Cabins for Sale in Blue Ridge GA
Are you looking to purchase a cabin for sale in Blue Ridge GA sometime in the future? This article covers a few key points associated with property searches in the North Georgia Mountains such as styles of home, types of views to look for, property sizes, and access to your future dream home.
Do you know what style you’re interested in?
Many buyers seeking to purchase cabins for sale in the mountains are unaware of the variety of styles that can be found.
Ranch
Ranch style cabins are noted for their rectangular, single level, and traditional layout. Many of the earlier cabins in the Blue Ridge mountains were constructed in this fashion due to the easier style of building and lower costs. While in recent years we have seen an revival of this type of building the demand is substantially higher than supply causing prices of smaller, ranch style homes to be higher per square foot than most others. All ranch style homes feature master bedroom and laundry on the main, as well as near 100% of living space. Some “sunken ranch” style homes feature a fully finished basement with walk-out access as a lower level living suite.
Chalet
Chalets originated in the Swiss Alps and are often seen in vacation homes and short term rental properties. Typical details include exposed timbers, wrap around decks, glass prow front facing long range views, high ceilings, open floor plans, and plentiful sleeping areas. The features of a chalet while making them the ideal vacation or rental property are often not best suited for long term living as they require a substantial amount of maintenance and cleaning. Many newer style chalet homes while still having the chalet features are built to be smaller more usable homes for full time living. The wrap around open deck style is the perfect place for an entertainment porch or to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee with nature.
Traditional
The vast majority of mountain homes are constructed of a more traditional floor plan consisting of 2-4 levels and a variety of floor plans. If you’re looking for a cabin for sale in blue ridge have you considered the focus of your home and the features you would use most? An example is to think about how much you enjoy cooking which would lead you to purchase a cabin with a larger open kitchen and copious amounts of cooking & preparation space. Some might need to consider what types of items they own that would occupy large amounts of space such as a grand piano, or even kayaks and canoes. These factors often make or break decisions on purchasing a traditional style cabin as each is built with different features to suit different lifestyles.
Square footage different in the mountains
The area measurements of a home, typically listed in Square Feet (Sq Ft), are an important consideration when looking to buy a cabin in the North Georgia Mountains especially if you’re considering a permanent move. When buying a cabin in Blue Ridge there are a few notes regarding area measurements, specifically that of “Sq Ft Above Grade” and “Sq Ft Below Grade.” Most sites, such as Zillow and Trulia, will only list the Sq Ft Above Grade making some mansion-esque cabins appear to be less than 2,000 Sq Ft when in reality they are closer to 6,000. Other sites, such as Realtor.com, will list 100% of the heated area in one number giving a more accurate picture of total size.
When searching for a cabin to purchase in the North Georgia Mountains, instead of relying on the Sq Ft measurements of various websites, use an estimate of room and livable space sizes, quantities, and locations. The reason for this is primarily due to custom built cabin styles and locations being perched on the side of a mountain requiring what would typically be considered the lower portions of a home (1st & 2nd floor) to be set below grade in a similar position of a traditional basement. The lower floors of most mountain cabins while in the position of a basement will often feature a view with deck or walk out access to a hot tub area.
How a “million dollar view” can be less than a million dollars
If you’re looking for a cabin for sale in Blue Ridge GA and can’t figure out what type of view you want for your vacation home or full time residence there are a few key factors to consider.
Firstly, a year round mountain view is not always best. Many consider the year round mountain view to be the most important factor when purchasing a home yet fail to realize that excellent views can be seen even with partial or seasonal mountain views and not carry the 10-30% increase in property cost. Did you know that with most seasonal mountain views the mountains are actually visible year round, simply partially obstructed by trees?
Second, typically water features and year round mountain views cannot be combined. Streams and creeks typically run across flat or rolling land to a lake while stunning views of the Blue Ridge mountains are best seen perched atop a mountain, where there are little to no streams/creeks/rivers. If you’re looking for a combination of views your best option would be to include homes for sale on Lake Blue Ridge or homes for sale on Lake Nottely.
Third, be sure to consider the various environmental factors when searching for a view. For example, a year round mountain view means chillier temperatures and bigger wind gusts in the winter, as well as unobstructed solar exposure during the summer months. River, creek, and stream views while typically not a concern for flooding in the Blue Ridge mountains can sometimes raise insurance rates.
Not all parking and roads are the same like many suburban areas
Now that you’ve selected a style of home & view you’re searching for it is time to look at options for parking your vehicles and the quality of access to prospective properties.
Cabins in Blue Ridge with a garage
The full time living and vacation home or rental/investment property carry very different parking requirements. Full time residents would often prefer a garage for storing their vehicles during off hours and inclement weather primarily for the safety and security. This is not always the case with vacation homes or rental/investment purchases where the stay is of short duration and the occupants are not necessarily the same as the owners. A two car garage in Blue Ridge is not a standard feature as it is in most other communities because of complex building and permitting requirements associated with constructing the additional structure or attempting to adjoin with an existing structure. Another factor typically prohibiting the construction of a garage is lot size, shape, and access location. Some builders have found creative ways to add garaging space by either placing it in a basement garage with wrap around access or constructing it as a separate structure on a flat area near the home but without covered walkway between the two.
Four wheel drive access vs. all paved roads
There is not much more disappointing than to find your dream home and realize as you’re traveling there the only vehicle capable of getting there is a 4WD monster truck. One of the most frequent requests from buyers is to have all paved access because they are concerned about being able to get to the house. The honest truth is areas without all paved access are sometimes just as easily accessed as those with because the road maintenance contractors are familiar with the proper grading style and schedules.
The areas you should buy in
Blue Ridge
Searching for cabins for sale in Blue Ridge GA? Blue Ridge offers a wondrous amount of activities and a vibrant community best suited for vacation rental, up scale full time living, and investment properties. Though many properties are listed as Blue Ridge this does not necessarily mean they are within the city limits which can often be a good thing from many perspectives. Some great areas to consider are cabins for sale on Aska Rd, cabins for sale on Lake Blue Ridge, and cabins for sale in one of the many subdivisions.
Cherry Log
A commonly overlooked area during property searches yet one of the number one areas to purchase a reasonably priced mountain cabin is the Cherry Log area. Cherry Log is comprised of many different communities though the most notable area is Cherry Log Mountain. Are you looking for a cabin for sale in Cherry Log? Start with searching in the Cherry Lake and Cherry Log Mountain properties. This area features prime examples of mountain top cabins and seclusion without being too removed from the Blue Ridge and Ellijay area.
Ellijay
A growing area primarily consisting of full time residential living makes cabins for sale in Ellijay an excellent location to purchase. The Ellijay community, in contrast to Blue Ridge, is focused more on full time residents and carries commercial shopping, chain restaurants, and easy access to larger cities. Though Ellijay is primarily catered toward full time living that does not mean there is a shortage of cabins for sale featuring the true mountain feel.