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Jasper, GA

Today in The North Georgia Mountains

Charlie  Ragonesi 706- 579-1098: Real Estate Brokerage in Big Canoe, GA

It is sunny and going to be 50 today here in the North Georgia mountains. I mention this for a reason. Yesterday and the day before I posted great ice pictures. A couple of weeks ago I posted some pictures after our winter storm. But today it is great

North Georgia gives you mountain living and 4 seasons. Byt the bitter and lasting cold and snow are not a feature of where we live. In the summer at my elevation , about 2500 feet, we may have used the A/C the total of 1 week. Weather wise North Georgia gives you mountain living with b4 seasons. None of which are too extreme.

Many think of Georgia in terms of the I-95 corridor and do not realize that we have great mountain communities. Come explore and you will be very pleasantly surprised.

Winter wonderland Photos

Charlie  Ragonesi 706- 579-1098: Real Estate Brokerage in Big Canoe, GA

One of the joys of higher elevations is a winter scene. Sock up on Wine and Cheese the day before. Make sure you have lights and fire wood just in case you lose power and settle in for a day . These are photos of our latest storm. We have been hit hard this year so far. While many to the North got considerable snow we were just on the line . A few miles south or even at lower elevations in our community it was a rain event. Enjoy the photoswe are not going anywhere today

This photo is off our front deck. As it is all icy could not walk too far to snap pictures !!!

who left the frig open !!!

The Mountain Real Estate Report

Charlie  Ragonesi 706- 579-1098: Real Estate Brokerage in Big Canoe, GA
This week we have a show that might interest many on ActiveRain as well as consumers in general. We interview the current President of our local board of Realtors. Our board is very active in our mountains and gives back t our community. You may find some things we do that could be incorporated locally with you. Enjoy the show

Buying Land in The Mountains

Charlie  Ragonesi 706- 579-1098: Real Estate Brokerage in Big Canoe, GA

The following article will appear in the Feb Smoke Signals. This is a new column. I did post Last months article on chasing a market

Ask a Realtor

Buying a lot to build your dream home?

By Charlie Ragonesi

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We all have dreams of owning a beautiful lot and building our dream home. Many of us find a dream home already built. But for those who start “from the ground up” here are some facts aimed at helping you keep your dream from turning into a nightmare.

First of all make sure your lot is developed. Here in Big Canoe they all are. Developed means you have some services like electricity, for example, run to the lot.

Second, once you have a developed lot the one thing that most folks do not get is a level 3 soil test. This test is CRITICAL.. The test determines the suitability of your lot to contain a septic system. Since most lots are not on public sewer here in the mountains having a septic system is a requirement. Rock and water, whether visible or not from the ground are the 2 things that will “fail” a lot. Failure means your lot will be deemed unbuildable by the county. In other words kiss your investment good-bye. Have this test done BEFORE you buy.

Take the following additional step. Go to your local hardware store. Buy 4 wooden stakes, like the kind they use to kill vampires, and some landscaping ribbon. Place the stakes on your lot and measure out your footprint. You should have a rectangle that is about 1500-2000 square feet in total. .The folks that do the level 3 test can to it from the site you intend to build on. Always try to have the home at a point higher than the septic system so you can use gravity to flush wastes.

Third, if you have a specific house plan in mind take it to your local county and have them approve it for the lot. This is called a lot evaluation. Also here in Big Canoe and other communities, there are controls and guidelines so you must have approval there too.

Remember that beautiful lot high up with a great view is going to add on to your building cost when you factor in the slope of the lot along with the distance trucks have to climb with materials to get to your lot..

In the end the soil test along with the lot evaluation will cost you about 500 dollars in total. You will have to spend this money no matter what. So if you are buying an 80,000 dollar lot the minimum investment is a level 3 soil test or around 350 dollars.

Careful planning and working with an experienced mountain Realtor will help you achieve your mountain dreams and keep them from becoming mountain nightmares.

Mountain Real Estate Report

Charlie  Ragonesi 706- 579-1098: Real Estate Brokerage in Big Canoe, GA
This is our first show of 2010. We thought we would get the year off to a good start. So we have listed the top and bottom 3 home improvements. The top 3 return the most the bottom the least. We also talk about what to look for when selling your home and fixing those things that can be big time show stoppers. Hope you all have had a great New Year and enjoy !!!