Blue Ridge, GA

A view from my father's deck in Ellijay overlooking a pasture and the lovely mountains of North Georgia.

Visit my Website to find out more about the beautiful Mountains of North Georgia and the great home-buying opportunities that await you right now! Or, call me at 404-435-6470.

You may not have heard of E.B. Reece...yet. But, trust me, you will.

On Friday, the Gilmer Arts and Heritage Association (GAHA) hosted an evening with E.B., where, in a cozy intimate space, she performed songs from her new Nashville-produced CD, "Big Time Stuff." With the voice of an angel -- a face to match -- and a personality that lights up the room, E.B. enchanted the audience with her lovely performance. 

The self-described "small town girl," a mere 19-years old, grew up in Ellijay. Her songs -- most of which she writes herself -- reflect an innocent sensibility shaded with humor, love, and angst. E.B.'s talent shimmers off of her like the spotlight off her long, blond hair and her determination to make it in the music business is palpable.
 
Make no mistake, this "small town girl" is headed for "Big Time Stuff!"

Enjoy a sampling of her music, click here: 

 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a great piece today on The Martyn House in Ellijay, about a 20-minute drive from Blue Ridge. It brought to mind the wonderful time I recently had at one of their amazing farm-to-table meals. The hosts -- Joann Adams and Rick Lucas -- couldn't have been more warm and welcoming, the food more divine, or the surroundings more enchanting.

I went on a balmy summer evening, and shared a table under the stars with about 50 other folks, a varied group that included local artists, gallery owners, civic leaders...and me (I could make out the whispers, "Who invited HER???"). Our food was cooked in front of us over a fire, and the menu included foods grown in the local community or in Georgia. We feasted on butternut squash soup, mixed greens, shrimp & grits, and strawberry shortcake. The long table was lit by candleabras, and candle chandeliers hung from tree limbs. Through the trees you could see the colorful Gypsy Faire Sleeping Tents lit up, inviting you to go visit them in all their 'Arabian Nights' splendor.

It was truly a magical evening, and I most certainly plan on continuing my visits to The Martyn House. Hope to meet you there!

Visit The Martyn House on the Web

I recently negotiated a contract for a beautiful home just outside of Blue Ridge. The home sits astride a small pristine lake surrounded by mountains and shared with only three other homes. Not only is the setting gorgeous, the house itself -- a luxurious 6-bedroom, 4.5-bath home -- is well-appointed and has been meticulously maintained.

Our buyers are a wonderful couple from Atlanta who are buying the home initially as a second-home, with plans to eventually retire here. They are positively giddy about the house -- they love everything about it and can't wait to call it their own.

The entire contract process has been going along swimmingly. The price negotiations went well, we were able to arrive at a fair price. The inspection turned up only minor issues that the sellers have been more than willing to address. We know our buyers have sterling credit and they are putting down 50 percent, so we figured we had nothing to worry about with the financing. Price: check. Inspection: check. Financing: check. Slam dunk!

Our buyers have banked at a neighborhood bank for years, so naturally, they felt most comfortable getting the loan through the folks they have a relationship with. Makes sense, right? Only one very big problem -- the in-house lender has only Atlanta-based appraisers on their vendor list.

So an Atlanta appraiser was sent to value a home completely outside of his market area, and the two markets couldn't be more different -- rural vs. urban, second-home vs. first-home, for starters. He made adjustments for things that don't typically command a premium in second homes, and didn't make adjustments for things that do (like water frontage...hello???). As a result, his appraisal -- while perfectly suited for Atlanta -- was pretty far off the mark for our area; it came in $50,000 low.

The bank approved the loan despite the appraisal -- in part, I'm sure because of the large down payment -- but I have appealed the appraisal anyway. I am appealing in part because I want to make sure my folks are getting a true snapshot of value. The other part, I admit, is because I don't want them to think I sold them short.

The moral of the story? When you are buying a second-home make sure your lender will use a local appraiser who is familiar with that market. Better yet, work with a local lender that uses local appraisers. That lessens the chances for nasty surprises.

Here is an article on the subject that appeared in today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

On a chilly, gray day, I welcomed the opportunity to step into Cowan's Book Nook. As warm and inviting as it's name, Book Nook celebrated it's grand opening on Friday.

Owners Barry and Melinda Cowan -- who also operate Cowan's Book Nook in Ellijay -- recognized the need for a top-notch bookstore in Blue Ridge. A great addition to the town's thriving downtown area, the shop is full of a large selection of books including fiction, non-fiction, and best-sellers. The store also features an impressive array of children's and Christian books. The space is light and airy, with sitting areas so that after you've browsed and chosen a book from the shelf, you can sit and relax and leaf through your selection.

On hand to help celebrate the grand opening was cartoonist Don "Duck" Edwing. His cartoons have appeared in Playboy, Look, and The Saturday Evening Post, but Edwing is probably best-known for his work with Mad magazine, where he wrote the iconic Spy vs Spy comic strip for 12 years. A true character -- full of tales of his fascinating life and quick with a joke -- Edwing is in the process of making a move from Florida to Blue Ridge.

Also on hand for the celebration was author Jerry Roberts signing copies of his memoir entitled "My First Forty Years." Roberts didn't set out to publish a book, he just wanted to ensure that his children had a written account of his life. Once finished, he asked a friend who was in the publishing industry to give his manuscript a read, and the friend was very impressed with Roberts' writing, and encouraged him to publish the autobiography.

Stop in and visit Cowan's Book Nook in the downstairs plaza of the Mulberry Building at 576 E. Main Street, Suite C, in beautiful downtown Blue Ridge. 706-946-BOOK (2665)

Barry & Melinda Cowan