Helen, Georgia: A Great Locale for a Second Mortgage, Home

Real Estate Journal has come out with a report on the best place to purchase a second home. The survey covers vacation spots that offer relatively affordable properties, along with economic outlooks likely to support local home prices.

For those considering a Georgia mortgage on a second residence, we present a snapshot of Helen, GA. Why is it included in the aforementioned report?

The town is 1.5 hours from the Atlanta housing market. It receives two to three million visitors a year, according to Harriet Carter of North Georgia Mountain Realty in Sautee, Ga.

Surrounded by forest, the region is popular for hiking, river tubing, canoeing, fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding and golf. Several lakes are within 40 minutes of town.

The real estate market is generally steady. The region has been slow to develop and hasn’t attracted speculators, Carter notes. People who buy in Helen generally purchase for the long term, with the median home price around $225,000.

Prices have risen 8% from a year ago. And there’s no reason to think this appreciation won’t continue.