Charlie Ragonesi Big Canoe Realestate's Blog: Georgia: Dahlonega

The Bear on the Square Festival in Dahlonga Georgia is a great kick off to the Spring / Summer season in our North Georgia Mountains. The festival is a free event featuring musicians roam all over our Mountains

Here is just one of the many groups that camped out including a clogging platform for those who were so inclined. Below you can see just one of the streets filled with folks and musicians playing

The whole square was full for the whole weekend. The Gold Museum is in the photo below. It sits ion the center of the square. Dahlonega was the site of the first gold rush in the country in the 1820's. People still pan today .

So after all that walking around and listening to music, What does one eat to capture the Mountain Spirit?

While I cannot bring you the flavor of the food in this post,  I can bring you some of the sounds. So enjoy the music and you will get a good feel for this great festival. The North Georgia Mountains are a wonderful place to live and play. Let the folks at All Mountain Realty be your guides

"On November 24-26, 2010 the historic gold rush town of Dahlonega, GA will host the 75- foot official Capitol Christmas Tree as it makes its way from the Teton National Forest to the White House. Much like the Olympic Torch run, but instead resting on a giant flatbed and accompanied by a caravan of 12 vehicles, including two semi-trucks and Federal escorts, it will take stops along the way for festivities. Dahlonega, GA is one of only three Southeast stops, the others being Memphis and just outside of Washington, D. C."

Dahlonega Georgia is a great town. It is a place for family and fun. The event in November will be no exc eption. You will be able to walk around the square , see the tree, and be a part of the great festivities. Given our tough economic times this no cost or low cost event should be great family fun. Since Dahlonega was the site of the first Gold Rush in the U. S. Stop by the many places you can pan. You could turn the day into a money making experience!!! I will be onthe square hope to see you there.

Above is a picture of the old court house onthe Square in Dahlonega . Right behind it is the gold museum.

Today in the North Georgia Mountains it is chilly and a bit windy. The air is crisp and clean. Even though the leaves are off the trees it is still wonderful to look out at nature. The point here is if you are looking for a mountain retreat or a place to live full time consider the North Georgia Mountains. Why?

1 We have great gated communities like Big Canoe and Bent Tree.  These communities offer a full experience of nature and amenities.

2 We have rural land if you decide to go green acres

3 We have great schools and medical facilities.

4  Being on the Southern end of the Mountains we have milder winters than they do further North. We still have cool summers. I ran my A/C for about 9 days this summer.

Most of all, all this can be had at really affordable prices. Farm land can start as low as 8,000 an acre for tracts usually above 5 acres. Homes on 1 acre  start at 140,000. This is for quality homes and good land. Now in gated communities you may pay a little more.

Bottom line here is that North Georgia is a great place to live that will not cost you an arm and a leg. How long we stay this way , who knows. But for now we are a great place to be if you want, peace quiet and beautiful healthy mountain living.

North Georgia has a growing Wine industry. Yesterday we went to 3 Sisters Vineyards. This is near Dalonega  and just a stones throw from Big Canoe and Jasper. When you see these photos remember you are in the North Georgia Mountains not Northern California

It is late summer in North Georgia. This year we have had great weather and rain. So everything is green still.

Can you see yourself standing here in the clear air.  It was so quiet and beautiful. This is one of the many wineries that have started in our mountains.

And of course the beautiful grapes. I have to confess after I took this picture I snitched a grape. BUT I did buy a bottle at the Vineyard.

North Georgia is a beautiful place to visit and live. This is just one place in our great mountains. remember your Latin?

"In Vino Veritas"

About a week ago I posted photos of the all marble Tate house. There are many scenes in the mountains:

Grizzles country store and many like it are fixtures in our mountains. usually they open about now and carry fresh produce and ice tea. So you may be  headed to Amicoloa Falls , about 2 miles west of Grizzles, and one of the the longest falls East of the Mississippi. You could be headed east to Dahlonega about 10 miles from Grizzles, the site of the first Gold rush in the US in the 1820's. You could be hauling a horse trailer to ride in Blue Ridge park about 2 miles North orf Grizzles.  In any event whether it is grizzles or another store like it. Stop get an ice tea, get directions and a country smile. Family stores like this are part of the mountain heritage and make the mountains a special place for sights and the folks that live here

I answered a Q&A writer today. And it strikes me that folks making probably one of their biggest investment decisions do not use a professional Realtor. It just amazes me . For aches and pains you go to a doctor. For a car you go to a mechanic. If you are buying a used car for 2,000 bucks you say, "can I have my mechanic look at it?"  But for a 200,000 home you go in blind. Then when things do not go exactly as planned I read your questions here on Active Rain . So I ask myself WHY ??? Let me try to dispel the myths that might prevent you from using a Realtor

1 A Realtor will cost me money. 99 percent of the time the Realtor is paid by the seller. So the professional services your get come at no charge.

2 There is a Realtor I am working with. The listing agent. Ok the listing agent works for .....ready... THE SELLER NOT YOU. A good Realtor will treat you honestly and fairly but will not negotiate a price down on your behalf nor will they do your due diligence. So many times I hear oooh you are not the listing agent I want to work with them. Wrong answer.

3 I will get money off the price if I do not use a Realtor. This is my favorite. I love people who think this when I am the listing agent. Why, because I make more. So please come to my listings without a Realtor.

4 I am working Directly with the builder. This is my second favorite. A builder juggles contracts, workers, and costs. A builder is a formidable force to deal with. They have to be to stay in business. The builders contract is written for who?.... Did you say the builder? then you are starting to get it. More than anything you need a good Realtor to work with you in these situations.

I am focusing on money issue here. Because I am thinking why wouldn't you use a Realtor. The only answer I can think of is, you think it will cost money. It doesn't . In fact when you talk to a Realtor you will soon learn that the valuable services a Realtor provides saves you money !!!! So listen. I do not want to answer your questions after the fact when you ask them. I want you to be informed and not have to come to this network in trouble. So PLEASE , PLEASE , PLEASE think. This is a major investment. use a professional. The price surely is right.