Atlanta Real Estate News & Atlanta GA Real Estate Home Sales » Atlanta Real Estate

North Georgia Lakes at Record Lows

By: Brad Nix, Managing+Broker
Posted: November 25th, 2008
Category: Atlanta Real Estate

Although it doesn’t make the headlines on the local news anymore, the election and economy have taken front stage, we still have a serious water problem in North Metro Atlanta. Drought conditions continue to grow harsher across north Georgia. Water levels in reservoirs and streams are at or near record lows across most of the region. Groundwater levels are also low.

David Emory Stooksbury is the state climatologist and a professor in engineering and atmospheric sciences at the University of Georgia. He recently reported the following…

Lake Lanier, a primary water source for metro Atlanta, is at a record low for mid-November. The previous mid-November record low was at this time last year.

Hartwell, Russell and Clarks Hill lakes in the Savannah River basin are at record low levels. Both Russell and Clarks Hill have less than two feet of usable pool left. Hartwell water levels are dropping very quickly in order to meet downstream needs. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers reports that the remaining conservation pool for Hartwell is 34 percent, for Russell it’s 32 percent and for Clarks Hill it’s 10 percent.

Even with normal seasonal rains, it’s doubtful that Lanier, Hartwell, Russell or Clarks Hill lakes will fully recover this winter.

Major rivers that are at record low flows for mid-November include the Etowah River at Canton, the Chattahoochee River near Cornelia, Chestatee River near Dahlonega, the Middle Oconee River at Athens, the Broad River near Bell, the Little River near Washington, the Oconee River at Dublin and the Altamaha River near Baxley.

Because of the extremely low stream flows, many counties in north Georgia have had their drought level classifications changed to a more intense level.

Mr. Stooksbury goes on to say that Cherokee County is considered to be in the exceptional drought level (the most severe drought level we have).

Additional drought information and updates can be found at www.georgiadrought.org. Automated weather data across Georgia is at www.georgiaweather.net. Daily rainfall data is at www.cocorahs.org. U.S. Geological Survey data is at ga.water.usgs.gov. Water conservation information is available at www.conservewatergeorgia.net.

The drought could cause serious problems for the future development of the Atlanta region. Without a reliable water supply, there will be no more growth. People use to think traffic was the biggest problem in Atlanta. No water will prove even worse than a 2 hours commute. Let’s all do a rain dance!

Discussion: Comments

Woodstock GA: Ridgewalk Interchange Gets Funding from DOT

By: Brad Nix, Managing+Broker
Posted: November 11th, 2008
Category: Woodstock Real Estate

The future of Ridgewalk in Woodstock looks brighter for the long-term. Granted we’re still in a real estate downturn and commercial real estate will definitely get worse before it gets better, but Woodstock can now see a future with a better way around town, improved access to I-575 and high-end retail. Last week The Cherokee Ledger reported,

Georgia Transportation Board District 6 representative Brandon Beach said Nov. 3 the agency’s rankings show that the Interstate 575 Rope Mill Road (Ridgewalk) project is funded and “the money’s there.” “The Rope Mill Road project will probably be pushed back a year, though, because not all the right-of-way is acquired,” Beach said. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) estimates that it will cost $22.5 million to build the interchange at Rope Mill Road. The interchange would access the Ridgewalk community, where Cousins Properties Inc. plans to build its 500,000-square-foot The Avenue shopping center.

Here is a proposed site plan for what Ridgewalk may look like upon completion of the future I-575 interchange at Rope Mill Road:

Discussion: Comments

Check Your Emotions at the Door when entering the Atlanta Real Estate Market

By: James West, Sales+Associate
Posted: October 7th, 2008
Category: Atlanta Real Estate

atlbg-300x225 Check Your Emotions at the Door when entering the Atlanta Real Estate Market

It’s Not Personal, It’s just Business

There are many cities around the country where there is a considerable amount of residential inventory for a potential investment buyer to sift through. The metro Atlanta area is certainly no exception to this rule. When investors are pursuing opportunities in Atlanta real estate, they will often make an offer that is way below what the seller had anticipated. It is the adverse play that car salesmen use when quoting prices on a car. The term “peel them off the ceiling” is used in the car business when a salesman initially quotes a substantially higher price than what a buyer should be willing to pay. The desired effect is the prospective buyer gets so mad they “hit the ceiling”. After the buyer calms down, a reduction in the price tends to look more reasonable than the initial quoted price. The “low ball” offer is designed to “pick them off the floor” a increase in the offer price tends to look more reasonable after the seller calms down. In some cases a true “low ball” offer is used to quickly establish a floor in the price that is acceptable to the seller. It is easy to understand that some property owners and their agents could be offended or at least mildly perturbed when they receive a offer is so low that its “offensive”.

Low Offers Are Opportunities

Some sellers and their agents refuse to counter a low offer. I have heard people say “we did not like that offer, will the buyer submit another one?” or “we are so far apart that we could never come to acceptable terms”. In my opinion this is not the best way to handle this situation. It takes just a few minutes to fill out the paperwork that is required to counter an offer. What do you have to lose? If you do not take the time and effort to counter the offer, the prospective buyer will likely move on to the next property and you may never get another chance to negotiate with them again. Sellers need to realize that many investment buyers have as much emotional attachment to their money as the sellers do to their property. Set the emotions aside and simply counter the offer. At least you won’t stay awake at night wondering if they would have paid more to purchase the property than was initially offered.

Call me today to begin your search for Atlanta real estate.

Discussion: Comments

So you want to become an Investor with Atlanta Foreclosures…

By: Maxsell Real Estate,
Posted: September 12th, 2008
Category: Atlanta Real Estate, Foreclosures/Short Sales, Real Estate Finance

Atlanta Real Estate Investment Resource Foreclosures

In the past year alone, the number of Atlanta GA homes that have been foreclosed upon has increased. If you previously have been toying with the idea of getting into the Atlanta Real Estate Investment market, now is a good time to do so with the foreclosures that are happening in the area.

You may be thinking of taking advantage of the deals that can be had with the Atlanta Foreclosures. Keep in mind, though, that a lot of people have also been jumping into the fray, so you need a plan of action and ready to act when you decide to work the Atlanta Foreclosure market.

The success of your Atlanta GA real estate foreclosure business mainly hinges on the rate at which you purchase Atlanta homes at bargain prices and then turn them over for a profit. The old saying “Buy low, sell high” has never been truer.

Finding those Atlanta Real Estate Deals

To help you make good deals in the Atlanta real estate foreclosure market, below are a few tips:

Be ready to offer a solution to the Atlanta homeowner in crisis. Atlanta houses are about to be foreclosed are facing a tough financial crisis. They are looking for solutions.
Consider the Atlanta homeowner’s situation. There are cases when a Atlanta property may be in a less than standard condition and the homeowner’s foreclosing date is fast approaching.
Obtain pre-approval from your Atlanta Mortgage Professional. This way you are ready to close quickly, which will be desirable to the troubled Atlanta homeowner.
Do your homework. Ensure a good and profitable purchase of a Atlanta property by first doing your homework. Research the market, know what is and is not selling and understand successful selling strategies. Remember your goal is to ultimately turn over the Atlanta home for profit.
Think like an Investor - Be ready to act when a deal appears, because you are not the only one looking.

Although many competitors and 1^st time home buyers are entering in the Atlanta real estate foreclosure market, making a profit in the business will depend on your ability to think of this as a business and not get emotionally attached to the Atlanta homes. Your success is dependent on your ability to look at the numbers and base your decisions on the potential profit. Don’t forget that there could be repairs or other expenses that may affect your profitability. It is important to approach the Atlanta Foreclosure market well researched to be successful.

Discussion: Comments

Atlanta’s Fastest Growing Counties

By: Brad Nix, Managing+Broker
Posted: September 11th, 2008
Category: Atlanta Real Estate

Atlantas Fastest Growing Counties

The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce recently released some impressive statistics. Of the 100 fastest growing counties in the country, 70 were in the south and 18 of them are in Georgia (more than any other state in the country).

County	2007 Pop. Est.	2006 Pop. Est.	Change	Percentage Change
Forsyth	158,914	148,307	10,607	7.2
Paulding	127,906	119,859	8,047	6.7
Jackson	59,254	55,542	3,712	6.7
Barrow	67,139	63,173	3,966	6.3
Newton	96,019	90,728	5,291	5.8
Cherokee	204,363	194,082	10,281	5.3
Walton	83,144	79,081	4,063	5.1
Henry	186,037	177,436	8,601	4.8
Douglas	124,495	118,835	5,660	4.8
Hall	180,175	172,391	7,784	4.5
Pickens	30,488	29,232	1,256	4.3
Coweta	118,936	114,178	4,758	4.2
Gwinnett	776,380	749,836	6,544	3.5