Articles and Resources
Where To Buy Vacation Homes
By Noah Rothbaum and Sean Burke
SMART MONEY 2002
Getaway spots near you too pricey and trendy? Here are some unspoiled, affordable locales.
Sandpoint, Idaho
If you missed buying in Aspen or Steamboat Springs, where prices have gotten unspeakable over the past 15 years, consider this ski area 50 miles from the Canadian border. Sandpoint sits amid the Selkirk and Cabinet mountains, but it’s not just another Swiss Miss copy of the Alps. Come year-round to swim, fish and sail on the Pend Oreille Lake (140 square miles) and River. Deluxe mountain cabins run about $200,000, but a newer ski chalet or a ranch house on the water costs at least $300,000.
Hatteras Island, N.C.
Finding ocean property on any U.S. coastline – without spending like Spielberg – requires some roadwork. Luckily, you can still buy an affordable modern saltbox in one of the seven small villages on this quaint island. There’s surfing, fishing, kayaking and the 3,000-acre Buxton Woods for hiking or horseback riding. Vacation-home management consultant George Volsky says northern towns such as Waves or Rodanthe will be developers’ next target. Few waterfront lots are left, but a three-bedroom house five minutes’ walk from the beach can be had for under $300,000.
Phoenicia, N.Y.
Woodstock is pricey, and the crowds have worn its bohemian atmosphere pretty thin. This little Catskill Mountains burg 20 miles away is a lot more mellow. Nearby attractions include historic colonial-era homes and the Hudson River. There’s skiing at Belleayre and Hunter mountains, and tubing at the Esopus Creek in the summer. Phoenicia is just two hours from New York City; cabin-style homes begin at $150,000; more-luxurious chalets and contemporaries start at $300,000.
Blue Ridge, Ga.
Instead of going down to overcrowded Orlando or the Florida Keys, some folks from Atlanta are heading to North Georgia. Why is this town a choice retreat? No worries about overdevelopment – 42% of Fannin County is owned by the National Forest Service. After hiking the Appalachian mountain trails, head to the 100-year-old downtown to furnish your new house at the antique stores and galleries. Two-bedroom cabins in the woods start at $150,000. Prices climb to over $400,000 for a house on several acres or for one closer to the river or Blue Ridge Lake.
Michigan City, Ind.
With record-setting prices for lakefront property just across the Michigan state border, this old Lake Michigan port is looking better and better. Just one hour and change from the Loop in downtown Chicago, Michigan City offers houses with views of the lake starting at $375,000. Local attractions range from an art museum and the Blue Chip Casino to major-league outlet shopping. The primary draw: Barefooting on Lake Michigan’s beaches
Lake Blue Ridge - Blue on Blue
On the north side of the lovely town of Blue Ridge, Georgia is a treat for the eyes, the ears, and the soul. It is the spectacular North Georgia Reservoir known as Lake Blue Ridge.
Resort and Second Home Properties in Georgia
Interest in Georgia's resort and second-home market has cooled, mirroring the national trend, but it is poised for a comeback as baby boomers retire and Floridians show interest in their northern neighbor.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side
Heading to the North Georgia mountains is always a perfect way to shake off the summer doldrums. To help you ease into this 2007 fall festival season, Blue Ridge is hosting their annual Wildlife & Nature Fine Arts Festival and Expo at the Blue Ridge City Park near down-town the weekend of September 15th and 16th.
2007 Mountain Real Estate
For some Americans in major cities on the coasts, these have been ugly times. Riding a real estate rocket that soared to the stratosphere, they had incredible spikes in home appreciation. But where there's a bubble, there's inevitably a bursting to follow.
Destination Blue Ridge, GA - Prelude
A virtually undiscovererd Georgia town is on the brink of major change. Yes, the secret's getting out about Blue Ridge. Only 90 minutes ffrom Atlanta, the combination of mountain views, lakefront property and access to the river is bringing a new population to town.
Dahlonega, Georgia City of Gold
There is gold in the Appalachian Mountains from Virginia to Alabama, but the discovery of rich deposit on Cherockee land in North Georgia prompted the first real gold rush in the United States and led to the forced removal of the Cherokee Tribe to Oklahoma in what is known as the "Trail of Tears."
Living Large on Lake Blue Ridge
Friends and family were the first to point out the obvious disparity to Rick and Janet Williams. I seems their recently completed "weekend home" on Lake Blue Ridge wound up much larger (and grander) than the family home in Atlanta.
Mountain Living - Southern Style
Atlanta residents are forgetting cities like Ft. Lauderdale or Naples and replacing them with the likes of Georgia mountain retreats such as Ellijay, Dahlonega or Blue Ridge.
Light Up Blue Ridge
According to Sonja Striker and Michael Brunson, who are co-chairs of this year's event. Light Up Blue Ridge is the "biggest event of the year [for us], and kicks off the holiday season for visitors and residents alike in our little town."
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