About Union County, GA

In dealing with a recent transaction, I have become very aware of the dangers involved with Radon Gases in North Georgia. Radon causes Lung Cancer and kills thousands of Americans every year, in Non-Smokers and Smokers alike. As a matter of fact, Radon is the number 1 cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Unfortunately I know this to be true, I lost my Mother-In-Law to lung cancer very sudden in the Spring of 2007. She never smoked a day in her life.

What Is Radon Gas And Where Does It Come From?

You can’t see Radon, nor can you smell or taste it. Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up from the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can then build up. Any home may have a problem with Radon. This means new homes as well as older homes, well sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. To the right is an illustration showing the State of Georgia and the levels of Radon that have been detected through tests results taken by the EPA. Red indicates Higher potential results of indoor Radon screening. Orange, which the North Georgia Mountain Region falls under, indicates a Moderate potential screening level of 2 and 4 pCi/L. The test results of the recent transaction taking by Ron Gill with Pillar To Post home Inspections that I mentioned earlier, was higher than 6 pCi/L. Anything over a 4 pCi/L is an unacceptable level. Yellow indicates the Lowest potential indoor Radon screening.

If you would like to have your home tested for Radon, here is my recommendation. Ron Gill with Pillar To Post Home Inspections can conduct a Test for you using the lastest technology. The Radon Test will cost $200 without a Home Inspection, and $175 while performing a Home Inpection.

A must read is the The United States Environmental Protection Agency “Home Buyer’s and Sellers Guide to Radon.” This guide gives great tips on Why you should test, How to test, and What To Do if you get higher than average results of Radon Gas in your home. Read the rest of this entry »

Kirby Bowron ~ Supervisor 706-439-6039

Union County Criteria for Building Permits

Purposes of Permits
Purposes for obtaining permits are: to insure fair and equal taxation, to see that any environmental laws or local ordinances are not violated by construction and to insure that state and local construction guidelines are followed.

Union County will require a building permit for all construction projects that either (1) alter the existing footprint of a structure, (2), require water/sewer or electricity connections.

Examples of projects which require a permit include but are not limited to:
a. Commercial buildings
b. Residential buildings
c. Location of a mobile home
d. Location of a travel trailer used as a full time, seasonal or part time residence
e. Garage
f. Carport
g. Completion of any unfinished areas within a residence or building
h. Boat docks
Examples of projects which do NOT require a permit include but are not limited to:
a. Roofing material change
b. Exterior siding change
c. Replacement of floor covering
d. Painting
e. Wallpapering
f. Sidewalks or driveways

Mobile Homes
Union County requires anyone who is moving a mobile home within or into the County, for any reason, to obtain a Building Permit. Mobile homes over seven years old will not be allowed into the County.

Electrical hookups to structures
When applying for new power service, Union County requires Blue Ridge Mountain EMC insure that the building owner has both a building permit and septic permit.

Septic Permit requirement
Union County requires that all Building Permit applicants, who have sanitary facilities in their building, to obtain a septic permit from the Union County Health Department.

Culvert inspection
Union County requires property owners, who are constructing a road or driveway, to obtain a Culvert Permit from the Union County Road Department if the road or driveway in question connects directly with a county maintained road. A 911 address will not be issued until the driveway is established.

Permit duration
Building Permits are only valid for the period of one year, after which a new permit is required.

Penalties for violating the Union County Building Permit Ordinance #0-98-002
Any person violating any provisions of this Ordinance shall be guilty of violating a duly adopted ordinance of Union County and upon conviction such a violation shall be punishable as a misdemeanor, pursuant to O.C.G.A.s 15-10-60, subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000 and subject to imprisonment for no more than 60 days or both, except as otherwise provided by general law, or by subsequent amendment of O.C.G.A.s 15-10-60. O.C.G.A.s 15-10-60, et seq, shall govern the trial of any violation of this ordinance and any violation of this ordinance may be tried upon citation as contemplated by O.C.G.A.s 15-10-63. Each day during which the violation or failure or refusal to comply continues shall constitute a separate violation.

Location, Location! Blairsville, GA is located in Union County in north central Georgia, approximately two hours driving time from Atlanta GA, Chattanooga TN and Asheville, NC. Union County is about 322 square miles, its 204,736 acres is 48% within the Chattahoochee National Forest, making it a pristine and fantastic place to live or visit.

Elevations range from 1600 to 4784 feet above sea level. Blairsville is home of Georgia's highest point, Brasstown Bald. The climate is great. Winters here are generally moderate allowing for outdoor activities with an average 2-3 light snowfalls a year. The mountains come to life in the spring with an array of greens and beautiful flowers. Summer brings cool mornings and warm days. The lush landscape and moderate climate lends itself to swimming, golf, tennis, whitewater rafting, hiking, horseback riding and more. Fall brings out the beauty of the mountains painting the area with a shimmer of red and gold when the leaves change. The mornings are crisp and clear with warm days and cool evenings. Fall is a season you don't want to miss in the North Georgia Mountains!

On my way into the office one morning back in the early part of December, I noticed the low lying clouds that surrounded me. It was the perfect time to catch a picture at the Top of The Summit, a Residential Development in the Beautiful North Georgia Mountains located just outside of Blairsville Georgia.

There is currently one Home For Sale within The Summit, and 18 Residential Lots For Sale. The views are Spectacular not only at the top, but from virtually anywhere within the development.

If you would like for Me to provide you with additional information about the North Georgia Mountains, or more particularly The Summit in Blairsville, GA., I would be grateful for the opportunity to assist you with any Real Estate need you may have and answer any question you may have. I have recently posted a Union County Residential Market Report that you might find interesting as well.

You can Contact Me or you can give me a call on this gadget that is attached to my hip 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That number is 706.633.8186. I absolutely love my job, and I would love to help you in anyway. I hope you enjoy the Pictures, I thought they turned out pretty good.

Make it an Awesome Weekend!

I want to go ahead and apologize a little bit in advance because you are going to think that I have absolutely lost my mind as you continue to read through this post. I am going to be jumping all over the place as I report to you exactly where we were as far back as 4 years ago when I got into Real Estate, where we are now, and of course where I think we are going.

As you can see from this first Graph, we have seen a very sharp decline in sales here in Union County progressively over the course of the past 4 years. However, as you will see in later posts, that it is not just Union County that has been seeing numbers like this. Over in Blue Ridge Georgia, and Ellijay Georgia, Mountain Homes For Sale there have also been on the rise because of a decrease in Homes being Sold. I have to say that it is very hard for me to get my head around the fact that there were only 8 Residential Sales in Union County this past December. There are over 200 Licensed Realtors in Blairsville according to our Northeast Georgia Board of Realtors, so let’s say 6 different Realtors sold a Mountain Home or Cabin last month, that means that over 184 Realtors in Union County worked for Free!

So what is going on with the North Georgia Mountain Home Pricing in Union County?

If you have read any of my previous North Georgia Market Reports, then you know it is my first time to took a good hard look at Price Distribution. What is Price Distribution? Good Question, and when you find out please leave me a comment and let me know would you? Actually, Price Distribution is nothing more than taking the number of Homes Listed, the Number of Homes Sold, and the number of Homes For Sale, all within a given period of time at certain price points. These price points are usually within $25,000 to $50,000 in increments, and each increment is then given a number based upon the data in each classifications above. Now you may want to know what the difference is between number of Home Listed and Number of Homes For Sale. Simple, Homes Listed is all the Homes that have been for sale or listed in a given period of time, and Homes For Sale are only those Homes that are currently on the Multiple Listing Service at that time. This is a Great Tool to use while helping a Client Sell their Mountain Home in this Shifting Market. It is an outstanding strategy tool that if used properly can give you things such as a safe but aggressive pricing strategy, it can help you to know exactly where the competition is and where you need to be. Right now the highest concentrated Homes that are being Sold in Union County is in the $160,000 to $180,000 price range.

Read the rest of this entry »