New Year, New Strategy - 12/30/08 09:55 PM
The low, low real estate prices of 2008 may very soon be a thing of the past for Fulton County including Sandy Springs, Atlanta, Roswell and the like. 
How?  Fulton County has applied for federal funds available through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, for which they have to provide a detailed plan of where they want to use the money.  The goal is to purchase, renovate, and resell foreclosed or abandoned homes and apartment complexes in various parts of the county. 

This is wonderful news for Owners and Sellers that have cringed as they watched the market rate for their real estate properties drop drastically over the past year … (0 comments)

Advertise for Free! Here's How... - 12/30/08 08:54 PM
With the New Year, have you made a resolution to promote your business more?  Well, I hope to be the bearer of good news - there is a new website for Georgia residents that may suit your needs.  It's the Georgia Made Georgia Grown Products website!

GaMadeGaGrownProducts.org is a directory of Georgia's arts-centric businesses featuring Georgia Made Georgia Grown Products. Slated to launch in January, this site will serve as a way to connect Georgia artists with locals, visitors, creative professionals, and corporate buyers.  Georgia-based entertainers, artists, craft makers, authors, museums, etc. are encouraged to log onto www.gamadegagrownproducts.org and post their … (1 comments)

SCHOOLS OF CHOICE - 12/29/08 01:35 PM
As you prepare for a new year, don't just attend High School Musical with tweens and teens, add to your calendar a visit to the open houses for two of Sandy Springs' high schools of choice:
North Springs Charter High School is pleased to invite prospective students and families to Discover North Springs on Sunday, January 25 from 1:30-4 p.m. For more information regarding this event contact Carol Ciepluch at 77.551.2490 ext. 145.
Riverwood International Charter School will hold an open house for prospective parents and students on Sunday, January 25 at 4 p.m. For specific questions regarding this event, contact the … (0 comments)

Places to Love: ALDERWOOD ON ABERNATHY - 12/29/08 01:33 PM
Easily accessible to I-285 and GA 400, you will love the amenities that Alderwood on Abernathy townhouses have to offer.
 

Even though this community sits at the fairly busy intersection of Abernathy and Roswell Rd., you will welcome the retreat and escape offered by these prime pieces of real estate.  Yes, you are in walking distance to Publix, The Weber School, Nori Nori, Aldo's Italian Restaurant, Blockbuster, and various other shops I know you will frequent, but once you are inside these luxurious townhouses you are removed from the hustle and bustle of Sandy Springs life.
These 3 and … (0 comments)

Best Investments to Make Now! - 12/19/08 10:09 AM
This year investors have experienced pandemonium in the financial markets but that doesn't mean you should hang up your dollars and quit.  So what investment opportunities in 2008 still weathered the nation's financial storms? Rental real estate property!!  From apartment buildings, to condominiums, to rental housing, investing in rental real estate properties has still proven to be lucrative, especially with the great discounts available in the real estate market now.


Own This Bldg for Just $215,000-visit http://Places2Love.GeorgiaMLS.com
According to the 2008 RERC/CCIM Investment Trends Quarterly (a national commercial real estate market report) for the fourth quarter, apartments still remain … (0 comments)

Business Spotlight: PROUD OF THE PRADO - 12/17/08 05:12 PM
In the midst of all the doom and gloom reported these days, it is good to know that Sandy Springs' business life is still thriving!

The Sembler Company continues the redevelopment of the Prado, located off Roswell Rd. just south of I-285, as it enters the final stages of construction. Along with the the familiar and longstanding Prado retailers and restaurants, this new project adds over 300,000 square footage of new retail space and includes Target,Publix , (opens 2/19/09), Staples (opens 1/17/09), RBC Bank, Home Depot (building date TBA), Starbucks, T-Mobile, Taco Mac, and many smaller retail shops and eateries. … (0 comments)

Where’s My Car? Sandy Springs New Online System - 12/17/08 05:08 PM
You have had a long, hard day at work and you just want to drive home in the peace and quiet.  But wait a minute.  You don't see your car - did you park it some place different and forget?  Or was it stolen?  Maybe it was towed?  Now, Sandy Springs citizens and Sandy Springs visitors can go online to http://ga.towedcar.com to locate towed vehicles.
 VINS-enabled communication between the SSPD and the city's contract tower, A Tow, will allow 24×7 towed vehicle recovery and eliminate the requirement to visit the police station prior to retrieval at the storage lot. VINS will also lower … (0 comments)

Business Spotlight: Expansion of Sandy Springs-based UPS - 12/17/08 05:06 PM
Congratulations to UPS! 
Amid our economic challenges, there is still growth happening in our economy that we should take note of and even celebrate.   Within the past week, Sandy Springs-based UPS opened its newest package and freight handling hub in Shanghai, China.  This is a great leap for UPS, positioning them for further expansion in Asia.

UPS on Tuesday opened its new Shanghai, China, package and freight handling hub, a significant step in the delivery giant's expansion in Asia.
The head of UPS China, Richard Loi, said at an opening ceremony:
"China is UPS's top international priority.  We have continued a steady path … (0 comments)

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY: Metro Atlanta Real Estate - 12/12/08 06:57 PM
American real estate has been through some up and downs these past couple of years to say the least!  If you bought real estate during the height of the real estate bubble (2002 - 2006), you may have heard  the horror stories of the value of your home being drastically reduced, if even still existent at all.  But for those that bought in Metro Atlanta, even during the heyday of the real estate bubble, there is actually good news for you... really there is.  Georgia, particularly Metro Atlanta (including the city and the surrounding towns like Sandy Springs, Marietta, Lithonia, Duluth, … (1 comments)

RELOCATING? Where Business Happens In Metro Atlanta - 12/10/08 07:09 PM
With all the woes of the northern automakers, many are migrating to the south in hopes of finding better opportunities (and better weather).  Metro Atlanta is definitely the place to be with our population expected to grow by 2 million additional residents by 2020 and corresponding surge of business opportunities.
 

But where specifically in the Metro Atlanta area should you settle down?  With Metro Atlanta, your one way commute can easily be 30 minutes to 1 hour and that is on a good day where I-285 is free of accidents, there is no rain, no overturned tractor trailer, no glaring … (0 comments)

IN THE KNOW: Metro Atlanta’s Best Schools - 12/09/08 09:28 PM
Relocating to Metro Atlanta with school-aged children/teens?  This isn't Kansas anymore nor is this as simple as High School Musical part 1, 2, or 3.  You may be aware of Georgia's poor educational reputation, including the current lose of Clayton County School District's accreditation, and you may be afraid... very afraid.
 

You may fear your college-bound child may not receive the educational support her young, gifted mind needs as you relocate to Metro Atlanta from public schooling.  Or, you may be afraid that you will spend 3-4 times the amount for elementary and secondary schooling that you would pay to send your … (0 comments)

Places to Love: The Vineyard - 12/08/08 06:18 PM
Have you ever dreamed about living in a vineyard or owning real estate in a vineyard? 
Well now is you opportunity and you can do it right in the Metro Atlanta area!  Although this is not an actual vineyard, The Vineyard subdivision is a place you will want to call home!

The Vineyard real estate home community is located in Sandy Springs off Long Island Drive, close to I-285 and Mt. Vernon Hwy near the First Montessori School of Atlanta. 
You will love the small intimate cul-de-sac, the beautiful landscaping, and the traditional, 2-story homes built beginning in 1995.  This is prime … (0 comments)

On Your Mark, Get Set, SELL!: Be The First One To Sell Your Home In Your Neighborhood - 12/05/08 09:43 AM
Are you in dire need to sell your home and don't have the luxury of letting your home sit on the market for months?
 

In this market, you have to be ready for a "price war" and a "beauty pageant" among neighboring real estate for sale.  More importantly, you have to be ready to win at both. 
Simply put, you have to price your home in comparsion to the other homes that have recently sold aggressively and competitively.  Also, you have to present your home in such a way that Buyers don't want to leave because they already feel … (0 comments)

Five Ways to Finance Bargain Properties - 12/05/08 08:22 AM
Bargain, bargains & more bargains!!  I am sure you have heard about the great discounted real estate properties in this market.  Actually, you have probably seen the real estate steals as you drive through Metro Atlanta and learn about homes in such communities as Sandy Springs, Buckhead, Decatur, etc. selling for under $30,000 whether due to foreclosure, short sale or just a very, very motivated seller. 

So how can you take advantage of these bargain priced real estate properties?  Buying low to later sell high may be on your mind with the current state of the real estate market, but … (0 comments)

Ready to Purchase A Home? Start With This Checklist - 12/03/08 08:51 AM
I am sure you have heard all of the hype about this being the best time to buy and maybe this has made you realize it's time for you to have the American Dream of homeownership.  Or, maybe you realize this is a great time to investment in some additional real estate properties if you already have a home.  Well, believe the hype!  This is a great time to buy if you are prepared since home prices are at all-time lows.  Before you rush out to take advantage of the great low prices in the real estate market, check the following:
 1.  … (0 comments)

What Have You Done For Me Lately? - The House Appraisal - 12/01/08 06:19 PM
Ready to buy or sell a home?  Then it is time to evaluate the home's response (as well as the surrounding neighborhood's response) to the age-old question, What have you done for me lately? 


Appraisals are a key component of the home buying and selling process because they establish the market value of a property, which can vary by the general condition, size, location, amenities, etc. of one home in comparison to similar properties in the area.
 
Appraisals may sound strikingly similar to other home buying and selling processes, such as the Home Inspection and the Comparative Market Analysis. … (0 comments)