VS          

With mounting excitement I tuned in to watch the England vs USA World Cup first round match.  I nearly touched the 10ft ceiling when England scored in the first 4 minutes of the game.  Sadly this euphoria was short lived, watching the England goalie fumble a ball to roll in for the USA equalizer.  Aghhhh.....how bloody awful "Green" must have felt. 

Watching from the sidelines is David Beckham,  I really miss him on the England squad.

I really must say I was almost dreading this match, first and foremost I will always be an England fan, but coming in a close second is the USA.  So to have my loyalties split watching my 2 favorite teams was hard.  Well done USA you fought a great match and what ever the outcome I want them to now win every game, as long as they are not playing against England. 

I hope there are some supporters out there for the USA team on Active Rain, I don't expect there to be many England fans. It seems such a shame that every other country competing in this years World Cup has the support of their entire nation behind them.  I actually don't think I know a single person here in Atlanta who even cares about the competition in South Africa, let alone anyone who was watching today's match.  Over the years I have managed to convert my husband, (who is American), into a football fan, yes that's right I said Football, not soccer!! He actually listened to it on the radio while he was working, I am proud of him.

So now we have to wait a whole week for England to play Algeria and USA to play Slovenia.  I wish both teams the absolute best and can't wait til next Friday.

So get noisy and cheer on your favorite team, whoever they are.

Beautiful Suwanee Georgia had a total of 85 closed sales in May 2010. I have broken down the sales by subdivision and featured here is Arbour Trace.  A medium priced starter home neighborhood built in the 1980's.  Located close to I85 at Exit 111. 

The average home was 4 bedroom 3.5 bath, with an average list price of $ 314,588, an average sales price of $ 292,940.   The average Days On Market was 69.

Arbour Trace - 4 Sales

Average list price $116,175

Averge Sals Price $115,575

Average Days on Market 70

 427 Arbour Run  Sold. Originally listed at $139,900 and sold for $132,500.  This 3 Bed 2 Bath home is approximately 1400+ square ft.  Total Days on Market 77.

 387 Arbour Way Sold.  Originally listed at $129,900 and sold for $124,900.  This 3 Bedroom 2 Bath home is approximately 1500 square ft. Total Days on Market 173.

 157 Arbour Way sold.  Originally listed at $139,000 and sold for $125,000.  This 3 Bedroom 2 Bath home is approximately 1550 square Ft. Total Days on Market 23.

277 Arbour Way Sold.  Originally listed at $79,900 it sold for $79,900. Listed as a foreclosure this 3 Bedroom 2 Bath home is approximately 1750 square ft. Total days on Market 6.
 

 There are currently 4 active listings in Arbour Trace and they range in list price from $119,900 ti $148,888.

For more information on these and other great deals in Suwanee Contact Alison Scott 770-755-4060 Windsor Realty.

April Housing Sales Summary for Gwinnett County Georgia

61 Gwinnett ( Norcross, Duluth, Doraville, Tucker)
Sales 64
Sales Volume   15,025,222
Average Sales Price   234,769
Sales Price/List Price   94.7%
Average List Price   247,921
Average Original List Price   260,309
Average Days on Market   83.7
Average Total Days on Market   96.4

62 Gwinnett (Buford, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Duluth, Braselton, Dacula, Auburn)
Sales 172
Sales Volume   47,293,954
Average Sales Price   274,965
Sales Price/List Price   92.7%
Average List Price   296,528 
Average Original List Price   318,036
Average Days on Market   97.7
Average Total Days on Market   120.1

63 Gwinnett (Auburn, Buford, Dacula, Hoshton, Lawrenceville) 
Sales 126
Sales Volume   23,965,758
Average Sales Price   190,204
Sales Price/List Price   95.9%
Average List Price   198,325 
Average Original List Price   215,580
Average Days on Market   101.6
Average Total Days on Market   137.6

64 Gwinnett (Lilburn, Lawrenceville, Stone Mountain, Snellville)
Sales 158
Sales Volume 20,855,040
Average Sales Price 131,994
Sales Price/List Price 97.9%
Average List Price   134,794
Average Original List Price   146,130
Average Days on Market 71.0
Average Total Days on Market 89.2

65 Gwinnett (Lawrenceville, Grayson, Lilburn, Snellville, Loganville)
Sales 100
Sales Volume   13,199,385
Average Sales Price  131,994
Sales Price/List Price   96.4%
Average List Price   136,872
Average Original List Price   148,899
Average Days on Market   101.1
Average Total Days on Market   119.3

66 Gwinnett (Lawrenceville, Dacula, Grayson, Loganville, Bethlehem) 
Sales 82
Sales Volume   13,029,888
Average Sales Price   158,901
Sales Price/List Price   95.6%
Average List Price   166,219
Average Original List Price   175,651
Average Days on Market   79.5
Average Total Days on Market   152.3

So Spring is finally here. The Daffodils are blooming and the sun is shining in Atlanta, well at leat for today. I heard yesterday on the radio that Atlanta has had one of the worst winters in the country coming in at number 8. 

But hold on, before you rush out to buy bedding plants consider this, today is forecast to be a balmy 72 degrees today, but Monday is going to be back to rain and a cool 45 degrees.  I have heard it said "Do not plant outdoors until after Easter", many a year we have filled all of our planters with pretty flowers only to be hit by a late frost, end result being our flowers all died.

In stead if you feel like playing in the dirt today, how about aerating your lawn? There are 2 ways of doing this, the hard way and the easy way.

Hard way... Yes can you do it!! On the upside you get a great workout and buns of steel, imagine spending hours traipsing up and down in these wonders, are they kidding me, who on earth comes up with these ideas?

My preference would be to hire a lawn care expert, or rent an aerator from your local hardware store.

And don't forget, for a lush green lawn put on a pre-emergent, Weed and Feed in other words. The pre-emergent stops the weeds from germinating and establishing in your lawn.

So if you can contain your enthusiasm for a couple of weeks, Spring really should be here, (well at least in Atlanta), in about 2 more weeks.

Windsor Realty
proudly presents
136 Lakeshore Drive
Berkeley Lake, Duluth

$2,499,000

Brick & stone beauty with commanding down lake views. Situated on Berkeley Lake in Duluth.

• Brazilian Cherry, Onyx & Travertine floors
• 5 Bedrooms (2 master suites)
• 5 Full Baths
• 2 Powder Rooms
• Elevator services all 3 floors
• Handicap shower
• $40K in crystal chandeliers, even in baths!
• Amazing Viking/Thermador kitchen w/heated stone floors opens to family room (also w/heated flrs),
• Bar
• Media room
• 4 fireplaces!
• Boathouse

 Majestic Entry Foyer with incredible architectural detail throughout-this view is looking up from the great room to the loft area and library in the upper foyer.

The Thermador gas oven has six burners plus a double grill, double ovens and Thermador vent hood above.

The terrace level bar also has a walk-in wine room and powder room and is open to the home theater and card room.

The family room is open to the kitchen and features heated travertine flooring and floor to ceiling commercial windows with electronically controlled draperies.

The lower level den has hardwood floors, fireplace and access to the home theater and bar through the door to right of the fireplace and the large stone patio just outside with level stone sidewalk to the boathouse.

For more information on this property please contact Alison Scott- Windsor Realty

For the past year I have watched more pundits discuss the topic of health care reform on the various news channels.  The more I watch the more confused I am.  We currently have the worst kind of health coverage through my husbands job.  Each month we pay a lot of money only to have the very basic of coverage.  I should actually say we pay a lot for basically no coverage.  We rarely go to the doctor's, and when we do, after paying the co-pay end up getting a large bill through from the doctor's office because our insurance will not cover it.  We finally decided that it just was not worth it.  We would be better off saving the 100's of dollars we pay each month for no coverage, and paying the doctor directly. 

Well this morning my husband decided to cancel our coverage and was informed by the insurance company that "he could not cancel the policy" The woman was rude and obnoxious, vague and basically could not care less.  My husbands only option was to quit his job to cancel this policy.  I was aghast! and yes really quite angry. 

We know the system in place is FAR from perfect, but come on.  I originate from the UK where the National Health Service is in tatters.  I could go on about the horrible treatment and the disgusting conditions of the British hospitals, but have you got all day?

I am sceptical about the real reasons for Washington wanting to take over 1/6 of our economy, is it really to help fix the problems? Health insurance is a mess, but still the quality of health care available is far superior to the UK.  The problem is not with the care in the USA but with the chronic insurance options.  I am in no way in support of a government take over of health care, but wish they would fix the real problems that is the insurance industry.

A couple of years ago I wrote about a subdivision in North Georgia, Greenwood Glen, located close to the beautiful town of Dahlonega.  I was working in this small and intimate neighborhood of custom built homes until the market hit a brick wall, and it was no longer financially viable to support the heavy costs involved in marketing a neighborhood.

Yesterday I got a pleasant surprise when re-visiting Greenwood Glen to show property.  It seems that sales have been very slow but that is no surprise, what I did find surprising is that the current listings, which are all bank owned, are priced very similarly to our original pricing 2 yrs ago. 

I feel good about this for one very good reason.  I sold a lot of homes 2 years ago in that neighborhood, to some very good people.  To know that their neighborhood is holding it's head up in a time where most are experiencing plumeting values, due mostly to short sales and high foreclosure rates. 

Lot 37 is currently listed for $229,900.  This home is a 3 bedroom 2 bath ranch plan on a full basement. The master suite features a sitting area and large bathroom.  Open airy floor plan with breakfast area, custom kitchen with granite counters and hardwood floor.  Separate dining room and huge unfinished, daylight, terrace level. 2 car side entry garage, situated on a .58 acre lot.

7 years ago today whilst the world around us was witnessing the horrific events of 9/11 my dear Nan passed on.

She was a wonderful woman and totally devoted to her children and family. She was widowed at 28, having lost my Grandfather in WW11, she raised 4 children my Mum being the youngest at only 1 year of age.

My Nan was amazing, she was a sweet and fun loving lady. She provided for her children, making sure they never went without food and love. What a difference in my Nan's generation, they were unselfish and looked out for their neighbor. A close knit community of people who were united through war and hardship.

They lived on the outskirts of London, my Mum remembers the bomb shelter in the back garden. When the bombers flew over dumping bombs over Epsom Downs.

She was one tough lady and I will never forget 9/11 not just for the terror attacks and the tremendous loss of life through heroic acts of the first responders, but also as the terribly sad day my wonderful Nan left us.

I was trying to book a flight to return to England for my Nan's funeral, because of all flights being grounded for the next week in the USA I was unable to attend.

Every year I remember those who were tragically lost and the families that are still greiving, and my dear sweet Nan.

The photo below is of my Nan and my Grandfather on their Wedding day, he was in the British Navy.

We love you Nan.

I am starting to hear more and more about foreign investors buying up real estate in the good ole USA. Recent articles in the Wall Street Journal and CNN Money are extolling the virtues of marketing to foreign investors. Just yesterday on my local news, (Atlanta), they talked about the great incentives for the foreign buyer. Low cost of housing, strong foreign exchange rates and amazing deals to be had. Purchasing property in the USA makes for a sound investment.

Now property in the UK has started to nosedive, it is in my humble opinion that

the US market will turn around a lot faster than the overseas markets. Property in the UK is stunningly expensive and unlikely to rebound any time soon.

We have some gorgeous properties for sale and to think what that would cost in the south of England where it would be at least 5 times as much as here.

If you are interested in reading a couple of articles on the subject here are the links posted on my facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1216201427&hiq=alison%2Cscott&refurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fs.php%3Fq%3Dalison%2Bscott%26init%3Dq

Also here is the link to the article from the Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121200120766526797.html

We are going to start syndicating our listings overseas and see what the tide rolls in!!

I read an article recently about a couple of different approaches to getting listings sold.  The first I thought was pretty innovative and am interested to know if you or anyone you know have tried any of these or other ideas.

Instead of the the traditional way of waiting for a buyer to present an offer, you have the seller initiate an offer to the buyer, I guess to get the ball rolling, I would think this approach could work if the buyers really like the house and are on the fence or maybe just need a little nudge.

The other is to offer financing incentives where the seller offers up front to buy down the loan say a percentage point thus saving the buyer a lot of money over the life of the loan. This one may not be that new but is still a good idea and I think worth a try.

Please share any ideas and thoughts on the subject, it will be much appreciated by all our sellers.