Ever dream of owning property on a trout stream? On The Fly South’s Claude Preston talked with Seth Garrett of Mulberry Land Company for the insider’s look at the process.
September 2026
By Claude Preston
Photos by Jimmy Jacobs.
Picking Your Own Angling Paradise
Ever dream of owning property on a trout stream? On The Fly South’s Claude Preston talked with Seth Garrett of Mulberry Land Company for the insider’s look at the process.
Q: What is your background?
A: I’ve spent my entire 20-plus-year career in real estate. After earning a degree in real estate from the University of Georgia, I gained experience across site selection, investment sales, consulting, valuation and development. That broader background ultimately led me to focus exclusively on land, where understanding both the property itself and its long-term potential is essential.
I am a Georgia native and licensed real estate broker in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. While Georgia remains the foundation of my business, my reach extends throughout the region, allowing me to serve clients across three states. Having spent my life exploring this part of the Southeast, I have developed a genuine appreciation for the remarkable variety of land, landscapes and opportunities it offers.
Q: What’s the story behind Mulberry Land Company?
A: I founded Mulberry Land Company to be more than just a brokerage business. We are first and foremost land advisors, providing guidance on all aspects of owning land. From developing strategies for generational farms to evaluating highest and best use, we see ourselves as a lifelong resource for landowners. We found a clear need for this service in an industry where the majority of professionals and relationships are purely transactional. We aim to be more than that.
Q: How does Mulberry operate?
A: Mulberry operates as a boutique land brokerage and advisory firm, with most of our work focused on recreational, sporting and agricultural properties throughout Georgia and the Southeast. From equestrian estates with rolling pastures to trout streams in the Appalachians, we specialize in distinctive properties with the natural attributes, location and long-term value that make them truly special.
Our typical transaction involves between 50 and 100 acres, although I have worked on properties ranging from 2 acres to more than 600. Many of our clients are looking for more than simply a tract of land—they are looking for a legacy property their families can enjoy for generations. Regardless of size, the approach is the same: understand the land, identify what makes it unique and provide clear, practical guidance throughout the process.
Q: For What are your clients looking?
A: Buyers today are generally looking for property they can enjoy immediately—whether for fishing, hunting, farming or simply spending time outdoors—but they are also thinking about the long-term investment. They want land with distinctive natural features, good access and a location that should continue to benefit from surrounding growth.
The specific priorities vary by buyer, but features such as quality water, mountain views, rolling pastures, mature hardwoods and privacy consistently resonate. Many buyers also prefer property that has already been well maintained, with usable roads, open trails and accessible water. Ultimately, they are looking for a property that feels special today while offering flexibility and lasting value for the future.
Q: Since you mentioned the subject and we are most interested in fly fishing, how does water play into your business?
A: Water plays a major role in my business, particularly in North Georgia. The lower Appalachian region is fortunate to have an abundance of high-quality water, from cold mountain streams and established trout fisheries to major rivers and lakes. For many recreational buyers, access to water is one of the primary reasons they are drawn to the region in the first place.
As a result, water frontage is a significant asset and typically commands a premium in the land market—but not
all water is created equal. Water quality, accessibility, usability and the amount of frontage all matter, as do the legal rights associated with it. Those rights can be particularly nuanced along non-navigable rivers such as the Toccoa, so I place special emphasis on helping clients clearly understand what they are purchasing before moving forward. When the water and the associated rights are properly understood, it can be one of a property’s most valuable and defining attributes.
Q: How would you sum up the most important part of picking a tract of land?
A: The most important part is having a clear understanding of what the buyer wants to accomplish. One buyer may be looking for open pasture and usable acreage for horses, while another may prioritize frontage on an active trout stream. The key is to drill down with as much clarity as possible—identifying the must-haves, understanding the intended use and separating true priorities from preferences.
There is a tremendous amount of land across the Southeast, and navigating it can quickly become overwhelming. Working with an experienced land professional allows a buyer to narrow the search, efficiently source opportunities and identify the properties that truly fit their needs. The clearer the objective is at the beginning, the more focused and productive the search will be.
Q: What does your inventory of properties look like at the moment?
A: I currently have several exceptional properties available across North Georgia, but one I am particularly excited to offer is an extraordinary property near Suches comprising approximately 183 acres with more than half a mile of highly accessible frontage on the Upper Toccoa River—approximately 80% of which is double-banked.
The river is the defining feature of the property—not simply an amenity, but the element around which the land is organized. Its substantial frontage is complemented by open pasture, mature hardwoods, Frank Creek and well over a mile of shared boundary with the Chattahoochee National Forest. Few properties combine this caliber of Toccoa River frontage with such substantial acreage, accessibility and connection to protected land.
Readers can view this property, along with my other current listings, at mulberrylandcompany.com.
