When I worked on Wall Street in Banking ( Yes I confess to sins in my middle youth) which was right after my earlier Woodstock youth, when ever we put in a system for the bank we would have a post mortem. If the implementation went well there would be 4 or 5 of us at the event. If it went poorly and depending on the impact the numbers grew. So tons of folks are talking about the election so I thought why not do the post Mortem. 52 percent of voters voted for and elected Barrack Obama. It was a historic event in the sense that we as Americans transcended race, and in a post 911 America an Arabic name. Now 52 % percent could be wrong and if we are we unelect him in 4 years. But for now we elected him. So for the most part we voted for the man and his platform. Race and his name was not an... 11/06/2008

  After the sun came up this is what the day revealed. This is living in the North Georgia Mountains. You might think you need a lot of money ,but you would be wrong. Homes with views like this can be purchased for less than 250,000. Lots and land sometimes as low as 30,000 for big views. So we saw the sun rise i my last blog. It alluded to what might be. With the light we see what is. Whether you are looking for your self or your clients the North Georgia mountains provide affordable beauty. If you are not looking shed some light on your day and see what beauty and surprises it holds for you. Visit us for more at www.allmtnrealty.com 11/03/2008

It is sunrise in the Mountains and a new week. The outlines of things are still dark. But the day promises to be a full one. Later today as the light develops we will see what this Autumn day brings. All things we do start with the band of light . As we explore and pursue the light shows us the path we are too take and what awaits us. So we begin the day with shadows and faith that things will reveal themselves. 11/02/2008

Today after I dropped the kiddies off at school I happened across a cold wandering brindled puppy with a black button nose and socks. "Screech" went the brakes and out I jumped to save that puppy from certain doom! So he runs to me in a pitiful manner and lets me pick him up. At some point I found myself driving down the road with this warm sleeping pup on the passenger seat and the sale was made, JUST LIKE THAT. I worried about what I'd do with him when I got home! I live in Big Canoe, Georgia (and sell Big Canoe real estate) where they have a very active Animal Rescue. I called the director, met her in her driveway, and  she followed me over to the Big Canoe Animal Shelter where she gave the little fella some Front-line for his fleas, dewormed him, gave him a collar, leash, and some f... 10/27/2008

Big Canoe, Georgia is a gated resort community located in the North Georgia Mountains. Each year Big Canoe celebrates the beginning of Autumn by hosting Oktoberfest with friends, festivities, fun, sausages and of course a genuine Oom-Pah Band! This Oktoberfest was a big hit with the largest crowd ever more vendors than I have seen as well. It was a lovely sunny day with a slight breeze and cool enough for long sleeves. Many friends and neighbors were seen carrying umteen different hand-made crafts purchased by the vendors in one hand and a big old Warsteiner cup in the other! Others went straight for the food lines and came out happily with brats, sour-kraut, German Chocolate cake, brownies, and or course delicious Bavarian pretzels with extra salt! The Oom-Pah band played for all of B... 10/23/2008

A lot of folks when they think of gated communities have a very different impression than the photo above. While I do not have the "National Geographic" Wild life camera I was able to take this photo from my front porch. You could hear the clucking sounds and see the Turkeys walk through the area. Living in the mountains is wonderful. It does not need to be remote. Let the pros at All Mountain Realty show you how you can be in areas like this and still have an active adult life style. It is the best of both worlds 10/13/2008

I am just now coming in from a great Octoberfest in Big Canoe. Plenty of good food. Plenty of good beer. And plenty of music and vendors. The best part is it was all free. So you could walk around and see your friends and neighbors for nothing. Many remarked that despite the economy folks seem to have their wallets out for beer and brats. Big Canoe is one of the premier communities in the mountains. Thinking about the mountains? let the pros at All Mountain Realty be your choice. 10/11/2008

Now is a great time to buy in Big Canoe. Big Canoe is North Georgia's premier Mountain community. Prices are very very good right now. If you are looking for that great retirement community or a community you can raise a family in while still being able to commute to the Nroth side of Atlanta consider Big Canoe. Look for a second home. North Georgia mountains are the closest to Florida of any Mountain destination. Escape the heat. Have your friends call you snow birds!! Visit us on line at www.allmtnrealty.com Contact us for information. If you are thinking about a mountain home BIg Canoe and the areas around it are a great place to be. If you are raising a family and want a "swim tennis" community Big Canoe has 3 lakes, 3 pools. 10 tennis Courts. a Boy Scout and Girl Scout troop, baske... 10/02/2008

  Moving to the Big Canoe Community may make you wonder how you are going to be able to make a living. Although Big Canoeis sometimes considered a retirement community many people are not retired but want to get out of the 9-5 mentality. The women of Big Canoe have been very inventive by creating businesses in Big Canoe based on necessity. They have formed a group called the Georgia Mountains Business Women's Network (GMBWN). This  group of approximately 90 members is flourishing, and most of it is good word of mouth, aka networking! The GMBWN is coming out with a directory listing 60 businesses and services that are female operated right here in our own foothills! The following are a few samples of what the GMBWN has to offer: Odds and Errands- Owner Gloria Berger is ready to work when... 10/01/2008

Living in the North Georgia Mountains has its advantages - clear skies, fresh mountain air, and a much more relaxed atmosphere. However some of the bigger communities can leave you feeling like a mouse in a maze if you don't know where you are going.  The Big Canoe Community has a smart system of letting you know where where you are in a subtle and sometimes funny way. Keep reading for more helpful information to guide you through your next trip to Big Canoe. Your first visit to the Big Canoe Community may be a little bit confusing if you are on your own with nothing but a map! We have all been there at one point or another and it can be a challenge to say the least. Let's start with a few historical notes and hopefully enlighten any visitors to the Big Canoe Road Code. Where did the na... 09/28/2008

Tomorrow is USTA tennis day. We are on the road to Blue Ridge. The team we are playing is number one. So tonight , Friday night, I will make the supreme sacrifice and get to bed at a reasonable hour. Now as to the title of this blog Blue Ridge is a beautiful place. Lake Blue ridge is well known and hard to get a property on for less than 600,000. But when the Blue Ridge tennis team comes to see us in Jasper they all wish they lived here. Why? Because we are in the mountains like they are but we have amenities and a community with concerts , tennis ,golf, hiking , swimming and even a sport from the old country( New York City) Boccie. So while these folks wished to be in the mountains and wished to be in nature they soon discovered that they want ed more. In our North Georgia communities ... 09/19/2008

The Trails in Big Canoe are wonderful and along the way we discover some great gems. Above is a picture of a working still . This is part of the tradition. Didn't you see the Dukes of Hazzard ? It remains a testiment of a bygone era. Below is the Lower Falls They are actually about 20 feet high. You need water to run a still. And even though it is September and dry they are still running and very pretty. Below the falls is the Disharoon Cabin and the plaque outside it. It is a large one room with a small sleeping loft. A real testiment to simplier times.  So when in Big Canoe and walking many of the beautiful trails it is not only nature that awaits you. It is hisrtory and culture. Contac us at www.allmtnrealty.com We are your North Georgia and Big Canoe experts  09/18/2008

Recently the board at Big Canoe proposed a capital initiation fund amendment  to our bylaws. This fund is proposed and out to the voters in Big Canoe. The purpose of this post is not to discuss this local issue. Although if you ask me I am against it. This post is meant to remind Realtors of their obligations. Even though this fund has not been approved, or turned down, it is now an item for disclosure. The GAR rules are pretty clear. Many think that until the rule is passed they do not have to deal with it. However the rules say proposed. Do not get caught having to pay a fee out of your pocket because you failed to disclose. For more information on the beautiful community of Big Canoe contact us at www.allmtnrealty.com or call us at 706 579 1098. Remember disclosure in Georgia must ta... 09/17/2008

Big Canoe is a great Mountain community. Almost 10,000 acres with , among other things 3 great mountains. The top Picture is Lake Petit in the mist. It reminds one of Golden Pond . I have posted before with Lake Petit at Sunset. It is about 98 Acres and is wonderful to canoe on or launch a pontoon boat. The second Picture is lake Sconti. It is in the middle of the cGolf course at Big Canoe. In the summer the Symphony sets up on the green in this picture and we set up our picnic tables and listen to the great music while taking in a marvelous view The #rd and Fourth Pictures are of lake Disharoon. The sand in one of the pictures is a beach for play for children in the summer. There is a great walking path around this lake as well. Canoe on any one of the 3 or fish in 2 of them. The mount... 09/09/2008

I'm starting to see some listings with the term "Price Firm". I agree that everyone should have a bottom line. Look at CarMax. I have not personally bought any vehicles from CarMax but after all the "No-Haggle Price" ads it truly discourages me from wanting to haggle. I guess the "agent" in me makes me want to haggle just for the heck of it since it's in my nature. It makes me want to haggle in the grocery store, or the gas station, still, all I get is "No, this is the price, and that's that". Of course this doesn't  work in the real estate world because our inventory is so high....but what if there were a "No-Haggle" movement where we got our sellers to their bottom lines? Would this help my little community of Big Canoe to sell their real estate faster if they threw it out there for e... 08/31/2008

Hi Everyone- OK I know that I may be stretching it a little but I have been working with a client from Boca Raton for a while and we exchange many emails and pictures. I tell her about how wonderful it is to have a mild 4 season climate and manageable snowfalls. Last week my husband, who works from home noticed these two fuzzy, button nosed twins out in our back yard. Surprisingly enough the camera was CHARGED, and right by his side! We FINALLY have pictures to send to our customers! Hooray! After I emailed the twin fawn pics to my Boca client, she sent me a picture of her local wildlife! Boca is gorgeous, but I'll stick with the fawns!! Actually I think they are pretty cute, but not in a "run up and hug it" kind of way. It's cute in a "Budweiser Commercial" way! She told me they reall... 08/28/2008

It would appear that Faye is finally leaving us. It was a major rain event. We needed some. Ouor lakes are full . The land is green. usually late rains like this make for great fall color. So if you are not going all the way to New England to see the leaves you might want to consider a trip a little closer to home. This is from last year. Pretty neat stuff,  The top picture shows the at the peak season. The bottom picture shows how it starts. No matter how you slice it it is really quite pretty. 08/27/2008

Many agents report activity picking up in the North Georgia Mountains. This is a good sign. I myself have a buyer and of the 3 homes we picked to see 2 went under contract. But aside from this type of information the AJC ( Atlanta Journal Constitution) did a big piece on Cousins properties. Cousins is a publicly traded company and a mega real estate management/development company. Cousins is buying properties at an increased rate in our area. Cousins plus Warren Buffet , Trump and Ted Turner are all buying. What this means is the marekt in their opinion is probably as low as it is going to get. What does this mean for you? If you are a small investor or looking to get into your first home this is a great time to buy. If you are investing here is some advice, If you are thinking, I can f... 08/16/2008

There have been a ton of blogs about the new housing bill. After all there should be as this is a real estate oriented network. There are volumes of blogs about government bail outs taxers etc etc. Basically I read a bunch of stuff that is anti- bailout. I am generally anti- Bail out too. But there is one bail out NO ONE IS BLOGGING ABOUT. On Feb 9 2009 all of us will convert to digital TV. If you do not have digital TV you need a box. You can get a coupon and a bail out for the box. Where is the outrage and the cry about this bail out? Are Hogans Heroes reruns more important than a 7500 housing credit? You bet they are !!!! With out TV the face of America would change. We would probably all have skinnier faces as we would not be sitting in front of the tube. We might all need glasses a... 08/04/2008

Last night we all gathered for a birthday party on Lake Petit. There were 2 birthday girls and one birthday boy. So we went out on a party boat to celebrate. The picture below tells you more than any words I could write why I love living in the mountains. Come experience the beautiful North Georgia Mountains for yourself and relax and simplify your soul 07/18/2008