About Towns County, GA

Buying a home could be the largest single investment you will ever make. To minimize unpleasant surprises and unexpected difficulties, you'll want to learn as much as you can about the newly constructed or existing house before you buy it. A home inspection may identify the need for major repairs or builder oversights, as well as a need for maintenance to keep it in shape. After the inspection, you will know more about the house, which will allow you to make decisions with confidence. Partin Home Inspections serving all the north georgia mountains as a certied home inspector CN#9360 and FHA certified inspector CN#B-501 can give you the confidence in buying or selling a home.

Sewage Treatment and disposal on an individual lot is done with the combination of a septic tank and a drain field. the effectiveness of a sewage disposal system depends largely on the soil characteristics of the drain field. The soils at a particular site may be inadequate for absorbing and properly treating the septic tank effluent if the bedrock is at a shallow depth, the slope is excessive, the water table is high, there is subject to flooding, or the soils are too dense. A failing septic system is a direct health hazard to you and your neighbors. It can contaminate surrounding drinking water supplies, pollute creeks and rivers, and cause an unpleasant odor in your home. There have been cases of people drinking contaminated with E. coli (a bacteria from both human and animal feces.)

If you are considering buying a mountain cabin or mountain land, obtain as much information as you can about the soil conditions and the existing septic system (if applicable). Locate the cabin's septic tank and drain field. The owner or real estate agent should be able to tell you where they are.

The septic tank and drain field should be at least 100 feet from the drinking water supply, preferably down-slope and never up slope of your water supply. since all septic tanks must be pumped periodically, the septic system should be accessible by truck. No trees or shrubs should be planted near the septic system because their roots could clog the drain lines or break the septic tank.

Sites identified for septic systems and sites where repairs are needed on existing septic systems must be designated through an evaluation by your county health department prior to any excavation and must remain unaltered through any site modifications such as cutting and filling. Septic systems may not be sited in cut and fill areas.

One of the premier events in North Georgia is the annual Georgia Mountain Fair, which is now in full swing through July 27. The fair is held at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in the picturesque town of Hiawassee on the shores of beautiful Lake Chatuge.

Hiawassee held its first fair in 1950, a three-day agricultural exposition held at the local high school. Attendees numbered 2,000-actually an impressive number for such a tiny town. Now in its fifty-eighth year, the fair draws crowds from all over the southeast and attendance numbers have approached 100,000 in recent years!

The fair features a multitude of activities and events that run from midway rides, to arts and crafts booths, to daily concerts, to demonstrations of old mountain ways of life.

Oh, and let us not forget the food. You have a wide-variety of ways to overindulge from standard festival fare-cotton candy, funnel cakes, hot dogs--to mountain favorites like fried pies, home-cooked vegetable plates, smoked trout and fresh-squeezed apple and peach cider.

Robert Anderson Music Hall-named in honor of a former president of the fair-is the venue for live music that ranges from gospel to blues, performances by cloggers and line dancers, and the annual Miss Georgia Mountain Fair pageant. Some of this year's performers include current country superstars Aaron Tippin and Darryl Worley, perennial favorites The Bellamy Brothers, and gospel legends The McKamey's.

Old-time demonstrations include a working blacksmith shop, a grist mill, a smokehouse, a country store and locals are on hand to show you how to make soap, baskets, and quilts among other skills.

Enjoy a truly wonderful experience at the Georgia Mountain Fair!

With the TV news media outlets always focusing on the negative and reporting the trouble our younger set causes, I ran across this article in The North Georgia News and thought it was very refreshing and positive in contrast to what we normally hear. I know there must be hundreds of stories that do not get reported of young people doing great things so here's one that I would like to pass along:

Grandson for rent

Isn't this a refreshing story of a young adult who has his priorities in order?! Thank you Jackson for contributing a valuable and much needed service to so many in our mountain community. Hey, Jackson if you expand your services into Fannin County, let me know. Keep up the good work!

Please see the local paper, The North Georgia News dated June 18, 2008, page 14B for more information and a picture of Jackson Heaton.

Donna Yates, Georgia Realtor primarily serving the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains located in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Donna is dedicated to the real estate profession full-time. Email: Donna@ellijay.com Call 706-633-0644 cell. Visit Donna's website to view great mountain properties: www.move2northgeorgia.net

Eagles Chase has been designed with nature in mind. Only 26 lots in this 46.5 acre community that overlooks the Young Harris Valley, picturesque mountains and borders the US Forest Service.

Homesites range from 1 - 3.86 acres and priced from $65,900. Buyer incentives available.

A 2 acre community, paved road and underground utilites makes this community a top pick.

Only 24 lots remain. Visit www.eagleschase.com for more info and virtual tour.