Top areas for vacation and cabin investments in North Georgia

Whether it’s for the spectacular mountain scenery, outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, seasonal attractions, or a combination of these facets, tourists come to North Georgia in droves because of these and more. Given the phenomenal rise in tourist arrivals in the region, industries that cater to these visitors are giving jobs and contributing to the local economy. 

Providing one of the most lucrative opportunities among North Georgia’s tourism-related industries are vacation and cabin rentals. In fact, the Peach State as a whole has been trending among netizens for information on real estate investment. Savannah online business newsletter SavannahCEO.com reported recently that the state garnered one of the highest Google searches per 100,000 citizens (428/100,000) for “how to invest in real estate”. 

You, too, could make your bid to cash in on the real estate investment opportunities in the Peach State, especially in the rental cabins of North Georgia! But first, you need to know where to best make that investment. 

This article tackles the top areas in North Georgia for investing in vacation and rental cabins, as well as useful information to help you navigate the process of finding the perfect property for this business endeavor. May this be your guide in ultimately making a windfall in profits from your investment.

TOP AREAS IN NORTHERN GEORGIA FOR VACATION OR RENTAL CABIN INVESTMENTS

Blue Ridge

The seat of Fannin County, the town of Blue Ridge is quintessentially North Georgia. With stunning outdoor views primarily featuring the most iconic mountain range in North Georgia, the area is every nature lover’s dream. Picture spectacular peaks, wild cascading waterfalls, babbling brooks, and verdant forest trails. 

Blue Ridge was recognized by Southern Living Magazine as one of the South’s Best Mountain Towns in 2022. Locals and visitors alike enjoy Blue Ridge’s three hundred miles of hiking trails, and fishing enthusiasts have a hundred miles of trout streams to choose from. Encompassing over 34,000 square miles of mountain terrain, Blue Ridge is also home to luxury mountain resorts, wineries, craft breweries, and a bustling art community.

Most listings in Blue Ridge have that Southern rustic feel but are decidedly more polished and larger than others in nearby areas. For the past three years, homes here have been sold at prices ranging from almost $300,000 to $756,000. Some properties in the area could even go as high as $6 million. 

Given a daily rent fee of $292, the annual revenue for rentals in the area would translate to $51,408, with a gross yield of 11.43% − a strong showing for this particular type of investment in Blue Ridge. Overall, the promise of a lucrative income in this North Georgia town is strong and the area is fully poised for further growth. 

Things to see and do in Blue Ridge

• Go apple-picking at Mercier Orchards.
• Enjoy a pint with buddies at Grumpy Old Men Brewing.
• Watch the plays staged by the Blue Ridge Community Theater.
• Pamper yourself with a relaxing body massage and aromatherapy sesh at Tea Tree Spa.
• Find unique vintage trinkets at Blue Ridge Antique Mall & Consignment.

Ellijay

Known as Georgia’s Apple Capital, Ellijay is the seat of Gilmer County. Here, Georgia’s history and heritage can be found in every street corner of its downtown area. Warm, friendly, and welcoming, the residents of Ellijay take pride in the city’s local produce, thriving wineries, and its bountiful apple orchards. 

Named after its Cherokee name, “Elatseyi”, meaning “new ground”, Ellijay is situated right between the rivers Ellijay and Cartecay, which together form the Coosawattee River. White-water kayaking is one of the area’s main attractions. Former President Jimmy Carter owns a cabin here which he bought shortly after he completed his term in 1981. 

Notwithstanding the seasonal ups and downs in Ellijay’s housing market, it has been seeing growth in the past three years. The price range for sold homes in the area went from $250,000 to half a million during the said period but would go as high as $3 million. As for rental cabins and other properties for rent in Ellijay, North Georgia, the short-term rental scene is on the upswing with more rentals opening up in the area and rent fees going as high as $3,000. 

Ellijay’s popular orchards

• R&A Orchards – Opened in 1983, this orchard started as a mere school project that turned into a “fruitful” business. Enjoy apple- and flower-picking here.
• Red Apple Barn – A family-friendly orchard that’s ideal for picnics, it features a pumpkin patch and a flower garden.
• Pentand’s Apple House – Five generations have been running this orchard! Get your frestr peaches, apples, as well as baked goods and jams here.

Blairsville

The City of Blairsville is the only area in Georgia where sorghum is grown for syrup-making. It is the seat of Union County with several bodies of water both within and around its borders, the largest of which is Nottely Lake on its northwestern flank. Blairsville’s mountains are reputed to contain the purest gold in North Georgia. 

Blairsville’s bodies of water open up a variety of water and shore-based activities to Blairsville locals and visitors, among them,  boating, swimming, horseriding, hiking, and camping. Not as crowded as Blue Ridge, Blairsville’s trails and green spaces are more serene, offering a more private one-on-one with Mother Nature.

Just like other towns and cities in North Georgia, Blairsville real estate has been on an uptrend in the past three years with seasonal rises and falls in between. Prices of sold properties in the area have been moving between the range of $240,000 and $439,500. If you plan on investing in Blairsville’s cabins, know that prices could go as high as almost $3 million – but for that cost, you could own a large estate pning as much as 75 acres. 

The rental market of Blairsville, meanwhile, is highly competitive. Data from NeighborhoodScout.com show that a large majority of homes here are rented out (84.6%) while the rest are composed of primary residential homes (15.4%) and vacant homes (9.7%). Given the area’s innate beauty and its appeal among those looking for places that are off the beaten path, investing in a cabin for sale in Blairsville, North Georgia is an idea worth looking into. 

Must-visit spots in Blairsville

• Vogel State Park – This is the second oldest state park in Georgia. Enjoy boating, camping, swimming, and freshwater fishing.
• Butternut Creek Golf Course – Tee off or practice your swing at this 18-hole golf course while enjoying views of the mountain range.
• Odom Springs Vineyards – This family-owned winery features todges for rent and tasting events. Perfect for romantic weekend getaways.

Jasper

Situated at the foothills of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, the mountainous city of Jasper is the seat of Pickens County. A unique type of pink marble is found here, thus, earning it the name, Georgia’s Marble Capital. Jasper was named after Sgt. William Jasper, a Revolutionary War hero. 

A good amount of Jasper’s pink marble was used in the construction of the Tate House in nearby Tate. The breathtaking mansion with a Great Gatsby feel is now a popular wedding and event venue and is registered as the Pink Palace in the National Register of Historic Places. Another historic landmark, Woodbridge Inn & Tavern, is found in Jasper’s downtown area. 

Homes in Jasper command sale prices playing within a range of $255,000 and $464,500, with the most expensive properties selling upwards of $2.6 million. The housing market here has been on a steady climb for at least three years, fueled by its lovely small-town charm and its relative proximity to Atlanta via I-75. 

Jasper offers a rural lifestyle without being too backcountry, especially since there’s easy access to modern conveniences. That’s why those looking for a quick getaway from the urban din could easily take a drive to Jasper and savor the more laid-back mountain lifestyle. It’s for this reason that a rental cabin in this North Georgia city has great income potential. MashVisor figures show a 3% cash-on-cash return on investment for traditional rentals and 2% for Airbnbs.

What to find in and around Jasper

• Fainting Goat Vineyards – This family-owned vineyard does feature fainting goats apart from the finest handcrafted wines.
• Cagle’s Family Farm – Have fun picking pumpkins and going through corn mazes in this family-friendly farm.
• Amicatota Fatts State Park – Here is where you’ll find one of the tattest water fatts in the southeastern United States.

Hiawassee

The seat of Towns County, Hiawassee is just a short drive away from Brasstown Bald – the highest point of the Peach State, towering at almost 4,800 feet above sea level. This scenic feature is just one of many fantastic attractions in and around this North Georgia city.  

Investors with an eye out for the perfect lakefront cabin may want to consider Hiawasee for a location, given the fantastic array of nature spots to explore in the area. Whether you want a mountain view or a lake view, you could have both in this picturesque city. Selling prices of properties here have been moving between a range of $265,00 and $460,000 over a p of three years, with some lakefront homes sporting a price tag of approximately $1.6 million. 

Whether you’re going for a traditional rental or an Airbnb in your Hiawassee investment plans, you stand to profit by 2% cash-on-cash, according to Mashvisor. Airbnbs are, in fact, surpassing traditional rentals by leaps and bounds with the former driving up a rental income of $2,788 compared to the latter’s $1,769 – a difference of more than $1,000. 

Found in and around Hiawassee

• Lake Chatuge – A lovely lake formed by dam construction over the Hiawassee River, it’s now a favorite venue for many forms of water activities and recreation.
• Hamilton Gardens – a woodland paradise boasting a thriving ecosystem of flora and fauna native to the state.
• Jackrabbit Recreation Area – A great camping ground found a little past the North Carolina-Georgia border by the shores of Lake Chatuge.

WHY NORTH GEORGIA IS A GOOD PLACE TO INVEST IN RENTALS

North Georgia cabins have always shown promise in the short-term rental scene; more so, in post-pandemic times when wide-open spaces offered by nature provide the safest places for family recreation. This region’s mountains, lakes, woodlands, and waterways make the ideal locales for rental cabins.

Now that recreational travel is picking up where it left off on the heels of the pandemic, North Georgia’s tourism industry is making a strong comeback. With the return of tourists, you can expect an even stronger demand for lodging in the area. Investing in a rental cabin gives these seasonal visitors a great option for experiencing living amid nature’s grandeur while having all the conveniences of home.

What’s more, these North Georgia towns and cities are not far from Peach State’s major cities such as Atlanta, Savannah, Athens, Macon, and Augusta. City dwellers wanting a weekend escape from the urban hustle and bustle could easily travel to these special North Georgia locales for a quick recharge.

Another reason why North Georgia is great for rental cabin investments is the state’s healthy and thriving economy. For example, Georgia is very prominent and supportive of the film industry, with many feature films being shot and filmed on location in the state. This attracts business and a lot of visitors to the area. 

Investing in rental cabins in North Georgia is a smart move for anyone who desires to own an asset with great potential for growth and high yields. Apart from being more affordable than properties in the mega-cities, they also make for strong hedges against more volatile assets in your financial portfolio due to the steady income stream and their tangibility that allows them to withstand economic fluctuations.

Tips for buying a cabin

Keep these tips in mind if you’re planning on investing in a cabin in North Georgia. 

• It’s always smart to work with a real estate team with extensive knowledge of and familiarity with the areas. 
• Double-check for availability. Some listings may only be for vacation rentals and are not for sale. Working with a reliable real estate team can be helpful in ascertaining which properties are legitimately for sale.
• Do your research on the property’s location. Each country is different; it will be best to do more legwork and research what sets each area apart from each other.
• Prepare a list of must-haves and nice-to-haves in the cabin you plan to invest in. In doing so, keep your potential tenants’ needs and requirements in mind.  
• Security matters a lot, especially among cabins located in remote areas. If not fitted with the latest security systems, your alternative would be to prioritize one found inside gated communities. 
• Consider the distance between the property and essential establishments such as hospitals, groceries, offices, and other modern amenities. While serenity and privacy are premiums to consider, also take into account convenience.
• Access to the area’s many natural features is also important. Will the property be a stone’s throw from popular hiking trails or state parks? How far will it be from noted landmarks?
• Assess the condition of the cabin, especially if adding modern fixtures such as smart gadgets and fast connectivity. Ensure that the structure can withstand major renovations or expansions. 
• Keep lines of communication open between you and your real estate team. Be transparent with absolutes to ensure you get exactly the listings you desire.

ADD A RENTAL CABIN IN NORTH GEORGIA TO YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

Searching for the perfect cabin in North Georgia can become a hassle-free experience with top-notch North Georgia investment Realtor, Nathan Fitts to help you. Working under the highly esteemed RE/MAX Town & Country brand, Nathan and his team bring to the table professionalism, integrity, experience, and a passion to serve. 

Start your search for the best investment opportunities in North Georgia real estate with Nathan! Call him at 706.632.3000 or leave a message here.