About Fannin County, GA

I would like to introduce a very good friend of mine that I have known for quiet some time. Tracie Griffith, is a loan officer and branch manager of All Source Mortgage here in Blue Ridge, Ga. Tracie provides excellent customer service and she knows and values the the lending business. Tracie has taken such good care of my clients, and I too value her business and I am proud to have her as part of such an awesome team of professionals that provide first class services and products to my clients.

I have asked Tracie to provide some weekly tips that I hope you will find very helpful in your search not only your next North Georgia Mountain Home or Cabin, but any and all of your lending needs.

Here are the Interest Rates and Programs that are available to you for as of Friday February 22, 2008

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HELLO from Blue Ridge, Georgia! I am Barbara Argo. I have a motto: "I don't want to stand at the setting sun and regret the things I've not done." And that is precisely why my husband and I moved to the North Georgia Mountains. We wanted to pursue living in the beautiful and picturesque mountains, to breathe the cool, clean air, to enjoy the friendly people and to help other people realize their dreams of owning a home in this fantastic area.

My husband, Floyd, and I have traveled a good bit since 2000 - Paris, Hawaii, Montana, Florida, Alaska, Wyoming, Barbados, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Georgia, Tennessee - well you get the idea - and could have moved anywhere from our South Georgia home but the mountains of North Georgia have captured our hearts and interest.

I became a real estate agent in 2004 and it's the best "office" I've ever had! WOW! The scenery and the people are great! I'm so happy to work with Donna Yates! Talk about a professional!!!!!

I look forward to talking with you all in the near future.

Barbara

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 perspective by giving you percentage change from 2006 to 2007, as well as an absorption rate analysis. The absorption rate is the number of months that the market would take to absorb (sell) the current inventory of homes for sale. A six-month supply of inventory is considered a fairly even balance, meaning that the number of homes for sale and the number of buyers is in sync. If the absorption rate exceeds 6 months, it indicates a buyer's market since the supply exceeds demand, and, of course, the reverse is true if the rate dips below six months; you then have a seller's market.

What is interesting to me about what the statistics show is that, while the absorption rate would indicate a strong buyer's market-in which you would expect to see a sharp decline in sale prices-that is not reflected in the average sale price, which-with exception of Gilmer County-is showing an upward trend. Here is what this says to me about the market: For buyers, it is a good time to buy, but sellers are not going to give their houses away; you still need to be prepared to come to the table with a reasonable offer. For sellers it means that if you can wait to sell your home, it might be a good idea to do just that. And, once the current uncertainty in the overall real estate market stabilizes-and it will-and the current inventory of homes is absorbed, prices will pick up at a faster rate.

The bottom line? Real estate in the North Georgia mountains remains a wise investment, and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future!

North Georgia Mountains - 2008 Calendar of Events February through June
Fannin County, Blue Ridge, and the Copper Basin

February 16 - 29 Diversity and Connection. Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, Blue Ridge. A wonderful photo exhibition by Tuly Fodo. For more information and times, all 706-632-2144.

February 22 - 24 Lend Me A Tenor. Blue Ridge Community Theater, Blue Ridge. A clever and wildly entertaining contemporary comedy that sends audiences on a wild romp of desperate measures and compromising situations. For ticket information call 706-632-9223.

February 28 Flea Market. St Anthony's Catholic Church Social Hall, East First Street, Blue Ridge. 20+ tables of bargains. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. For more information call 706-632-8878.

March 1 -2, 7-9, 14-16 Lend Me A Tenor. Blue Ridge Community Theater, Blue Ridge. A clever and wildly entertaining contemporary comedy that sends audiences on a wild romp of desperate measures and compromising situations. For ticket information call 706-632-9223.

March 22 Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Easter Egg-spress. Blue Ridge. For information, tickets and reservations call 706-632-9833 or 800-934-1898.

March 22 Easter Egg Hunt. Copperhill Tennessee 3:00 p.m., West Tennessee Avenue ballfield. Open to all children, infants to age 12. Free photos with the Easter Bunny. Sponsored by the Tri-Cities Business Association. For information call Rick Scott at 706-632-2144.

March 28 - 30 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Blue Ridge Community Theater. For information, tickets and reservations call the theater at 706-632-9223.

April 4 - 6 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Blue Ridge Community Theater. For information, tickets and reservations call the theater at 706-632-9223.

April 7 Kid's Fishing Day, Ocoee Whitewater Center, Ducktown Tennessee. Free fishing for kids 16 and under, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. For more information call 877-692-6050 or 423-496-5197.

April 12 Eleventh Annual Blue Ridge Mountain Adventure Race. Blue Ridge 90plus co-ed teams of three hike, mountain bike, run and kayak in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Finish line festivities in Blue Ridge Park beginning about 2:00 p.m. Live music, food and fun for all ages. For more information call 706-632-5680 or visit http://www.blueridgemountains.com/

April 12 - 13, 19 -20 Blue Ridge Spring Fest, 3^rd Annual Arts and Crafts Sale from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the old Farmer's Market on East First Street. For more information call 706-946-6003.

April 19 - 20 Bear on the Square Mountain Festival. Dahlonega, Bluegrass and old-time music and authentic mountain crafts on the historic square all weekend. Concerts, musical and crafting workshops, continuous jam sessions, street dance, children's activities, storytelling, demonstrations and sales of traditional mountain crafts and regional foods. For more information call 800-231-5543 or see http://www.dahlonega.org/

April 19 100 Mile Mountain Bike Race. Ocoee Whitewater Center, Ducktown, Tennessee, Race the Tanasi Trail. Entry fees and recreational user fees apply. For more information and fees call 404-217-0041.

April 21 ARTrageous Friday. Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, Blue Ridge. Ballroom dancing. For more information call 706-632-2144.

April 21 - 27 Tour de Georgia. North America's premier professional cycling events and rolling festival. The 5^th annual ediciton is now the highest ranked cycling stage race in North America. The race will conclude in Blairsville on the 27^th. For more information visit http://www.tourdegeorgia.com/

May 1, 8, 15, 22 - 29 Pickin' in the Park. Horseshoe Bend Park, McCaysville, every Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to dusk. Live music jams and pickin' on the banks of the Toccoa River. Free admission. For more information see http://www.pickin1.com/

May 3 Copper Basin Bargain Day. copperhill, Tennessee. City-wide sidewalk yard sale in Copperhill, Tennessee and McCaysville, Georgia. Shop for bargains at locations around the Copper Basin. For space reservations call 423-496-5225. Sponsored by the Tri-Cities Business Association.

May 4 SERC Mountain Bike Race. Ducktown, Tennesee, at the Ocoee Whitewater Center. Cross-country, NORBA-sanctioned championship races for all age groups along the beautiful Tanasi trail system. Entrance fee. For more information, see http://www.goneriding.com/

May 10 Paws in the Park. Downtown Blue Ridge. Special morning for our furry friends. Parade, games and more.

May 10 Georgia Mountain Classic Car Show. Downtown Blue Ridge. More than 200 classic cars. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m., judging at 1:00 p.m., and awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Door prizes and trophies for the top 25 trucks and trophies for the top 50 cars. Specialty awards include Mayor's Choice, Chief of Police Choice and more. For more information call Rex Miller at 706-632-3656.

May 16 Smokie Mountain Melodies Chorus. Fannin County Highschool Performing Arts Center, Blue Ridge. The Chorus is a chapter of the Sweet Adelines International; the concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. For more information call 706-632-7445.

May 16 ARTrageous Friday. Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, Blue Ridge. Ballroom dancing. For more information call 706-632-2144.

May 16 - 18, 23 - 25, 30 - 31 The Foreigner. Blue Ridge Community Theater, Blue Ridge. A must see performance. An uproariously zany comedy that's fun for the whole family. For ticket and show information call the box office at 706-632-9223.

May 17 - 18 Wildflower Festival of the Arts. Downtown Dahlonega. 19^th Annual Wildflower Festival on the square. Celebrate spring at this festival, featuring quality art, wildflower exhibits and programs, and children's art activities. 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days. For more information call 706-864-3711 or 800-231-5543.

May 24 - 25 Thirty Second Annual Arts in the Park Festival. Blue Ridge sponsored by the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association. 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Memoral Day weekend. A great way to start off the summer. Fine arts and crafts and great food in the Blue Ridge City Park, downtown Blue Ridge. For more information call 706-632-2144.

June *** Family Fridays in June. Ocoee Whitewater Center, Ducktown, Tennessee. Family conservation education programs each Friday. Discover animal tracks of the forest and mae your own mold to take home. Discover the forest and animal habitats along the historic Old Copper Trai. Experience a bug's life by learning about insects and participating in a Bug Hunt. For more information call 877-692-6050.

June *** To Be Announced National Trails Day. Chattahoochee National Forest. Toccoa Ranger District. All trail fees waived. Date has not been set. For more information, or to volunteer for trail clean-up, call 706-745-6928.

June 5,12,19 and 26 Pickin' in the Park. Horseshoe Bend Park, McCaysville, every Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to dusk. Live music jams and pickin' on the banks of the Toccoa River. Free admission. For more information see http://www.pickin1.com/

June 7 5^th Annual Apple Blossom Auto Show and Bluegrass Festival. Ellijay. Presented by the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce and Apple Country Auto Club. This year the show will reloate to the Fairground. For more information call 706-635-7400.

June 7 Kid's Fishing Rodeo. Chattahoochee National Forest Ranger District, at Lake Winfield Scott. Great family outing. Bring your fishing gear and bait and plan on fish for dinner. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. for kids uncer 16.

June 7 - 8 Georgia Wine Country Festival. Three Sisters Vineyard, Dahlonega. Fifth annual, two-day event celebrating the many resources of Georgia Wine Country. Wine tastings from Georgia wineries, live music, gourmet food, folk art, farm exhibits, live demonstrations and more. For more information all or see http://www.threesistersvineyards.com/

June 14 Seniors Fishing Rodeo. Chattahoochee National Fish Hatchery. Suches. For ages 55 and over. Bring your own equipment and bait. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Prizes, give-a-ways, games and refreshments. For more information call 706-838-4723.

June 13 - 14 Georgia Mountain Fair Bluegrass Festival. Hiawassee. Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday beginning at 1:00 p.m. Great event for all the bluegrass lovers. For more information including scheduled groups and prices, call 706-896-4191.

June 14 - 15 Blairsville Scottish Festival and Highland Games. Meeks Park, Blairsville. Top 20 Southeastern Tourism Even. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. For more information call the Union County Chamber of Commerce at 706-745-5789.

June 13, 14, 20 - 22 Flea Market. St Anthony's Catholic Church Social Hall, East First Street, Blue Ridge. 20plus tables of bargains. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. For more information call 706-632-8878.

June 20 ARTrageous Fridays. Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association. Blue Ridge. Be sure to bring the kids for a special Puppet Show. For more information call 706-632-2144.

Stop by the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce and pick up a 2008 Calendar of Events brochure. Compliments of the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce

Donna Yates, Georgia Realtor
North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains
706-633-0644 cell
donna@ellijay.com
www.move2northgeorgia.net

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, please contact me from the information found at the conclusion of this article.

The following graph shows exactly where we are with Active listings here in the North Georgia Mountains. There was not much variation from the number of listings we found in December of 2007.

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