Do you need a basement in Atlanta GA? - 12/31/09 04:20 PM
Do you need a basement in Atlanta, GA?  Whenever I meet new clients who are looking to buy a home in the Atlanta or Sandy Springs area, I always ask what they need in a new home.  Invariably this list includes the number of bedrooms, baths, and garages.  A lot of times there is a certain size yard buyers are looking for.  Sometimes the buyers are from an area where basements are not common.  These include Florida, out west and some international locations.  
My advice on basements is a HECK yes for the Atlanta, GA area!  Some concerns folks have … (7 comments)

Price your home right, in a good market or bad and you can get it SOLD! - 12/30/09 09:26 PM
Price your home right, in a good market or bad and you can get it SOLD!  I just read a great post from another AR blogger, by Jeff Dowler, Are you LYING to your Sellers?  It just doesn't make any sense to price a home higher than the market will bear.  You are not doing anyone a favor by doing this.  
Many times I meet with sellers and they have a feeling, hope, desire of what their home is worth.  The home is worth what a willing, able and ready buyer is willing to pay.  One of the challenges today is … (6 comments)

Good real estate news in Atlanta & Sandy Springs GA for December 2009! - 12/29/09 04:51 PM
Good real estate news in Atlanta and Sandy Springs GA for December 2009.  We just got our latest statistical data from SmartNumbers, Steve Palms for the Atlanta First Multiple Listing Services data.  We are continuing to trend upwards on sales increases in volume for comparing this November to last November.  Steve  Palms says "There were 3,630 closings in November 2009 for single family detached. This is an increase of 32.9% over November 2008 and the greatest year-to-year percent increase since April 1996’s 41.6%. If there are a lot of lags, this could be the largest percent increase since records have been … (2 comments)

Where would you pick to live if it could be anywhere in the US? - 12/29/09 02:33 PM
Where would you pick to live if it could be anywhere in the US?  Not too many people get or MAKE the opportunity to pick where they want to live.  Interestingly, I grew up in a family where they did just that in 1978!  Let's start at the beginning.  In 1977, we were living in a charming RI town.  My father's job became to find another job.  Months of interviewing lead him to an opportunity in NJ, but shortly after arriving, he got an opportunity in Miami, Florida.  Since this had originally been their goal to live in a warmer climate, … (4 comments)

Buying for long term value in Atlanta & Sandy Springs, Georgia! - 12/28/09 11:04 AM
Buying for long term value in Atlanta & Sandy Springs, Georgia!  There are certainly many opportunities in today's real estate market.  Home prices are low and interest rates are very low.  This is why our inventories in the Single Family Home market (or Detached Homes as our FMLS calls it) are shrinking quite a bit.  
So, if you are thinking of buying today, what should you look for?  There are a number of factors that make a home better than other homes.  They include: location, school districts, floor plans, property associated with the house and more.  Let's walk through these … (0 comments)

Holiday Traditions, Sharing Old Ones, Making New - 12/22/09 06:49 PM
Holiday Traditions, Sharing Old Ones, Making New!  We arrived late last night to celebrate Christmas with my family in south Florida.  (Always a good location to have family!)  Tonight my brother was asking if anyone is planning on making THE fudge recipe.  It's interesting how some recipes and moments stand out in life.  
Over the years, I remember making this countless times with my maternal grandmother, as well as my mom.  We felt so "important" when we were kids to have our opportunity to stir for 9 minutes to get the process started.  (You stir 10 minutes to get it … (4 comments)

When will Atlanta & Sandy Springs, GA be a sellers market again? - 12/16/09 07:14 PM
When will Atlanta and Sandy Springs, GA be a Seller's Market again?  Hmmmmm.  The $64 Million dollar question.  Well, there are a number of factors that influence our market in Atlanta, GA.  They are housing inventories, mortgage rates, mortgage capability (for lack of a better word), jobs growth and appraisals.  Let's take a look at all five.   For the sake of this discussion, I am only going to cover Single Family Homes as the Condo & Townhome market in Atlanta & Sandy Springs, GA is dramatically different.  See my previous post: Why I would not buy a townhome or condo … (0 comments)

OMG, My Mother is BLOGGING or How to Embarass your Children! - 12/16/09 02:35 PM
OMG, my mother is blogging or how to embarrass your children! The other day at dinner, one of our children was asking what I did that day.  I responded that I was blogging about Atlanta and Sandy Springs, GA Real Estate.  The kids collectively, issued incredulous responses, like I am too old to be blogging.  They said, "You are kidding, right, OMG!"  
What could you blog about?  Who would read your blog?  Their next concern, was I Tweeting, too?  I mean how embarrassing would that be?  Now it's almost a joke around here and they ask if I am on my computer … (9 comments)

Greatest client compliments, being invited to dinner - 12/14/09 07:25 PM
Greatest client compliments, being invited to dinner!  I've worked with a lot of great clients over the last seven years of my Atlanta real estate career.  However, last night is the first time I can remember being invited to dinner from someone who was a client first!  The whole family went over for a nice pre-holiday meal.   Everyone had a wonderful time!
I first met these clients about 14 months ago when they came into town from Tokyo to look for a new home.  The husband was being transferred to the US and they wanted a city with a great … (14 comments)

The Peachtree Road listing I passed on! - 12/14/09 03:40 PM
The Peachtree Road listing I passed on! I went on a great listing appointment today and passed on the opportunity to list the unit.  I was called by a very nice gentleman who got my name from the Christ the King church bulletin.  He said he wanted to sell his condo and would I come over and take a look at it.  I went knowing that most likely the current "value" of his property is less than what he paid for it.  
Why did I go?  Well, my logic was, if this person owes very little or is in a position to price it … (8 comments)

Warm right up with delicious home-made bread! - 12/11/09 11:36 AM
Warm right up with delicious home-made bread!  We are seeing "frightful temps" the next couple days in Atlanta (and all over the US map.)  So, I thought I would share a warm, delicious and heart-healthy bread recipe from my mother-in-law.  My friend's now call it Michelle's bread, since folks just rave about the taste!  
 
Ingredients:
1 cup oatmeal (not instant!)
3 cups bread flour
1 Tablespoon oil
1/3 cup 100% pure maple syrup (not just regular stuff,get the 100% pure!
1 teaspoon salt 
1 package yeast (= 2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 1/4 cups + 1 tablespoon of HOT water!
… (11 comments)

Are you a great neighbor? Following in Mr. Roger's Footsteps! - 12/08/09 10:27 AM
Are you a great neighbor?  Following in Mr. Roger's Footsteps!  I remember being a little kid and watching the PBS show Mr. Roger's Neighborhood.  It seemed like a great place to be when I was young and had a bit more of a creative imagination.  Now, what I am looking for in a neighborhood has evolved.   We are very fortunate to live in a fantastic neighborhood for us.  In fact, over the years (it's been 14 now), we've considered moving for another garage and a mudroom.  
What brings us back to the decision to stay here is our neighbors. … (6 comments)

Rain Rain Go Away - Rain and other Life Cycles! - 12/02/09 02:16 PM
Rain, Rain Go Away - Rain and other Life Cycles!  As I organize my Sandy Springs office today it has poured all day.  We are expected to get a few more inches today and have had a really wet year.  This was proceeded by two very dry years, where we were really hoping for rain in the Atlanta area.  In fact, now I am ready to see a drought again. Well, maybe not a drought, but this is too much. 
It's interesting to keep any aspect of life in balance between too little and too much.  Today, we have few home … (7 comments)

 
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Michelle Francis Realtor Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

Atlanta, GA

More about me…

Tim Francis Realty LLC

Address: 4590 Windsor Gate Court, Atlanta, GA, 30342

Office Phone: (404) 219-9760

Cell Phone: (404) 219-9760

Email Me

Tim Francis Realty is a boutique real estate firm that offers Residential Buying , Selling, Executive Home Leasing and Property Management in Atlanta, Buckhead and Sandy Springs, GA. Give us a call, ya'll. 404-219-9760



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