If you have ever had the good fortune to visit the mountain towns of Ellijay or Blue Ridge, then you know the area as one of the most picturesque in the country. Because of the mountains and National Forests as well as the relatively undisturbed natural scenery it has become the choice for many people to have a vacation home or buy a second property. Tourism is one of the largest driving forces of the economy in the Blue Ridge area, and some of the people that come and visit immediately fall in love with the place and want to own a property there.

Unfortunately for a large number of buyers, the area is so nice that they ended up purchasing properties that were a little bit beyond their means. It has meant that there have been many homes that have been the subject of foreclosures and people have sometimes had to walk away from beautiful mountain cabins.

Occasionally from a bad situation can arise good opportunities. If you have the finances in place to purchase a property in Blue Ridge or Ellijay you can probably get a very good deal on it. Because many of the smaller banks in the area have taken a beating on loans that have gone sour they may be willing to short sell certain properties. You could end up picking up your dream home for much less than the last buyer paid for it.

You have many options if you are looking at North Georgia property or homes for sale. There are luxury cabins that cost a great deal of money and while they are a good value, they might not be right for every buyer. Due to the large number of builders that were pumping out spec houses you can find smaller homes on very nice lots that are secluded. If budget is a factor or if you are primarily looking at real estate in this area for investment purposes you might also look into buying a lot or undeveloped property in this area. Many things about a property can change over time but the astounding natural beauty of the Georgia Mountains is not likely to change for many generations.

Because of the strong tourism industry in the area, there are also opportunities for businesses and you might be interested in purchasing a property for future development of a hotel or restaurant. This can be a little bit more involved than buying property as a home and may require substantially more research but that may be worthwhile.

Taking a good look at North Georgia real estate may be the first step to one of the better investment decisions that you ever make. At the very least, the trip will likely be one of the better vacations that you have ever had as you get to enjoy one of the most beautiful areas in the country.

Rachel Hill Burden is a real estate agent with Better Homes and Gardens – Metro Brokers. Visit her at the Real Estate Hub in Ellijay or her real estate listings website.