With much fanfare and not a little controversy the new club house is open. The reviews, despite the Pollyanna proclaimations of Smoke Signals, are mixed. I have eaten there once. I have found the food to be good. The staff to be friendly and trying hard. The value to be good. Having said that. I have also been turned away when there were obvious seats available. The menu selection is limited and the staff needs more training. Which all leads us to ask the question why didn't we contract the job out to a company that knew what they were doing?. Also the big vacant room on the side should be opened and used when there are no events. The problem here is we have a pretty building that is not being used to it's maximum. W must get it running a lot better if we are not to see additional fees ... 07/15/2008

It's no secret that buyers are looking for ridiculously good deals. My new lead pool seems to be coming from foreclosures and finding the right one at the right price even though they are not my listings. A lot of times this is not easy work. I have to dig though records and listen to every poolside conversation as if EF Hutton were sitting next to me at any given time. The agent that lists the foreclosure usually doesn't want to share any information and rarely lists them to the proper channels such as FMLS, MLS, etc. In a way I don't blame them, but in others I scratch my head saying, Why? Perhaps I'm wrong, and hope to get my just desserts in comments, but if you list a foreclosure; It's bank owned so there are no phone calls to make saying how many showings, or any other follow-up. ... 07/12/2008

This Saturday is the Reinhardt Big Band at the Terraces. On the 4Th of July there is a fire works display. Also on the 5Th is a tennis round robin mixer. Add this to all the other things Big Canoe offers on a regular basis and you can see why we are North Georgia premier mountain community. Visit us on line at www.georgiasno1agent.comfor more information or call us at 706 268 1028. We are All Mountain Realty Serving Big Canoe and so much more in our North Georgia Mountains 07/01/2008

We recently wrote a blog about QPublic sites providing public access to North Georgia real estate records.  If you're not familiar with these sites, here's a quote from their main site: "QPUBLIC offers a complete turn-key system for distributing public records on-line at a fraction of the traditional cost! We take counties GIS, Parcel, and/or Tax Data and make it available to the public on-line in the form of a searchable database." To sum it up, they allow public access to extensive data regarding sales history, assessed value of real estate, and a host of other data.  Here in Pickens County, GA they have a parcel map that overlays the street map.  You can pan around the map similar to Map Quest and locate the property parcel you're interested in.  Click the parcel, and you're in busin... 06/26/2008

I cannot yet post pictures so forgive me. Rain folks are working on it. This weekend we have a tennis mixer for all to play in. We have the Sconti opening, and we have a great concert at the Terraces Saturday night. Just one weekend of fun in the mountains. But that is not all. Things are in full swing in Ellijay, Dalonega, and Blue Ridge too. The weather is great make the North Georgia mountains your destination 06/16/2008

I just returned to the North Georgia Mountains from south of Atlanta and what a relief! First of all it is 10 degrees cooler here, some due to the ambient temperature (higher elevation, lower temp) and some from the incredible fauna coverage! Thick masses of trees displaying every imaginable shade of green never looked so good!  And the traffic!!! Our only problem is getting behind someone poking along when I am in a rush!  I'm not too sure if that really is a problem, though!  I did have to stop for these guys the other day, the blur in the rear of the photo is a baby flying...something we don't see often, turkeys flying. Mostly they meander in packs, especially out of hunting season!                              06/12/2008

There have been some interesting goings on in Big Canoe lately. Folks outside of the community have posted with glee about a contemplated 1% sales fee on property and recently about a move to recall a director. Let's set the record straight, When you live I a community as beautiful and as amenity rich as Big Canoe there will always be conflicting points of view regarding improvements in terms of scope and breathe. A debate on these issues in my opinion is a healthy sin of a vibrant caring community. Regardless of the outcome we can all be assured the issue will be fully vetted and the solutions and plans going forward will be better for the airing and spirited debate. To make an omelet you have to break some eggs !!! As to the move to recall a director it is obvious to me that the curre... 06/06/2008

Sales in Big Canoe mirror the national averages. In other words they are slow. This means that this is a GREAT time to buy. This is North Georgias' premier Mountain community. With 27 holes of golf , tennis , a fitness center, 3 lakes and so much more Big Canoe combines the Mountain experience with things to do. If you want to sit back and chill you can. If you want to listen to a concert in one of the many free events we have here you can. What about nature you say? Yesterday I watched a turkey walk through my yard as I was working from home. I missed the 2 bears who lumbered up my back steps and were on my back deck. I was about to go out for a break and saw snouts 1 and 2. These are truly beautiful animals. Unfortunately they were between me and my camera .  Elevation? you can get as... 05/30/2008

The mountains are beautiful but where should you live? You have many choices. Consider the following. How near are you to shopping? How about medical? How about neighbors if something goes wrong?  What about big or medium size cites with activities? Or consider near airports in the unlikely event you want to leave your mountain paradise or in the likely event that friends and family want to come see you. Now what about community;     All these pictures are in the gated community of Big Canoe. There are communities with amenities and some without. Big Canoe is rich with Golf Tennis fitness center and 3 lakes and So much more!!!  Where are the houses ???                  Bottom line is work with your mountain Realtor. leave your notions behind. Here at All Mountain Realty whether you are ... 05/26/2008

We remember the good housing market. We remember our child hoods. We also remember adventures and experiences that have made us who we are. Some not so good but many very good. This weekend let's remember those who have sacrificed all for us. In Europe the holiday is called Remembrance day. I like that a little better than Memorial day. But no matter what you call it we should take a moment to reflect. And after you do you may feel like you don't have it so bad after all 05/20/2008

It is getting to be "high" season here in Big Canoe. We have a benefit tennis tournament for Cystic Fibrosis this weekend. We have our gardens in full bloom. The Rhodies are great this year. The DeKalb symphony will be here June 1. We also have our new Sconti Resuarant opening in late May. We have tons of events. But we still have the great wilderness experience. This week a visitor to our home stopped as 2 bear cubs about 8-10 pounds each played across the road. This is a sure sign of spring. She ,our guest, did not get out of her car to take pictures. Why ? Because she did not see Momma Bear. This is a word to the wise. The animals are beautiful. They are great to see and for the most part safe. Respect them walk softly through one of our many forest trails and you may be treated to a... 05/12/2008

The summer season is nearly upon us. There are full schedules of activities planned in Big Canoe. Many are free. But staying here is not. Last year there were times when all the rentals were full. So if you are planning a trip here, or staying over for a wedding make your reservations. With the price of gas going up as fast as the value of the dollar is going down many folks are traveling less. This means for our community more Atlanta folks will vacation here.All Mountain Realty can help you find your dream home in Big Canoe. Prices for Condos are under 200, as well as homes starting under 200,000. This is a great time to buy. Visit us on line at www.allmtnrealty.com or give us a shout at 706 579 1098 05/06/2008

The 1 percent fee for new home owners as a fee taken at closing for Big Canoe is not quite yet proposed. There are many pros and cons to this fee. I live in Big Canoe and have owned property in Big Canoe for almost 11 years. All Mountain Realty provides services to Mountain Buyers though out the North Georgia Mountains. So while I live in Big Canoe I do work and our team works in the North Georgia mountains. The fee proposed is to be used for capital improvements. Big Canoe is is amenity rich and a great place to live. The fee proposed does not necessarily address amenities. It does address things like fire department etc. The cost of living in Big Canoe is low compared to other communities with the same features. So if you are looking into living in Big Canoe talk to your agent, hopful... 05/04/2008

Many people have asked about the well publicized water situation in North Georgia. Big Canoe is one of North Georgia's great communities. I am here to tell you lake Petit is full. The new reservoir is full . The water is cascading down mountain brooks. The flowers are growing the trees are greening. This was a great season for the dogwoods and other flowering trees as we had ample rain.So if you are considering North Georgia we all look to be in good shape. Come on down , or up. You don't have to save water by showering with a friend......Unless you want to. 05/01/2008

Recently Chase issued its 15 declining marekt states. Other institutions have declining areas within States. What does this mean to you as a Realtor? What can you do about it?First a declining market is one where the lender has said the prices of hoimes are going down. This is often because  the number of short sales and foreclosures have lowered home prices. This is the issue of looking at comps. As a Realtor what this means to you is even if an appraisal comes back at value but the appraiser noted declining market, your buyer may be asked to come up with more down payment. Often 5 % more. So on a 300,000 house this is a significant chunk of change. This may kill a deal. But also when the buyer sees a declining market and needs to come up with more money he may say wait a minute. I am ... 04/27/2008

Today at the Big Canoe bus stop I ran into a neighbor that I have never met, Ellen. She had flyers posted all over her car regarding her lost dog, Sweet Georgia Brown. I recognized the posters because they were in and around Big Canoe. When I first saw Georgia's picture I instantly wanted to help find her. Big Canoe is a perfect place for a dog to explore, but the hardest place to find a lost dog. Tonight I am devoting my blog to Georgia the lost pup. I'm encouraging all agents in the vicinity of Big Canoe to keep a leash in your car in case you run across her. After all, we do a lot of driving!! She was last spotted 2 days ago in the Wildcat Recreation Area. She has a chip and it's easy to tell that she has been loved. The sad part is that many of her signs have been removed and Ellen ... 04/25/2008

Hi Everyone,I know I'm dealing with thousands of agent in my same situation. You don't want to lose a customer by shortening the home list but at the same time the gas prices are killing us! This is especially true in a market where everyone needs to sell something before they buy. It is very smart of these customers to get to know the market where they want to buy and I really enjoy working and getting to know them as they will be my future neighbors. This is why I need your help and advice.A few months ago you all gave me wonderful advice on a car to buy. Sadly I am still working through all that and waiting on a big closing before I sign my life away. Now I'm asking for advice on gas saving tips? Living in Big Canoe with a ton of mountains I have to plan my trips out wisely. I keep r... 04/21/2008

Yesterday I attended a seminar and they were talking about a change and a turn in the Georgia Market. The speaker was a very nice person. He was head of the GAR. I am all about good news, but.... Foreclosures in Georgia will hit an all time high this month. That is if we exceed the all time high set last month. Home sales are down 22 percent. Prices on the other hand are up 3 percent. New home starts did not exceed closings. What does it all mean ? To me it means that folks with money are still buying homes. But the middle and lower middle is struggling. This to me accounts for the price increase. The 22 percent down speaks for itself. The home start statistic means builders have for the most part cut back in building. In large part because they can not get loans. So with all do respect... 04/18/2008

My husband grew up in the Atlanta area, and he often tells me about their family cabin on Lake Burton they used to escape to whenever they could.  Most of the roads were dirt, and the cabins on the lake were just that - cabins.  That area (and prices!) have changed quite a bit since the 70's and 80's, and while the development of that area may be great for the local economy, I think he secretly longs for the Lake Burton of the old days.We now currently live in Big Canoe in North Georgia, and we wrote an article on our main site discussing how Big Canoe remains a popular choice for second home buyers.  You can see that data in the article on the site, but the gist of it is that the percentage of home sales for week-enders and second homes seems to have remained pretty stable for the past... 04/15/2008

Our business has it's own language. We talk about free hold, earnest money, riparian rights, metes and bounds and so on. You remember all this stuff from real estate school right? In each market there are sub sets of words and phrases unique to that Market. Our market is no different. Here are a couple of popular onesSnow Birds; In the mountains Snow birds are not humming birds that visit our feeders. They are folks from the coastal areas of Florida, Alabama, Georgia etc that escape the heat and spend part of the time in the mountains. They usually arrive when the Azaleas bloom and leave after the changing of the leaves. So they are our snow birds. Half Backs;  Half backs are folks who started out as neighbors in the frozen North. They are from Vermont, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, etc... 04/13/2008