I'm wishing everyone a HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH OF JULY!!! Whether you're planning to travel, enjoy a picnic, set off some fireworks, go to the lake, or just stay at home and watch TV - here's hoping you'll enjoy whatever you'll be doing this weekend!!! And... Let's not forget why we're celebrating -- on July 4, 1776 America declared her freedom from England and each year on July 4, Americans celebrate their freedom and independence. So, whatever you're doing this 4th of July, enjoy yourself and enjoy your freedom -- and don't forget to thank and appreciate the service men and women who serve our great country and help KEEP us independent and free -- GREAT THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 07/03/2010

Let's support the arts in our communities -- music and art (in my opinion) are necessary in the education of our children. I say this because I am a music and art lover, and because I was fortunate enough to experience both in my own education and I've enjoyed a lasting, lifelong enrichment in my own life as a result. Ok, let me just confess right up front -- I love real estate -- but my other passion is PIANO!!! Yes, I spend a few hours every week working with my piano students -- 13 of their smiling faces are pictured below!   Two students are missing from the picture -- one of them had an awards ceremony at school the same night and the other had a choral concert the same night as this recital -- she felt she needed to support her teacher since the school system let the teacher go --... 06/04/2010

Here is a snapshot from the National Association of REALTORS® report summing up our local market for the last 30 days, including all property types, all offices and all areas in Dalton and Whitfield County GA represented in the local MLS during the month of March 2010: New Listings 3/1/2010 - 3/31/2010:   126 Number Properties Sold:   61 Median Sold Price:   $79,000 Average Sold Price: $86,991 Average Days on Market:   115 The average sales price is still quite low, reflecting the large number of distressed properties in our market. The good news? It's a great time to buy!!! If you've been thinking about buying a home, there has never been a better time - rates are low, prices are low, and the tax credit is still available (but not for long!). Maybe today is the day to go get pre-qualif... 04/09/2010

Spring has just sprung in the South, but it sure seems like summer is already here! People in my neighborhood are cutting grass, planting trees, cutting down dead trees and hunting Easter eggs this weekend and all this has made me feel a little BASEBALL in the air!!! Have you ever been to a minor league game? Sure, we all love the Atlanta Braves -- after all, they're 'America's Team' -- and I have great memories of when Dad used to take us to Braves games at the old Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta when we were kids -- it's gone now and replaced by Turner Field, but that was THE place for Atlanta Baseball back then! We watched Hank Aaron and Phil Niekro -- my three younger siblings and I all had autographed baseballs (by Phil Niekro, I think), but, sadly, I lost mine at some point :( BU... 04/04/2010

I'm pleased to announce that this lovely home at Lagenia Court in Dalton GA has been SOLD!!! This spacious 4 bedroom 3 full bath home sold for $155,000 after 163 days on the market. This listing was lovingly prepared and marketed by me -- complete with nicely done MLS listing, virtual tour and slide show -- plus e-mail flyers were distributed to every agent in my area code.  This home was available for viewing on my website, my two blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, my company's website, the Century21.com corporate website, the local MLS website,  Realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow, Postlets, Craigslist and many others. If you'd like to see if there's a home available that would suit your needs, please check with me -- I'll be happy to work with you in finding your next home. If you're ready ... 04/03/2010

I'm pleased to announce a pending sale for this lovely home at Lagenia Court in Dalton GA. This 4 bedroom 3 full bath home is both spacious and well-maintained -- and Northridge Subdivision is conveniently located close to retail shopping, doctors offices, grocery stores -- everything is just minutes away. I'm sure the new owner will be very happy here -- we're scheduled to close next week. If you'd like to see if there's something on the market that would suit your needs, please check with me -- I'll be happy to work with you in finding your next home. If you're ready to sell, I can provide an excellent marketing package for your home complete with virtual tour, slide show, detailed MLS listing and exposure in all the major social media sites -- I would love the opportunity to market y... 03/23/2010

Who doesn't love a dollar store? Varnell, GA is no different! The city of Varnell has about 1,500 residents, and this new Dollar General is located close to the subdivisions and residential areas --- in fact, it's located 2 minutes from where I live, so I'm happy about that! We were fortunate enough to have one dollar store already - located next to Food Lion (our one grocery store) - we really got excited when we got these two stores roughly 10 years ago! Varnell is located about 8 miles north of Dalton, GA and about 25 miles south of Cleveland, TN. We're probably 20 minutes from Chattanooga, TN - we're in a very desirable area, and a growing area. It's great to see a community experience healthy growth, and that is just what we are seeing in Varnell. Nearby communities are Tunnel Hill... 03/18/2010

"May you always haveWalls for the winds,A roof for the rain,Tea beside the fire,Laughter to cheer you,Those you love near you,And all your heart might desire!" IRISH BLESSING Thanks so much for stopping by today - here's hoping you and your loved ones have a wonderful ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!!!! 03/17/2010

For those of us who live in the small community of Varnell, GA - located just north of Dalton - The Butcher's Market has turned out to be a real treasure! My husband and I get our steaks there (think nice thick ribeye) - I like my steak to moo a little from my plate yet still be nice and charred on the outside, and you just can't get that when it's cut too thin. And steak isn't all they have! When my sister and her family come to visit from Orlando, we always make a trip to The Butcher's Market - we tell them to get whatever they want - and believe me, THEY DO - we usually have an assortment of steak, chicken, chops - whatever they see that looks good! We take it all back home, throw it on the grill, and toss some Twice-Baked Potatoes in the oven - yes, The Butcher's Market has those to... 03/16/2010

Have you noticed that free Wi-Fi is more readily available? I've noticed in the Dalton, GA area - and even in nearby Chatsworth -- I'm seeing more signs in front of businesses letting people know that free Wi-Fi is available. I think that's really nice! This can be a great convenience -- especially if you want to get a little work done in a friendly environment. I have a friend who's been working on her blog -- she needed a little help recently, so we met at Curt's Restaurant -- a very casual meat-and-veggie cafeteria style place. We had lunch and then got out our laptops and spent the next several hours working on her blog! Nobody cared, nobody asked us if we were almost done...we just camped out and got our work done! But, it didn't seem like work! We were in a nice environment, we ha... 03/15/2010

I have to admit -- I REALLY LIKE MARKETING HOMES!!! WHY? Because I thoroughly enjoy putting together a package that showcases your property: 1. A Nicely Done MLS Listing I like to include a complete MLS listing with as much detail about the property as I can so potential buyers won't pass over it due to lack of information.  2. An Attractive Internet Presence A good first impression drives people to click further and call for an appointment. 3. Great Visuals Like Virtual Tours and Slide Shows I usually do one of each for my listings - both are links within the listing, but the virtual tour is also a stand-alone and can be e-mailed to interested parties. 4. E-mail Flyers When I list a property, I send an e-mail flyer to every agent in my area code - you never know when they might have a ... 03/11/2010

I've lived in Georgia all my life, and North Georgia for 30 years or so - Calhoun, Chatsworth, then Dalton. The entire North Georgia area is nice, but Dalton stands out for several reasons.     1. Cost of Living Dalton is an affordable place to live - housing is reasonable and other costs are lower than what I see when I visit Atlanta, my hometown, which is about an hour and a half south of Dalton. 2. Scenic Beauty Here in Dalton, we can enjoy the scenic beauty of the mountains without the harsh conditions that sometimes come with them. We have four distinct seasons and usually a little snow every year, but nothing severe enough to shut us down for long most of the time - but we all remember the Blizzard of '93! Although it just affected us for a few days, it was a LONG few days on the ... 03/10/2010

Here is a snapshot from a report by the National Association of REALTORS® summing up our local market for the last 30 days, including all offices and all areas represented in the local MLS: New Listings 2/10/2010 - 3/10/2010:   160 Median Sold Price:   $74,413 Average Sold Price: $87,330 Average Days on Market:   104 Yes, the average sales price is quite low, reflecting the large number of distressed properties in our market. The good news? It's a great time to buy!!! If you've been thinking about buying a home, there has never been a better time - rates are low, prices are low, and the tax credit is still available (but not for long!). Maybe today is the day to go get pre-qualified!   03/09/2010

I have to admit, I get a tad bored when I see a blog post without an image - at least one (or video or other visual). I mean, it really needs to have GREAT content - starting with an attention getting title - to get enough attention from me to read it. And if I start that first sentence and the writer seems to be just rambling about something trivial - well, I'm gone. To me, the image and the content are a package deal - I know it's hard to find just the right image - I spend a lot of time searching for images, but for the most part I buy them - that way I know I don't have a copyright issue. It's important to me that my readers enjoy the post - and for me to feel sure of that - I HAVE TO HAVE JUST THE RIGHT IMAGE!!! And then I may resize it, adjust the color, crop part of it out, add a... 03/07/2010

I'M READY!!! I've ordered new marketing materials, I've been shopping for my summer 'uniforms' - khakis and REALTOR® logo shirts - and I'm planning to spiff up and redo the lettering on my vehicle next week. In other words - I'm ready to sell some real estate - and, specifically  I'm ready to list some properties!!! I've come to realize that my talent lies in marketing properties due to my enthusiasm about the Internet, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc., my ability on the computer, and my love for taking photos and creating virtual tours. Maybe it's an artistic thing!!! At any rate, I am ready and willing to list property -- and I'm happy to work with local people in my area of Dalton - including Whitfield and Murray Counties - or with agents needing to refer their clients to someone in... 03/07/2010

Road Trip!!! Everybody likes to hear those words, right? But I was thinking about a 'road trip' with a little different slant on it. Someone made a comment this morning about how beautiful our community is, and that she wondered when she moved here if the residents really appreciated the scenic surroundings. When you think about it, you usually have a greater appreciation for your area when you come BACK FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! I know that when we go to the beach - and I love the beach - it's always nice when the mountains come into view as we're driving up the Interstate and getting close to home. Soooo...I decided I might do some exploring in my own town - and maybe a couple of nearby towns. There are actually some neat things right here in Whitfield County that I've never really check... 03/07/2010

According to a report by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® this month, pending home sales are down and additional declines are expected due to recent weather conditions. The Pending Home Sales Index, an indicator based on contracts signed in January, fell 7.6 percent to 90.4 from an upwardly revised 97.8 in December, but remains 12.3 percent higher than January 2009 when it was 80.5. Bottom line, the WEATHER, of all things, had an impact on the housing market! January sales were still higher than the numbers we saw a year ago but were significantly lower than expected - especially with the extended home buyer tax credit.  Just another reason to wish for spring! 03/06/2010

I hate housework! I do it every week and I love a clean house, but I hate it. So maybe we don't really have to do a FULL BLOWN spring cleaning - maybe just a little extra spiffing up will suffice. Here are some tips: Throw some stuff out!!! You've been meaning to, I know. My husband reminded me yesterday that I have T-shirts in my closet that are 15 years old. They're all from great trips we took and there's the sentimental value factor - but they have to go! I'm going to do it today! Another problem is that my mother loves to shop at thrift stores - but she doesn't want that junk in her house - so I get it. Some of it has to (discreetly) go! Make sure you have all your cleanin supplies ready before you start. For me, realizing I have to make a trip to the store on cleaning day would b... 03/05/2010

 Could your dream home be a fixer upper? Here are some guidelines to make sure you don't wind up with a nightmare of a money pit! 1. Make sure it's the right choice for you. If it's truly beyond reasonable repair, you don't want it. This will take some time, research, and lots of professional advice. 2. Hire a home inspector. Really, you probably shouldn't buy ANY home without a home inspection, but don't even think of purchasing a fixer without one. 3. Draw up a realistic budget. And then add some more! Whatever you estimate, you can count on unexpected expenses popping up and bumping the your investment. 4. Check out financing before you make an offer. You want to be sure you can not only buy your dream home, but carry out the improvements you want to make. A fixer could very well tur... 03/05/2010

OK...your house has been on the market for a while...you're trying to figure out why it won't sell...consider this, it could be YOU!!!!! You might think you'll lose money if you price your house too competitively in the beginning, but there are many things to think about, such as: 1. Will your expenses go down if you go ahead and move? Are you maintaining two households or moving to a lower cost of living area? It could really make a difference. 2. Are you facing reality as far as what a realistic price is? It's tough, but you have to do it...take your agent's comps and recommendations seriously. 3. Are you having showings but no offers? Most likely your price is too high - a lot of people will just pass rather than submit a 'lowball' offer. If your property isn't being shown, though, m... 03/05/2010