For Sale By Owner Because…..

My former business partner posted this photo on his Facebook page and I could not help from laughing at it and HAD to post this. Thanks for sharing Matt. I know this picture might lean towards being offensive to some but it is not my intent.

We all have had situations where we feel the need to express ourselves but this guy/gal took it to another level and put it out there for all to see. Obviously this guy was not highly motivated to sell his home but rather to make a point that he was not too big a fan of his neighbor.

Make it a great day and hug your neighbor.

My Day In Flowery Branch GA Court And My New Client

I am gonna try to make this fairly short, sweet and to the point. However it is such a long story I might miss something but here goes.

A couple of months ago I received (unfairly) a ticket for running a red light. While speaking with the police officer he noticed a sheet of paper on my passenger seat from Big Canoe, a great second home community in Northeast Georgia. He said he always wanted to live there and of course I told him now is the time to buy. I handed him my card and let him know I would see him at court to fight my ticket. We let it go at that and he gave me my ticket and we both went on our way.

Well tonight was my court date  in Flowery Branch and after speaking with the Prosecutor I felt it in my best interest not to risk a $1,000 fine and a couple of points on my license  if I was found guilty. I was able to negotiate the fine down to $75 and  waited to meet the Judge.

Once I sat down, who was next to me but my nemesis and Ticket Master (ie: police officer). We chatted for a minute and I reminded him of our conversation about Big Canoe and told him that there are some great bargains and I am the man to help him find his new home.  All this time, people are being convicted of various offenses, including shoplifting, DUI, theft, etc.  all around us and I am talking with this guy about buying a house.

Turns out he is a really nice person and that we agreed to disagree on my guilt or innocence but that is beside the point.

I finally get down to brass tax and asked him if he wants me to start to email him some homes in Big Canoe and the surrounding areas that fit in his price range and he said “yes”. I am cracking up inside at this point thinking I have just “nabbed” a client in the middle of court. I advised him that I have a Hometown Heroes Program for people in law enforcement, fire department and teachers where I work with them to make buying and selling homes more affordable if they use my services.  My new friend tells me he has no plans on using anyone but myself and hopes I realize that the ticket is “business, not personal”.  Personally, at this point it can be anything you want as long as we work together to help you realize your dream of a new home my friend.

I am going to keep track of how many homes I am able to sell because of this ticket. Just goes to show that you never know when you are going to meet someone who you can serve.

January Housing Starts Up, What’s Next

In again another sign that the housing industry is picking up the pieces from the worst housing collapse in generations, January’s housing starts were up 2.8%.  Housing construction posted a better-than-expected increase in January, pushing activity to the highest level in six months. The solid gain raised hopes that the construction industry is beginning to mount a sustained rebound from its worst slump in decades.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that construction of new homes and apartments rose 2.8% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 591,000 units. That was better than the 580,000 economists were forecasting.

As we head into the second quarter of 2010, we expect continued modest gains in both new home construction as well as re-sale activity. While pricing in both continue to be pressed downward and there continues to be a steady flow of foreclosures coming to market prices should start to stabilize in the coming months.

For more information click on the link below:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2010-02-17-housing-starts_N.htm

It’s On, so let’s get moving America

For the last two plus years, those of you that have picked up a newspaper or watched the evening news have been bombarded with the doom and gloom that we as a nation have experienced. Job loss, housing crisis, stock market collapse, you name it, we’ve experienced it.  But, now is the time to get off our butts and get to work making this Nation back into what we were and what we are capable of being. Me included.

Times have really been hard in our household the past couple of years, no doubt about it, but we as a family are stronger today then we ever were and we will continue to be strong moving forward. Lots has been lost but much gained and I for one look forward to better times ahead.

So do others as today’s USA Today article points out:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-02-16-optimistic-decade-americans_N.htm

Let’s not forget that we are American’s and we are the strongest nation in the world. Is this time going to be remembered as the Great Recession or the Recession That Made Us Great. It is up to you to decide.

Proposed Trump Tower Site In Atlanta…

We just learned that the proposed Trump Tower Condo and retail project is more than likely not going to happen on the current site location. Why you ask? Bad location, Trump bail on us? Neither.

The location at the corner of West Peachtree and 15th Street is going to be auctioned off on March 2nd. Foreclosures are nothing new to the residential and commercial real estate industry in Atlanta but this one comes as a bit of a surprise.

Development by the Wood Partners group was to include two residential towers and retail space.

More information:

http://www.ajc.com/business/midtown-trump-towers-site-300286.html

Hamilton Mill – Glenaire Listing Coming Tomorrow!

Come and get it!

Awesome Hamilton Mill Glenaire listing coming to market tomorrow. Culdesac lot, large open floorplan with keeping room, full bedroom and bath on main with additional half bath on main. Large open kitchen with granite counters. Did I say culdesac lot in Glenaire? Yes, we did. Large, level rear yard, thi…s is the one you have been waiting for. Price below $450,000 and in move in condition. Call or email me for more information. 678-775-2787, mattsells@kw.com.

http://www.postlets.com/res/3339403

Atlanta Braves Caravan Stopping in Gwinnett County

Yep, it’s true, the Atlanta Braves Caravan is making a stop in Gwinnett County Ga. at the new Gwinnett Braves Stadium on February 13th from 11am-3pm. This is a great way for the Braves organization to get out and see the fans and you do not want to miss it.

With nearly 40 stops in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, the Braves will travel more than 3,000 miles and meet thousands of fans during a two week stretch before the team heads to Orlando for Spring Training.

Follow the link for more information on the Caravan and I hope to see you there.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100129&content_id=7993620&vkey=news_t431&fext=.jsp&sid=t431

Pending Home Sales Rise! Good news for housing

The number of pending homes sales has risen again, which goes along with what I see “on the streets”. Overall market activity has seen a marked increase in the past couple of months and we actually are looking at a early spring selling season in my opinion.

I am not a economy wizard, nor do I want to be. The number guys have all the indexes, stats, reports, etc. What I am seeing is street level stuff here. What I mean is that I am getting more and more calls on my listing inventory. Agents are calling me wanting to show my homes, Sellers are calling looking to me for advice and Buyers are calling or emailing me wanting to get “off the fence” and find a home.

Does that mean we are out of this mess? No it does not, but it does mean that we are getting there and with our continued push as the best darn country and people, we will get through this and prosper.

Here is the article from USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2010-02-02-pending-home-sales_N.htm

8:00 on Tuesday and it already has been busy…

8:00 and already it has been a busy day. Kids and wife off to school, relo paperwork done for a potential client, completed another listing that will hit the Hamilton Mill market tomorrow, working on a offer and trying to get paperwork back on another listing that is gonna sell fast in Apalachee Farms.

It’s On.