This Exceptional Year

submitted by Harry Norman Luxury Lake and Mountain Realty

photo by Brad Tinsley

We can all agree that 2020 has been an unusual year. The Real Estate market in Rabun County and surrounding areas is no exception. There was, and still is, no shortage of changes to make, hurdles to overcome, and opportunities for active minds to discover. In short, the selling and purchasing activity of homes has been much higher than usual. Most of the factors driving this flurry of activity are “old hat” by now. The disclosure and onset of COVID-19, economic worries, and their associated concerns immediately challenged the dynamics of our daily routines and feelings of well-being. Add to that, events of social unrest over cultural issues that have shaken the core of all people who live and work in and around urban areas. Our nearby neighbor Atlanta is no stranger to these events. Closer to home, many of us had to cancel or rearrange family visits, vacations, weddings, Spring and Summer (and now Fall) plans. Sheltering in place, or sequestering for extended amounts of time has led people and families to seek spaces away from crowded areas – particularly more rural areas with lots of things to see and do, while feeling “away” from other people … enter Rabun County. Our market has seen an influx of all-cash buyers, new buyers taking advantage of very low interest rates, and, additionally, more buyers are now able to work from home. They are also looking for a calming environment to work, while enjoying our area’s coveted lake and mountain views. In addition to lake homes, buyers are also looking for mountain retreats as a weekend get-away, or for moving permanently to the area for retirement.

Some buyers have commented that if they have to selfquarantine for 2021, they would rather do so in the mountains which offer outdoor opportunities where you can still distance yourself from others. In addition to our abundance of beautiful Forest Service lands, waterfalls, and wonderful views, the growth of downtown Clayton has appealed to buyers seeking nice restaurants and locally owned stores. Historically, there have been increases in new listings for the Fall season. That activity shuts off around the holidays to return around late February with homes re-entering the market and with new listings becoming available. This year, the expected uptick for these new listings has not materialized. Homeowners are enjoying their homes, and more may plan to do so throughout the Fall and Winter seasons this year. We’ll just have to wait to see what Spring has in store for us all. In the meantime we can all certainly enjoy the now, and remain thankful for what we have. Fall is upon us and Rabun County is certainly a wonderful place to live!