Excited about changes that are happening!

I know I’ve been behind the scenes for a while, but I wanted to update everyone as to some exciting news regarding my Real Estate Career.  I’ve set into motion a move to the the Keller Williams Intown Atlanta office that should be complete by the end of January.  This move will enable me to specialize in neighborhoods much closer to where I’ve moved only months ago, benefiting both my clients and myself.  I look forward to being able to co-op with many of the Agents and friends I’ve made working in Atlanta’s intown market and will keep everyone updated as to the progress of the transition.  I will fondly miss my home-based Keller Williams Atlanta North and all of the wonderful education and support that I received, but am very excited about expanding my knowledge and relationships with people closer to my new home.  I think this will be a great way to start out 2009.  Intown Atlanta here I come!

Just what the doctor ordered!

If ever we needed some kind of economic injection it’s now.  Consumer confidence is low,bringing about further decline.  HELLO!  What a remarkable time to take advantage of the lowest home prices we’ve seen in years coupled with equally as appealing low interest rates.  Imaging what would happen to the housing market if we got off the fence and started to move some of this stagnant inventory enabling all the move-up buyers to buy and so on…I would be happy to put together a “Best Buy” list for anyone interested in helping their wallets and our economy grow.

DIY: Reducing Greenhouse Emissions

An article in The Daily Green cites a study done by Jonathan Westeinde revealing that 35% of greenhouse emissions come from our “built environment”, making it the largest single contributor.  The study suggests that green building and the retrofitting of existing buildings with renewable energy sources and efficient appliances could make the largest impact on our over-all greenhouse emissions. I guess conservation really does start at home.

Please Take your ticket….

If there really does have to be a price for convenience, then some BIG Atlanta condo developers have decided to capitalize on it.  Payed parking lots are not a new thing to the city of Atlanta, but requiring that guests of condo owners pay to park is.  The claim is that the guest parking is part of the retail parking meant to be a source of revenue for the developer.  I don’t have to pay to park when I shop at the grocery store, though it probably won’t be long.  So, why can’t the rent that these business pay to the developer suffice?  It seems to me that if more people had free access to these businesses, the developers would stand to make more money from businesses that are making higher profits.  Unfortunately, as our city continues to grow, I only see this trend increasing.  All the more reason for everyone to try to reduce their dependence on their automobiles.  Let’s look at alternatives like biking, telecommuting and mass transit.  None of these accessible to you now?  Get involved to make it happen.  Increasing the availability and speed of Marta takes community support.  Visit the Citizens for Progressive Transit website for great information on what Atlanta’s ideal transit system could look like.  Also, learn about the proposed BeltLine, and how it could improve more that just transportation in the city. 

I’m all about convenience, but for Atlanta to be able to handle the expected increase in population over the next 20 or so years, some things are going to have to change.  People looking to live in urban areas expect transportation alternatives.  Atlantans who expect to see their property value increase, need to help make sure that Atlanta remains a city worth moving to.

What about the other 99%?

     “Forclosures up 75% in 2007.”  If you’re like many in the metro Atlanta area, these are the headlines that bombard you on a daily basis.  The message that doesn’t hit the news is the one that states that there are still 99 percent of homes NOT in forclosure.   Despite the above average rise in forclosures, with 30 percent of all homes being owned free and clear, the total number of houses in forclosure nationally is still less than 1 percent.

     If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times…”the Real Estate market is a local market”.  So, let me tell you why it’s great to live in Altanta.  While a few cities, like Detroit, have seen a rise in forclosures due to industry/job loss, most see a rise due to a “softening” of the market after a period of unrealistic appreciation, or investor-led appreciation.  Some cases include several California and Florida cities with an average 5 year appreciation of over 100 percent.  No market can sustain this kind of appreciation.  Additionally, with the recent popularity in 100% financing, it’s no wonder so many people wound up owing more on their house than they could sell it for in their current market.  Atlanta, on the other hand, has mostly seen modest appreciation of between 5-10 percent. The local markets where we have the largest number of forclosures have mainly seen appreciation that was investor-led.  However, not all of Atlanta’s appreciation is investor-led.  Atlanta is still considered affordable, which brings new businesses and residents.  Atlanta is growing and will continue to do so.

     While it’s hard to predict what is in store for our economy with any certainty, Atlanta’s Real Estate market remains solid.  Our Days on Market may have increased, but there are still qualified buyers out there and houses are selling every day.

Gallon Poll

Your bathroom can be a real drain pain, so it’s important that you know how much water you’re really using. How much control do I have, you ask? Well, your toilets use a certain Gallon Per Flush or GPF, depending on the model. Most toilets installed in homes built prior to 1993 use about 3.5 gpf, where as the new standard can be as low as 1.28gpf. Metro Atlanta residents can now take advantage of a city-wide rebate to retrofit up to two toilets in their homes with low-flow models.

According to a recent National Association of Realtors article; to receive a rebate, Atlanta water/sewer customers must:

• Live in or rent a residence that was built prior to 1993 and have fixtures not currently in compliance with current water efficiency plumbing code standards;
• Have a water account in good standing with one of the participating utilities;
• Purchase and install a toilet from an approved list of 1.6- or 1.28-gallon-per-flush (gpf) toilets;
• Provide the District with their most recent water/sewer bill; and
• Provide the District with proof of purchase (showing make, model, flow rate and installation.)

Customers who replace their old toilets with 1.6-gpf toilets can receive a $50 rebate, and those who install 1.28-gpf toilets can receive a $100 rebate.There is a limit of two rebates per household. Only toilets purchased after September 27, 2007, are eligible.

Rain, Glorious Rain

It’s funny how I keep having to remind myself to be grateful for every bit of rain Atlanta receives.    I typically think of rain as an annoyance that will keep me from enjoying outdoor activities or simply slow me down while trying to get around while running errands.  It’s true that traffic seems worse when the streets are wet and everyone seems to be a little more on edge, but today the rain brings hope.  The Lawrenceville Weather Blog reported that “a storm the weekend of the 22nd could bring up to 1 inch of rain” that together with other rains could bring us up to normal February rainfall.  February and March tend to be Atlanta’s wettest months of the year, and the news that we could  have normal rainfall for these months means good things for our drought conditions…and so it rains.  Today began that storm, and it’s only supposed to keep on raining. That doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yeat, and certainly doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be mindful of our water consumption.  Mayor Shirley Franklin made the decision not to lift the watering ban that Gov. Purdue said would be lifted, but left up to local officials.  I support her on that one.  The less water we use, the less rain we absolutely have to have, and the less guilty I have to feel for enjoying a beautiful sunny day.

Going with the flow

Our Lakes, are they half full or half empty? I guess it depends on how you look at it. I think Atlantans have been put in an interesting position. A drought has forced us to take, in some cases, drastic measures in conservation. While no one can argue the merits of reduce, reuse and recycle, the prospect of not having a single swimming pool this summer was unsettling. In addition, to adhere to the Ten percent reduction in consumption of water directed by Governor Perdue, several public officials have suggested a Retrofit-at-resale solution. This would mean that before you can sell your house, all plumbing fixtures would have to be certified as, or replaced with low-flow fixtures. Others have even proposed making the sale of a home not equipped with low flow plumbing illegal. Not only does it seem a little unfair to put the conservation burden solely on the backs of homeowners that are trying to sell their homes, but more obviously, the plan offers no solution unless a property is for sale.

It is important for everyone to make an effort toward conservation. Some local governments have even enacted conservation pricing, where the price of water increases in proportion to consumer use. But what steps can we take? Have you considered the benefit of Low Flow plumbing in your house? Since adding this type of plumbing would be of benefit to our city and your wallet, why wait until the time of sale to consider the upgrade. Also consider energy rated appliances, recycled paper products, alternative energy sources and composting. For more information on Green Homes, visit www.greenhome.com.

I would love to see Atlanta residents rise to the challenge and let our city be a role model for Green living.

Hello Atlanta, and anyone with an interest in our beautiful city!

This Blog is intended to be a resource for those looking for information about Atlanta, the heart of the South and the gateway to the world. There will be much more to come in the near future, and I look forward to being a part of the Atlanta Real Estate Blogosphere.  For more about Stephen Jones, your preferred Atlanta Realtor, see my About page above.  Also, please take a minute to check out the valuable resources available to you on my website www.JonesinForHomes.com