Ellijay, GA

It is a great time to buy in our North Georgia Mountains. Here are some of the do's and don'ts

1 Do not "lowball" a short sale or a foreclosure. If you do you probably will not get it. We are seeing more and more of these go for asking or over asking price. Hey THEY ARE GREAT DEALS to begin with.

2 Remember if you are "out there in the woods" on well water, on a gravel road your home may have been reasonably priced but your insurance will be high. The fire component of your insurance can be double or triple what it might be in other areas of the mountains

3 Lastly, but maybe not the last blog on the subject, if you find that mountain home think. Yes it will be beautiful but if you are isolated remember gas is + 3.00 a gallon and how long can you stare lovingly at the view and your spouse before you get a little bored? ( spouses may get bored with you too. I know it is hard to believe.

So think about your location in terms of your active life style. This list is in no way comprehensive But I am thinking 3 things to look at in a blog is manageable. . Stay tuned

Today we work up to the first real day of Fall in the North Georgia Mountains. temperature dropped over night into the high 40's. However today is bright and sunny with a high expected in the 60's. This is the best time to hike and walk through our great mountains. The weather is great and the leaves are starting to change.

Everyone is gearing up for the fall festivals.this week in Jasper is the marble festival. And the mother of all mountain festivals, The Ellijay Apple festival is just around the corner, and up the road from us. Take some time if you are in the Atlanta area to get out over the next few weekends and enjoy the fall events before winter arrives.

Every new Years Eve we make resolutions. We make them for our live as well as our business . We make them for a bunch of things. When we wake up News Year Day , after a fun new years eve, we often remember our resolutions and with great anticipation and excitement try to live up to those resolutions.

You all know what I am talking about. So this year I have made a different resolution. I resolved to wake up and think it is new Yeas day every day. This will mean that I am at day 1 of my resolutions. And of course everybody want to achieve what they have resolbved for at least one day. I am going to do my best to keep that attitude for 2010. There will be days when I fail . But in the end I think that if I go into each day like it was the first day of the New Year I will be better off and achieve more.

courtesy of Realogy.com

Georgia's Largest Real Estate Broker, Metro Brokers, Joins Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate

Addition of Atlanta-based Brokerage Doubles Size of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Network, Adding 28 New Office Locations, Nearly 2,300 Agents

PARSIPPANY, N.J. and ATLANTA 12-07-2009 -

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC today announced it has doubled the size of its franchise network with the new affiliation of Metro Brokers, Georgia's largest real estate brokerage. The Atlanta-based company signed a long-term franchise agreement and will now operate under the name Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers. This is one of the largest franchising agreements in recent years within the real estate industry and adds 28 office locations and nearly 2,300 agents to the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate network.

"Metro Brokers truly embodies the ‘next generation brokerage,' a concept we stress with growing importance, as real estate consumers' needs adjust and the industry shifts along with them," said Sherry Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. "With Metro Brokers' contagious spirit and zest for success, this partnership is a natural one that will help our brand grow dramatically. We are proud to welcome such an innovative and imaginative partner to the brand."

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers will continue to operate under the direction of its president and CEO, Kevin Levent, who took over leadership of the company in 1996. Earlier this year, REALTOR® Magazine ranked Metro Brokers in the Top 50 nationally in transaction sides and in the Top 80 nationally with $1.1 billion in closed sales volume for the 2008 calendar year.

"We have proven to be the leader in our region and it only makes sense we partner with one of the fastest growing brands in the industry," said Levent. "This affiliation will allow us to build on the solid momentum we have gained in the last five years and will propel our company into the next decade, helping us to grow strategically and sustainably."

He added, "Buying and selling a home is almost always the result of a lifestyle event - a new job, a baby, a marriage and so on. This means today's consumer is more emotionally invested than financially invested. No brand realizes this more than Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate."

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers offers a wide range of real estate services, including residential sales; pre- and post-license training; corporate relocation; new home sales and marketing; and related services. The company has more than tripled in size during the previous five years with nearly 2,300 licensed sales associates, making the company the largest residential real estate firm in the state of Georgia, according to active agent count numbers from the Georgia Real Estate Commission.

The new relationship will enable Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers (www.MetroBrokers.com) access to best-in-class marketing, next-generation technology and Web tools to continue to build on their current offerings and expand within the north Georgia and Atlanta communities to provide clients with exceptional service. All metro Atlanta and north Georgia MLS listings, including those from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, will now be accessible through www.bhgrealestate.com, which offers homebuyers and sellers comprehensive content and resources.

"Today is a momentous day for both Metro Brokers and Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate," Levent said. "I have every confidence that together we will grow into the largest and most successful real estate brand in the nation, combining the most sophisticated real estate technologies and techniques with main street sensibilities and values. Today's announcement only marks the beginning."

About Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC is an international real estate brand that offers a full range of services to brokers, sales associates and home buyers and sellers. Using innovative technology, sophisticated business systems and the broad appeal of a lifestyle brand, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC embodies the future of the real estate industry while remaining grounded in the tradition of home. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services. The growing Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate network includes more than 100 offices and more than 4,200 sales associates serving home buyers and sellers in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington. For more information, please visit www.BHGRealEstate.com.

I was showing property today and took these pictures from a home that is priced at 179000. It is on 2.38 acres so a lot of what you see is the view. The house itself is almost incidental. But it has a master on the main 3 other bedrooms and inside looks to be about 4000 square feet. Yes it will need some work but look at the view

Could you live coming home to this view. PLenty of pasture great for horses and what a price! discover affordable beautiful North Georgia