The 2009 Peachtree City Fourth of July fireworks display will begin at 9:30 P.M. on Saturday. Peachtree City has a tradition of offering the best pyrotechnics on the South side of Atlanta, and the show is always spectacular.
With Lake Peachtree used as a reflecting pool, the plethora of colors and sounds is a magical mix of awe-inspiring light and color and deafening sound!
If you are planning to attend the festivities, be sure to arrive early. The popularity of the annual gala increases every year, and traffic can be a nuisance. Be sure to park in designated areas and being a blanket of some chairs for seating.
Why not plan to come to Peachtree City on Independence Day? You'll be glad that you did.
Photos are from the 2008 Peachtree City Fireworks Show!
I don't know if it's because the Fourth of July holiday is just days away, or if it's due to the hot weather, or maybe it's just the drudgery of working long hours everyday, but I've got a bad case of the Summertime Blues.
And that's a shame, because as a kid, I loved summer. The long, free days of being able to do exactly what you wanted to do when you wanted to do it cloaked me in a mantle of euphoria that I have not been able to wear since those days of yore.
Every day brought a new adventure, or a new project, or new music. Our ears were glued to the transistor radio straining to hear the latest releases from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Dave Clark Five, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Herman's Hermits or Bob Dylan.
Oh, to be able to bathe in the rapture of unfettered youthful exuberance again! Instead, I will be spending the day on paperwork and web updates.
I have been doing a lot of listing presentations lately. Most of these would-be sellers are homeowners that are not in arrears on their mortgage payments, and that own houses that few first-time homebuyers can afford. They are really caught in the pinch.
As I start my presentation, I tell the potential sellers that there are certain inescapable realities with which one must come to terms if they are going to be successful in the quest for a consummated sale.
Once these market driven tenets are understood, the process of selling a non-distressed property can be accelerated.
Here are some of those realities:
All properties are competing with foreclosures, bank-owned and short sale properties. And whether or not that affects the ‘appraisal" of a property, it always diminishes the pool of an already limited number of buyers. There is a glut of homes for sale and a relatively few qualified purchasers that are ready and able to buy.
There are few or no incentives available for "move-up" buyers to purchase larger or more expensive homes. Since most of the credits and assistance programs are geared towards first time buyers, with little or no money for down-payment, price is the key factor when determining affordability. The monthly mortgage payment is the determining factor for most of the purchasers that are buying today.
Purchasers with no ready cash can only purchase houses that qualify for unique federally backed funding. While this is an excellent method of liquidating foreclosed properties, it perpetuates the problem by creating an unfair competitive advantage that further erodes the conventional market.
No qualified purchaser with ready cash and good credit wants to purchase an expensive property in an unstable market. Most want to "hedge their bets" by purchasing below market price to offset the possibility of future price declines.
And finally, there is an all-consuming overriding desire on behalf of some purchasers to "steal" a house. Although there are plenty of them looking, few will ever purchase a home. As they make one lowball offer after another, the interest rates have inched ever higher and higher, making even less likely that these bargain hunters will ever close a deal.
To offset these realities, a seller must make their "product" as attractive as possible, both in terms of price and appeal. Pricing the property correctly from the get-go is a must, and should include as many purchasing incentives as possible.
Be prepared to pay closing costs, provide a home warranty, prepay homeowner association fees and any other legal obligation in an effort to diminish the actual cash outlay from a purchaser.
Keep the house in pristine condition, inside and out. This is the one area where the conventional home seller can excel over a distressed property. A house that is move-in ready and correctly presented can really make a difference.
Keep an open mind towards all offers. Expect the lowball offer, and attempt to make it work without contempt or resentment. Every purchaser wants to feel like they "tried" to get their best deal.
And most importantly, make the home available to should on a moments notice. The houses that are the easiest to show get shown the most. It sounds obvious, but if an agent is sitting outside with a buyer, make certain that they can see the house right then. If a seller asks for an appointment, the chance of getting the house shown is probably diminished by 75%!
If these realities are recognized and addressed, there is a good chance that the property will sell. And that's good for sellers and buyers alike!
Insomnia could be a wonderful thing. Without it, how would I know that I could be making millions by buying real estate with no credit and no money down or at government tax sales.
And, lucky for me, the fellows that discovered these secrets are willing to share them with the rest of the world! Oh, goody-goody for us, we can all be millionaires in just a few months.
All we have to do is employ their "proven techniques" and we can have "net worths" in the millions! And the best part about is that they are not in it for the money!!!
They are letting us have this life changing information "at cost!"
Hmmm....ever heard of the Internet? If these pitchmen want to be so magnanimous, they should post the information there and share it with the world. And if one of them did, I would have this to say:
"Results not typical!"
As a sad side note, pitchman Billy Mays passed away yesterday. He developed a professional personality that made him an iconic fixture on television, and he will be missed!
June is normally a very pleasant month here in the Atlanta area. It is typically the time when the summer warm-up sets in, but with evenings cool enough to open the windows and get some fresh air.
Not this year. The afternoon highs have been in the high nineties every day for the last two weeks, with high humidity that doesn't allow the air to cool during the shortest nights of the year. We hit 99 degrees in Newnan yesterday, almost unbearably hot for this time of year.
And the ten day forecast indicates that we will have high temperatures in the nineties for the foreseeable future. So there is only one thing left to do if I'm going to survive this extended heat wave:
Today being my birthday, the Coweta County Georgia real estate elite all gathered at our Newnan location today for a huge extravaganza at our brand new facility!
Guests were treated to grilled hot dogs and hamburgers with all of the fixings, followed by the southern classic banana pudding.
Guests began arriving at 3 P.M. and partied hearty until 7. All reports seem to indicate that a good time was had by all that attended!
And being the munificent man that I am, I suggested that since everyone was here anyway, we might as well do an "Open House" to show off our new business location!
I am constantly amazed at the number of people that I encounter through the course of my business that have excellent income and yet have no ready cash. Nada, zilch, zippo saved for a "rainy day" or as a safety net.
And don't even think about the possibility of putting money down on a house. After all, why would you want to hedge your investment by inserting a little "wiggle room" right from the get-go.
I can't imagine how this is possible. Saving money isn't just an option for the wealthy, it is a even more of a necessity for those that have modest incomes to add a layer of protection from unforeseen expenses and to have on hand as an available amount of ready capital for investing in the future.
It seems strange to me that most people would prefer having granite countertops or stainless steel appliances than having a month or two of income in savings. It's also funny when I hear the mandatory lists of all of the things that people cannot "live without," and yet the notion of a ready cash reserve doesn't even enter into their thought process.
And why would people not think that way? Is it because they have an "out" in the event of a financial setback? Doesn't the responsibility for their survival actually fall upon some other entity?
After all, the government is here to bail us out. Let them figure it out.
One of my favorite photographic challenges is capturing airplanes in flight. There is just something awesome about attempting to freeze frame the huge metal giants speeding overhead at 160 knots.
In addition to the technical obstacles, you may also have to contend with airport security. Most areas around airports are now restricted and you may need a permit to get the shot you want.
Use a fast lens, and learn to "track" the airplane in flight. It takes a little practice, but you can learn to predict the line of flight and move the camera on the correct trajectory.
The resulting photos can be dramatic and are a welcome addition to any portfolio!
Most of our biggest problems occur after a series of errors. It's usually not one mistake that wreaks havoc, but a combination of careless decisions that can lead to a lot of inconvenience.
Since my birthday is this week, I had to make the annual pilgrimage to the Coweta County Tax Assessor to pay the tax on my cars and get my new decals.
Because it was a beautiful morning, I decided to take my 1990 Miata. That was the first mistake.
Since it is an open convertible, I decided to lock my briefcase, computer and camera in the trunk so I could go straight to the tag office without going by the real estate office first. That was mistake number two.
After securing the trunk hatch, I realized that I did not have my keys. Could I have locked them in the trunk? Oh, where is my extra set of keys? I keep them in my briefcase which was now locked in the trunk. That was mistake number three!
No problem. I'm an ingenious guy, I can figure out how to get in a trunk. So I spent two hours in the heat prying, pushing and pulling until I strained a muscle and nearly collapsed from heat exhaustion. That was mistake number four.
I went upstairs to use my home computer to work on some documents that I had to get out. I was prompted to upgrade my software. I said "yes." The system froze. That was mistake number five!
I called a locksmith who said that he could make it to the house by 5.P.M. I agreed. So I tried to get by all day with workarounds and make-dos and I actually made it until the locksmith came and opened the trunk.
No only had I locked the keys in the trunk, I had actually placed them inside my briefcase before doing so. It was a stupid move that cost me a day of work and the locksmith's fee.
But the next time someone else makes a mistake or two that may negatively affect me; I will be more patient and tolerant.
Perspective is always determined by point of view. How we see things both visually and cognitively is always bounded by our frame of reference. The constraints of our system of thought restrict our ability to see beyond the familiar.
Therefore, in order to gain a new perspective, we must address one or all of the previously declared premises. To achieve a fresh outlook, we could:
Change our point of view.
Use our imagination.
Implement new systems.
All of the above!
And although euphemisms and clichés abound to describe the phenomenon of creative adaptation, I shall refrain from using them. It isn't necessary.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
The 2009 Peachtree City Fourth of July fireworks display will begin at 9:30 P.M. on Saturday. Peachtree City has a tradition of offering the best pyrotechnics on the South side of Atlanta, and the show is always spectacular.
I don't know if it's because the Fourth of July holiday is just days away, or if it's due to the hot weather, or maybe it's just the drudgery of working long hours everyday, but I've got a bad case of the Summertime Blues.
I have been doing a lot of listing presentations lately. Most of these would-be sellers are homeowners that are not in arrears on their mortgage payments, and that own houses that few first-time homebuyers can afford. They are really caught in the pinch.
To offset these realities, a seller must make their "product" as attractive as possible, both in terms of price and appeal. Pricing the property correctly from the get-go is a must, and should include as many purchasing incentives as possible.
Insomnia could be a wonderful thing. Without it, how would I know that I could be making millions by buying real estate with no credit and no money down or at government tax sales.
June is normally a very pleasant month here in the Atlanta area. It is typically the time when the summer warm-up sets in, but with evenings cool enough to open the windows and get some fresh air.
Today being my birthday, the Coweta County Georgia real estate elite all gathered at our Newnan location today for a huge extravaganza at our brand new facility!
I am constantly amazed at the number of people that I encounter through the course of my business that have excellent income and yet have no ready cash. Nada, zilch, zippo saved for a "rainy day" or as a safety net.
One of my favorite photographic challenges is capturing airplanes in flight. There is just something awesome about attempting to freeze frame the huge metal giants speeding overhead at 160 knots.
Most of our biggest problems occur after a series of errors. It's usually not one mistake that wreaks havoc, but a combination of careless decisions that can lead to a lot of inconvenience.
I went upstairs to use my home computer to work on some documents that I had to get out. I was prompted to upgrade my software. I said "yes." The system froze. That was mistake number five!
Perspective is always determined by point of view. How we see things both visually and cognitively is always bounded by our frame of reference. The constraints of our system of thought restrict our ability to see beyond the familiar.
;)
;)
