GEORGIA | NORTH CAROLINA | FLORIDA
GEORGIA | NORTH CAROLINA | FLORIDA
Broker & Founder, Durpo Realty Associates · In Real Estate Since 1981
Chip Durpo is the broker and founder of Durpo Realty Associates, licensed in Georgia, North Carolina and Florida. He has been in real estate since 1981, first as a builder, developer and commercial real estate investor, and now as a Realtor who brings more than four decades of hands-on experience to every client. When you work with Durpo Realty Associates, you work directly with Chip, from the first phone call to the closing table and beyond.
Chip’s roots in the North Georgia mountains run deep. His family has been on Lake Burton since the 1970s, and he has been part of Rabun County and Sky Valley since 1981. Today he helps buyers and sellers across the mountains of Northeast Georgia and Western North Carolina, at Lake Oconee, and in Southwest Florida, with mountain homes, log cabins, lake and golf properties, land, motor coach lots and commercial real estate.
Take a couple of minutes to meet Chip in his video profile below, call him at (706) 746-2900, or keep reading to learn more about his story, his awards and what his clients have to say.
Most real estate agents learn the business from a licensing course. Chip Durpo learned it by building homes, developing property, owning commercial buildings and running businesses for more than 35 years before he ever became a Realtor. That background shows up in the details: he can spot construction issues during a showing, explain what a repair will really take, and help a seller see their property the way a buyer will.
Clients describe Chip as patient, knowledgeable and always reachable. He answers calls and texts quickly, follows up with every lender, attorney and buyer, and stays involved long after closing, whether that means recommending a contractor or helping you get settled in a new community.
Chip’s career has covered nearly every side of real estate: building it, developing it, investing in it, running businesses in it and, today, helping clients buy and sell it.
Chip first came to the North Georgia mountains in the 1970s, when his parents had a lake home on Lake Burton, just outside Clayton in Rabun County. Those summers on the lake started a lifelong connection to the area, and he has been part of Rabun County and the Sky Valley community since 1981.
In 1981, Chip began his entrepreneurial career in real estate as a residential and commercial builder and developer, including early smart home construction and development. Building from the ground up taught him how homes are put together, what makes a property hold its value, and what to look for long before an inspector arrives.
From building, Chip moved into commercial real estate investing, starting with a small shopping center in Conyers, Georgia. Owning and managing income property gave him a firsthand understanding of leases, tenants, cash flow and long-term value, experience he now shares with buyers and sellers of commercial and investment property.
In the late 1990s, Chip turned his attention to the Lake Oconee area. He started Valley Creek Farms, a cattle embryo program developing highly marbled Angus cattle. He then acquired the former Chipman Union building in Greensboro, Georgia, and launched ClubCarUSA / Golf Cart USA, a golf cart remanufacturing plant. There he became an early adopter of internet marketing, reaching buyers nationwide online while also serving local customers. That lesson, that the right online marketing puts a product in front of buyers everywhere, is at the heart of how he markets his listings today.
Chip’s Florida career began on Sanibel Island with Olde Sanibel Shops, and grew to include a golf club, two restaurants and an office complex in the Sanibel and Fort Myers area. Owning and operating hospitality and commercial property added another layer to his real estate knowledge.
In 2016, Chip decided to semi-retire. It didn’t last long. He saw that many agents knew how to pass a licensing test but knew very little about the details of real estate, from construction and land to financing and investment. So he became a Realtor to put his background to work for buyers and sellers. By his third year, Chip had earned recognition as a top 10 earner with RE/MAX, along with RE/MAX Platinum Club, Hall of Fame and Chairman’s Club awards.
Building on that success, Chip founded Durpo Realty Associates, with his office on Highway 441 in Dillard, Georgia. As broker and founder, he works directly with every client, combining four decades of real estate experience with modern marketing, from professional photography and video tours to a dedicated, search-optimized page for every listing on durpo.com.
Awards are nice, but Chip measures success by his clients’ results: homes that sell after sitting on the market with another agent, buyers who find the right mountain property, and clients who call him again for their next move.
Chip’s marketing is built to put your property in front of the right buyers fast. He takes professional photos and video tours, writes a detailed description and builds a dedicated listing page on durpo.com designed to rank in Google, then syndicates your listing to the major real estate sites. Clients have seen homes that sat for a year with another agent go under contract in days.
From pricing to closing, Chip coordinates with the buyer, lender and closing attorney so nothing falls through the cracks. Ready to sell? Contact Chip for a free market analysis.
Whether you’re looking for a mountain cabin, a lake home, a golf community, land or an investment property, Chip will guide you through every step, from narrowing down areas to making an offer and closing. His construction background helps you understand what you’re really buying, and he’s happy to recommend local inspectors, contractors and service providers.
Start your search with the property search, browse Chip’s featured listings, or sign up for email alerts to hear about new listings first.
Chip is licensed in Georgia, North Carolina and Florida, and specializes in mountain, lake, golf, land, motor coach and commercial real estate.
Sky Valley, Rabun Gap, Dillard, Clayton, Tiger, Lake Burton and Clarkesville.
Highlands, Scaly Mountain, Franklin and Otto.
Lake Oconee, where Chip spent many years and has a home, plus Southwest Florida, where his Sanibel and Fort Myers business experience runs deep.
“Our house had been on the market for a year with another realtor, and not one offer. We saw how Chip did his marketing, and he came highly recommended, so we listed with Chip. Chip took professional photos and did a video tour of our home. The difference between his presentation and our prior agent was night and day. Chip put his sign up one evening, we had an offer in less than 48 hours, and closed in 36 days. We highly recommend using Chip to sell your home.”
JB, Seller
“Chip is what I call a get-it-done-er. My property was for sale for 3 years. When I turned it over to Chip, he had an offer in 36 hours. He followed up with everyone, the bank, the attorney, and the buyer. Usually, he had the answers to my questions before I could ask. He is a great coordinator and stays on top of all the details. The next time I want to sell a house, I will be calling Chip.”
Dean T., Seller
“We held off listing for sale our vacant small home in Sky Valley because of what we were told was a depressed housing market. Sky Valley’s market remained stagnant when the broader housing market was rebounding. Chip has revitalized the Sky Valley housing market. His ability to capture the essence of your property and display it to a broad internet and media base has definitely awakened interest in the natural beauty that surrounds us. When we listed with Chip, we had the property under contract in two weeks. We sold and closed within a month. Enough said!”
Neil H., Seller
“Chip is very knowledgeable about the area. He cares about the people who are moving there because he is your neighbor. Chip explains everything in detail. This was especially important when buying from a different state. Chip continues to provide services beyond closing to help you with the area. He responded to calls and texts in a short time, usually immediately. His construction knowledge helps with looking at homes. He has a critical eye and often pointed out issues with homes. Outstanding service plus experience from looking to closing and beyond. Highly recommended!”
Danny A., Buyer
“Before finally purchasing a home from Chip in 2017, we looked at just about every house on the market. Chip was very patient and assured us that he was happy to help find the perfect one. To you home sellers, Chip was great at presenting homes. He opened all the blinds, put a fire in the fireplace, turned on all the lights, pointed out special features of each home, helped us position imaginary furniture and answered any question we came up with. Chip certainly knows his market and would be the perfect realtor to have on your team.”
Bonnie L., Buyer
“My wife and I found a condo in Sky Valley that was going to need a lot of work. Of course, when you see a property that needs work, you often don’t know what to expect. Chip was able to help us in finding professionals that could aid us in doing this and put together a realistic estimate on the repairs and upgrades. The buying process was easy and simple, and Chip was there every step of the way, including after the purchase. We are well under way in getting our special home in the mountains complete, on time and on budget.”
Bob B., Buyer
“After choosing an area we were interested in, we found most of the houses were offered through Chip. We called him, and he met us almost immediately. We have met with him three times, and he has always worked to be available on our schedule. Then we saw the house, made an offer, and he worked for us to get the lowest price possible. We’re very pleased.”
WalkaaMile, Buyer
Read more of Chip’s reviews on Zillow.
Chip married Melanie Maddox Durpo in 1981, the same year he started his career in real estate. In 1989 they welcomed their one and only child, Kelly Durpo, who has been a real joy ever since. In 2026, Chip and Melanie returned to the Lake Oconee area to be near Kelly and to come back to a place where they spent many happy years. Chip continues to serve clients across the North Georgia and North Carolina mountains, where his family’s story began on Lake Burton in the 1970s.
“Durpo Realty Associates vows to provide prompt, professional real estate services and to go the extra mile to make sure the sale of your current home or the purchase of a new one is handled professionally, smoothly and to your complete satisfaction. The trust you place in our company is not taken lightly. I have worked hard to earn and maintain a reputation as a confidential, trustworthy, honest and reliable real estate brokerage.”
Chip Durpo, Broker & Founder
Want to see Chip’s latest listings, market updates and life in the mountains? Follow Chip on Facebook, watch property tours on his YouTube channel, and see his video profile on Vimeo. New listings get a full photo tour and video, so following along is one of the best ways to see a property before it’s gone. You can also read his market reports, such as the Rabun County real estate market snapshot and the Sky Valley GA market analysis, to see where prices and inventory are heading.
Since 1981. Chip spent more than 35 years as a builder, developer, commercial investor and business owner before becoming a Realtor in 2016, and he founded Durpo Realty Associates after becoming a top 10 earner with RE/MAX.
Chip Durpo is the broker and founder of Durpo Realty Associates. He has been in real estate since 1981 as a builder, developer, commercial investor and, since 2016, a Realtor.
Chip is licensed in Georgia, North Carolina and Florida.
The North Georgia mountains (including Sky Valley, Rabun Gap, Dillard, Clayton, Tiger, Lake Burton and Clarkesville), Western North Carolina (Highlands, Scaly Mountain, Franklin and Otto), Lake Oconee, and Florida.
Luxury Homes, lake and golf properties, land and lots, and commercial and investment real estate.
Yes. Chip owns runs Durpo Realty Associates as its broker/Owner, so you work directly with him from your first call through closing.
Chip has built a Global Syndicated Market over the years. Professional photos and video tours, a detailed listing description, a dedicated search-optimized listing page on durpo.com, and syndication to the major real estate websites.
Yes. Many of Chip’s buyers come from out of state. He explains every step in detail, previews properties, recommends local professionals, and stays in touch after closing.
Call or text Chip at (706) 746-2900, or use the contact form.
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When you work with Durpo Realty Associates, you work directly with the owner and broker, Chip Durpo, not a team member or an assistant. Chip has been in real estate since 1981 and knows Georgia and North Carolina property first-hand: he has lived for many years in the North Georgia mountains, spent 13 years living on and around Lake Oconee, and 15 years in the Sanibel and Fort Myers area as a seasoned commercial and industrial real estate investor.
That experience, as a broker, a neighbor and an investor, goes into every home he sells and every buyer he represents.
