A 1992 mountain home on 1.28 wooded acres in Ellijay, Georgia, with a stone fireplace, a workshop building, and a circular driveway, listed at $225,000 and sold as is.
North Georgia has long drawn people looking for quiet, trees, and cooler mountain air.
This house at 580 Riverwood Road in Ellijay offers exactly that. It has three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, about 1,352 square feet, and 1.28 acres of mature woods.
The asking price is $225,000.
There is one important detail. The home is being sold as is, and the listing states plainly that the HVAC system does not currently work.
Below, we go through the house feature by feature, look at what “as is” means for a buyer, and cover the questions to ask before making an offer.
Property Overview
- Address: 580 Riverwood Rd, Ellijay, GA 30536
- Price: $225,000
- Bedrooms: 3
- Bathrooms: 2 full
- Living area: 1,352 sq ft
- Year built: 1992
- Lot size: 1.28 acres, wooded
- Driveway: circular
- Fireplace: stone
- Outbuilding: separate building for storage or a workshop
- Condition: sold as is; HVAC not currently working
Ellijay and the North Georgia Mountains
Ellijay sits in the North Georgia mountains and is widely known as Georgia’s apple capital.
In fall, orchards, apple houses, and festivals bring visitors from across the region. The area also has wineries, rivers, hiking trails, and a small historic downtown.
For many buyers, Ellijay is either a full-time escape from the city or a weekend mountain home within driving distance of Atlanta.
The Wooded Lot
The house sits on 1.28 acres surrounded by mature trees.
Trees like these take decades to grow. They give shade in summer, color in fall, and a real sense of privacy all year.
The listing specifically mentions the privacy the trees create. On a lot this size, you are likely to have space between you and the neighbors.
The Circular Driveway
A circular driveway welcomes you home.
It is a practical feature on a wooded mountain lot. You can pull in and out without backing up, which helps on narrow or sloped roads.
It also leaves room for guests, a trailer, or a second vehicle.
The Exterior
The house was built in 1992 and sits among the trees.
Wooded settings are beautiful, but they come with their own upkeep. Leaves collect in gutters and on roofs, and branches can hang over the house.
During the inspection, ask about the roof’s age, the condition of the gutters, and whether any trees are too close to the home.
Open Living and Dining Area
Inside, the living and dining areas share one open space.
An open layout makes a modest home feel larger. It also lets the person cooking stay part of the conversation.
Wood Wall Accents
The listing mentions warm wood accents on the walls.
Wood walls fit a mountain home well. They add warmth and give the room a cabin feel without making it dark when there is enough light.
Some buyers keep them as they are. Others paint part of the wood for a lighter look. Either way, they are a good base to work with.
Natural Light
The living space has many windows.
In a wooded setting, windows matter. They bring in light and let you see the trees from almost every seat.
Check the windows’ age and condition. Older windows can be drafty, which matters even more while the HVAC system is not working.
The Stone Fireplace
A stone fireplace anchors the living room.
It adds the mountain charm the listing describes. It may also help with heat in cooler months, though it should not replace a working heating system.
Have the chimney inspected and cleaned before using the fireplace. Ask whether it burns wood or gas.
The Kitchen
The kitchen has plenty of cabinet storage.
A breakfast bar overlooks the living area. It works well for quick meals, morning coffee, or guests chatting while you cook.
Ask about the age of the appliances and whether they convey with the house.
The Main Level
The main floor has two bedrooms, a full bathroom, and laundry.
That is a major advantage. You can live mostly on one level without climbing stairs every day.
For buyers who are older, or who plan to stay in the home long term, main-level living is very valuable.
The Upper Level
Upstairs has a third bedroom and a second full bathroom.
That gives the upstairs bedroom its own private bath. It works well as a guest suite, a teenager’s room, or a primary bedroom away from the main living area.
It could also serve as a home office with its own bathroom.
A Flexible Floor Plan
The listing calls the layout comfortable and versatile.
Splitting the bedrooms between two floors gives everyone more privacy. Guests upstairs and owners downstairs, or the reverse, both work well.
The Workshop Outbuilding
A separate building sits on the property.
The listing suggests storage or a workshop. It could hold lawn equipment, tools, outdoor gear, or a woodworking setup.
Ask whether the outbuilding has electricity. Power makes a workshop much more useful.
The HVAC System
This is the most important detail in the listing.
The HVAC system is not working right now. That means the house currently has no working central heating or air conditioning.
Before you buy, get an HVAC contractor to assess the system. Find out whether it can be repaired or must be replaced, and how much either option costs.
Replacing a full system can cost several thousand dollars or more, depending on the type and size. Build that number into your offer.
What “As Is” Means
“As is” means the seller does not plan to make repairs.
You can, and should, still inspect the home. But if problems are found, the seller is unlikely to fix them or offer credits.
The disclosed HVAC issue may not be the only problem. A full inspection tells you what else needs attention.
Living Here Full Time
For a full-time owner, this house offers a calm, wooded setting at a price that is hard to find in many mountain areas.
Main-level living, a workshop, and an acre of trees make it practical as well as peaceful.
The key is budgeting for the HVAC work and any repairs the inspection reveals.
As a Mountain Getaway
The listing also suggests the house could be a weekend retreat.
Three bedrooms and two baths are enough for family visits. The fireplace, trees, and quiet make it a good place to unwind.
If you plan to rent it short term, check Gilmer County’s rules and permit requirements first.
Possible Improvements
- Repair or replace the HVAC system
- Inspect and service the chimney
- Update the kitchen
- Refresh the bathrooms
- Paint some of the wood walls for a lighter look
- Replace older windows
- Add a deck or patio among the trees
- Run power to the outbuilding, if it lacks it
- Trim trees near the house and roof
Financing Options
The HVAC issue affects financing, so plan ahead.
FHA and VA loans usually require the home to have a working heating system. A house without one may not qualify until it is fixed.
A conventional loan may be more flexible, but the lender and appraiser will still review the home’s condition.
USDA loans cover many rural areas, and parts of Gilmer County may qualify. A working heating system is still typically needed.
An FHA 203(k) loan or a conventional renovation loan can include the cost of the HVAC replacement. For this property, that may be the most practical path.
Cash buyers will have the easiest time with an as-is sale.
Insurance
Ask an insurance agent about:
- Any effect the nonworking HVAC system has on coverage
- Requirements related to the fireplace
- Coverage for the outbuilding
- Risk from trees falling on the house
- Whether the property is in a flood zone, given the area’s rivers
Get quotes before your inspection period ends.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy
- What exactly is wrong with the HVAC system?
- Has anyone given a repair or replacement quote?
- How old is the roof?
- Is the home on a well and septic system?
- When was the septic last pumped or inspected?
- Does the outbuilding have power?
- Does the fireplace burn wood or gas?
- Is there an HOA, and are there rules about rentals?
- What are the annual property taxes?
- What internet service is available?
Inspection Is Essential
In an as-is sale, the inspection is your best protection.
Consider:
- A general home inspection
- An HVAC contractor’s assessment
- A roof inspection
- A chimney inspection
- A well water test and septic inspection
- Termite and wood-destroying insect inspection
- A check for moisture or mold
The results will tell you whether the price makes sense for you.
The Price in Context
At $225,000, the price works out to about $166 per square foot.
For that, you get three bedrooms, two full baths, a stone fireplace, a workshop building, and more than an acre of wooded land in the North Georgia mountains.
The real cost, however, is the price plus the HVAC work plus any other repairs. Add those together before deciding.
Final Thoughts
This is a modest mountain home with a lot going for it: trees, privacy, a stone fireplace, main-level living, and room for a workshop.
It also needs work, starting with the heating and cooling system.
For a buyer who is ready to handle that, it could become a comfortable home or a quiet getaway in one of Georgia’s most beloved mountain towns.
You can see the full listing on Zillow here: 580 Riverwood Rd, Ellijay, GA 30536
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