I was listening to National Public Radio this morning and caught a few tidbits of news.  I purposely have been avoiding listening to the news recently because the economic data is so bad.  This morning I was shocked to hear that the rapid rise in unemployment in yesterdays news was more than epic.  It was the worse set of statistics ever released on unemployment in the 125 year history of the Bureau of labor Statistics history.  That says a lot.  We lost over 533,000 jobs alone this November. When you consider the average unemployment check is not large enough to pay your mortgage, taxes, or car payments...that is beyond scary.  Today a mortgage payment can be several thousands of dollars a month.  There are student loans to be considered, and payments on charge cards.  Car payments, SE... 12/06/2008

Will lower mortgage rates really make a difference?  It is too little too late?  The buzz in real estate today is that mortgage rates are going to plunge to 4.5% 30 year fixed rates for purchase mortgages.  That story has been in the news all week this week, and everyone in real estate seems to feel this will stop the fall in prices.  It may, but in my own opinion it will it also just prop up super inflated prices that have not yet been priced correctly.  Home prices have not bottomed. First of all I welcome the possibility of lower rates, but I also feel it is too late.  We should have had this last quarter of 2007, and first half of 2008.  Affordability of a home has to be considered, but so does the ability to pay the mortgage. In lieu of this month’s unemployment report it is hard ... 12/05/2008

Here is the Suwanee Georgia FMLS Update for Suwanee single family detached home listings for sale as of today Saturday November 29, 2008 in both Forsyth and Gwinnett Counties GA.  This is for the current inventory activity of single family detached Suwanee GA homes for sale: Active - 795 Properties Found - Suwanee Georgia homes for sale Contingency w/Kickout - 0 Properties Found - Suwanee Georgia homes for sale Contingency - Due Diligence - 2 Properties Found  - Suwanee Georgia homes for sale  Contingency - Other - 4 Properties Found - Suwanee Georgia homes for sale Pending - 95 Properties Found - Suwanee Georgia homes for sale 11/29/2008

The Bush administration on Wednesday largely abandoned its plan to buy up toxic mortgage assets and said it will focus its $700 billion financial bailout fund on making direct investments in financial institutions and shoring up consumer credit markets. The U.S. Treasury Department initially promoted the financial rescue package approved by Congress last month as a vehicle to buy illiquid mortgage assets from banks and other institutions to spur fresh lending. that plan never got off the ground and U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told a news conference asset purchases were not the most effective use of the funds. Paulson was unapologetic, saying that by the time the rescue bill was passed on October 3, it was clear the asset purchase plan would take too long and would not be suff... 11/24/2008

GIVING THANKS!! A chill is in the air – especially for Atlanta! I think Mother Nature forgot that we’re in the South - giving us a good taste of, in my opinion, winter from the North. The temperatures are down right chilly— giving us all a good indicator summer is gone for a while.  It is so easy when things seem bleak to crawl into bed, pull the covers over our head, hibernating while waiting for a better tomorrow. But I would venture to guess that most of us have been getting up every day this year, putting one foot in front of the other and doing all we can to keep a smile on our face, trying to look for that silver lining.  We can all take pause to reflect on the roller coaster ride 2008 has been. And, I am not just talking about real estate. If we reflect on this year’s real estat... 11/21/2008

Atlanta started to see a decline in sales volume and units in June, 2007. And, to date, our market has still not recovered. Year over year decline in closings is over 30% from last year. OVERALL ATLANTA MARKET RECAP Market has experienced declines for the past 18 months in a row. An average of 7 percent of all outstanding listings are selling each month. Past 3 (three) months show slight increases of home values. A possible indicator Atlanta home values may be stabilizing. New home construction is down over 80 percent Mortgage rates projected to decline slightly over the rest of the year with a gradual increase over time. Months supply of inventory for single family detached homes (resale) stands at 13.2 Months supply of inventory for condos (resale) stands at 13.6 A LOOK BACK OVER SEPT... 11/12/2008

Through November 30, 2008Check website for specific dates & times The 2008 Atlanta Magazine Dream Home, “Villa Bella Vista,” is a Tuscan-inspired estate at The River Club in Suwanee. It features three levels of luxurious living spaces, including outdoor rooms designed for year-round gatherings. The house overlooks a community lake and the second hole of the Greg Norman–designed golf course. Click Here to Search for Homes For Sale at The River Club 11/10/2008

Santa comes to Suwanee Sleigh bells ring are you listening? IT MUST BE SANTA!!! It's a busy time of year for santa and his elves! So many children to visit and the clock is ticking!! but santa has a way of making sure he travels to visit every boy and girl to find out just exactly what it is they want under the christmas tree! so get ready suwanee because santa is coming to town by tractor-pulled sleigh.... When:  Saturday, December 6 time:  5:00 pm where:  Main street @ Old town enjoy the old town holiday festival and caboose lighting. watch as santa magically lights the red caboose sing along with the elementary choruses giggle with delight while enjoying a carriage ride stay warm with hot chocolate fill your tummy with yummy s'mores and cookies it's a family affair and bring your ca... 11/07/2008

I went to early vote last Monday, because it would be the only day my husband could vote, since he would be out of town. Wow...what an experience. Didn't know we even have this many people in Gwinnett County! It took us 7.5 hours!! Yes, 7.5 hours! When we showed up at the George Pierce Park precinct, in Suwanee, around 11AM, the people leaving were saying it took them about 3.5 hours. At the time, that seemed kinda long, but we decided to tough it out, since we didn't have another opportunity. The line formed a U from the front entrance of the building, then around the parking lot. Though it moved slowly, it did move. Finally, as we approached the entrance of the building, it just stalled. And stalled. And stalled. After a very long wait, we finally moved inside. Only to find out the li... 11/01/2008

 As a result of the recent flood of foreclosure and short sales, home owners are askign at almost every closing how do I file to have the Tax Assessment Reduced or really how soon can I file to have my property taxs reduced on this house. We I read this great articele at REALTOR.ORG/realtormag and wanted to pass it along. I have made a hard copy to now include with each closing package along with a list of the county tax assessors web site and phone number to help my clients get started on saving a little on their tax dollars .    Time to Appeal That Tax Bill?By John Garippa | November 2008  Evaluating Your Assessment  The vast majority of taxing jurisdictions throughout the United States assess residential property based on market value: the amo... 10/30/2008

For all the homeowners who are upside down and can no longer make their mortgage payment (because of either a job loss, divorce, or an option ARM that's resetting higher), up to now the only option was, well, letting the bank foreclose. That's not a good option since a foreclosure sticks on your credit record for at least 10 years. But some experts are now advocating a "short sale." This is a case of a distinction with a difference: If your bank agrees to a short sale, you then hire an agent to find a buyer for the house, you sell the house for a loss, and with the bank's blessing, they agree to eat the loss. (although they could still demand the homeowner make some kind of payment or share the loss). To make the whole thing work you'll probably need to find a real estate agent willing ... 10/29/2008

The media is killing us with all the drama of the "financial crisis" and frankly I'm tired of hearing about it 24/7. I know like everyone else what kind of impact this situation has on our lives. Not only does it cause havoc with our 401K and other investments but it also hurts our independent businesses as well.  It's hard to stay positive with all this going on around us. Therefore, this past Saturday I headed to The Taste of Suwanee a yearly event that is simply outstanding and got an attitude adjustment. Located at the 10 acre Town City Park in Suwanee Georgia, Town City is not just a park, it offers shops, restaurants and residential living all at the same place. A gorgeous fall day in the 70's, a perfect time to walk around and take in all the sites! My daughter sings with the Nor... 10/24/2008

We are building again! We have 3 new starts (2 on basements) plus finished homes.  Big Discounts and Mortgage Money Available! Visit Hillside Trace today! 10/21/2008

 The Pre-Foreclosure Process The pre-foreclosure period can range anywhere from one month to a year, depending on local law and custom. Often times, homeowners who cannot pay off their default debt will turn to selling their property during this period as a SHORT SALE For buyers, this can be a great opportunity to find significant discounts, as most homeowners look to sell for reduced prices simply to raise enough to pay off their remaining loan debt. Buying a pre-foreclosure involves dealing directly with the homeowner, and oftentimes this means approaching homeowners and actively seeking out the deals. However, the results can be quite rewarding in today's market.If you are thinking of Buying a "Short Sale" you do need an Realtor to get this most diffecult deal done. Call me today to ... 10/21/2008

Laurel Springs Update  -  September 2008(per FMLS and office records, as of October 20, 2008)  Active Listings:  There are 40 active listings in the Laurel Springs subdivision  highest priced listing at $989,900 and lowest price listing at $475,000 Contingent Listings: One home is under contract with a contingency... 10065 NORMANDY LN  listed at $739,9000 (total of 6 bedrooms, 6 full baths, including finished basement) Currently 3 pending home sales Laurel Springs with list prices of $879,900, $714,900 and $597,600 2 homes are recorded as SOLD for September 2008 in Laurel Springs: Listed for $750,000 - SOLD for $658,350 - closed on 9/05/08 Listed for $679,900 - SOLD for $660,000 - closed on 9/19/08 For more information about Laurel Springs, call The Sherry & Maria Team today! The Sherry... 10/20/2008

The newest park in the city of Suwanee's portfolio, Sim's Lake Park -  is open for business! Staying true to form with their Open Space Initiative, Sim's Lake Park consists of 62 beautiful natural acres plus a 7 acre lake. The park is also comprised of 1.2 miles of looping trail, a picnic paviliion; and, two-2 acre play meadows. Located at Suwanee Dam Road and Tench Road, the Grand Opening Celebration for the park is scheduled for November 8 from 2 pm - 5 pm.   10/13/2008

Located in the Richland Subdivision is this wonderful Suwanee Home for Sale. Suwanee Georgia has been named by Money Magazine as one of the top 10 cities in the United States to live. Trend Magazine also named Suwanee as a "City of Excellence" in 2003. 10/12/2008

  Rivermoore Park, Suwanee GA           Third Quarter 2008 Compared to Second Quarter 2008 Third Quarter, 2008SOLD:  3Corp Owned:  1Foreclosure: 1Owner Transfer: 0Lease/Purchase: 0No Special Circumstances: 1High Sold Price:  $454,000Low Sold Price:  $366,000Average Sold Price:  $401,633Avg DOM:  80Avg ORIG. List Price to Actual Sale Price Percentage:  93%Avg Seller Concessions:  $5,360 Second Quarter, 2008SOLD:  9Corp Owned: 1Foreclosure: 1Owner Transfer: 1Lease/Purchase: 0No Special Circumstances:  6High Sold Price:  $717,000Low Sold Price:  $460,000Average Sold Price:  $575,277Avg DOM:  49Avg ORIG List Price to Actual Sale Price Pecentage:  94%Avg Seller Concessions:  $4,152   Analysis:   Number of homes sold 3rd quarter vs. 2nd quarter:  <6 units> Avg SOLD price 3rd quarter vs. 2nd q... 10/11/2008

Everyone knows that the most important factor in real estate is "Location, Location, Location."  Even the most novice person on the streets has heard this well-known saying for years and years.  As simple as it sounds, the reason this saying is so widely known and applied when discussing real estate is because the statement is TRUE and always has been. Well, it has always been applicable until 2008, when suddenly it appears that all real estate can be discussed on a nationwide basis and lumped together as a single unified commodity.  The truth is, and I understand that I'm preaching to the choir for the most part, there is no national housing market.  The "national housing market" being discussed and lamented for the past several months is actually made up of thousands of very "real" in... 10/07/2008

On Saturday, October 18th, residents of Suwanee and all surrounding areas will have the opportunity to sample fantastic food from over 30 different restaurants at the 2nd Annual Taste of Suwanee. The festival is expected to attract over 6,000 hungry, fun-loving people to Town Center Park to enjoy an afternoon sampling appetizers, entrees and desserts from the menus of some of their favorite areas restaurants, as well as many other restaurants yet to be discovered. The food theme continues with culinary demonstrations by the Kroger Cooking School's infamous Chef John. For the sports fans, music fans and youngsters interested in taking a break from eating, there will be plenty of other entertaining distractions. Dish Networks will have a tent fully-equipped to air college football games f... 10/07/2008