Visit my website
I recently started my own website. The best way to keep up with me and my perspective on the market up here is to visit www.nchighlands.net

Thanks. Please feel free to get in touch.

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Hot enough for you?
A couple of weeks ago, the South had a heatwave. I actually went to Reeves and bought another fan. Since I don't have ac, I needed a little extra--and it worked. One night I noticed that it was in the mid-90s at a Braves game about 9 PM. I walked out on my deck: 72!! A week or so later, we were down in the 50s, and with all my windows open, I had to reach for a blanket while watching TV. And another night, I had to get up at about 3 AM to close a window; it was that chilly!

I'm not sure what I think about global warming, but even if it's just part of the regular historical cycle and temperatures go up a bit, that's all the more reason that Highlands will be a top-choice destination.

From almost its beginning, Highlands has been the place where people from New Orleans to Charleston have come to cool off. That is not likely to change. If temps keep edging upwards, then Highlands will all the more become the cool "hot" spot.

With market conditions as they are and the media constantly reporting bad real estate news, lots of people are hesitant to buy these days. But now's the time to seriously consider your investment in Highlands. The market will turn around, and when it does, prices here, as they historically have, will go up.

This summer, instead of suffering through the heat wherever you are, it's time to take the step and invest in your place of respite. Lots of people are buying now, thinking ahead a year or two til the time they'll move here full-time (and it's a GREAT place to live year-round!). Some just want a summer escape place. Some want a cabin; some want an estate.

We have it all. Whatever you want, I'll be glad to help you do what it's time to do. I'll look forward to hearing from you soon. bert.mobley@harrynorman.com

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Awards
Recently at the annual awards ceremony held in Atlanta by our corporate office awards were given to top agents company wide which includes over 1000 agents. i am happy to announce that the Highlands agents won major awards! Pat Allen was the top 17th agent in sales and number 18 in listings. Bert Mobley received the "Miss Emmy" award voted on my peers. His professionalism, willingness to help other agents and the office in general is a coveted award,in deed. Monica Calloway,who joined us in October of last year, was given the Rookie of the Year award. Her dedication and hard work earned this award. Needless to say, we are proud and ready to serve our clients wuth integrity and professionalism.

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Why I am here
Last week, my Mom came up to visit. She lives in one of the hottest parts of Georgia, so I'd warned her about packing a sweater or jacket.

We left Walhalla with 87 on the car thermometer. 30 miles later as we pulled into Highlands: 60!!! Not too long after we'd walked into my house (with about half the windows open), she gave an ultimatum: either rent me a motel room or turn up the heat!

I turned up the heat. And built a fire too. In the middle of July.

The 27-degree drop, I admit, is a bit dramatic; 12-15 degrees is pretty normal. But thank God for the difference.

A lot of people want a place in the mountains to cool off. But we've got to be honest: it can be pretty hot even in the mountains. Every once in a while, we'll go through a hot spell up here in Highlands, but whenever someone starts complaining about the heat, we just take a moment to remind ourselves how hot it's not. At approximately 4,000 feet, this area is unique.

Just because you find a place with a nice creek or a mountain view does NOT mean you'll get the coolness to go with it. A 92-degree day in North Georgia is about an 80-degree day here. That's a difference worth remembering when you get ready to find your cool mountain dream spot.

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Here it comes!
It took a while.

Back in March, we had a couple of warm weeks, and the leaves were just about out. "Nature's first green is gold," Robert Frost writes, but that cold snap in April changed the gold to a pukish black and yellow.

But finally, the leaves are just about out, the weather is turning warm (at least some of the time), the days are longer, and the beauty is astonishing. Mother's Day is the magic time of year when we can finally put flowers out, plant a vegetable or two (just to see what happens), and finally expect the frosts to be gone.

Activity-wise, we're in full spring mode. More houses are being listed, more buyers are looking. It's still not a roaring full-speed-ahead market, but we're steady and busy.

Harry Norman has now listed Town Place, walk-to-town condominiums near the ballfield. Increasingly, we've seen people move away from the big-view houses to the close-to-town locations. It's a real advantage be able to have a great dinner and stroll home in the cool mountain-night air.

We're also able to help you with the condominiums being build by Old Edwards Inn in the old Nick's spot. And, as always, we're able to work with you with any property from Toxaway to Scaly.

Let me know how I can help, and I'll do my best.

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Spring is here
It's beginning to thaw out. Literally and figuratively.

We had a good stretch of winter: lots of ice crusting some rock faces, a good snow or two, and weeks of teens and twenties. I love winter up here--particularly the long-range winter views. Winter is not a bad time to deal with property in Highlands and Cashiers, but now that spring is on the horizon, we can tell that a lot of people are coming out of hibernation, and the real estate market is warming up.

My mom has a one-frame cartoon on her fridge: a worried-looking cave man, a toilet paper roll stuck on a stick, a hole in the gound, and another cave man with "plumber" on his cap saying "This be not cheap."

I think of that little phrase often as I drive around looking at property up here. But "cheap," I suppose, is relative. If you get a lot for your money, then maybe it's just good value, regardless of how much it costs.

So how about this for good value?

--new construction, high-quality houses on half-acre lots about a half a mile from the down-town light. An honest-to-goodness walk-to-town exquisite home. And you can walk back home too. (I love it when people advertise a "walk-to-town" when involves about a 200-ft drop; the walk back is a doozey!) If you get in now, you'll have a lot of say-so into the features of your house. Increasingly over the last year or two, people have been looking for in-town jewels like this. Call me NOW and get in while the getting is good.

--a great two bedroom/two bath condo in Highlands Falls, just a short drive from town. All the convenience of condo living in a beautiful country club setting.

--mountain and water. A lake view with long-distance vistas as well. A bold stream along the length of the 5.9-acre property. In Lake Toxaway with deeded lake access. Subdividable into three.

None of these options are "cheap," per se. But they may give you the best value of any investment you'll ever make.

Give me a call to learn more. 828 526-8300 (office) or 828 526-3629 (home).

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Winter in the mountains....
"What's your favorite time of the year up there," people like to ask Highlands full-timers. The most common answer? "Winter..."

I hear it over and over again. The winter views. Not as many people just driving through. More time to get to know the neighbors (and yes, there are a few neighbors around!). The blazing fire and a good bottle of Cab with the wind howling outside. Those magical days when the flakes fall all day--and you don't have to get in the car and go anywhere.

Thinking of moving up here full time but afraid of the winter?

Talk with the year-rounders before you decide "No." We maight just change your mind.

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That time of the year
It's finally here. Fire in the fireplace last night. Low of 40 this morning. Totally blue sky and crisp clean air. And everywhere you look, the hint of orange and red and yellow: the off-green hues of early fall.

Old-timer wisdom says the leaf season should be spectacular. We were abnormally dry through June and July, but then we've had normal rainfall since. Supposedly, this combination is perfect for a great fall of color. Last year was a wet, wet summer, and September was warm. What color we did have came in late October, but most leaves just withered and dropped. This year should be quite different.

The old-timers are also saying the hotter and dryer than normal summer leads us towards a colder and wetter winter. I understand that this possibility is not attractive for some of you, but for me: ah.... I can't wait! I'll stock up on Chunky soup, some batteries, and pleny of firewood. A couple of blankets and a good book or two: I'll be just fine, thank you.

Often one of the summer people will ask me what I think of living up here during the winter. The answer is immediate: "I love it." And many of the locals (even if they're not natives) agree with me.

Twenty years ago, most Highlands houses were not winterized. When people left in October, they didn't return until April or May. That's not the case anymore. It's so easy to get here from Atlanta and other places where many of our second-homers come from. But even with more people up here, the pace is definitely a winter pace.

Life in the mountains is pretty much always good. When spring comes leading to the mild Highlands summer, I get all excited. But the earth tilts, and so does my mood.

I'm ready for fall and winter. Come join me.

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Comparison
Every now and then, I just go out for a ride. Take a road that leads somewhere. Anywhere. Or maybe nowhere.

Whenever I'm in Europe riding a train, staring out of the window zooming past a nation of imagination, I see those little roads, heading off under a bridge, winding through shade trees, disappearing. Stop the train!! I want to know where that little lane goes. I want to wander, to see what exists beyond the realm of what I already know.

There are roads up here in these hills that attract me the same way. I've been by it a hundred times, but I have no clue. So, next time I detour and explore.

Often, I'll see a few houses and maybe a"For Sale" sign or two along the way. And I start thinking: What would it be like to live out here? or spend a weekend? On this particular plot of the earth.

If you'd like to go exploring with me--to find your own spot--let me know. We'll have fun, I'm sure. We may even get lost.

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Golfers
Last year during June and most of July, golfers up here had a problem. Fairway balls would disappear. The ground was so soaked even the cartpaths were squishy. But this year has been much different: even I've been getting an extra 30-40 yard roll. Lots of blue sky and firm fairways.

But as I write this, the rain has returned--good soaking rain that restores everything to the lush green this area is famous for. And the waterfalls, a week ago closer to a trickle, are now their usual roaring selves.

In a day or two, the blue sky will return, the highs of 60s will return to the 70s. The golfers and hikers and waterfall watchers will be back in force. But some days like today are reading days, a cool, moist breeze through the open window and raindrops off of the rhododendrums.

Not a bad life in Highlands. Rain or shine.

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I love this place!
I'm not new to Highlands nor the market in this area. Beginning at least ten years ago, I began looking for investment opportunities up here and kept hoping that someday I'd have a chance to move up full time. Thank goodness for a great agent who patiently let me know what was available so that when the time came, I was ready to act.

So now I'm here, enjoying the cool green climate of what is truly one of the unique places in America. On those rare summer occassions when I get to feeling a bit warm up here, I quickly shift my focus to how hot it's not--to how hot it would be if I were living down the mountain in Atlanta or Athens or Waynesboro.

I hate hot weather, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Once, years ago while spending a summer in Oxford, I visited one of the many college gardens. As I walked through one of the HOT houses, the reality struck me: "I live in a place like this!!" Subconsciously, I'm sure, I was even then making plans to move to Highlands.

So, all of you who can identify with my sentiments: come on up and let me help you find your cool mountain property. You may not be able to move up fulltime (not yet, at least), but you can have the nearby retreat, a place of cool respite just two hours away from the heat and hectic activity of Atlanta or Athens.

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