For Newbies: How I post hyper-local content on my Ellenwood GA real estate blog:

When I'm writing for hyper-local search engine juice, I start by choosing a good long-tail keyword phrase to build your blog around. You can use Google’s free keyword tool to help you get started. Don't worry if you've never tried this before. Google provides all the instruction you need to use their keyword tool.

A good example of a long-tail hyper-local keyword phrase might start with "City-State-Subdivision" and then something specific to that community or its housing. For instance, since I'm a Georgia short sales specialist, I might choose "Ellenwood GA short sales in Misty Lake Subdivision" as my phrase, and write around that. You might notice that I've emphasized certain keyword phrases in this paragraph with bold print. You should do the same, and use those phrases as tags for your blog, as well as the main long-tail keyword phrase.

• Now, how do you dig up the facts on a community? Once you have decided on an area to post about, get back to Google and do some research. The local chamber of commerce or Homeowners Association websites might provide you with useful information for potential visitors, buyers or sellers in your target area.

You might even have opportunity to talk to a few residents and just ask them, "What's the benefit of living and/or working in this community?" If you can get their feedback as live video footage to include in your post, that would be even better. 

Compile the facts that will flesh out your story. You remember the basics of good writing as learned in the 4^th grade, don’t you? Who, what, where, when, why and how! These old standbys worked then and still they work now.

Remember to keep the writing lively, short and to the point. It’s a local-interest post, not a dissertation.

Last but not least: Don’t forget to add some photos of the area. Photos, not clip art. Even something as simple as this amateur shot I took of the Misty Lake subdivisioin in Ellenwood Georgia. (See, I did the long-tail keyword thing again, I just mis=xed it up a little.)

Including your own photographs of the area show the world that you've been there and therefore know whereof you speak.

Besides, readers love photographs of real estate and local landmarks.  

So, there you have my Google-juicy secrets to building  hyper-local blog posts. I learned almost all of this right here in the Rain. So can you. Now, go write.

It's so nice to have professional associates who are smarter than I am...at least when it comes to their own particular fields.

Many thanks to Michael Thornton, Nashville TN area Home Inspector for this post. I think this is excellent information for home owners and home buyers alike.

I'm re-blogging it because I wouldn't want my subscribers to miss it.

Legacy Mill in Ellenwood GA --Subdivision Spotlight –

What makes the Ellenwood Georgia Legacy Mill subdivision so popular? The signature large and spacious floor plans, coupled with good proximity to everything Atlanta has to offer, are just two of the reasons.  Metro Atlanta  buyers flocked to buy new homes in Legacy Mill a few years ago. While there is no more standing new home inventory, resales offer great value right now.

Even this popular subdivision reflects the general slowdown of activity in the south metro Atlanta real estate market in the past year.  A year-over-year market analysis of real estate activity reveals that, in general, home sales and prices have both been down in the last 12 months as compared to the year before. 

The Georgia MLS reports that there are currently 5 homes for sale in Ellenwood, GA Legacy Mill subdivision, with asking prices between $114,900 and $140,000.  The median asking price is about $130,000, meaning half of the current inventory is price above this price, and half is priced lower.

So, if you think you’d like to buy a house in Legacy Mill,  know that the inventory is limited and sitting on the fence could see your dream home snapped up by a more 

aggressive buyer. If you’d like to take a look at this featured home for sale in Ellenwood GA Legacy Mill located at 3880 Busby Mill Court, Ellenwood GA 30294, a buyer specialist on the Beat Atlanta Short Sales Team can help you.

If you have to sell your Ellenwood Georgia Legacy Mill property now, most likely you are upside down, owing more on your current mortgage than the property will bring on today’s market. If you do not want to end up bringing cash to the closing table, you might do well to consult a short sales expert from the Best Atlanta Short Sales Team.

Considering buying or selling a home in this area or subdivision? This market report is here to help you make a sound decision. The way things are currently trending, buyers can expect a very competitive market environment due to reduced inventory and sellers have little hope to see even modest gains. 

For more information, or to get a free Competitive Market Analysis for your unique property, contact us today.

“We believe that home ownership is a positive force for social good. ActiveRain is committed to empowering real estate professionals so they can help people achieve the dream of home ownership.” 

This one aspect of the ActiveRain Weltanschauung is something that I particularly appreciate  -- the community commitment to the concept and advocacy of home ownership.

This one appeals to me because I primarily consider myself to be in the Home Ownership business. I work in residential real estate in the Atlanta south metro area , and bill myself as a “real estate advocate” and a “short sales specialist.” The reason I chose the field is because I know that home is important, and owning one's home is smart.

I think anyone who is still actively operating as a real estate professional in this post-bubble environment has probably figured out that the “real estate sales person” is an anachronism in the modern world.  We are not needed in order for anyone to simply sell real estate. Our roles have become specialized and technologically defined.  We are by necessity real estate and home ownership educators, counselors, advisors, consultants and advocates.

I strongly advocate for home ownership because I believe a personal residence is foundational for building wealth and stability. It is still one of the most basic and reliable long-term investments a family can make.

Home Ownership is still a national priority, and that’s the business I’m in.

In the interest of a healthy lifestyle, we try to maintain a balanced lifestyle and eat well.

Where can south metro Atlanta area residents find the freshest fruits and vegetables? The Georgia State Farmer's Market, located in the city of  Forest Park, Clayton County, gets my vote. Here you can find row upon row of farm fresh produce.

In the hustle and bustle of our busy 21st century lives, it's important to remember to eat right. And that can be a challenge, when what's handy (as in readily available at the local supermarket) is so often over-processed and lacking in the proper nutrients...and in some cases even full of harmful additions like pesticides, hormones and antibiotics.

It also helps to have friends who garden or raise poultry. This is a bowl full of beautiful fresh-laid, organic eggs just gathered from a flock of cage free chickens! Delicious and nutritious, too.

Eat well, Atlanta. Shop the Farmer's Market. And make friends with your neighborhood gardeners.

East Point GA Real Estate Market - Highwood Park Town Homes - Market Report

A favorite community for town home sales for Atlanta area singles and small families who want to be near all that Atlanta has o offer, is the 178-unit, gated subdivision of Highwood Park in East Point, Georgia. Nestled in South Fulton County, East Point is a jewel in the crown of historic Atlanta area communities. 

Convenient Interstate-285 access puts Highwood Park residents just 10 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the popular entertainment and shoppping complex at Camp Creek Marketplace, or downtown Atlanta with all of it's opportunity and attractions.   

Based on information from the Georgia MLS, today’s Market Snapshot of the  Highwood Park Town Homes in East Point, GA real estate market shows that there are 13 town homes currently available for purchase, with an average list price of just under $42K. The majority of the inventory falls in the mid to high $30Ks range. The highest prices property currently for sale is a three-bedroom unit offered at $74,900. The lowest is an investor or handy-man’s bargain at $30,000.

Atlanta area real estate investors have seen the wealth-building potential of owning property at Highwood Park. They’ve been swooping up these bargains for the past several years to refurbish and hold for equity gain in the future. Because of their convenient location, Highwood Park real estate purchases make excellent rental units.

Sold and Pending Sale Listings:

So if you are thinking of buying or selling a town home in Highwood Park, right now may be your best opportunity.

For more information on buying or selling a property like this featured Highwood Park 3 bedroom, 2 and a half bath  townhome with integral garage at 4411 Stone Gate way, call on the experts at the Best Atlanta Short Sales Team today.

Russel Ray offers a simple and highly effective tip for writing titles -- for blog posts, of course, but also for articles, ebooks, and anything else we happen to be laboring over. Write first, title later. It's always best to let the writing flow, and then look back and see where it took you before you try to name it. His Mrs. Hopkins reminds me of my Mrs. Wright. Lessons learned while writing for school newspapers... seems to be a common experience for many of us here in the Rain.

Is that a duh? 

Ellenwood GA Short Sale Bargain in Legacy Mill Subdivision

Ellenwood GA real estate home sales continue to hold steady as the overall Atlanta-area market bounces along the bottom, the market corrects and values normalize.

Legacy Mill is one of three Legacy communities constructed in Ellenwood  in the mid-2000s. 

These communities offer spacious brick-front homes with sturdy hardi-plank siding. Model feature generous floor plans to meet the needs of today’s burgeoning need for multi-generational housing: 4-6 bedrooms, 3-4 baths, large kitchens with breakfast areas, desirable designer details, master-suites with garden baths and sitting areas, separate living, dining and family rooms, and integral garages.

Over the past year, homes sold in Legacy Mill in Ellenwood, Georgia have averaged a selling price of about $139,000. There are currently 5 homes for sale in Ellenwood, Georgia’s Legacy Mill subdivision, at an average price of about $130,000, with the highest available property priced at $140,000 and the lowest a short sale bargain at $129,000.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Ellenwood GA in the Flakes Mill/River Road area, you should try not to miss the values offered now at Legacy Mill, such as this featured short sale at 3880 Busby Mill Ct.  For assistance with your Ellenwood home search or home sale, call on the Best Atlanta Short Sales Team today.

East Point GA Town Home for Sale in Highwood Park - Another Best Atlanta Short Sales Bargain

It's a sparkling unit with an integral garage at Highwood Park Town Homes in East Point, GA. Located near the shopping, dining, and entertainment at the popular Camp Creek Marketplace. And it's only minutes from the airport and all the amenities of downtown Atlanta.

Kitchen comes with Stained Cabinets, Laminated Counter Tops, and Breakfast Bar.
The Master Suite features a walk-in closet and in-suite bathroom with double vanity. Plenty of storage (coat closet, linen closet, laundry room closet, attic and garage)! Laundry room with washer/dryer hookups.

This town home is near-new (built in 2006) and has only present owner as previous occupant and has been meticulously maintained in great condition.

Metro Area Atlanta, GA Town Home for Sale...Right Location & Right Price

Overview Maps Photos Features Description Neighborhood

$37,000 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 Partial Bathroom Interior: 1,498 sqft Location 4411 Stone Gate Way East Point, GA 30344 USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

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Elva Branson-Lee Solid Source Realty GA (770) 475-1130 ext. 8988 elva@bransonlee.com http://BestAtlantaShortSales.com           Listed by: Solid Source Realty GA

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And they’re off!

I love reporting the good news for ATL real estate market. What better way to bring in a new year than with a rousing first week in real estate.

Let’s face it. You just can’t keep good Americans down. As the unemployment rate drops and new job creation figures continue to inch upward, the mood of the country is swinging towards the positive again.  

Atlantans are no exception, and local buyers appear to be feeling the power of a positive economic outlook. If the number of client inquiries I’ve received in this first week of 2012 is any indication, some brave buyers may be ready climb down off of the fence.

The market really does seem to be bouncing along the bottom right now, and in some areas is moving toward normalization.

We are down to roughly a 7-month supply of existing inventory, for the first time in several years.  Even better, as foreclosure rates continue to drop, people may start to buy new and traditional resale homes in Atlanta again.

All present indicators suggest that jobs will stabilize and job growth will continue in 2012. The increased number of calls I am getting from out-of-state buyers looking to relocate to the Atlanta area, hints at a return of the allure of the Peach.

Another prediction makes it imperative that anyone wanting to get into an Atlanta property should try to do it soon, Most experts and economist predict that interest rates may also be inching upward soon, so if you are thinking you want to  buy or sell real estate in Atlanta, there likely will not be a better time than now.