Knocking conventional wisdom on its ear, home prices in the North Georgia mountain real estate market during 2007--with the exception of Gilmer County--continue a trend upward, albeit not at the rate we saw in 2004 and 2005.   I did a year-to-year comparison of residential sales in 2006 and 2007.  The results were interesting, to say the least.  Despite an overall decline of nearly 28% in number of units sold--and an absorption rate averaging 21 months--prices held steady and, remarkably, in Fannin County prices leaped by 14% in 2007!I analyzed sales data for the North Georgia market overall (Gilmer, Fannin, Union and Towns counties combined), as well as each county individually.  In addition to number of sales, average price, and most expensive listing, I tried to put the numbers in pe... 02/12/2008

It is so hard for me to believe that another month has come and gone. I guess all that stuff I used to hear from my Mom about how time really flies by as you get older really is true. I want to say it is because I am always having fun!With another month here, it is time for my monthly North Georgia Real Estate Market Report. I gather all of this information that is made available to me through our Northeast Georgia Board of Realtors MLS services. This information is compiled on the first day of each month from the data of the previous month. This information is deemed reliable, however it is not guaranteed.Please be sure to look over the report, I think you will find it very informative. If however you find that I have left out any information, or you would like to make a suggestion, pl... 02/03/2008

This is how she looked in January, 2006 on her 111th birthday. This broken down old building was in it's glory in 1985.  Originally the headquarters of the L & N Train Lines, this building was the focal point for the resort/spa town of Blue Ridge Georgia.  Individuals travelled to this mountain getaway to enjoy the restorative powers of the crystal clear mountain water. Original paintings depict children playing in the streets, horse-drawn buggies, and women in long gowns strolling down the dirt roads of this charming historic town.  A team of historic preservation specialists went to work on bringing this building back to it's former glory.  Today she is the home of the Coldwell Banker High Country Team.  Rarely does a week go buy without a visitor or two who remember bits and pieces o... 02/01/2008

The Fed dropped the Federal funds rate today by 3/4 of a percent, from 4.25% to 3.5%. That's a huge drop.  And there may be further/smaller drops to come.I know it will take a couple of weeks for the mortgage industry to see the interest rate reductions, but I'm sure hoping that this will "nudge" those people that are sitting out there waiting for the "best" deal on the market.  With prices and interest rates adjusting downward, I'm hoping they will get on the phone and get serious. Kristy Petrillohttp://georgiamountains.com 01/22/2008

I thought since everyone seems to love our wonderful little town located in the N. Georgia Mountains, that I would share a little history. We have seen alot of changes, but one thing still stands-"friendly, caring folks"!   Blue Ridge, Georgia, so named because of the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Appalachian Range, was incorporated by an act of the Georgia Legislature on October 24, 1887. The founding father was Colonel Michael McKinney.  He built the first house in the town and established the first business after the incorporation.  He dealt in lumber, real estate, and merchandise. Colonel McKinney was a moving force in getting the railroad to Blue Ridge.  His partner, C.R. Walton, a civil engineer, was superintendent of construction for the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad. He surv... 01/19/2008

After seeing the slowest months in my real estate career for the months of November and December, things have really started moving since January 1st. In Fannin County 24 Properties have gone under contract and in Gilmer County 21, more than doubling from the month before. This may be due to some really great deals out there on property. Has anyone else noticed the increase in activity? Kristy Petrillohttp://www.georgiamountains.com  01/19/2008

The number of ACTIVE listings in the North Georgia Mountain Real Estate Market have actually seen a slight decrease in number over what the market saw in November. This is due to a small increase in the number of SOLD properties in December over the previous month. Also, there have been a lot of folks that have chose to pull their properties off of the market until we see a shift back to a Sellers Market. Read the rest of this entry » 01/16/2008

The Blue Ridge City Council has voted to proceed with their plan to annex part of Hwy. 515 from south of the Blue Ridge city limits to the Gilmer county line and from the east of the city to the Lakewood (intersection of Hwy. 515 and Hwy. 60).The Georgia General Assembly must approve this change.  Blue Ridge city council may have waited too late to start this again since the Georgia legislature will soon convene.  The city council would like to hold a town hall meeting and hear what the public has to say on the matter.  One council member who cast the only vote against the proposal said the council should study the matter further.  It seems there has been plenty of time to hear from the public and for council members to meet to discuss since nine months has passed since the last time th... 01/15/2008

Have you ever wondered just exactly what an appraisal is, or what components make up an appraisal? This weeks phone calls have consisted mostly of folks wanting a Realtors advice of what to do when they receive a disappointing appraisal.What some home owners or buyer's sometimes don't understand is that there are many guidelines that Appraisers must follow that are set forth by companies like FannieMae and governmental organizations like the Georgia Real Estate Commission. I have asked a business associate and good friend of mine Jason Farmer who owns Mountain Gateway Appraisal to prepare for me some of those guidelines to share with my readers that are common concerns of those involved in a real estate transaction here in the North Georgia Mountain Real Estate market for a future post.... 12/13/2007

Is was like a big ol' smack on the cheek to be MeMe'd by my friend and Blogging Coach Justin Smith. (Read #5..you will understand!)What? You don't know what a MeMe is? That's okay...I didn't either. So if you would like to know, you can go here!Here is 5 things you may not know about me:I have a Beautiful Wife of almost 15 years Kristi, who was actually engaged when we were on our first (un)official date. I have 2 amazing children, Madison (10) and Bryson (6) with one (unplanned) baby girl on the way. (No name yet..thought we were done!) I was 36 before I went to my first College Football Game. (Go DAWGS!) I was named Rotarian of the Year in 2004! One of the first girls that ever kissed me was a girl by the name of Meme! I have tagged a few fellow Tomato's in the spirit of keeping the M... 12/08/2007

Aptly named, Mountain High offers residents breathtaking views of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. This gated community also boasts underground utilities, community water and wide paved streets that lead to unparalleled mountain living. Centrally located from quaint downtown Blue Ridge Georgia, and historic Murphy North Carolina, Mountain High is but a short drive to Ocoee Rafting and beautiful Lake Blue Ridge. This casually elegant and meticulously designed log home community is situated on the highest developed points of Fannin county. Here in all too rare pristine setting with nearly half of the county being United States Forestry Service. Hiking trails meander throughout this family friendly, incredibly mountain landscaped community. 12/01/2007

     Saturday, November 24 was "Light Up Blue Ridge" which officially kicked off the Christmas season for our town. This annual event started a few years ago and is becoming a mountain tradition, drawing more and more visitors each year to the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains. This year's celebration drew more than 7000 visitors! It was a beautiful sunny day but on the cold side. I was so thankful to get to enjoy this event with my family for the first time this year. My grandchildren had a blast and to see their faces when they saw Santa and Mrs. Claus ride into town on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad gave me a thrill I will never forget. Then Santa and Mrs. Claus and his reindeer trotted around town for everyone to see. He spent all the time needed to be sure to see each and every c... 11/29/2007

I am available to help with your mortgage needs. What have you got to loose? Call me for questions or to help with any of your mortgage financing needs. I can do residential financing, lot loans, commercial loans and construction-Perm. loans. I really will provide you with quality customer service and I will take the time to help with any needs on your financing you may have. 404-310-2134. 11/28/2007

Blue Ridge is on the map again! Trip Advisor, one of the world's largest travel survey community on the Internet, has ranked Blue Ridge Georgia as #5 in the Top 10 United States Tourist Destinations!Jan Hackett of the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce was quoted in The News Observer as saying "This is great news for our community, and yet another way to get the Blue Ridge name out to the tourists."According to the Trip Advisor survey, the major trends travelers value include cleanliness, which is rated above all else, and an environmental friendly community.If you have never been on the forum of Trip Advisor, I would suggest you check it out. It is amazing to me just how many folks are on the forum discussing everything from dining reviews to North Georgia Cabin Rentals, and from things... 11/25/2007

The following is a list from a recent Trip Advisor survey naming Blue Ridge Georgia in the top 10 hotspots of 2008.  You can check it out at http://www.tripadvisor.com/ TripAdvisor TravelCast Top Ten U.S. Destinations for 2008        1.  Sunny Isles Beach, Florida    2.  Kitty Hawk (Outer Banks), North Carolina    3.  Seward, Alaska    4.  Kailua, Hawaii    5.  Blue Ridge, Georgia    6.  Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania    7.  San Marcos, Texas    8.  Paso Robles, California    9.  Rockport, Texas    10. Copper Mountain, Colorado Blue Ridge has consistently been a great retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life being located 90 minutes from Atlanta and one of the closest mountainous regions from Florida.  Combined with this easy access and the impressive property value appreciation over... 11/23/2007

It's a foggy crisp fall morning in the North Georgia Mountains. You walk out on the dew dampened front porch wrapped in your wool blanket. As you bend down to sit in the porch rocker, you notice a faint silhouette of what appears to be a deer. Then, just as you get comfortable and begin sipping on your coffee, there they are....2 small fawn cautiously appearing from no where.Now that is what I call "True freedom from anxiety!"How would you like to experience a similar instance? Do you own a cabin in the mountains? If not, how can you possibly have the chance for the same experience? Well that's simple, you rent one first, then when you are ready to buy, you call me. The Real Estate industry is one of the highest, if not the highest producer of revenue for most of the North Georgia Mount... 11/23/2007

With foreclosures on the rise and tougher lending practices, inventory is also on the rise! If listings are getting harder to sell, why take any more? How about leverage...how about marketing opportunities... and how about networking opportunities?So how do you get them sold? I believe if you price them right, you can get them sold. I don't mean eventually getting to the price, you got to price them right the moment they hit the market. Statistics show that by the third week you should have reached peak interest in the listing. Knowing that, it is key to price the listing right from the start. Below you will find some recent strategies that I am using in the North Georgia Mountain real estate market to assist me in pricing my listings to sell.1. Know the Market: Price Accordingly.After ... 11/22/2007

Just to add something new to the beautiful skys in the Blue Ridge Mountains,  Bill Vernay and his father introduced a strain of white dove to the area .  These fantastic birds in the homing pigeon family are pure white and are the same type of bird used by the Pope in all Vatican presentaions.  The birds are used in weddings, funerals and grand events and symbolize  purity, hope, and love.  Feel free to contact me  for more info. Bill  11/14/2007

Light Up Blue Ridge has become a mountain tradition which kicks off the Christmas season.  Relive the small town celebrations of the past and let the Christmas spirit fill your mind and heart with a fun-filled day of Christmas excitement in downtown Blue Ridge.  Great family fun for all.          Saturday, November 24, downtown Blue Ridge  will jump into full swing with Christmas entertainment, shopping, carriage rides and getting around town will be easy with the trackless train.  Local restaurants and food vendors will be ready to serve visitors with their unique mountain cuisine.  Treat yourself to a fried apple pie and fresh cider from the famous Mercier Orchards.Friday, November 23  Appalachian Community Bank5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Santa's Workshop  where children can have their pict... 11/07/2007

How many of you remember going to a Drive-In Theater when you were a kid?     Wikipedia describes a drive-in theater as follows:"A drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. The screen can be as simple as a wall that is painted white, or it can be a complex steel truss structure with a complex finish. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars. Some drive-in theater managers added children's playgrounds between the screen and the first row of cars. Concrete patios for lawn chairs were available at some drive-in theaters. Originally, audio was provided by speakers on the screen and later by an individual speaker hung from ... 11/06/2007