SCHOOL ANSWERING MACHINE Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your school. In order to assist you in connecting to the right staff member,  please listen to all the options before making a selection: To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1 To make excuses for why your child did not do his work - Press 2 To complain about what we do - Press 3 To swear at staff members - Press 4 To ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - Press 5 If you want us to raise your child - Press 6  If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone - Press 7 To request another teacher, for the third time this year - Press 8 To complain about bus transportation - Press 9 To complain about school lunches - ... 06/30/2008

Many new websites have been started recently that supposedly tell you what a home is worth and show you the most recent sales data from that neighborhood/area.  The question is...are they accurate? "The percentage of error on these estimates is still very large," says Delores Conway, director of the Casden Forecast at the University of Southern California Lusk Center for Real Estate. If there are not many comparable sales in one area, for example, she says, "the estimates will have huge errors in them." To read the complete article for yourself, click here. What's the point of the story?  If you're looking to buy or sell, call a Realtor in your area!  Most Realtors will supply that information for you FOR FREE!  And always remember, if you're going to buy a house, you can use a Realtor ... 06/30/2008

Unless you're particularly savvy in home inspection-type items, I would recommend that every buyer get a professional home inspection performed on any property they are considering.  Yes, even new constructions!  Builders have been hurting in the recent real estate market - don't you want to make sure they didn't cut any corners? For my home inspection needs, I turn to the BrickKicker of Athens. Feel free to visit his website by clicking on the logo below and feel free to call or e-mail him with any questions you may have about home inspections.  If you're not familiar with home construction, building codes, electrical systems, plumbing systems, HVAC systems, etc., then why would you consider buying a property without a professional home inspection? A certified home inspector must be pr... 06/23/2008

Did you know that Suwanee, GA ranked in Money Magazine's Top 10 Places to Live in 2007? Click here to see the 2007 List   Interested to see the 2008 Top Ten by Kiplinger?  Click here to see the new 2008 List   Thinking of moving out of state?  Kiplinger has ranked 358 Metropolitan cities and you can sort the data by category. Click here to see the 358 city data report   If you're considering a move...DO YOUR HOMEWORK!  There's something to be said for falling in love with the feeling of a town or city, but moving is a very serious life decision.  Get all the information you can before deciding to take the plunge! Also, maybe the most important part of your moving process will be choosing a Realtor in your new town/city that knows what they're doing.  Before you move, ask a local Realtor... 06/23/2008

FHA loans are becoming more and more popular recently.  Why?  Click on the logo above for more information on FHA Loans.    First, let me clear up a common misconception.  The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is part of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) does not make or guarantee loans - it only insures loans. Why is this so good?  Because the insurance they provide minimizes the risk all lenders face...especially when buyers don't have 10% or 20% to provide as a down payment.  Therefore, lenders can offer you a great deal...even if you have a less than stellar credit history or don't have a large down payment to provide. In the past, FHA-insured loans had a bad reputation as it related to repairs.  If a buyer was attempting to get a FHA-insu... 06/19/2008

With each listing I am fortunate enough to receive and for each home I help a buyer to purchase, I make a donation to Sunshine Kids. Just who are the Sunshine Kids?  Click on the logo above to visit their website.   From the Sunshine Kids Website:The Sunshine Kids Foundation was founded by Rhoda Tomasco in 1982 while she was serving as a volunteer in the pediatric cancer unit of a hospital in Houston, Texas. After seeing the loneliness and depression among children during their extended hospital treatments, Rhoda had a vision to provide these young cancer patients with opportunities to participate in positive group activities which promoted self-esteem , personal accomplishment and just plain old fashioned fun! Today, that vision has been realized many times over, as thousands of childr... 06/19/2008

The National Association of Realtors has announced that pending home sales rose 6.3% nationally in April, according to the Pending Home Sales Index.  Pending home sales reached it's highest level in over 8 months. For more information on the rising home sales, view the entire document below. http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2008060901?OpenDocument I believe some of the reason for the improving numbers is seasonal.  Many people want to close on their new home in the summer months...after school is out...and be moved-in by fall in order to allow their kids to start at their (potentially) new school on-time.  Therefore, they do their searching in the early spring months and try to get a home under contract around April or May. It will be interesting to see what the Pending Hom... 06/19/2008

Check out the latest update from the National Association of Realtors' website and Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.  Higher conforming loan limits, rising popularity of FHA loans, and a potentially stronger economy towards the end of 2008 will all have a positive effect on the national real estate market. http://www.realtor.org/research/reinsights/forecast Remember, all real estate is local - markets differ from city to city...and certainly differ from state to state.  Don't let the media's talk of a nationally poor real estate market completely influence your opinion.  Take it with a grain of salt. And, the most important thing...a "poor" or "soft" real estate market means what???  That it's tough to sell your house for top-dollar.  What does this mean to buyers?  It means that it's a per... 06/09/2008

A Great Place to Call Home in Jackson County Within the Jefferson City Limits! The city of Jefferson is fast becoming one of the hottest areas for families wanting country living but with all the conveniences. We are conveniently located up the I-85 corridor right above Gwinnett County at Exit 137 in Jackson County Georgia.  We offer excellent schools. recreation and all the services you have come to expect. Mallards Cove Subdivision offers distinctive craftsman influenced architecture with 4 or 5 bedroom plans to choose from. Ranches or two-stories, basement or slab homes; we have it all!  We can customize any of our 15 plans to best suite your personally needs and taste.  We cater to young professional families who want all the upgrades at a price that offers value!  Some of our stand... 05/18/2008

In working with buyers it's typical to have "Good Schools" at the top of the list of things they need with their new home.  What makes a good school these days? Good scores?  No violence or drugs?  Sports programs? Good teachers? As a Realtor®, who transferred to Jackson County, specifically the City of Jefferson, GA, within the past three years, let me tell you what I have found regarding school systems in my area. First of all- no school is perfect.  You may not like every single thing the school does or doesn't do or every teacher in the school system.  Any school can have problems. Especially since the kids who make up the school's student body are a reflection of the people who live in that community and no community I've ever lived in is without some challenges. When my husband an... 05/13/2008

Commerce Georgia is located about 62 miles Northeast of Atlanta. Follow I-85N to exit 147 and you will find us. Commerce has an estimated population of 5,856. Although, being a resident here I would have to say that the number is probably higher. We are still a quiet and quaint community where everyone smiles and waves. Commerce Georgia has dubbed itself "a city on the right track." We do have  railroad tracts that run right through the center of town. And, Yes trains still come through usually around 2:00pm every afternoon. Please take a look at our city website to find out more about Commerce Georgia. www.commercega.org 08/18/2007

Home sellers often attempt to avoid the brokerage sales commission by attempting to sell their homes on their own. The desire to avoid the commission is certainly understandable given the expense is typically 5-7% of the sales price of the home. Is the sales commission a justifiable expense? Value misconceptions regarding real estate brokerage services fuel the idea that real estate sales commission is excessive. I hope to address these misconceptions by offering brief insight into the real estate industry and the agents that sell homes. The real estate industry serves as a broad network of brokerage companies, resource services, regulatory agencies, supportive associations, internet and print media advertising companies, signage suppliers, inspectors, attorneys, mortgage companies, etc... 05/18/2007