What’s Hot in the Hills

By Kathy Dean

It’s not hard to know what people want from their mountain homes. While everyone has their individual styles and specific needs, there are some overriding features that most homebuyers look for in north Georgia.

“Water oriented properties are always the hottest properties, whether lake front homes on one of our several lakes throughout the region or a river front or creek front home, which is quite attractive as well,” said Faron W. King, Broker/Owner, Coldwell Banker High Country Realty.

“Acreage and lots are back in favor, too, especially when buyers can’t find their ideal home as a finished product,” King said. “They find the perfect spot for their needs and engage a local builder to build their dream mountain home.” www.BlueRidgeInnBandB.com info@blueridgeinnbandb.com

King urged anyone looking for a home in the north Georgia mountains to visit the Coldwell Banker High Country Realty website. “Let one of our Mountain Lifestyle Specialists share their wealth of regional knowledge with you to find the perfect mountain home,” he said.

View properties are also very popular, he noted, especially if it combines a lake view with long-range mountain views.

Katie Wercholuk, Marketing Director, Big Canoe Company, LLC, reported that after years of surveying visitors about what attracts them to the area, the same answer

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“City dwellers are looking for fresh air, peace and quiet, and gorgeous mountain views,” she said. “At Big Canoe, you can have the million-dollar mountain house of your dreams with long-range views of the Atlanta skyline,” said Wercholuk, “or you can have a Southern Living inspired cottage with views of the golf course.”

She added that a key request is incorporating outdoor living with everyday practical living. Residents want the longrange mountain views, water views and to be near one of the trails on the community’s 22-plus mile trail system.

Homebuyers also tend to look for neighborhoods with trails and locations that promote outdoor living and fitness. Wercholuk noted that Big Canoe easily fits the fill with its unique Jeep Trail, the awardwinning hiking and biking trails, three outdoor dog parks, three waterfalls, three lakes and scenic mountain landscapes.

“One of our most sought after neighborhoods is Wildcat, a mountain ridge neighborhood with a private reserve,” said Wercholuk. “Nearly half of the neighborhood’s 700-acre area is set aside for usable greenspace, including 12 miles of walking paths and trails.” Home sites in the neighborhood share spectacular mountain views, wildflower meadows and lush forests. Wildcat still has available lots for sale and plenty of new construction.

Wercholuk receives many requests for two and three car garages, a master suite on the main level, open floor plans and four-season rooms, such as covered screened porches with fireplaces and grilling areas.

Trends have changed over the last few years, according to Nathan Fitts, Nathan Fitts & Team of RE/MAX Town & Country. “Many people are leaving the traditional log cabins and moving towards modern rustic lodge-style retreats with a blend of wood finishes with iron, metal and stone accents,” he said.

Fitts added that, for second homes, buyers tend to prefer a mix of wood textures including board and batten, cedar, shake, wood siding with accents of iron and natural stone.

The popularity of north Georgia real estate has attracted high-quality builders to meet the construction demand. One of the building companies that Fitts and his team often works with is Big South Builders.

“They build the modern rustic style homes which are very much in demand in the current market,” he said. “Brown Haven Builders, another great building company to work with, specializes in craftsman style homes, which is a popular choice for retirement and full time homes.”

A couple of other reputable builders doing well in the market are Watkins Home Builders and Big Dawg Builders, Fitts said. Homebuyers have a lot of choices in the Appalachian foothills, and can find everything from custom luxury hideaways to cozy neighborhood cottages.

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