Over the years, I’ve occasionally mentioned how much I would love to have a home in the North Georgia mountains. The Appalachian Mountains cover about 1/3 of the northern part of Georgia, an area known as the Blue Ridge Mountains. There’s a community in that area that I have visited several times, and I’ve often dreamed of selling my current home in Georgia and buying a home there one day. I don’t want to mention the name of the community in this post since I don’t want to put them on blast, but if you would like to know the name, leave a comment below letting me know, and I’ll email that information to you.
The community I’m referring to is a beautiful, gated community with numerous great amenities, including a recently renovated clubhouse, three golf courses, several lakes, an indoor pool, tennis courts, pickleball courts, and a wellness center. There’s even a little chapel within the gates.
I don’t play tennis or pickleball, although I wouldn’t mind learning. However, I have read that one of the more common injuries doctors are treating these days is for those who have taken up playing pickleball, so maybe I should rethink that. lol
The main attraction to this community for me is its serene, peaceful, wooded environment, as well as its 25 miles of hiking trails. I’ve read that this community mostly draws people who are retired, although there are some younger residents with children living there, as well as those who are older and still work. I’m sure a lot of them work from home. About 40% of the people who live in this community do not make it their full-time residence. It’s more of a vacation home for them, and some of those are regularly rented out.
This community has a lot of rules/regulations, and they are strictly enforced. I don’t have an issue with that since it helps preserve the community, which has been recognized as a Wildlife Sanctuary. This gated community is pretty far out, so it’s a little like its own town/city. They finance and handle their own maintenance and repaving of the 80+ miles of road that runs through the community. They have their own fire department, and the water department that serves the community is located on-site within the gates. There’s a POA board with members who are elected by the community.
Let’s discuss a few features of the community that some people may consider negative. I’ve been told that water bills are high, even if you’re not there for part of the year. A lot of the roads are quite narrow and curvy, as you would expect in a mountain community, so it’s best to stay off them during snow and ice events. They clear the roads as quickly as they can, but it takes a while to clear them all. I’ve also heard that they can be dangerous in autumn when the roads are covered in a lot of leaves. Again, those do get cleared, but it can take a while. I have an all-wheel-drive SUV, so hopefully that would help if I ever move there.
So what are my REAL concerns with buying a home in this community? The thing I most worry about is how so many of the homes in the community have greatly increased in price over the past 3-5 years, some have even doubled in price, or come close to it! This huge jump in price all started when you-know-what hit a few years back, and things were pretty chaotic with riots in places like Atlanta. I think a lot of people wanted to get away from the larger cities and further out into nature, where they felt safer. I know home prices have gone up everywhere, but it seems odd to me that a community so far out would see such a large increase in home prices. I thought once things had settled back down, the prices would come back down a good bit. That may be starting to happen, but I think a lot of homeowners who bought homes in the community during that tumultuous period a few years back still expect to make a healthy windfall off the home they’ve only lived in for 2-4 years. I have a story to share, so hold on to that thought.
Another one of my concerns is that I’ve noticed the “Monthly Assessment,” which is what they call their monthly POA fee, has increased a good bit. For example, in 2021, it was $307 per month for a lot with a home on it. Just four years later, that same homeowner is paying $400 per month now. I was surprised and disappointed to hear a board member recently say that the POA fee will continue to increase every year. She blamed that on inflation, saying there will always be inflation, so the fee will naturally have to go up each year. It concerned me that she saw that as a given.
Another negative that I have found disappointing is that around the 2019-20 period, they established an initiation fee that must be paid when you buy a home in the community. When I first began to think about selling my home and buying a home in this community, I think the fee was around $1,500. The fee today has risen to $4,500, with plans to raise it to $5,000. It may have already been raised to that. Once it reaches $5,000, there has been talk about raising the cap to an even higher amount. You get nothing for that when you buy a home, just the opportunity to live there.
So, if a person wanted to move to this community today, they would need to pay a $4,500 Initiation Fee, yearly POA fees of $4,800 per year, and, of course, property taxes. I wonder how these fees compare to most HOA fees? I’d love to hear from you, including any realtors who read this, if most communities have initiation fees, and if $400 per month in POA/assessment fees sounds about normal. I’ve lived in my current home in Georgia for 35 years, and joining the HOA was optional when I moved there, so I’ve never had to deal with HOA fees.
A few more negatives, although some of these are really not that bad. This community does not offer trash pickup; instead, you take your trash down the mountain to the trash/recycling facility located not far from one of the main gates. That could be a pain if you live high up on one of the ridges. I know from renting in the community that it can take 15+ minutes just to get down the mountain to the recycling/trash center. You can’t store trash outside your home due to the bears, so trash has to be stored either in a garage or inside the home if the house doesn’t have a garage.
I just recently read that there are people you can hire to take your trash down for you. I would probably do that because I wouldn’t want to put stinky trash bags that could leak into the back of my SUV. The nice thing about not having a trash service that comes by to collect the trash is that you don’t have to listen to big, noisy garbage trucks rumbling through the community. Peace and quiet are a cherished feature of this community, to the point that gas-powered lawn mowers are not allowed, and gas-powered boats are not allowed on the lakes. The emphasis on maintaining a peaceful environment is one of my favorite things about this community.
Mail is not delivered to your home. There’s a central location where mail and packages can be retrieved. Sometimes delivery guys do deliver packages to homes, but some do not due to the steep, curvy roads and how long it can take to reach houses that are higher up the mountain. So packages are often dropped off at the mail center. It must be a treat to open your front door and find a package that has been delivered right to your door. So there are some adjustments to be made when moving to this community, but the payoff is living surrounded by nature.
There are very strict rules about how many decorative pieces you are allowed to have on the exterior of your home, or in your front yard. I think the limit is 5, if I’m remembering correctly. So if you had a wreath on your door, a bench on your porch, and a decorative birdhouse in the front yard, that would count as three. And all those items have to be in muted colors. I think the rules/covenants even specify the colors that can be used. For example, if I moved there, I wouldn’t be able to install the white dovecotes that I currently have in my front yard in Georgia unless I painted them brown or one of the other approved colors. There may not be any restrictions on placing things in the back yard—not sure on that. I’d probably just move the Dovecotes to the Ohio house, rather than paint them.
One thing I think I would miss is birdfeeding. You’re not allowed to hang a birdfeeder except for 3 months of the year: December 1 to March 1. That is due to there being so many bears in the area, so it’s understandable. Bears are really, really good climbers! The compensation for that is you’re living in the midst of a lot of wonderful wildlife, like foxes, opossums, deer, coyotes, turkeys, bears, and so much more. The real-time bird watching must be amazing! So, that should more than make up for not being allowed to have bird feeders up for 9 months of the year. I guess what I’d save in not purchasing birdseed could go towards helping pay those monthly assessment fees.
A friend of mine who lives in this mountain community referred to this turkey traffic backup we found ourselves in as their “rush hour.” This would be the only rush hour I would ever look forward to getting caught in. Ha! These turkeys were so funny, they would glance back at our SUV, run a few steps, then revert back to their slow, easy walk up the road. They were not in any mood to move over!
There are very tight restrictions on exterior paint colors. The goal is for the homes to blend into the environment. I understand why it’s that way since this is a wildlife sanctuary. No one wants to see a brightly colored house in the middle of a serene mountain community. Driveways must be maintained at a certain level of black. Nope, I’m not kidding. If a driveway fades out too much and is no longer dark enough, you have to have it restained.
There are very, very, very strict rules about removing trees, and the penalties are severe if those rules are broken. Once, when I met a realtor there to look at a few homes in the community, she told me a story about a couple who broke that rule and had a bunch of trees cut down in their backyard, I guess to improve their view. They were fined $250,000 and were required to replant all of the trees that had been cut down and to keep them watered. She ended by saying, “And your neighbors hate you!” I said, “I think I would have moved after going through all of that.” She said, Oh, they did!”
So yeah, you don’t cut down even a single tree without first getting permission, and that permission will probably not be granted unless there’s a good reason for it. They do allow what is called “Vista Pruning,” which is where lower limbs on some trees can be trimmed to reveal or bring back a view that may have been lost over the years. Again, there are strict rules about how that can be done, including having someone on-site supervising the pruning to make sure nothing is taken too far. I understand why they do this because I’m sure some homeowners would remove large swaths of trees if there weren’t strict rules against it. And again, it is a wildlife sanctuary.
Funny story—3-4 years ago, around the time I was starting to think seriously of selling my home and buying a home in this mountain community, I had a doctor’s appointment. Sadly, that doctor just retired last year. He was my doctor for over 25 years, and I miss him. Anyway, I knew he was a huge nature lover, so I mentioned to him I was thinking of buying a home in this mountain community. I figured he would know about this place since it’s a wildlife sanctuary.
As soon as the words came out of my mouth, he said in a strong voice, “Don’t do it!” I must have looked surprised because before I could ask why, he said, “Do you want to know why I’m saying that?” I took a guess and said, “Is it because it’s so far away from hospitals/medical facilities?” He said, “Yes!” He said that he’d had 6 patients who bought homes there but sold them due to it being so far out and so difficult to get in for doctor’s appointments. I’m pretty healthy, so I don’t think that would be a big issue, at least not right now. Also, as mentioned earlier, this community has its own fire department, and all the firefighters are cross-trained as EMTs/paramedics.
A few years back, there was one particular home in the community that I really liked. If the timing had been right, I would have seriously considered selling my home in Georgia and buying it, but by the time I saw the real estate listing, it was already “pending” sale. One thing I didn’t like about it was that it didn’t have a garage, only a carport. The carport looked nice, but it would have offered little protection to a vehicle during a bad storm, especially the hailstorms we sometimes get when tornadoes pass through.
When I first discovered the home on Zillow, it was listed for $650,000, “Pending” sale. I asked the realtor (the one who shared the scary tree story) if I could see it since it wasn’t officially sold yet. The views in the real estate listing looked amazing, and I wanted to see if the view truly looked like that in person, and it did. It was incredible!
It had other issues, though—other than just the lack of a garage. It needed new carpet in some rooms, and the three HUGE windows that overlooked the incredible view had lost their seals and were pretty foggy. Later, I found out that this house had even more serious issues, like problems with its retaining walls. A lot of the homes in this mountain community were built perched on the edge of ridges to capture the great views. I guess after so many years, the retaining walls have to be redone.
I’m not positive about this, but when I looked it up in public records to see who had purchased the home, it appeared to be a builder/developer from CA. I thought it was odd that someone on the complete other side of the country had purchased a mountain home that was a 5-hour plane trip away. Since I liked that house, I occasionally checked to see if it had been relisted. One year to the date of when the house had sold, it was back on the market for $250,000 MORE than what it had sold for the year before. It had sold for $605,000 and was now listed for $855,000. See what I mean about the insane price increases for the homes in this community?!
The real estate listing stated that the new owner had spent almost $100,000 in repairs and updates on the retaining walls, the foggy living room windows, and the deck(s) across the back of the home. It appeared that the decks had been rebuilt.
If you subtract what the owner paid for the home and the repair costs, it appears the owner was looking to flip the home and make a little over $150,000.00 in just 1 year. I wonder why he waited a year to relist it? Maybe there are tax breaks or some type of breaks you get if you keep a home for at least a year. Anyway, I found all this fascinating, so I continued to watch the listing. I watched as over the following year the price of the home came down, down, down. The original $855,000 price was first reduced to $830,000, then to $820,000, then to $790,000, then to $775,000, and finally to $725,000. Then I noticed the listing was removed for a few months. When it reappeared, it was listed for $750,000. The home finally sold for $735,000 in September 2024.
During those two years, between when I first saw the “Pending” listing, and the house sold, then sold again two years later, the owner had spent (per the real estate listing) approximately $100,000 in repairs. The POA fees for those two years would have been approximately $8,760, and I think they would have paid around $6,200 in property taxes. If the buyer/owner had not had any realtor fees at all, which is unlikely, I think he would have netted around $10,000 total, but once you deduct the realtor fees, it appears he may have lost money on this property that he purchased, repaired, and owned for 2 years.
Flipping houses can be profitable, but probably not when a home is pretty far out and needs extensive repairs. The buyer has to be a very specific type of person who doesn’t mind living far away from major stores and other services. I still remember how excited the community was when a Publix grocery store opened 15 miles away! Living there would definitely cut down on my DoorDash deliveries. lol
One thing I love about this community is all the activities they schedule and host throughout the year. Their Oktoberfest is coming up soon. I’ve been to it in the past, and it was a lot of fun! I bought one of my favorite hoodies from their gift shop during that visit.
Looking at the pros and cons, I’m still obsessed with this beautiful mountain community. It’s the quiet serenity that you feel when you’re there that draws me in—that and the hiking trails. However, the huge increase in the cost of homes there over the past few years, the large initiation fee that continues to rise each year, and the stated promise from one of the board members that the POA fees/monthly assessments will continue to go up every year without fail, worries me.
My current home in Georgia is in a much sought-after area for families due to the great schools. Homes on my street sell quickly. The homes on either side of me sold within a day, and the home across the street sold in a weekend. Even with homes in my neighborhood being so in demand, the cost for homes on my street has not doubled in price over the past 3-4 years. So, I don’t understand why so many of the homes in this remote mountain community, where the nearest Publix or Kroger is 15 miles away, have almost doubled in price.
Do you think it would be a big mistake to sell the Georgia house and buy a home in this community located in the Blue Ridge Mountains? What do you see the market doing over the next year? Do you think home prices will drop after all the big jumps we’ve seen over the past few years?
I rented a small home in this community last year while my downstairs hardwood floors were being refinished due to a refrigerator waterline leak. The person from whom I rented suggested I wait a while. He said that he could already see home prices coming down in the community. I wonder if prices will continue to rise in this community as they have over the past four years, or if things will ever settle back down a bit. It’s a lot to think about!
Have you ever lived in a mountain community like the one I’ve described? If so, please tell me how you liked it. If you recognize the mountain community that I’ve shared, please don’t mention it by name in the comments, but I would love to hear the good and bad that you experienced while living there. Leave a comment or email me at [email protected]. The more information I have, the better decision I will be able to make. Thank you for all your great input!
Susan, sounds like the cons outweigh the pros. You’ve made the Ga. Home into a dream house with all the upgrades.
Too many rules for me, and the trash situation !
Who wants a bear as a squatter?
It is a lot of rules, for sure. I should probably have listed more of the positives, like taking pontoon boats and food/wine out on the lake on evening nights with friends, and the eagles that nest just above the lake. There are also a lot of great clubs, or at least I’ve read about those.
Yeah, the bear part is a little daunting, which is another reason I wouldn’t buy a house out there without a garage. Imagine arriving home in the winter after dark and finding a bear standing near your carport. lol
The mountain/beach house you dream of in your 60’s can become a nightmare in your late 70’s.Many of the many doubts you mentioned become realities…trash pick up,absence of seasonal friends in “off” seasons,physical limitations that limit or eliminate participation in activities that drew you there originally, and the “Biggy”…very limited access to available medical services!
I would look into the possibility of long term seasonal rentals in the areas you are considering…all of the fun and none of the frustration.We have enjoyed both options for 43 years(owning and renting).I can tell you that 80 is months away and we now realize there is only one appealing option …rent!, and keep the house in Atlanta or the one near your “kids”.
Hauling trash is a deal breaker to me.
I know…I’ve heard that people who work just take it to the recycling/trash center as they are headed out the gate that’s near that area. That would be okay if you worked outside the gates, but it would be kind of a pain if you didn’t and had to store it until you made a trip down the mountain. Maybe it’s not as bad as it sounds.
Although the area is beautiful, there are too many restrictions for me. Everything is too expensive and seems to rise at a steady pace which could eventually become a financial hardship as people age. Access to emergency medical care also becomes important as people age. Something besides EMTs is important when people are older and have more medical issues. A close proximity to doctors and hospitals is a necessity. Plus I don’t think I would ever want to live where there are other people making decisions in the design of my house, the color of paint on my house, the number of trees in my yard, etc. I don’t play well by someone else’s rules regarding my property. I’m sure there are other beautiful places to live where one doesn’t have to follow such invasive and strict regulations.
Yeah, I should have bought out there 5-10 years ago before the prices jumped up so high.
Having traveled so much for my work and my husband being a retired Army Colonel, we have done our share of moving from one place to another. Several years ago we purchased a home somewhat like your Georgia home hoping to someday make it our permanent residence. During covid we made the decision to retire and finally move one last time. Best decision we ever made. It’s fun to remodel and redo, but age has a way of causing us to set priorities. I’m so thankful that we are able and so far capable to travel if we wish, healthy enough to get out and mingle, and mindful enough to enjoy our family and friends. Getting past 60 can be a good thing!
That sounds wonderful, Laura! What made you move that last time? Did you buy in a mountain or beach community, or to be near family?
We bought our home in Northeast Tennessee. Here we have the mountains and can enjoy the 4 seasons. But most importantly, our only son and his family live here. Enjoying our 2 grandchildren is icing on the cake. We truly can do whatever we want. This morning we drove to a nearby town (Bristol) to pick up some decorative pumpkins/gourds for our fall display on our front lawn. We have season tickets to the University of Alabama football games and enjoy going to these. So, we just do what makes us happy. Not being tied down is a wonderful feeling. Selling your Georgia home would free up so much of your time. You could then enjoy your son, DIL, and grandsons, take trips, and do whatever makes you happy.
Honestly I wouldn’t buy there simply due to the outrageous annual costs and HOA regulations. What you might save in door dash would apply to automotive expenses for trips to town. Since you truly love the area just plan on longer home or cabin rentals. It’s obviously a great getaway but full time doesn’t sound like fun to me.
That’s good advice. I should probably rent a home out there for a couple of months. The only thing stopping me from doing that is that I really dislike blogging from my small laptop. It’s time to upgrade my laptop, though, so this might be an excuse to buy a much larger one.
GREAT ALTERNATIVE!!!
It would be a hard “PASS!” for me! You have a beautiful home & this place sounds like snob paradise. Run!!
lol The people I’ve met so far have been very nice, super friendly. Thanks, Mary!
Susan, I live in North Georgia now and believe I know the community you speak of. It’s beautiful but as we age we need to be closer to grocery stores, drs, hospitals etc. As a bird lover, nature lover etc, it’s great but as a retired nurse I know better.
Better to rent and see how it goes. Prices are crazy right now but they are coming down slowly.
Best of luck to you.
I’m sure you’re right, although I usually only visit the doctor about once a year for a checkup. I’m sure that will change as I get older.
Yes, I think renting may be the way to go until we see what happens with housing prices.
Thanks, Kathy!
At least that’s encouraging!
I think it sounds like living in a prison! There must be other mountain communities that are beautiful yet less restrictive. Also as I get older, I think living near good medical facilities is very important. You have 2 lovely homes now, I think you should really think long and hard about this potential move. Just out of curiosity could you tell me the name?
I love both of your homes and the way you have decorated both!
Thanks so much, Linda! I’ll email the name of the community to you now.
I agree with your dream of living in the mountains but this community has too many restrictions and downsides for me. I would look into other communities, including neighboring states if I were you. I, too, am a Georgia girl but currently live in SC and some of my favorite mountain communities are in NC. I would do more research before deciding. You are supposed to enjoy your later years not constantly be worrying about stringent rules and escalating costs.
Thanks, Sara! NC is a beautiful state. I had an Aunt who lived in the Asheville area and she loved it.
I would rent there a few more times before buying. The monthly fees will certainly increase and there will be assessments when something major within the community needs to be addressed. The medical aspect is real. Situations can change fast and being a distance or awkward trip away from a hospital become very problematic. Lastly, peace and serenity even with the convenience of online shopping can begin to feel restricting. I have a home in a stunning location with few amenities and after a month find myself longing for a trip to a mall or Homegoods. Seriously, seasonal rentals are the best of both worlds. You get to keep your lovely home and will appreciate it no end when you return.
Surprisingly, this community prides itself in having never had an assessment. They’ve mentioned that during their board meetings a few times…that they never needed to do an assessment. I am starting to think that maybe I should just rent there for a few months each year…I love that suggestion and it would allow me to really see how I like living there.
Thanks, Natasha!
No.
While this sounds like a beautiful area, I have visited Blue Ridge and driving up and down those roads gets tedious. And the lack of garbage and mail service would be a hardship for me. Last but not least would be having to go so far for medical attention. I need more peace of mind for that. The area is stunning and the houses are gorgeous but as I age I would need more amenities.
Succinct and to the point. lol Thanks, Susan!
Susan,
We have very dear friends who owned a mountain home in Black Mtn. NC. It was truly a dream home. I felt like I was staying at a resort each time I visited. However, between the bears (who actually ate a hole in their cedar garage door, toppled the grill constantly and made themselves at home on the deck furniture) and the ice storms, they decided to come down off the mountain and build in town.
Concerns regarding the closeness to doctors, hospitals, etc is a major one considering we all get older. Please think twice about your purchase and where it might be.
If you decide to sell your GA home, please let me know. My son lives in Smyrna and we are thinking of relocating to his area.
BTW, love the dollhouse and your redecorating!! Have a great weekend.
Wow, they must have smelled something really good inside that garage. Did they actually get inside? I can’t believe how persistant they can be! They are brazen. There’s an Instagram page I follow called poolbearlife and the bears there (it’s in CA) come for a swim in their pool several times a week. They do lounge on the furniture, too!
Okay, I will let you know. It will be a while since I need to finish up some of the projects I’ve started there.
Thanks, Susan!
XXX
I’d too much the rebel to live in a community with so many rules and regulations. While I might agree with the idea of having the homes blend into the natural setting, I can’t imagine having someone tell me that I can only have five items around the front of my house…the house that I am paying the mortgage on. Another con for me would be all the fees and dues that don’t end even once your house is paid off… fees and dues that will continue to rise year after year. While the area sounds beautiful, the views and wildlife wonderful and the peace and quiet are desirable, I would think the cons outweigh the pros…at least for me.
I wonder if that’s only for houses that are visible from the road, but I get what you’re saying. I think they allow more decorating at Christmastime. I wonder if I could still put my wreaths up on my windows that time of year.
Thanks for that input, Kim!
It sounds like too many “cons” to me. How ’bout selling your GA house, and making the dollhouse your primary residence? Then, if homes there are available to rent, you could enjoy visiting any time you want. We considered buying in a similar situation. We decided not to do it, since homes were not selling because of all the stipulations. I would hate to see you become saddled with a second home there. I know you have to be younger than me, but we need to consider obligations as we age. My husband and I are mid-70s, and our children are pushing for us to live nearer to them, so they can “care for us.” When we bought our property in North Texas and built our home, none of our 4 children lived in Texas. Now they are from 1 1/2 hours to 2 1/2 hours south of us. I would ask your son’s opinion, since I think he likes having you close in the dollhouse.
Argh…yeah…location, location, location… Welk, I’m NOT a “winter person,” & roads are…a huge part of every day living… We’re at the end of a State Road…so…that h/b HUGE “for us.” Being an hour away from 3 major medical centers…well, one needs those roads. That is a “red flag.” However, “VIEW” is what I crave & have here in abundance…trimmed up trees rule…you’ve got a tough decision. We did, too, 41 years ago…best decision ever now that we’re retired (it was a weekend retreat 30 years!!) Good Wishes, my friend… franki
If you no longer use your Georgia house, it would seem that selling it is a good idea. I think there are too many negatives about that mountain community. There are plenty of other places in mountains where you could buy a home that would be more accessible and not have quite so many rules. Just sell the house sit on the money and take your time until you find the right place.
I do still use it, go between the two houses for now. I especially like heading south when it’s cold. 🙂
I could say a lot about a second home in a gated golf course community. The one you are looking at is beautiful. Here is some of our experience with a winter home in Palm Springs. We bought a beautiful, small (1800 sq feet plus garage) home and kept it for almost 20 years. The HOA fees began at 250 per month and we noticed this year they are over 1200 per month. They always go up yearly. All the controlling rules felt over the top. Taking care of it from a distance got tiresome. We were always going there and fewer other places because of the investment. Other expenses always go up too. There are other issues. The cleaning and pool people tended to steal from people not there all the time to prove it. We did have a beautiful home and location, enjoyed it and family visited…it is a resort area after all. As we got older it just felt more like it wasn’t worth the work.
Wow, that’s the highest I’ve seen in HOA fees. Terrible that you had to deal with theft while not there. Glad you don’t have to deal with that anymore, Jillian!
I think I’d rather set up housekeeping at Guantanamo!
When I first married, my husband had a house on the lake. I moved in after we married. It was so far out. Way far out from town. I had always lived in town since I was born. Beautiful neighborhoods, tree lined sidewalks, neighbors, etc. And, close to work and amenities. He’s a commercial airline pilot, so was gone on 3-4 day trips. I worked then, and driving home after dark was awful. Being home alone there was awful. The lake community had no street lights, and coming home alone was spooky. No neighbors right next door. Not to mention always the daddy-long legged spiders on the front porch.
Yes, it was peaceful and serene. Lovely wooded area with nice homes on the lake and with beautiful views, but I was miserable! A new bride, and miserable. If felt like I was living in solitary confinement. So, even if it’s your honeymoon period, where you live can really be detrimental to your mental health.
I’d think twice-maybe three or four times. But, to each his own. I’m a city girl, and only like to vacation in remote wilderness.
P.S. We moved 14 months later!
I’m so glad you moved, Anne…that did not sound like fun! I think the hardest adjustment for me would be living so far away from grocery stores and birding stores, etc… the places I often go during the week.
We moved from Atlanta to Sun City Hilton Head in SC this summer. This lovely place has many similarities with your No Georgia mountaintop retreat. In the beginning we were dismayed with all of the rules; we have quickly acclimated and are very happy here. We love all of the natural beauty here in the Lowcountry. I grew up in the Smoky Mountains so I am so aware of the pull of mountain retreats. Such wonderful choices you have!
Having said all of that; since you are asking for advice, I would not purchase a home there mostly because it is so far away from your family. If you can rent there when you want to go, that would be ideal!
I know capital gains are an issue, but if the Georgia house becomes cumbersome, or it is time to sell, work with great financial professionals and come up with the best plan for you. You can also consider leasing your Georgia home to top tier professionals (at a top rate) for a year at a time to help you make up your mind.
Sending you all the best!
I’ve tried 4 times to comment and request info on town and community and keep getting “bounced off” just as I’m entering my name and email. This time I’m keeping it brief and I’ll try to re-comment later
Sorry that’s happening, I’ll email you in just a minute with that information.
P.S. We finally decided we could rent in there whenever we wanted and avoid all the other issues. The rents are high, but so is owning a home there. Plus our daughter will not to have to deal with it when we are gone on top of our home in Boulder which is large and also in a golf course community. Too much overall. You must follow your heart, but in your shoes I would live in the sweet dollhouse near family, sell the Georgia house and rent places whereI would enjoy spending time. It seems you have loved travel and if you rent houses maybe your family will join you some.
That’s great advice, Jillian! Thank you for sharing that. I would love to rent there during the summer and have them there with me. I think they would love it. Of course, it’s also gorgeous in the fall.
You can do both Go awhile in the summer and maybe Thanksgiving. We have rented lovely homes in various locations including Europe and stayed awhile. It is so nice to just enjoy the area, even go to the grocery stores and have dinner at home, just live there awhile. It really beats the work of a vacation home.
Susan the thing I like about you is how particular you are. I’m afraid given the logistics of the location you will be frustrated finding professional help for home improvements you would undoubtedly want to make. Realistically professionals will charge you more due to the inconvenience of the location if you are lucky enough to get them to agree depending on what they would need to haul up the steep mountain roads. Not to mention the inconvenience of delivering the heavy things you order not to your doorstep. Please consider these thoughts while making your decision:)
Gina, you know me well! Ha! They seemed to hae a network of tradesman that they all use. I see various companies recommended on their FB page.
Yes, everything seems to be more expensive when you live in an area like that. Argh. Thanks, Gina…great points!
Wow! The community you’re looking at sounds very much like the community where we built our dream home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. We are at 2700 feet in North Idaho, so we get a considerable about of snow and ice in the winter. We are also heavily treed and have a homeowners’ association (HOA) with relatively strict rules. We are a relatively small community with only about 35 lots, all of which are 3 – 7 acres. While it feels very remote up on our little mountain, we are only about 4 miles from grocery stores, hardware stores, etc. Now for some considerations …
HOA fees: Our HOA fees are only $90 every 3 months because we have almost no common area amenities – only a community mailbox area and a pretty entrance area. I have served on 4 different HOA boards in the past and the level of management expertise from board members always varied quite a bit, as did the level of expertise from the hired HOA management company. In a community with amenities such as the one you’re looking at, I would want to make sure that their current reserves are adequate to fund future repairs and capital improvements or replacements, otherwise homeowners could get hit with special assessments over and beyond their monthly HOA dues. If the community is quite remote, that can effect the cost of getting landscape, hardscape, and other repair contractors out to the location (i.e., they are going to surcharge for their travel time). This can effect the Association’s maintenance costs for common areas and your own maintenance costs for your home. (It may also be one of the reasons one of your board members is so sure those costs will continue to rise – she’s probably right).
Trees: Our community has a rule that you can’t cut down a tree with a diameter larger than 8 inches. Many of us have had to remove large trees because they represent a real danger of falling on our roofs in high winds. (I just spent $5700 this week having 4 large trees removed). Our HOA did approve our tree removal because of the danger to our house. However, I would make sure that any house you consider in this community is safe from large trees or that the Association will allow you to have them removed if they present a safety danger.
Trash: We do not have trash pickup provided by the city or county at our individual homes. We can contract with a private hauler who will pick up the trash containers at our central mailbox area. Still, we have to get our trash can down to that area, which is about 3/4 mile from our home. My husband was able to find a hitch that fits on the back of his truck to roll the trash container down to the pick-up area. If you are going to have a trash hauler pick up your trash at your home, make sure they are willing to be there even during the winter months when there may be access issues due to snow and ice.
Roads: You mentioned that the community pays to have the roads maintained and for snow removal – that’s great. Just consider the length and slope of your individual driveway. Will you be able to get from your garage to the street safely during the winter? We have a moderately long driveway with one area that has a pretty steep slope, so we had to buy an expensive snow plow to clear our driveway – and we both have AWD vehicles!
Medical: I agree with your doctor that access to medical treatment is a high priority as you get older. You need to consider how far away a hospital is and how far away regular medical providers are. Although we are only about 8 miles from the local hospital, that 8 miles can be difficult to traverse during the winter months. My husband is 81 and I am 72 and even though we are pretty healthy, we have regular eye exams and dental visits – I have learned to make my appointments during the winter months during afternoon hours so I can be sure the roads will already have been cleared of snow.
Hope this helps – you are being very wise to collect as much information as you can before making this important decision.
Thanks for that perspective, Cynthia! You’ve mentioned so many great points, especially about the sloped driveways. It’s kinda rare to have a flat driveway the higher up the mountain you go.
This community is pretty big, I think there are over 4,000 homes there, and the community itself spans over 8,000 acres.
Appreciate that tip on making appointments later in the day, so smart!
I think I’d continue to rent my vacations in that community rather than buy. Too many variables for you as a single woman. We own a second home in a gated golf and lake community in Northern California and although I enjoy it, I realize that we could never live in it permanently. The distance from good health care as we age, driving the very windy mountain road to get to our community will be difficult as we age as well. Your POA is only as good as the board members you elect. Our community has had divisive HOA recalls, several mid term resignations. Think your decision through very carefully.
That’s so true about POAs and they are constantly changing as new people are elected.
Please send the community information. We currently live in S Florida and are looking for a place to spend the unbearably hot months. Thank you.
Lori, I just emailed that info.
Susan, please resend. The link is broken. Thanks!
Okay, will do.
Susan, It’s a NO for me. We cannot predict our future and I believe in being prepared, which means I want to be first class medical care. Another issue for me is the bears. Black bears are overall less aggressive than grizzly bears, but they are still dangerous. They have been released in my home state of Arkansas and are now causing problems. Over 5,000 bears are living in the Ozark mountains in northern Arkansas. A 73 year old man was recently mauled to death on the side of a road by a 70 lb black bear. That’s a very small bear but they are incredibly strong especially when they bite and use their huge claws. He was repairing his tractor. His son drove up in time to see the attack but couldn’t get the bear off of his father because he was unarmed.
If you hike in the Georgia mountains, please take a large bore pistol, or rifle with you and keep it where you can access and aim it within two seconds. Use all the precautions recommended to give bears the opportunity to leave you alone. Bears are incredibly fast. Not bear spray. It takes too long to get it out, release the trigger, aim and spray. Very often it ends up blinding the person who used it and enraging the bear. Mama bears are aggressive; bears defending a food cache are aggressive and so are hungry bears just out of hibernation. Arkansas wildlife officials couldn’t determine why the young bear killed that man. Bears are omnivores; they eat everything, including humans. I don’t mean to be an alarmist. I just know too many instances of bear attacks to ever go unarmed in the woods where bears are. I would be uncomfortable living in that community if bears frequently are in the yards of homes, or invade homes like what happens in CA near Tahoe.
Perhaps a better solution would be to sell your Georgia home and use the money to rent extended mountain getaways in a variety of settings.
I’m in NC, certainly not as splendid as this house you’re considering. We’re wooded, but close to a very small town with a hospital and MD offices. We have an HOA (very reasonable fees), and rules about removing trees, house color, etc. If I were you, I’d keep looking. There are plenty of small mountain towns in the NC area that offer all the privacy you want, but perhaps without the stringent rules and high fees.
You listed a bunch of negatives. Yes, sell your GA home list it end of February, 2026…Simplify
Hard No to buying 2nd home in N. GA mountains.
It’s too far out. Just think of the uber prices to get you from there to the airport so you can go visit your Ohio home. Or cost to rent a car in ATL or Dayton for a month at a time. It will only be work whenever you visit either place. Your grandsons will miss their movie nights!
Time to detox the real estate. Like another reader said, rent in the mountains if you get an urge.
OMGOSH! Absolutely, unequivocally, emphatically NO! I love wildlife, am a birder for over 20 years, love the Blue Ridge mountains and have been in areas of North Carolina and north Georgia, have hiked and camped in wilderness areas in other states that have gorgeous views and exquisite quiet, but I would NEVER in a million years move to a place with jail-like rules and restrictions (I laughed at the Guantanamo Bay comment by another reader) and obscene (times 100+)
fees and dues. Sounds to me like cult-control with no safety net close enough! RUN!
I have enjoyed your blog for many years but lately it seems unsettled. Now is the time to collect moments over things. Settle in one place and decorate it as a forever home. Then enjoy the grandsons while you can. Start traveling and take them on little trips they will remember forever.
I agree with all the others and your doctor. What if you broke a leg when the weather is bad would an ambulance be able to get you. What is the nearest hospital? You say you are healthy but one never knows. You are a very busy person and a vacation is one thing but can you be still enough not to explore and be close to your favorite stores, How far would a neighbor be and what if they are only parttime residents. Atlanta is changing so I would move into the Dollhouse and be near your grands.
Thinking about leaving L.A. and I’d love to know the name of that mountain community! It sounds wonderful.
I’ll email you that info now, Lisa.
Many have made great points but a HARD NO for me would be the bears! They are notorious for managing to get into garages and homes! Their sense of smell is so keen. I agree….forget buying there and find someone you can maybe rent from 2-3 months of the year, enjoy it, but without the headaches and ridiculous costs. My friend lived in an HOA situation in a condo and all the homeowners got assessed when something was done to improve the community and when that included some units sliding down a mountain….everyone pays. Granted, this is not a condo but it still sounds too open ended for me. Save your money and take your grandsons on fabulous trips!
I agree! Sell GA, invest the assets, use some of the investment income to take your family on Tauck Bridges Tours to Africa, Europe, Australia, South America. You’d still have enough income to rent a mountain house whenever you want. We moved close to our kids when we retired and have no regrets.
Fees will only increase; restrictions will only increase. Healthcare needs will only increase and it’s unnerving to think how many emergenices could crop up that need immediate hospital-level care. Appendix anyone? And primarily: wouldn’t you want a second home to escape the winter cold? Maybe more mild and shorter season than in Ohio, but not by much.
My brother in law and his wife live in John’s Creek. They bought their ‘cabin’ there a few years ago with the intention of living there when they retire. It is indeed a beautiful place. But boy, do they have a LOT of rules. And the bears are definitely a thing. They have destroyed things on my brother in laws property. I agree the distance to medical care could be a huge issue as we age. As someone who sold our ‘forever’ home in Texas to move to the Denver area a few years ago to be near our son, I am still perplexed why you don’t make the Doll House your forever home. It is an adorable house and you have done such great things to it already. Being close to family is important and I know that as I became a grandmother this year, being near family is an even bigger deal. Plus I can’t imagine the headache of maintaining 2 residences. The expense alone would deter me. Just my 2 cents worth. Take the profits from your Georgia sale and rent a place there once a year. All the fun, none of the
headaches.
Susan, rent, don’t buy! Renting allows you to go to different places. That place is beautiful, but their HOA fees WILL keep rising and so many rules! At least, when you rent, you aren’t responsible for all the fees they will keep adding on, but can still enjoy the area.
ABSOLUTELY NO!! This sounds like a money scam someone has got going. I think the people living there would tell you no if they were honest. Too many cons!! You keep that Ga. home for now and enjoy both homes you have ..as long as Ga location is not becoming rental or neighborhood getting bad I would not sell at this time. Where is this mountain home?
Nope, I wouldnt recommend doing it. At best,I would recommend a long-term rental ANYWHERE you may want a second home (if you sell the GA home).
Susan if it were me I would sell the Georgia house and move to the Doll House permanently. With the extra money from not having a second home you could go back to traveling. Your grandchildren are getting big enough where you could take them, starting with an easy country like England. I took my oldest son to England when he was 12 months old. We continued overseas travel occasionally as my two sons grew up and now the oldest lives in Finland. If you want to go to the mountains you could vacation there without the hassle of owning.
A few years ago we went house hunting with a family member looking to build a retirement home in Santa Fe. We were looking a a beautiful piece of property overlooking the Santa Cristo mountain range. A very friendly neighbor came over and introduced himself as the president of the HOA. By the time he finished telling us about all the restrictions, requirements, codes, etc, we were waving good bye! The more restrictive the HOA is, the more “patrolling” they do as well. I’ve heard so many HOA stories and, oddly, none of them good! 🙂
All that said – I’m sure you’ll make a decision that suits you best.
I am more than familiar with this neighborhood, since I live close by, and I highly recommend that you do NOT move there. The area is stunningly beautiful, but your fabulous creativity, self-expression, freedom to be you would be severely suppressed. Your Atlanta home is a showplace and is so because of your exquisite talent and creativity. You deserve to continue to flourish, plus we followers want your inspirational creativity and the majority of that would be diminished if you move there. Plus, I can attest the expenses in that mountain neighborhood are growing at warp speed. Just think how many more beautiful place settings, inside and outside decorations, flowers, shrubs, bird feeders, trips and on and on you can buy with staying in your exquisitely beautiful Atlanta home. 😮 )
Aww, thanks so much, Jan! Appreciate those generous, kind words! I’m sure you’re right and it’s more practical to not make that move. I had dreams of setting pretty tables on the deck with those gorgeous mountain views in the background. 🙂
Only the mountain views sound positive. Your creativity and willingness to experiment attracted me to your BNOTP community. Can’t see you being bound by stiffling “house rules”. Best wishes.
It seems too restrictive and remote for me. I would like to know the name of the area for relating to a friend wanting to move to the north Georgia mountains.
Thank you
I just emailed the name of the community. I think I could live with most of the restrictions to be surrouned by all the beauty every day. Thanks, CW!
In the famous words of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, I think it would be a “big mistake, big, huge” but that’s just me.
We bought a mountain home in 2000, not nearly the magnitude of your site. We kept our home in Charlotte, as was I glad we did! We were in love with our home for a few years, and then reality! I missed my shopping sprees, nice restaurants, church, friends, and I love Charlotte! We sold our home in 2014, and I am so happy we did! The mountains are fine for a vacation, not for forever!
While you don’t mention the name, it sounds a lot like the “Country House” community my husband’s brother bought into some years ago right across the Ga/NC border. They live in Atlanta. The views were breath taking. The house was gorgeous. I loved visiting there. But they sold it a while back because of the expenses.And, for them, it wasn’t a FT residence.
If you want out of GA, sell, invest and move to the DollHouse. Your grandkids will grow up sooner than you think. And lack of quality medical care in the “hills and hollers”is a real concern.
No, it’s not Country House. I haven’t heard of that one. I’ll have to do a search to see it. I probably will move to the Dollhouse, but I would love to have a small place in the mountains, probably not practical to have it so far away, though.
Sorry… “Country House”was just what they called it. Not the name of the actually community. I think it was in the Highlands. But I could be mistaken. It has been awhile.
I live in a gated golf community with lots of rules and HOA fees. Our board recently raised the monthly dues, but the community voted, it was not a unilateral decision. Your community sounds like it has a lot of dues and that they will continue to increase.
I concur about health care. But also, why not look for a mountain house or a lake house closer to the Dollhouse? There are many beautiful lake houses in wooded areas in Michigan, Wisconsin, MN all close enough for you to visit and to sped time with your grandchildren as they age.
Hi Susan! What a beautiful place! Sorry to say I agree with other commenters who suggest renting instead of buying. Our family has a vacation home and so many things have gone up in price, namely taxes and insurance (which I’m not sure I saw mentioned here). As our family and children get older, it gets harder with schedules to get there. And although we have cameras, there’s a feeling somebody needs to go check on the place at least a few times a month.
If you rent you won’t feel obligated to go there as opposed to anywhere else on your bucket list. Sorry to be negative. It does look like a very peaceful spot, and maybe it could be for a month or so each year — and save you lots of expense and hassle. Best to you!
I’ve followed you for several years but but never commented. What does the HOA fee cover? I own a condo in Massachusetts and the fee pays for the heat. But these are garden style so like an apartment. My friends sister bought into a place with HOA fees in Colorado and management is supposed to rake and snow blower the walkways but they don’t.
The only thing it covers is maintenance of the roads and the walkways, the common areas and the hiking trails. Plus, it covers the clearing of snow and the roads and such, so I guess it does cover some pretty important things.
All the amenities require separate memberships. There’s a separate membership fee for golfing, a separate one for tennis, a separate one for the Wellness Center, etc. That’s promoted as a good thing since you’re supposedly not paying for anything that you don’t use, but since the fees are pretty high, I do wonder. It is in the best interest of everyone living there that all those facilities/amenities be maintained since they are great selling features when a home goes on the market.
That’s awful that they don’t rake or snowblow the walkways where your friend’s sister lives, since that’s supposed to be included.
Definitely no from me. Bears don’t make good neighbors or walking trail partners. Just rent once in a while for a change of scenery. You’re in great condition and excellent health right now, but I know from experience that one fall can change all that. You have an idyllic situation in the Dollhouse close to your son, dil and those precious grandsons. Why trade making good memories with them for a an expensive home with too many cons and being alone? Life is short and nothing is more important than time with people you love the most.
Ok so I am guessing Big Canoe? It is gated and very pretty but too remote the miles to the store ever get any shorter and trust me the access to medical care may not be an issue but that can change in the blink of an eye. We lived in Atlanta for a long time. We bought a second home in the Highlands NC area and moved there for part of the year and had another home in Arizona. The bears are like anything else you learn what to do and not do much like the mountain lions in Arizona. We own a single home now and find it much simpler as we age. I hope you find your answer good luck
Highlands, NC is a beautiful place! I’ve visited there a few times over the years.
I agree with many of the above comments – rent in this community – all of the perks and none of the headaches or monthly expenses when you are not even there. Family is everything – if you sell GA- move to the Dollhouse and travel – you may even want to travel with your son’s family – before you know it, you will find your grandsons grown and gone and Medicare just around the corner! And one cannot see the future as far as health is concerned – you need to try to stay closer to healthcare and family (for your son as well as yourself)…
I’m in the hard NO group. In addition to the negatives around the HOA, and location relative health care, mail, and finding services for home repairs, etc., I would be concerned about the cost of property insurance. I’m from Southern California and having witnessed the devastating fires here earlier this year, I’d be very nervous living where you are considering, perched on a hillside in the middle of a densely forested area. Many of the recent natural disaster events have been in areas that previously were considered very low, or low risk. I would think about leasing your Georgia house, at least for a year, spend time at the Doll House and traveling, then decide whether or not to sell. If you find a good property management company, being a landlord is relatively painless and has some good tax benefits.
I have friends that lived in a similar community in NC but they sold after a year or so. We looked at a golf and lake community in SC that had no initiation fee and the HOA fee was ~168 monthly. We liked the rolling hills and although it’s pretty isolated, they had a medical facility within the community. Augusta and Greenwood are the closest cities. What I liked was that they had organized clubs for all sorts of interests. Let me know if you’d like the name of the community.
I’m happy to answer any questions about our great neighborhood. A couple of things you mentioned are not entirely accurate. Email me if you want to follow up.
Kim, I just sent you an email. I would love any additional information that you’re able to share.
Susan, we live in the same county as your Georgia home. We had a home on Lake Sinclair for 6 years. We LOVED our home and being on the lake but even at 3 hours away, it was a lot to maintain a home in a remote area. We were on the east side of the lake and it is not nearly as populated as the west side. Grocery stores, restaurants, medical care, and really all shopping were 35 minutes by car. We could take our boat to the marina and use our car until the marina stopped offering the service. Finding reliable, quality contractors was another issue for us. Vendors just don’t like going far distances and their prices reflected their reluctance. My husband was great at sourcing out people but it really was almost a full time job at times. We had to take our trash to the county dump (an area that was very well maintained, always manned and very orderly). We had a truck we used so that was not a problem. I understand there is a service now that will take your trash; that would be helpful. Because we were on a septic tank, we could not have a disposal, You learn to be very careful about what you use, how you dispose of garbage, when you dispose of it. We had plenty of critters that would walk on our porch if there was garbage in the cans.
The HOA rules and regs don’t bother me. You know those going in and that may provide structure, accountability to neighbors, safety, and a maintenance of property value for you. If you know them in advance and like the structure they offer, then that is a non-issue for me.
The fees are another issue. I sat on our HOA for many years and while expenses can be high, they can also be managed. I think it is not a given that prices would always be going up. that is. short sighted attitude, in my opinion. Even with prices increasing, costs can be managed with proper planning for maintenance, future projects, etc. We had a vigorous plan every year for improvements and maintenance and not only did we never have to raise fees, we were able to give some back to the residents one year.
I have a pretty good idea of the location you are seeking of and agree, it is stunningly beautiful there. Maybe consider leasing more before you purchase again. look into vendors, healthcare, proximity to other favorite pastimes, and the community itself for group activities. that might give you a better idea if that if truly for you. Happy dreaming! Aren’t we blessed that we get to consider these fun options!
It sounds just too restrictive. Communities with that many rules inevitably become tiresome. There have to be some better alternatives if you want to have a mountain retreat.
Susan, The decorating restrictions would not bother me, because it’s a wildlife sanctuary and I support what they are doing there. However, those monthly fees are mostly for all of the amenities that you will not be using. Tennis courts, pools, pickleball, lots of things. That’s the part that would be the big block for me. As a vacation home, it would be lovely to have the views and the drive wouldn’t bother me because it’s temporary. So I think you have to decide what is your goal with this house. Is it a vacation home, and if so could you rent it out when you are not there to help balance out the money? Or is it really a second home you would live in for a big part of the year? I lived in the mountains for a few years in Colorado, and there is a lot of maintenance due to the snow. You should find out what they use in the winter on the roads, because if they use salt then you’ll have car issues. I think that you’re in love with this place because you’ve been there and I can see where it would be a fantastic vacation. There are other mountain communities that are more affordable with just as pretty of a view and serene setting. Perhaps you need to travel a bit more first.
Unfortunately, the $400 per month doesn’t cover any of the amenities. All of those are separate memberships. I am really just interested in the beauty, the views, the wildlife, the hiking trails. The clubhouse restaurant is really nice, too. I should have mentioned all the fun activities they have for residents throughout the year. Their Oktoberfest is coming up soon. $400 is probably not that bad when you consider the cost of maintaining the roads and common areas, but I do worry about it going up and up and up every year.
Oh my goodness that doesn’t even cover the amenities. Well the truth is, since prices are going up there, you could buy one there and if you find out you don’t like it, then sell it. You’ll likely make money. You’ll likely make money. It really is beautiful, I’ve been to the Blue ridge mountain area and also fell in love with it. There’s a true peacefulness there.
I think you have been given a lot of good advice to think about. I think you can afford the financial requirements of this community although it would be nice not to have to. My concerns for you are more about your health and safety. How many months a year is there snow/ice on the roads you take to get to this community? How long would the commute be from the Dollhouse? Because you live alone you have to consider what would happen if you were to fall in your home. How long would it take to get an ambulance and then to get to a hospital? As we age we need more visits to the doctor, labs, etc. That is more trips. I agree with others who say you should rent. I think you could look closer to Ohio where if you did eventually buy the commute would be shorter.
Driving on treacherous roads to distant healthcare or to dispose of your trash, because the HOA’s high fees to not cover that basic need? And then this: you seem to enjoy, and are very talented at, making improvements to your homes and properties, and this community would stifle that. Don’t hide your candle under a bushel!
I think you should to Wisconsin!
Now that would be interesting!
I would sure think so!
Too many very strict restrictions, and the monthly fee is very high for what it doesn’t include (no trash pick-up, no included access to amenities … is the fire dept part of this, or an add’l fee?). About medical services, are nearby doctors / clinics / services / hospitals good quality, or would you have to travel an hour or more to see a specialist, or if hospitalization was necessary would you likely be transferred to a more distant ‘better equipped’ medical center? With the high cost of homes and high fees, I’d look at other communities and/or rent there long-term (at least 30 days at a time, during various seasons) before purchasing a home in the community. Another minor point to possibly consider or at least be aware of, is it a true gated community with a fully fenced perimeter, or only fenced along road and walkway entry points.
No, no, no! My sister and her husband bought a ranch in TX in the middle of nowhere. Shortly after they moved, her husband started displaying Alzheimer symptoms and it has continued to get worse quickly! She then had a fall and her health has gone downhill because of it. The nearest hospital is over an hour away. Even having to drive 3 miles to the nearest grocery store has gotten really old. It has become a nightmare! Any workmen, repairmen, furniture, etc. have to come from far away cities. They have a beautiful home and property, but it is just not worth it!
I think the very fact you asked, means you had hidden doubts, also. If you were 100% sure, you would not have asked; you would have just told us of your plans. Of course it is your business, but it just seems a little impulsive. Our sister-in-law just sold her 2nd home in CO (primary home in TX). She is so relieved! While staying there, they (and all the neighbors) would honk their horn the whole time driving up the long driveway to hopefully scare away the bears. Your grandkids, son and DIL would be very upset if you did this, and something happened to you! I love this expression: Learn to appreciate what you have before time makes you appreciate what you had!
Susan, My husband is a physician with multiple credentials and critical
ER experience & we would never buy in a location such as that regardless of age. The importance of access to truly major medical facilities cannot be minimized & transport timing is often the difference in saving a life. A vacation is one thing, but owning such a property & therefore feeling you should actually reside there for long periods due to the investment
is quite another. One’s physical / health status can change in a flash & a minor onsite medical station is not staffed or equipped for catastrophic events. Please think this over very carefully. There are lovely vistas in much more reasonably accessible areas of the country.
Way, way too many restrictions with that HOA. Even if it is for the betterment of the community way of life. There must be other areas that have lakes, views and wildlife. It seems like you are paying for them to restrict you!! Sorry, I live on 32 acres and carefree. When you stated you had to re-stain your driveway if it faded that did it for me. lol Also, no cap on the fees. Also, I do live far from a decent grocery store and restaurants, etc. And it does get “old” when you’re older to have to drive an hour when you run out of something or when you forget to buy something and you can’t just run back to the store!
That’s a big no from me. It’s beautiful because you are visiting in good weather. Imagine all those Amazon deliveries. Imagine a fire in the mountains or a hurricane like last year. Ever visit in the winter when it snows ? Just rent and be done. The fees are such a turn off and won’t go down. I can’t imagine selling the Georgia home for this location, eating up any profit. You like to travel and after awhile, the mountain beauty
Wears off. Been to the Blue Ridge Mountains many times. My friends own a second home near Asheville and had a hard time leaving after the hurricane because roads were so damaged. They were lucky to have electric with a generator and Starlink for a phone. if you really want to do this, visit several communities before you decide.
I’d continue to enjoy that beautiful scenery by renting! Let someone else deal with all those rules and costs!
Hi Susan, I am late to the comments here, but had to chime in. I would rent first, and in the winter when the most isolating time would be….also, it would be the worst time to travel in and out of the house on mountain roads. If you can handle that time with no issues, then I would consider moving. As many negatives that this neighborhood presents (and for me, they would be a deal breakers), the heart wants what the heart wants, and it sounds like you fell hard for this area. Reading your blog all these years makes me sure that you would be dotting all the Is and crossing all the Ts, making sure that your financial ducks are in a row so that selling, if you don’t care for the area after some time, would not be a financial disaster. My only caution would be some kind of solid ‘alert’ plan IF you should fall or have some kind of health emergency. I will be interested to see what you do!
Hi Susan! I just had to respond here because a few years ago I was in the same boat. I ended up moving from my newly renovated and beloved home in CT in 2023 to a new construction 55+ resort style community in North Carolina. I really craved a place that also checked off all of these very critical boxes – convenient shopping, tons of amenities, milder climate (but I find summers to be sweltering ), proximity to Charlotte for cultural things (theater, ballet, restaurants, concerts are all just 1/2 hour away), proximity to a major airport (CLT), strong sense of community and socializing, strong and convenient medical care, not far from the mountains. I found it all here. Google Trilogy Lake Norman in Denver NC. That initial fee you mentioned is $6,500 here. If you sell your home, you get half back. Monthly HOA fee is $511 and is really a combo of three things – clubhouse usage (which is enormous and gorgeous and has a restaurant, gym, indoor pool and so much more – you’ll see on the website), HOA maintenance of public areas as well as of your front and side yards, and trash pick up. I honestly say to myself “I can’t believe I get to live here” often. It’s like living at a resort. We call it grown up camp, but you can be as involved or uninvolved as you want to be. Construction of new homes is wrapping up this year but there are frequent “resales” when people move (most to be closer to family). Some people are here seasonally. Check it out. I’d be thrilled to show you around if you drive up sometime. 4 hour drive from Atlanta.
I agree with the folks advising against this, so no need to repeat the cons. I may have missed it but did anyone advise you to discuss this with your accountant or financial adviser? Selling the Georgia home might have some tax consequences but should you decided to sell the mountain home after a short period of time at a profit you may be faced with an even bigger tax burden. It’s been a while since I have looked into this but, at one time, the sale of your first primary residence was not as punishing as selling a vacation home or second residence. Lots may have changed but it’s worth asking about. I owned a vacation home that I rented out when I didn’t use it and it was a nightmare. If you do buy and decide to rent does the HOA have a realtor that they use or do they handle it? Who do you pay to manage the property in your absence? Is your goal to have the house at your disposal whenever you want? Or is it also an investment/rental. Check out the cost of insuring a home that is unoccupied vs rental and consider that expense as well. What will heating costs be like?
Absolutely too many restrictions for me. I want peace of mind in my older years not thinking about medical services 25-50 miles away. In some cases, Atlanta doctors do visit towns one day a week but what help is that if you get ill and need a really good medical facility. If you were in your 40’s it might be completely different but 60’s or pushing 60? No possible way. Think of the future.
I could see renting a home for a 2 week vacation, but no way would I live there.
I agree with your old doctor and would want to be closer to medical care and everything else! Also, the fees are huge and there are quite a few rules, plus no mail or package delivery, the trash situation…… There must be a gated community closer to civilization, if that’s what you want.
Wow. Who’s the person that commented that “a couple of things you mentioned are not entirely accurate” ?? You carefully didn’t mention the name of the place, and you are “kinda” being restricted in what you said? That alone is a giant red flag. HOA’s are up there with Time Shares in the collection of schemes that sound so wonderful up front, but become nightmares in reality. South Florida is seeing such a nightmare with HOA’s due to the catastrophic Champlain Tower implosion, where now a vast majority of condos are being hit with exorbitant special assessments to repair or increase their reserves and these owners have no choice – either sell or pay. We’re talking 100K or more even if the reserve is spread across a large number of owners. Buyers are aware of this, and tend to stay away from sales in condos that are older than 10 years, so sellers must sometimes sell at a loss. I’m venting a lot, I know, but I know close family and friends that are going through this right now. In my opinion, HOAs are something to stay clear of, especially when you have other choices.
… then there is the Board where Board Members may present issues and behavior that go beyond anything in DC!
I am pretty sure I know the neighborhood and others like it in North GA. For me, the fees outweigh the positives. And they always increase. For me, it feels like hemorrhaging hard earned money. But to each their own. If you rented it during your Dollhouse stays, you might balance out. Not everyone has the stomach for that either. Everyone is different. You always research everything and you don’t go into anything blindly. You’ll do what’s best for you. Your position is good either way since you already own property in a desired school district. Best wishes to you in whatever you decide.
Please don’t do it! The fees are ridiculous and HOA/POA’s are awful, awful, awful. They are a ‘dictatorship’. I would not want anyone telling me what I can and cannot do with my home and property.
I live in a 55+ country club community of 1200 homes around a golf course. Our homes are mostly individual residences. The houses sell for around $600 to $800 thousand. We pay a $1000 one time fee per resident at move in and then $57 per month HOA fee. We have a nice community center with pool and many activity rooms. Our rules are not very strict, just enough to keep the neighborhoods looking nice. We vote on any changes. There is plenty of room for individuality. I would hesitate living in an area not close to medical care. I’m healthy, but that could change on a dime or one could have an injury. I would not like to transport my garbage either. The prices for the HOA fees at the mountain community seem extremely high. Are the residents in charge or is there a management company? Much of the cost to run our community comes from golf fees. I’d urge you to check into the finances and how all decisions are made.
Hello, I don’t comment often but I am at an age to consider similar decisions. The views look absolutely lovely, and I wasn’t too bothered by the restrictions until you got to when and how long you can hang a birdfeeder. For me that is a bridge too far. That is minutia management and would drive me crazy. I agree with everyone who says rent. Even if rents are expensive, I still think it would be a lot cheaper than buying a house there and the fees and upkeep involved. You seem to research a lot so I’m sure you will reach the best decision for you.
I think this is a case of you should listen to your doctor. We’re in our 70s now and still very strong and active but our medical needs have definitely increased. The other side of 70 is definitely a big physical change even when you’ve been healthy and active always. My MIL had a place in the GA mountains and it is dang cold and rains all winter. You might want to check that out.
Yikes. Not sure what to comment on so I will just say yikes.
The views sure come with a steep price in every way, don’t they? Keep looking, perhaps? That’s kinda wow, isn’t it?
As others have said, it sounds so restrictive! As a Brit, I do not understand Home Owner Associations at all! Especially as Americans have a reputation in the rest of the world as demanding their individual liberties, yet you allow other people to control what you’re allowed to do with your own property? It doesn’t make any sense!
Susan as we age..things change…….some sooo much.I would suggest the doll house as your only home to take care of.It is close to family and very nice.Visit other places with no strings…freedom.Never saddle with other homes to take care of.Toooo many cons with the mountains,aging slows everything.Being close to medical and doctors mean a lot.Please think very deeply with this idea.Take care.
First, I am happy for you, that you are ready to move on from Atlanta. You were able to give yourself the time to feel how things are day to day. That was important not to have regrets. (Not sure you are ready for the winter, but I know you will do fine.)
The homes and community are lovely. I agree with the others. Leave the headaches to the owners. Rent for holidays or midweek or a month. It will own you. This is from someone who just spent $$,$$$ on bathroom and decking, that were NOT cosmetic.
$400 per month is not so bad, but it will go up. You’ll be far away from doctors/hospitals/dentists, etc. And, this is important, you’ve only visited there for a short time, it would be different when you are trying to get your usual errands done; groceries, drug stores, etc.
No, No, No, on so many levels already stated.
You have two gorgeous homes now…and the biggest no for this move would be the health care – as you doctor mentioned. We looked in that area when we were ready to retire and move and heard that comment often. Chose a retirement community with a great health care system nearby…even though we were in our early 60’s. Two years after when my husband – who was very healthy and had no issues – had a heart attack, we were minutes away from world class health care. Even in our former home, the outcome might not have been as good. Just a thought before you decide….
Don’t often comment. It’s a dilemma of sorts because you are equal parts independent adventurer and home decorator/house projects person!
The views, social clubs and activities, and cultivating friendships are the pros, in my opinion. The cons are numerous and hard to reconcile. I won’t list those as others already have and you know them more than we do.
I will offer this. You mentioned being able to do without door dash, but you enjoy ordering furniture and household items and decorating your house, and many of your blogs are based around shopping online and ordering things, as we all do nowadays. And hiring workers to make repairs and improvements. But you wouldn’t be able to do that anymore with any convenience, it would all be a huge hassle. I can’t see you accepting that. I couldn’t accept it. You are always planning projects but you wouldn’t be able to run out to the home improvement stores or the home stores, or anywhere. You often order multiples of things to spread around different houses.
I agree with most everyone else that it would be a good idea to sell the GA house (only if you’re ready) and have the dollhouse be your residence. You could look for a 2nd home within a couple hours of the dollhouse. Your grandsons will soon grow up, even in their early and mid teens they will begin to spend time with their friends and you won’t see them as often. You are fortunate to have such a close relationship with your son, dil, and grandsons. I’m surprised you would want to go from regular movie and sports nights with them to moving many hours away by yourself in a mountain house as seemingly your full time residence with nothing close by, I think that is what is puzzling us, your readers. We thought you were wanting to be close to your family lol. It could just be where your very independent adventurer nature comes in lol. Maybe you can take vacation trips with your family and enjoy mountain views, lakes, etc as you’ve already been doing.
Personally, I don’t want bears to be anywhere near my house! No thank you. I don’t want to have to wonder every time I get out of my car or go out into my yard. I also prefer views of gardens and beautiful houses of neighbors not too close but not too far away either!
If it’s the connections to friends you need, maybe cultivate friendships with neighbors/clubs/activities near you at the dollhouse. Mountain views can be had on vacations lol. Unless you already have dear friends or relationships in this particular mountain neighborhood that you are drawn to. But even then, the cons are just too much. Let them come to you, in my opinion….
Others have already said most of the reasoning for not moving to the mountain wilderness. I live in an Historic Preservation District (Nashville’s first residential one) but what we have isn’t as restrictive as that development! Medical distance would be the deal breaker for me. With no previous health issues, in 2015 I went to sleep and didn’t wake up the next morning. Had a weird headache, and turned out I had a ruptured brain aneursym. Luckily the foremost brain doc in town was on call so he brought me back and I woke up 3 days later from a Dilaudid coma. Over the next year 5 more bubbles were repaired so they wouldn’t “pop”. I’m as healthy as a horse, with just the ordinary old lady kind of things, and now only biennial brain procedures to make sure everything is still OK in the head. I’m a city girl, but the new Titan’s Stadium (5 blocks from the house) is going to be a nightmare. The first one is and this will be worse. I’m going to move back to Georgia–but back to my birthplace of Rome. It’s the medical center of NW GA. I’ll be able to get all the docs I need. If they don’t have a great neuro guy, I’ll just “live” in the UPS Main Street mailbox, so my health insurance will still work! I would go nuts in the quiet of the area you love–that’s why we’re all different! I want my trash and recycles picked up on Monday mornings at my alley! All my docs within 30 minutes or less, and choice of grocery stores within 8 blocks! Rent your mountain hideaway. But don’t move there. How much longer would it add to your journey to the Dollhouse and your grands?!
Whoa! Looks like you drew many comments and many good ideas. Although the social aspects of living in a gated community are attractive, the excessive rules (bird feeder – really?) and the “POA” and other fees are a real turn off!!! Then, there’s the trash situation. I’m glad you’re open minded – me, not so much! I do agree that the North Georgia mountains are beautiful. However, these tradeoffs to me are not worth it.
Sounds beautiful but too many rules! I would not want to
live there alone!
My opinion is too many strict rules, the trash situation would be burdensome. I prefer medical, dental, grocery, etc. to be closer than 15 miles. You reallly enjoy brick and mortar shopping and sounds like you would be giving that up to live in the community. Your grandsons are at the age where they will be high schoolers in a flash so continue to take advantage of seeing them all you can. When they get busy with sports, friends, extracurricular activities, summer camp and all the things tweens and teenagers do time for grandparents takes second priority. Enjoy it while you can. Also the economy is unstable for buyer and seller. Rent a place there for a month and see what you think and then do that again in the winter. Good luck and take your time.
The main thing you need to understand about HOA fees is that they NEVER go down. Even if they fix the reason the fees are raised for, they will continue to collect and stockpile money for the next emergency. How do I know this? Because I’m on an HOA board. I bought a condo in 202o at the bottom of the market and since then my fees have doubled. I now pay more than $1500/month. Yes, we have amenities like 24 hour onsite security and it includes insurance, Direct TV, internet and trash. But just remember, it will NEVER go down. And are you ok if it doubles in 5 years?