Not too far from Lilburn is Discover Mills.  It sits in a triangle bounded by I-85, GA120 and Sugarloaf Parkway.  And of course the firs tthink one thinks of when talking about a mall is shopping...  But honestly, there are a lot more fun things to do there. It is a hidden gem in Gwinnett County... hidden in plain site. Let's look at some of the cool things that we can do "at the mall"... Let's go racing... Really.  Slingshot Speedway has the longest permanent indoor slot car track in the country.  For $3-$5 (speed costs money, how fast do you want to go?) you can take on up to 5 other drivers on the track... bring your own car, buy a new car or just rent...  Somebody need to be shot... With an Airsoft weapon...  At Goldeagle.  They have a few thousand square feet dedication to Airsoft ... 07/28/2009

Well recently the  U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Geithner announced details on the expansion of the Making Home Affordable program to include short sales under the new Foreclosure Alternatives Program.  Under the plan, incentives would be provided for mortgage servicers and borrowers to pursue short sales. Financial incentives include $1,000 to servicers for a successful short sale, and borrowers may receive up to $1,500 to assist with relocation expenses.  Reasonable and customary real estate commissions and selling costs will be permitted and the servicer will agree not to negotiate a lower sales commission after an offer has been received. HR 3648 the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, is leveraging this and other legislation to help as many homeowners as possible avoi... 07/28/2009

Multiple Foreclosure List. Many Just Listed. Various prices. (Gwinnett - Cobb - Walton) Multiple Foreclosure & Pre Foreclosures Bank Owned Foreclosures JUST LISTED!!! *******4 Bedroom 2.5 Bath in Duluth, GA             $189,000 Click to See Photos, Map, & Details This is a "must see" opportunity and priced thousands below neighborhood. Located in the prestigious Canterbury Woods S/D near Sugarloaf Pkwy and Peachtree Industrial.  Hardwoods on main.  Granite counter tops.  Plantation Shutters. Huge Master. *******3 Bed 2 Bath Ranch on 1-acre, Loganville GA                  $50,000 Click to See Photos, Map, & Details Just listed.  Large level one acre lot.  This home is priced WAAAYYYY below comps.  Needs carpet and some handyman repairs. *******2 Bed 2 Bath Ranch W/ Bonus Room, Loganville... 07/25/2009

I love being a REALTOR and try to give 110% to everything so  it is not unusual for me to work 10 -12 hour days and several hours on the weekend jut to make sure everything is done to the best of my ability however  sometimes I just catch myself spinning out of control and I have to stop with a little reality check - it's real estate no one is dieing - so stop and focus on "WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS I CAN DO NEXT TO A) MOVE A LISTING CLOSER TO SOLD B) GET A BUYER INTO THE HOUSE OF THEIR DREAM 3) CREAT MORE TIME TO MAKE ROOM FOR A AND B TO BE DONE BETTER. Thats what I love about my day making it work. 07/25/2009

An REO (Real Estate Owned) is a property that goes back to the mortgage company after an unsuccessful foreclosure auction. You see, most foreclosure auctions do not even result in bids. After all, if there was enough equity in the property to satisfy the loan, the owner would have probably sold the property and paid off the bank. That is why the property ends up at a foreclosure or trustee sale. Foreclosure sales begin with a minimum bid that includes the loan balance, any accrued interest, plus attorney's fees and any costs association with the foreclosure process. In order to bid at a foreclosure auction, you must have a cashier's check in your hand for the full amount of your bid. If you are the successful bidder, you receive the property in "as is" condition, which may include someo... 07/25/2009

Bidding wars seen in markets for foreclosed homes  Prices of foreclosed homes have taken such a beating that investors are jumping in and bidding up prices. Investors who win bids are often cash buyers who do not need to go through the appraisal process to get a loan. Traditional buyers who are looking for a home to reside are at a disadvantage. Jerry Lou Davis, a real-estate agent in California, says the activity in the foreclosed housing market is similar to the housing bubble of yesteryears. Jay Butler, director of the Realty Studies program at Arizona State University, concurs with this view. "This market is about as abnormal as the hypermarket that we came out of a few years ago," said Butler. Experts say that the bidding wars will impede stabilization of the housing market.  In Ph... 07/21/2009

Foreclosures hit over 1.5 million homes in first half of 2009  According to RealtyTrac, foreclosures rose 15% in first half of 2009 compared to a year earlier, impacting over 1.5 million homes. Foreclosure filings increased more than 33% in June compared with the same month last year and rose nearly 5% from May. More than 300,000 households have received foreclosure filings in each of the 4 months till June. About 79,000 homes were repossessed by banks in June, up from 65,000 in May.  Analysts say that the $50 billion in subsidies announced by the Obama administration for tackling the foreclosure crisis has not been effective so far. "Despite all the efforts to date, we clearly haven't got a handle on how to address the situation," said Rick Sharga, RealtyTrac's senior vice president fo... 07/21/2009

1. Education & Experience a good agent is involved in ongoing training 2. Agents stand between you and the other party 3. Knowledge of the Area 4. Price Guidance by knowing current and recent price history for an area you don,t over pay or under sell 5. Market Conditions A professional real estate agent studies the market daily. 6. Professional Networking of other active agents local business persons 7. Your Agent will be able to negotiate from a position of power 8. Timly and accuratuality proccess the ton of paperwork work required 9. Answer Questions After Closing about the contract the loan o the area   imagine the possibilities... is not just a slogan it is a mindset. It defines who we are.."A company committed to making big things happen" If its Buying or Selling Real Estate in Ge... 07/18/2009

1. Use the Right Form / C contract   While this may seem simple many lenders and agents/ brokers required offers to be submitted in a standard form or fashion and some require additional information as part of the offer that may not be normal given during a "traditional" sale. 2. Knowing what to Pay.  Often the buyer and buyers agent have a price in mind of what they want to pay but understanding the seller / banks position is just as important .  The buyer has to understand that the Bank does a full appraisal and market review before they price the home and know the cost of repairs that may need to be made, so expecting to pay 50 cents on the dollar of a newly listed REO home is most likely not going to happen no matter what you hear on TV. Look at recent sales in the area for guidance... 07/18/2009

Popular Types of Mortgage Loan Programs Buyers could get a fixed-rate conventional mortgage, an FHA loan or a VA loan and a dozen other types. Fixed-Rate Mortgage Types  This is the granddaddy of them all. Now you can choose from 10-year, 15-year, 20-year-, 30-year, 40-year and even 50-year fixed-rate mortgages, all of which are completely amortized FHA Loans FHA mortgage loan types are insured by the government through mortgage insurance that is funded into the loan. First-time home buyers are ideal candidates for an FHA loan because the down payment requirements are minimal and FICO scores do not matter.  VA Loans This type of government loan is available to veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Services and, in certain cases, to spouses of deceased veterans. The requirements var... 07/18/2009

During my first year as a Realtor I worked what are called "expired listings" homes that did not sell during the listing agreement. Every morning I would pull an expired listing reports and start calling Mr. / Ms Want to be Sold and let them know  that their home was now one of a great number of expired listings. And ask if we could meet to talk about what to do next. What I learned 100 Sold homes later, is there are really only 5 reasons the house went UN sold. 1.) Asking price too high Most home buyers are house-smart. They've been looking at houses for a long time and they've done their homework. By the time they get to your house the agent and the buyer may have looked at over 10-20-homes, and perhaps have viewed 100s more on the internet. They know what they can get for their inves... 07/16/2009

 I was listen to some great oldies and ran across The Pajama Game Soundtrack and the song And realized how it has been such a long long time since my last "Once a Year Day' Day. We all need a Once A Year A Day" -Day to just be crazy silly and remember what it was like to feel that feeling we used to know as a kid the first day the summer break or a snow day or one of the teacher work days we forgot was coming. I vow to have a Once a Year Day Day --Soon. Once A Year A Day - Lyrics Sid: This is my once-a-year dayOnce-a-year dayFelt the morning sun and knew thatThis was my once-a-year dayonce-a-year dayEven got a kiss from you, I feel like hoppin' up and downLike a kangarooJumpin' fences, climbin' trees,What pleases me is what I'll do, 'causeChorus: This is our once-a-year dayonce-a-year d... 07/12/2009

Selling Your Home For most families, their home is their largest financial asset, and deciding to sell it is a big decision that involves a lot of preparation and work. When you're ready to sell it's important to have an experienced real estate professional handle the details involved in the successful sale of a home for top dollar. Our team of experienced professional REALTORS® have helped many Georgia and Atlanta area residents sell their homes.  We know how to handle every aspect of the sales process - from strategically marketing and showcasing your home to making sure everything's signed, sealed and delivered by the closing date. Providing you with comprehensive, high-quality listing service is our top priority. So when you decide to sell your home, please contact Renaissance Realt... 07/11/2009

How to Choose a Neighborhood for Your Home Search Narrow your home search by identifying neighborhoods that are right for you. This helps keep your search focused and efficient. Your local REALTOR® can offer neighborhood information to guide you in your search. When evaluating a neighborhood you should investigate local conditions. Depending on your own particular needs and tastes, some of the following factors may be more important considerations than others: quality of schools property values traffic crime rate future construction proximity to schools, employment, hospitals, shops, public transportation, prisons, freeways, airports, beaches, parks, stadiums and cultural centers such as museums and theaters Neighborhood Search Strategies for Limited Budgets If you're a first time-buyer... 07/11/2009

How to Choose a Home Here are some tips to help determine which house is best for you. Once you've settled on a couple of preferred neighborhoods for your home search, it's time to pick out a few homes to view. Having a house features "wish list" keeps you focused on which features are most important to you. When narrowing down your home search, consider the following: know what types of home you want to buy determine what age and condition of the house you want to buy consider resale potential use a features wish list to keep focused use a home search comparison chart to keep organized act decisively when you find the right home Determine What Type of Home You Want to Buy There are several forms of home ownership: single-family homes, multiple-family homes, condominiums and co-ops. Sin... 07/11/2009

Buying a Home -- In Lawrenceville Georgia or For that fact Gwinnett County GA Buying a home is an exciting and complex adventure. It can also be a very time-consuming and costly one if you're not familiar with all aspects of the process, and don't have all the best information and resources at hand. Renaissance Realty specializes in representing the best interests of Georgia home buyers throughout the home buying process. Our comprehensive, high-quality services can save you time and money, as well as make the experience more enjoyable and less stressful. If you're like most people, buying a home is the biggest investment you will ever make. So whether you're buying a starter home, your dream home or an investment property, why not take advantage of the local market experts at Renaissan... 07/11/2009

If you have to work on a Saturday -- have fun doing it I have been owrking at my desk ALL day and it has been bareable becasue of my new toy GROOVESHARK you have got to test drive it next time you want o sit around and listen to some old favs. Check it out its FREE I know you all knew about this before me .. 07/11/2009

 We as Realtors love our titles and our training but does the general public really know what it all means and the requirements for that alphabet soup we pile behind our name. Realtors I ahve to ask do you disclose  which "titles" and awards are  National Association Of Realtor designations vs in house, self taught self awarded titles Do you disclose the educational requirements and training requirements for non NAR titles or do you just dazzle them with a laundry list. Should an agent be required to disclosure the history or for the fact be allowed to use a non NAR title in advertising their services. My MD is board certifeid to show he/she has meet a standard of serivce and the public is "safe or protected" in his care. Yet Agents more so now then ever are adding title after title beh... 07/08/2009

Recently a court case ruling about Administrative Fees (Busby v. JRHBW Realty, Inc, d/b/a RealtySouth) made me think, "Good for them!"  I've never been a proponent of Admin Fees.  They are junk fees after all.  However, as a short sale specialist, I had to think about this a bit more. In this case, the plaintiff won a class action law suit against RealtySouth for charging Admin Fees that were legally proven not to have done anything to help in the transaction.   Short Sales can feel like the wild west and now some of the extra ways of collecting a full commission are in jeopardy. Let's look at Section 8 of Respa (since it was used in this court case) "No person shall give & no person shall accept any portion, split or percentage of any charge made or received fro the rendering of a real... 07/07/2009

In case you missed it .. be prepared to be BLOWN away.. I love the way see re worked this classic Michael Jackson song .. she made it both a tribute and her on. This now goes in my top 10 power songs. Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy THANK YOU Jennifer Hudson .. and Thank you Michael Jackson ..we have all smiled because of you.. 07/07/2009