PILOTING THE PERFECT MOVE

I have been driving by this Sandy Spring’s landmark  almost every day and thought this would make an interesting post for my readers.  Between Glenridge Drive and Glenlake Parkway sits the most romantic home in Sandy Springs - Glenridge Hall.  Originally sitting on 400 acreas with stables, horse trails, gardens, and a working farm, Glenridge Hall was built in 1929 by one of Atlanta’s foremost businessman and socialite.   His name was TK Glenn and he helped found what is now known as Sun Trust Bank.  He also helped in the formation of Georgia Power.  His offspring are some of the most influential people in the Atlanta area.

This home took over a year to build with over 60 people working on it full time.  It is often said to be the most romantic home in the Atlanta area.  The home is frequently used in movies - REMEMBER THE TITANS, DRIVING MISS DAISY, and a host of lesser known films as well as TV shows.  Currently, the home can be rented out for social and charity events.  It is well worth the look.

Everyone needs to have some humor in these difficult economic times. Below is a list of commonly heard real estate terms from A to E. There will be more later. Enjoy and remember if you I can help you in any way, please call on me and let me help you PILOT THE PERFECT MOVE.

A

Abandonment - Everyone present for a contract signing but the buyer.

Absentee Owner - Any property holder with I.Q. under three digits

Accord - Small car driven by agents not yet able to afford Mercedes.

Acre - Necessary space for a family of six in Utah, a family of four in Eastern Suburbia, and 500,000 people in NYC.

Anchor Tenant - Tenant covered by Stabilization or Rent Control.

A.R.M. - First part of body that is twisted during real estate negotiations.

Asking Price - Amount set on property that brokers think is too high, sellers think is too low, and buyers think will be twice the final selling price.

At risk rules - Game rules in Advance Fee which govern whether or not to taste the seller’s porridge, sit in his rocking chair, or worse, sleep in his bed.

B

Backup Contract - Contract written in such a way that it raises everyone’s hackles.

Base line - “Your property is worthless.”

Bay - Sound emanating from those worn thin in real estate transactions.

Bay Window - Site at which baying occurs.

Block - Derogatory reference to buyer’s or seller’s head.

Blockbusting - Convincing stubborn party in real estate transaction to see your point of view.

Boring Test - Real estate licensing exam that probes deeply.

Borough - To dig a deep hole and crawl in when humiliated.

C

Cap - Small beret worn on head to keep brains from blowing out when interest rates rise.

Cellar - Owner of property who wishes to sell lower portion of his/her building.

Circuit Breaker - Purchaser who goes directly to seller, by-passing real estate sales agent.

Closing - Act of God.

Closing Statement - “Thank God”.

Concrete - Substance in which feet of buyers and sellers get stuck.

Cratering - Act of hurling oneself from skyscraper when depressed.

Cul-de-sac - Bag in which legal contracts are carried.

D

Deal - Distribute cards on rental properties.

Debtor’s Position - Prone.

Deed of Trust - Salesperson loaning the buyer a down payment.

Defective Title - Sir Dr. John Smith, Esq., III.

Developer - Muscle builder who converts raw land into housing.

Dummy - Same as absentee owner.

E

Easement - The right of one agency to trespass on another agency’s exclusive property.

Egress - Escape clause that permits buyer or seller to get out of deal.

Endorsement - Broker patting self on back.

Equitable Title - “I’m OK, You’re OK”.

Estate - 500,000 acre ranch tract in Texas, 3 acre tract in Westchester County, NY, and 1500 square feet residence in NYC.

Et ux. - Eat your wife.

Execute - To end the life of a troublesome person in a deal.

Extension - Time elapsed between a bank deposit and the clearance of funds.

Have you ever noticed when traveling on Georgia 400, or simply known as 400, that there are signs which proudly proclaim it as the Hospitality Highway?  I did some research and came across the Hospitality Highway website and liked what I found.  I love the tagline of “Magnolias…Moonshine… Merlot”. The website is a joint effort of many local tourism boards as way to highlight the rich and diverse areas that surround GA 400 as well as let people know that it is also a more scenic and interesting alternative to I-75 and I-85.

Since the gas prices are soaring, there is no better time to take advantage of some backyard site seeing in our own turf.  You can even start in Sandy Springs with the Big Forest Preserve and William Payne Historic House.  Or you can start in Dahlonega and work your way down to Sandy Springs.  Some stops in between on 400 include Dawsonville, Cumming, Alpharetta, and Roswell.  Each of these cities can offer you and your family a great time on a Saturday or Sunday.  The site offers a suggested itinerary to follow to maximize your visit.  Also, there is an arts trail and Mother Nature trail component to this site.  So check it out and visit http://www.hospitalityhighway.com.  Let me know what you think!

Over the last few months, I have seen a increase in the use of FHA Loans. I have probably been involved in more transactions with FHA loans in the past few months than I have been in the first 8 years of my career. In the Atlanta market in which I work, there has not been a big demand for them. Due to the changing mortgage market, FHA loans are becoming favorable. FHA Loans have several advantages over conventional loans, including lower down payments and more relaxed credit-qualifying guidelines. The federal government created FHA loan programs to encourage homeownership throughout the country. The FHA can help people to obtain a loan with little or no down payment. The FHA does not supply the loan; it simply insures the loan to limit the risk to the lender.

Benefits of a FHA mortgage:

• A 3% down payment, as opposed to a 5% down payment on traditional loans
• Low monthly mortgage insurance
• Low closing costs, which are regulated by HUD
• No credit score requirements
• Qualify for a loan two years after a bankruptcy
• Qualify for a loan three years after a foreclosure
• Seller can contribute up to 10% of the loan value in closing costs
• Borrowers can mortgage up to $769,000. In 1/09, the limit will be $362,000

The borrower is required to pay an insurance premium upfront, but this premium can be financed into the loan amount directly. The borrower must also pay a monthly premium, which is .5% of the total loan amount divided equally over 12 months. Unlike a conventional loan, the FHA requires a termite report and clearance, as well as a few other property condition standards, to qualify for a loan.

If you want more information, please feel free to call on me to help you PILOT THE PERFECT MOVE.

The last post I featured the new park being proposed for Sandy Springs and Morgan Falls. Since I enjoy researching the history of our city, I thought my readers would like to hear a little about the history of the dam at Morgan Falls.

At Morgan Falls, exists one of the first dams to be built for electrical purposes in the state of Georgia. The dam opened in 1904 and was constructed to generate electricity for Atlanta’s street car system which was 12 miles away.

Today, the dam is not used for electricity, but serves as a mechanism to regulate the water flow down the Chattahoochee for the Atlanta water and sewage systems. It plays an integral part in the Atlanta community. The dam also serves as the focus of Bull Sluice lake which is know to river enthusiasts, fisherman, and boaters. The future park plan is to construct a walking path over it to the other side of the river.

Last river clean up I was able to walk over the dam with my daughter and found it fascinating. It gave a beautiful view of the river and mad me excited about the new park that is being proposed. This would be a major amenity which will boost the value of real estate in the area. Please see the link for a more comprehensive history of the dam.

Over the next few years, Sandy Springs will be investing over $11 million to create a great new park at Morgan Falls. Part of the plan is to create a walking bridge over the dam to connect to the green space in Cobb county across the Chattahoochee. Currently, Morgan Falls is the only public place in Sandy Springs to have a boat ramp. This should be a much improved feature once the park is complete. Please see the following link for more information.  Also, use the following link to see a copy of the master plan for the park.

No I do not have a thing for cemeteries. This is the second post about cemeteries in the last few months. I came across a brief article in the Sandy Springs Reporter about this small family plot that was found in back of 795 Sudbury Road in Sandy Springs. Some think that the plots are from the first few settlers in the Sandy Springs and Dunwoody area. The Ball Family is buried there and the headstones date back to the mid-1800’s. It looks like a family was buried there.

Being the Sandy Springs History buff that I am, I got in my car and punched in 795 Sudbury Road into my GPS. It brought me to a location just a couple of miles from my home. The cemetery is located behind the house. You can use the driveway but be mindful that this is private property. There is right of way to the cemetery. You will see the signs. Do not disturb the site. If you know anything about this family buried there, please contact the number in the article.

Have fun and don’t be to scared!

The other day I was talking with a prospective client and they had reservations about Realtors.  They simply thought that many of them lacked the professional skills that one would find in the business world.  Sadly, in my mind, I had to agree.  Many of my peers just do not get it when it comes to treating their practice as a business.  In as much as I feel sorry for these souls, I feel sorry their clients who choose them and do not realize what type of service they are getting.  I have been on the other side of negotiations and have watched other agents sell out their clients or drop the ball on doing what is right for their clients.   On the other hand, there are many fantastic agents out there.  It is just too bad that some bad apples tarnish the reputation of the others. My goal is to turn my clients into raving fans and PILOT THE PERFECT MOVE.

 Enjoy this video of a spoof on the day in the life of a Realtor.  If you run across someone like this, run and call me ASAP. 

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

Let me know what you think.

The two answers to the above questions may surprise you. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), June is the month that the national average sale price for home is highest. In June 2007, homes averaged $229,000. The home price was lowest in February 2007, where it was $195,000. You would think that since more homes are on the market in the summer that the prices would be lower. Let me know what you think….

What can we learn from the classic story of the Three Little Pigs?

We can learn that if the first two pigs had a good realtor, they would not have built a house which could have been knocked down by the big bad wolf. The third pig, more than likely taking the advice from an expert Realtor, built his home strong and sturdy. Don’t be like the first two pigs and risk you and your family’s life!

MORAL OF THE STORY: The two pigs would not have lost their home if I was their Realtor. In fact, I would have used my trademark FOCUS, DETERMINATION, and PRECISION which would have allowed me to PILOT THE PERFECT MOVE. If you saw my previous post “How A Good Realtor Can Help You Have Better Sex…”, you would know that the first two pigs would have a better sex life as well.

To refresh your memories of this great story, please view this video clip of Christopher Walken telling the tale. I think you will enjoy it.

If you can not see the video click here.

Have you ever felt as if you were the two little pigs after working with a Realtor? Please share your experiences.

It is nice to see that there is an instance that the developers are not redeveloping our natural resources. A generous landowner has donated a 24 acre parcel which sits on the Chattahoochee River just outside I-285 to the city of Sandy Springs. See the link for more information. I am surprised that the city didnot approve a high rise, high density development on this property.

This post might be a little out there. I saw on my blog stats that someone had searched Sandy Springs Box Turtle Sounds and came across my blog. It got me thinking. What does a turtle sound like? I really have never heard one. I did some research and found out that turtles do not have vocal cords so they do not have auditory sounds like other beings. Please follow this link to hear turtle sounds. If you learn one thing new a day, have it be today from this blog post.

I am back after a short hiatus!

The 2008 Volunteer For A Better Sandy Springs, sponsored by Leadership Sandy Springs, was a huge success. We had over 650 people turn out to give a few hours to help our community of Sandy Springs. Last, year we had 380 volunteers and ten sites thoughout the city. The weather was good and the rain held off until the evening.

The volunteers gave over 1900 hours back to their community. According to national statistics, a volunteer hour in Georgia is worth $18.77. On that measure, VBSS gave back over $35,000 in volunteer value. We painted, cleaned, entertained, pruned weeds, organized, etc, through out the city. Everyone who participated received a colorful t-shirt and a lunch sponsored by Arby’s. This was my second and final year as chairman of the event. I feel I left it in better shape than when I got it.

Here is the article from the Sandy Springs Neighbor before the event.

My blogging activities have slowed down this last week and will pick up with full steam on Monday, April 28. Between working with clients, family matters, and planning for VBBS, I find little time to devote to blogging.

Nevertheless, you still have a chance to sign up for the 2008 Volunteer For A Better Sandy Springs day on April 26, 2008. There are over 14 sites to choose from to volunteer. Each volunteer will receive a colorful t-shirt and a llunch at Hammond Park. Volunteers work from 8:45 AM to 11:45 AM, and then come to Hammond Park for a celebration lunch. Please visit www.leadershipsandysprings.org, and click on the VBSS link. You can download a brochure to register. It looks like we will have ovr 500 volunteers out on the day. My goal was to give back 1500 hours to the community. It looks like we will accomplish the goal!

I hope to see you all out there.

This is my 101st blog post and I hope you have found my topic selection interesting, useful, and entertaining.

Choosing a school for your children is a very important aspect for your family, especially if someone is looking for a new home. The decisions are difficult and are often based on antedoctal information from friends, relatives, and neighbors.

The Georgia Public Policy Foundation publishes a useful yearly report that ranks all the Georgia public schools in the state. They have a category for elementary, middle, and high schools. The study uses the following criteria to ranks the schools: the percentage of students who meet or exceed the math and reading portion of the CCRT test, the percentage of those who exceed the same criteria for the CCRT, the percentage of students who at the poverty level as defined by those who qualify for the free meal programs, and finally, how the school does with those students at the poverty level. This is a nice study that lets you compare schools within the county and between counties.

There are flaws with the study, but it gives the parents a snapshot at how the school is performing. Parents should use the results to supplement other ways to determine if the school is right for their children.  A visit and talk with the faculty is also very important.

Almost every encounter I have with someone when we discuss real estate is that they ask how much have home values gone done. The media has painted a dreadful picture of how all homes have drastically decreased in value. In fact, in 4Q07, the national average for home depreciation has been .68%(less than 1 %). In 4Q06, the national appreciation was 5.69%. So, there really has been a decease in the increase which is not all that horrible like the media has led us to believe. The study went on to forecast that there will a 28% chance that on a national average home values will decrease. Even though this a bit troublesome, you must remember that all real estate is local. So on that note, the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta area has done well compared to other major metropolitan areas. For instance, in 4Q07, the homes in this area appreciated by 1.63%, while the homes appreciated in 4Q06 by 4.01%. The study goes on to predict that there is 3.5% chance that homes will depreciate over the next 2 years. The study was done by a PMI, a major mortgage insurance company. You can see the complete study here.

What are your thoughts?

Since Sandy Springs has become a city the government has been trying its best to justify its existence. One of the good things they have done other than not fix the storm drainage problem that floods my yard (I have called several times but to no avail) is to start paving the roads. I have taken notice since they have been working on the roads in front of my subdivision. The paving project is called the Capital Paving Project. Sixteen miles of roadway are set to be paved by spring 2008. The project will involve both day and night paving. I like it. It is better money spent than the money Mayor Eva Galambos throws away in legal fees fighting the adult book stores. Also, the roads will be better for me to run barefoot over (that is another post altogether!). Click here for more information about the project. Now maybe we can get the government to put more sidewalks in and forget about the adult stores!

Sandy Springs actually has a nice colorful history. Much of it can be found at Heritage Sandy Springs. HSS is located in the heart of Sandy Springs. The mission of Heritage Sandy Springs is to preserve and promote the historic and cultural identity of Sandy Springs. The non-profit organization presents programs and events on behalf of the community throughout the year. The organization also runs Heritage Green which includes the Sandy Springs Historic Site, Williams-Payne House Museum and the Sandy Springs Society Entertainment Lawn. These activities are accomplished by a small staff in collaboration with many, many dedicated volunteers. They also have a small park to learn about how people lived in the area.

If you are interested in volunteering at HSS for the 2008 Volunteer For A Better Sandy Springs, please click here for more information.

The famous cartoon strip, Mark Trail, was written by long time Sandy Spring’s native Ed Dodd. Ed Dodd was a big proponent of the natural environment. Dodd’s Lost Forest, the fictional home of Mark Trail, was patterned off the 130 acre tract of land on Marsh Creek in north Sandy Springs. He purchased the land from the Brandon family in the 1950s. Dodd built a beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright designed home overlooking the creek. The home site is located in the Brandon Mill area of Sandy Springs. This area is just west of Roswell Road off Dalrymple Road. The following site has some great information about Ed Dodd and Mark Trail.