What Makes a Vacation Cabin a Successful Rental Investment?

I speak with clients daily who all seem to be searching for the same property: A luxury log cabin with a great mountain view which is suitable for use as both a private getaway as well as a lucrative rental investment.

What Makes a Vacation Cabin a Successful Rental Investment?


For the most part, the North Georgia vacation rental market is glutted with "average" cabins. Buyers should be looking for a "special" property that will stand out from the crowd.

I suggest a cabin that is:

1) Within 10(+-) miles of town - The farther out you go, the more difficult it will be to find a property manager. It can also reduce your number of repeat & referral customers as it is inconvenient for them to get to stores and attractions.

2) Has either a beautful mountain view or is on good water (loud, visible and easily accessible) - A very secluded/private cabin is nice, but is not generally the first cabin requested.

3) A nice kitchen - As there are limited choices for eating out in most mountain areas, guests will use the kitchen quite heavily. If the cabin will sleep more than 4 guests, I would strongly suggest that you consider only cabins which offer a dishwasher.

4) Central heat & air is a must and paved roads are becoming a more frequently requested amenity.


The fact is that while many vacationers say they want to feel like they have experienced "roughing it in the mountains", they really do not want to be uncomfortable or inconvenienced at any time! In fact, our surveys showed that while on vacation paying guests expect their lodging accomodations to be "better than what they have at home".

Finding a cabin that meets your family's needs, but will also serve as a successful rental, can be tricky. Be sure that the agent you select to assist you has a FULL understanding of the vacation rental market in your area or your time and money can easily be wasted!



This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Upside for Sellers in a Bad Real Estate Market??

Is this an Upside for Sellers in a Bad Real Estate Market??


Read the full story>>> REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Global Interest in U.S. Homeownership Gains


This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties  located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA.Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Swan Drive-in Movie Theater in Blue Ridge, GA

Did you know that Blue Ridge, GA still has an active drive-in movie?

We do and it’s great!


Built in 1955, the Swan Drive-in is one of only 5 left in the state of Georgia.   It is open year-round and runs first-run movies so it popular with locals and visitors alike.

You can check what’s showing or see more info here: http://www.swan-drive-in.com/




This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@inbox.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Commercial Building For Sale - Central Business District - Blue Ridge, GA

Checkout the gorgeous lodge-style commercial building I have listed in the heart of the CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT in quaint downtown Blue Ridge, GA

**NEW PRICE**  $675,000
More information about this lisiting

This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties  located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@tds.net if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Geocaching in Blue Ridge, GA = High-tech Treasure Hunting

Many who visit the North Georgia mountains these days are doing so with one purpose in mind - geocaching.

As described by geocaching.com, geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, and then enter your experiences online.

There are currently over 300 geocaches around Blue Ridge, GA ranging in difficulty from easy to very challenging, so this is a game for the whole family.  Just follow the link, sign up for your FREE account, download the data for geocaches you want to find and head for the hills!

Our family will be joining the fun this summer, so hopefully, we'll see you here!





This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@tds.net if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

SIGN UP for my NEWSLETTER - Blue Ridge GA Real Estate

I would like to offer you an opportunity to sign up for my FREE seasonal newsletter called
Blue Ridge, GA  - What's New!

The newsletter is written to provide you with real estate related information as well as general information about our beautiful town and the surrounding North Georgia mountain communities.

As a subscriber, you will receive information about upcoming area events, new business openings and "special deals" - many offered exclusively to our clients. [See coupons for local businesses in each edition]

You may opt out of receiving the newsletter at any time by using the link at the bottom of the page.





This North Georgia Real Estate blog is hosted by BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties  located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email gaylebarton@tds.net if I can assist you with buying or selling your mountain home or property.

Gayle Barton has earned the Nationally recognized (SFR) Short Sales and Foreclosure Certification

Gayle Barton, a Realtor with BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties in Blue Ridge, GA has earned the Nationally recognized Short Sales and Foreclosure Certification (SFR) from the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council of NAR. The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders, protect buyers, and limit risk, and provides resources to help REALTORS® stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves. To earn the certification, she completed a one-day comprehensive classroom education program including passing a written test and three one hour webinars. The program provides resources to help stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves.

Gayle will be contacting and assisting Fannin County lenders dealing with REO issues as well as homeowners facing foreclosure. She is also available to address the many Short Sale questions generally asked by cabin owners in distress, and to discuss options other than foreclosure.

Though the timeline related to the foreclosure process depends mainly on your lender, new programs were put in place on 4/5/10 so you may still be able to avoid foreclosure if you act immediately

If you would like to schedule a confidential consultation or proceed with the short sale of your home, please contact her by phone at 866-413-1781 or email gaylebarton@inbox.com.   **All communication will be held in strict confidence.