . But it can also be found in conventional sales. If you are a first time home buyer do not fall prey to the media hype and limit yourself to looking at one type of property. Let your Realtor show you value. What it s called after that , short sales etc etc. is really meaningless. Value dictates the amount of money you are going to spend. So why not make Value your key word when looking for a good deal? 07/05/2010

I made an error in a blog I wrote last week. I asked for ideas and suggestions for the mountain real estate report. IN my post I did mention that we would give credit for an idea used for our weekly radio show. My error was I made the post members only. Really and truly public input is very important. So I repeat my offer. and ask for your help. The mountain real estate report which is heard every Thursday on WYYZ in Jasper after the noon news, is also simulcast on the web as well as stored on our web site www.allmountainrealty.com and placed  here on ActiveRain.  The idea behind the show is to ,for sure advertise property for sale here in our great North Georgia mountains. But that is only one component. We aim to inform. To that end we have had mayors, U.S. Senators, Builders, conserv... 06/16/2010

Through out the North Georgia Mountains every Thursday after the noon news we broadcast the Mountain Real estate report. If you are in Pickens, Gilmer, Cherokee, or Dawson Counties you can hear us live on WYYZ Radio. If you miss the show you can hear us here on ActiveRain or on our web site www.allmountainrealty.com. The mountain real estate Report is brings real estate information to it's listeners . We provide tips and strategies on buying , selling and investing in our beautiful North Georgia Mountains. Enjoy the show 03/05/2010

Have you ever ordered something or tried to get an update about something and never gotten a call back? It is real frustrating and discourteous isn't it? Rule 1 If you have decided on another way to go call your Realtor back when they call you. Let them know. Instead of thinking I do not want to make this person angry you actually will make them happy you have updated them and shown them the same courtesy you would want shown to you. Have you ever been in a store and had a clerk ask you if you need help? Did you tell them not to spend time with you as are only looking? Rule 2 If you are only looking tell the Realtor up front just like you did the clerk. Let the Realtor decide if they want to spend time with you. You may find the Realtor can put you on an email drip and send you valuable... 02/11/2010

In our mountains we work with a good cross section of buyers and sellers. Many of the buyers are first time buyers. There is a reluctance on the part of many of the buyers to get financially qualified first. They may have issues on their credit. Let me say now that the mortgage folks and we have heard it all before. The bottom line is from a financial aspect the banker is your priest. He, or she will work with you in confidence. We at All Mountain Realty will work with you in confidence also. The first step in the acquisition process is to know what you can qualify for. Do not be shy or embarrassed. You have made a decision to buy. It is a great one. Let our full service brokerage  work with you to make it happen. Along the way you may have to burn 3 credit cards and swear off borrowing... 01/04/2010

If you are looking for a great home community with lots of land, most homes rest on 2+ acres, then Dawson Creek in Cherokee County, is for you. Enjoy private wooded back yards and great views. Dawson Creek is located in the City of Ball Ground, in Cherokee County Georgia 30107. Home styles range from Craftsman style, ranch, rustic and cape cod. Homes For Sale In Dawson Creek Home prices in Dawson Creek of Ball Ground range in price from the high $200's to the mid $400's. The average price for a 4 bedroom / 3 full bathroom / 1 half bathroom home is $360,000. The age of homes built 2001 to 2006. This neighborhood is not a pool and tennis community. More Real Estate For Sale In Ball Ground GA Directions: 575 NORTH TO EXIT 19 & STAY RIGHT ONTO HIGHWAY 20 EAST JUST OVER 8 MILES.LEFT ON SR-3... 11/21/2009

This week on the Mountain real estate report we talk about the difference in flipping and investing. We also talk about investing models. We feature the gated community of talking rock creek. The mountain real estate report is heard every Thursday on WYYZ in Jasper Georgia. 11/05/2009

This Fall has been pretty wet . So the leaves are not as super as usual. But they still are great in our North Georgia Mountains Did you ever notice that our British and other English speaking friends use the word Autumn instead of Fall? They would say we can always tell an American because they say Fall instead of Autumn. Well I am here to tell you Fall is Shakespearean English. It was the word used at the time of our colonization. We have not changed the word or replaced it with Autumn. So when a British person speaks in a condescending manner about our use of the language, you can politely tell them to stick it in their steak and kidney pie. What could be more English than Shakespearean English! 10/28/2009

This is not a blog about base housing. Instead our current market today is greatly influenced by the military. Before the G.I. Bill after WW II the housing market was very different. People went to banks and sat down with a banker. Usually they knew the banker. They usually put down 40 -50 percent. The loans were for 10 -15 years tops. The whole process was very dependent on your relationship with the banker. It was a very subjective process. The G.I. Bill changed all that. The bill created the environment we are in today. It made for 30 year loans. It set the standard for 20 percent down. It introduced insurance on Mortgages. It created obviously the VA loan. In addition it started to create the standards for credit scores we use today So as many changes in medicine and technology come... 10/19/2009

The lease purchase has become something we are dealing with more and more. Causes for this are numerous. But in many cases a buyer has come out of a short sale, or even a foreclosure, and needs some time to build back up their credit score. They find a home they want, like , and can afford so they offer a lease purchase contract. The seller on the other hand may be in a sluggish market.  The seller may have taken a move to preserve a job that they may not be able to get where they are. They now have a house payment, and  a rent payment in a new location. So a lease purchase can eliminate a cash flow issue and now becomes an option the seller might not have normally considered. A Realtor is just as valuable in this type of transaction for a number of reasons. But I am going to list a rea... 10/07/2009

It is Fall here in the Mountains. This photo was taken yesterday in Ball Ground. At this time of year there are fields and fields of Golden rod. Beautiful wild flowers bloom all year in the North Georgia Mountains. Whether you are looking in Big Canoe, Jasper, Ball Ground, or other areas in our mountains, the folks at All Mountain Realty are here to work for you. We are your mountain experts . Give us a call at 706 579 1098. 09/20/2009

Am I in Kansas? No! This photo was taken in the Ball Ground area in North Georgia. The beauty of our mountains is as soon as some one finds some flat land it is farmed. These Sun flowers are just wonderful to see. This is a rather large field near the Etowah River 09/06/2009

I am going to make a prediction. Yes I really am the illegitimate child of Nostradamus 14 generations removed!. Or at least some one who watch the amazing Karnak on Johnny Carson. Here it is . Many, many, many, buyers are going to get shut out on the 8k credit because they are going to wait till the last minute. Closing attorneys and banks are going to be even more backed up in this rush and the deadlines are going to be missed. Unless of course the government extends. But the crystal is cloudy on this subject. So tell the fence sitters come September 30 days may not be enough time to close if you are getting a loan. I see it coming 07/23/2009

I need more than one Camera. The other day when a mother Turkey and her chicks walked across the road and I did not have my camera I vowed to keep my camera in my car. That worked well as I was able to post Bear photos earlier this month. But then a fawn walked across my yard and the camera was in the car ARRGGGHHHH. I need more than one camera to show you all the great things going on in the North Georgia Mountains 06/14/2009

  The old homestead stands silently as a sentinel over looking fields and the pristine Etowah River. For 11 years I have been driving down the road that the sentinel stands watch over. The old homestead is in Cherokee county . Near the Etowah river. It conjures up images of native peoples who no longer live on this land. It is in fields and was obviously a farm house at one time. Who were the people who farmed there and raised their family? A few years ago a for sale sign appeared on the land. The acreage that the sentinel stood watch over sold. What would happen ? Would the farm and the beauty of the land become a victim of sprawl?  One thing the farm had going for it was it was flat and the Etowah river. We are trying to keep this natural and beautiful river as pritine as possible. So... 06/06/2009

Unique Custom Home for Sale in Ball Ground GA, Atlanta Real EstateListed by Tom Stocks #678-283-9570. UNIQUE CUSTOM RANCH HOME WITH FINISHED BASEMENT! 4 SIDES BRICK "STUNNER" ON 2 ACRES. CUSTOM MAHOGANY CABINETS IN KITCHEN & MASTER SPA! UPGRADED STAINLESS STEEL KITCHEN APPLIANCES AND CUSTOM GRANITE COUNTERTOPS! SOLID MAHOGANY HARDWOOD FLOORS ON MAIN! 18'' TILE IN KITCHEN AND FAMILY ROOM. MASTER SPA WITH HIS/HER TOILETS AND CLOSETS, CUSTOM JETTED TUB AND TILED JETTED SHOWER. BASEMENT THEATER! For complete property tour: http://www.advantagehometours.com/CompletedTours/100HightowerLakeTrNB/tabid/243/Default.aspx 04/19/2009

Welcome to the Community Of Creekside Estates located in North Cherokee County Georgia 30107.  Located In the City Of Ball Ground, just North/West of Alpharetta/Milton in North Fulton County and North of City Of Canton. Homes Built between the years of 2004-2007 and range in price from $299,000-$439,000.From wooded backyard to Mountain views, hardwood floors throughout in some homes to room for tennis court lots, this community gives you the country feel and room to think and breath in the fresh country air of Georgia. Visit homes for Sale In Creekside Estates. The Average sale Price For a 4 bedroom / 3 full bathroom / 0 half bath is currently in the mid $300's. Most homes sit on lots 3/4 acre + with most having room for tennis courts or pool.Ball Ground GA Real Estate 01/13/2009

Ball Ground is a clean and attractive town, and a steadily-growning one. It has an excellent school system and two churches, Methodist and Baptist; supports a number of prosperous commercial establishments, including a bank and a hotel, in addition to its industrial enterprises; and contains many attractive homes. There are no finer people anywhere than its citizens. If yo are thinking of moving to Ball Ground or need to take a look ar some Ball Ground Georgia Real Estate For Sale just call Dwayne West with Solid Source Realty-Ball Ground. 09/10/2008

Ball Ground is a small town in Cherokee County . It is at the foothills of the mountains. Many people consider this tiny town, No traffic lights, unlike Jasper, to be the new up and coming area. The Name Ball Ground is unique. It is unclear whether it is derived from Battle Ground, as this was the site of a famous battle between the Creeks and the Cherokees. Or Ball Ground as it was the site of many ball games played by the Native Americans.  This first pictures shows the flat and green areas that are Ball Ground. The Etowah River runs through the area. The area was heavily farmed even before the arrival of Europeans.    Take a look at the beautiful home. Ther are many like it in this great little town. Who would not want to live in a home like this ?   As Ball Ground is right next to J... 09/06/2008