Karen's Blog

We Are Weathering the Gas Crunch

I look around our friendly mountain town of Clayton, Ga., and I see everyday people, happily going about their business and tending to their families, as usual.  I do notice a major difference from the way it used to be.  Instead of running to the store everyday, we are planning our shopping trips  for more than just bread and milk, and taking care of our entire list for the week.  As a Realtor, I am planning my showings carefully--still showing the things people want to see, but making sure everything is really shown in sequence. When the gas crunch hit, our first reaction was, "NOW what are we going to do?" But after evaluating this situation, Americans have taken a closer look at our insatiable need to go where ever we wanted to, without ever thinking of the consequences of the cost of a gallon of gas.  I see, not only our neighbors in my charming mountain town of the NE Ga Mountains, but all over America, people making the decision, "Is this trip necessary?"  I am proud to see so many of us conserving the way we should have been doing for years--really paying attention to our surroundings and finding a more affordable solution to our NEEDS.  Our WANTS are now taking a back seat in our lives.  We are not thinking of ME, but of WE.  Americans are tough but logical, and we know this too, shall pass.  Gas was over $4.00 a gallon in our area, and very hard to find for over three weeks.  I am happy to say that today it is $2.77 a gallon.  The price has fallen only because of supply and demand.  We weathered the storm and said "We really can do without so much".  And, truly our lives will be better for it. For this I am proud of our nation of people who, once again, are starting to care about what is really important.

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COME TO RABUN COUNTY AND EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THE LAKES AND MOUNTAINS

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WEEK IN CLAYTON, GA!  THE DOGWOODS ARE IN BLOOM, THE SKIES ARE CRYSTAL BLUE, AND THE LEAVES ON THE TREES ARE SPRING GREEN.  THE CONTRAST AGAINST THE BLUE SKIES IS PAINTABLE!  WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH CHILLY WEATHER THIS WINTER, THAT WE ARE SOO EXCITED TO SEE THE WARMER WEATHER FINALLY ARRIVE!!

THE MARKET DOES HAVE QUITE A FEW LISTINGS, BUT THANKFULLY, THEY ARE MOSTLY WELL PRICED.  I HAVE A CABIN LISTING AT THE VERY TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN IN RABUN GAP, GA--PAVED ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP--4 BEDROOMS, 2 BATHS WITH BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN VIEWS--REMEMBER YOU ARE AT THE ABSOLUTE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN--AND THIS BORDERS USFS--NATIONAL FOREST!  MOVE IN CONDITION.  $279,000.

 ANY AGENTS IN GEORGIA WHO HAVE CUSTOMERS LOOKING IN CLAYTON, GIVE ME A CALL.  IT WOULD BE THE EASIEST REFERRAL YOU HAVE EVER DONE, AND I WILL TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS AND FIND THEM A GREAT PROPERTY.   

CLAYTON IS ABUZZ TODAY WITH OUR ANNUAL "CELEBRATE CLAYTON" FESTIVAL, WHERE MAIN STREET IS TOTALLY CLOSED. MANY VENDORS FROM THE TRI STATE AREA BRING THEIR WARES AND BUYERS MOSEY ALONG BOOTH AFTER BOOTH, ENJOYING TASTY TREATS, THE WEATHER AND FINDING ITEMS THEY CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT! TICKETS ARE SOLD FOR A HUGE RAFFLE WITH WONDERFUL PRIZES--ARTWORK, GIFT BASKETS, STAYS IN LOCAL CABINS OR BED AND BREAKFASTS, AND ON AND ON....THE FESTIVAL WILL BE SATURDAY AND ALL DAY SUNDAY.  COME AND EXPERIENCE A GREAT TIME IN THE NE GA MOUNTAINS!

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RABUN COUNTY--CLAYTON, GA-- IS BEAUTIFUL IN THE SPRINGTIME!

I THINK THE COLD WEATHER IS FINALLY BEHIND US IN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTY IN THE GOOD OLE USA! THE TREES ARE IN BLOOM WITH EACH PASSING DAY, AND THE BUYERS ARE VENTURING OUT TO PURCHASE PROPERTY IN OUR FAIR COUNTY OF RABUN.  IT SEEMS THIS HAS BEEN A LONG, RAINY, WINTER--WHICH  WE FEEL THE GOOD LORD HEARD ALL OF OUR PRAYERS--AND NOW WE ARE SEEING BEFORE OUR EYES THE GREENING OF OUR BEAUTIFUL AREA. WE ARE VERY BUSY WITH A NEW LOG HOME THAT MY HUSBAND IS BUILDING--WE OWN BLACK BEAR CABINS, INC-- AND I WILL SELL AND MARKET WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. WHAT AN ABSOLUTE PRISTINE SETTING!  YOUR VERY OWN NATURAL WATERFALL THAT YOU CAN ENJOY FROM THE DECK WITH TWO CONVERGING CREEKS BORDERING NATIONAL FOREST--USFS--FOR  MILES!!!  AND THE FULL LOG CABIN IS  10 MINUTES TO TOWN ON BEAUTIFUL SCREAMER MOUNTAIN! 2 BR, 3 BATHS, DAYLIGHT BASEMENT, GRANITE COUNTERTOPS,SEPARATE ISLAND WITH WET BAR, PAVED DRIVEWAY,COVERED ROCKING CHAIR PORCH WITH MOUNTAIN VIEW, ROCK FIREPLACE, JETTED TUB AND SHOWER IN MASTER ON MAIN FLOOR, CATHEDRAL CEILINGS, WALL OF WINDOWS AND ON AND ON......ALL FOR $310,000!  IF ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE A MOUNTAIN GETAWAY, CALL ME!  AND WHAT A SUPER RENTAL THIS WOULD MAKE--JUST WHAT EVERYONE WANTS TO VACATION TO! HAVE A GREAT WEEK-END!  AND REMEMBER, APRIL 22 IS EARTH DAY!  DO SOMETHING NICE FOR MOTHER EARTH!!!

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IT'S GETTING WARMER IN THE NE GA MOUNTAINS--REAL ESTATE AND THE WEATHER!

IT'S FINALLY GETTING WARMER IN THE  MOUNTAINS--TODAY'S TEMPERATURE SHOULD BE 65 AND SUNNY!  AND THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IS HEATING UP, TOO!  SINCE JANUARY, WE ARE NOTICING ANXIOUS BUYERS READY TO LOOK SERIOUSLY!  THE INTEREST RATES HAVE DROPPED, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW 1031 EXCHANGES THAT ARE IDENTIFYING PROPERTIES, AND THERE ARE CASH OUTS FROM REFINANCING AT THE LOWER RATES.  THOSE PEOPLE WITH CASH OUTS ARE TAKING THEIR CASH AND BUYING SECOND HOMES. PRICING IS HOLDING STEADY FOR TWO REASONS--OUR COUNTY IS 70% NATIONAL FOREST--USFS--WHICH INCLUDES GA. POWER LEASE LOTS ON OUR THREE BEAUTIFUL LAKES, AND WE DON'T HAVE MANY SUBDIVISIONS, SO THERE ARE VERY FEW NEW HOMES JUST SITTING AND WAITING FOR A BUYER.  A BUILDER WILL BUILD ONE HOME AND NOT BUILD ANOTHER UNTIL THAT ONE SELLS.  I AM TROUBLED HOW THE MEDIA DEPICTS ALL MARKETS THE SAME--BIG CITIES, HUNDREDS OF SUBDIVISION HOMES NOT SELLING--WHEN I WOULD BET AMERICA IS VERY MUCH LIKE OUR TOWN--SOME SLOW DOWN LAST YEAR BUT A NOTICEABLE CHANGE OF ATTITUDE THAT STARTED WITH THE NEW YEAR. HERE'S TO 2008--A YEAR TO REMEMBER AS THE TIME TO BUY REAL ESTATE IN RABUN COUNTY, GA!
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Rabun County Real Estate

Rabun County is fantastic! I am so happy to have been invited to activerain.  I honestly had never heard of it before, but I am sure I will only learn from it, and make new friends, too! Any website for realtors, or their affiliates, can only be a positive experience.  I look forward to becoming an active part in active rain and hope to blog weeekly about our market, my listings, our beautiful area, and any special events that Clayton,Ga has to offer.  If I can ever help anyone when they come to the Clayton, area, please don't hesitate to call me!

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