Blue Ridge Georgia Blog

Creek Lots For Sale in Blue Ridge, GA

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 21:39:00 +0000

Have you ever dreamed of owning a creek front log cabin in the north Georgia mountains? Now’s your chance... and, I have 2 lots to choose from!

Either of these two beautiful creek lots, which are offered for sale for only $25,900 per lot, would make a perfect building site for your dream home. Each lot offers over 2 acres but could easily be joined together to create a 4.5 acre estate lot for your creekside dream home in the mountains!

These “ready to build” properties are located in Little Sugar Creek Estates, an upscale cabin community just 3 miles from historic Blue Ridge, GA, which offers PAVED ROADS and UNDERGROUND UTILITIES.

With only 28 single family homes nestled on 1 to 5 acre lots homeowners in this community enjoy a generous amount of green space making it the perfect place for those searching for upscale amenities in a rustic, wooded setting.

Ask About Owner Financing!

SEE MORE PHOTOS: Creek front lots for sale in Blue Ridge. GA

This Blue Ridge GA Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your Blue Ridge GA real estate, mountain home or property.

Blue Ridge GA Vacation Historic Downtown Walking Tour Map

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 13:40:00 +0000

Planning a vacation or day trip to Blue Ridge, GA?? You will certainly want to have this map of historic downtown Blue Ridge in hand as you stroll through the charming downtown area which is now filled with upscale shops, antique stores and restaurants.

The walking tour map, provided by the Fannin county Chamber of Commerce, is an excellent reference and provides fun historical facts about the town and several historic buildings and sites.

This Blue Ridge GA Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your Blue Ridge GA real estate, mountain home or property.

2012 Wine Highway Weekend - North Georgia Wineries Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:22:00 +0000

Mark you calendar. It's that time again.

The 7th annual "Wine Highway Weekend" is scheduled for Friday, March 23, 2012 - Sunday, March 25, 2012 so start planning your North Georgia spring weekend getaway now!

Last year’s event was a great success and this year’s expanded tour looks to be even better!

This is a perfect time to get back in the swing of spring activities and there is no better way to shake the winter doldrums than spending a weekend in the mountains and tasting the Award Winning wines that are made from Georgia Grown Grapes.

This Blue Ridge GA Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your Blue Ridge GA real estate, mountain home or property.

The Sweet Shoppe in Cupcake Wars

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:26:00 +0000

Susan Catron and Nikki Gribble, owners of The Sweet Shoppe located in downtown Blue Ridge, GA, will be competing in the "ultimate cupcake challenge" called the CUPCAKE WARS on Food Network Television.

Be sure to tune in on Sunday February 12th at 8:00 pm to watch these local girls compete!

Congratulations and GOOD LUCK!!!!!

This Blue Ridge GA Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your Blue Ridge GA real estate, mountain home or property.

North Georgia Home Value in 2012 - Blue Ridge GA Real Estate Outlook

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:11:00 +0000

Blue Ridge GA Real Estate Outlook - North Georgia Home Value in 2012
The value of homes in 2012 will be a hot issue throughout the nation, even more so here in North Georgia. As every New Year begins, people often wonder what home values will do for the 12 ensuing months. Given the recent trends in North Georgia real estate, there’s should be a reason to think 2012 could bring some value.

Since the economy was affected heavily a few years back, the housing market has certainly been hit nationally, as well as locally. Local values were dropped by a heavy percentage and while some have been in a better position, for the most part the area has seen decreasing value in the real estate market.

Luckily, there is a boon of good trends that point to what could be a strong year for the North Georgia real estate market. Apartment rental averages continue to climb all over the state of Georgia, from the top to bottom and that’s no different here locally. Apartment rental averages in North Georgia went up about six percent; compare that to Atlanta which went up six percent and Savannah apartments which went up nine percent. If these rates continue to grow, it would certainly swing potential buyers back on the market, climbing the property ladder.

Record low mortgage rates throughout the country and locally are another sign that buyers could have vested interest in 2012. Compared to the mortgage rates of 2010 and 2009, this year’s costs will be a quarter lower than those times. Experts expect more buyers to be out looking for houses, the key will be closing.

Nationally, real estate experts are expecting a slow climb throughout the 2012 year. Each month is expected to have a positive impact on the real estate market, up until the fourth quarter, which is usually a slow period for home sales because of holidays and vacations.

Certainly each area in North Georgia will have a separate fortune in 2012. Indicators and factors such as price averages, amount of listings and individual sales will continue to be the driving force if the market is to get some rejuvenation this year.

This Blue Ridge GA Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your Blue Ridge GA mountain home or property.

Technology for Real Estate

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:04:00 +0000

Blue Ridge GA Real Estate is pleased to welcome guest blogger Jeff Norman. Today, Jeff shares with us his perspectives on the important role of techonology in real estate.

Jeff Norman is a writer based in New York City. He is a guest blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and writes on online colleges and universities for Guide to Online Schools.

Technology for Real Estate

When many people envision the idea of a career in real estate, they might foresee a broker or agent needing a skill set similar to that of an Avon Lady. A smile, perkiness, and a willingness to trek from door to door in pursuit of sales is definitely an admirable assemblage of assets. But to today's real estate community, a fresh and souped-up array of technologically savvy abilities in not only favorable—it's downright mandatory. The Internet and its myriad whiz-bang-glam features polarize those unfamiliar with the Web; like a powerful magnet, they can either attract your optimism, or repel you into an anti-tech stupor. Hopefully this article encourages you to lean toward the latter response and embrace how new technology can shore up your real estate repertoire.

First of all, you're strongly advised to get a Gmail account as your primary business e-mail. Yes, Gmail, not Yahoo or the like. Google's electronic messaging service stands out for its flexibility and diversity of assets, such as calendar and task functions. What is more, Gmail allows its users to ease the maintenance and accessing of their database of clientele. And every e-mail sent from Gmail includes the sent address as well as a customizable sign-off—the perfect way to sustain recognition of your personal brand and styling.

For pictures, there is really no better internet system right now than Picasa. Simply put, Picasa makes picture management (essential for anyone in the real estate industry looking to achieve expertise) fun and easy. It has never been simpler to create sophisticated albums that can be geotagged and coordinated with what's on your desktop. Want to beef up your real estate acumen? Consider Picasa obligatory.

And now (drumroll, please), two words that strike fear into the hearts of anyone afraid of the real power possible with the Internet: social networking. Here are two more words to give trepidatious readers even more terror: Facebook and Twitter. Now that the big bad words are out in the air, we implore you not to apprehend these tools. Simply put, maintaining an active Facebook and Twitter page for your real estate affairs is one of the smartest ideas you can implement to immediately impact your success, from listing to escrow. Tweet often, and stock your Facebook page regularly with pictures not only of your properties, but also of yourself and your staff. Users online want to feel connected to the people of their networks, and they reward those who show an Avon-Lady grin or two online with increased attention.

Lastly, here are a few blogs that build off of the tips we've supplied to you here, and will keep your technological savvy well-spiced and up-to-date. Real Estate Technology features a consistent stream of quick yet cogent, counsel-filled postings that you can implement into your office right here, right now. And Geek Estate makes good on its promise to field relevant info for real estate people who want to harness technology's best.

We hope, after reading this, you're a member of that latter group!

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling Blue Ridge GA real estate.

WHY THE HOLIDAYS ARE A GREAT TIME TO SELL YOUR CABIN

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:09:00 +0000

Who says that the holidays are a bad time to sell your property??

NOT ME!

Blue Ridge, GA is a popular tourist destination just 90 miles north of Atlanta and the holidays are one of our busiest seasons.

During Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks our town is bustling with happy families making happy family memories they wish would never end. And, many feel that the best way to keep those memories alive is to BUY their mountain cabin!

In an area where the mountain cabin or luxury log home can be used as a vacation rental to generate income when the owner is not staying in it, who wouldn’t want a home-away-from-home?

If you are thinking about selling your mountain cabin or luxury log home, but fear that it won’t sell just because we’re nearing the holidays, call me today and I’ll show how professional marketing can get the job done in any season!

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Making Your Home OPEN HOUSE Ready

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 23:26:00 +0000

Making Your Home OPEN HOUSE Ready

My husband and I currently have our home in Blue Ridge, GA on the market and plan to move to an area about 75 miles south – closer to my husband’s office – when it sells. On a recent “scouting trip” to that area we noticed an OPEN HOUSE sign in one of our top choice neighborhoods and decided to stop in for a peak.

The front door was open when we arrived so we stepped into the foyer with a loud “Hello” to alert the agent on duty that someone was in the home only to find a woman in baggy sweats and a grungy t-shirt trying to wrangle a couple of screaming kids intent on trouncing us as they ran through the house and out the front door.

My first thought was that we must be there on the wrong day, but no, this was the real estate agent/owner and she was “happy that we had stopped by, but she needed to put her son down for a nap so we should feel free to just walk on through on our own”. (Now there’s a security breach if I’ve ever seen one!)

To say that we were shocked was a bit of an understatement. To find out that the home was owned by a licensed and ACTIVE real estate agent almost floored me as she was breaking EVERY open house rule in the book. It was then that it dawned on me that if an agent is confused about open house protocol than perhaps many “regular” homeowner/sellers may be making some of the same mistakes so I decide to write up a quick blog in an effort to “stop the madness”!

1) CLEAN the house: Dead bugs in the foyer and filthy, matted carpeting do not set the right tone with a buyer looking for a home in a $400K neighborhood. (No matter what the price point, there is no such thing as too clean when your home is on the market.)

2) NO KIDS: Leave the property to the professionals. Having your family at home during an open house (or any showing, for that matter) distracts potential buyers and makes them uncomfortable. This will only limit their ability to really look at the house as opening closets and cupboards seems very personal when the owner is just over your shoulder.

3) NO PETS: I love dogs, but many people have allergies and just seeing a pet, or pet paraphernalia, is enough to squash their interest in a property.

4) NO STRONG SMELLS: Do not cook a big bacon and onion filled breakfast just before an open house (maybe that’s why the front door was open…) People can be put off by strong odors, even non-offensive ones like perfume or room spray.

5) NEUTRALIZE YOUR PAINT COLORS: The pink and purple “princess room” was adorable, but I don’t have a little girl and it just looked like a great big project to me!

6) MOVE THE JUNK: If the basement (or attic) is unfinished, move the junk so a buyer can see where things are – this one was supposedly stubbed for a full bath ( a make or break item for us), but we couldn’t find the plumbing under all the junk.

7) MAKE A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION: If you want buyers walking through the front door your home must first impress them with its curb appeal. Landscaping should be clean and neat, paint should be fresh and toys should be put away.

Basically, what I’m saying is DON’T OVERLOOK THE OBVIOUS when you’re trying to sell. Every minute you spend making your home “show ready” is worthwhile.

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Apple Picking at Mercier Orchards Blue Ridge, GA

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 08:54:00 +0000

U-Pick 2010 is here!!!!

Mercier Orchards, nestled in the quaint north Georgia mountain town of Blue Ridge, has been growing apples since 1943. This year they celebrate 67 years of business and their business has never been stronger!

I invite you to come experience "a taste of the mountains" at Mercier Orchards. The U-pick event is fun for the whole family. Enjoy lunch at the deli/bakery or a wonderful wagon ride through the orchards.

Apple picking is on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Mercier Orchards
1.5 miles north from 515 on Hwy 5
706-632-3411
Visit web site

Dates for this event

September 11, 2010- September 12, 2010

September 18, 2010- September 19, 2010

September 25, 2010- September 26, 2010

October 02, 2010- October 03, 2010

October 09, 2010- October 10, 2010

Hope to see you there!

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

SIGN UP for my NEWSLETTER - Blue Ridge GA Real Estate

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:20:00 +0000

My September newsletter just went out.... Didn't get it??

I would like to offer you an opportunity to sign up for my FREE seasonal newsletter called
Blue Ridge, GA - What's New!

The newsletter is written to provide you with real estate related information as well as general information about our beautiful town and the surrounding North Georgia mountain communities.

As a subscriber, you will receive information about upcoming area events, new business openings and "special deals" - many offered exclusively to our clients. [See coupons for local businesses in each edition]

You may opt out of receiving the newsletter at any time by using the link at the bottom of the page.

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

What Makes a Vacation Cabin a Successful Rental Investment?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:41:00 +0000

I speak with clients daily who all seem to be searching for the same property: A luxury log cabin with a great mountain view which is suitable for use as both a private getaway as well as a lucrative rental investment.

What Makes a Vacation Cabin a Successful Rental Investment?

For the most part, the North Georgia vacation rental market is glutted with "average" cabins. Buyers should be looking for a "special" property that will stand out from the crowd.

I suggest a cabin that is:

1) Within 10(+-) miles of town - The farther out you go, the more difficult it will be to find a property manager. It can also reduce your number of repeat & referral customers as it is inconvenient for them to get to stores and attractions.

2) Has either a beautful mountain view or is on good water (loud, visible and easily accessible) - A very secluded/private cabin is nice, but is not generally the first cabin requested.

3) A nice kitchen - As there are limited choices for eating out in most mountain areas, guests will use the kitchen quite heavily. If the cabin will sleep more than 4 guests, I would strongly suggest that you consider only cabins which offer a dishwasher.

4) Central heat & air is a must and paved roads are becoming a more frequently requested amenity.

The fact is that while many vacationers say they want to feel like they have experienced "roughing it in the mountains", they really do not want to be uncomfortable or inconvenienced at any time! In fact, our surveys showed that while on vacation paying guests expect their lodging accomodations to be "better than what they have at home".

Finding a cabin that meets your family's needs, but will also serve as a successful rental, can be tricky. Be sure that the agent you select to assist you has a FULL understanding of the vacation rental market in your area or your time and money can easily be wasted!

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Upside for Sellers in a Bad Real Estate Market??

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:13:00 +0000

Is this an Upside for Sellers in a Bad Real Estate Market??

Read the full story>>> REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Global Interest in U.S. Homeownership Gains

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA.Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Swan Drive-in Movie Theater in Blue Ridge, GA

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:24:00 +0000

Did you know that Blue Ridge, GA still has an active drive-in movie?

We do and it’s great!

Built in 1955, the Swan Drive-in is one of only 5 left in the state of Georgia. It is open year-round and runs first-run movies so it popular with locals and visitors alike.

You can check what’s showing or see more info here: http://www.swan-drive-in.com/

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Commercial Building For Sale - Central Business District - Blue Ridge, GA

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:40:00 +0000

Checkout the gorgeous lodge-style commercial building I have listed in the heart of the CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT in quaint downtown Blue Ridge, GA

**NEW PRICE** $675,000
More information about this lisiting

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@tds.net if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Geocaching in Blue Ridge, GA = High-tech Treasure Hunting

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:42:00 +0000

Many who visit the North Georgia mountains these days are doing so with one purpose in mind - geocaching.

As described by geocaching.com, geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, and then enter your experiences online.

There are currently over 300 geocaches around Blue Ridge, GA ranging in difficulty from easy to very challenging, so this is a game for the whole family. Just follow the link, sign up for your FREE account, download the data for geocaches you want to find and head for the hills!

Our family will be joining the fun this summer, so hopefully, we'll see you here!

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@tds.net if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

SIGN UP for my NEWSLETTER - Blue Ridge GA Real Estate

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:37:00 +0000

You may opt out of receiving the newsletter at any time by using the link at the bottom of the page.

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@tds.net if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Gayle Barton has earned the Nationally recognized (SFR) Short Sales and Foreclosure Certification

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:46:00 +0000

Gayle Barton, a Realtor with BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties in Blue Ridge, GA has earned the Nationally recognized Short Sales and Foreclosure Certification (SFR) from the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council of NAR. The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders, protect buyers, and limit risk, and provides resources to help REALTORS® stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves. To earn the certification, she completed a one-day comprehensive classroom education program including passing a written test and three one hour webinars. The program provides resources to help stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves.

Gayle will be contacting and assisting Fannin County lenders dealing with REO issues as well as homeowners facing foreclosure. She is also available to address the many Short Sale questions generally asked by cabin owners in distress, and to discuss options other than foreclosure.

Though the timeline related to the foreclosure process depends mainly on your lender, new programs were put in place on 4/5/10 so you may still be able to avoid foreclosure if you act immediately

If you would like to schedule a confidential consultation or proceed with the short sale of your home, please contact her by phone at 866-413-1781 or email gaylebarton@inbox.com. **All communication will be held in strict confidence.

So, You Want to Buy a Short Sale….

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:45:00 +0000

Are you looking to buy a new home or investment property? Now is a great time to be a buyer as the current real estate market holds many bargains to be found.

Foreclosures are one option, but in many cases you will find that these properties are heavily damaged or in a state of disrepair. Another option is to make an offer on a short sale.

FORECLOSURE – what does that mean?

A foreclosure is when the bank, or lending institution, has taken the property back due to non-payment of the mortgage and is selling the property directly.

SHORT SALE – what does that mean?

If a home is being sold as a “short sale” that means that it is being sold for less than the current owner owes on the property and the seller does not have the funds to make up the difference at closing. Due to a number of factors, including job losses, aggressive borrowing against their home in the days of easy credit, and declining home values in a slower real estate market more home owners are finding themselves in this situation.

In most cases, the homeowner involved in a short sale still lives in the property so it has not been vandalized and may require less work or repair.

Homeowners often try to accomplish a short sale in order to avoid foreclosure as it is less damaging to their credit.

While a short sale can be a bargain, there are a few things you need to know before you make an offer.

HOW DOES A SHORT SALE WORK FOR A BUYER?

When you write a contract on a short sale property it will be sent to the Seller (just like a normal contract). If the Seller accepts and signs the contract it will then be sent to the Lender for approval.

Some Lenders will have proactively worked on the property package and will know what they will accept. In this case, the short sale approval can be as short as 60 days. Some Lenders will not begin this process until a contract has been received. In these cases, the standard approval can take six to eight months!

I have read statistics that say that because of this lag up to 60% of short sales fail due the Buyer losing interest or finding another property.

However, a new program (HAFA) is due to begin 4/5/10 which was created to streamline these requirements and shorten the timeline. This is expected to help Buyers, Sellers and Lenders by getting more short sales completed.

WHO IS A GOOD SHORT SALE CANDIDATE?

While a short sale can be an excellent way to get a bargain in today’s market, it is not a good choice for all buyers.

You're a good candidate for a short-sale purchase if:

You're very patient - Even after you come to agreement with the seller to buy a short-sale property, the seller’s lender has to approve the sale before you can close. When there is only one mortgage, short-sale experts say lender approval typically takes about two months. If there is more than one mortgage with different lenders, it can take four months or longer for the lenders to approve the sale. (HAFA is a new government program that is set to begin on 4/5/10 which should reduce this time frame.)

Your financing is in order – For obvious reasons, Lenders prefer cash offers. However, if you can’t pay all cash for a short-sale property, it’s important to show you are well qualified and your financing is set. If you have a written pre-approval, a large down payment, and can close at any time, your offer will be viewed more favorably than that of a buyer whose financing is less secure.

You don’t have any contingencies - If you have a home to sell before you can close on the purchase of the short-sale property, or you need to be in your new home by a certain time, a short sale may not be for you. Lenders like no-contingency offers and flexible closing terms.

You make a reasonable offer - The Lender is already losing money so they want to minimize those losses as much as possible. If you make an offer that is significantly lower than the fair market value of the home, chances are that your offer will be rejected and you’ll have wasted your time and everyone else’s.

Here are a few other things that a Buyer needs to be prepared for.

“AS IS” Property - The property may require repairs and the buyer will most likely be asked to take the property “as is.” Because the Lender is already taking a loss on the property they may not agree to requests for repair credits. Be sure to speak with a qualified and experienced agent about how you can write the contract to protect yourself in this circumstance should significant damage be found during the inspection.

Unworkable terms - When a lender approves a short sale, it may require that the sellers sign a promissory note agreeing to repay the remaining amount of the loan (called the deficiency). This may not be acceptable to some financially desperate sellers. In which case, the Seller may refuse to go through with the short sale. Lenders can also change the terms of the contract that you already negotiated, which may not be agreeable to you. In that case, you may refuse to go through with the short sale.

As you can see there are a few downsides to making an offer on a short sale. But if you have the time, patience, and will to see it through, a short sale can be a win-win for you and the sellers.

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by
Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA.

Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Guest writer - J. Byron Wyndham, Real Estate Attorney, blogs on the future of our economy.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:53:00 +0000

Blue Ridge Georgia Real Estate is pleased to welcome guest blogger and local real estate attorney J. Byron Wyndham. Today, Byron shares with us his perspectives on the future of our economy.

Our Economic Future....

I recently had the privilege to attend a seminar where economist Dr. Donald Ratajczak spoke on his insights into our economic future. Dr. Ratajczak is a noted economist, the former head of the Georgia State University economic forecasting center and a noted worldwide lecturer. His opinions are in demand by the media and he is often sought after by major television networks for his thoughts on the economy.

Below is a summary of what Dr. Ratajczak sees for our economy in the near future:

Banks are reeling from the bad loans that were made over the past few years. Many lenders are surprised to find out how bad their portfolios really are. The banks feel that federal regulators are looking over their shoulders. How do the banks keep the regulators at bay? How do they improve their loan portfolios? They need lend…to good qualified borrowers. Then the banks will have more good loans in their portfolios.

Are we in an economic recovery? Yes, but it is not the traditional recovery that is usually led by the housing sector. Housing, in this recession, is a laggard. We have a two to three year inventory of unoccupied residential houses. However, by 2013, the inventory should be back to “normal.”

The recovery is slow because the banks won’t lend. New loans are DOWN eight per cent (8%) from this time a year ago. However, deposits are UP eight per cent (8%) from last year. When lending is down and deposits are up, the banks have money. They have plenty of money to lend if they would do so.

The banks need to change their manner of lending in order to get better loans into their portfolios. With a required credit score of 700, only one-third of the population can qualify for a loan. If the criteria were lowered to 675, then forty-five per cent (45%) of the population could qualify for a loan.

The Jobs Report for February showed a loss of thirty thousand jobs. However, sixty-four thousand of those job losses were in construction and government. State governments are letting people go to save money; state governments are experiencing large deficits and the fastest and easiest way for government to save money is to cut jobs. If the construction industry and government jobs are removed from the report, we actually had an increase of thirty thousand jobs last month. This trend should continue into the future.

Temporary jobs have also been increasing for the last five months. This will lead to job growth as temps are hired and made permanent workers. We should see continued job growth in March, April, and May.

For more information about short sales or other real estate related matters, please visit his website or email him at jbwyndham@tds.net

J. Byron Wyndham
2460 E. First St. Suite B-6
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
706.258.6222

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by
Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA.

Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@tds.net if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Why NOW is a great time to buy Blue Ridge, GA Real Estate

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:49:00 +0000

Blue Ridge, GA is a very popular vacation destination located in the North Georgia mountains.

This quaint mountain town offers a pretty, historic downtown area with loads of shops and local restaurants, numerous outdoor activities, a scenic railway and luxury log cabin rentals with great mountain views for a very reasonable price.

These draws along with its location, just 90 miles north of Atlanta, provide a constant flow of area visitors and cabin rental guests making the purchase of a turn-key vacation rental / investment property in the area a smart real estate investment choice.

One thing that is certain about the North Georgia mountains, because of it’s natural beauty, people are always going to have an interest in purchasing real estate in the region.

Though, like the rest of the country, our local real estate market has recently experienced an economic downturn, local experts know that the moment things turn around, the property prices in this area are certain to rebound.

But, what really makes Blue Ridge investment property such a good investment at this time is the fact that a buyer can currently find quality properties in this beautiful mountain region priced well below market value.

For buyers with an experienced agent by their side, an agent who is fully tapped into the local investment property / rental market, you can find successful Blue Ridge investment properties at amazing prices.

Whether you use choose to use the property as a vacation rental investment property or keep it for you own personal mountain get-away, when the market rebounds, you are placing yourself in a position to realize valuable gains.

Owning a piece of property in this little piece of “paradise” is a desire that many people have and I would like to help you take advantage of that wish at a time when low property values combined with low interest rates are allowing more people than ever to “live the dream”.

Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@tds.net if I can assist you with questions about buying or selling your mountain home or property.

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by
Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA.

Guest writer - J. Byron Wyndham, Real Estate Attorney, blogs on “Short Sales”

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:40:00 +0000

Blue Ridge Georgia Real Estate is pleased to welcome guest blogger and local real estate attorney J. Byron Wyndham. Today, Byron shares with us his perspectives on understanding the secret side of short sales.

Short Sales...Continued

We are seeing more and more “short sales” in recent transactions. With many homes being “underwater” (the outstanding mortgage is more than the home value) in order to sell the house, the owners are asking lenders to accept less than the outstanding loan balance to release the house from the lien of the loan.

The “catch” ? Many owners don’t realize that just because the lender agrees to accept less than the loan balance to release the lien, that does NOT relieve the owner (the maker under the Note) from the obligation to repay the balance of the loan. The lender may file suit against the owner/seller for the balance of the loan that was not paid at the short sale.

The owners may also not understand that their credit can be adversely affected by the short sale. Usually, by the time the seller/owner has requested the short sale, they have missed several payments and have accrued late charges. This will appear on their credit report. But the seller may think that by doing a short sale, at least the stigma of a foreclosure has been avoided. However, in a short sale situation, the lender may “write off” the loan. This write off will appear on the credit report as a negative credit factor.

What options does a seller have? The seller can request that the lender agree to accept the short sale balance in full satisfaction of the loan and that it be marked “paid in full” on the credit report. This will avoid the actions noted above. However, the lender is NOT required to agree to these terms. It is an affirmative request to avoid the negative affects of the short sale. Though the Lender does not have to agree to this, many lenders are trying to avoid foreclosures and having more real estate on their books. In order to have a smaller loss than what would happen in the case of a foreclosure, the Lender might agree to this scenario.

The bottom line-it doesn’t hurt to ask. All they can do is say No! But if they say Yes, the seller can realize the full benefits of a short sale. JBW

For more information about short sales or other real estate related matters, please visit his website or email him at jbwyndham@tds.net

J. Byron Wyndham
2460 E. First St. Suite B-6
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
706.258.6222

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by
Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA.

Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@tds.net if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

SIGN UP for my NEWSLETTER - Blue Ridge GA Real Estate

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:19:00 +0000

I would like to offer you an opportunity to sign up for my FREE seasonal newsletter called Blue Ridge, GA - What's New!

The newsletter is written to provide you with real estate related information as well as general information about our beautiful town and the surrounding North Georgia mountain communities.

As a subscriber, you will receive information about upcoming area events, new business openings and "special deals" - many offered exclusively to our clients. [See coupons for local businesses in each edition]

You may opt out of receiving the newsletter at any time by using the link at the bottom of the page.

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by
Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA.

Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

BLUE RIDGE, GA Real Estate Foreclosures Seem to be Slowing Down

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:00:00 +0000

People are constantly asking us for updates on the current real estate market and the overall economic climate in our area in general.

For the most part, this area has been suffering through the same economic downturn experienced by the rest of the country, but things may be changing for the better!

This article points to the first signs we've seen that the forelcosure crisis in our area may be on the mend.
This would be great news for the small local banks, the Realtors and the owners of "non-distressed" properties who have suffered as a result of the real estate market slide.

Below is a posting of a recent article from the News Observer (local Blue Ridge paper)

Real estate closings rise, foreclosures decline

BY DUB JOINER, STAFF WRITER

Monday, February 15, 2010 1:28 PM CST

Real estate closings are up and foreclosures are down slightly, according Multiple Listing Service statistics for Fannin County and from a check of legal foreclosure advertising over the past six months in The News Observer.

June Slusser, past president of the Northeast Georgia Board of Realtors, said the number of closings reported to the board through MLS listings has increased each month since last July compared to the same period last year.

“This is a wonderful trend and we are excited to see increases,” Slusser said.

She said the closing statistics includes both land and housing units, and most of the closings are in Fannin County.

Meanwhile, a check of the legal ads shows that the number of foreclosures has been dropping since November.

In August, there were 62 foreclosure ads. That number increased to 86 in September. The number dropped to 41 in October. In November, there were 66 foreclosure ads, 55 ads in December and 51 in January. The foreclosure ads include those for property and housing units.

I hope that this is not an anomaly, but a sign of better things to come! I'll keep you updated as the story progresses.

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA.

Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Santa Train - Scenic Railway in Blue Ridge, GA

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:04:00 +0000

The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway has only 5 more "Santa Train" trips scheduled this year. (12/18 - 12/21)

If you are visiting the area with the grandchildren, don't miss out on this. (This trip is set up for young children, so there is no layover in McCaysville.)

On board, your family will hear Christmas stories, sing Christmas carols with elves, and visit with the North Pole’s jolliest elf himself during the ride.

This is so much fun with the little ones. Bring your cookies and hot chocolate and DON'T FORGET YOUR CAMERA!

Before the trip you can meet Mrs Clause on the deck at the depot for photo opportunities.

You can purchase tickets at www.brscenic.com/tickets or 877-413-TRAIN (8724)

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA.

Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Commercial Building For Sale - Central Business District - Blue Ridge, GA

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:58:00 +0000

Checkout the gorgeous lodge-style commercial building I have listed in the heart of the CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT in quaint downtown Blue Ridge, GA $724,900

More info about this commercial listing

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA.

Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.