Coweta County Real Estate Facts and Info by Richard Weisser ERA United Realty Newnan

Giving veterans their due ... it takes more than lip service.

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:10:29 -0600

November 11 is Veteran's Day. It's a day to honor the living veterans that are currently serving or have served in the past.

How do we properly honor those brave men and women that risk everything to defend and preserve our nation? They place themselves in harms way under the most adverse conditions and complete their assigned missions with courage and conviction.

And let's not forget the families of our soldiers. They give up their loved ones as they are deployed overseas and live every day under the pall of potential catastrophe. Families are separated during the children's formative years and it really takes a toll on the spouse left behind.

Here's an idea: At this time, we have a lot of empty houses in this country that are owned by the government. And while there are some minor incentives for veterans to purchase the properties, it's time to really give them a break.

They need to be given credits for purchase based on years of service and priority in the bidding process. I think that $10,000 per year of active duty would be a starting point, but I'll support anything that properly rewards them for all that they have risked. I would also like to see disabled veterans getting free houses.

Why not? Who else is more worthy to benefit from these incentives?

And to all of the veterans reading this, I thank you for your service. And I appreciate your sacrifice from the bottom of my heart.

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser REOS, E-Pro. licensed Auctioneer. 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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Historic structures in the Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:25:53 -0600

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park enjoys a rich history of prior human habitation within the contemporary park boundaries.

Unlike the first national parks that were established in the West on lands already owned by the United States Government, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was assembled with the purchase and condemnation of lands owned by private residents and a collection of lumber and mining companies.

Although most of the structures inside the park boundaries were razed at the time the park was created, a select few were allowed to remain as living museums of the historic human heritage of those that lived and worked here prior to the national park establishment.

The photos depicted here are of historic structures currently maintained by the National Park Service in the Cataloochee Valley. At one time, over 1,200 people called this place home.

And they are a testament to those hard working property owners that gave up their land, voluntarily or otherwise, to forever preserve the magnificent beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains!

Photos: Top Right Steve Woody House, bottom: Eldridge Caldwell Barn, Palmer Chapel, Little Cataloochee Church in the Cataloochee Valley,

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Why suffer needlessly when you don’t have to? Learn to avert trouble before it happens.

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:50:41 -0600

When I was a young man, I was plagued by cluster migraine headaches. These episodes were so debilitating that recovery often took days. Even after the headaches ended, I would feel like I lost a fist fight and took a good pounding.

The doctors said that this was because my brain was literally bruised from the attacks, and that all I could do was learn to cope with the disorder. Fortunately, I became very adept at using beta blockers when I sensed a swelling behind my eyes and was able to squelch the onset of the worst part of the migraine.

It would stop the problem in its tracks!

For many years, I had no more episodes. However, recently, the headaches have started occurring again. And they are getting progressively worse. I don’t know if it’s the result of stress but it looks like I’m going to need medical treatment again. Since the beta blockers worked before, I’m going to try them again to head off the attacks before they explode in my head!

In business, there are also preventive measures that we can take to avoid disasters down the road. When we sense that initial pressure of something going awry, we can move quickly to squelch the problem in its earliest stages.

By doing so, we can eliminate the painful results of negligence and the debilitating effect to our bottom line!

And stop the problems in their tracks!

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Some simple Saturday thoughts about the fleeting nature of life in general.

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:55:21 -0600

It often seems that I do not have my priorities in order. I work many long hours and sneak in a few hours of “relaxation” in here and there, but even during those supposedly rest times, work is swirling around in my head.

The world is a big and beautiful place, and I have seen very little of it, as I prefer to remain in close proximity to home. It always seems that the simple everydsay tasks preoccupy my time!

And there are a lot of things that I have “put off until next year” for over twenty years now, and I really need to reevaluate my thinking. I am in the autumn of my years and the leaves are beginning to drop!

So I have decided to take some action and modify the game plan. From now on, I’m going to live life to the fullest!

Starting next year, of course!

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Foreclosures drop and building picks up in Coweta County in November 2009! A Coweta county real estate report.

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:01:28 -0600

It appears the Coweta County real estate market is showing some signs of recovery. The number of foreclosures advertised in the Newnan Times-Herald for November 2009 is 185, down from 207 in October and a record 265 in September.¹

In addition, requests for on-site environmental health evaluations is up nearly 20% from a year ago, indicating that there is a modest increase in building activity, These factors, combined with new federal tax credits for home purchaser, could help to stabilize the local economy.

And while these improvements may only be baby steps in the right direction, they still tend to reduce the slippery slope to something a little more manageable!

Coweta enjoys low property prices, and combined with low interest rates and new tax credits, there has never been a better time to purchase a home in the county. If you are considering a move to the Atlanta area, be sure to include Coweta County and Newnan on your list of possible places to relocate.

¹ Source for all statistics: The Newnan Times-Herald

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House payments under $500? It’s happening more and more often these days.

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:03:29 -0600

It used to be that if a caller to the real estate company indicated that they wished to purchase a three bedroom, two bath home and keep the monthly payment below five hundred dollars we used to ask this question:

“What kind of tires do you want on that mobile home you just described to me?”

And that was back in the mid 1980s! Now, in the year 2009 as incredible as it seems, the combination of low real estate prices combined with excellent mortgage interest rates have many homebuyers purchasing property with mortgage payments at or below $500 per month.

Even more remarkable is that these purchasers are buying homes at or below ONE YEAR’s equivalent of their annual income. We have even sold a few houses to individuals who paid more for the most recent vehicle they purchased.

The bottom line is this: real property has never been more affordable. Anyone that is currently renting that is in a position to purchase should take advantage of this window of opportunity.

Because it will not remain open forever!

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How far ahead do you plan? If it’s less than a year, you might be short-changing yourself.

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:04:59 -0600

As 2009 rapidly draws to a close, it’s time to start planning for the new year. And with all of the dramatic changes in the economy and the real estate market, it is more important than ever to make adjustments to our strategies.

For a lot of us, the last few years have involved a lot of “changing on the fly” and many of our business practices have been reactive and not proactive.

But the market has settled down somewhat, and while it is not the robust market that we would like, at least we have a pretty good idea of what lies ahead and can plan appropriately.

So with less than two months to go in this year, it’s time to get started on those business plans for next year.

And let’s take control our own destinies!

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The Newnan - Coweta Board of Realtors annual Oktoberfest Tuesday November 3, 2009.

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:02:22 -0600

The Newnan - Coweta Board of Realtors Oktoberfest event is held every year for the purpose of raising money for local scholarships and the Red Cross. The event consists of both a silent auction and a live auction of goods and services donated by local Realtors and merchants.

This year's event will be held at the old freight depot in downtown Newnan from 6-9 P.M. on Tuesday November 3. Tickets are $20 and there will be a cash bar available. Price includes catered heavy hors d'oeuvres, appetizers and desserts.

ERA United Realty Newnan has presented a "Taste of Newnan" gift basket for the auction with over $275 dollars in local restaurant gift certificates, sample delicacies, t-shirts and cookbooks donated by local business and ERA United Realty agents and staff!

The old Train Depot is located on East Broad Street at the railroad crossing. Ample free parking is available. Please plan on attending this worthwhile event! Feel free to call with any questions. 770-827-6225

The ERA gift basket includes:

2 Bags of Coffee from Espresso Lane, $20 Gift Certificate from Fabiano's
$20 Gift Certificate from The Half Shell, $10 Gift Certificate for 10 East Washington
$40 Gift Certificate for La Fiesta, $10 Gift Card for Quiznos
$30 Gift Certificate from Golden's on the Square, Bottle of Merlot from Uncork'd
Toffee from Let Them Eat Toffee, T-Shirt from Redneck Gourmet
T-Shirt from Sprayberry's, Bottle of Local Honey BBQ Sauce from Sprayberry's
NCBOR Cookbook, Taste of Georgia, Cookbook Bag of Gourmet Popcorn

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My camera is broken, there’s a nail in my tire, and I’m typing this on a borrowed computer. Nothing lasts forever, but could you give me just one more year?

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:44:24 -0600

My formerly trusty camera has been acting up lately. There are some issues with the Nikon bayonet mount that is affecting the auto-focus and the exposure of the image.

Now I am the first to admit that I am pretty rough on my cameras, but I had hoped to get more than three years from my Nikon D80. I have been eyeing a new camera for some time, but I want to buy it because I WANT to and not because I HAVE to!

The same thing happened with my computer. There were enough warning signs, an error message here, a power supply issue there. All were minor things that I ignored until all of a sudden … poof … and the machine was gone.

I am still using a computer that I borrowed from a friend who oddly enough keeps giving me coupons for a new one! I wonder why she keeps doing that?

Yesterday I noticed a nail in my tire. Great, that’s all I need. But for whatever reason, I can’t seem to learn from experience. As long as the tire is holding air, I’ll probably ignore the problem. Of course, inevitably I will have a flat tire and wonder why I didn’t take care of the nail sooner.

Putting things off that you know you should address now almost always leads to more trouble down the road. I don’t know why, but I keep trying to get just “one more day” or “one more week” from items that are not designed to last forever.

Some would call me cheap. Others would call me lazy. I call it just me being me!

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Okay, you’ve had a full day already to get over the time change so wake up … it’s NOVEMBER and 2009 will be gone before you know it!

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:43:13 -0600

Amidst the flurry of activity surrounding a rainy Halloween and the autumnal changing of the clocks back to standard time, another milestone slipped in almost unnoticed:

It’s already November!

And besides the stack of monthly bills to pay, we are winding down toward Thanksgiving. And Christmas is less than two months away!

2009 has been tempestuous and trying, but it’s zooming on by like nobody’s business. And here’s something even more shocking:

We are nearing the TENTH anniversary of the Y2K celebration. Wow, has it really been ten years? It is almost unfathomable.

Wow, I never thought that I would make it this far. Now I have to figure out what I’m going to do for the next ten years!

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When did Halloween get to be such a big deal? I guess I just don't get it.

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:16:33 -0500

Let me state this right up front. I am not a fan of Halloween. I never have been, not even as a child.

The concept of extorting candy in lieu of some horrible consequence seems incongruent with most of my upbringing, but it was presented to us as appropriate for one night a year so I accepted it on those terms.

However, the holiday has been transformed from a single night of revelry into an entire month of celebration. My neighbors have numerous decorations including "Halloween Lights" which have been alit all month. It's a far cry from the simple Jack-o-lanterns of the past.

And speaking of pumpkins, it is no longer satisfactory to cut simple diamond-shaped mouths, noses and eyes. Pumpkin carving is now an art form requiring a steady hand and hours of patience, of which I possess neither.

I am not a ghoul, but I guess that I just don't get it. But my message to everyone else is: have funand above all be safe.

And please keep an eye out for the kids. It's their night!

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Blog durability is the product of flexibility. How to successfully use your blog archive to maintain contact with customers and prospects.

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:49:51 -0500

Some years ago I applied the term "durability" as a desirable attribute of a well-crafted blog post. I didn't really understand at that time the significance of the long-term usefulness of a daily post.

Unlike articles written in the print media, a blog post is easily searchable and can be referenced for years. It can successfully be indexed by search engines for as long as the page is accessible to crawling spiders and bots.

But durability does not only depend on how the information is indexed. It also depends to a very large extent on how the material is presented to our database of customers and prospects.

A long standing tenet of prospecting is that one of the best ways to keep your name in front of your database is to offer an "item of value" with each "touch." This item of value can be anything from flower seeds to a timely newsletter. It also presents the opportunity for a follow-up visit or call to ascertain whether the item of value was well-received.

Some years ago, I did a monthly mail-out to all of my top prospects and clients. This was time consuming and very costly, as each month a new item of value was sent directly to each "A and B" member of the database. Exactly one week after the mail-out, the follow-up calls were routinely done. It was a slow and tedious process.

All of that has changed since I began blogging two years ago. Now, the information in my blog IS an item of value that I offer to all of my clients and prospects in many different forms.

And since I have people in my database with varied interests, I transform my blog into different forms to maintain a better connection with different clients and prospects. The way I do that is by first syndicating my blog to a variety of websites that may have a unique appeal to one segment of my clientele.

An example of how I do that is my blog on SmokyPhotos.com. It's a controlled collection of my ActiveRain blog posts specifically about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

So if I happen to write hyper-local post about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I send a quick email to all of my database members that have an interest in the topic. It's non-intrusive, and very low-key.

Many email back to say tell me how much they enjoyed the article and photos and to keep letting them know when more are posted. It's not very long before they are looking forward to getting an email from me.

I also have a news site, Coweta Fayette Info that includes all national and world news, and includes a local blog feed as well. Whenever I write a post that would interest one of my news-loving contacts, I let them know that the article has be posted. It's not only efficient, but it adds credibility to what I do.

Additionally, I post links to all of my public posts on both Twitter and Facebook. Many of my prospects and clients follow me and it's an easy way to remind them to click the link and have a look.

The key is applying the right presentation based on a client's interest. It's offer a genuine "item of value" that they can use and reuse over and over again.

And it gives me "face" time unlike any marketing technique that I have ever used in the past! My blog is a permanent resource, full of both useful information and pleasant diversions. But because it's mine, I can mete it out any way that I wish!

And that works for me!

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Team building is an important part of any relationship based business. Do you practice it where you work?

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:49:15 -0500

I got up a little earlier than usual this morning. Although I’m usually an early riser, today I had a mission of special significance.

Before me lay the onions, garlic and peppers that I would need to get sweating and three pounds of sirloin to brown, and had to get everything simmering for a chili luncheon at the office today.

Good food is a great way to bring people together, and good homemade food can’t be beat! It’s a tasty and inexpensive way to come together as a team and build relationships inside the firm.

So I didn’t mind getting up an hour earlier today. I know that everyone will enjoy the results of my labor.

Now the question is: “should I or shouldn’t I add more chilies?”

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Some personal thoughts as the 2009 fall season is drawing to a close. It’s a great time of year!

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:58:12 -0500

The flame upon the candlewick
On draughts aflutter pirouette
And waltz and reel to tempo quick
Then lay in wait for Winter’s breath.

R Weisser Oct. 2009

As another Autumn foliage season comes to a close, I begin to look back to all of the falls of my past with fond remembrance. It’s always been my favorite season.

Full of color, and football, and the smell of leaves and the tastes of apples and pumpkins! It’s the last hurrah of temperate weather before winter sets it, a time of warm days and cool, crisp evenings. A most pleasant time of year for both dreaming and reflection!

Each fall is different with it's own personality, and presents it's own special touches. As for me, I am going to observe, and taste and savor each offering of the season.

And enjoying every moment of it!

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Wow, I’ve been “inactive” and I didn’t even know it. You may be inactive too and in for a big surprise!

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:48:18 -0500

I tried to log into my bank account online the other day, and my login and password didn’t seem to work. No problem, I had been locked out several times in the past for entering the wrong password too many times so I gave tech support a call.

What I was told by tech support astounded me. Since I hadn’t logged on in over 60 days my online access was canceled. I would have to go to the bank and apply again, and the process would take 3-5 days.

WOW! I was deleted for only 60 days of inactivity. Mind you, the bank account had been in continuous use, only the online access went dormant. I know that it’s a security thing, but 60 days is NOT a very long time.

Now, think of all of the online accounts that you have created over the years. Consider all of the web sites on which you have obtained registered access as you have surfed your way around the Internet.

How many of them have you NOT logged on to in the last two months? My guess is over 75% of them, maybe more. Two months is not a very long time when determining whether or not a customer is coming back or not.

But we live in a fast-paced world these days, and if you snooze, you lose, so I went to the bank and reapplied for online access.

Because I have to watch those balances a little more closely these days!

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Is there a light at the end of the tunnel or are we just getting in deeper and deeper over our heads?

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:55:30 -0500

There are many prognosticators that say the economy is bottoming out, while some say that there are darker days head. Regardless of who is right and who is wrong there is one thing that is certain:

The human spirit is quite resilient. And no matter how bad things seem to be getting, there are always opportunities to look towards better things that may ahead. And while the road ahead may be fraught with unknown perils, after all is said and done we can emerge from the depths of depression with a new appreciation for all that is good and positive in the world.

And we don't have to make the best of a bad situation; instead, we can make a bad situation better with hard work and determination. It's not always going to be easy, but it is doable and perseverance will get us through the obstacles that lie ahead.

And although we don't exactly need tunnel-vision, we should remain focused. After all, the straighter we travel, the faster we get there!

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Have social networks obliterated the generation gap? It’s all about the ability to communicate.

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:31:35 -0500

When I was a young lad, the phrase “generation gap” was coined. This was the age of dissent, when young idealistic and progressive thinkers rebelled against their older stoic and conservative parents and those in positions of authority.

It was an upheaval of the status quo unlike any other in the last hundred years, and it changed the fabric of our society. There was a concerted effort to “never trust anyone over thirty!”

And the term generation gap was often blamed on a lack of communication between the affected parties. The tendency was to either not talk about the issues at all or to vehemently argue your position in such a belligerent manner that the message was lost in the crossfire.

Today there is no such lack of communication. Thanks to the onslaught of social networking, members of all generations have a method of easily communicating their thought and ideas to their broad spectrum of network “friends”

And even the term “friend” is bonding. Offspring are now friends of their parents, employees are now friends of their bosses, and business competitors are now graciously sharing relevant information.

And so the “generation gap” has narrowed year after year, and is now practically non-existent. And although we don’t always agree on anything from fashion to politics, at least we can communicate with each other.

And that’s really a good thing!

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Sometimes the old way of doing thing can beat technology. Knowledge is power, and power translates to good business practices!

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:27:44 -0500

Local knowledge means actual knowledge. Do you preview properties in your area?

Real estate data is readily available these days. There is a plethora of valuation websites, MLS tools and public records that can help anyone determine an approximate value of a parcel of real property.

But there an old-fashioned method that is often overlooked these days that is superior in every way to assembling previously collected data. That method involves previewing comparable properties.

There is no amount of information that can equate to actually seeing the properties with your own eyes. If you preview ten properties of the same class in the same area, you will instantly have an accurate feel for the market.

And while that first house that you looked at appeared to be a bargain based on the tax reports, there may be two or three comps that blow it away in terms of condition, amenities and setting.

It’s amazing what you can learn from getting out and opening doors. And who knows, you might just find that hidden gem that is perfect for your client!

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Getting ready for the busy week ahead … but I’d rather look at leaves!

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:28:33 -0500

I admit it. I’m a leaf lover. When nature turns on the color machine, I can’t think of anything else.

I think that part of the allure comes from the fleeting nature of the phenomenon. The length of time between peak color and brown leaves is brief, requiring prompt action if you wish to attempt to capture the show with your camera.

And while it’s true that some years are better than others, I’ve always been able to find “pockets” of leaves willing to pose for the lens.

So this year I am adding to the collection of thousands of fall photographs I have accumulated over the years. It’s always fun to compare shots from year to year.

And for me, it’s not just a passion, it’s an obsession. And I’ll continue chasing the leaves as long as I am able!

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More thoughts about an idea for an income tax deduction for downpayments on houses. It’s really NOT as crazy as you might think!

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:22:59 -0500

Due to the tremendous response by a lot of very smart commenters on my earlier post: A completely new proposal to save the real estate market. It's not as crazy as you might think! I have honed the idea based on the great feedback proffered by those that made so many excellent comments.

The idea was a dollar for dollar federal income tax deduction for down payments on the purchase of a home for any homebuyer that elects to take the deduction.

First and foremost, the deduction would be a one-time opportunity, and could be used on a first or second personal residence. Investment property is not included. (BTW investors already recover their purchase price over time as depreciation)

Secondly, the deduction would go against the cost basis of the property. In other words, like depreciation, the deduction would be subtracted from the cost basis. At the time of sale, the tax consequences would be the same as any other homeowner who has tax exemption opportunities for a sale.

Third, any new subsequent loans bowered against the property in excess of the cost basis would be treated as ordinary income. This would prevent someone from paying a lot down and then refinancing.

Don’t forget that the suggestion is to provide a deduction and not a credit. Many high-income taxpayers would be fall under the Alternative Minimum Tax section and would still have tax liabilities.

This idea isn’t just about selling more homes. It’s about buyers having more skin in the game which would add stability to the market. Don’t think of it as a subsidy; it’s more if a tax deferment much like a 1031 exchange.

But It could jump start the market during these tough days!

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There is an underlying simplicity to life that is often overlooked. Is more always better?

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 07:13:20 -0500

You hear this all the time: “Life sure is complicated these days.” And quite frankly, it’s true. When I was a young lad growing up in the 1950’s, we weren’t bothered by anything more technological that the three channels of television that were available.

Our “remote control” was mom or dad asking one of us to flip the “dial” to another station. I can still hear the click, click, click of the selector.

One of the earliest “innovations” that I can remember is the transistor radio. It amazed people that you could actually hold a radio in your hands and take it with you as you walked down the street.

I think that invention was the genesis of the notion of having the electronics that you needed in the palm of your hand. Even though the quality wasn’t as good as the stereo inside the house, the portable radio was more convenient.

And now it is imperative that we have a complete and fully operational office in one small hand-held unit. The more complicated the device is, the better we like it.

That is, if only my tired old 1950’s vintage eyes could see buttons that are that small!

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A completely new proposal to save the real estate market. It's not as crazy as you might think!

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:37:51 -0500

A lot of real estate agents are speaking as if the door on real estate sales will be slammed shut if the federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers is not extended. And while this opportunity to collect cash has had a very positive effect on sales in the lower price ranges, it really hasn't meant much to sellers with homes valued in excess of $200,000.

My preference is to let this credit just go away. The expiration of the credit could actually lead us back to a true fair market, where buyers buy because they need a house rather than just trying snag a great deal with future profit potential.

I would like to propose an alternative remedy to help sale in all price ranges. My proposal would really create interest in buyers that could really stimulate the market, and it is the only remedy that I have even seen proposed that would actually correct the mistakes of the past.

The solution I am proposing is to make all down payment monies for a personal residence up to and including a cash sale an income tax deduction. Not a refundable credit, just a deduction against income.

This also would encourage buyers with both cash and significant incomes to get back into the market. It would lead us back to the days when more down payment was better, and smaller mortgages would prevent the short position debacle that we are experiencing today.

The higher end market would see an extensive boost in sales, and prices would stabilize. And once again, homeowners will be encouraged to have equity in their homes to cushion them against negative market forces.

So what do you think? A dollar for dollar tax deduction for down payments on a house sounds like a good idea to me!

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You can’t fool Mother Nature. It’s getting harder and harder to get going in the morning!

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:24:31 -0500

It’s seems that Old Man Winter has arrived early in many places. And although many places are returning to normal October weather, the withered plants and dry leaves are a clear reminder that it won’t be long before the trees are bare and we’ll settle into our winter cycles.

I am an early riser, but it’s getting harder and harder to be up by six in the morning. And at ten o’clock at night I am completely drained and ready to fall asleep. Even now, after many cups of coffee, I am having trouble getting my act in gear.

It’s the natural rhythm of life, and is hereditarily built into our biology. Our species has developed these traits over thousands of years in order to survive the long. Cold winters!

But knowing that doesn’t make it any easier!

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From the state of Georgia to property owners: “Shut up and pay.” Georgia property owners that still own their homes are forced to suffer through a tax increase during the highest period of property foreclosures in state history.

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:47:41 -0500

In January 2009, Governor Sunny Perdue eliminated state reimbursements for counties homestead exemptions. Lawmakers failed to reinstate funding and the result is higher property taxes for homeowners throughout Georgia.

In Coweta County, that’s an additional $300 dollars or so for each homeowner, making 2009 property taxes the highest dollar amount EVER for most property owners.

What makes this even more unpalatable is the fact that this increase was not noted in preliminary bills that might have prompted property owners to appeal their assessments in a timely fashion.

For now, taxpayers can only grit their teeth and pay the tax. Next year however, all citizens of Georgia should appeal their assessments and also take their revenge at the polls.

At this point in time, tax increases on property owners are unconscionable.

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With apologies to Mark Twain, the reports of death of the real estate brokerage industry are highly exaggerated.

Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:36:29 -0500

No one will argue that the Internet has changed the way that consumers do business. The free flow of information has dramatically affected the way that properties are exposed to the buying public, as well as a plethora of advice about the nuts and bolts of a real estate transaction.

Anyone can sell their own property. They always could, there's nothing new about that. But there is one reality that will never change and that is this:

People often pay to have something done that they could do themselves.

There are many times when it is more efficient, convenient, or even cost-effective to hire someone else to do a task or perform a function that an individual is perfectly capable of doing. We all do this every day. For example:

I know their way around the kitchen. Most would say that I'm an above average cook. But I still go to a restaurant often and have someone else do the work for me. It's very convenient.

I did my own bookkeeping and income tax returns for over thirty years. Now I use the services of a CPA. In addition to being convenient and more efficient, it's also cost-effective because he saves me money by doing the job correctly every time.

I am perfectly capable of mowing my own lawn. I have all of the tools of the trade. But my time is better spent doing the things that I do best, which are marketing and real estate sales. So I hired a lawn service.

I once had an HVAC license and pretty much know everything about how furnaces and air conditioners operate. Yet I have a processional service mine because regular maintenance will improve the life of the units and save energy costs in the long run and I know that I'll put off doing it myself until something bad happens.

I can build a house. As a matter of fact, I have built over forty of them, two with my own hands from start to finish. But the last three houses that I bought were already constructed, because the time and headaches required to build my own home were not cost-effective for me. The loss of income during the construction period would offset any savings realized by doing it myself.

My point is this: people will always be willing to pay to have someone else to perform a task for them as long as it is more convenient, more efficient, or more cost-effective for them.

And as long as a real estate agent demonstrates the value proposition of professional service to the consumer, brokerage will always exist in some form.

Because the consumer is willing to pay the service!

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