Cal Warlick, former sports illustrator and AJC editorial cartoonist will be at the Hamilton Mill Fast Frame, in the Publix Shopping Center at 2463 Hamilton Mill Pkwy on October 25th from 10 to 2.  Cal is known for taking the more liberal stance of the paper he's writing for but usually the cartoon and editorial comment are so funny that he gets a pass by locals.  Partly because his humor is actually TRUE! Cal will be signing famous limited edition prints and of course, you'll have a variety of frames on hand to choose from as well.   10/11/2008

Without further adu, here's episode #5 picking up where we left off.  In this tutorial you will learn the basics of how to edit your video...a question we receive constantly.  Know that this can appear confusing at first glance but does become easier with application and practice. You can do it!   Reel Tech TV Episode 5   Next week's episode:  Now that you know how to edit, where is the best place to post your video?  For more information please check out ReelDwellings.TV  10/01/2008

I pose this question not as a hypothetical but as a real soul searching question.  You may be unaware of what your actions (or lack there of) are truly saying about your business. Remember, image, especially in the real estate market, is everything.  So with that in mind I pose the following for thought: Just because the market is bad don't stop selling your brand.  Now, more than ever is when you need to be seen standing strong in what you know and what you sell.  Media can generate fear which can generate negative actions.  Don't allow bad press to interfere in your daily operations.  People are still buying and selling everyday, even in hard times.  They will look for those who are optimistic and will choose to spend their time, money and referrals with them.  Why?  Because people wa... 09/24/2008

                      The new Harbins Park is set to open Phase I in Spring of 2009. It is located at the intersection of Luke Edwards Road and Indian Shoals Road in Dacula, Georgia. Once complete it will be the largest park in Gwinnett County at over 1,900 acres! This tops the current largest in the Hog Mountain area, Little Mulberry Park, at only 890 acres and Tribble Mill Park in Grayson at 700 acres. Phase I includes over 3 miles of multi-purpose trails and many more miles for mountain biking and horseback riding. It will also include restrooms, a playground, an open-space play area, a large pavilion and an equestrian-only parking lot. Phase II will be completed at a later date and will include recreation fields for baseball and soccer; it will be used by the athletic program of the... 09/18/2008

I'm going to be on Rain Radio today at 2PM EST (11AM PST)  Tune in and learn all about video!!  This is a reblog from Brad Andersohn: Reel Dwellings TV meets RAIN Radio Sounds like a Terminator meets Alien showdown, but it's not... it's better!  Today we have Tara Jones fromReel Dwellings TV on the show talking about Video and how to take it to the next Radical Level.  Tara Jones is an experienced Professional Video Host.  She'll be discussing various aspects of Real Estate Video and how it affects today's Industry and YOU.  Tara will share answers on many of the questions we all have about Real Estate Video.  When to do it yourself vs when to rely on the pros?  How to over come the fear of video and how to best use it to sell homes and communities.  What makes a good video, what makes... 09/18/2008

Here is a fantastic new home that is dramatically reduced and the Builder needs an offer. Please take a minute to view this video and give me your thoughts.  The video is pretty raw, and taken with my new Flip Video camera, so excuse the sloppiness. Any help is welcome on how to best use the Flip Video Camera. http://www.viddler.com/explore/mattsells/videos/1/ Original Post: http://hermes.diamonddwellings.net/2008/09/16/new-construction-in-princeton-pointe-hamilton-mill-area/ 09/16/2008

We have had such a huge following with our video tutorial series on how to create quality video with the Flip camera, people have been wondering, "Where in the world is the next episode?"  Well, a broken leg on my part has set back production of Reel Tech TV a few weeks.  For that, we sincerely apologize. Thank you for your patience and please look for new, upcoming episodes within the next couple of weeks!   Until then, we're always here to answer any of your video questions so keep on shooting!  For more information check out ReelDwellings.TV  09/12/2008

09/11/2008

This two day course will teach you the techniques the top gurus use to promote their products and capture leads. You can use these simple methods to promote your business! Finally, a two day course designed for real estate investors that will teach you how to capitalize on many of the lead generating and money making opportunities the internet has to offer. The best part is it wont cost you a fortune to attend! Super Smart Web Profits has long been known and respected as being the leader in website and data base applications for real estate investors and now we have developed a two day course that focuses on how you can get the most out of the internet! Capture more leads, use proven money making affiliate programs, ultimately make you money. These tools and applications are available ... 09/09/2008

Have you been by the new Gwinnett Braves stadium lately? I drove by today and things are starting to come together. If you are not aware, the Richmond Braves, the AAA farm team of the Atlanta Braves is moving to Gwinnett County to open play on April 15, 2009. This is a very exciting time for baseball fans in the Gwinnett County area. Personally I cannot wait. I have been to numerous minor league baseball games and there is just something different watching the minor leaguers play versus the big boys. The site is being prepared for the baseball field as well as restaurants, shops, residential living and more. If you know anyone that is looking for a "hot" place to open a business give us a call to get additional information on what is coming available. There is a lot going on in prepara... 08/19/2008

Click here to watch this week's episode! Reel Tech TV Episode 3 Most of us fell victim to the ways of the digital camera when it first came out.  We learned how to use all the new bells and whistles and shot amazing pictures.  The problem was (and for some remains) we leave the pictures on our camera!  Don't let this happen to you with the FlipTM.  It's relatively easy to download your video on either a PC or a MAC.  Here's how. Whether you're a PC or a MAC user you first have to "flip" out the USB plug from the FlipTM camera.  Simply plug it into your laptop (or hardrive) and wait for the icon to pop up on your screen.  Once it does click on it and wait for it to load the software (this may take a minute or two depending on how fast your computer is)  Once it is loaded, your videos sh... 08/17/2008

Reel Tech TV Episode 2 So now that you know how to turn the camera on how do you know what to shoot?  It's not as easy as you may think.  We're going to walk you through a typical home tour with some photographer 101 basics. First of all, try and find the focal point in the room.  Is it the stack stone fireplace?  The decorative hood over the range?  The unique spiral staircase?  Whatever the feature, try and showcase it first to grab the viewers' attention.  The key to remember when creating a video home tour is giving them a "tease".  You don't want to show them every light switch and electrical outlet...you want them to come see the house in person so you can sell it to them!  With that in mind, keep it simple.  Just a one to three shots in the main rooms (we'll get to what the main ... 08/09/2008

  Back in the Fall of 2006 a small Christian School opened in the Hamilton Mill area and if you have not heard about it yet, well here is your chance. We have just received word that Dominion Classical Christian Academy is adding a 5 day program to option for families who desire a traditional day-school approach along with a classical format. Dominion Classical Christian Academy is a private, preparatory academy in Lawrenceville, GA. The Academy's mission is to help families advance the Kingdom of God by covenanting with parents to equip their children with a Biblical worldview and a thirst for learning. Classes began in the Fall of 2006 with classes in K4-6th grade with the goal to add a class each year until Dominion is K4-12th grade. The Dialectic School will begin with 7th grade in ... 08/04/2008

As many experts predict, the bottom of the current housing market collapse is close to, if not past us and with that news the Atlanta GA. real estate market in my opinion is getting ready to make a turn for the better. In the coming months the market should stabilize and with the new Housing Bill signed by President Bush, buying a home should be easier for many who have been wanting or waiting to buy. What the Bill should do is cause a ripple effect through the industry. As first time home buyers (or those that have not bought in the past three years) start to purchase lower cost homes, those who are able to sell will typically purchase more expensive homes, which allows those persons to "move up" as well, and so on and so on.  How long this process takes to unfold I cannot answer, but ... 08/03/2008

10 weeks ago I started running. Well, not really running, I guess. I started walking and it progressed to running. I don't have a great deal of patience, so walking always progresses to running for me at some point. Anyway, ten weeks later I found myself in a crowd in the middle of Dacula Road at 8:30 AM on Monday morning. If you know me, you probably know that I am portly or rotund (insert your own nice word for big belly). I don't have the classic runner's physique, shall we say. Yet there I was with several hundred of my friends and neighbors. It was a lot more exciting than I would have imagined. The starter made some announcements and then cried, "Runners - take your marks! Go!" And they went. Me, not so much. My goal was to run the entire 5000 meter (just over 3 mile) course witho... 05/28/2008

THE INFORMATION BELOW IS PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF DACULA http://www.daculamemorialday.com/ Memorial Day in Dacula ...salutes, thanks and supports all of YOU, our U.S. Veterans, active andreserve military of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard- All Heroes of our nation. --- Our Mission ---To promote patriotism and encourage Dacula area citizens and businesses to participate in a celebration of our country's freedom on Memorial Day by honoring all veterans, living and deceased, who have served their country paying the price of freedom. 05/19/2008

The Fed did this! The Fed did that! Rates are up! Rates are down! Aaaagggh! Okay, now exhale. In turbulent economic times the media can’t wait to report what interest rates are doing. Pundits prognosticate, forecasters forecast and soothsayers sooth. When should you buy a home based upon interest rates and when is it the right time?   There is a fixation on what rates are doing. A fixation on what rates will be in the future and what rates were in the past. I’ve heard potential home buyers tell me, “I’m not sure I want to buy now because rates are ¼ percent higher now and I think I’ll wait.” I say, “Wait for what?” I say let’s not look at the rate but instead concentrate on what that rate actually represents … your monthly payment. Let’s look at what an interest rate move of ¼ percent r... 05/13/2008

There are some properties for sale in our area with hefty asking prices. Are they realistic? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I guess they will be realistic as soon as someone actually buys them! In the Dacula cluster, you can live at 1042 Auburn (HWY 324) Road, on 5 acres of land, in a 5 bedroom 5 1/2 bath, 6019 square foot home built in 1999 for 1.5 million dollars.Rather live in the Mill Creek cluster? Your kids can go to high school with 4000 of their closest friends! My kids go to Mill Creek and I can say that we have been very happy with the experience. Coming from California we were prepared for the worst - Georgia schools get a bad rep, you know - but everything has been great. If you are looking for upscale digs, you can start packing for your new home in Chateau Elan. 514... 04/27/2008

The median single family home price in Dacula Georgia this week is at $279,950, up from $279,900 last week.  The 710 homes (down from 727 last week) have been on the market for an average of 121 days, which represents no change from last week.The least expensive listing in Dacula GA this week is $89,900, the most expensive listing is $1,500,000.35 homes were either sold or taken off the market for other reasons this past week.The 90-day Market Action Index stands at 9, no change from last week.  The Dacula Georgia real estate market is currently quite strongly in the Buyers Market zone (below 30).  Buyers still should find ample choice with several months of inventory available at the current sales rate.  Click Here to download a full report of the past weeks real estate activity in Dac... 04/09/2008

The median single family home price in DACULA Georgia this week is $279,900, down from $284,900 last week!  That represents a $5,000 drop in one week! The 727 homes have been on the market for an average of 121 days, up 5 days from last month.The DACULA Georgia real estate market is currently quite strongly in the Buyers Market zone (below 30). The 90-day Market Action Index remains at 9, no change from last week.  With several months of inventory available at the current sales rate, buyers should still find ample choice. Click Here to download a full report of the past weeks real estate activity in DACULA, GA.  Includes charts showing prices, average days on market, inventory levels and more.Visit http://www.luciabrooks.com/ to see over 100,000 North Metro Atlanta real estate listings ... 04/01/2008