Vacation Home: Blue Ridge

Jon Prete and Steve Burd moved to Atlanta about three years ago and bought a place in the city. They soon began looking for a second home in the mountains, but the prices were too high. They bought two investment properties in Atlanta, but when both tenants decided at the end of 2009 that they would not continue renting, they sold those homes and bought a weekend cabin.

Prete, 44, the marketing and communications manager at local nonprofit Families First, and Burd, 54, the general manager of Highland Bakery, discussed their place in Blue Ridge.

Why Blue Ridge: Their friends enjoyed their places in Blue Ridge, so they rented a cabin there over the Thanksgiving 2009 holiday. The agent they contacted for the rental, Sidra McCain Dinco with Harry Norman Realtors, also showed them cabins during that visit. They were looking for cabins in the low $200,000s that were new and without the need for a four-wheel drive. "The one thing we didn't want was to be 20 or 30 miles out of town where it was difficult or hard to access in terms of the roads and not having a truck," Prete said.

Their cabin: Like other times when they bought homes, Burd said he and Prete had "that feeling" when they walked into the Blue Ridge cabin they eventually bought. It was the first one built in Tri-Vista, a small development just 3 ½ miles from downtown Blue Ridge. They have a year-round mountain view and a private, wooded setting with a pond on one side. "This had a very nice mix of modern amenities plus a little bit of a rusticness to it," Burd said. Features include wood ceilings and beams, walnut floors and two master bedrooms with bathrooms. The outdoor living space includes a front porch and two decks. During the negotiations, the builder agreed to do a stone foundation instead of the original stucco foundation and provided money for appliances.

How far from home: About 95 miles from the east side of Atlanta.

How often they're there: At least every other weekend.

What they do when they're there: "If you don't want to do anything, which we have done before up there, you can sit on your back deck," Burd said. They've seen a wolf drink from the pond and a flock of wild turkeys, among other wildlife. They've hiked around Lake Blue Ridge, visited the shops in Blue Ridge, and attended events such as the town's Christmas tree lighting. "It was unbelievable. It turned into a townwide little gala," Burd said. "It was just like something you would see in an old movie of these little towns."

What they love about it: "You have this sense of calmness, of quietness, of solace," Burd said. "In five minutes you can be at Mercier Orchards getting fresh fruit. It's the perfect spot for us." It's a nice way to unwind, Prete added. "It really gives us a lot of time where we just can relax on the weekend," he said.

Rental or not: They originally intended to rent out the home but they became attached to it once they bought it and purchased furniture. "It really was our house," Prete said.

What they learned: When buying furniture, consider the logistics and scheduling. They had to find a company that would deliver to Blue Ridge, and deliveries could be infrequent. "The company we went with goes up only twice a month. And they delivered during the week," Prete said. "One of us had to take off work."

At a glance

Jon Prete and Steve Burd’s cabin in Blue Ridge has two bedrooms, two baths and about 1,100 square feet of livable space. They bought it in December.

Community overview

Metro Atlantans are attracted to Blue Ridge because it marries the great outdoors with a great downtown, said Sidra McCain Dinco with Harry Norman Realtors. “The ambience of downtown Blue Ridge, surrounded by tree-canopied mountains, clear streams, rivers and lakes, attracts scores of metro Atlanta residents who are looking for a weekend getaway or a vacation cabin,” she said. “The shops are inviting, the residents friendly and helpful, and the small town is refreshingly relaxed.” Tri-Vista, which will have several cabins when complete, is priced in the $175,000-$190,000 range. Cabins in nearby communities are listed from the high $200,000s to low $400,000s, and lot prices across the street in other communities range from $65,000 to $125,000. Other new communities in North Georgia include the Vistas at Pilot Mountain, a 25-lot development on the Union-Fannin county line with lot prices ranging from $25,000 to $79,000.

Information

• Fannin County Chamber of Commerce

• www.blueridgemountains.com

• Sidra McCain Dinco, Harry Norman Realtors

www.SidraMcCain.com

Getting there

Take I-75 north to I-575, which turns into Ga. 515. At the intersection of Ga. 515 and Ga. 5, go north on Ga. 5 for 3 miles. Take a right onto Old Highway 5. Travel about two-tenths of a mile and take a right onto Virginia Avenue. When the road forks, veer left and you will see the Tri-Vista condos.

Recent sales

$192,000: 670 The Woods Road, Blue Ridge 30559. A new three-bedroom, two-bath furnished cabin on 1.5 acres with a fireplace and appliances.

$275,000: Lot 64, Big Timber Road, Mineral Bluff 30559. A new two-bedroom, 2 ½-bath cabin on 1.12 acres with custom kitchen cabinets, a fireplace and a screened porch.

For sale

$189,900: Lot 74, Virginia Woodlands, Blue Ridge 30513. A new two-bedroom, two-bath cabin on 1.13 acres with walk-in closets, granite countertops and a stone fireplace.

$319,900: 403 Sunrock Mountain, Blue Ridge 30513. A furnished three-bedroom, three-bath cabin built in 2007 on 1.44 acres with a hot tub and a fire pit.