The Funky Chicken is NOT a dance people do who have had too much to drink at weddings. It is a great Art Gallery Between Big Canoe and Dalonega Georgia The sign outside tells you you have arrived. The place is a great art gallery. Artists store their works their on consignment. Much of the work is done in metal and can be out door art. The Pig on the left is made from an old gas canister that you use to cook and grill. The Funky Chicken is just one of the many surprises you can see in the North Georgia Mountains Of course there are chickens roosters and other birds ranging from the barnyard to the exotic. So as you are traveling though our mountains you should stop at this great and unique gallery. You will be happy you did. 10/26/2009

The Mountain Real Estate Report is heard every Thursday on WYYZ in Jasper. This week we talk about the state of our economy and positive trends nationwide. We also focus on the growing need in today's complex market to use a Realtor. Future shows will include Realtors from other States . We present investment opportunities here and else where. Enjoy 10/22/2009

The Mountain Real Estate report is heard every Thursday on WYYZ Radio broadcast out of Jasper Georgia. This weeks show focused on the changing Financial environment and the effect it has on mortgages. Now more than ever you need to work with professionals. The show is also stored on our web site www.allmountainrealty.com Enjoy the show 10/15/2009

Georgia Lake levels are all up. Below is the report. Lake Lanier will be full today, as it is raining. This is amazing as a year ago they were talking about 60 days of water left. All the lakes look good for fall and winter. If you are coming to the North Georgia Mountains we are expecting a dry period to start this Friday. It will be fall weather for sure. We are about a -2 weeks away from peak leaf season I think. But there is a big exceptioon to this. Lake Raburn in North East Georgia has had a dam problem due to the rain. This lake is empty right now according to some friends of mine and will not be re-filled until some time in December. So Be advised Reservoir/Lake Station ID Flood Level(feet) Summer Level(feet) 7am Pool Elev (ft) 24 Hour Change(feet) 24 Hour Precip(inches)readings... 10/14/2009

We at All Mountain Realty are looking to expand. If you are in the North Georgia Mountains and are looking to be part of a team give us a call. If you are a new Realtor we will assign you a mentor and work with you to help you develop your skills. If you are thinking about becoming a Realtor ask us about our tuition free program. At All Mountain Realty we are looking for 2 possibly 3 at most people who want to roll up their sleeves and work in this business. You can call me at 706 579 1098 or email me at charlie@allmountainrealty.com. I would enjoy talking to you 10/12/2009

Octoberfest came to Big Canoe this weekend. There were 70 booths open for business. There was a live band and plenty of good food. The weather was a concerned , but aside from the passing sprinkle it was a good day There were a lot of tents set up with great stuff to buy. As it is fall the theme was set by displays in front of the festival. It was fun for young and old I had booth duty . Big Canoe first response and fire had a booth. We have an adopt a fire hydrant program as well as explaining what goes on in Big Canoe. We are a great mountain community where people roll up their sleeves to help each other out as well as party at a great Octoberfest 10/11/2009

OK so let me pose the question. Can you be for fiscal responsibility  AND for extension of the real estate tax credit ? Here is the debate. Many are looking at Government spending and saying, "wow we are out of control." If you buy that argument or are even concerned then how can you be for an extension of the tax credit? Yes I know ther tax credit has helped. We have benefited from it here. But in almost every program somebody benefits. When a program is cut somebody loses. So are you saying, "cut , but not in my back yard?" I pose this question because sometimes we are so quick to raise our voices against government spending EXCEPT when it effects us. So now that I have posed the question I think I should get off the fence and give my opinion. I think we should adopt the Senator from ... 10/04/2009

Today was the Jasper Georgia Marble Festival. The Apple festival in Ellijay Georgia is going on now too. Fall is a time for festivals in the mountains. We are celebrating great weather , harvests and getting ready for winter. Jasper supplies much of the countries marble and the festival is a lot of fun. I was having an open house. But before you feel too sorry for me I was right along the parade route .Here are some pictures . There are folks out waking and floats pulled by pick up trucks Of course all the local fire departments had trucks in the parade . The kids love to hear the horns. Of course there were local farmers and floats as well in the Parade. The whole event had a quality about it that said small town. If you saw the movie Doc Hollywood with Michael J Fox you know what I me... 10/03/2009

Each Thursday as Heard on WYYZ Radio in our North Georgia Mountains we bring you the Mountain Real Estate report. If you are in Big Canoe, Jasper, Ball Ground, Ellijay or one of the many areas the show is broadcast you know how important the information is to you. This week we talk about the wisdom of working locally. Enjoy 10/01/2009

This week it is going to get a bit cool in the mountains. Fall is a great time of year. Whether you are in Big Canoe or anywhere in Jasper or the North Georgia Mountains you are thinking, " I am looking forward to that first fire in the fire place. Here are some tips to stay safe. 1 You should have a chimney swept once a year for a fire place. 2 If you use a wood burning stove you can go 2 years EXCEPT if you control the heat and do a slow night burn. The slow burn will build up resins in the chimney. You should clean once a year if you do regulated night burns for heat 3 Avoid burning pine. Pine has a lot of creosote in it. Creosote build up is a major cause of chimney fires. 4 If you use a wood burning stove your first couple of fires should be small ones. The iron needs to expand as ... 09/28/2009

This week the mountain real estate report focused in part on reverse mortgages. I am also including a link to a blog I wrote about this topic this week. Take a moment to read it. Those who did found some ways to use this product for their clients and their business. link to blog is http://activerain.com/blogsview/1253492/a-reverse-mortgage-for-what- 09/25/2009

Here are some things to think about when talking to folks about a reverse mortgage. These things can HELP you in your efforts to find folks a home and add value to your service. Quickly, remember must be 62 years old or older. Must have equity in the home. Currently pretty much FHA is the only one doing these today. You can never owe more than the value of the home So here goes; 1 A reverse mortgage can be used on a primary residence. A person is behind in their payments. Or they are all paid up and living on a fixed income. If that income is not adequate for repairs and living in general a reverse mortgage can supply needed funds. 2 A person moving to be closer to family or into any type of 55 plus community can use a reverse mortgage. Buyer Bob has sold his house and wants to be close... 09/24/2009

The Big Canoe and Jasper North Georgia Mountain real estate report is heard every Thursday on Wyyz Radio 1490 Am in North Georgia. We also have a copy of the report on www.allmountainrealty.com. Looking for property in North Georgia and want to know what is going on. Tune in or listen here to this weeks show. 09/17/2009

North Georgia Real Estate continues to be some  what flat in sales and prices. I guess this is a good thing as prices are not going down. However recent events in the troubled Carpet industry have put pressure on prices and home sales are slow. North Georgia is home to the nations carpet industry in Dalton. In addition Jasper which produces much of the Marble for our country is slow also as an industry. So we have 2 industries here that rely on housing in large part for their business. On a positive note folks who can sell in other areas are moving to North Georgia due to price points and great quality of life.. There are new medical facilities opening here and folks are getting tax breaks who are retired. Bottom line is North Georgia provides great value for your dollar. Visit is you m... 09/13/2009

The Jasper Real Estate Mountain report is heard each Thursday on Wyyz. We cover Jasper, as well as listeners in Gilmer and Cherokee counties. This weeks show is aimed at providing information to folks who may need a loan modification or are thinking about a short sale. We post the Mountain Real Estate report on our web site www.allmountainrealty.com as well as here. Folks can see the topic for the show and choose to listen if they missed it as it aired. If you want to be a guest on the show just contact me and we will try to work it out. 09/10/2009

Yes I know football started today but in Georgia a seventeen year old young lady from Marietta has stolen the show. Melanie Oudin is into the next round of the US open. She has knocked out the giants Maria Sharapova , and a great playing Elena Dementeva. So tomorrow we North Georgians are going to have a big party and see if the run from the girl from Marietta can continue. ( I will have a black out period tomorrow when I am not showing homes) 09/06/2009

I am working with a buyers agent who I know. He has a client selling a home who is on a budget. I have a home listed that would work great for this client. How do I make my home stand out? I work with the other agent. I tell him since your buyer is over 62 and going to sell and has 100 percent equity in their home, put 50% down on mine and do a reverse mortgage. I have therefore made my self valuable and differentiated my property. As I know this agent he wil present the possibilities to this client. In this market you have to be thinking outside the box to get your listings sold. 09/05/2009

The Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 signed into law on Wednesday, May 20th, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-22) provides a 90-day  notice requirement and additional protections for tenants in foreclosed properties.  Below you will find the major provisions outlined under Title VII, Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009. - During the term of the lease, the tenant has a right to remain in the unit and cannot be evicted, except for actions that constitute good cause. - If the lease ends in less than 90 days, the new owner may not evict the tenant without giving the tenant at a minimum 90 days notice. - At the end of the term of the lease, the new owner may terminate the tenancy if the new owner provides a 90-day notice. - The new owner may terminate the tenancy if the owner will oc... 09/03/2009

The national foreclosure rate reported today is still high. As of this time today the markets have reacted in a negative way. So what is the problem? The Government bail out program and loan re-modification programs have actually worked! Some of these programs were started by the last administration and modified and expanded in this one. So again the question is, what is the problem? The problem pure and simple is the lagging indicator in a recovery called the unemployment rate. Folks who are in trouble now are folks without a job . These folks do not qualify for modification. They are  victims of the economy. The crisis we face is multi faceted. But it seems like now we are faced with more traditional problems. ( Not sub prime and exotic Wall Street created loans) While the news is not... 08/31/2009

The North Georgia Mountains usually get busy in the summer. This is when we see many of the buyers. This summer started slow but picked up some as the summer went on. We are seeing prices in places like Big Canoe adjust downward as the sales volume starts to pick up. In other areas we are seeing a lot of first time buyers come out. The traffic of second home buyers is slow. Land sales are really really slow as it is tough to get financing and new home starts are sluggish. So the net for our mountain market I think is 2009 will be a year the downward home sale slide has stopped. But I think prices will not increase uniformly or across the board. My recommendation is gated community homes are a great bargain right now. They are also great places to live. So if you are thinking about the m... 08/30/2009