Clyde Holler Lets You Know Why You Want to Live in Blue Ridge, in the gorgeous North Georgia Mountains.

Clyde Holler is your North Georgia Mountain Realtor. A member of the Coldwell Banker High Country Realty team, his expert advice has assisted buyers and sellers throughout the Blue Ridge area, including Fannin, Gilmer & Union counties, as well as parts of Tennessee & North Carolina. Whatever you're looking for, be it a cabin, a family home, a vacation home on the lake, or a property to be used for rental income, Clyde is well suited to meet your specific Blue Ridge real estate needs.

We provide expert real estate assistance for individuals looking for a cabin, residential property, lake home, or gorgeous lakefront acreage in the Blue Ridge area, which covers Fannin, Gilmer, and Union counties in Georgia, along with the neighboring areas of Tennessee and North Carolina. Our area is easily accessed from Atlanta, with average travel times of about an hour and a half.

The February 2002 issue of the Wall Street Journal's Smart Money magazine named Blue Ridge, Georgia as one of the five best places to buy vacation homes in the U.S. "Why is this town a choice retreat? Nor worries about overdevelopment — 42% of Fannin County is owned by the National Forest Service. After hiking the Appalachian mountain trails, head to the 100-year-old downtown to furnish your new house at the antique stores and galleries" (page 62).

For most of us, it is the mix of accessibility, natural beauty, and outdoor recreational opportunities that make the Blue Ridge area so desirable. Because the four-lane highway was only completed in the last decade, the area as a whole is less developed than other comparable resort areas in Georgia. On the whole, development has also been more nicely done in these areas than elsewhere in the Georgia mountains. Our wilderness areas are really wild, and Fannin County continues to be 42% national forest. Lake Blue Ridge has 100 miles of national forest shoreline, and Lake Nottely also has beautiful, unspoiled areas.

The Blue Ridge/North Georgia mountain area includes two distinct mountain chains, the Cohuttas and the Blue Ridge Mountains, as well as three major lakes, Carter’s, Blue Ridge, and Nottely. It is home to five major rivers, the Toccoa/Ocoee, the Nottely, the Cartecay, the Coosawatee, and the Ellijay, along with one large creek especially beloved by trout fishermen, Fightingtown Creek. It is home to two major wilderness areas, the Cohutta/Big Frog and the Rich Mountain Wilderness, along with a number of Wildlife Management Areas. According to the Georgia Conservancy’s Guide to the North Georgia Mountains, the Blue Ridge region has the greatest mixture of temperate climate plants in the world, except for eastern temperate Asia, because it comprises the northernmost range of many southern species and the southernmost range of many northern species.

With these advantages, Blue Ridge is becoming a very popular area for second homes (cabins and lakeside properties especially), weekend rentals, and retirees. The area is secluded without being remote, and many people find it possible to visit their mountain cabins on a weekly basis, year-round. We also have a very strong weekend rental market, which allows buyers to leverage their investment by realizing income on their properties.

Fannin vs. Gilmer vs. Union

Fannin County (Blue Ridge) has become the preferred destination for second home buyers in our area. Because of the river, the lake, and the Aska Adventure Area, it probably has the best mix of outdoor recreational opportunities in our area. The average cabin buyer is between the ages of 35 and 55. Taken as a whole, Fannin probably has the best architectural conformity of the three counties, and the highest average property values. Fightingtown Creek is renowned for trout, and many people consider the Toccoa River below the dam the best trout stream in Georgia. The southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, Springer Mountain, is in Fannin County. Blue Ridge also has a flourishing downtown, with antique shops, restaurants, and specialty stores. The Blue Ridge Arts Association is particularly strong; with over 900 members, it is the largest community organization in the county.

Gilmer County has the advantage of being fifteen minutes closer to Atlanta, and boasts more upscale gated communities than Fannin County. Gilmer has three rivers, and river property in Gilmer is typically priced somewhat lower than in the same type of river property in Fannin. In general, comparable cabin property in Gilmer is a bit cheaper than in Fannin. Gilmer includes parts of the Rich Mountain and Cohutta Wilderness areas. Many local real estate agents consider the downside of Gilmer County to be its numerous chicken farms (they smell bad) and dubious conformity in some Gilmer developments.

Union County (Blairsville) is twenty minutes further from Atlanta than Fannin County, placing it beyond what many second home buyers consider the limit for a weekend resort. Perhaps for this reason, Union is more of a retirement community. One major advantage to Union is that property on Lake Nottely is currently very reasonable compared to property on Lake Blue Ridge. Blairsville is definitely more progressive politically than Fannin County, which has an unenviable reputation for political infighting. Blairsville also has that jewel of jewels, a Home Depot. Many local real estate agents consider the downside of Union County to be the relatively poor conformity in many subdivisions and especially the widespread use of vinyl siding.

Tennessee and North Carolina

The portion of Tennessee that borders Fannin County is a growing area for second home buyers. While it is at least twenty minutes further from Atlanta, cabin and land prices in Tennessee are currently a bargain compared to comparable property in Fannin. The town of Copperhill has undergone a renaissance in the past few years, and it is now home to many interesting shops, along with several worthwhile restaurants. There are also some charmingly renovated homes in the town of Copperhill. At this time, Tennessee still has no state income tax, and it may be a good choice for retirees who have no need to commute to and from Atlanta. Aside from the greater distance from Atlanta, the major downside of this part of Tennessee is that to reach most properties in this area, it is necessary to pass by the old copper plant, a major eyesore. Because of pollution from the operation of the plant in former years, the Ocoee River north of the plant does not support aquatic life, making it a lost cause for fishermen.

The portion of North Carolina that borders Fannin County is a viable option for buyers who do not mind commuting further from Atlanta. In general, resort property in North Carolina is higher than comparable property in Georgia, but there are exceptions to this rule in our area. Average annual rainfall is higher in eastern North Carolina than in our area. This area may be a good choice for artists and others who want to be close to the John C. Campbell Folk School and/or the Asheville market.