Site Selection magazine's November 2007 issue names Georgia the second best state in the nation in which to do business.
Georgia was ranked No. 4 last year. Georgia has never ranked lower than 10 (2000 and 2001) in the national poll, and has been among the top four for the last four years.
"I am pleased that Georgia's outstanding business and entrepreneur environment has received national recognition," said Gov. Sonny Perdue. "The ranking reflects the reality that business decisions are made for many reasons and based on the strength of the entire package, and shows that Georgia is strongly positioned to grow its stable of entrepreneurs as well as win business from both national and international companies."
I love being a Realtor, being my own boss, having my own business...I love supporting events like this...it makes you feel good when your generosity doesn't go unappreciated. I'm glad I live in the Roswell community and our neighborhood (Horseshoe Bend) hosts events like this. Our team provided children's gifts to our neighborhood's community fall festival and today I received a Thank You card, it's message below in italics.
Brenda!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the amazing children's prizes you purchased for the HSB (Horseshoe Bend) Fall Festival. The glow-sticks will be in full sight on Halloween that's for sure! Every child, big and small left with a prize they picked out and a huge smile on his/her face! Thank you (and your husband too as I heard he picked out all the goodies) so much for the generous and super fun gifts! They were such a hit among all the kids.
Gov. Sonny Perdue's policy of cutting down on demand for water by restricting usage is all well and good, top state lawmakers said, but they intend to boost the region's supply as well.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Speaker Glenn Richardson on Oct. 25 said they plan to allocate millions of dollars in state bond financing during the 2008 legislative session to construct and expand reservoirs across north Georgia.
Their aim, both men said, is to ensure this year's record drought does not persist for years to come.
Cagle and Richardson also will back legislation to speed up the reservoir permitting process, which can take years, cutting the time down to as little as three months. Ideally, Cagle said, some additional capacity could be online within two years.
That's a more ambitious goal than the one set by Carol Couch, director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, in the state's new comprehensive water management plan. Couch wants to reduce the average time it takes to bring new reservoirs from concept to completion from 14 years to about seven.
While her agency's plan primarily focuses on conserving water, Cagle and Richardson intend to concentrate on securing more of it.
"If we can capture more of the rainfall and manage it properly, we can sustain our needs well into the future," Cagle said.
The state would let cities and counties decide where to put new reservoirs, Richardson said. Local governments would also pitch in on the funding, which could involve public-private partnerships, he said.
In own county of Paulding, Richardson said, a huge tract of land has been cleared with the aim of building a reservoir, but the project lacks financing to proceed. In neighboring Haralson County, he said, the permitting process was so arduous that local authorities eventually gave up on a new reservoir there.
Getting federal environmental regulators to approve reservoirs faster may be difficult, given the state's current relationship with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Both Cagle and Richardson took shots at the Corps for releasing large quantities of water from Lake Lanier, the region's primary water source, to preserve endangered species in Florida at the expense of Atlantans.
"We have an agency called the Environmental Protection Agency and our Environmental Protection Division, but we don't have anything called the Human Protection Agency and the Human Protection Division," Richardson said. "We think it's time that we modify our priorities and start protecting people."
Perdue and local officials from across the region have asked President George W. Bush to temporarily exempt Georgia from the Endangered Species Act in order to reduce the amount of water released from Lanier. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce added its weight to their plea Oct. 25.
Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist are trying to block the request.
Metro Atlanta is the top place for relocating singles, according to relocation industry group Worldwide ERC and third-party employee relocation provider Primacy Relocation.
Atlanta ranked No. 1 on the groups' survey, the fourth annual "Best Cities for Relocating Singles." Atlanta is followed by New Haven, Conn.; Madison, Wis.; Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y.; and Raleigh, N.C.
The groups used statistical profiles of the largest 100 U.S. metro areas, zeroing in on the criteria most relevant to singles. This year's results incorporated new data from government and industry sources, including overall cost of living, availability of outdoor/adventure activities, and violent and property crime rates.
"We know that successfully assimilating into a new community facilitates a transferee's productivity," said Cris Collie, CEO of Worldwide ERC. "As the labor market continues to tighten, opportunities for talented and mobile employees expand, and companies seek more ways to successfully compete for talent, the focus on elements that make relocation more attractive to job candidates becomes more significant."
Long standing as Atlanta's most affluent neighborhood, Buckhead, 6 miles north of Downtown along Peachtree Road, is an elegant blend of stately and well-tended mansions, upscale shopping, and premiere restaurants. Even though it is known for its wealth and prestige, it retains the name Buckhead from its days as a frontier community before the Civil War. Henry Irby had a general store on the corner of West Paces Ferry and Roswell roads. While out hunting one day, he killed a deer and placed the buck's head in front of the store for all to see. The community became known by word of mouth as Buckhead. A formal campaign to change the area to Northside Park in the late 1800s proved unsuccessful and the name Buckhead was made official.
Since 1959, Buckhead's crown jewel has been Lenox Square Mall. As the largest shopping center south of New York City, Lenox's tagline was: Everything's there at Lenox Square. Lenox and its equally glamorous neighbor, Phipps Plaza offer more than 300 ritzy retail shops and continue to be Atlanta's most popular shopping destination.
In recent years, Buckhead's nightlife opportunities have swelled, giving it a true, urban, 24-hour feeling. It's no wonder the Atlanta Journal Consitution once said of Buckhead: It's where old money lives, and new money parties.
Often called the Beverly Hills of the South, Buckhead's wealthy neighborhoods are tucked among mature trees and rolling landscapes. Easy to access from Georgia 400, I-285, I-75, and I-85, many people sightsee along West Paces Ferry, where opulent homes stand majestic. With continually rising home values, Buckhead remains a highly sought-after section of Atlanta.
Today more than ever you need a Realtor that is leveraging the latest technology available to get your home sold. Our real estate team recently ran across a unique marketing software that integrates your home's floor plan with actual photos of each room on the floor plan. We are currently piloting this software with our listing at 5167 Lake Forrest Drive http://www.homesight.net/rss/tours/index.php?id=8795 with favorable results.
The data is clear, potential buyers want to see photos, and lots of them! According to Realtor.com:
Enhanced listings with multiple photos have 299% more impressions than listings without multiple photos.
Listings with multiple photos also have 72% more click-throughs to the listing detail page.
Data collected by Point2NLS.com, outlined in the chart below, notes that listings with 21 or more photos generates 10.65 buyer leads, whereas, listings with 5 photos generate only 3.34 buyer leads.
When listing your home with our team, you can expect that we will continue to research the best ways to leverage technology to market your home. Today, we post 36 photos of your home, create virtual tours, and now have begun to beta test integrated photo floor plans. Call us today to list your home at 770.300.0023.
Cherokee Indians once inhabited the land all around what is now known as the city of Duluth. Even after settlers came in the early 1800s, Duluth did not see its first surge of growth until the north-south railroad made its way through the town connecting it to its namesake, Duluth, Minnesota. The railway brought instant growth to Duluth. Within a few short years, the city had a new school, Baptist and Methodist churches, and several banks. And in 1922, Duluth made political history by electing Georgia's first female mayor, Alice Harrell Strickland.
Today, Duluth is the second largest city in Gwinnett County, with 22,000 residents. Even though it is almost 25 miles northeast of Atlanta, it is part of the Atlanta Metro area and considered a gateway to the city with convenient access from Buford Highway and I-85. Duluth is a City of Excellence with the right balance of small and large businesses interspersed with great shops and restaurants.
In spite of the growth, Duluth maintains its hometown feel. Old Towne Duluth is the city's hub and is home to the annual fall festival that draws up to 30,000 locals and visitors. Outdoor enthusiasts love Bunten Park, a beautifully landscaped public space with walking trails, picnic areas, tennis courts, and a play area. And with Stone Mountain and Lake Lanier so close by, the recreational opportunities are endless.
Duluth continues to attract newcomers and is called a "suburban oasis" by locals. Homes in the area have been a good investment since the early 90s.
Just inside I-285, between downtown Atlanta and Stone Mountain, in DeKalb County, Decatur, the county seat, offers the best of small-town life with all the perks of living in a big city. Decatur's motto is "a city of homes, churches, and schools," and indeed, with almost 20,000 people it is its own city, but it is also part of the Atlanta Metropolitan area. As such, it is a mixed-use diverse community with well-established businesses, top restaurants, eclectic shops, hip clubs, live theater, parks, independent schools, and walkable neighborhoods - all within minutes of downtown Atlanta. With well-known colleges and universities like Agnes Scott, DeVry, Colombia Theological Seminary, and nearby Emory, as well as excellent public schools and a strong sense of community that attracts young families, Decatur has a lively contemporary energy.
Named after Stephen Decatur, a US naval hero, Decatur has a rich history. The city's courthouse sits on the cross-section of two Indian trails (now the intersection of E. Ponce de Leon, McDonough, and Clairmont) and anchors the heart of the city, known as the Square. The courthouse and Square have always been "the" gathering place; that tradition continues today with numerous festivals and events throughout the year. In the 1830s, residents rejected a bid to make Decatur a stop on the Western and Atlantic Railroad, shaping its destiny forever. The railway moved west 7 miles to Terminus, which later became Atlanta. Several exciting walking tours highlight landmarks of Decatur's role as a strategic site in the Civil War's Battle for Atlanta.
Today's residents embrace the city's history, while preparing for smart growth that continues to enhance the urban characteristics of their small town. Decatur features beautiful historic neighborhoods and offers a variety of architectures and options-bungalows, Craftsmans, condos, Victorians, and townhomes-to suit every taste.
Incorporated in December 2006, Milton, 30 miles north of downtown Atlanta, is a city intent on preserving its rural character and legacy. To enhance the quality of small-town life for its residents, the city of Milton has established a Trail Plan that will connect parks, schools, and neighborhoods together. The Milton Trail will complement the city's rural feel, easily meandering alongside Milton's numerous horse farms, gravel roads, and wide open spaces.
About 20,000 people share 23,000 acres in the new city of Milton, giving it a roomy and relaxed character. Bordered by the cities of Roswell, Alpharetta and Forsyth, Milton will remain part of Fulton County and will retain full county representation; however the new incorporation means that most decisions will be made by local city council members.
Milton residents have quick access to major highways such as Alpharetta Highway and GA 400 to pursue business opportunities in the surrounding communities and in the greater Atlanta area.
Newly incorporated in December 2006, Johns Creek is a young, thriving city in northeast Fulton County. The city was created from the previously unincorporated eastern portion of northern Fulton County, with Roswell to the west and south, Gwinnett County to the east, Alpharetta to the northwest, and Forsyth County to the north. Named for the stream that runs through the area on its way to the Chattahoochee River, nearly 60,000 people call Johns Creek home. Ample parks and greens provide recreational opportunities for residents. Set on 46 forest acres, Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center is one of the city's most-cherished public spaces and offers hiking trails, a nature center, and a collection of historic buildings, including a farmhouse, a chapel, a church, a barn, and an old country store. Additionally, The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area has several hiking trails, pavilions, and boat launch facilities in the Johns Creek area.
With a rapidly growing business and medical district at the crossroads of Highway 141 and McGinnis Ferry Road, John's Creek has a vigorous economy and award-winning North Fulton County schools, making it a hot spot for growth. Already, it is Georgia's 10th largest city. With convenience to I-285, GA 400, and I-85, as well as major roadways like GA 120, GA 141, and McGinnis Ferry Road, high-end communities and great neighborhoods are in the area, with a wide mix of housing choices.
Brenda Richterkessing
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