A Christmas trip to the mountains helped persuade Patrick and Mary Wallace to search North Georgia for a vacation home. Patrick, 50, regional vice president for The Paradies Shops, which operates stores in airports and hotels, and Mary, 34, a stay-at-home mom, chatted about their Blue Ridge home, which they purchased in March.
Why Blue Ridge: "We didn't necessarily start out looking there," Patrick said. "We knew we wanted to buy a fun, investment kind of property.
"Originally, a couple of years ago, we looked at Lake Martin in Alabama. But it was too far. We said, 'How often would we come here?' "
The couple also considered buying a place in a Michigan lake area where Patrick's family had vacationed but knew they would likely visit only a couple of weeks a year.
"As sentimental and cool as that was, that got crossed off the list fairly quickly," he said. "We went around Christmastime to take our kids on the Polar Express train ride in Bryson City, N.C. We rented a cabin in the mountains, and it was just gorgeous."
A work colleague had bought a place in Blue Ridge, one of the towns they had driven through on the way to Bryson City, and recommended it.
Their place: A three-story home with year-round, long-range mountain views.
The lower level has a recreation room and bedroom, and a deck that wraps around most of the house. On the second level, the kitchen, dining room and living room are open.
"If you sit on the couch in the living room, in front of you is this great big window with the full view of the mountains," Mary said.
The master bedroom has double doors leading to the deck, which has a hot tub and rocking chairs. The third level is a loft with a bedroom, bathroom and fireplace, with doors leading to a screened-in porch.
How they found it: They wanted a cabin high in the mountains, near a lake, and priced between $200,000 and $250,000. Patrick remembers telling his agent, Chris Colbert with Century 21 In the Mountains-Four Seasons Team, "We don't have to buy."
With the low-interest rates and foreclosures, he was searching for the "deal of a lifetime," Patrick said.
When they began looking at the foreclosures, some had great views but the homes were old and in poor condition, Mary said.
The cabin they purchased originally was out of their price range, but while they were looking, the owners were in a short sale situation prior to foreclosure and dropped the price.
On the way to see the home, "we come around this curb, and there's this view. I go, 'Now, those people have a good view,' " Patrick said. "I barely got the sentence out of my mouth and [Chris] turns in the driveway. We just all started laughing."
How far from home: About 1 1/2 hours from Powder Springs.
How often they're there: "If we have a free weekend, we're there," Patrick said.
At this point, they don't plan to rent it.
What they do when they're there: Horseback riding, exploring trails, tubing, canoeing and visiting antique stores and farmer's markets with their girls, or just staying in and playing games and watching movies. "The kids love it. There's nothing they love more than getting the two of us alone where we are not distracted by anything," Patrick said.
At a glance
Patrick and Mary Wallace's home in the Mountain Tops community has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a finished basement, and about 2,340 square feet of
livable space, according to tax records. The home was built in 2004 and sits on 1.44 acres. They purchased the home in March.
Community overview
The Mountain Tops subdivision is in Fannin County, with homes listed from the high $200,000s to the high $400,000s. The neighborhood is less than 5
miles from downtown Blue Ridge. Common features include multiple decks and porches, stainless steel appliances, fireplaces, basements and media rooms.
Info
Fannin County Chamber of Commerce
www.blueridgemountains.com
Century 21 In the Mountains-Four Seasons Realty Team
www.buymtns.com
Getting there
Take I-75 north to I-575 north, which becomes Ga. 515. At the McDonalds in Blue Ridge, take Ga. 515 South about 1 mile to Bullen Gap Road and turn right. The Mountain Tops subdivision will be 0.1 mile on the left.
For sale
$299,900: 2817 Mountain Tops, Blue Ridge 30513. A 4-bedroom, 3 1/2-bath cabin built in 2006 with a basement and covered porch.
$394,998: 26 Chickasaw Trail, Blue Ridge 30513. A 3-bedroom, 3-bath cabin built in 2006 with a basement and multiple decks.
Recent sales
$230,000: 490 Hiawatha Trail, Blue Ridge 30513. A 2-bedroom, 2-bath cabin built in 2007 with unique details such as an entry gazebo, a waterfall and
a wraparound deck and covered porches.
$342,000: 150 Mountain Tops Circle, Blue Ridge 30513. A 4-bedroom, 3-bath cabin built in 2006 with a full finished basement.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
