When we purchased Coldwell Banker High Country Realty almost four years ago the company had an outstanding reputation for quality and customer service. We wanted to build on that fine tradition and continue to improve the professional service afforded every client.

Our company is very unique in the North Georgia area. We chose a business model most advantageous to our clients, one in which the management team would not actively sell or list properties nor be allowed to develop properties, and therefore would never be in competition with our clients. We felt that our competitor’s management models in the markets we serve create constant conflict of interest issues with their own agents and especially with the firm’s clients.

Our business model allows the management team to devote 100% of our time assisting our associates and constantly improving our client service. Coldwell Banker High Country Realty can proudly boast we have the best trained, best managed, full time professionals in the area, maybe the entire South. We have instituted many service systems you would only find in the largest of offices in the major markets while retaining the personalized attention you would expect in a small town. The result is we have been recognized nationally for our outstanding customer service and associate productivity.

Our senior management team has over 60 years of combined real estate management experience in a variety of markets and sizes of companies. The overriding theme to everything we do is that “no transaction is worth our reputation.”

We would be honored for one of our fine agents to assist you in your real estate needs. Let us show you that there really is a difference in real estate companies.

You may contact me at juneslusser@tds.net or 706-632-7311 and I would be happy to help you select an associate that is most compatible with your requirements.

June Slusser Broker/Owner Coldwell Banker High Country Realty

Welcome to our blog. Please allow me to introduce myself and our company. I am June Slusser the Broker/Owner of Coldwell Banker High Country Realty serving Northern Georgia, Southeastern Tennessee, and Southwestern North Carolina.

I have been in real estate for over 30 years, serving as an executive and leader at a number of national companies and at one time having service responsibilities for over 25,000 real estate agents. My family was in the real estate business, and my husband George has been in the real estate business his entire career. Needless to say we love real estate and the clients we serve.

We had lived in many parts of the country and literally traveled the world. We had the wonderful opportunity to purchase the company almost four years ago. The company had already been in business over 25 years and had a stellar reputation for quality. We owned a vacation cabin in the area and were looking for the right opportunity for both of us to leave corporate America. We had fallen in love with the area, the people, and the lifestyle a small town afforded.

Most of the clients we now deal with have a similar story or reason to desire our area. We have an amazing amount of talented individuals who have moved to the area or were born here and moved back. Our communities are a wonderful collection of eclectic tastes and offerings. Our full time professional agents reflect our client mix. Many have relocated from Florida, the Mid-West, or Atlanta area. We also have some fine agents that have lived their entire life in the beauty of the mountains.

We believe our company is very unique in the mountains. Our guiding principles are integrity and quality client interactions. Coldwell Banker High Country and our 40 plus agents provide the sophisticated tools and training of the big city firms and the trust and service you would expect from a small town.

I would be happy to share more of our story, but I am most interested in your reasons for seeking solitude or adventure in our mountains. We would appreciate the opportunity to help you realize your dream. If you need more information on the area or have a specific request for real estate information please call me at 706-632-7311 or email me at juneslusser@tds.net.

The Fannin County Chamber of Commerce recently compiled the results of a survey collected from visitors to Blue Ridge Georgia in 2007. The survey highlighted the top ten activities visitors participated in, Top ten places they visited, and what they could do to improve their service to visitors. See full survey results at http://www.surveymonkey.com/Reprot.asp?U=339417679749

Some Highlights of what I found.

Not surprising, the number one activity visitors enjoyed was relaxing. Growing up in Orlando, FL, I can fully appreciate peoples desire to take refuge in such a peaceful environment. Tied for first was taking scenic drives of the area, which I believe is closely related to relaxing. Blue Ridge is still a place where driving can be surprisingly refreshing, offering very little traffic coupled with absolutely beautiful scenery. Another interesting statistic (especially for me being in the Real Estate business) was that 37% of visitors looked for real estate while on vacation.

Top ten places visited category had Downtown Blue Ridge as the #1 destination, with an astounding 82.4% of participants visiting. I think this statistic is best described by quotes from the participants.

"Shopping for unique, local crafts"

"Blue Ridge train ride and shopping in downtown blueridge"

"The people were friendly!! The Shops had unique items. The area was beautiful. We come th the area every year and plan on returning with more family."

Also in the top ten places visited category was Mercier orchards, Ellijay, Lake Blue Ridge, Toccoa River, Waterfalls, Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad, and Appalachian Trail.

Some improvements were requested, namely dining options and the desire for wine & beer in restaraunts. I believe their are great restaraunt options in Blue Ridge, but because of alcohol limitations we do not have large chain restaraunts. However, many of the local restaraunts do allow you to bring your own bottle of wine or beer.

This quote summed the survey up best for me. "It was a dream getaway. Very quiet and relaxing."

Please share your blue ridge experience or give us your thoughts on the survey.

Statistics from the Northeast Georgia Board of Realtors as of 9:45 am on February 20th, 2007. Active Listings: 12002 Pending Listings: 1114 Contingetnt Listings: 108 Closings between 1/1/2007-Currnet: 431

Average/median Sales Price: 1) For all listings (this includes lots, residential, commercial)

1/1/2007 - 2/20/2007 $170,390(avg)/$134,900(Median)

1/1/2006- 2/20/2006 $153,232 (avg)/$90,000 (median)

2) 2/2 residential

1/1/2007 - 2/20/2007 $240,243(avg)/$223,000(Median)

1/1/2006- 2/20/2006 $208,707 (avg)/$195,000 (median)

General market feeling

With plenty of talk in the media about a struggling national real estate market, North Georgia has remained a consistently solid market. Last year capped off the second best year for Coldwell Banker High Country Realty in terms of sales volume. Last year showed a natural normalization of the market leaving us just short of our 2005 numbers. The Median and Average price have increased for closed listings in the periods indicated above in the statistics disproving the fears of declining home prices.