Mark Hendry : Blue Ridge Real Estate Pro in the North Georgia Mountains

The area of the country I live in is, in my humble opinion, is one of the most beautiful areas of this great country. The Southern Appalanchians offer some of the most spectacular views and countryside you may have ever seen. Most people who come here make remarks like "it's like a postcard" or "It's like in a movie". Well that may very well be the case, as our own Fannin County has been the site of some movie filming this year.

In McCaysville Georgia, producer Randi Johnson oversaw the shooting of a new film pilot, "Charlie". The plot boils down to a Grandfather/Grandson team-effort detective story. The setting for the film is the old train trestle crossing over the Toccoa River. The authentic boxcars and locomotive from the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway were borrowed for the filming.

Another film, title not yet disclosed, was shooting in Southern Georgia, and one of the film's stars came up to Blue Ridge on their break to buy a getaway place here in the mountains. With my help, they found a great little cabin with acreage and plan to visit it often, between shooting movies.

The state of Georgia actually gives tax incentives for production companies that come to film in the state, providing there is a win-win benefit from the influx of business from their efforts, but that's not the reason these folks are coming to Georgia. There's a majesty and a magic to this area, an old time community and sense of values that remind us of where and when we grew up, and it doesn't take a team of movie star detectives to figure out what a special place Blue Ridge is, or why so many people choose to live and visit here. You can find us in the movies, or just plan a vacation and see it for yourself. I suggest the latter.

So it never fails, I leave the office for a 2-day trip, and within hours of getting in the car and hitting the road, I get a call and I find I'm in negotiations for a big involved contract on one of my listings. Then, another deal I have put to bed until closing, opens itself up to some new dilemmas, and I am pulling off the road to the nearest Starbucks so I can get on the wireless network and start my email correspondence with all parties to remedy the situation.

Now I swear, If I were in the office, nothing would be going on, but it's like a magic charm, if ever I go away from the office for any reason, WHAM, stuff happens. I'm beginning to think I need to go away more often... it's so good for business... but the stress would kill me.

I am supposed to be leaving right after I get back. I am scheduled to take my wife overseas for her birthday, but I'm thinking that I'd better get a global phone and bring my laptop with me, because if I am going that far for 5 whole days, I can only imagine how crazy busy things are going to get. I must admit I am awfully grateful, after all, these are the problems we all need more of, eh.

I love good, brick-oven baked pizza. For me, there's nothing like it. There are several great pizzerias in Atlanta, but that's almost 2 hours from where we live up here in the North Georgia mountains, so I have been "jonesing" for a great pizza joint to come to this area.

The Blue Ridge area has several franchise pizza joints, but if you are a "pizza snob", which I have found out recently, I AM, there is a taste of Italy right here in our own back yard.

In Ellijay, Georgia, in a strip mall across from a Dominos Pizza, is a slice of Italy called Il Forno. The name means, brick-oven or fired oven, and there is one such firey pit right in the kitchen of this classic Italian restaraunt.

As soon as you step through the front doors, you are transported from the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the Italian countryside, with elaborate decor, and a classical jazz pianist playing live music Thursday thru Sunday evenings. Through the tinted windows one can see flying saucers of pizza dough being hand spun through the air, and the gas-fired oven where the pizza's cook before your eyes.

Executive Chef and owner, Greg Richter, prides himself on selecting only the finest, freshest, tastiest ingredients for assembling his menu, and it's apparent when you taste anything from the fantastic meats and pastas, right down to the ceasar salad and scrumptious pizzas.

My favorite pizza is "The Purist", a mozzarella and peccorino cheese pizza with fresh roast garlic. Yummm. I will warn you, that the "monster" size pizza is over 24" across, and too huge for description. The pizza will not fit on your table and a slice will not fit on your dinner plate. We have found that a medium pizza will feed from 2-3 hungry people, and we are speaking from experience, as folks who can pack away the pie.

All in all, for atmosphere, service and flavor, I am getting more than my fix for true Italian Pizza at Il Forno, and I give it my full endorsment for all "Pizza Snobs", whoever you are.

IL FORNO is located in Ellijay Georgia's (Walmart) Shopping Center, 29 Highland Drive, Suite 112 706/515-1555

The City of Blue Ridge, Georgia took it's first steps towards wetting it's whistle, when the city council of Blue Ridge, in a 3 to 2 vote, elected to enact an ordinance to offer pouring licenses within the city limits. Last fall, Fannin County passed the liquor license law, changing our county from high and dry to wet n' wild. Now, the same seems to be occurring in the city limits, and most would say, "it's long overdue."

This is really great news for local restaurants who desperately need a boost to survive in this economy. The addition of liquor to the menu may prove to be the saving grace for many of our areas fine establishments. There is also the idea that allowing alcohol to be served within the city will bring more restaurants, creating more jobs, which we also need in these challenging economic times.

I admit, I have mixed feelings about the whole shift to make Blue Ridge more up-to-date and modern. Part of what we fall in love with, those of us that come to this area and stay, is the old-timey quality and small town feel of this community. Of course I want to see more jobs created and to see the local resturants make it, but I don't want to lose the quaint charm that is so hard to find in most of our modern communtities, but can be found in abundance here in Fannin County.

No matter what your feelings, time marches on and things change. The mayor says he predicts it will take a couple months to get the ordinance passed. Most citizens are pleased and/or relieved that this resolution is underway. I just hope that as we update our area, we keep a focus on the subltle things we love in this area, more than just a love of progress for progress sake. Either way, the next time you're out to dinner in Blue Ridge, and you want to celebrate, a bottle of champagne will probably be an option. It may even be the celebration of the final passing of the liquor license law.

Today I found out one more way that blogging can result in a real estate sale. I was finishing up my work on Sunday, after pulling a floor duty shift, and decided to knock out a blog post before calling it a day. An hour later, I was just finishing up adding some photos to the post, and at 6p.m. on Sunday night, in walk a young couple.

They asked if the office was closed, and I explained, “Yes, but that’s no matter. I’m here. You’re here. That’s all you need.” They could not get over how affordable properties were here, and further explained what they were looking for. They had pulled a property from our listing board, and I offered to take them right out to see it, if they were interested, as I have shown that property often, and I knew right where it was...which was on my way home.

Well, they no sooner viewed the cabin and walked the property, than they wanted to go back to the office and make an offer. We went back to the office and drew up the necessary paperwork. Counter offers proved difficult, as this Buyer is an actor shooting a movie in South Georgia, and the schedule is really quite grueling. Thankfully, with the help of email and text messaging, we are now binding.

So, the moral of the story is Blogging = Sales, because, if I didn’t Blog, I wouldn’t have stayed late, and I’d have missed out on those customers, and missed the sale. Thanks, Active Rain... Another Blogging success!