Trent Cluley -- Pickens County Georgia Real Estate

Pickens Animal Rescue will hold its fourth annual Hound Dog Golf Tournament at the Bent Tree Golf Club in Jasper, Georgia, on Wednesday, May 7, 2008, starting at 9:00 am. Funds raised through this event go to help support the vital efforts of Pickens Animal Rescue in working with abandoned and abused animals in Pickens County.

As always, volunteers, sponsors and donors are needed for the tournament (and on ongoing basis throughout the year), to help this much-needed organization stay on top of the many tasks they have to accomplish, and ensure that they meet their basic financial needs. A number of donor levels are available, for as low as $100 or less!

To sign up for the tournament, or provide a contribution, visit the Pickens Animal Rescue website.

Come on out and have some fun and support a great cause!

Homes for sale in Jasper GA showed a notable climb in inventory for this past week. With 25 homes coming on market as new listings, but only 2 houses being placed under contract, we ended the week up at 591 active listings, versus last week's 572. Not the best news to be sharing, but those are the facts.

New Listing and Pending Sales Activity for 03/08/08 - 03/14/08

• There were 25 new home listings added, at an average ask price of $292,271. Low price was $89,900 and high price was $949,000;
• Only two homes were placed under contract (pending sales), for which the average list price was $198,450. Low price was $185,000 and high price was $211,900;
• Average time on market for homes placed under contract was 206 days;
• Two new foreclosure listings added, zero placed under contract.

End of Week Totals - 03/14/08

• At week's end, there were a total of 591 active homes for sale in Pickens County, GA, with an average list price of $341,507. Low price was 54,900 and high price was $2,750,000;
• There were a total of 44 homes under contract, at an average list price of $191,523. Low list price was $39,900 and high list price was $624,900;
• Average number of days on market for all pending sales was 104 days;
• Fourteen active foreclosure listings, thirteen under contract.

Neighborhoods with New Listings

• Bent Tree (6)
• Big Canoe (2)
• Deer Pointe (1)
• Eagle's Landing (1)
• Hidden Creek (1)
• Hunter's Ridge (1)
• Ivy Ridge (1)
• Jacob's Point (1)
• No Subdivision reported (3) [1 Foreclosure]
• Orchard Farms (1)
• Saddle Ridge (1)
• Salacoa Highlands (1) [1 Foreclosure]
• Southwoods (1) [Foreclosure]
• Spring Place (1)
• White Pine Crossover (1)
• Willow Creek (1)

Neighborhoods with New Pending Sales

• Mount Sequoyah (1)
• Winchester Oaks (1)

NOTE: Data is gathered from FMLS listing service, is for informational purposes only and is not warranted. For sale by owner residences and private sales are not included.

For more detailed information about North Georgia real estate market trends; email lists of homes for sale or recently sold anywhere in Pickens County GA; or, daily email updates of price changes, foreclosures, and homes new to the market in any Jasper GA neighborhood, just send Send Us An Email with your request. You can also use the Property Search feature to search North Georgia homes for sale by neighborhood.

Dogwood Trace in Jasper Georgia is one of several subdivisions offering new homes in the $300,000+ price range (sales data). A pleasant wooded setting on acre-plus lots, and a convenient South Pickens County location, just off Highway 108 (Waleska Hwy) and close to Hwy 515, makes Dogwood Trace a suitable option for buyers in both Pickens and Cherokee County: less than ten miles to Jasper, eighteen to canton, and approximately seven to Waleska.

Homes for sale in Dogwood Trace were built in at least 2007 or later, based on one of six basic floorplans (at least for now). Home styles are similar to those seen in many homes within this price range of home -- heavily gabled rooflines and front porches on traditional or slight Cape Cod influence homes, constructed over a basement. Most Dogwood Trace houses for sale combine exteriors of concrete siding in muted colors, with stone or brick accents, while interiors include an upgraded trim package, vaulted / treyed and/or coffered ceilings, granite or other solid surface countertops, hardwood floors in living areas, tile in bathrooms, and wall-to-wall carpet in the bedrooms. Standard on pretty much all homes are two-car garages, full laundry rooms, one or more fireplaces, deck(s) and/or screened porches;

Lot sizes are all one-acre plus, with old growth trees and some mountain views -- even a few creek lots -- to offer a picturesque and semi-private neighborhood environment. Sodded, level to gently sloped front yards allow for outdoor activity, gardening and basic aesthetic appeal.

Underground utilities offered are fairly standard for the area, with public water, septic tanks, hi-speed Internet access, phone, cable, electric, etc. As with most newer subdivisions, Dogwood Trace is bound by protective covenants, with annual association dues currently set at $150 per year. Community amenities include sidewalks and streetlights, but no swim, tennis, or other recreational facilities.

Dogwood Trace consists of three cul-de-sac / dead-end streets, and only 43 platted lots currently slated for development -- providing for a quiet, medium-sized neighborhood and little through traffic. Only a handful of the lots as of this writing have been developed and/or sold, so still some opportunities to get in on some of the better available land or home choices in this promising neighborhood.

For a complete email list of homes for sale in Dogwood Trace, more information on anyhomes or land for sale in Pickens County, GA, or daily email updates of price changes, foreclosures, and homes new to the market in Dogwood Trace, just send Send Us An Email with your request. You can also use the Property Search feature to search all Jasper Georgia homes for sale by neighborhood.

UPDATED 08/15/08: IT APPEARS THAT SEVERAL OF THE HOMES FOR SALE IN DOGWOOD TRACE ARE FACING FORECLOSURE, BANKRUPTCY SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITION . . . PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION.

A little bit less activity on all fronts this week over last week's Pickens County, Georgia, home listing and sales activity. With fewer new active listings coming on market, than seen in previous weeks overall inventory actually declined for the week.

New Listing and Pending Sales Activity for 03/01/08 - 03/07/08

• There were 17 new home listings added, at an average ask price of $332,720. Low price was $84,900 and high price was $1,350,000;
• Only four homes were placed under contract (pending sales), for which the average list price was $167,199. Low price was $49,900 and high price was $289,000;
• Average time on market for homes placed under contract was 37 days;
• One new foreclosure listing added, two placed under contract.

End of Week Totals - 03/07/08

• At week's end, there were a total of 572 active home listings in Pickens County, with an average list price of $343,682. Low price was 54,900 and high price was $2,750,000;
• There were a total of 47 homes under contract, at an average list price of $192,953. Low list price was $54,900 and high list price was $624,900;
• Average number of days on market for all pending sales was 106 days;
• Twelve active foreclosure listings, thirteen under contract.

Neighborhoods with New Listings

• Arbor Hills (1)
• Bent Tree (3)
• Big Canoe (3)
• Hickory Cove (1)
• Hunter's Ridge (1)
• Jordans Crossing (1)
• No Subdivision reported (4) [1 Foreclosure]
• Oaklands (1)
• Sassafras Mountain (1)
• White Pine Crossover (1)

Neighborhoods with New Pending Sales

• Cherokee Hills (1) [Foreclosure]
• Ivy Ridge (1)
• No Subdivision (1)
• Northside (1)

NOTE: "Homes sold" usually involves a time delay in reporting, therefore sales shown for a given week are likely to not have occurred in that week, but are merely reported in that week. Data is gathered from FMLS listing service, is for informational purposes only and is not warranted. For sale by owner residences and private sales are not included.

For more detailed information about North Georgia real estate market trends; email lists of homes for sale or recently sold anywhere in Pickens County GA; or, daily email updates of price changes, foreclosures, and homes new to the market in any Jasper GA neighborhood, just send Send Us An Email with your request. You can also use the Property Search feature to search North Georgia homes for sale by neighborhood.

I think the city of Ball Ground, GA, is often overlooked as a "small" rural community, removed from the bustle of the more southerly portions of Cherokee County. I have encountered online discussions that comment on the lack of "shopping" and "entertainment", and distance from main hubs of activity (including somewhat disparaging remarks), that imply it's not worth considering as a place to live.

And to a degree, some of the statements are true. Ball Ground has no mall or megaplex theater or Wal-Mart. But then again, not everyone needs those things on their doorstep -- many in fact would prefer not to have them. What I feel many are missing when they exclude homes for sale in Ball Ground from their search criteria, is the breadth of the area and properties contained within the search term "Ball Ground", and the future potential of this quiet community.

Without going into great detail about demographics or history (which information is readily available on the Internet), I would like to point out some of the features that I feel make Ball Ground real estate of particular appeal to the right buyer.

In my opinion, Ball Ground's position between the fast growing towns of Canton and Jasper (and to an extent Cumming), make its long term growth inevitable. Residents meanwhile are able to avail themselves of the medical, retail, service, dining and entertainment industries of these surrounding cities, mere minutes away, without the crowding or congestion. There is the sense of being away from it all, yet commutes are very reasonable for those working further afield. A best of both worlds scenario.

Progress is being made on some local commercial development, including a new Publix store, which will provide for more immediate needs, and the city has raised $1.3 million for a streetscape project that will improve on existing pedestrian infrastructure. A new city hall and post office, and fairly new library, are already in place. All important factors that play into my main point . . .

While the Ball Ground of today has the appearance of a one street town, occupied mostly by the late Oscar Robertson's collection of rock-filled storefronts, all the signs are in place for change on the horizon . . . but, Ball Ground real estate prices right now are still at a very reasonable level!

What many buyers considering Ball Ground homes for sale perhaps overlook is that of the more than 200-homes available in the area, many are newer, on larger acreage, or actually closer to conveniences than first thought. For example, some of the listings of houses for sale are actually in Pickens County, in the Yellow Creek / Four Mile Church Rd area (such as The Oaks at Yellow Creek), while still others are further east, all the way over in Forsyth County along Highway 369 (Matt Highway), such as homes found in The Preserve at Etowah, Poole's Mill, or River Hill . . . all still considered to be part of the Ball Ground area.

Even within Cherokee County, homes or land designated as having a "Ball Ground" address can be found as far from the actual city limits as west of Highway 515, extending from Bethany Road up to the Pickens County line -- Rock Chimneys, Bethany Manor and Stonewood Farms are examples of developments in this portion. Heading south, Ball Ground homes for sale can be found along East Cherokee and Coker's Chapel all the way down to busy Highway 20, including the neighborhoods of Creekside Estates and Smithwick Crossing.

As mentioned, many homes offer large acreage or other features not readily found in more built up areas, particularly the great many houses that do not fall within any clearly defined subdivision. Prices vary greatly, everything from the mid-$100's to low-$200's found in Bethany Manor, Olde Mill, River Brooke, Lantern Walk, Smithwick Crossing and Mountain Brooke, to the high-$200's and $300's found in Creekside Estates, Maple Valley, Rock Chimneys, Stonewood Farms, and Oaks at Yellow Creek. There are even the $1-million plus neighborhoods of Hawk's Ridge and Woodhaven Bend for the higher-end buyer.

Aside from the improvements taking place within the city itself, one of the important elements I see is that a number of these newer, affordable neighborhoods are located within, or close to, the city limits, on small level lots, making maintenance easy, and walking to at least some conveniences possible. (Mountain Brooke North, Olde Mill, Lantern Walk, Maple Valley). Styles are generally some combination of Craftsmen / traditional, and often are slab or one-level living, for a consistent appearance and possible suitability to retirement or senior living, as much as starter or family homes. One community (Lantern Walk) even bills itself as an "Active Adult" community. If this trend continues, Ball Ground may be able to offer a truly "community" feel for the great number of people who would like to see a return to this type of lifestyle. And to me that's a huge selling point.

(For those who prefer to "keep their distance", The Oaks at Yellow Creek offers 3+ acre wooded lots and Creekside Estates 2+ acres, so again, plenty of choice for all home buyers).

Overall, Ball Ground has too much to offer from location, convenience, affordability and charm to remain a secret forever, and I don't expect it to stay that way. The opportunity to get in on the ground floor is likely now, while prices are reasonable . . . probably won't be the case a few years from now.

For questions about Ball Ground or any of the communities mentioned here, please feel free to contact me, or post a comment below.