October 2009 residential real estate sales volume in Athens - Clarke County, GA showed the first increase in the 12 month sliding sales volume for more than a year.  While only 2.8%, the increase is a postive sign that perhaps the Athens, GA market is stabilizing, if not improving. Also, as volume went up, the average Days on Market (D.O.M.) dropped by 4 days, another positive indicator.

Both the average and median sales price of homes remainded flat from September, however, both the median and average prices are down just over 6% from a year ago.This is probably driven by two factors: 1) the number of foreclosures and short sales on the market; 2) first time homebuyers taking advantage of the $8000 tax credit.

At the end of September there were 148 pending sales of residential property in Athens - Clarke County, up 5 from the September figures. Residential properties include single family homes, duplexes, triplexes, condos, townhouses, mobile and manufactured homes.

The following table shows the sliding 12 month residential sales volume in Athens-Clarke County over the last 12 months:

If you would like more information on Athens-Clarke County, GA, or you are interested in buying or selling your home there, please call me at 706-207-5290. Or you can click here to email me with your inquiries. To search for homes in Jackson County you, please visit my website.

During October, 2009 the Jackson County, GA real estate market slightly in the 12 month sliding sales volume after 3 months of being virtually flat. Overall, the volume is down less than 10% from a year ago, which is one of the better performing counties in the Athens, GA area.

The average Days on Market continues to increase, up slightly over September but still not much higher than a year ago. Both median and average pricing have decreased slightly from September, continuing their slow but steady decline. It will take a couple of months of being flat before we see a price bottom in Jackson County. This decline might be attributed to an increasing number of first time home buyers entering the market and getting the $8000 tax credit as well as the high percentage of foreclosures included in the sales figures.

The number of pending sales, at the end of August, for Jackson County was 46, down 1 from the end of September.

Residential sales includes single family homes, duplexes & triplexes, condos, townhomes, mobile and manufactured homes.

If you would like more information on Jackson County, or are interested in buying or selling your home there, please call me at 706-207-5290. Or you can click here to email me with your inquiries. To search for homes in Jackson County you, please visit my website.

October 2009 residential real estate sales volume in Madison County GA, showed a decrease from September. This marks 3 consecutive months of declining sales volume which has reached a 12 month low. All of the declines were in North Madison County while the volume in South Madison County was unchanged.

The average Days on Market (D.O.M.) increased by more than a week throughout the county. However, North Madison County did experience a two week decrease in D.O.M. while South Madison County had a 10 day increase.

Throughout the county median prices have remained virtually flat for 8 months now showing some price stabilization. The average price, while increasing almost 2% over September has cycled within a $5000 range (4%) for seven months, again, showing some price stabilization. North Madison County did experience an almost 9% average price increase. South Madison County has maintained a virtually flat average price.

At the end of August there were 37 pending sales of residential property in Madison County. Residential properties include single family homes, duplexes, triplexes, condos, townhouses, mobile and manufactured homes.

The following tables show the sliding 12 month residential sales volume for Madison County, North Madison County and South Madison County for the last 12 monts:

 If you would like more information on Madison County, or are interested in buying or selling your home there, please call me at 706-207-5290. Or you can click here to email me with your inquiries. To search for homes in Jackson County you, please visit my website.

Do you ever talk to your buyer's about taking title and what their options are? If not, why not? If so, why, and how?

I have seen multiple buyers, especially first time, (or first time in a state) go to a closing and take the title as it is prepared, the attorney or other closing entity not asking one question about how the buyers would like to take title. For instance, here, in Georgia, multiple buyers, including married couples, can take title to a property either as Joint Tenants or Tenants in Common. And most don't really understand the difference or the implications. In other states, there may be different title options, or restrictions.

When my parents bought property in Arizona they purchased as joint tenants. When my father died, my mother thought that she had received the rights to the property. I purchased the property from my mother, or, at least I thought that I did. Come to find out, I only purchased 1/2 of the property, her half. However, I did not find this out until I sold the property, 15 year after my mother died. Nobody told my parents that they need to add "with Rights of Survivorship" in order for my mother to get my father's half. It took some money, and some time, but we were able to get things corrected.

But back to my question, do you ever talk to your buyer's about title? I know that I do, although I only point out the options here in Georgia and do not advise them as to what would be best in their circumstances. I recommend that if they want legal advice as to how they should take title, to talk to an attorney.

Like I said, it might not be a catchy title, but, how a title is taken can catch the buyers unaware when it is time to sell.

October 2009 residential real estate sales volume in Watkinsville, GA showed a slight rise in the 12 month sliding sales volume after a slight decline in September. For the last 3 months, volume has been hovering in a narrow range.

Annual volume is still down over 32% from a year ago.  The average Days on Market (D.O.M.) is down slightly from September but still above last years average by 2 weeks. The average sales prices is almost back to what it was at this time last year, and, has been experiencing 3 months of rising after the lows of August. The median sales prices is still down from this time last year.

First time home buyers are still a strong part of the market. With the current extension, first time buyes will probably still remain a significant percentage of purchasers, and the inclusion of existing home owners qualifying for a credit will, hopefully, also contribute to a volume increase.

At the end of October there were 32 pending sales of residential property in Watkinsville, the This Residential properties include single family homes, duplexes, triplexes, condos, townhouses, mobile and manufactured homes.

The following table shows the sliding 12 month residential sales volume in Watkinsville over the last 12 months:

If you would like more information on Watkinsville, GA, or  you are interested in buying or selling your home there, please call me at 706-207-5290. Or you can click here to email me with your inquiries. To search for homes in Watkinsville please visit my The Athens Real Estate Page website.

I usually don't turn the on the TV on Sunday until later in the evening. However, today I did the unusual and decided to watch a little before lunch. After flipping through channels I settled on the FOX NFL Sunday pregame show and was very surprised to see team all in military fatigues.

I initially thought it was just in celebration of Veteran's Day this week, and, I was only slightly wrong. The FOX NFL Sunday team has spent the previous week in Afghanistan, meeting with the troops stationed there, talking with the men and women on their way to of from combat, trying to bring a little bit of cheer, and home, to those in harms way.

They were doing today's show from a quickly erected studio inside of a tent with an audience of hundreds of U.S. military serving there. I only caught a small part of the show, the final 30 minutes, but I think maybe that it was the finest 30 minutes of the program.

The team terminated the regular football broadcast about 15 minutes before the normal end of the hour. At that time, each of the 6 members of the broadcast team gave a wonder homage to our men and women serving in war zones. I was pleasantly surprised to not just hear platitudes about how much they appreciated the troops but truly heartfelt emotion.They were universal in their appreciation for those serving, and their understanding and support of why they are there.

Terry Bradshaw gave the final few statements, and, if you are familiar with Terry Bradshaw, his ability to present ideas is sometimes the subject of jokes (almost as often as jokes about President Bush). However, Terry was extremely eloquent, about the men and women, about the mission and how important it all is to the U.S. Upon completion, he then led the broadcast team, and the audience, in singing God Bless America, a very emotional few moments for both those on stage and in the audience.

Kudos to Terry, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, Jay Glazer, Jimmy Johnson and Kurt Menefee. Not just for the broadcast but for all they did during their stay, including serving food, participating in air drops, and just being there for the troops.

October 2009 residential real estate sales volume in Oconee, GA showed a decline of just over 3% in the 12 month sliding sales volume from Septemer, after being flat for a month. The average Days on Market (D.O.M.)  remained constante while both average sales price rose more than 1%  and the  median sales price rose just over 3%. The volume losses were experienced across all areas of Oconee County while prices fell is South Oconee County but rose in West Oconee County and Watkinsville, GA.

At the end of October there were 51 pending sales of residential property in Oconee County. This number is down from the last month. Residential properties include single family homes, duplexes, triplexes, condos, townhouses, mobile and manufactured homes.

The following tables show the sliding 12 month residential sales volume in Oconee County over the last 12 months through August 31:

If you would like more information on Oconee County, GA, or  you are interested in buying or selling your home there, please call me at 706-207-5290. Or you can click here to email me with your inquiries. To search for homes in Oconee County please visit  The Athens Real Estate Page website.

 Oglethorpe County, Ga 12 month sliding average of residential sales has now been flat for four months in a row. This trend is a pretty good indicater that sales volume has bottomed in Oconee County.

A more positive note is that both average and median sales prices have been trending upward. While they are still well below the levels of a year ago, they may have reached bottom and are now either stabilizingor starting back up. Next months annual figures will be a better indicator.

The average Days on Market (D.O.M.), which has been rising again is still below but approaching it's highs of April.

Residential sales include the sale of single family residences, condos, townhomes, mobile and modular homes.

The Oglethorpe Count pending residential sales at the end of August  totals 23 units, which is down 2 from July.

The following chart tracks the sliding 12 month averages for Oglethorpe County Ga through Aug 31, 2009:

All figures above are for 12 months and provide a clear picture of year to year and month to month trends in the market. Using annual numbers helps smooth out any temporary spikes or dips from month to month.

For more information on Oglethorpe County, GA or if you are interested in buying or selling your home there, please call me at 706-207-5290. Or you can click here to email me with your inquiries. To search for homes in Oglethorpe County please visit my website www.theathensrealestatepage.com.

This coming Thursday, Nov. 5, from 10 AM until 4 PM, the Athens Area Humane Society will be hosting the famous Oscar Mayer Wienermobile outside of it's facility at 1781 Mars Hill Road, Watkinsville, GA 30677.

Bring your kids as an excuse to tour the Wienermobile and have a hot dog or two, or three.....  There will be prizes, giveaways, adoptions, games, AAHS merchandise for sale, and in case you missed it, HOT DOGS!!!

Volunteers are still need to help with:

• Grilling the hot dogs and handing out drinks
• Running the game booths
• Helping at the merchandise stand and info table
• Crowd control
• Help with adoption room

If you would like to volunteer, please call Denise Plemmons, Special Projects Manager, at 706-224-4474.

The weather is supposed to be beautiful, so come on down and have a hot dog and be a little kid again. And maybe you can help save an abandoned animal with your contribution, or, even adoption.

The Athens Area Humane Society is a No-Kill shelter. More information about AAHS can be found on their website, www.AthensHumaneSociety.org.

In Athens -Clarke County, GA, for the week ending Nov. 1, 2009 the real estate market in Athens, Ga. looks like this:

There are 1563 active listings of which 1288 are residential, 16 are farm and land. This is increase of 5 listings from the previous reporting period.

There are 148 listings under contract. This number is 13 fewer than the previous period.

There have been 7 closed sales duiring the period of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1, 2009, all of which were residential. This is thesame number of closed transactions as in the previous period.

For more information on Athens, GA or if you are interested in buying or selling your home there, please call me at 706-207-5290. Or you can click here to email me with your inquiries. To search for homes in Athens, please visit my website The Athens Real Estate Page.

Note: All data is taken from the Athens Area Association of Realtors MLS system and accurate as of one day after the reporting period. Athens-Clarke County market data includes the City of Athens, the town of Winterville and the remaining areas of Clarke County.