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Wow, this one looks like an old bear. I’ve seen similar ones in pictures but have never encountered one this impressive “live”. If you haven’t heard of trail trees, they were basically used as road signs/markers (and sometimes secret message drop boxes, hence the bear’s mouth?) by Native Americans. From what I’ve read, the white man had no clue about this early stealth communications & trails network until many decades after the Native Americans had been removed. Now that’s stealth!

Cherokee and many other mostly eastern tribes, bent and tied saplings that are now of course twisted and curved, very mature trees. To think that a warrior could have made one of these over a hundred years ago, to lead his comrades and their horses to water or to leave them some tree mail, and that it has survived and grown to a gnarly behemoth, is simply amazing. Some you hardly notice; some are overpowering. I spotted this one on a lot that’s for sale (you can see the black silt fence on the 1st picture). I hope it doesn’t meet the fate that so many have.

If you have one of these on a property you’re developing, please do your best to preserve this irreplaceable piece of history. Furthermore, they are a great selling point (mountain cabin curb appeal if you will) and in my opinion increase the value of a property. And keep your eyes open for them. They’re all around this area, and you might have one in your backyard that you haven’t even noticed.

The author of the book Indian Trail Trees (fascinating, I read it in one sitting but pricey for a small book, must be out of print) is involved in a new IMAX movie. Learn more about trail trees and the upcoming IMAX film or check out the Trail Tree Project.

We’re all guilty of letting those leafless winter listing photos stretch into summer sometimes, especially if you get a new listing in late winter. Let’s face it, it can make your listing look pretty dated when it’s 90 degrees outside and there’s frost on the windows in the photos. That this area is so lush also makes it stand out, though for land, it’s a lot easier to see what you’re getting when trees are bare.

However, it’s very time-consuming, especially in this neck-of-the-woods. I currently have only 6 listings, and it takes a full day just to visit them all via these Blue Highways (great book) and gravel mountain roads. I honestly don’t see how some agents juggle 100 listings in this area and handle their buyers too, hat’s off girls, seriously.

The other limiting factors are weather and time of day. We only hit the road for pictures on mostly sunny days, and late afternoon/evening is of course the best time. Mornings can be good, middle of the day is horrible for interior cabin shots from my experience.

Then the graphics/editing work starts when you get home. Nonetheless, Kip and I will be updating the listings that have older winter pictures in the coming weeks. Now that I say this, it will rain for 2 weeks! That’s OK too, we need the rain.

This may be the only place you’ll hear it, but the market up here is painfully slow right now. Usually, we prepare ourselves for the annual spring season jolt, as the winter trickle of buyers becomes a raging river of second home shoppers with the fever for spring in the mountains. However, we’re still looking at a trickle and spring has sprung.

In Fannin County, in the last seven days, there have been 7 properties that have gone pending and 9 properties that have sold. Only 3 of the solds and none of pendings were over $400K. Divide that among all of the re firms/agents in the county, and in my opinion you have, “sloooooowww”.

Typical people contacting me right now? Mostly, they’re wanting to spend $150K - $250K for a $350K cabin. Agents, if you have any that fit-the-bill, drop me a line.

My wife told me it was time to get my own blog to talk about the geeky stuff.

Point taken from she-who-must-be-obeyed! It’s all your’s hun. Post moved here and here.