Recently, I was talking to my daughter who is a Realtor in Seattle. She was telling me that with the economic downturn it gets harder and harder to close on a contract. However, she added that she had come up with four plans that have helped her to close:

A) Find financing for the buyer

B) Find financing for the buyer

C) Find financing for the buyer

D) Find another house for the buyer

Oh, so true!

According to a recent study done by psychologists at UK's University of Ulster, people who have sisters are more likely to be happy and well-adjusted.  In general, girls are more expressive than boys, and researchers found that girls tend to foster communication among family members, which can promote family harmony and individual mental health. In stressful times, such as the present economic downturn, sisters serve as a calming influence on the entire family. Girls encourage more open communication while boys tend to internalize problems. As the parents of four daughters, my wife Ruth and I can say that these conclusions are correct about 90% of the time. One little tip: keep the box of Kleenex close by! The communication can morph into different forms!

2749 Pappy's Plaza   .66 Acres   Offered at $549,000

The Riverwalk Restaurant provides riverside dining just minutes from Blairsville, GA on heavily travelled Hwy 19/129 South.  It is close to the Appalachian Trail, Vogel State Park and Brasstown Bald. The restaurant  is located in Pappy's Plaza, which itself is a major tourist attraction in the area. Blairsville and the surrounding area are rapidly growing  with a full-time population of 25,000, which swells to 60,000 in season.  

3243 Daisy Log Road   17+/- Acres   Offered at $1,950,000

Lakeside country estate on 17 acres with breathtaking views of mountains, lake and pasture!  This unique 4BR/3.5BA contemporary home on three levels features an ensuite master on main level,   kitchen with breakfast nook, separate dining room,  great room with  cathedral ceiling and floor-to-ceiling rock fireplace.  Green features include energy efficient appliances, extra insulation and thermal pane windows. There are other amenties, both inside and out, too numerous to mention.  If you want to live in rusric luxury, this may be the home for you!

I've always wanted my own fire engine. Not the kiddie car type, but a full size red fire engine with sirens, hoses, ladders...the whole works. So when I heard that there was a 1936 Maxim fire engine for sale in North Georgia, I hesitated only a short time before I gave into temptation and made it mine.

Now as all of you who have acquired fire engines know, the next big question is: what on earth am I going to do with it? Fortunately, I own a real estate company that will take any good publicity it can get. Suddenly my 1936 Maxim Fire Engine was slated to become a drawing card for Mike Kelly Realty.

Getting the fire engine ready to meet the public took a lot of work. The brakes didn't work, the choke had to be set just right before the engine would start and plumes of black smoke poured out of the exhaust.  I and my riders - hesitant ones at that - jolted around and bounced up and down until I figured out how to work the clutch. And, since the fire engine, after all, was built in 1936, there was no power steering! Do you know how hard it is to get a fire engine to go where you want it to go without power steering?

Eventually, though, we took care of all the problems, polished up the brass and chrome, added a CD player and we were good to go.

Our debut onto the Blairsville scene took place at the Blairsville Memorial Day Parade a few years back. I drove the fire engine and members of our company sat in the back wearing fire hats and waving flags. It all went very smoothly, except for some overheating of the engine at the end of the parade.

Since then the fire engine has been a big hit in our town. On nice days, it sits in our parking lot, where passersby stop to examine it, sit in it, pretend to drive it, take pictures and even come into our office to ask if they can have a ride (generally, the answer is yes). I've been invited to take the fire engine to church festivals, grand openings, fund raisers and car rallies. I've even transported a whole birthday party to the local ice cream store!

The moral of this story is: if there is something you really want but can't justify getting it, figure out a way to make it work for you. That way you'll avoid the guilt!

7.5 Acres  Offered at $499,000

Long-term lease or Owner-Financing available!  Property is adjacent to the proposed Lowe's in Hiawassee, Georgia. The property has 7 septic tanks, city water, 2 trailers and a bathhouse. Upper acreage has a private bored well.  Proerty is bordered on the back side by Crooked Creek. THIS IS AN IDEAL COMMERCIAL LOCATION which is just a minute to Lake Chatuge, entertaining and tourist attractions!

Tropical Stream Aquatics  Offered at $29,900

This business is actually a combination of 2 businesses: a well-equipped retail store with the latest equipment for displaying both fresh- and salt-water fish and stocked with the best home and commercial fish tanks, equipment and food.  The second business is an aquarium maintenance business; services include installing and maintaining commercial aquariums.  Owner will provide training and contacts.

4-unit Apartment Building  Offered at $255,000

 This is a good-looking brick 4-unit building located close to the center of town. It is occupied and has had major renovation in three of the four apartments. Amenities include a common picnic area, large parking area, handicap facilities, hi-speed Internet ,washer/dryer hookups and satellite dish. Located in a pleasantly wooded area yet less than 1 mile to downtown.