Home Love Stories: A Dream Realized in Dahlonega—From Renters to Owner

Welcome to my Home "Love" Stories series, where we celebrate heartfelt stories of finding and creating places filled with love and connection. I'm especially excited to conclude this season’s series with the journey of me and Michael's close friends and fellow Dekalb County Fire family, James and Morgan Echols who found their forever home in the heart of the North Georgia Mountains.

Some homes call to you before you ever step foot inside. For James and Morgan, that moment happened on Zillow. The wide-open spaces, the charming farmhouse, and the endless potential—it all felt like it was meant for them. It wasn’t just a house; it was a vision for the future. A place for gardens to bloom, animals to roam, and, one day, children to grow.

At the time, they were living in Chimney Rock, NC, having sold their first home in Holly Springs. The housing market was unpredictable, and they spent seven months moving from place to place, waiting for the right opportunity. Their hearts were set on the North Georgia Mountains, drawn to the trails, waterfalls, and the deep-rooted sense of home they felt whenever they visited. But finding a place to plant roots seemed impossible—until they found this home.

Their landlord took a chance on them, choosing them from over 15 other applicants. He welcomed their animals and, more importantly, welcomed them as people. That generosity made it easy to settle in and truly embrace this space as their own.

Now, they wake up every morning to the sunrise over the ranch behind their home, its golden hues spilling across their three-bedroom, two-bath sanctuary. The wood-burning fireplace crackles on cool evenings, a comforting reminder that home is not about size but about the warmth within its walls. They don’t need more than this.

Nature surrounds them in the best way. The neighbors’ cows occasionally wander to the fence line, birds flutter through the yard, and groundhogs pop up near the fruit trees. After a summer rain, frogs can be heard near the pond. It’s a peaceful place, where they feel connected to the land and the changing seasons.

While James initially saw this as a stepping stone to something bigger, Morgan knew in her heart that this was their place. Having moved so many times, she longed for a home where they could simply be present. Over time, this house taught them both an important lesson: less is more. The economy makes homeownership feel like a distant dream for many, but with patience, persistence, and the kindness of their landlord, they are now preparing to purchase the very home that has already given them so much. Renting to homeownership can seem daunting, but as they’ve learned—if you don’t ask the questions, you may never know what’s possible.

Dahlonega is more than just their address; it is their forever home. A place where community still means something. Where summer nights are spent cooling off in the river, and festival days fill the historic town with music and joy. It’s a place where neighbors become friends, and supporting local farmers and businesses is a way of life. It’s where their own family business is taking root, growing quite literally from the ground up. For Morgan, it has also been the place where she has realized a long-held dream—growing her flower business and working with brides in the Dahlonega area to create stunning floral arrangements for their special days and events of all kinds.

For the past three years, they have built traditions here—perhaps none more special than their annual Fire Family Christmas party. Friends gather beneath a sky full of stars, warmed by good food, a roaring bonfire, and the kind of laughter that echoes long into the night. This, more than anything, is what makes a house a home: sharing it with the people you love.

Dahlonega is their vision.

The mountain life is their dream. And now, as they prepare to make it officially theirs, they do so with hearts full of gratitude—for the home that found them, the memories they’ve made, and the ones still waiting to unfold. For them, it all started with a simple question—asking their landlord about options for purchasing.

The home-buying process can feel overwhelming, but this journey proved that if you never ask, you’ll never know what’s possible. Sometimes, the right opportunity is already within reach—you just have to start the conversation. The best first step you can take as a homebuyer is asking questions—whether that’s to a Realtor, friends or family who recently purchased, your landlord, or a lender. Knowledge opens doors, and it all begins with simply asking.

Brooke Dyer

Corcoran Classic Living

REALTOR® & ABR®

www.brookelarsongeorgiarealtor.com

brookesellsnorthga@gmail.com